Stock your bathroom.  Toilet paper is obviously a must, as well as hand towels, and don’t forget the soap.  SoftSoap has an excellent fragrant foam collection.  It includes such varieties as Kitchen Citrus Bliss, Jasmine & White Cotton, and Whipped Cocoa Butter.

Not only will these leave your guests hands feeling fresh and smelling clean, but the bottles are very stylish and are great for adding a little splash of color to your sink or vanity.

Stock your fridge.  During the holidays it’s always important to keep your drinks stocked, including some that you may not normally have on hand.  Consider who’s coming over and whether they have any special dietary needs or personal preferences. (Perhaps you don’t drink coffee, but you have an avid coffee drinker staying for the week.  Or perhaps you have a diabetic in the family who drinks diet sodas.)

Stock the pantry. Whether you’re having overnight guests, or you are just looking for something to put out for the kids to snack on before dinner, extra snacks in the pantry is a must! Homemade or store bought party mixes are a great snack to have on hand for folks of all ages, as well chips and dips, nuts, or cheese and crackers.

Clean.  This should go without saying, but I have to include it here: Clean your house.  Apart from taking care of clutter in your living, dining, and kitchen areas, it is amazing to see how far just a quick wipe down of your sinks and counters will do…not to mention mopping the floor.  Even more so than how great everything looks, it makes a huge difference in how your house smells.

Air Fresheners.  Speaking of how your house smells, after cleaning (and especially if you don’t have time to do a major clean up) make your house smell warm and inviting using your favorite air freshers.  I love scented oil plug-ins and candles.  (And you can always use essential oils for the purpose of cleaning and making your house smell good.)

Disclosure:  I received samples to facilitate this post. The opinions are my own.