Here They Come ... The Out-of-town Holiday Guests

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(ARA) - Oh you'd better not shout, you'd better not pout -- because the holidays are near and, ready or not, so are your out-of-town holiday guests. While hosting an extended brood of family members and friends can be both expensive and stressful, there are many ways to keep costs down and make the visit fun for everyone (including yourself!)

The absolute first step, says professional organizer Ramona Creel, is having realistic expectations about how the event is going to unfold. Creel, the founder of Atlanta-based www.onlineorganizing.com, says that, too often, holiday hosts forget that they are human and that their loved ones are aware of this.

You really don't have to scrub the baseboards with a toothbrush and spend a fortune on extravagant meals, she says. Too often, people set unrealistic standards about what's necessary and end up creating a lot of unnecessary worries.

Next, she recommends, take care of some preparations in advance so you don't spend the visit running around town for last-minute (and often more expensive) items.

A few preparation tips:

* Send ...
... clear invitations. An easy way to avoid the potential of guests overextending their visits is to send friendly and festive invitations in advance that highlight the beginning, and end, of the holiday event.

* Plan the menus ahead of time. Feeding the hungry masses can become expensive for extended visits. Hosts and hostesses can reduce costs significantly by planning menus in advance and then stocking up on necessary ingredients during sales.

* Buy an Entertainment savings book. To save on everything from dining out to carryout, to visits to local attractions or movie theatres, consider purchasing your local edition of the Entertainment book. Available in more than 160 markets, this popular savings book contains thousands of dollars' worth of 50 percent off and 2-for-1 discounts on meals, travel, leisure activities and more.

Guests will enjoy doing some eating out and ordering out, so have the coupons available, Creel says. Plus, you can use them to get out and go bowling or to the movies or mini-golf ... and it's very affordable.

* Prepare an itinerary. Plan a few key activities for the entire group -- dinners, tree-trimming, an evening of cookie baking or sledding -- and let the guests know when each will take place. (Building holiday activities into the agenda also relieves the host of having to have everything done before the guests arrive).

* Load up. Buy, rent or borrow (from friends or neighbors) a variety of videos, books and current magazines that can be spread throughout the house for people to enjoy during unscheduled time.

And, when the visitors arrive:

* Make time for free time. Too much togetherness is never a good thing. Be sure and allow for periods of free time so guests can do their own thing. If you have extra vehicles, provide them with a set of car keys and a map of the area. If you're located near a subway or bus transportation, provide everyone with schedules.

* Keep breakfast and lunch simple. Unless you just can't get enough cooking, keep breakfast and lunch easy. For breakfast, consider setting the coffeemaker and preparing a tray of pastries, muffins and bagels before bed so guests can eat whenever they wake up. For lunch, put out some cold cuts and sandwich fixings or make a quick pot of chili.

It really isn't necessary to go crazy with the food, says Creel. Keep it easy. Do a little eating out and take out, or consider having people potluck. There's nothing worse than a host spending the entire visit in the kitchen!

* Accept help when it's offered. No need to be a superhero when hosting overnight visitors. Most guests really do mean it when they ask if there's anything they can do. Accepting their offers not only helps prevent you from tiring, but also gives guests a sense that they're earning their keep, and time to enjoy you!

* Don't sweat the small stuff. Realize that family gatherings rarely go exactly as planned. Unexpected things come up. It's not always perfect. By recognizing this, and simply appreciating this opportunity for quality time with loved ones, you'll help everyone to relax during their stay, and look forward to the next holiday gathering.

For more information on the 2004 Entertainment book, visit www.entertainment.com or call 888-231-SAVE.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Courtesy of ARA Content