ChickSpeak

When the mood to play hostess hits, and an informal evening with friends sounds ideal, here’s a plan to get you (and your place) from fab to fantastic in 20 minutes flat.

Tight budget & small spaces are not a problem!

The Scene: You’ve got 20 minutes between the time you get home from class or work before friends are set to come over. You’re looking to set a scene that’s low-key but thoughtful, and definitely want to do more than just set out chips and dip. By the way, did we forget to mention that you’re still in the same clothes from this morning and your make-up’s all but washed off? ChickSpeak to the rescue!

The Solution: Okay, let’s break this down into three easy categories:

Place, Tastes and Face.

Place: Take 5 minutes to make your place more welcoming.

• Pick up any laundry or shoes in your living area and bathroom.
• Wipe down bathroom sink and counter to clean up any make-up residue or soap scum. Make sure you have toilet paper on the roll and a reasonably clean hand towel for guests.
• Straighten cushions on couch and chairs and light some votive candles for the coffee table, if you have them on hand. Bonus points if you thought to pick up an inexpensive bunch of fresh flowers over your lunch break. Most grocery stores carry mixed bunches for as low as $3.99.

Tastes: Take inventory of your pantry and fridge and use the next 12 minutes to pull your appetizers together from what you have on hand. Imagine that you have only some basics- a frozen personal pizza, most of a box of cereal, hummus, M&Ms, a jar of roasted peanuts and random veggies. Not sounding too appealing for a party? Think again!

• Follow directions for the pizza and when out of the oven in appx 12 min, cut into bite-sized pieces. While baking, work on the rest of the food. When cool enough, place on dish and serve as an hors d’ouevre.
• Next, in large serving bowl, mix cereal, nuts and M&Ms. Place in two smaller dishes and place one on your coffee table and one on a side table or your desk for your own snack mix. Added bonus if the nuts are raw, rather than roasted, as unprocessed nuts deliver essential fats that are actually good for your body!
• Lastly, cut up any veggies you have that may be good when eaten raw. Think cucumbers, grape tomatoes, celery, asparagus, zucchini or squash. Just be sure to avoid anything too strong in taste like onion or too bland like cabbage. Place on a serving dish (a dinner sized plate will do just fine!) and serve with hummus or salsa if you have it. Added bonus if you have salad greens to add as garnish to the display.

Okay, so your place looks good and food is served, but you’re still a bit of… well, a mess. What can you expect after a long day at the end of your week?

Face: Use your final 3 minutes to do what will make the most impact.

• We suggest, doing a super-quick outfit change if needed into jeans and a top or sweater that you feel good in. Keep it ultra-casual by skipping shoes. You’ll be home anyway and can save time on trying to pick a pair.
• Next, rather than fighting with your perhaps frizzy or flat locks, take a basic comb, tease the back to give your hair a little volume at the crown of your head. Pull hair into a ponytail. Smooth with styling cream or balm for a finished look. Hair too short to do this? No prob, just do a one minute blow dry with a round brush to tame your mane. Keep either process to 2 minutes max.
• In your final minute, touch up your face with a multi-use creme blush. Color will make the most impact and give you a healthy, natural glow. Add some color to your cheeks and lips, blend and you’re done!

Special note: Since you’re out of time, assuming that you and your friends are over 21, call one of your friends and ask him or her to pick up a bottle of wine on their way over. You can find decent reds and whites for under $10, so this should not break your bank. This way, you can be home to greet guests and can still have drinks for anyone who wants one.
Watch for more “20 minutes to” articles soon!