May is all about relationships and community service with Simple Living Media.  The past few weeks, we’ve discussed (sometimes pretty fervently) what it means to be a good neighbor, whether it’s important to know our surrounding neighbors, and at what level do we allow our children to play freely in our living environments.

These are all important factors in helping us thrive wherever we live, be it a high-rise in an urban metropolis or a wide-open farm with horses as the nearest neighbors.

Regardless where or how we live, we all live in community, to some extent.  And communities need its people to make the place what it is, and what it should be. A few weeks ago, contributor Megan Tietz gave us some fabulous ideas for encouraging a tighter-knit community — spearheaded by us.

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Our family calendar has only been open to May for a few days, and already the sprawling weeks ahead of us are filling up with plans, trips, and activities.

With its long days and lovely weather, summer invites us to escape the walls of our homes and get out and about in our communities.  I find that in order to really squeeze every ounce of potential from the summer months, I have to intentionally plan a little bit because those long, leisurely days float past in the blink of an eye.

What if, amongst the swimming lessons, weeks at camp, and family getaways this summer, we made time to intentionally connect with our communities?

Your time investment could be a little or a lot, but I assure you that the return on time invested will be greatly rewarded with meaningful memories.
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I believe that it is possible for a home to be welcoming and comfortable, as well as beautiful and functional. Nobody loves a home that seems too sterile, a place they are afraid to sit down and make themselves cozy. Every guest should feel comfortable when they step inside.

When my home is ready to greet guests, I like to call it “lived-in cozy”.  I like to make my home  so that any guest feels welcome to pull their feet up under them on the couch, sip a cup of tea and flip through a magazine while they are here – just like I would.

After checking for basics like making sure the temperature is set comfortably, the toilets are clean and the sink is empty, here are some other tips for making your home cozy and welcoming for guests, leaving perfection at bay.

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Because I’ve got another big book deadline looking me in the face this week, I thought it apropos to republish this post from October 2008 about hosting overnight guests in your home. With the holiday season fast approaching, most of us either have guests headed our way, or we’ll soon be guests ourselves.

As you’re reading this, we are hosting out-of-town guests in our home for a few days. Some people where we live kindly refer to us as a “bed and breakfast” because we have so many guests pass through our hallways – and we love it.

We don’t have a lot of room, but we do our best to make room for anyone who needs a pillow to rest their head for the night. Part of our family’s mission statement is to extend love to those around us, so we feel like making our home a haven for all who enter is a small way we can honor our relationships.

Yes, it’s a bit exhausting to have extra people within your walls, and yes, it does provide more work – for a time. But really, we truly love having guests. They usually play with our children, which everyone enjoys, and it provides us a nice break from the hum-drum of daily life. Hosting guests doesn’t have to be a pain – it can be something you look forward to.

Here are 10 ways you can help visitors feel more at home.

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