Hosting for the Holidays: How To Get Your Guest Room Ready

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season (besides the delicious, mouth-watering food, of course ;)) is spending time with close friends and family that we may not get to see as often as we'd like. This being the case, usually means you have to put your entertaining hat on more than usual as well as having guests utilize that extra bedroom usually left vacant. Yippee, slumber party!!!

The holidays are the perfect time and excuse to get the guest bedroom into tip-top shape and here are a few ways to do just that! After all, we need to be ready for special visitors and a few extra tricks that will make them feel right at home. :)


Number One:
Open the curtains + let the sun shine in! Crack a window to let in some fresh air before your guests arrive.

Number Two:
Make the bed with luxurious linens and spritz the pillows with a little linen spray before guests arrive.

 

 

  

 

Number Three:
Plenty of pillows are a must and why not add a bed tray make for a luxe stay.

 

  

 

Number Four: 

Give your guests the feeling of staying in a B&B or inn. Serving hot tea or coffee in the mornings and evenings is a small touch that will surely be remembered.

Number Five:
Reading material is nice to keep in your guest room. Magazines (both old and new), a current newspaper and a few classic books are good options.

Number Six:
Keep a decanter with fresh filtered water + a glass next to the bed, and be sure to refill it while your guests are with you!

 

 

 

 

Number Seven:
A scented candle and matches are also nice additions to the nightstand that every guest will appreciate.

Number Eight:
Don’t forget fresh flowers!

Number Nine:
Fluffy white towels and hand soap should always be in the guest bathroom. Make sure to set out a washcloth + hand towel too.

Number Ten:
A little basket of “essentials” is sure to make you the hostest with the mostest and the ensure that your guests will want to come back time and time again! We stock ours with face wipes, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothbrushes and toothpaste, perfume and cologne, Q-Tips, tissues and a small deodorant. Pretty much everything we tend to forget when traveling....

 

 

 

 

xxxx

 

~sweet dreams~

 

 

 

Update! Happy Monday!

Just stopping through for a quick hello before I am off again! My life lately has been quite beautifully chaotic! With real estate and my part-time job my days are quite filled!... but I LOVE it and wouldn't change it! I am making deals, writing contracts and while I have not yet closed a deal yet I am so close I can taste it! As one of my favorite fish characters, Dory once said "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. Just keep swimming!" That is my motto at the current moment and that is exactly what I plan to do! Now, before I go swimming off again I just wanted to share some of my fav instagram pictures to show what I have been up to lately! Also, if you don't follow me on instagram please do! You can finding me by looking up _rachaelnash_
Hope everybody is doing well// Lots of love!

  

 

Happy Monday Everybody!

Delicious Design

Who doesn't love a perfectly decorated room??? Well, I must say I am a sucker for a bright, elegant and sophisticatedly delish décor and this will not disappoint.... I came across these on Pinterest and they just made me too happy not to share!

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photography by Sam Penner)

 

xoxo

What a journey it's been so far....

 

What a journey it's been so far! To say that my life is in a transitional phase at the moment would be an understatement! After much thought and a few emotional scars, I finally said farewell and au revoir to the Athletic Department {thank God!} and decided to go full throttle into real estate. Now, I know what you thinking.... "Wait! What?!? Are you crazy, Rachael?!? Quitting your job to go into real estate with no guarantee of a paycheck????".... Thankfully, the answer would be no {thank God once again} I was able to get a part time job at a boutique here in CC (which obviously is right up my alley)!

All-in-all, everything is finally looking up and I am excited for what the Lord has planned! Thank you all and I hope that you will continue to follow me on this exciting adventure called my LIFE!

 

xoxo



ATTENTION: New Facebook Page!

The new page is up and going so please go and check it out and let me know what you think by clicking here: http://www.facebook.com/RachaelNashColdwellBankerPacesetterSteel and please "like it"!

Cheers to 4:30 pm

Let's be honest, there are days out there that we just go home thinking "Holy Cow! I just survived another day and I think that in itself, is cause for celebration!" Well, the new Toby Keith song came on the radio at work and usually I am not a fan of TK but his song "Drinks After Work" is quite catchy and happens to be my inspiration for today! Here are a couple of delicious looking recipes that I just might have to try after 4:30 pm...

Enjoy! ;)

Fresh Lime Margaritas

1 1/2 cups gold tequila
3/4 cup Triple Sec
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
4 tbsp. sugar
8 cups crushed ice
2 tbsp. kosher salt
6 lime wedges

 

............................................What To Do.........................................

 

1. Mix salt and 2 tbsp. sugar.
2. Run lime wedge along rim of 6 glasses.
3. Dip the wet rim into the salt & sugar mixture.
4. Combine tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and 2 additional tbsp. sugar in large pitcher; stir to dissolve sugar.
5. Add crushed ice.
6. Pour margarita into glasses & garnish with lime wedges.

Lemonade Sparkler

2 ounces strawberry infused vodka (Svedka)
2 ounces simple syrup
2 ounces fresh lemon juice (or pink lemonade)
sparkling wine
8 cups crushed ice
slices of fresh sliced strawberries

lemon slices

mint leaves 

 

............................................What To Do.........................................

 

1. Pour simple syrup and vodka into a shaker with ice.
2. Add lemon juice.
3. Top with sparkling wine.
4. Garnish with strawberries and mint.

Sneak Peek: Getting the Word Out!

 So, my dear readers, I wanted to give you a little sneak-peek and I would love to hear what you think about my new e-flyer that I will be sending out to my contacts list! This is such a neat and exciting time in my life and I just hope that you will join me on my new career venture and let me assist you on your home venture whenever you are ready!

 

Father's Day

So, this weekend is Father's Day and I wish that I could say that I will be spending it with my dad but unfortunately he has to work so plans have changed (boo) but we will be making a trip up next weekend! Now, with that being said, I still wanted to just take the time today to do a little post dedicated to my dad!

He is my rock and I know that no matter what, I can always call him (even at 2am) and he will be there for me! He is the sole person that raised me and was my best friend and superhero growing up. He taught me to be strong and independent and always made it a point to tell me that the sky is the limit for me. He raised me from a young age to know my value and to never let anyone tell me different! Now, even though over the years, he has at times, tended to over-exaggerate his "battle wounds" (inside joke) he still is one of the strongest people in my life!

Thank you for everything and I love you Daddy! 

So, if you have a father like mine (who is truly a child at heart) here are a few examples of great Father's Day gifts to give him! (no ties included)

 Man Pajama's

DIY: It's GOOOLD!

"It's GOOOLD!" Well, at least everything about this blog post is... Now, I don't know about you but I am a firm believer that by just adding some gold trim or a few polka-dots to an otherwise boring and plain plate or glass can totally transform it! Now, really this concept can be used on so many different projects but I just picked a couple of my favs in which I plan on sharing! These chic AND easy DIY projects are a must-do for me the summer break!

Now, most of these are pretty self-explanatory so I am going to just post pictures but for the others that are "not-so common sense" I will include directions.... Enjoy!

Glass Vase

Or how about with a round glass...

This is the one I plan on doing! :D

Mouse Pad-

Gather your materials:

• old mousepad
• enough suede (or leather, or faux leather — you get the idea) to cover the mousepad
• scissors
• pen
• freezer paper
• hole punch
• iron
• ModPodge
• gold leaf
• two craft paintbrushes
• spray adhesive

Start by tracing your mousepad onto the backside of your suede, and cutting it out. Set that aside. Punch holes in your freezer paper and cut a small square around each hole. Place them strategically on the front side of your suede, and iron them shiny side down so that they stick.

Next, use a paintbrush to paint ModPodge inside of each hole. While it’s wet, apply a small patch of gold leaf. Pat the gold leaf down with a dry paintbrush.

Let the ModPodge dry for about 30 minutes and carefully remove the freezer paper, being careful to keep the edges of the polka dot intact. Let the glue dry overnight before you use the mousepad, and be sure to dust off all remnants of the gold leaf, to keep your mouse safe.

Finally, cover the back of the suede with spray adhesive and affix it to your old mousepad. Be sure that you match the edges well before you press firmly.

Woah! So much better. And now it’s like a little polka dot party every time I use my computer.

Wall Art-

 

 Or you can just find gold stickers if you really want to get simple...