This post is sponsored by Daniel’s Lawn and Tree, LLC., but as always, all opinions here are honest and my own.
Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions to host more parties at your home? If you’re anything like me, you always think about hosting, but rarely do – mainly because the planning and prep is so time consuming! I love to host, and we have a spacious enough space outside to do it, but each year I find the time passing me by, with no parties to show for it.
This coming year, I’m challenging myself to have people over and enjoy some time outdoors. In order to get our home ready, we’re looking at a good amount of landscaping changes and updates. It can all seem very intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before! I prefer to leave the details to the professionals, like Daniel’s Lawn and Tree. If you’re in the Wilmington, Delaware area – be sure to check them out for any landscaping questions or concerns with tree care in the Newcastle area! They do great work, and give free estimates before getting started.
When we bought our house six years ago, there wasn’t much landscaping at all. We’ve been trying to make improvements each year, but it’s daunting! I have a pretty good green thumb (it seems), so I’ve had luck in finding plants that do well in our area. Then, at the beginning of Covid, we decided to tackle building on a little deck to our backyard living space:
My hubby built this on his own! He did a great job, but now we need to spruce it up! (The patio umbrella has since broken…so we need to replace that as well). We were lucky to receive this patio furniture as a hand-me-down from neighbors that were moving to another state. That definitely has bought us some time before we need to buy furniture ourselves.
Here’s another view of the porch from the side:
I would also love to paint the patio doors black, and change the trim around those windows to black. BUT, none of that is necessary before hosting friends.
Before you get ready to host friends in the coming year, remember these three things:
1. Your space doesn’t have to be perfect to be welcoming.
It’s maybe hard to believe, but your friends and family don’t need perfection from you (and if they say they do, don’t invite them over lol). We know you put love and effort into your space, and that will shine through, regardless of how done-up your indoor or outdoor space is. I know you may be wanting to make some improvements to your space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still host. One thing my parents were always good at was hosting during transitions – as they built on to the front of our house, we still hosted. As we built on to the back of our house – extending a whole room – they continued to host. Even amidst the exposed walls and bare floors. And you know what? People still came. We hosted hurricane parties (i.e. gathering the neighbors who didn’t have power) in our unfinished space and I have such fond memories of that still.
2. Hosting doesn’t have to be expensive.
Just because you’re having friends over doesn’t mean you need to break the bank. I am all about spending money wisely and using the resources that are already available. Shop your home – look around your house for things you can bring outside to spruce up the area. Pull some plants from the front and set them out back for the time being. See if your neighbors are looking to split some of their in-ground flowers, and bring some to your yard. If you are going to shop for new items, shop smart at places like Walmart, your local greenhouse, or Facebook Marketplace. I have found such great deals on Facebook Marketplace! You have to scroll a while sometimes, but it’s worth it!
3. If you’re hiring someone to help, do your research.
If you are going to shell out some money for a gathering, make sure you’re giving your money to a reputable company or vendor that does good work. Read the reviews, ask friends and family if they’ve ever heard of that company, and ask if they give free consultations or estimates before being hired.
Another thing I like about Daniel’s Lawn and Tree is that they have a wide range of good reviews. I’ve heard of them through the grapevine, and their work seems to speak for itself.
As you plan to step outside your comfort zone in 2022, I hope you’ll keep these tips in mind!
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