Now that winter is drawing in, more and more of us are spending a lot more time indoors in our homes. The weather is becoming bitter and once the snow falls (if you live in a snowy state), even driving anywhere can sometimes be out of the question due to icy roads. Plus, there’s just something nice about being in a warm, cozy house whilst the weather rages outside. If you’re spending the evening with some of your loved ones, even better!
Remember ease of access
The last thing you want when inviting people over to a dinner party or relaxed gathering is someone hurting themselves before they’ve even got inside the door. Driveways can be very slippy at this time of year, even if you’ve not yet had any ice. Damp leaves can actually pose just as much of a hazard. Make sure you clear the driveway of any leaves or icy patches that could cause people to trip and fall on their way up to your house. This is especially important if you have elderly relatives who will be visiting you.
Be prepared for any accidents
When you’re hosting a festive get-together, you need to be prepared for at least one thing to go wrong – if not quite a few things! Cooking a large meal in itself is a challenge, especially if it is a winter dish with lots of different pans to keep an eye on. Assuming that you’re not cooking Christmas dinner, make thing easier for yourself by cooking up a giant one pot dish that everyone can dig into. Have plenty of clothes and wipes available in your kitchen to account for any spillages, and no one will know that you had any trouble cooking at all! Also, watch out for anything that could stain if it was spilled. Red wine is the number one nemesis for any household around Christmastime. So, make sure you find someone who can carry out professional carpet cleaning in the event of someone having an accident with the Merlot!
Keep the kids entertained
We all know that having small children to keep occupied is a challenge at the best of times. But in winter, it is even harder. When the weather is bad, it is unlikely that they will want to play outside – and even if they do, you’ll probably stop them due to the fear of mud being dragged through your house afterwards! But having all the family indoors at once with limited things to do can lead to quite a claustrophobic environment. It’s best to find the children something to do that will keep them busy for the duration of the evening. Of course, technology and video games is the obvious option. But if you’d rather your kids had less screen time, encourage them to get creative with crafts or to play a board game together.
I like to read books and sip hot chocolate in the winter. I don't like having people over because that means that I have to clean. Sigh. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.