The Extra Mile Special Touches with Guest Cindy Sigler Dagnan
I am blown away by the fabulous ideas and interactions going on here in the comment thread each day. Keep it up!
Yesterday there were many ideas for pampering our husbands and such sweet encouragement from women who had lost their husbands as to how not to take ours for granted.
However, I must say that I had to laugh when my own dear husband contacted me asking me to enter my own giveaway. Seems he’d really like me to get a copy of Sheila’s book!
Now today, we talk little extra-mile touches that make your family and guests feel special.
Today’s guest is my creative friend Cindy Sigler Dagnan.
Cindy is a domestically impaired wife and mother of four. She is a writer and speaker who is a whiz at naming dust bunnies, but manages to incorporate enough little touches in her home that make all the difference.
Visit her on the web at www.cindydagnan.com or read her blog about spiritual legacies for your children at www.heritagebuilders.com
From Cindy’s heart (and brain! Such clever ideas she has!):
I’m possibly the farthest thing from a Martha Stewart out there. I am the only person in my home ec class who got extra credit for not wearing my garment to class!
That said, I love the idea of my home being a place of welcome to my family. A place of refreshment for my friends. A retreat, a respite.
A place where things that I can do, little touches that say “you’re special” are evident, but don’t stress me out.
~ Line pantry and cabinet shelf edges w/ lace; line drawers w/ scented paper
~ Throw a towel in the dryer and give cozy warmth to someone whose bath or shower is just finished; keep bath salts, fizzies & bubbles in stock
~ In your guest room, turn down covers, leave a mint or fresh flower; on the bedside table, place a pitcher of water, a cup and a few current magazines or a good inspirational book; lay a set of towels on the end of the bed along with a fresh bar of soap
~ In the bathroom, keep a small basket filled w/ extra toothbrushes, sample bottles of shampoo, lotion, conditioner, mouthwash, etc. for any guests who may have forgotten something
~ When you make hot cocoa, add whipped cream, marshmallows, miniature chocolate chips and drape a candy cane over the side.
~ Float a few strawberries in a pitcher of lemonade
~ Dip the rim of glassware in water, dip in sugar and freeze lightly before serving lemonade or tea
~ Cut a tiny cross hatch in a decorative cupcake liner and poke a straw through to keep bugs and debris out of drinks you serve outdoors
~ A bowl of fresh lemons & limes atop a stack of coffee table books is inexpensive & elegant
~ Freeze cranberries in your ice cubes to add to water for a visual, flavorful treat.
~ Purchase shaped ice cube trays (we like stars) for a fun change. Add a dot of red or blue food coloring for a Fourth of July treat
~ Have a “You are Special” plate (ours is red) to celebrate special occasions. Keep a special book near the plate or write on the back in permanent markers. Ours has celebrated everything from finishing chemo treatments (my daddy), to birthdays, to first days of school, honor rolls, engagements, & job changes.
~ Keep a guestbook by your front door.
~ Save your Christmas cards and draw out several each week to pray for on family night.
~ Adopt a national or local leader to pray for. Send them a card or packet of drawings from your children once a month.
~ Be thoughtful even when you’re on the receiving end of hospitality. Bring a small hostess gift {cookbook; small floral bouquet; scented candle; a card with a candy bar or potpourri tart attached with tape}
~ Put tea lights or a bowl with floating candles at each place along with a place card
~ Keep your high chair after your family has outgrown it so you’ll have it on hand for small guests.
~ Use a picnic or card table to decorate a special table for children.
It doesn’t take much. In this case, your mother was right: a little goes a long way! Happy hospitality!
Today’s giveaway:
For all of you? Cindy has crafted a freebie for you over at her place. See www.cindydagnan.com for handouts for table centerpiece ideas and other little touches for your home. (click on “handouts” in the top navigation bar of her site)
And, since part of this week deals with pampering our husbands (today is the last day for this topic) one of you will receive a copy of her book Hot Chocolate For Couples: Practical Ways to Sweeten Your Love Life.
To be entered to win the book, tell us a little extra touch you like to see or do when it comes to hospitality.
Remember, all winners will be announced the day after Easter and you may comment on all posts up until then to be entered in the random drawings.
NOTE: We are also interacting over at Karen Ehman’s Book Studies on Facebook.Click here to “like” the page & join us. Starting this weekend there will be giveaways there too based on info from the book!
We ask ahead of time what kinds of soups they use and any kind of foods they like so that we can have those available when they come.
I love the idea of putting a basket of “things’ in the bathroom. I want to put a pretty basket on top of the toilet with lotions, body sprays, colognes, and various other mini toiletries. I think it’s going to be my weekend project. :)
It’s always so nice to see a personal touch that is “just for me” when I am visiting. I plan on trying to do just that when we have guests in to our home. Trying to remember a favorite candy, movie, meal, etc for our guests and have that available for them makes for an even more special stay.
These are all great ideas! Im on the right track. I always make sure that what I put in the guest room and the meals I prepare are always my guests favorites.
Most of our guest in the past have been teenagers and I have to admit, I haven’t come close to the hospitality of those who have already commented. Now that our children are grown and have more adults visit, I do try to have some type of bakery item to have with coffee and make sure I have the creamer and sweeteners that my guest prefer.
My guest room is also my hubby’s office, craft room and collector of all things room…therefore…when I have guests come over…I make sure all the computer lights are hidden so as not to keep them awake…I also have towels in the bathroom and travel sizes of frequently used items for them in case they forgot. If they drink coffee, I make sure my coffee maker is out (we don’t drink coffee but have one for those guests who do) as well as tea bags, mugs, sugar, etc is ready. In some cases I make sure to make muffins for breakfast and ALWAYS have their favorite ice cream on hand for a special treat. I am loving this study and learning so much. Have a blessed evening all!
Smiles & Blessings,
Robin :)
I like to go up to the guest bedroom before our guests turn in for the night and spray scented linen spray on their pillows. I love a lavender, vanilla scent! It just lulls you to sleep!
For guest that will be staying overnight, I like to have some of their favorite things in a basket with a little note attached telling them how glad I am to have them staying with us.
We typically don’t have overnight guests unless it is a friend of our children. We make more kid-friendly meals that we know the guest will like.
I like to have fresh baked cookies available for guests. I will make a batch and place them on the counter under a cake dome glass dish. This way the guest can see them and help themselves.
My mom comes over occasionally and she no longer bakes so I try to have some little home made goodie for her. A cup of coffee or a nice cup of tea. I remember going to my maternal grandmother’s and she always had a goodie after meals. I enjoyed the cakes with air bubbles. She’d grease the bottom of an electric skillet (cut out a paper bag to fit the skillet so the cake wouldn’t burn) pour the batter in. It made the most moist and yummy cakes with air bubbles. I miss them. She always had coffee or tea perked in the electric coffee pot. I have enjoyed tea since I was young and it’s because of my Grandmother. Thank you everyone for all of the wonderful ideas. It’s been such a joy reading them.
I love all of the ideas! I feel lacking in this area… with two small children, we don’t yet have many guests over. My favorite way to show hospitality is by baking. I love to be able to offer my guest fresh homemade muffins for breakfast. Nothing fancy, but you can’t beat that smell first thing in the morning! And I often take a batch of frozen muffin batter, with instructions for baking, to give to others. This was a great way to treat my sister when we visited to see my brand-new baby nephew!
I realize I haven’t been as welcoming as I thought I was. What wonderful ideas….why haven’t I thought of some of these long ago? I’m getting excited to receive my next visitors!
My sister, an avid gardener, always has fresh cut flowers on the kitchen table, No matter the season there is something arranged and set out on her table!
We have a designated space in the closet of our guest/sewing room so guests will have plenty of room to hang their clothing. In that closet are two matching plush terry cloth bathrobes exclusively for guests to use. When my budget allows I purchase several magazines to place on the bedside table that correspond to the interests of our guests. When the budget is a bit short I have several books with short stories that can be read in a short time. Since our guest room is also the sewing room there is a pin up board on the wall. When guests come we pin up a welcome note and any verses of Scripture that seem appropriate.
We only have my family over as night guests. I need to do more of these ideas for the guest room. Right now, I just put fresh sheets on the bed. I have favorite beverages and foods available for guests. My dad drinks coffee but we don’t so I have some made for him in the morning. I know what guests can eat like allergies, diabetes, pickey eater, etc. We burn candles to make the house smell good. My favorite is the Apple Pie candle in the kitchen. We have a guest bathroom that I make sure has fresh towels. I like the toiletries basket in the bathroom-I’m going to start doing that. I have lots of snacks available for our teen and friends. I have developmentally appropriate toys for my nieces and we have a high chair for my youngest niece to use so I can babysit them at our house. When they are not over, I store them upstairs in our storage room. One of my nieces thinks that our upstairs is the playroom because when she is over there are lots of toys out. I want to do more for our guests that come over weekly for a Bible Study at our house that I’m hosting this year.
My mother in law is a diabetic and can’t have caffeine …I always buy her decaf. coffee and herbal teas w her favorite sweeter. In the a.m. I make get coffee then her pot. I also have her favorite candies and snacks she can eat.
I also left this comment on facebook but I like to tailor it to my guests. For instance my parents would not like snacks in the basket by the bed but the daily paper or pictures by my kids, now that is something they would enjoy and feel special about. But my friends, now sweets or great girl books would be just the thing. And I love to have baked goods and candles throughout the house. Just makes it smell like home and when you are traveling isnt that the thing that says welcome the most! How ironic!
One couple whose house we’ve eaten at a few times has sent us home with leftovers and that is such a huge blessing to us! I want to start doing this for my guests, too.
I love all of the ideas. I have never thought about all of the simple things one can do to make others feel welcome. When I go over to someone’s home I love it when they have meals that do not include pork or beef because my husband and I do not eat it.
I have to say I am really enjoying this study.
I enjoy filling a basket with nutritious and delicious snacks to leave in the guest room, along with fresh towels at the end of the bed and also a basket of travel size toothpaste, shampoo, and soaps, encase they had forgotten anything.
We like to use a heating pad to warm up the bed on chilly nights, just for a few minutes to take the chill off, then its removed.
We like to use a heating pad to warm up the guest bed for a few minutes before retiring, just long enough to take off the chill.
Since most our get togethers are family and my daughter’s friends, I’ll concentrate first on my daughter’s friends; her advice is to chill out about how the house might look since they are here to visit and have fun. Otherwise i have been critiqued for doing too much (I love to wait on my guests, even if they are family)…but really it isn’t in my mind because i always have a plan and i am getting really great at preprepping for large get togethers. PS: this past New Years we played bingo and it was a hit! A tip i got from the comment section from one of the Prov. 31 emails i subscribe to! Thanks…gonna use the cupcake liner tip this summer.
I love candles! When having dinner or just around the room! I think it gives such a calming mood and it adds just that little extra touch!
Angie