It’s Let’s Look day with Shay @ Mix and Match Mama and Erika @ A Little Bit of Everything! If you’re new here, it’s one day a month that we share a little peak into some aspect of our lives. So far this year, I’ve shared:

• In February, I shared what we ate in a week.
• For March, I shared a look back at college life.
• April, we looked at how we plan date night
• For May, I shared the things I love about my hometown, Kansas City
• In June, we shared our go-to summer lunches
• July I shared how I keep a healthy
• For August, I shared how a do every day tidying up
• September, we shared our closet organization
• In October, I shared how we choose our Halloween costumes
• Last month, I shared where I shop for my mom

Today, we’re talking about hosting holiday parties. I’m not much of a host. It’s not something that comes naturally to me, but I always love the time spent with friends and sharing our home at the end of hosting a get together. Around the holidays, I always host our girls’ Christmas book club. In fact, our book club is in two nights! We don’t read anymore as a group….but it is an excuse to get together once a month and reconnect.

Over the years, I’ve relied on a couple of items for hosting people at our home:

Turn down the heat :: More people circulating inside means it naturally gets hotter. I always move our thermostat down 3-5 degrees an hour or so before the event.

Make most of the food ahead :: I try to stick to only having one appetizer that I’m making right before guests arrive. Everything else has been picked because it can be pre-made and then set out and be delicious. That being said, if you don’t want to make everything, people are always wondering what they can bring to help. I love sharing the load of cooking with guests!

Turn the lights on :: I go through our house and make sure recessed lights, table lamps, and floor lamps are all on in the areas that guests will be milling around. This includes the powder bath that guests will use, and putting a fresh towel in there, too. And don’t forget to turn on your outside lights, as well! Good light makes a home feel more inviting!

Empty the trash before the guests come :: Always start with an empty trash can. Not only to deter bad smells, but also the longer to when the trash needs to be taken out again.

Candles are your friend :: I love having a few candles going throughout the house. Smell is just another way for a home to feel inviting, and I’m not sure if there’s a better hosting compliment to have a guest walk in and tell you how wonderful it smells in your home.

Do have some background music playing :: Especially when the first guests arrive and its still kind of quiet. Background music for the win!