Back to the closet...
No matter how much planning and preparing you do for the holiday, take a deep breath, because you have NO CONTROL over what your guests might say or do while visiting. So, take it in stride. Your son comes out at the dinner table? Poor yourself another glass of wine and be thankful he's there to tell you in person. Your daughter announces she's pregnant with the rock 'n roll guys baby (maybe), just think, next year you'll have a baby to shop for. Your husband announces he enjoys wearing ladies panties and dressing up like Barbara Bush? Pray that he isn't your size and just go with it...some things, after all, you just can't change or control. However, the cluttered mess of guests EVERYTHING, you can manage. At this point last year we were preparing to host two houses full of family and friends flying to the east coast to celebrate my mothers birthday and Christmas. Because our house only had one, tiny coat closet on the main floor (gotta love old houses) we had to get creative in the closet department. This is when Bed Bath & Beyond and those fabulous 20% off coupons come in handy (if you don't get them in the mail everyday like I do, go online and download. Doesn't matter if they're expired, they'll take anything and often multiple coupons for one transaction). I purchased large hooks for the door of our closet where I could hang purses and bought a hanging sweater organizer, placed initials on each cubby and every time a guest returned they knew where to put their gloves, hats and bags. The night of my mothers party when the house was filled to the brim, I bought an inexpensive rolling rack at Bed Bath and Beyond and put it in a guest room on the main floor. Instead of tossing them on a bed, the coats and scarves were totally organized on a lovely rack. So, as your guests come in for final approach sit back, relax and have a great time AFTER they hang their coats in the right place!
TIME TO COMPLETE TASK: Fifteen minutes
COST: Rolling rack at Bed Bath and Beyond: $39.99, fabric hanging shelf $19.99, purse hooks at Home Depot: $5.99
STRESS LEVEL: Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow: LOW
