The holiday season is officially here! You made plans probably months ago for what will happen in the next few weeks but are you ready? Using these 7 quick tips for holiday prep you’ll be ready to celebrate and make memories with your family and guests.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kimberly Clark®. All opinions are entirely my own. #holidaynecessities
The holidays are a busy time, especially for moms preparing their homes for kids on winter break and out-of-town guests. I’ve been doing some last minute shopping to prep for the week, take a peek at my trunk from this weekend. Can you guess what I wanted to be sure we were stocked up on for the holidays?
One would probably guess food and gifts but there’s one more thing that’s a biggie on the list. Did you guess it? It’s our holiday necessities including tissues, toilet paper and paper towels. I found some great deals on all Kleenex®, Viva®, Scott® and Cottonelle® products at your local Walmart® using the Ibotta app.
Prepping for Holiday Guests and Winter Break
Here’s my plan of attack for the next two weeks. After hosting lots of out of town guests, including the inlaws, in the past many years with my family here’s some of my favorite tricks to avoid getting stressed out during the holidays. Now’s the time to be Holiday Ready.
Trick #1 Make a Plan of Attack
The best defense is a good offense. Sit down before the craziness begins and write down all the things that you want to have done with the house before your guests arrive. Prioritize the list with most important at the top. Make this list public knowledge with your family so it can be a team effort. Keeping a holiday Planner printed out can keep you on track.
TIP: Talk with your guests ahead of time about a meal plan.
Trick #2: Do Tasks in 10 Minute Chunks of Time
I’ll be the first to admit that tasks can get overwhelming knowing that you have guests arriving very soon. One tip is to chunk tasks into 10 minute windows. Create zones in your house that you attack each day and before you know it day after day those big chores are all ready to go for guests.
TIP: If you have older kids you can even make them in charge of certain zones each day.
Trick #3 : Get your Kids Involved
Seriously put your little ones to work. You’d be surprised what they can accomplish with a little Santa motivation. My two little ones are a bit obsessed with window cleaning and vacuuming. Not sure where it comes from but I use it to my advantage. They have to do one more additional chore before they get to help with the things they like to do.
I keep a House Cleaning Checklist up on the frig so everyone knows what’s available to do. Chances are there’s cleaning tasks your child really wants to do, give it a try. The power of the paper towel is pretty special at our house since the kids were little.
TIP: Let them wear a santa hat or elf hat and call them Santa’s helpers!
Trick #4 Stock up on Supplies for your Home
There’s nothing worse than having to head out because you ran out of paper towels, toilet paper or Kleenex when your guests are at the house. We made a trip this week to Walmart® to grab our supply for guests. You can find great deals on all Kleenex®, Viva®, Scott® and Cottonelle® products at your local Walmart using the Ibotta app.
Trick #5 Have a Catch All Spot
During this busy time have a spot that you can use to catch all the out of place things in a quick 10 minute dash. Then once you have time you can go at the end of the night and put them in their proper spot. Trust me with little ones in the house there will often be a few things that just didn’t make it back to it’s spot when you have guests around.
Trick #6 Make it Shine
Before your guest arrive be sure to take a moment to tackle the glass and mirror surfaces of your home. With the holiday lights sparkling in your home and more lights on with guests around for some reason your house can looks so much cleaner with surfaces that SHINE.
My daughters helped with using the Viva® Vantage® Paper Towels we grabbed at the store. They’re durable, with a cloth-like texture, and can tackle the job when wet or dry. Always keep Paper Towels on hand for the holiday spills that tend to happen with little ones and extra big ones around. Your home will be glad you did.
Trick #7 Make Them Feel Special
Placing holidays boxes of tissue are an adorable way to make your holiday guests feel special. We bought these holiday themed Kleenex® Holiday Oval while we were at Walmart. They are soft, strong and absorbent, Kleenex® Holiday Oval is the perfect tissue to always have on hand throughout the holidays. The oval-shaped box adds extra sophistication to your home, with prints and colors inspired by the holiday season.
I even purchased a pack of Kleenex® Perfect Fit* Facial Tissue. The new slim canister is ideal for any small or on-the-go space, it will sit in my car all holiday season long. Add that to some holiday soaps for the bathrooms and kitchen and we’re set for our special holiday guests.
Holiday Shopping for Necessities
To ensure preparation goes off without a hitch, Cottonelle®, Kleenex®, Scott® and Viva® products, available at Walmart® via the Ibotta app, will help family and friends feel the togetherness that comes with this time of year.
BONUS TIP: ENJOY the MOMENT
Here’s my favorite view in my home this holiday season. It’s ironically the view while washing my dishes and grabbing paper towels. Remind yourself as you celebrate the holidays that it’s the time spent together making memories that really count. Keep things as simply as necessary so that you can spend as much time with your Guests and with your kids. And don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Whenever we have a large group get together we choose jobs we want to do throughout the week together to help make things manageable on everyone. Our Memorable Holidays Pinterest Board has inspired us quite a bit this year in our holiday plans.
Be sure to follow along and create your own holiday memories!
What trick would you add for your Holiday Prep for Guests?
Wishing You Happy Holidays!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
