Tips For A Stress Free Holiday Guest Stay

Hosting guests in your home this holiday season? Use these tips and COUPONS for a stress-free stay!

My husband and I decided to host both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Because we're transplants, we have no in-state family. In fact, both of our families are TWO flights away because neither live in large cities. (Shout out to my sister and youngest brother-in-law who are sensible enough to live in cities large enough with direct flight options!) Flying is stressful enough during the holidays, but is pure torture with two toddlers, potential bad weather, and the "rush hour" of airport holiday traffic. And thus, we arrive at our decision to host both the major holidays! Plus, cough cough, we live the furthest south and our weather is the best this time of year, cough cough. While not as stressful as traveling, hosting can indeed be overwhelming and stressful! Follow these tips for a stress free holiday guest stay if you too are hosting this year.

1) Plan ahead

I like to do as much ahead as possible before my guests arrive, so that I'm able to be more present when they're here. That means I plan meals and snacks ahead and do the subsequent shopping. I do any cooking or baking that can be done ahead of time, like this recipe I recently shared (perfect for breakfast or a sweet afternoon snack!) We haven't eaten off of my German fine bone china since my kids were born (because, DUH) but once they're old enough, I'll make sure that's washed and ready to be used. Make sure your guest room sheets are washed and ready, too.

2) Don't forget the details

I find it easy to remember the big things - the turkey, ordering the Christmas ham, scheduling my housekeeper to arrive the day before quests, etc. But what about those little details, like do I have Kleenex in common spaces and in the guest room? Do we have enough toilet paper? Are there enough paper towels to clean up the kitchen after spills? Make sure you stock up on paper products! Walmart has aisles full of them to choose from and a variety to fit your needs, or you can order online at Walmart online and have it delivered to your door two days later. Their prices are already amazing, but check out these further discounts on these name brand paper products:

Kleenex bundles

Kleenex

Scott

Cottonelle

Viva

3) Let things go

Casserole didn't turn out quite like you wanted? Baby screaming during family holiday photos? Uncle Jim drink too much again this year? Roll with it! While it might not have turned out like you envisioned it, sometimes the "bloopers" are what make for the best memories. I remember one time, years before I was married, I brought a boyfriend home. A family friend was staying with us, and she and I decided to make a breakfast casserole at midnight (after many glasses of wine, mind you) for the next morning. As we sat down to eat the next day, my then-boyfriend pulled something inedible out of his mouth... It was the rubber band that had been around the cellophane of the mushrooms we chopped up for the egg bake! Oops. Fortunately he was good-natured about it, no rubber was consumed, and that story is still told in my family today.

The holidays are such a special time of year to gather with friends and family. Don't let the stress of hosting overnight guests ruin the fun! Use these tips for a stress free holiday guest stay, and get busy making memories and stories that will be told for years to come. 

How To Snack Healthily

Why healthy snacking is the key to weight maintenance and an overall healthy lifestyle

This post is sponsored by Planetarians on behalf of Mavrck Influencers. All opinions are my own.

Regardless of whether we're in the thick of the middle of the holidays or not, there is no shortage of junk food to consume. The office kitchen is full of donuts leftover from a morning meeting, there's cookies at an afternoon play date, and there's the chips you opened "just for a few" while you cook dinner. Unhealthy choices abound! They also lead to weight gain and contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. But there are great ways to snack healthily, as long as you're armed with the right information on what makes a healthy snack choice.

It's obvious that a pile of cookies in the middle of the afternoon doesn't make the "healthy snack" cut. But what about popcorn? Whole wheat crackers and cheese? Fresh fruit? What are the best choices to make when you need a snack to get you to the next meal?

There are two components to a good snack choice: It's got protein and fiber, preferably a lot of both. Protein rich foods move through your digestive system more slowly than simple carbohydrates. This helps prevent blood sugar drops - the biological function that makes you feel physical hunger. Your body actually has to use more calories to digest protein (yes, you burn calories simply digesting food!) because of the long length it takes to move it through your system.

Fiber is key because it's what keeps you feeling fuller for longer. It's naturally low calorie, so it fills your digestive system with low calories. Fiber also feeds the good bacteria in your body's micobiome, which is your body's "second immune" system against suffering from food-borne illnesses. That's a win-win for fiber and for you!

So now that you know you need food with both protein and fiber, what are some good, healthy snack choices? When you hear protein, you probably think meat. But did you know meat production is one of the largest environmental hazards on the planet? From growing feed, to water usage, to the waste the animals produce, heavy meat eaters contribute disproportionately to greenhouse gases, global warming and the destruction of natural environments. While meat is indeed high in protein, there are vegetarian sources of protein that have MORE grams of protein per serving than environmentally destructive meat.

Let's switch gears back to fiber real quick. Did you know that the FDA recommends you get 28 grams per day? Sound manageable? Well, that's 10 apples. Or two POUNDS of broccoli. Still sound manageable?! I don't eat that much and I eat mostly veggies!

Planetarians comes in with more protein than meat, and more fiber than produce. In one 1.5oz container, you're packing in 12g of protein and 11g of fiber. That's almost your whole day's worth of fiber in one snack! And 3% more protein per gram than meat. There's five ingredients in this snack, all of which you can pronounce. And they come in awesome flavors, like Ranch or Chili Lime (that one was my personal fave) that you and your kids will love.

These snacks are easy to throw in your bag to bring anywhere. The cup has a resealable lid, and comes in a easy to hold container. Ever had your kids spill a whole bag of snacks? Me too. Or they rip it down the side and snack fly everywhere (please tell me I'm not alone here...) Not with these cups! I love anything that I can reseal if not all of it gets eaten, and comes in smart packaging that the little fingers of my kids can handle.

Snacking is important to keep your blood sugar levels up, and healthy snacking is essential for weight maintenance. Protein and fiber are key components for a healthy snack. Snack healthy with Planetarians - they're loaded with fiber, protein and fun flavor options that create the perfect snack option for you and your family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm hosting at my house, so I'm taking the day to cook, bake, drink and be merry with my family. No post today but you can catch me on Instagram Stories! Get off the internet and go spend some QT with your main squeezes.

 
via GIPHY