Burnt Chili and Drywall Dust

This past Halloween we invited 7 families (each with 2 kids) over for dinner and trick or treating. That’s a lot of little feet running around and a lot of mouths to feed. I was excited... but I didn’t fully think through the fact that we were still smack in the middle of a renovation.

Our playroom was packed with boxes and furniture, and our living room? Let’s just say the shiplap wall was being installed the day of the party. There was sawdust on the floors, in the air, and a fine layer covering our entire front driveway. It was chaos—and yes, I was a little stressed and distracted.

So when I went to make the chili to serve in the short time I had to pick my daughter up from school, I mixed up the chili powder with the cayenne pepper and made the spiciest chili you’ve ever tasted. Such a disaster! Luckily my MIL came to the rescue and helped us make another pot of non-spicy chili. I also did a quick deep clean of our upstairs. Dusting and mopping right down to the wire.

We made chili for a large group of guests

Mulled wine we made for the party

Despite the mess and the stress, it turned out to be a great night. And honestly, it was kind of fun showing our friends the progress on the reno—even if we weren’t quite finished. The mulled wine didn’t hurt either.

What I Learned:

• Think twice about hosting a party during a renovation (unless you’re ready to roll with the chaos).

• Label your spices clearly—and maybe don’t cook when you’re in a rush.

• Always say yes to help (thank you, MIL!).

• Perfect doesn’t equal memorable. The best memories are usually the messy ones.

  
  

Would I do it again mid-reno? Yes, I think I would. It was a reminder to me that home isn’t about everything being finished or perfect—it’s about the people you fill it with.