You know it’s going to happen…
usually when your house is at its worst, you have laundry piles on the couches waiting to be folded and there are dirty dishes in the sink…
Surprise Guests!
It’s the Season for stop-by’s and pop-by’s and “I was in the neighbourhood”, so I thought I’d share a little trick a friend taught me:
buy bars and treats from Costco or M&M Meats, cut them into squares and tuck them into your freezer.
If you suddenly find yourself in the throes of Holiday entertaining, you can just pull a few treats out of the freezer, put on a pot of tea and look like you’d planned it all along. (You may have to convince them that they are “family” and therefore you feel comfortable visiting with them with your bed-head and laundry piles).
I can only help with so much.
I set up a dessert cart with a Christmas display and some sparkling water ready for those moments you’re not ready for.
I’m Canadian, so this water is probably from my backyard (we have good water) – but I bought bottled anyways for the pretty colour and carbonation. I’ve gotta distract company from my paint-stained yoga pants.
I LOVE these plates. They are actually my Mom’s, but I borrowed them for the Season so I could look like I have nice stuff.
I always keep an extra gift or two under the tree – usually my favourite chocolates – just in case someone stops by that I haven’t already bought for. It’s only happened once where someone completely unexpected came over, and it was nice to be able to give them something for Christmas.
If no one comes by, then I get to eat my mint smoothies myself – so it’s a win all around.
I pulled a few different squares out of the freezer and set them on this tiered tray so guests can peruse and nibble.
The little two-tiered tray is the only thing I have to set up for Holiday entertaining – be it surprise guests, or friends and wine.
If you stopped by – and you can now that I have a dessert cart ready to go – would you know that I wasn’t expecting you and that I had nothing baked for the Holidays?
You’d probably think “How did she know we were coming?” or “Was she expecting someone else today?” or possibly even “This chick has it TO-GETH-ER!”
It would only be the paint-pants and bed-fro that would give me away.
Thank you Costco, for making me look competent.
A simple pre-prep to help you be ready for Holiday entertaining – surprise or otherwise.
Have a great one!
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