When I get invited to someone’s house for dinner, I try to bring a hostess gift, although I never feel like I have to.
I like to take a baked item, or flowers from the yard, or maybe vegetables from my garden.
If neither are in season, I’ll stock up on dish towels, bottles of soap, or even paper napkins, to be able to give as small gifts.
OR if I’m running short of time, I know that with my friends, a hug will do!
It’s my 3rd year of writing and recording part of my life, here on Reluctant Entertainer, and my passion is as strong today as it was 3 years ago. My friend Barb encouraged me to start a blog, to write about hospitality, and look at what has happened!
My first post on RE:
… with the best intentions, many of us think about entertaining, but never get around to it. Usually this happens because we don’t have enough time, we’re disorganized or our spouse isn’t interested in hosting a party, or even a small dinner! For many this blessing of gracious living for both the host and her guests never takes place because of fear … fear of failure, unable to cook, unwilling to share their lives with others, fear of deepening friendships … they are intimidated and think the meal has to be perfect, or … they don’t have the lifestyle that says, “welcome.”
I’ve been blessed by RE readers and their comments and heartfelt emails on a daily basis, saying RE has made a difference in their lives.
This giveaway is for YOU! To say thank you!
COMMENT TO WIN
Tell me your favorite hostess gift to give or receive?
MORE CHANCES
Tweet about it (1 extra chance) or post on your blog (2 extra chances), but make sure and come back and tell me!
WHAT TO WIN
The winner will receive in the mail the above package – a gift from me to you to enjoy!
~ Wacky Jackie Cake Mix (Butte Creek Mill, made right in my town)
~ Pumpkin Bread Mix (oh, delicious, just like Wacky Jackie)
~ Meyer Dish Soap (basil scent – my favorite, thanks to my friend, Steph)
~ Fall napkins – perfect for entertaining
~ Plant holder (for your front door!)
WHEN TO WIN
The winner will be announced this Sunday!
Here’s another THANK YOU and a BIG HUG, for being a part of my life, some of you having followed RE for almost 3 years!
And Happy Birthday today to my sweet baby girl. Abby is (sniff, sniff) … 13 today! Daddy, Mommy, El and Garrett love you very much, baby girl!
Remember to tell me your favorite hostess gift – to give or receive!?
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I just found your blog, I love it..I can see I am going to get some great ideas!
I am not very creative, but when we go to someone's home for dinner or a party, i will usually take one of my favorite bottles of wine!
Barb
http://dogmomdiva.blogspot.com/
I just posted your giveaway on my blog!
Barb
http://dogmomdiva.blogspot.com/
I love your blog! Congratulations on 3 years.
I love to sock up on Bath and Body Works Kitchen Soaps when they're on sale, tie a bit of raffia around the pump and give those as hostess gifts.
I like to take baked goods and put them in a basket or pretty container that they can reuse. I collect tins and baskets with just this in mind. If I haven't time to bake, then a good bottle of wine is usually a welcome gift. Congrats on your 3 year anniversary! katklaw777 at yahoo dot com
Goodness – I always seem to bring a bottle of wine. Of course, not much hosting in my life, so not much to compare it to.
my favorite gift to receive and give is fresh cut flowers. Love them, how could you not!? Flowers brighten up any room and put a smile on my face always!
crystalgrant84@hotmail.com
I always go with a nice bottle of wine from a local vineyard…….
Ursula at uswood1@optonline.net
Congratulations! My favorite thing to receive is probably paper napkins! I love having different ones to set different moods (or lift me out of a blue one). And it's nice when I don't have to pay for them or pick them myself but when someone else blesses me with their selection!
I tweeted (is that a word?) about this giveaway. My favorite is chocolate.
I think a little basket of treats, chocolate, flowers, something hand made by me…it's the thought that counts, right! Thanks Sandy for giving me courage to open my home to others! Keep up the great work!
I love to bake, so pumpkin muffins or chocolate chip cookies work for me. Congratulations! Happy 3!
Congratulations on 3 years! I love to give and receive something we can enjoy right away together – whether it's flowers to put on the table or food to add to our meal.
Wow. Three years! Congratulations. I love reading your posts and your recipes always leave me drooling. Someday I hope to try every one of them!
My favorite hostess gift to give is candles/candle holders. I always try to find something that fits the occasion or the person if it's a "just 'cause" type of thing and then some wonderfully scented candles to go with the holders. I'm a huge fan of Partylite candles and have an entire dresser full, ready to put together a gift at a moment's notice.
I love bringing flowers because I also love receiving flowers.
How fun! I really like to bring something, no matter how small, but my favorite is bringing something I baked. If I didn't have time, then flowers, or even fun italian sodas from Trader Joes are a favorite.
Favorite hostess gift to receive – flowers!
orangetriangle2 AT yahoo DOT com
I love giving (and receiving) a nice bottle of port. Wonderful blog, by the way. I'm glad I discovered it. Entertaining is becoming a lost art…
kagavin@hotmail dot com
Congrats on your 'Blogaversary'!!!
My favorite hostess gift are flowers or fruit basket…I hope to win!
My favorite hostess gift to give and receive is wine. I love trying new wines, and it's a good way to know what wine to have on hand depending on who you are inviting over. I love giving wine in fun wine bags.
Congrats on 3 years!
Congratulations..wow 3 years? I think my favorite hostess gift would have to be anything they made..it just warms my heart!!I love baked goods or anything they took the time to make…
Many Blessing's
Ann
Goodness, three years! What a milestone! I love to bring an edible hostess gift because they can decide if they want to put it in the kitchen and save it for later or share it with the guests if it's not something they might eat all of.
I HATE getting wine because people seem to think of it as a "go-to" hostess gift but not if you do not drink or cook with alcohol! Then it is a complete waste! And no, we can't just break it open and let others drink it because we don't serve alcohol in our house!
This blog is awesome. I love to get homemade somethings….notes, canned goods, knitted something. It's all good. Even without a hostess gift, just showing up is gift enough
Just found you and love this blog!! 3 years is something to celebrate !!
I love to entertain and one of my favorite hostess gifts to take are cute seasonal dishtowels with a utensil (spatula or wooden spoon all tied up together with coordinating ribbon( it's all about the presentation
Looking forward to getting to know you stop over for a visit sometime
Happy, happy birthday to Abby!
As for hostess gifts… Not necessarily my favorite, but my most typical is a bottle of wine. It's just so easy. Sometimes I'll do a loaf of bread.
My friend, Claudia, always brings me flowers from her garden (displayed artistically, because she's an artist). I think her straight-from-the-garden flowers are the best hostess gift, as they come from the heart.
My favorite gifts to give are knitted dishrags and/or homemade jams and jellies. I love to get anything, even a hug!
Honestly, I don't believe I have ever recieved a hostess gift. Maybe one time when a lady brought me a necklace she had made. And, unfortunately, I have never given a hostess gift. I usually just go to close friend's homes and just don't think abou it. Maybe I should think better about it and do differently. Thanks for the ideas and thanks for the chance to win.
Congratulation. I have only followed you for a short time but I have enjoyed it. I love to give wine also for a hostess gift
The idea of a hostess gifts are far from the past sadly, we don't think like that anymore. I say we all could do better on these kinds of things. We need to slow down and return to some of the simple things of life.
I do not do wine, I do not drink. I love candles, home baked items, a nice CD of music, a fun table book, a kitchen gadget. I like things that last. But I think anything giving with love, is a great gift.
I tweeted about the giveaway.
a favorite hostess gift i received once … a large bottle of gourmet olive oil! and it was a mistake! she had thought she was grabbing a bottle of wine and brought the oil instead, which i MUCH preferred! =)
Wine!
I love your blog. Today is the first day for me to visit…i found it on bella casa beautiful home.
I would probably say my favorite hostess gift to give or receive, is something homemade from the kitchen. Not everyone is spectacular in the kitchen, but it's such a warm, personal gift to give (and receive too)
Kelli
I always love to give/receive a choice bottle of wine. Delish!
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/couponlover16/status/4956139944
I love your blog, Sandy! It is always refreshing and encourages me.
My favorite hostess gift to give and receive is fresh flowers. Close second: baked goods.
My favorite hostess gifts to give are flowers or my home made vanilla. My favorite hostess gifts to receive are flowers or dish towels.
Cheryl
eazychat@wildblue.net
Shoot, Sandy…I've had your post up since the other day to post to it, but between feeling pretty lousy, and well…feeling pretty lousy, I haven't yet commented. I'm not trying to win (it might already be too late for that!!) but I wanted to tell you HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!
You come across warm and gracious online and off, and I count myself blessed to have met you in person. Hope it's not the last time, either!
Happy Anniversary! I love your blog and so enjoy reading it!
I love giving fresh flowers… or homemade maple syrup and a pancake mix for breakfast the next day!
Happy Anniversary!
I adore giving fancy serving utensils — embellished spoon, spatulas, and tongs!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
Happy blogiversary!
my favorite hostess gift is flowers — they brighten up the room so much!
To receive: wine & flowers
To give: wine & flowers & some kind of random chutney from Trader Joe’s
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