Thanks for the tips. You mentioned getting the kids to help set the table. Here’s a tip I used when my girls were little. I took a paper placemat as a template and drew on it to show the placement of the cutlery, napkins, plates and glasses. They’d just move it around the table to each place setting so they knew where to put everything.
@@cleanmyspace. Very pretty sweater melissa! Did you ever consider cutting ur hair? It seems like overgrown and takes away from ur face. U would look much better in shorter hair.
As a decently seasoned (as well as any 28 year old introvert can be that is) I second all these tips! As an addition, if you are cooking a big meal, prep EARLY! Get all the salad washing, dish assembly, chopping done well in advance, the day before ideally, and schedule all your appliance use. Turkey in the slow cooker, up to 4 items on the stovetop, 2-4 item limit in the oven, instant pot items, etc, so you can time everything easily. This is ESSENTIAL for those of us with cognitive impairments like OCD or ADHD, where your focus tend to scatter in the moments it's most needed. Happy holidays! I'm hosting a total of 6 people this year, which will be my largest setting yet, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous as heck. Wish me luck! 😅
Best of luck! I am also an introvert who easily loses focus. I need to wear headphones to stay focused on normal tasks like cleaning and getting the home ready for guests, being a bundle of nerves until after the last guest leaves.
I totally agree about pre-preparing Christmas foods ahead of time, chopping vegetables, making cornbread for cornbread dressing, and other batters that you can use for cookies cakes or other treats. I also have a black refrigerator that I use A chalkboard pen and Christmas week and write down my schedule on that refrigerator and erase it when I complete that task, also at the beginning of Christmas week I always get my serving pieces out of the cabinet and put a sticky note on that serving piece of white food will be placed on that platter or bowl, I’ve learned over the years as a retired lady who has hosted many family meals and for friendsThat preparing before the event is essential to making it successful and enjoyable for the host
I'm totally with you on the hosting thing. We have a pool so hosting in the summer just kinda happens. Grab some food, throw it on the grill, easy peasy. I've never hosted for Christmas before and I'm totally fine with that. It seems like a lot of pressure. This is the first Christmas in years that I won't be going anywhere. I'm excited for it...all day pj's! 😊
Hi Melissa. My husband and I both enjoy hosting but it’s a real treat to be a guest for sure! These tips are so useful for us, and the cleaning kit will definitely be added to our routine. I personally like using the notes in the serving bowls, etc. so it’s one less thing to think about when everything’s coming together at serving time. One other thing that I’ve got my husband doing now too, 😉, is a to do list for a couple of days beforehand. On a separate list for the day of the event, I include times to “put the potatoes in the oven”, etc. Setting the automatic timer to preheat the oven is also a little thing that really helps keep everything running smoothly. Guest, or host, I hope you and yours have a very merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy new year, Melissa. Hugs from Kitchener, Lola. 🤗💕🎄
Your tips are terrific additions, Lola. Thank you for sharing and happy holidays! I hope being treated as a guest is going to happen in your near future.
I like hosting in the fall/winter, my house is really decorated up for Halloween and Winter Holidays and it's fun to show that off inside where people wouldn't see it otherwise.
One trick my mom taught me is to set the thermostat cooler than usual. Where I am in Canada it’s usually very cold at Christmas time. There’s nothing worse than getting to a point where everyone is sweating and uncomfortable but it’s too cold to open windows.
Thank you Melissa for these tips. Growing up on Long Island, am the oldest was always responsible for getting the table ready as well as everything else. Joan Bates
I love being the host. I always feel like I'm imposing as a guest! Thanks as always for the tips! I'm currently prepping for my sister's visit to my new place in Tennessee and literally washing everything in sight!
You make me smile! Gracias for such clear ideas! I like to hostess if I am economizing, and to be the guest, especially if I can pitch in for drinks, salad, or an entree or side dish!
I’ll never forget going to my grandpas house for Christmas, and there was no closets or room at the entrance for shoes, so my step-grandma put towels in the bathtub and that’s where our boots went!
Happy Holiday melussagreat suggestions also have extra table clothes setting so you can replace cloth what I like doing now is go to fancy restaurant family reunions no muss or fuss
I live in a small condo so no hosting for me! Also due to COVID no visitors other than the parents. However, I love the stain tips for my own personal use .
Guest in the summer. It's too hot for me to want to deal with hosting. Host in the winter because I love to show off my Xmas decorations ❣️ & my house is just so cozy, I never want to leave😁
Great question, Trisha! I would lay out extra mats around the entrance to collect all the shoes and try and place them tidy against the wall after the guests arrive. For the coats, you can always collect them in a bedroom so they're still out of sight while you're hosting.
Hi Lori! It's a Birds of Paradise plant and it's taken us YEARS (and a lot of TLC) to grow to this size. It's a show stopper in any room though. Happy Holidays!
I couldn't tell you the last time I hosted anything but these ideas are genius! I've been there, scrambling for that dish for the corn or set out a wrong size. Oh, the stress. These ideas take all of the stress out of it. Thank you so much.
I thought I was the only one to clear out my front hall closet for party guests. Too many times I go to a party and my coat is on a bed - at the bottom of the pile.
I'm always the host (the last 30 years) but in the near future I would like to be the guest. Mam of 2 kids 28 and 24. But if not, then I will be the host, no problem.
Way back in the day, you had a neat idea about how to gather up your guests’ boots and shoes, but I forget what it was. Your mom used to do this “thing”. Do you know what I’m talking about?
I'm not entirely sure this is the answer you're looking for but here's my go-to routine for collecting guests shoes (especially during our Canadian snowy winter months): 1. Start with a heavy duty doormat just outside of your door which will hopefully encourage your guests to stomp off the majority of the brick-a-brack on their boots OUTSIDE. This should be tough, rugged and bristly. 2. Next, place another doormat on the inside of your door to protect your floor from anything that wasn’t stomped off outside. This mat absorbs dirt and moisture and keeps the mess contained to a very small area. We recently purchased a large one which really helps when we have a few people coming in at once and taking off their wet shoes and boots. 3. Finally, get yourself a good, deep dish boot tray, which will easily contain any boot gravy. Yes, boot gravy: salty, dirty drippings from your boots that no one has time for.
@@cleanmyspace thanks Melissa. This makes sense. I thought there was something more that your mom did like bagging the boots, or something. Oh well, it was years ago. It wouldn’t hurt for me to go back and watch some vids from the past. If I find it, I’ll reply here. Thanks again Melissa. BTW, I was just remembering the other day with my son. The first video I ever saw on RUclips was with you explaining how to clean the new flat screen TVs. I made my son show me how to use RUclips and that was what he chose to show me. He is out on his own now. I’m not too hurt that he goes to “you” for cleaning advice before he asks me - but his place looks pretty good for an apartment of guys sharing the space together. Just sayin’- you rock!!
Believe me, I do! I feel the weight of it on my shoulders every single day, like many people do. That said, every part of the world is at different stages of the pandemic so this content is here for anyone is who is fortunate and able to have a safe and intimate gathering this season. Happy holidays, LM!
I love this channel🥰 ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎 This has been COVID recovery therapy for me. My house isn't great, but it's getting there. Progress! Thank you! And, genius ideas😉👍👍👍
Thanks for the tips. You mentioned getting the kids to help set the table. Here’s a tip I used when my girls were little. I took a paper placemat as a template and drew on it to show the placement of the cutlery, napkins, plates and glasses. They’d just move it around the table to each place setting so they knew where to put everything.
Nice one, Frances. Thanks for sharing!
@@cleanmyspace. Very pretty sweater melissa! Did you ever consider cutting ur hair? It seems like overgrown and takes away from ur face. U would look much better in shorter hair.
@@udhe4421 ew just stop. She looks fine the way she is. Stop telling women how much prettier they’d look if whatever.
Happy Holidays Clean My Space Nation! 🎄
Merriest CHRISTmas to you and your family!! Xo
As a decently seasoned (as well as any 28 year old introvert can be that is) I second all these tips! As an addition, if you are cooking a big meal, prep EARLY! Get all the salad washing, dish assembly, chopping done well in advance, the day before ideally, and schedule all your appliance use. Turkey in the slow cooker, up to 4 items on the stovetop, 2-4 item limit in the oven, instant pot items, etc, so you can time everything easily. This is ESSENTIAL for those of us with cognitive impairments like OCD or ADHD, where your focus tend to scatter in the moments it's most needed.
Happy holidays! I'm hosting a total of 6 people this year, which will be my largest setting yet, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous as heck. Wish me luck! 😅
Best of luck! I am also an introvert who easily loses focus. I need to wear headphones to stay focused on normal tasks like cleaning and getting the home ready for guests, being a bundle of nerves until after the last guest leaves.
I couldn't agree more, meal prepping is a must! Thanks for sharing, Doriana. Good luck (I don't think you need it), and happy holidays!
Here i am host 8 to 10 guests with my babies and cook and clean and organize everything by myself and yes feel so tired after
I totally agree about pre-preparing Christmas foods ahead of time, chopping vegetables, making cornbread for cornbread dressing, and other batters that you can use for cookies cakes or other treats. I also have a black refrigerator that I use A chalkboard pen and Christmas week and write down my schedule on that refrigerator and erase it when I complete that task, also at the beginning of Christmas week I always get my serving pieces out of the cabinet and put a sticky note on that serving piece of white food will be placed on that platter or bowl, I’ve learned over the years as a retired lady who has hosted many family meals and for friendsThat preparing before the event is essential to making it successful and enjoyable for the host
I'm totally with you on the hosting thing. We have a pool so hosting in the summer just kinda happens. Grab some food, throw it on the grill, easy peasy. I've never hosted for Christmas before and I'm totally fine with that. It seems like a lot of pressure. This is the first Christmas in years that I won't be going anywhere. I'm excited for it...all day pj's! 😊
My thoughts exactly. Thanks for sharing, Diana. Happy holidays (pj's edition).
Hi Melissa. My husband and I both enjoy hosting but it’s a real treat to be a guest for sure! These tips are so useful for us, and the cleaning kit will definitely be added to our routine. I personally like using the notes in the serving bowls, etc. so it’s one less thing to think about when everything’s coming together at serving time. One other thing that I’ve got my husband doing now too, 😉, is a to do list for a couple of days beforehand. On a separate list for the day of the event, I include times to “put the potatoes in the oven”, etc. Setting the automatic timer to preheat the oven is also a little thing that really helps keep everything running smoothly. Guest, or host, I hope you and yours have a very merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy new year, Melissa. Hugs from Kitchener, Lola. 🤗💕🎄
Your tips are terrific additions, Lola. Thank you for sharing and happy holidays! I hope being treated as a guest is going to happen in your near future.
I like hosting in the fall/winter, my house is really decorated up for Halloween and Winter Holidays and it's fun to show that off inside where people wouldn't see it otherwise.
It's true! Themed decorations make such a difference.
One trick my mom taught me is to set the thermostat cooler than usual. Where I am in Canada it’s usually very cold at Christmas time. There’s nothing worse than getting to a point where everyone is sweating and uncomfortable but it’s too cold to open windows.
That's a really great tip, Allie! It's true that we often forget the amount of heat all the combined guests can project in a room.
Merry Christmas and I hope you have a Happy New Year! I just got the chance to put my feet up with my hand sewing and binge watching your channel.
Thanks for this. Always useful.
You generally just help me a lot, and I appreciate you ❤️
I appreciate you too, Henriette! Happy holidays!
Thank you Melissa for these tips. Growing up on Long Island, am the oldest was always responsible for getting the table ready as well as everything else. Joan Bates
I love being the host. I always feel like I'm imposing as a guest! Thanks as always for the tips! I'm currently prepping for my sister's visit to my new place in Tennessee and literally washing everything in sight!
Congrats on the new place, Dana! Happy hosting this holiday season :)
@@cleanmyspace Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!
You make me smile! Gracias for such clear ideas! I like to hostess if I am economizing, and to be the guest, especially if I can pitch in for drinks, salad, or an entree or side dish!
Thanks for sharing these tips. Stain kits can be very helpful.
As always, you deliver helpful information for the unorganized. That dark textured wall above the dishwasher😝
😊
I love the idea of organising serving plates for the food early.
It's summer here in oz so our Christmas is in front of a BBQ.
Same! I would have never thought to do this but brilliant idea! I’m in Oz too so will be super helpful for BBQ time.
You're so lucky! Enjoy all the heat this Christmas.
@@cleanmyspace your so lucky. Enjoy a lovely cold snowy Christmas
Never heard of a stain kit but that's a brilliant idea! Thank you!
I love all these ideas! I love to host!! So these will come in handy!!
3:55 in video duration, those are some cool laundry and dryer machines... I love your taste, style, and ultimately your cleanliness
Thanks! You can check them out in more detail by clicking this link: www.lg.com/ca_en/washer-dryer-combo
Hi Melissa 👋 Good Evening ✨ Thank you for the awesome tips & they are surprisingly helpful 👏 Seasons Greetings & Happy Holidays 🌟🎄
Thanks, Lyza. Happy holidays to you and yours, too!
🦌 🌟 🎄 ☃️
Thanks for these tips Melissa, truly helpful.
You're so welcome!
I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your Tips, always enjoying your vdos...Happy Holidays to you and your family..
Of course! Happy holidays to you, too!
Hi friend, thanks for sharing tips to holiday hosting
Thanks for watching, friend!
Brilliant advice!
I’ll never forget going to my grandpas house for Christmas, and there was no closets or room at the entrance for shoes, so my step-grandma put towels in the bathtub and that’s where our boots went!
I love hearing these little memories.
Hostess with the mostess! I enjoy being a guest but I like drop-bys when I throw something together last minute 🙂
Wow...is it a new kitchen....!!!!!
It's a "borrowed" kitchen. It's gorgeous though, right?!
@@cleanmyspace stunning!!
Happy Holiday melussagreat suggestions also have extra table clothes setting so you can replace cloth what I like doing now is go to fancy restaurant family reunions no muss or fuss
Great idea! Happy holidays!
I live in a small condo so no hosting for me! Also due to COVID no visitors other than the parents. However, I love the stain tips for my own personal use .
Thanks for watching, Cary. Enjoy the holidays with your parents!
good tips. will use them in the next few days 🙂
Thanks for watching, Anil!
Great tips!!!!! BTW your hair looks awesome!!!!!
Thank you so much 😀
I definitely prefer to host in the summer-poolside!
Same! Happy holidays, Sandy!
Guest in the summer. It's too hot for me to want to deal with hosting.
Host in the winter because I love to show off my Xmas decorations ❣️ & my house is just so cozy, I never want to leave😁
I love your channel 🥰
Glad you enjoy it!
Hi Melissa,
Just curious, where was this video shot?
Do you have two kitchens??
You've got a great eye, Elizabeth! Part of this was filmed at an offsite kitchen, but it's not ours (sadly). We absolutely loved the space.
What are some tips when you don’t have a front closet to put boots, coats etc in?
Great question, Trisha! I would lay out extra mats around the entrance to collect all the shoes and try and place them tidy against the wall after the guests arrive. For the coats, you can always collect them in a bedroom so they're still out of sight while you're hosting.
Great video as always! I was wondering what is the name of the giant plant behind you, and how long did it take to get that big? Thank you!
Hi Lori! It's a Birds of Paradise plant and it's taken us YEARS (and a lot of TLC) to grow to this size. It's a show stopper in any room though. Happy Holidays!
Put little things like sink screens and metal table decorations in the dishwasher
Lid to garbage can. Etc
I couldn't tell you the last time I hosted anything but these ideas are genius! I've been there, scrambling for that dish for the corn or set out a wrong size. Oh, the stress. These ideas take all of the stress out of it. Thank you so much.
You are so welcome! Happy holidays!
i was looking at getting this. the draw is the panel in the middle
It's smart, innovative, and a total laundry game changer. It also looks great in any room!
Did you renovated your kitchen?
I prefer hosting because I'm a bit of a control freak 🤣
Hi Melissa I like to host the only thing I don't like is to clean up Merry Christmas to you and your family love from Eugenie your friend xxx
I'm always the host and I don't mind it 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Vicki. Happy holidays!
@@cleanmyspace Happy Holidays!
I like you prefer to host in the spring and summer and be a guest in the winter, but will always bring a bottle of wine 🍷!
I really want to trim that dead leaf off of your beautiful plant. 😬😁😂
😮🤣😉
I thought I was the only one to clear out my front hall closet for party guests. Too many times I go to a party and my coat is on a bed - at the bottom of the pile.
100%. This solves that exact problem! Of course, if you have a front hall closet available.
I'm always the host (the last 30 years) but in the near future I would like to be the guest. Mam of 2 kids 28 and 24. But if not, then I will be the host, no problem.
Thanks for sharing, Marleen. Happy holidays!
💜💜💜💜💜
I prefer being a guest. Probably because we live in a tiny 2 bed semi in the UK, and some people decide its okay to not take their shoes off
Fiiiiiirst!
I like to be a host better!! i feel more in control lol
Way back in the day, you had a neat idea about how to gather up your guests’ boots and shoes, but I forget what it was. Your mom used to do this “thing”. Do you know what I’m talking about?
I'm not entirely sure this is the answer you're looking for but here's my go-to routine for collecting guests shoes (especially during our Canadian snowy winter months):
1. Start with a heavy duty doormat just outside of your door which will hopefully encourage your guests to stomp off the majority of the brick-a-brack on their boots OUTSIDE. This should be tough, rugged and bristly.
2. Next, place another doormat on the inside of your door to protect your floor from anything that wasn’t stomped off outside. This mat absorbs dirt and moisture and keeps the mess contained to a very small area. We recently purchased a large one which really helps when we have a few people coming in at once and taking off their wet shoes and boots.
3. Finally, get yourself a good, deep dish boot tray, which will easily contain any boot gravy. Yes, boot gravy: salty, dirty drippings from your boots that no one has time for.
@@cleanmyspace thanks Melissa. This makes sense. I thought there was something more that your mom did like bagging the boots, or something. Oh well, it was years ago. It wouldn’t hurt for me to go back and watch some vids from the past. If I find it, I’ll reply here. Thanks again Melissa.
BTW, I was just remembering the other day with my son. The first video I ever saw on RUclips was with you explaining how to clean the new flat screen TVs. I made my son show me how to use RUclips and that was what he chose to show me. He is out on his own now. I’m not too hurt that he goes to “you” for cleaning advice before he asks me - but his place looks pretty good for an apartment of guys sharing the space together. Just sayin’- you rock!!
Do you realize we are in a pandemic? Oh well, you have great ideas for life.
Believe me, I do! I feel the weight of it on my shoulders every single day, like many people do. That said, every part of the world is at different stages of the pandemic so this content is here for anyone is who is fortunate and able to have a safe and intimate gathering this season. Happy holidays, LM!
White wine will remove red wine stains so I used to put some in a spray bottle just before entertaining.
Nice one, Debbie.
Delegate!
With this corona virus I don't go to anyone's home and I don't entertain
It's true, Covid has affected a lot of our plans this year, too.
Host
I love this channel🥰
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎
This has been COVID recovery therapy for me. My house isn't great, but it's getting there. Progress! Thank you! And, genius ideas😉👍👍👍
Progress is EVERYTHING. Thanks for watching!
@@cleanmyspace It sure is😊 Thank you for this channel👍