9.02.2009

Heavenly House Guests

Welcome ~ come on in. My home is your home



Are you leaving home this weekend to stay with friends or family? How do you rate yourself as the perfect house guest? Since my marriage to Mr. Scotland, I've learned a lot about hosting houseguests. I had always lived close to my family and friends and therefor never had many over-nighter's, but when we married and moved out of state life changed.

The first years we were married, we typically had visitors as much as 12 weeks a year from the United States and Europe. Now we live in Texas and due to the Houston climate, the months that are comfortable to 'holiday' here are fewer. If you don't like a lot of guests, move to somewhere that people do not like to vacation. When we lived in San Diego and Las Vegas, even Seattle, we were the hot destination spot.

Here are a few of my requests as a hostess;
  1. don't let your children poop on the carpet & blame it on the dog (it was funny).
  2. don't open bedroom windows during the night when it's 85 outside & the air conditioning is blasting. July's power bill was a whopping $650; just say thank you!
  3. don't consume all the liquor in the bar. Leave some for me to wash away my whoa's upon your departure.
  4. don't urinate on the carpet (this was an inebriated 21 yr. old). Always know where the closest bathroom is.
  5. don't use the floor as your garbage can. I may look like everyone's mother but I have 4 of my own & that's a plenty.
  6. don't tell me you don't eat beef as I am elbow deep in mixing up meat loaf for your dinner.
  7. don't ask if it is going to be "hot" today from May through October. It is hot every frickin' day.
  8. don't visit with a phobia of bugs. Even those are bigger in Texas
Here are some straight and steady tips for being the welcomed & welcomed back guest -
  • b.y.o.b
  • don't overstay your welcome
  • offer a helping hand
  • keep your guest area neat - keep your footprint small
  • mind your body - (love this one) keep your clothes on & wear a bathrobe.
  • don't keep your hosts up late
  • keep the noise down - you may not have to work but your guests likely do
  • be mindful about mealtimes - perhaps share in the cooking duties by offering to cook a few nights.
  • do your own laundry
  • entertain yourself and escort yourself - spend some hr.'s away from your hosts & their house each day
  • remove bed linens before you leave
  • follow up a note of sincere thanks &/or leave a small gift upon departure
  • ask how things work before winging it as you use appliances, t.v. remote, computer, etc.
**Important not to overlook** - Teach your children how to be good house guests. Give yourself and them a vital, life long lesson.


disclaimer; no hurt feelings or finger pointing is intended with this post. When you have as many guests as we have, something interesting has to happen. All in good fun I say; and good times were enjoyed by all. Love you man~
























“House guests, like fish, stink after three days” - Benjamin Franklin

Come on', spill the beans - What have been your house guest nightmares?

{go forth & live responsibly}
respect the space

** Just a wee note to thank you all, my faithful readers. With our guests and starting a new career, my free - time and my love of blogging and keeping up with my lovely friends, has been far & few. Please don't give up on me - I will get my act together & get up to snuff a.s.a.p. Your the best. Have a fabulous long weekend to all!

credits: elledecor.com;mdesigninteriors, phoebe howard; polly wreford; chris everard; tim evan cook; peter dunham; wikihow.com; lifehack.org;

39 comments:

The Townhouselady said...

All I can say is Hallelujah! Living in NYC was a curse, everyone though my home was a hotel.

Consequently, I have had some of the worst guests ever!! Also, it's usually the ones that you think will be lovely that turn out not to be. The vagrant looking ones have been some of the best.

Averill said...

I've been blessed with some very considerate houseguests. Because most of my family is in Houston (and just about all of them are in Texas), we don't host my family for overnights. Since Dave though is from FL, we get a lot of his people coming to stay and they've always been lovely (though I'll admit that 3 days is about my max for ANY guest). We also tend to a host a fair share of my friends from college/law school, though fortunately they (and their spouses) all get along with Dave.

All this being said, we're hosting overnight guests two separate weekends in October so I'll let you know how that goes!

Kitty said...

so funny. i was about to quote benny f with the houseguests & fish smell after 3 days... i love the idea of houseguests, but actually hate them once they get here. maybe i need a new crop of guests!

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Now then Deb...I am the perfect guest ......I will be booking in for the first 3 days in October.I will be helpful and neat and promise to keep my clothes on ( except for Saturday night !! ) I will keep the noise to a minimum ( apart from Saturday night !!) and will promise to entertain myself ( especially on Saturday night !! )
I would like to request the Union Jack bedroom please but will bring my own teddy.
The only thing that I can't promise is that I wont urinate on the carpet !!!!
Will be bringing a present. See you at the airport !!! XXXX

debra@dustjacket said...

Okay after looking for ages, have finally picked my bedroom, #3. Just love Jac's comment about, your so naughty Jackie!

Great post, something in that for all of us I think! Take care,
xoxo

Magdalena said...

How funny, you are a riot!! I have always had great guests, some more fun than others. I like the ones that stay up very very late and make me laugh until I can't breath they always get invited back. So basically I need to be amused!! I'll provide everything else :)
have a wonderful weekend
Bunny
gorgeous images

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

So funny, and a little frightening as well.

I haven't those horror stories, but we did have house guests once who asked if it was okay if they brought their horse. Seriously. I managed to stable him in an equestrian center close to our home, but what if there hadn't been one???
He was a beautiful horse, though.

Kalee said...

What a great post and entertaining post. I especially love the images, beautiful. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

annechovie said...

LOL. You have a great sense of humor, Deb. Sounds like you've had a few "colorful" guests. It's funny how good it usually feels to get your own space back once someone has departed, esp. if they weren't exactly thoughtful. Have a great holiday weekend!

Julie@beingRUBY said...

What a funny and gorgeous post. Sounds like you have had some entertaining guests.Unlike Jacqueline, I promise to keep my clothes on. Set aside bedroom #11 for me thanks, and have a great weekend!!! xxx Julie

Couture Carrie said...

Gorgeous spaces and sound advice ~ should be required reading for all potential houseguests!

xoxox,
CC

Fifi Flowers said...

Ooooh FAB... you have several guests rooms... hard to pick one... is it rude to hop from room to room!
I will be the PERFECT house guest I promise!!!
Packing bags now... see you SOON!
Bon week-end!
Fifi

Beth Connolly said...

A truly great post. I don't do house guests. That's what hotels are for.

Duchess of Tea said...

Darling, I have two cousins who are going to be visiting me in a week (one with a 3 year old), so I decided that I am going to print this post and let them read it the minute they arrive. After all my house, my rules, right? Thanks for this great post. Darling have yourself a fabulous weekend!!

Love & Hugs
Duchess ♥♥♥

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

Wow...some dreamy bed rooms!
Most of my house guests are mainly family members...I need to keep all sharp objects AWAY, I want to kill them sometimes ;)
~Wonderful weekend darling!

LenoreNeverM♡re said...
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LenoreNeverM♡re said...
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LenoreNeverM♡re said...

so sorry...had problem leaving comments on this post. It somehow repeated my comments 3x at the end??? oops!

debi lynn mattingly said...

How funny!!! Being from Louisiana, you know us Cajuns....when the "troupe" visits, it is the WHOLE family including animals. And they don't stay just a night...it is for SEVERAL nights. For my relatives, Houston is a destination...big city ya know! :) LOL
(even though they are just across the border....they still see Texas as a whole other country. I just don't have the heart to tell them that it is the Texans that think of Louisiana as the "other country")....hehehe

xo...deb

DesignTies said...

Have you seriously had guests pee & poo on your floor?!?!? Ewwwwwww!!!!! Suddenly makes our nightmare guests not look so bad!! ;-)

Last year, we had a guest from the west coast here for a few days. After she left, the guest bathroom reeked of her hairspray and other hair care products for a week. And there was a layer of film on everything in the room.

I was a guest in this person's house for a few days last year too. She may have a lovely guest room, but her hosting manners suck. I vacuumed her house while her 14-year old daughter watched TV. She sat in front of the TV eating soup for supper while her hubby, son and I ate Chinese at the kitchen table. She brought me to places she wanted to go and didn't ask me if there was anywhere I wanted to go. I couldn't wait to get back home from that trip!!

Good to hear you're slowly moving to the purple side :-) It's funny that you think it's an old lady colour -- I'm not an old lady, I swear!! :-)

Kelly

Anonymous said...

Fantastic post. You know, I think there is as much an art to being a good guest as it is to being a good hostess. I like your rules, now if only it was considered ok to put that buy your guests pillow lol (yeah, right next to the mints :)).
You've got so many beautiful bedrooms here, but if I were to choose the one I wanted to stay in, it would be the one where the walls are windows. I think thats just so fabulous. I can just imagine how lovely it would be waking up in a room like that!
Have a fantastic weekend!!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Wow, you are one patient hostess! I don't know how I would handle the urinating. Ah ha

Clarity said...

My goodness. I thought all the rules you stated were common knowledge?

I shan't mention negatives - but I did hear that Orson Welles once visited for a weekend and ended up staying for five years at a friend's.

Antonio Barros said...

Amazing rooms!! The decoration is lovely!!!

thesingular.blogspot.com

caroline duke said...

that third one down!!!

and that ottoman in the dressing room with the poodle. oh my god.

Kellie Collis said...

I love pic 4!!!x

Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese said...

Wow, you have had some horrendous house guests! I'm thankful to say, I have never had any house guest issues. Although, having never lived in a tourist destination city, I haven't had an excessive number of guests.

Those are some gorgeous guest rooms! I would be thrilled to stay in any of them. I particularly love the room with glass walls/wood ceiling. It would feel like sleeping outdoors. I also think that loveseat with the green pattern at the foot of the bed is amazing! I'd love to have a sofa with a bold print, but something tells me that I'd tire of it. I'm a bit ashamed to say it, but I'm such a fickle decorator...

Keith said...

Great photos. All of them are so beautiful. Wonderful advice as well.

Mimi said...

You are sooo funny! Your list is perfection and so are all of the images you so carefully selected!
Hmmm...don't mind house guests, but usually a two day max for me. We have a small house with two children and a big dog. I have to say though, I really get pissed when guests don't help pick up after themselves...If you're sleeping on my sofa..please fold the blankets/sheets and neatly put them to the side. At least I know you are a gracious guest when you think to do so..

Outside The Lines said...

One room is more gorgeous then the next!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
C.J. said...

okay, finally have decided on which room I want. The tenth one down, yep, that's my room. I am a great guest, I cook, clean, stay out of their way, go on excursions by myself (always invite them), take them to dinner and always, always send a thank you card and gift. Damn, I should stay with me!
This post was great and timely for me as I have guests coming in a few days! The one gal is my cousin which I have not talked to for over an hour at a time in 45 years AND! she invited her sister in law to come with her without bothering to ask me! Sheesh! How long are they staying you ask??? you did, didn't you? ONE WEEK. Ye God's! she says while starting the car to go to the liquor store to stock up. Love and miss hearing from you, took your advice, went on Millionaire.com, and will post a picture later this week as I just had a face lift last Tuesday... (want to look good) lol

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