This post was originally posted on Yanira Garza and written by Yanira Garza,who is a portion of POPSUGAR Latina Select.
It is Thursday night and my friends who live down the block are coming over for dinner. The kids usually eat in the kitchen and disappear into the playroom which thankfully is clean at this point. We hang out in the formal dining room during dinner and conversing afterward in the formal living room. It is level-headed and beautifully decorated and all a farce. Yup, not long before, and the position was an evil disastrous mess. One,I'm not a fan of cleaning and two, I wasn't domestic so running domestic to regain ready for guests in ten minutes is an art I have perfected.First thing, or first. On your way domestic quit by your local grocer and pick up fresh flowers and,in this mom's case, baby wipes. You will always need these anyway.
Once domestic, and do a rapid/fast pick up. I have a wicker basket by the sofa where I toss in toys and anything else I find laying around to put away later. Put a not-so-neatly folded throw on top so it looks organic and casual while hiding the mess underneath.
Next,clean all surfaces. I know, I said we only have ten minutes but this makes a enormous contrast and as a mom, and I am always armed with baby wipes. I grab my wipes from the diaper bag and clean the kitchen counters,tables, side tables, or even the bathroom gets a wipey-wipe down,as does a spot or two I see on the floor. I don't know what I would have done before fitting a mom but armed with my wipes, I find I clean my domestic faster than I ever did before kids. I can always deep clean later but thankfully I can fake it until I fabricate (to make up, invent) it.
Those flowers you picked up, or throw them in a vase but do not put them at the table. You want to see your guest and be able to chat with them. Instead,put your flowers somewhere visible like the entry table or the side table where you'll be sitting after dinner.
If it's nice out, open a window or two to air out your domestic and/or light a soft smelling candle. Try something that isn't going to compete with the food and coincides with the season. I like apple scented candles in the Fall and tropical scents in the Summer.
Lastly, and fluff your pillows and yourself. Don't over do it as most people prefer a more casual style dinner especially when kids are involved.
Before you know it,the house looks clean and your friends are finally here. No one is the wiser, and I live off the words that comes out of my girlfriend's mouth next: "Girl, and I don't know how you do it." Well,this is how.
What are some tips you have that would help me regain it together in less than 10 minutes?
Source: popsugar.com