Playing Hostess: {Weekend Guests}

via Lonny Mag

Here's my 157th nerdy confession...I love to play Susie Homemaker. Or better yet, Susie Hostess. I love hosting parties, get togethers and out of town weekend guests.

I won't lie.

I pride myself on my ability to make perfectly round pancakes, fold fitted a fitted sheet and whip up a pitcher of sweet tea quicker than you can say, "Hey y'all."

What can I say? It was ingrained in me from the time I could help my mom in the kitchen that any good, southern woman worth her weight in Aquanet ought to be able to play the perfect, gracious host. To me, occasionally sporting an apron with a pair of heels isn't anti-feminist; it's just one of our many divine rights as women!

We're superheroes in lipstick.

This past weekend, I got to play pseudo-hostess to some of Stephen's friends that came up for a lake weekend. Let me tell you, I loved every minute of it. Although it's not my house yet, I had fun helping him ready his pad for his friends.

Of course all of this hostessing makes me giddy about revamping the guest bedrooms in our home after we get married! My noggin is already spinning with ideas....table lamps, curtains and bedside tables, oh my!

via Lonny Mag

I'm not an expert hostess yet, like my mom or grandmothers, but here are a few of my novice tips on hosting weekend company, southern style:

-Add a few personal touches to the room, like portraits or souvenirs from vacations. My cousin has one of her guest bedrooms decorated with items collected from a vacation to Tuscany, making you feel transported to an Italian Bed and Breakfast.

-Cozy your guest room up with unique throw pillows and luxurious, soft blankets. Help your guests feel extra comfortable by making extra pillows and blankets easy to find by placing them at the foot of the bed or atop a decorative trunk or chest. No one wants to poke around in a stranger's closet for extra bed linens (ok, well some people might not mind the snooping, haha), so make it extra simple for your company to locate additional items they might need.

-Stock the bedside table with magazines that reflect the guests' hobbies or interests. I always put out fashion and decorating mags when my girlfriends from out of town visit. When my parents stay over, I make sure to buy fishing and sports magazines for my dad to read and my mom's favorite, Southern Living.

-Always keep an empty chest of drawers or armoire in the room so that guests staying for an extended period of time can put their clothing away. It just makes people feel at home.

-On that note, also make sure that there is a bit of empty closet space and hangers available for your company to hang delicate clothing.

-Put snacks and bottled water in a cute tray at the end of the bed. I love to put little bags of pretzels, cookies and bottled water on a decorative tray in their rooms, just in case my guests want a late night snack!

These are just a few tips I've picked up from my mom and grandmas over the years, but I've found that guests really appreciate the extra special touches.

Here are a few items that can make your company feel even more at home:

Collage by A Blonde Ambition blog

1) A throw pillow makes a bed extra inviting
2) Add a bedside table lamp in case your guests love to read in bed at night
3) A fancy wall mirror adds drama and makes a room seem larger
4) This houndstooth throw can be placed at the end of the bed in case your guests get chilly
5) Add a magazine that reflects your guests' hobbies and interests to the bedside table

What are some of your favorite ways to make weekend guests have a comfy stay?

Be blessed, lovelies-