Have you ever played Two Truths and a Lie? This is a fun, little game where one person makes three statements, two of them being true and one being a lie, and you have to figure out which is which. Well, we’re doing a spin on that game today with 2 Lies and a Truth: Hosting Edition!
One of our missions this year is to debunk the false narratives we tell ourselves about hosting in our home and what makes the ideal hostess. We’re guilty of this, too. For years, we told ourselves our homes were not quite right and that opening our doors to loved ones wasn’t doable. That maybe – someday – we would be ready, but not today. Friend, we missed out on so many opportunities for connection with loved ones with these lies that we told ourselves. And because we know we’re not alone in this, we’re guessing you might’ve told yourself a few lies about hosting in your home as well. Let’s end this negative thinking and start living in the present, allowing ourselves to look forward to time well spent with friends and family, and enjoy hosting in our homes.
With that, let’s start debunking these myths!
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2 Lies and a Truth About Hosting in Your Home
Lie #1: My home has to be perfectly clean in order to be a good hostess.
False. This isn’t true at all! In fact, telling yourself that your house needs to be perfectly clean before you can invite guests into your home is simply setting yourself up for failure. This standard isn’t realistic and isn’t really doable either.
Instead, try this Hostful Hack: Follow Nana’s Rule. According to our Nana, as long as your bed is made, your sink is empty and your bathroom is clean, your home is ready for guests.
Bonus Hostful Hack: Bin or bag it up – only in rooms guests will gather. Go through only those spaces with a bin or basket (a laundry basket is perfect!) and a trash bag. Fill the basket with random items laying around and place it in an inconspicuous place. Toss the trash in the trash bag and discard.
Lie #2: I have to feel “put together” in order to be a good hostess.
False, again. We know it’s easy to look around on social media at all the smiling faces and curated poses, and think: that’s not me; I’m not “put together” enough to do x, y, or z. But here’s a little behind-the-scenes fact: even the put-together people have moments when they feel a mess. And that’s okay. We’re human, and life is messy. Showing up as you are, even if it feels like a mess, will put others at ease because then they get to drop their facade as well. So, in the end, maybe the best hostesses aren’t the “put together” ones; they’re the ones who show up as they are.
However, if you’re feeling worried or anxious as guests are about to arrive, we get it. No one wants to feel this way. It makes it hard to relax and open up to company when you’re not feeling relaxed inside. So what can you do?
Try out this Hostful Hack: Create ambiance with the 5 senses in mind. Ambiance is something to consider when preparing for guests in order to have a relaxed gathering and the right atmosphere for connection, but it can also help you, the hostess, feel at ease too. Check out these simple ways to create ambiance in your home.
Sight: Incorporate your favorite flowers on your tabletop. Smell: Scented candles or oils, such as lavender, instantly create calm. (Just remember to set them high if you’ll have little ones running around!) Light: Use accent lighting, such as floor and table lamps, rather than overhead lighting.
Truth: We’re all #hostfulatheart.
The truth of the matter is, we’re all good hostesses. We’re all ready to open our doors and start creating meaningful moments with loved ones. We encourage you to embrace the (inevitable) messiness of life and invite the people who mean the most to you into your home. We know from personal experience that accepting the imperfection of our house, outfit, menu, or anything else and welcoming loved ones in allows us to achieve what hosting in your homes really is all about: connection with others.
That’s why we share our Hostful Hacks with you, hoping to inspire you to only focus on what matters and to simplify preparation. Still not sure where to begin with your #hostfulatheart journey? We’ve got some ideas for you to get you started!
How to begin your Hostful at Heart Journey:
- Invest in timeless, neutral dinnerware. This is going to save you time and money, as you’ll be able to pair your neutral dinnerware with accentual hues, giving you endless possibilities when it comes to setting the table. It might also be helpful to think of this as your foundation, and what you can build your tablescape around.
- Stick to the recipe. That’s right — we have a tablescape recipe that simplifies it all! Check out the 5 Ingredients for a Centerpiece Medley and the 5 Ingredients for a Place Setting to get yourself started.
- Remember the why. When you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed about hosting in your home, ask yourself this: why am I doing this? Whatever the answer – to create meaningful moments, to connect, to build stronger relationships – you can then realign yourself to your deeper truth. You’ll be surprised how this simple question might put you at ease.
So, open up your doors and host with all your heart, friend. Because heart is really what it’s all about.
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