Make Your House a Home

Having a house is a ton of work, there's always something to do, and at times it's a big money pit.  I've been on a big home project kick and I realized minor changes can really make your house feel like a home and make all that hard work worth it.

Minor Changes Big Results to Make Your House Feel Like a Home:

• Give them a room: Every kid should have a room, besides their bedroom to play in. If you have the room make it happen. Even if you have to split your own living room to make it happen then do it. Put a fun area rug in there, toys, an easel, a little table. Make it "their" room. That way their toys do not end up all other the house AND they have a place to play in that is not their bedroom. If you can make sure that room does not have a T.V so they really end up playing.
• Pictures: I love pictures. I have a ton of frames and pictures all over my house. They all kindof tell a story about who we are. Since the day I moved into my Cape I knew I wanted pictures hanging on the wall along the stair case. Finally I had my hubby hang 25 frames on one side of the wall and I love love love it! Every morning when we wake up and walk down the stairs we are surrounded by great memories that we always cherished. It's a great way to start our day.
• Storage: We all throw stuff in storage and forget about it. My storage had boxes still from college from when I first moved in with my husband 10 years ago. So I sent the man of the house out to buy new plastic bins, 10 big ones,  and we spent a weekend going down memory lane while labeling and organizing our storage space. With the unneeded items we are going to do a tag sale in the Fall.
• Curtains: I hate curtains, the reason I hate curtains is because they can be so expensive and can really make or break a room. I love sunlight and big windows. After 7 years I changed the look of my curtains in all the rooms and  house looks completely different and I love it. No need to go nuts on prices. Boscov.com, Jcpenny.com and even Target.com have great prices!Make sure to order through your Ebates.com account to get cash back.
• Under $20 tips: Flowers, candles, even new doormats make a room feel different and give a different look to them. Put new bathroom towels with colors to add brightness to the room. Add decorative pillows to make couches look more fancy. Simple yet cheap items can really add style and comfort to your home.

Most importantly be good to your home and your home will be good to you!

Be a Good Host/Hostess Tips...

We've been going to at least one party a week and I always love how everyone is unique in their own way. My lil one is 3 so I would like to think I do not have a ton of experience with entertaining although the constant friend parties and gatherings don't always count since your friends do not to be entertained. So when I go to a party I love to see how people do things differently. Some things I tend to take note and others I make sure to avoid. Although all the recent parties we have been to were great below are some tips on how to even be a better host:

• Don't rush your guests: I always think you need to have your apps out for when you guests arrive, serve your main dish within an hour and then dessert but the key to not making your guests feel like they have to leave is leave the main dish on the side while you serve dessert. That way guests can still pick and not feel like after dessert it is time to go.
• Grill sooner than later: When you go to a party you look forward to the food, not just the company so while your guests are having their apps start your grill. There is nothing worse than knowing your hostess is going to grill and noticing the grill hasn't even been turned on long after the apps have been out.
• Put things away: Let's face it guests are noisy, don't leave things around you do not want them to see and most importantly when there are kids around put away the toys you do not want them to play with. Kids are rough and accidents happen. Prevent things breaking by putting away things that can easily be broken.
• Be Prepared: There's always that one guest that needs something that you have not put out. Be prepared and do not get frustrated when they ask for it.
• Smile, Smile, Smile: Hosts I know throwing a party is a lot of work, you prep days before, clean the house, while the day of are running around to make everything work but take a 10 minute break, smile and mingle with your guests. There is nothing worse then seeing a host or hostess looking miserable, acting snappy towards their spouse and tired at their own party. It makes guests feel like they want to leave as soon as they can. Throwing a party is a lot of work but should be fun as well!