The Hostess with the Mostest: 10 Secrets to Holiday Guest Prep

Don't you love the Holidays? The air is crisp, you get to spend time with your relatives and friends, and even strangers are friendly. But even with all this holiday cheer, it's easy to become stressed if you're hosting guests. Holiday guest-stress can ruin a wonderful time of the year, so read on for 10 easy ways to be a super hostess and maintain your sanity.

1. Don't try to be perfect. This may be the most important tip of all. Hostesses tend to put pressure on themselves to be perfect but even the most experienced hostess can make a mistake or two. Be relaxed and have fun. There are few disasters that can't be handled.

2. Set aside some extra gifts. Someone always shows up unexpectedly. You might be happy to see them, but if they have a gift for you, wouldn't it be nice to have something to give in return?

3. Shop early. The day after Thanksgiving starts the busiest buying period of the year. Avoid the crowds and traffic by thinking ahead. The savviest technique is to shop year-round, picking up bargains as you see them.

4. Let the guests help. When everyone pitches in to help the hostess, everyone feels better. Guests may feel uncomfortable watching the hostess do all the work so let them help set and clean the table, move the furniture and mix the salad.

5. Get some outside help, You're hosting a gathering, doing all the shopping and cooking all the food. Why should you have to scrub and scour your house for hours (or even days) before family and guests arrive? You don't have to: hire a professional cleaning service to take over. You'll have more energy for your guests and your house will get cleaned top to bottom.

6. Get some more outside help. If you're having a big party, consider hiring a neighborhood teenager to pick up used plates and cups while you tend to your guests and enjoy yourself. That way, when the party's over you can stroll through a clean home on your way to bed.

7. Prepare your kids for company. When relatives come for a visit, your younger children may not remember them. Tell the kids about any odd quirks or obvious illnesses to avoid those uncomfortable, awkward moments. If a child has to give up a room for an uncle, preparation is even more important.

8. Have extra keys made. When people stay with you for a few days, give them their own keys. This makes them truly feel welcome and frees you from the role of gatekeeper.

9. Try a pot luck. If the gathering is local, enlist friends and relatives into bringing a salad, dessert or side-dish. You'll get some kitchen help and the menu will get some variety.

10. Reward the hostess. Entertaining guests is a big job and you deserve something special for all your efforts. Knowing you've planned a day of pampering after the big dinner will give you something to smile about as you're chopping six pounds of onions by hand.

Entertaining guests is fun but accidents can happen. Make sure you're covered in case a guest were to injury herself. Personal liability coverage can be part of your homeowner's policy so talk to your agent to better understand your coverage. If you're looking for new coverage, let NetQuote help. We can connect you with local insurance agents who will offer competitive quotes, help you understand your coverage needs and maybe help you save money, too.

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