Tips for Hosting a Successful Social Evening

There’s nothing better than inviting people around for a fun evening at your house. While there will always be bars and restaurants and so on to attend, there’s just something that’s more intimate about inviting your loved ones into your home. But of course, while it’s nice to have them around, it’s not as if you can just get them into your home and hope that you stumble upon a night of fun. Simply being together will give you fun for some time, but a whole night? That’ll require more. Below, we take a look at a few ways how you can host a successful social evening with friends and family.

Pexels - CC0 Licence

Create the Space

We’re used to our homes being spaces where we cook, relax, watch television, and so on. They’re spaces designed with our needs in mind. But that won’t be of much help when you’re hosting people. Then, it’s best to have a designated social space for everyone to enjoy. If the seating in your living all currently point towards the television, then make some changes! There are layouts that are more conducive to conversation. Alternatively, you can look at the open-plan kitchen layout, which is especially good for social evenings.

Grab the Supplies

You can’t have a great night with friends without a few supplies! Of course, the type of supplies you have will depend on the type of evening you’re hosting. You won’t need quite as many snacks if you’re going to be serving dinner, for example. It’s always a good idea to keep some snacks in the pantry so that you’re always ready to host. For drinks, opt for a selection, including beers, wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks. That way, everyone will be happy!

A Warm Welcome

The best social evenings are the ones where people feel welcome from the first moment they walk through the door. So be sure to give people a warm welcome when they arrive! Some people are more forthright with their needs when they’re in other people’s homes, but many people hold back. Be sure to offer them a drink, take their coats, and let them know that they can do whatever they need to feel comfortable. It’s the best way to ensure that you get the most out of your social evening, rather than having to wait for everyone to feel comfortable before the fun begins.

Games and Fun

You’ll spend some time talking and catching up, but at some stage, it’s best to introduce more guided activities. One of the best and most fun games to play is charades. Divide the group into two, and use a random word generator to select the word. You’ll find that everyone gets into the spirit of the game!

Easy Logistics 

Finally, you can make your night a resounding success by taking care of the logistics, such as how people will get home. Order taxis for a specific time, or give people the option to spend the night in your spare room. 

The Smartest Things to Pack in Your Hand Luggage

If you are planning a business trip or a vacation anytime soon, then it can be hard to decide what kind of luggage you need to take. Do you only need to think about hand luggage, or will you really need to have a checked bag? But if you only take hand luggage, how do you pack everything that you need but still abide by the hand luggage rules, like liquids under 100ml and so on? Planning ahead is a must, so that you can have a happier trip and manage to take all that you need. Here are some things to think about and ideas of what to pack.

image

• Reusable water bottle: as we know, the liquids that you take in your hand luggage need to be under a certain amount. But if you don’t want to buy a lot of plastic bottles once you have gotten through security, then take a reusable water bottle with you. You can then drink up before you head through the security gates, and then refill from a tap once you get through security. Then you’ll have it with you on your travels, so there will be no going thirsty.

• Toiletries: it is handy to have some toiletries with you in your hand luggage, even if you have some checked bags with you. You could pack some toothpaste if you are going on a long-haul flight, or just like to freshen up after you have eaten something. If you are someone who is an anxious traveler, then it could be a good idea to pack a CBD 1000mg size, so that it adheres to your hand luggage rules, then you can take some drops as and when it is needed. Other good toiletries to have are face wipes and lip balm; they can go a long way to help you feel refreshed on your travels.

• Phone charger: if you are traveling, then it is a great idea to make sure that you have your phone charger with you. You might want to check your car rental details once you’re at your destination, call someone to pick you up from the airport, or use the GPS on your phone to find where you need to be. So make sure that you have your charger with you and then it can help in a number of ways. The same thing goes for tablets and laptops, make sure that you have your chargers!

• Clothing for your destination: you might be heading to somewhere warm, but where you have just left from is cold. So having a change of clothing for when you arrive at your destination is a great idea. Likewise, if you are heading somewhere cold from somewhere warm, having some layers with you that you can throw on once you have arrived at your destination. Airplanes can be a little chilly too, so make sure you have a hoodie or a cardigan, as well as some socks, if you are someone who feels the cold easily. 

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy - Skillet Lemon Chicken Recipe

Image Credit: Pexels, Free to Use Licence. 

Some flavor combinations were just meant to be together and lemon, garlic, and chicken are one of them. If you’re not particularly confident with seasoning meat or you find that most chicken you cook is bland then this lemon chicken recipe is easy and I found it over at themediterraniandish.com. In this recipe, all of the flavors come from a delicious marinade that can be made in advance and used when you need it. The marinade does all the hard work for you so all you need to do is grab your skillet or fire up the grill and watch as the flavor profiles come to life. 

As such an easy dish this lemon chicken makes a great midweek dinner as a part of a meal plan served with rice, or a Mediterranean salad, but can also be brought out for summer BBQs and served with vegetable kebabs or jazzed up with some fresh herbs for a zero-effort dinner party. 

Here’s how to make it. 

You will need: 

For the spice mix

• 2 teaspoons of dried oregano
• 1.5 teaspoons of ground coriander 
• 1.5 teaspoons of ground cumin 
• 0.75 teaspoons of ground nutmeg 

For your marinade

• 80ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 60ml of olive oil 
• 3 tsp of crushed garlic (approximately 3 cloves) 

For your chicken

• 1.5lb of chicken (You can use thigh or breast)
• Salt and pepper of course 
• A large onion
• 2 whole lemons 
• Some olive oil 
• Optional parsley to garnish 

The method

1. Combine all the spices for the spice mix in a small bowl and give them a stir
2. Combine the lemon juice, olive oil and garlic for the marinade in a separate bowl 
3. To make your chicken sizzle, pat it dry with some paper towel and then season with the salt and pepper.
4. Next, cover the chicken on all sides with your spice mixture 
5. Put the chicken into a glass container or dish and add in your diced onions  before pouring over the marinade
6. To make sure the marinade gets into all the nooks and crannies gently massage the chicken until it’s covered all over
7. Place some plastic wrap or a plate over the marinating chicken and leave for up to 8 hours in the fridge to ensure maximum flavor penetration. If you need the chicken sooner then leave at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. 
8. When you’re ready to cook, cut your 2 lemons in half and add them to a heated skillet pan cut side down. Once they have begun to soften and have some nice grill marks, remove the lemons and set to one side. 
9. Next, add a little olive oil to the skillet before adding your chicken in a single layer. 
10. You can now throw away any remaining marinade. 
11. Cook the chicken until it is well-cooked through which should take about 7 minutes on each side. To check, gently open a piece of chicken and make sure it is no longer pink inside. 
12. Finally, when done transfer the chicken to a serving dish and squeeze over some of the grilled lemon juice. If you’re using parsley then garnish the finished dish now and eat immediately. 

Tackle-It Tuesday: Sheets and Pillowcases in the Linen Closet

Every Tuesday, I tackle a different project around my home that's been bugging all of us!

I finally got tired of stacks of sheets and pillowcases toppling over in our linen closet. Plus one of my husband's love languages is Acts of Service, so I have been trying to get things more organized lately for him. The bonus is that it helps me to feel more at peace in the house, and the kids can find things more easily too!

I went looking for a solution and saw that people on Instagram were doing an organizing challenge and some were placing their sheets neatly into bins and then labeling them in their linen closets.

This is my friend's cousin, who has 11 kids and staying organized is very important in her household!

 Yes! So I went to my bestie Amazon and ordered these beauties after measuring our closet:

How to Make the Most of a Business Trip

Image by Gerhard Gellinger from Pixabay

To make the most of a business trip, you need to do more for your career and for your personal life. Trying to do more on an already exhausting trip might seem impossible, but the steps outlined in this guide can actually help you to relax more during your downtime and better manage your energy.


Mental fatigue is a serious issue, so invigorate your mind and help yourself enjoy a better sleep by following this guide to help you make the most out of any business trip:

1.    Bring Your Own Creature Comforts With You

Bring pillowcases from home, photos, and, most importantly, slippers. Small creature comforts from home like these can help give you a sense of normalcy when you are living out of a hotel room. For those who travel for a living, creature comforts are the only way to add consistency to your routine, no matter how similar all the hotel rooms start to look.

2.    Eat Healthy, and Not At the Hotel

Vary where you eat but don’t fall into the trap of consuming unhealthy meals, day in and day out. There are many great healthy restaurants and markets in any city you go to, and finding these can help you stay healthy, give you an excuse to get out of the hotel, and, if you go with coworkers, you can socialize outside of work.

3.    See if You Can Add Extra Personal Time Before or After a Trip

If you have vacation days left over and you can cover the cost of your return trip, it’s worth seeing if your employer is willing to allow you to have a few days off before or after your business trip. If you can cover your own costs and have days left, then there shouldn’t be a problem.

4.    Look Up The Best Way to Experience a City – Not See It

Even if you aren’t permitted personal time off to see the city on your own after the business portion of your trip is over, you can still see the city. When getting out there, however, skip the busy, overcrowded tourist highlights and focus on all the experiences you can enjoy. From great markets to unique arts and cultural events, to even just spending time reading in a peaceful place, these activities will help you really experience your destination while feeling energized. To find these places, look up some quality 48-hour guides, like this 48 hours in Manchester guide that showcases how to really experience the city. This type of guide is ideal if you at a destination for three days to a week but need to work during the day. This way, you have fun, exciting experiences to enjoy that get you out of your hotel room.



Relax better and see more of your destination on every trip you take with work. Your time is your time, so use it to experience new foods and activities. The fun you’ll have will help you relax so much more and ensure you get a great night’s sleep at the end of your workday.