I was a bit surprised this last week when a friend told me that their “house just wasn’t quite ready for entertaining yet.”
I looked around my unfinished kitchen at this.
And this.
And this.
And I thought, Holy Cow, I have 14 guests coming to dinner tonight (probably around 20 if you count the kids)! What will my guests think? What if they see our unfinished molding in our bathrooms (from 4 years ago)?
Let the image go!
I understand that everyone has their own expectations and standards, but one thing I’ve learned (yay! I’m so happy!) is to just let the image go. It’s way more important to invite people in and to enrich our lives with love and connection than to worry about the “unfinished” projects or “how things look.”
Through our busyness in raising 3 teenage kids, projects, ministry, life in general–I’m Praising God that my family and I have learned to live with imperfections and can practice hospitality no matter what.
Setting the Table for tonight!
Wal Mart clearance table chargers
Yard sale dishes
Dollar Store goblets
IKEA clearance napkins
Dollar Store candle holders turned to bread plates
And then put it all together…
If we had to have things just right all the time, I’m afraid that we would miss out on some of the BEST GIFTS ever handed to us. And most of those have been given to us around our dinner table.
I’d love to hear about your plans for NYE, or if you struggle with perfectionism, please feel free to share!?
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. It says that dinner parties are attainable, they are affordable, and that they can be beautiful even when on a budget. 
What a beautiful table! It is going to be a quiet evening, dinner with some friends and then our house for dessert! Thanks for reminding me that the house doesn’t have to be perfect, I am stressing about getting home and cleaning up, but now I can know it won’t all matter in the end and plus I am the only one who notices the small things! Happy New Year!
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we’re just spending a quiet evening at home…enjoying each other. great post! LOVEd it!
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Ouch! Boy did this post sting the perfectionist within! I needed to hear and see this…and I needed the good swift kick in the rear that it gave me! My first time here…thanks!
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Good post, girlfriend! I gave up perfectionism a long time ago. It is what it is and although I like things to look nice, it wouldn’t stop me from having people over if something was undone. It’s freeing not to be hung up on all of that and real friends love you and your house no matter what.
Happy New Year, my friend. Sad you are not coming to Blissdom.
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Another great post on being real. I love to throw in the ritz in amidst the reality that all of our floors need serious replacing. Our main guest bathroom needs to be gutted. We have always had a mish mosh of decorating styles. This and that hand me downs thrown together for comfort. I don’t think we’ve ever really “decorated” any room. I like to spruce up the table but it is generally with great clearance items and buys from Goodwill.
Your table looks fabulous BTW…
For New Year’s we are laying low. We will meet some friends for an early Thai dinner (out) and then just come home and try to stay awake till 9:00 LOL!!
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I am a self confessed, frustrated perfectionist…meaning I constantly struggle to be perfect and stress at the fact that I’m not. Thanks for the reminder I so often need that “who cares?”
Actually, I find it impossible to be friends with those who act like everything is perfect. Where’s the fun in that? I’d much rather have friendships with women who are REAL and can LAUGH at themselves.
LOVE your table decor and so glad you did it budget friendly.
Still trying to decide what to do w/ hubby tonight. It’s the first NYE in 4 years that he won’t be at the Insight Bowl (football game). I don’t blame him…we’ve been married 12 years and I’ve never made it to ring in the new year. I will tonight though w/ the help of some caffeine. 
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We’re headed to friends who love to entertain and have the biggest house in our set of friends.
We all enjoy getting together at one another’s homes, but NYE at their home has become a tradition for us.
Our usual fare is soup, salad and bread, but tonight their #3 child has requested all finger foods! It should be alot of fun. And a very happy time.
We eat, play board games, talk, eat, watch a movie and ring in the new year together.
This year we are missing a couple of family members, but we’re still celebrating together.
Happy New Year!
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I can relate to what your friend said. My house is so out of date, and many projects that need to be tackled, and so many people that I am around focus so much on having things look not really perfect, but over the top. I am making up my mind this year to invite more people in, and focus of building friendships, and not trying to be perfect, which doesn’t work so well for me. The table is beautiful, and looks like it is going to be a wonderful evening. A quiet evening here for me and my sweet husband.
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I totally agree with you. Let go of the image and the comparisons. We can too often compare ourselves with others. Entertain “your” way and people will feel blessed!
We are headin to a hockey game and then to some friends house for food, bingo (I’m hoping to win settlers of catan) and great fellowship. Tomorrow we celebrate the day with longtime family friends of my hubbys family. It is a yearly tradition that goes back over 20 years!
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I do pull out my china for special occasions, but usually just the plates. I bought chargers at a flea market and the rest is crystal and glass that has been handed down or bought at thrift stores. My son always helps with the centerpiece with whatever strikes him. I cannot resist a clearance sale! Our New Years is easy…some good friends, some games, a movie and chili…so worries not expectations, just being together.
Happy New Year!
Holly
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Your table is beautiful! Enjoyed your post. I definitely relate to the part about perfectionism, I have not entertained much because I always thought my house didn’t look right and was in need of so many projects. I hope to change that in the new year and your blog helps.
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If I waited for everything to be ready I would never have guests over. I do like things to be just so, so this is a struggle for me when I am entertaining.
Your table looked lovely and I LOVE that you found things at such a bargin. We weren’t hosting on New Year’s Eve we enjoyed ouselves at a dear friend’s house and I hope she wasn’t owrried because I thought everything there was perfect!
Happy New year!
Robin
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As my kitchen remodel continues and continues, and I am still surrounded by unfinished drywall and drills on makeshift countertops, I think about all of the fun I would have missed had I worried about having a perfect place to entertain. Card nights with friends, family holiday dinners, and a rocking 40th birthday party for my hubby . . . would have been none existent if I worried about having the right look. Fortunately, you have helped me to just let go and enjoy the important things like friends and family.
Thanks, my girl! Blessings in 2010. -Annie
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Wow! It feels like this was written for me. I don’t invite people over because the house isn’t clean enough all the time. I am trying to be better. Hopefully in the New Year I can release some of my perfectionism. Your blog is helping too. Thank you.
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Found your blog through A Soft Place To Land, today. It sounds like you are in a very similar “lifestyle” to mine- ministry with children.
This is something I’m glad that I have learned as well. Image is not all it’s cracked up to be, and I think it pleases the Lord *more* when we invite people to come in, and be a blessing to them & share his love & joy with them- than it is to worry more about what they will think about appearances. Thank you for this post! It was a blessing to me.
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Amen, amen, AMEN!!!!! Your post gets to the heart of it – thank you!
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I bet you had a LOVELY dinner party with lots of fun and laughter! What a shame if you would have canceled due to not having your trim done! Life is too short!
Your table is wonderful!
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Bravo! Bravo!! I hope this post of yours gets re-printed over and over. You’ve captured so much here, and I applaud you for having the courage to say it.
Bravissimo! And Happy New Year!
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Letting go of perfect is more of a challenge than most of us would care to admit (speaking as a former perfectaphobe) but what I now know to be true is this- when we have guests in our home they are not looking at the imperfections in my house! they are there for the importance that gathering together as friends brings, the laughter the, food, the connection with one another and so much else. Always appreciate coming to your blog Sandy for that important reminder. Can’t wait to hear about your NE gathering!
j
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Beautiful table! I’ve been learning to let go and forget perfection, it’s been a great thing and it’s freed us up for so much more entertaining!
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Your table is absolutely beautiful.
When people come over and I don’t feel the house is quite ‘good enough’, I take comfort that with low lights and enough candles, anywhere looks good. And my husband is great at reminding me, if they don’t like it, they don’t have to come again.
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Love your yard sale dishes! Life is too short to worry about a perfect house. Live, love and laugh, never miss a chance to be with loved ones. DH and I went to evening NYE service after catching a quick dinner out then home to relax. Blessings to all in the New Year.
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what a great post! you are so authentic, thank you so much. goblets from the Dollar Store, who would have dreamed???
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Lovely table! Thanks for telling us all about it. I wrote about some similar feelings regarding my home today. Blessings on your new year, Sandy! Kelly
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So beautiful and so well said….thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
Noelle´s last [type] ..Bad- Bad Blogger!!
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