Here are five things I do to prepare for house guests so that they feel welcomed and I feel relaxed. This is in addition to this checklist: Is Your Guest Room Ready? It’s Sunday Faves time with Annie and Cindy.

This time of year many of us are making room for overnight house guests. I feel lucky that for two nights this week we had cousins from New Jersey and Arizona visit us while on their way to see family in other parts of Florida.

My first cousins Patricia, Julie and I grew up playing together often as kids. But as adults, it has become harder to get together. Dian, who also came along, is the widow of my cousin, Chris. So this little bit of time together is precious.

1. Plan The Menu

Advanced preparation is most important for a stress-free visit. We had breakfasts and one dinner at home. So in order to have the groceries and some cooking out of the way, here’s what Howard and I did.

Thursday afternoon arrival of New Jersey guests: small snack plate (a nibble of olives, crackers, cheese, veggies, in case they were hungry) then dinner at a local restaurant.

Friday morning: self-serve: yogurt, granola, fruit, toast and bacon. (Make egg casserole with leftover bacon for Saturday morning).

Friday lunch: lunch at our country club after a long beach walk. We even had time to relax (and I actually fell asleep in the Ladies Loft for a bit–talk about relaxed!).

Friday dinner menu (rest of the gang arrived in the late afternoon and we took them around in the golf cart before dinner).

Casual Dinner At Home Menu

Local Mayport Shrimp with The Best Remoulade Sauce
Boursin Cheese Log with Cranberries and Parsley (leaving out the nuts for one cousin)

Howard’s Caesar Salad with Purple Cabbage
Beef Bourguignon served in Bordallo Pinheiro Portuguese Pumpkin Bowls that I’ve loved for many years

Warm Baguette and Butter
Gourmet Bakery Dark Chocolate Julie’s 70th Birthday Cake And French Vanilla Ice Cream

You may also like: Special Fall Dinner Menu

Saturday Simple Breakfast On The Patio

Chopped watermelon and blueberries
Easy Make Ahead Egg Bacon Casserole (recipe below)
Freshly baked cinnamon rolls from Whole Foods

Print Pin

Easy Vegetable and Cheese Egg Casserole

You can make this mixture, seal and refrigerate the night before. Add other vegetables like spinach if you like. I used an air fryer to take out some of the moisture from the vegetables and intensify the flavors, but you could also bake the casserole longer.

Just cook until the eggs are set and you can't go wrong.

Course Breakfast

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
8 large eggs whisked
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
6 slices cooked bacon diced
1/2 red bell pepper diced
1/2 red onion chopped
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
3 tablespoons yogurt or milk
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped parsley if desired

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Air fry for 8 minutes red bell pepper, onion and mushrooms. Mix with eggs, cheese, bacon, yogurt, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until well-combined; pour into the prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until eggs are set, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

2. Polish The Copper And Silver

Having company is good motivation to do this. For the copper I use Barkeeper’s Friend, since I only do it two or three times a year.

And the Salt And Boiling Water Method for the silver.

3. Clean The Bedrooms And “Hang Out Areas” (i.e. the Family Room And Porches)

Somehow the construction of our primary bedroom caused dust and dirt throughout the house. And our porches have been neglected (they need constant upkeep from wind, leaves and dirt). So refreshing these areas felt needed and we used them for great conversations.

By the way, we are just waiting for the shower glass and some touch-up in the bathroom. We are loving it so far. Hopefully, I can show it next Sunday.

4. Display Fresh Flowers

I bought enough flowers at Trader Joe’s to make arrangements for the coffee and dining tables.

5. Set The Table Early On For Dinner

I did this the day before the cousins came.

Note: Mercedes and Howard each gave me a vintage oyster plate for my birthday, so I hung them with mine on the wall. I may keep adding to them from my travels!

Don’t Over-Schedule

Just being together was enough.

What To Watch on TV: Five Star Weekend

On this television series, let’s just say the weekend may have been overscheduled. I watched this on the airplane to Nova Scotia last week. Not one for the guys… but I liked it.

A Great Sale at Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor gifted me the wool Chesterfield coat. It looked so gorgeous on Patricia, I gave it to her (plus she lives in New Jersey)! It’s 40% off right now and free shipping.

My embellished Ann Taylor jeans are also on sale at 40% off. They are in a petite size 6, but I might get them hemmed. The cashmere crew short-sleeved sweater is by Quince. The burgundy color appears to be sold out, but there are lots of other great colors.

The time with our houseguests went way too quickly, but with a little preparation, Howard and I both agree that it was stressfree and enjoyable.

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Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:

Easy Hospitality: Five Things To Prepare For House Guests