Q: Though you may have a lot to do, it’s nice to greet and welcome each arriving guest into your home yourself, rather than having another guest let them in.  This is their first impression of your new home, and greeting them yourself sets the best tone for the party. When each guest arrives, offer him a drink.  Give an overview of the options and offer to pour a drink for him.  If he declines initially, show him where the drinks are and encourage him to help himself whenever he is ready. You may want to wait until a small group has arrived so that you don’t have to give as many individual tours.  Guests love to see all of the rooms of your new home, including closets and pantries.  If you have any unfinished rooms, ask guests if they have any suggestions for how to use or organize the space.  This will take the focus off of the fact that you’re not unpacked yet and give guests an opportunity to feel helpful. Feel free to tell guests that they cannot go into certain rooms.  It is your home, after all, and you do not have to show everyone every room in the house. You may want to put all the food out at once, but you can also put food out in waves.  You could start with 2 or 3 food trays, then add to them or provide new things as the evening progresses.  Encourage your guests to eat and ask them about any dietary restrictions or allergies as you direct them towards the different food options.  Consider keeping the food and drink areas separate to avoid crowding. Providing two or more locations for food can also prevent crowding. Try not to spend too much time with any one party guest, but circulate around and speak with everyone.  Be sure all your guests know each other, and if you are introducing two people who have never met, try to point out something that you think they may have in common. Remember that people may have different styles and visions for homes, and that some of your guests may not have the privilege of owning a nice home.  Always be gracious and be genuinely grateful that your guests have come to see and celebrate your new home with you. If you plan to serve a sit-down meal, try to serve it at the appropriate time.  Most of your guests should have arrived, but no one should have been there long enough that they feel ready to leave. Towards the end of the night, consider serving your guests coffee and dessert (if you did not have dessert trays out already).  This will be a signal to your guests that the party is winding down, and providing coffee before guests drive home is a nice way to help keep them safe.  Be sure to thank guests for coming before they leave.
A: Greet each guest who arrives yourself. Offer each guest a drink. Offer guests a tour of your home. Put the finger food out on tables. Mingle with everyone. Accept compliments about your new home graciously. Serve dinner when you feel the time is right. Serve coffee and dessert.

Q: There are so many self tanning products out there, it can be difficult to choose one that will work for you. Some formulas allow you to build a tan gradually over the course of a few days or a week, while others immediately stain your skin bronze. Some are long-lasting, while others wear off after a week or wash off at the end of the day. Figure out which product is best for your needs:   Gradual self-tanning formulas. These come in the form of creams, gels, sprays or foams. Gradual self-tanning formulas usually contain either dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose, both of which work by reacting with the amino acids on the skin surface to create a darker complexion. One application will darken the skin by just a shade or so, but you can keep applying the product over the course of several days to achieve the color you want.  Instant tanning formulas. Most instant tanners are sprays that you can apply immediately for a sun-kissed look. Some stay in place for about a week, while others can be washed away at the end of the day. Instant formulas are trickier to apply than gradual formulas, since they stain the skin right away and might leave streaks.  Face tanning formulas. Look for a self-tanner designed for use on the face if yours is on the sensitive or oily side. While most self-tanners work on the body and the face equally well, you'll want to get one specifically for the face if your skin is a little finicky.  Pick the right color. If you have fair skin, choose a light to medium color. If you have olive skin, choose a dark formula. You can always reapply the self-tanner to deepen your tan if your first application looks too light. Thick hair can get in the way of self-tanner when you're trying to apply it evenly. You might want to shave or wax your legs (and arms, if necessary) to ensure you'll be happy with the final appearance of your tan.  If you have fine hair on your legs or arms, there's no need to remove it before tanning unless you want to. Guys might also want to shave or wax the chest or back before applying self tanner. No matter what your skin type, is, it's best to exfoliate well in the shower before tanning. When your skin has dry, flaky patches, it's a lot harder to apply self-tanner evenly, and you'll end up with a patchy look instead of a pretty finish.  The chemicals in self tanner react with amino acids in the upper layers of your skin. By removing the uppermost layer (which would've sloughed off on its own soon anyway) you're ensuring that the tan develops in a fresh layer that's going to be around longer. Also, dry skin tends to absorb more color, increasing the likelihood of an uneven tan. To exfoliate, use a washcloth, a scrub brush or scrub gel to thoroughly exfoliate all of the areas you're tanning.  Focus on rough spots like your elbows and knees. The self-tanner tends to darken these areas more than other parts of your body, since it soaks in faster. Rough skin will cause the application to look even more uneven. Moisturize the skin after exfoliating, particularly if your skin is dry. Pay attention to areas like the knees and elbows where tan can build up. Use lotion or oil to trap the moisture in your skin after your shower. Allow it to fully absorb into your skin over an hour or so before you apply the self-tanner. It's important that while you're applying the self tanner, your skin is completely dry. If you're going to be in the bathroom, wait for any humidity from the bath or shower to subside. Make sure it's cool enough wherever you are so that you don't sweat for the next few hours. A rushed self-tanning job is immediately obvious. You'll miss some spots, have streaky areas or stain your clothes and hands. Do yourself a favor and set aside several hours so you can make sure you have enough time to thoroughly and evenly cover each area you're planning to tan.
A:
Choose a type of self tanner. Remove thick hair from the places you want to tan. Exfoliate your skin. Dry off. Allow several hours for the tanning process.