46 min

#155 Hosting and Toasting! Tips on Creating a More Inclusive and Welcoming Home. How to Not Get Burned Out Doing it‪.‬ Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni

    • Places & Travel

Do you often want to host a gathering, but stop yourself because of the work involved?





 


 
Would you like to get invited to more intimate dinner parties, hangs at friends and loved ones houses?





 


 
If so this episode is for you. This has been something I have long thought about but never put my thoughts on paper. This is essentially a note to both hosts and guests to open the line of communication so they can understand each other and see things from each other's perspective.





 


 
My husband and I love hosting at our home. We have done so for many many years in our older house. We just moved in April, and our house now is much larger than our apartment sized place. Even though our space was small, we always managed to cram it with loving and fun memories of dinner parties, wine tastings, xmas parties, Paella evenings and more.





 


 
We want to share space with others, and we are two humans who love to open our home and, make it welcoming. Do we do this as often as we would like to? No, we don't.





 


 
Why don't we? For one, it takes a lot of work. Cooking, prep, planning, cleaning, before and after the party is tiring. Is there space for everyone? Do we have enough chairs? Enough cups? Just the planning involved can become overwhelming and instantly steal the lovely dream of friends or family gathering around the table.





 


 
There is a fix to this, you just have to not be afraid to put it out there. Ready?





 


 
You need boundaries and clear guidelines for your home. You have to transport it into more of a communal hangout. What does this mean? It means that guests should take some responsibilities in the parts that fall on the host.





 


 
A note to guests- Please make yourself at home is a statement that is widely used but rarely followed. Do you wash dishes in your house? Take off your shoes? Do you cook in your home? Place a glass back to where it originally sat? Yes. You do.





 


 
When Phil and I visit people's homes we automatically take off our shoes, we bring something to share, and we always help with cooking, or cleaning afterwards. In other words, we want to be a part of the evening, and we also want to be invited again and again. We want to be great guests. We don't expect any grand event. We just love the idea of visiting with friends in their space. It is a gift to share your space with others, and to be a guest in it.





 


 
Tips For Hosts-
"Don't let perfect get in the way of good" I have learned this quote the past year and it is so true. Just do it. Don't make it a big thing. Nobody expects perfection, and if they did... maybe they aren't the right people to invite to your house. Just saying. A great friend or family member would just feel happy to be invited into your sacred space. Do or make something that allows you to actually HANG out with your guests. Whatever that is. Make a soup to share, pre-prep, make a batch cocktail. You aren't a server and unless it is a super intimate dinner party, do yourself a favor and join your guests. Be Clear and Have Boundaries- If you don't tell someone something, how will they ever know? This is more for the American audience- How many times has someone asked you if they should take off their shoes, and you felt bad and said... "Nah, don't worry about it" You immediately set a lax rule in your home. I say this is for the American audience because it is very normal to remove your shoes in house's overseas. BE CLEAR in what you want, speak up. You won't hurt anyone's feelings, if anything you will help them because guests want clear guidelines. You just aren't doing that with them... sorry you aren't. You are not the only one, I have done it many a time. Don't feel bad. Just be better next time. This is also part

Do you often want to host a gathering, but stop yourself because of the work involved?





 


 
Would you like to get invited to more intimate dinner parties, hangs at friends and loved ones houses?





 


 
If so this episode is for you. This has been something I have long thought about but never put my thoughts on paper. This is essentially a note to both hosts and guests to open the line of communication so they can understand each other and see things from each other's perspective.





 


 
My husband and I love hosting at our home. We have done so for many many years in our older house. We just moved in April, and our house now is much larger than our apartment sized place. Even though our space was small, we always managed to cram it with loving and fun memories of dinner parties, wine tastings, xmas parties, Paella evenings and more.





 


 
We want to share space with others, and we are two humans who love to open our home and, make it welcoming. Do we do this as often as we would like to? No, we don't.





 


 
Why don't we? For one, it takes a lot of work. Cooking, prep, planning, cleaning, before and after the party is tiring. Is there space for everyone? Do we have enough chairs? Enough cups? Just the planning involved can become overwhelming and instantly steal the lovely dream of friends or family gathering around the table.





 


 
There is a fix to this, you just have to not be afraid to put it out there. Ready?





 


 
You need boundaries and clear guidelines for your home. You have to transport it into more of a communal hangout. What does this mean? It means that guests should take some responsibilities in the parts that fall on the host.





 


 
A note to guests- Please make yourself at home is a statement that is widely used but rarely followed. Do you wash dishes in your house? Take off your shoes? Do you cook in your home? Place a glass back to where it originally sat? Yes. You do.





 


 
When Phil and I visit people's homes we automatically take off our shoes, we bring something to share, and we always help with cooking, or cleaning afterwards. In other words, we want to be a part of the evening, and we also want to be invited again and again. We want to be great guests. We don't expect any grand event. We just love the idea of visiting with friends in their space. It is a gift to share your space with others, and to be a guest in it.





 


 
Tips For Hosts-
"Don't let perfect get in the way of good" I have learned this quote the past year and it is so true. Just do it. Don't make it a big thing. Nobody expects perfection, and if they did... maybe they aren't the right people to invite to your house. Just saying. A great friend or family member would just feel happy to be invited into your sacred space. Do or make something that allows you to actually HANG out with your guests. Whatever that is. Make a soup to share, pre-prep, make a batch cocktail. You aren't a server and unless it is a super intimate dinner party, do yourself a favor and join your guests. Be Clear and Have Boundaries- If you don't tell someone something, how will they ever know? This is more for the American audience- How many times has someone asked you if they should take off their shoes, and you felt bad and said... "Nah, don't worry about it" You immediately set a lax rule in your home. I say this is for the American audience because it is very normal to remove your shoes in house's overseas. BE CLEAR in what you want, speak up. You won't hurt anyone's feelings, if anything you will help them because guests want clear guidelines. You just aren't doing that with them... sorry you aren't. You are not the only one, I have done it many a time. Don't feel bad. Just be better next time. This is also part

46 min

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