Overnight Guests: Make it a Mini Retreat (and Easy French Toast)
When our friends came down from Portland for a whirlwind 17 hours, I knew I needed to be organized and ready to relax and have a great time. After all, they were leaving their 3 little ones at home and coming for relaxation and friendship.
Here’s an idea of what to do when you live a busy life and want to be hospitable, yet you want to shake it up a bit.
We served appetizers at our house and our kids all hung with us on the back patio.
Then we went to dinner out, just the adults.
Back for Strawberry Pavlova out by the pool – oh yum! And then bed at midnight.
I had thought ahead to our friends’ allergy needs and purchased 2 loaves of spelt (wheat free) bread for French Toast in the morning.
A delicious breakfast.
Best bread for French toast: Brioche, French Baguette, and Challah.
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup milk
Your favorite bread – at least 12 slicesTo make this easy French toast recipe:
Beat eggs, vanilla and cinnamon in shallow dish with wire whisk. Stir in the milk.
Dip the bread slices in egg mixture, turning to coat both sides evenly.
On medium heat, cook bread slices on lightly greased nonstick griddle or skillet until browned on both sides.
Serve on a plate hot with butter, maple syrup, or your favorite jam.
Optional to sprinkle powdered sugar on top!
A Scrabble game.
And then we had to say good-bye to our friends.
My husband and I talked about how enjoyable a short visit can be. You know you have to stay focused with your guests. We discussed so much about life, raising kids, ministry, the good and the bad. We had really good food, our kids were in and out. It was a very action-packed time together! It was almost like a little vacation for us as well – a 17 hour retreat.
Do you do better with guests who stay for a long visit or a short visit?

Get the Recipe:
Easy French Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 cup milk
- Your favorite bread - at least 12 slices, Brioche or French Baguette or Challah bread
Toppings:
- butter, maple syrup, or your favorite jam
- Dusting of powdered sugar on top
Instructions
- Beat eggs, vanilla and cinnamon in shallow dish with wire whisk. Stir in the milk.
- Dip the bread slices in egg mixture, turning to coat both sides evenly.
- On medium heat, cook bread slices on lightly greased nonstick griddle or skillet until browned on both sides.
- Serve on a plate hot with butter, maple syrup, or your favorite jam.
- Optional to sprinkle powdered sugar on top!
Please know that spelt is wheat free, however it is Not gluten free! Gluten is in wheat, spelt, barley and other grains. :(
What a great picture! And what a neat thing to do. I wish I could say long visits. But I am definitely a short visit woman! Sadly I just like my space and routine too much. I have to have my quiet time or I can’t function. And that is hard with company. I love getting ready for company, it’s always a good excuse to clean and organize and get projects done I keep putting off!
We don’t often have overnight guests. Not because we don’t want to, it just hasn’t really happened. We also at this moment don’t have an extra room so either us or the girls give up their bedrooms, which isn’t always fun. Last summer my grandmother came for about 10 days and that was a blast. We just took time to be with her doing fun things.
I also take into consideration guest’s dietary needs so that their time in our home is pleasant.
What a lovely visit. I think short visits are the best, although right now, I’d just be happy to have some company once in a while.
I’d love you to link up with my Simple Pleasures series some Thursday.
What a great post, Sandy! I love that picture of the four of y’all–you all look so happy together. A good idea to have your friends stay with you, even if it was just for 17 hours. Good friends can pack a lot of togetherness into a short time!
Love the idea of appetizers first! We love having overnight guests, but for the most part, they are short stays. We love it! My favorite thing is to get their room ready!!!
Making things special, and comfortable, for guests always gives me a great feeling inside. Just a bit of thoughtfulness and some simple details usually is all it takes!
oh wow. what a sweet time together – our friends are so scattered that these short stays are musts. And you nailed it on the head about being organized so you can have fun and not waste any time doing the prep. Great post.
It doesn’t matter- we’d love to have any guests at this point! :)
Would it be possible to get your Strawberry Pavlova Recipe. It sounds like something my crew might like. Thanks
It does sound like a whirlwind visit! Your food looks great and the attenion you paid your guests surely made their stay memorable! I love my home fillled with love ones! Short or long our doors are always open!
Your post makes me want to invite someone for the weekend!
Yvonne
I had no idea that SPELT was wheat free! I’m trying a gluten free diet, so I’ll check out spelt bread – thank you!
Please know that spelt is wheat free, however NOT gluten free. I’m sorry. :(