Want to be a better host?

Need tips on how to be a great guest?

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Some women just have it. They host parties with finesse and they make you feel like family. For the rest of us, there is The Art of the Visit by Kathy Bertone.

When I first saw this book, I was at Anthropologie and the beautiful cover really drew me in. Yes, I'm *guilty*... Guilty of judging a book by its cover! While it's beautiful cover drew my eye, it's really the title and the subject that sold me.

Growing up as a resident of sunny Florida, I found myself hosting family members and friends over the years. My parents were mainly responsible for hosting guests so this book really filled in the gaps for me. The book has two parts: the first part is about being the perfect host and the second part is about becoming the perfect guest.

For the Host 

The book covers different topics from creating a welcoming environment at your home to planning events and activities. Kathy Bertone also gives important advice on how to be cool under pressure and to be a diplomat.
She covers hosting expectations for different age groups, from children to young adults to older guests.

For the Guest 

Kathy Bertone also outlines what steps you should take to make your trip a fun and satisfying experience. Her tone is conversational and she offers great tips on how to be considerate to your hosts, plan for events, bring a gift, and how to be complimentary.

I packed this book with me on my trip to CA to visit my best friend and it offered me great advice as a guest. This coming weekend, my best friend will be staying with me and I will get to practice my skills as a hostess! Nothing to like having a good friend come visit to make my weekend better.