From: "Saved by Windows Internet Explorer 7" Subject: Enjoy hassle-free holiday guests - Celebrate Living Magazine Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 09:29:39 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CA8EB2.C54FE1B0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.0.6001.18049 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CA8EB2.C54FE1B0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.celebratelivingmagazine.com/magazine-articles/current-issue/the-holidays/enjoy-hassle-free-holiday-guests =EF=BB=BF Enjoy = hassle-free holiday guests - Celebrate Living Magazine
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Welcome > Magazin= e=20 Articles > Current=20 Issue > The=20 Holidays > Enjoy hassle-free holiday = guests

Enjoy hassle-free holiday guests

by Elise Oberliesen

Just out of the = oven=E2=80=94dinner=E2=80=99s=20 piping hot.  Now I=E2=80=99m ready to nibble on some baked ziti = dripping with gooey=20 mozzarella.  But then the phone rings, with familiar words, out of = area=20 caller flashing across the phone. I ask myself, do I even take the call? = But=20 when my sister=E2=80=99s voice echoes in my ear, I know dinner can wait. = And besides,=20 she=E2=80=99s in Seattle where it=E2=80=99s not yet = dinnertime.

 Immediately, I hear=20 the warning tone in her voice.  She=E2=80=99s caught word that = family from back=20 East is about to descend =E2=80=93 a request to visit me this holiday = season. And that=20 means setting up temporary living quarters in the comfort and rent-free = digs of=20 my basement. Complete with a hot shower and two queen-sized beds, family = members, and their pets, are welcomed at my place. During the holidays, = my motto=20 is the more the merrier.  Well, that is, until they arrive. =

Please=20 don=E2=80=99t misunderstand=E2=80=94I love my family very much. My = family comes from flatlands=20 of Michigan. So I realize they cannot resist falling in love with our = beautiful=20 mountain vistas amid dramatic cloud formations or classic cobalt skies. = If they=20 come once a year or four times, my husband Thom and I have learned to = open our=20 doors while wearing cheerful smiles. We tolerate = guests=E2=80=94sometimes we enjoy=20 them=E2=80=94even at the last minute with barely one week=E2=80=99s = notice requesting airport=20 pick-up after midnight or before 6 a.m.

Here=E2=80=99s what = I=E2=80=99ve learned.=20 First=E2=80=94not everyone relaxes with a glass of Pinot Grigio. Some = prefer to shed the=20 day=E2=80=99s stress with a martini or microbrew.  Beverage variety = allows the host=20 to accommodate the varied tastes among a houseful of = guests.

Second=E2=80=94know=20 that meal time without commotion would be utopia=E2=80=94and that = doesn=E2=80=99t exist.=20 Instead, plan meal times ahead of time. Try to communicate = today=E2=80=99s specials and=20 the time they will be served. Plan B=E2=80=94keep a stack of carryout = menus on-hand in=20 case mealtime goes awry. Vegetarians in the house will be grateful.=20

Third=E2=80=94in the most sincere voice, always tell guests, in = my=20 mother-in-law=E2=80=99s famous words, =E2=80=98Please help = yourselves.=E2=80=99  That way guests=20 know that you are not a servant and won=E2=80=99t think it rude when = they feel the need=20 to eat your food. But they may need a little coaxing. Bring them to the = pantry.=20 Open the door. Show them the silverware.

Understand that we all = have=20 different schedules. Say they want to head up to Rocky Mountain National = Park=20 before the rooster=E2=80=99s crow.  But that=E2=80=99s a trip = you=E2=80=99ve done more than your=20 achy feet care to remember. Arm them with a good map and encourage them = to hit=20 the trail hydrated. Just prep the coffee pot the night before. Use the = auto-on=20 feature=E2=80=94it doubles as an aromatic alarm clock.  Bagels and = cream cheese or=20 blueberry muffins make the perfect grab and go breakfast. =

 Keeping=20 food in plain sight helps ease the anxiety that guests often feel when = hit by=20 hunger. Trust me, after hunger pangs gnaw holes inside their stomachs, = guests=20 eventually lose the fear that comes with ravaging through other = people=E2=80=99s=20 cupboards. Just realize, such behavior may not reveal itself until at = least=20 their third or fourth visit. Be patient. They will = learn.
 Fourth=E2=80=94keep=20 track of current calendar events. With seasonal activities, hours of = operation=20 change often. Last thing you want is to be driving in circles around = Denver=20 looking for a holiday light festival only to realize it=E2=80=99s a = weekend-only event.=20

Fifth and most important=E2=80=94remember to enjoy time with = friends and family.=20 Be spontaneous. Let loose and enjoy a carriage ride along the 16th = Street=20 Mall.  Sure, it may set you back 60 bucks. But think of the = memories you=20 will create under the twinkling lights of Larimer = Square.

 Laugh=20 often. If you don=E2=80=99t have a natural comedic side, or you = don=E2=80=99t have a=20 quick-witted partner like I do, head out to a comedy club and pay for a = good=20 laugh. Remember, even after you=E2=80=99ve taken guests hiking at the = NCAR trailhead for=20 the 226th time, the scenery transcends stressful moments. And when = burned=20 brownies or a nephew=E2=80=99s finicky eating habits wreak havoc, always = remember =E2=80=93=20 Pena=E2=80=99 Boulevard is but a few days away.  Happy holidays. =



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