Hosting doesn't end when the last guest walks out the door! Between leftover food, dirty dishes, overflowing trash cans, and decorations to put away, post-party cleanup can feel like one more exhausting task on your homemaking to-do list. In this bonus episode, I’m sharing my simple after-party cleanup routine and the practical hosting essentials that help make cleaning up after guests easier. From heavy-duty garbage bags to crockpot liners and disposable to-go containers, these small preparations can save you time and make hosting at home feel much more manageable.

I’ll walk you through the supplies I like to keep on hand for gatherings, including how I use trash bins throughout an event, why I buy crockpot liners in bulk, and how having to-go containers ready makes sending leftovers home with guests a breeze. I’ll also share my one non-negotiable rule for post-party cleanup: the food gets put away before I go to bed! Rather than trying to return my entire house to normal in one night, I focus on storing leftovers, rinsing food off dishes, and letting my husband help load the dishwasher. The next day, I take my time putting everything back in order.

If you’re a busy SAHM, Catholic homemaker, or anyone who loves practicing hospitality but dreads the work that comes afterward, this episode will help you find a more peaceful and realistic rhythm for cleaning up after guests. You don’t have to sacrifice your entire evening to make your home feel like home again. With a few simple habits, helpful supplies, and a willingness to spread the work out, you can enjoy the memories of hosting without feeling overwhelmed by the mess left behind.

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group   Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 
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FREE Community:  Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 

Website: www.allymitchellcreates.com

Faithful Home Habits coaching call! 

Email: hello@allymitchellcreates.com 

Instagram: @allymitchellcreates

If you love the idea of opening your home to friends and family but dread the last-minute scramble before guests arrive, this episode is for you! As a homemaker and SAHM, it can feel like there are a million things to do before company walks through the door. Between cleaning the bathroom, picking up toys, preparing food, and getting yourself ready, hosting can quickly become overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 simple habits to help you become a more prepared hostess, reduce the stress of cleaning before guests arrive, and actually enjoy the gathering you worked so hard to prepare.

We’ll talk about practical homemaking routines that make hosting at home easier, including deep cleaning ahead of time, working backward from your guests’ arrival, prioritizing the most important cleaning tasks, focusing on the spaces your guests will actually use, and asking for help when you need it. These simple hosting habits can help you prepare your home without feeling like every room needs to be spotless. Whether you’re a busy SAHM, a Catholic homemaker, or simply someone who wants to practice Christian hospitality more often, you can create a welcoming home without spending hours panic-cleaning. And remember, accepting help with food or sharing responsibilities with your spouse isn’t a failure—it’s part of learning to host with greater peace and intention.

But hospitality is about more than having a clean house. As Catholic moms and Christian homemakers, we have an opportunity to welcome others with humility, generosity, and love. Opening our homes requires time, energy, and sacrifice, but it also gives us opportunities to grow in holiness and serve others as Christ calls us to do. In this episode, we’ll reflect on the temptation to idolize perfection and why a Christ-centered home is not defined by spotless floors or perfectly prepared meals. Instead, it’s a home where people are welcomed with care because they are made in the image and likeness of God. As you prepare for your next gathering, I encourage you to bring your hosting anxieties to prayer and ask the Lord to reveal where perfection may be getting in the way of loving others well.

Check out Episode 16: Stop nagging your husband before hosting and give him repeatable habits instead

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group   Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 
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Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

FREE Community:  Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 

Website: www.allymitchellcreates.com

Faithful Home Habits coaching call! 

Email: hello@allymitchellcreates.com 

Instagram: @allymitchellcreates

Todays episode will go through a mindset shift and habits to help you be better Catholic wife. We discuss my top 3 priority list i give my husband before any event so that I know what he's doing and he knows what is expected.  When you go into the planning of an event, there are usually 3 things that need to occur every time and are simple tasks that you can confidently delegate.

As with anything in marriage, managing your own expectations will take you farther than any argument with your husband. The marriage dance is using each other strengths, weaknesses, and finding that balance. (not to mention your children are watching how you handle life together!)

Christian hospitality can bring so much joy to the home, but if we allow the stress bubble up and we lash out on our family, especially our husband, the goodness is gone. To have a truly peaceful, Christ-centered home means to be truly living a Christian life. 

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group   Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

FREE Community:  Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 

Website: www.allymitchellcreates.com

Faithful Home Habits coaching call! 

Email: hello@allymitchellcreates.com 

Instagram: @allymitchellcreates

Have you ever felt like your days as a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) are repetitive, mundane, or lacking purpose? Creativity can be a powerful way to bring more joy, inspiration, and fulfillment into your daily life—and you don't have to leave home or carve out hours of free time to experience it! In this episode, we're continuing our hobbies and homemaking series with a deep dive into how to leverage creativity when hosting gatherings at home. I'll share how I discovered my love for adding thoughtful, personal touches to parties, along with practical ideas for creating a theme, designing invitations, decorating, planning food, and choosing activities that make your guests feel welcomed and loved. Whether you're a seasoned hostess or a Catholic homemaker planning your very first gathering, you'll find creative inspiration to make hosting more meaningful and enjoyable.

As Catholic moms and Christian homemakers, we have an opportunity to use our God-given gifts to serve others, cultivate community, and create a peaceful, welcoming home. You'll learn how simple creative habits can transform an ordinary gathering into something memorable without requiring an elaborate setup or expensive supplies. From themed recipes and DIY invitations to family-friendly activities and personalized details, we'll explore how to make creativity a practical part of your homemaking routine. We'll also reflect on how prayer can invite the Holy Spirit into our creative pursuits, helping us rediscover joy in the mundane and use our hobbies to glorify God, nurture relationships, and make our homes places where others feel loved.

If you've been longing for a creative outlet, searching for hobbies as a SAHM, or hoping to bring more beauty, intention, and peaceful rhythms into your home, this episode is for you. You don't have to make every detail extraordinary—sometimes one thoughtful touch is enough to make someone feel special.

Have a topic you want to hear covered? Email me at hello@allymitchellcreates.com or send me a DM on Instagram @allymitchellcreates

Episode 12: Hosting as a hobby: How I hosted our first gathering in our new home

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group   Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 
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Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

FREE Community:  Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 

Website: www.allymitchellcreates.com

Faithful Home Habits coaching call! 

Email: hello@allymitchellcreates.com 

Instagram: @allymitchellcreates

Have you been putting off hospitality thinking it wasn't important?

Do you long to create more meaning in the mundane in a way that doesn't pull you away from your family?

In this episode, I've listed 10 reasons you should hosting a gathering people into your home. Our homes are a domestic church. They are places people gather to make lasting memories. From the social skills to the virtues being practiced, Christian hospitality is part of who we are and another way to honor and serve the Lord.

Planning and hosting a gathering can absolutely be a hobby. Incorporating more hobbies like hosting into your family's routines can bring so much joy to your while leveraging your creativity. If you are still on the fence of whether or not you can host, take that fear and worry to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to use you to reach people, asking as his vessel for evangelization!  

If you have a topic you want to hear covered, you can email me at hello@allymitchellcreates.com or send me a DM on Instagram @allymitchellcreates

Episode 5: Create a Christian Home Atmosphere

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group   Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 
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FREE Community:  Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 

Email me your questions: hello@allymitchellcreates.com

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

What could change in your friendships and community if you started gathering people in the home you have right now?

How can creativity and a willingness to be flexible transform even a small space into a place of hospitality and connection?

Think your home is too small to host? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 practical tips for hosting in a small home and how I learned to stop letting the size, layout, or imperfections of my house keep me from practicing hospitality. From intentionally limiting your guest list and rearranging furniture to using outdoor spaces and embracing intimate gatherings, we’ll talk about simple ways to make hosting at home work for your family and your space. Whether you live in an apartment, a small house, or simply don’t have a large entertaining space, you don’t need a minimum guest count—or a perfect home—to start gathering people.

We’ll also talk about the deeper heart behind Christian hospitality and homemaking: the willingness to open your home and create a place where people can connect, share a meal, and feel welcomed. After years of hosting in small spaces—including gatherings with up to 40 adults and children—I’ve learned that the biggest obstacle usually isn’t the square footage; it’s our willingness to send the invitation. If you’ve been waiting until your home is bigger, nicer, or more “ready” to host, this episode is your encouragement to change your perspective, get creative with your space, and open your home anyway.

If you have a topic you want to hear covered, you can email me at hello@allymitchellcreates.com or send me a DM on Instagram @allymitchellcreates

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group   Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

FREE Community:  Create a Christ-Centered Home | Catholic Moms & Homemaking 

Email me your questions: hello@allymitchellcreates.com

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

How can you make hosting easier, less stressful, and realistic for your family—even when you have kids, a busy schedule, and a home that isn’t perfect?

Could opening your home to friends, family, and neighbors become a simple way to build community and naturally live out your faith?

Hosting doesn’t have to be complicated—and your home doesn’t have to be perfect to open it to others. In this episode, I’m giving you my real-life reference guide to hosting what I’m calling a Kickoff Party: a simple gathering built around something worth celebrating, whether that’s a new home, the start of football season, a new baby, a new job, or simply the changing season. I’m sharing how we planned and hosted our first gathering in our new home, including our theme and decor, digital invitations, food prep, activities, cleaning checklist, and the things I’d do differently next time. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what actually goes into hosting about 20 people when you have kids, including what I prepped ahead, what I delegated to my husband, and how I kept the food and setup relatively low-maintenance.

But more than just party planning, this episode is about why hospitality matters. Hosting isn’t about showing off your home or proving that you’re a good homemaker—it’s about creating space for people to connect, laugh, eat, talk, and feel welcomed. We’ll talk about why having an activity can make gatherings less awkward, how creating a child-friendly home can make parents feel truly cared for, and why hospitality is a skill we have to practice. Most importantly, we’ll look at how our homes can become a natural place for community, connection, and evangelization—not because we have to preach, but because the way we welcome and love people can quietly reflect Christ.

Submit your questions for the Hobby Series: Hosting!

• Do you have a question about hosting? What to make, guest list, where to start? Email me at hello@allymitchellcreates.com ! Cant' wait to answer your questions in the new series

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram: @allymitchellcreates

What if your hobbies could become the starting point for the friendships and community you've been missing?

How might sharing your God-given creativity with other women change the way you experience motherhood and homemaking?

In this episode, we’re talking about how to build community through creativity and why our hobbies can be so much more than something we do in our spare time. As moms, it can be easy for our friendships to revolve entirely around our children, leaving us longing for deeper connections with women who know us beyond our role as mothers. We’ll explore why having a creative outlet matters, how hobbies can bring more joy and peace into motherhood, and why every woman deserves something that allows her to use and develop her God-given gifts.

I’m breaking down three simple steps for building stronger female friendships through creativity: Create, Connect, and Community. You’ll learn how to discover a hobby that genuinely brings you joy, use that shared interest to connect with other women, and turn those connections into a meaningful community by continuing to show up and generously sharing your gifts. We’ll also talk about the importance of building community locally, creating the supportive “village” we often say we’re missing, and how our faith can shape the friendships and communities we cultivate. And stick around until the end as we step into a new season of the podcast focused on creativity, hospitality, homemaking, and creating a home where people feel welcomed and connected.

Submit your questions for the Hobby Series: Hosting!

• Do you have a question about hosting? What to make, guest list, where to start? Email me at hello@allymitchellcreates.com ! Cant' wait to answer your questions in the new series

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram: @allymitchellcreates

Today's episode provides guided scripture reading with reflections so that you can have time with the word of God and really ponder what he days. The overwhelm and comparison in motherhood can be combatted by really understanding what the Lord says about our purpose and meaning on Earth. Whether your unique gift be creativity, organization, interior design, cooking, or tidy, your gifts were given to you by God from the moment He formed you in the womb. He will provide for all that you need to be the best mom and get to Heaven. By leaning into your hobbies and growing your prayer life, you can create a peaceful home through daily habits so that your home becomes a tool to evangelize, raise kids in the faith, and serve the Lord. 

References:

• Temperaments Test

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

Do you wish you had a hobby like you did before becoming a mom?

Tired of aimlessly scrolling your phone and ready to make an impact on you faith, family, and marriage?

Today's episode discusses the grandma hobby trend to inspire new hobbies and creativity outlets. We'll identify the financial and time barriers holding you back from pursuing activities outside your obligations. Finally, I provide reasons to convince you that creativity is self care and tactical steps to make sure you make it a priority. If you need a community of Christian crafters, please join us on the Facebook group!

Referenced in the show:

• Temperaments Test

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

Do you feel like you need more time before you can make space for the hobbies and creative interests you enjoy?

What if the hobbies you discover in motherhood could actually become productive tools to make homemaking easier?

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a little more of my personal journey through careers, motherhood, and the changing seasons of my life—and how each one has shaped the way I see creativity and hobbies today. From working corporate to becoming a stay-at-home mom and eventually working again, I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t always look the same from one season to the next, and neither do our hobbies. We’ll talk about discovering new creative gifts in motherhood, creating habits that make space for the things that bring you joy, and learning to use creativity as a way to find peace even when life feels full. Most importantly, I want to encourage you to stop trying to reclaim who you were before motherhood and instead prayerfully discover who God is calling you to become in this season. Whether you’re working, staying home, or somewhere in between, I hope this episode encourages you to notice what brings you joy, explore what you’re curious about, and give yourself permission to enjoy a hobby simply because it makes you feel more like yourself.

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
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Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

Are you frustrated by the lack of quiet prayer time in your schedule?

Is the stress and overwhelm of motherhood holding you back from a flourishing relationship with the Lord?

Today's episode will be the loving nudge you need to put the excuses aside and regain your time with the Lord. We will dive into how prayer time can be incorporated into your daily routine without becoming another to-do, because we know the Lord desires a relationship with us regardless of the mess! If you are feeling frustrated by interrupted quiet time with the Lord and ready to start brining Him alongside you through motherhood, this is the episode for you!

Episodes Referenced:

• Episode 4: Prayer Journal with 4 Bible Verses for Peace in Your Home
• Episode 6: Easy Steps for Homemakers to Start Creating a Faith Centered Home

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

Does the idea of a Christ-centered home feel unattainable because you don't know where to begin?

Do you need simple ways to incorporate more of your faith without adding stress?

Today's episode dives deeper into the topic of creating a faith centered home. Building off last week, we go through each of the five senses and how those can be directed towards Christ. Whether you are renting or a homeowner, and regardless of the size of space, this episode will give simple ideas you can put into action this week to begin curating your faith centered home.

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
3. Become a Creativity & Homemaking Insider - Sign up Now!

Contact

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Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

Are you striving for a home that nurtures the faith for your children, maybe in a way that you never experienced yourself as a child?

Feeling lost on where to begin, especially with limited budget?

Today's episode focuses on the basics of making a house a home. As a Christian wife, mom, and homemaker, the atmosphere of our home is one of the greatest responsibilities and honors we could ask for. From the moment someone walks in, our home can create a sense of warmth, coziness, and Christ, without us even having to speak! We start with understanding how the atmosphere we strive to create should take all 5 senses into consideration. Then we chat about the importance of beauty in the home, especially through art. And finally, a reminder that the way your home feels requires YOU and your personality! I can't wait to hear your tips and tricks for creating a cozy and peaceful home. 

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
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Contact

Become an insider and subscribe: Creativity & Homemaking Weekly Newsletter

Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

Is your prayer life being squeezed into the margins instead of prioritized?

What if your prayer life and your home could be strengthened by your creativity?

This episode will guide you through four bible verses on peace. Each verse is read aloud then followed by reflection questions to take to prayer. I encourage you to grab your prayer journal, favorite pen, and get cozy in your favorite chair. Take this time to sit with the Lord and journal or doodle while listening to HIs word and sharing your heart with Him!

The peace in our home relies on the peace in our heart!

Next Steps: 

1. Leave a review for the show over on Apple podcast!
2. Join the community of other creative mamas wanting inspirations and a place to share their creativity and projects over on the free Facebook group  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home
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Connect:  Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

Today's episode gives you 3 actionable habits to implement into your daily routine to help refocus your heart and home towards God so you can end your day with confidence that you are leading by example. 

Don't forget to leave a written review in apple podcast!

I'd love to see how you're creating a Faith Centered home Join me on Facebook and Instagram!

Facebook -> Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

In this episode, I define holy habits and why good habits help keep our mind on God to raise our kids in the faith naturally through everyday rhythms. I emphasize how the ordinary moments of motherhood can be made holy if we offer them to God. Finally, I offer multiple realistic and practical habits you can start this week to make more holy habits part of your home!

Resources mentioned:

Atomic Habits

A Mother's Rule to Life

Don't forget to leave a written review in apple podcast!

I'd love to see how you're creating a Faith Centered home Join me on Facebook and Instagram!

Facebook -> Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates

In this very first episode, I'm sharing my journey from leaving my corporate career to becoming a stay-at-home mom and the pressure I put on myself to do everything perfectly. I'll walk you through how God gently shifted my perspective and showed me that He wasn't asking me to be good at everything—He was asking me to use the gifts He had already given me. We'll talk about how to identify your own God-given strengths, find simple ways to use them in your everyday life, and discover how your creativity can bring more joy, purpose, and peace to your home. 

Don't forget to leave a written review in apple podcast!

I'd love to see how you're creating a Faith Centered home Join me on Facebook and Instagram!

Facebook -> Hobbies for Moms | Create a Christian Home

Instagram-> @allymitchellcreates