Please welcome my guest, Mary, from Mary’s Nest today!

Once upon a time, Mary was a Washington attorney…until a sudden but wonderful turn of events found her married to a sweet guy 10 years her junior, pregnant at 40, and a new homemaker living in a small town outside of Austin, Texas.

My friend Mary’s blog, Mary’s Nest, is stories of her bumpy transformation from practicing law to perfecting homemaking. In a way, Mary has become a sister to me. Hard to explain, but I really love her … And every time she comments on RE, it’s always signed, Love, Mary.

So here’s Mary …

First, I want to thank Sandy for allowing me to grace the pages of her delightful blog. I have learned more from her about what it truly means to open your home to others than any of the plethora of books I have ever read about entertaining. And itʼs my hope, if youʼre hesitant to open your home to guests, that the story of my bumpy transformation from reluctant entertainer to welcoming hostess will help you realize that anythingʼs possible…

From Fussy Washington Attorney to Hill Country Hostess
When I was single, I prided myself on the fact that my home looked like a furniture store. It was immaculate and decorated to a T, without even a magazine out of place. To say I was a bit of a perfectionist would be an understatement! It was easy back then. Single and working as an attorney in Washington, DC, I found myself away from home for long hours. When I did return home, everything was the way I left it.

But one day, due to a serendipitous meeting at the airport, I soon found myself married, pregnant, and a new homemaker living in a small town in the Texas Hill Country. I was happy beyond measure but completely unprepared for what lay ahead.

Once our son was born, I was thrilled to be a mom, but I was also exhausted. Trying to cook three meals every day, wash an endless parade of dishes, clean a house that seemed to give birth to clutter, plow through mountains of wash, and most importantly care for a newborn baby were all things that were foreign to me…not to mention overwhelming. I wanted everything to be perfect but could barely get myself dressed in the morning let alone wash the floor! And when the pediatrician matter-of-factly reassured me over the phone that projectile vomiting from an infant was normal…I cracked. It was official. Our home was a wreck.

Entertain? Thatʼs Latin for Capital Offense
So I did what any sane person would do. I boarded up the front door, determined I would never let anyone set foot in our disaster zone of a house again. Unfortunately, my plan was thwarted by my fun loving husband. By the time our son was a toddler, my husband longed to be able to entertain. Against my better judgement, I finally acquiesced. Sadly though, he soon realized the error of his ways and was filled with regret.

In anticipation of the arrival of our guests, I barked orders at him like a shrew. “We have to clean up this mess now…how do we live like this!?!” Yes, he was filled with regret. And the sad thing about it all was that, yes, our home might have been messy, but it wasnʼt half as bad as this perfectionist thought it was!

Some time passed before my husband brought up the topic of entertaining again. Like childbirth, I think he forgot the pain and ventured another try at it. But the shrew reappeared and any future entertaining was put on hold…indefinitely.

A Happy Verdict In Sight
Luckily, there is a happy ending. Much to my husbandʼs relief, when my son was in pre- K, I learned about “FlyLady” from a handful of other moms. I was intrigued, but I have to be honest…It wasnʼt easy in the beginning. I wonʼt mislead you. My rehabilitation was a good year in the making. But the more I practiced FlyLadyʼs advice for “Fly Babies”, the easier it became to let go of my perfectionist nature and leave the world of CHAOS – Canʼt Have Anyone Over Syndrome – behind.

CHAOS – Canʼt Have Anyone Over Syndrome

And most important…both my husband and son have been all smiles with my transformation. Friends come and go, snacks and meals are served, feet are plopped up onto ottomans (and even the coffee table!), the dog sleeps on the couch, board games are pulled out of the closet, deep breaths are exhaled, and smiles abound. Weʼre all relived that the shrew was sent packing once and for all.

These days, I clean-up our “Hot Spots” (those areas that are magnets for clutter) after dinner and run the vacuum on Mondays in the heavily traveled areas of our home. If you ring my door bell in the middle of the day, youʼre likely to find things a bit out of place, but hopefully, overall, the feeling will be one of a welcoming air with a place to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with me by the kitchen fireplace.

The Heart of Entertaining
When it comes to entertaining, itʼs been more than just cleaning up a few Hot Spots that has brought peace to my domestic life. Itʼs also, Sandy, here at Reluctant Entertainer, whose writings have inspired me to be even more confident about opening my home to friends and family. Sandy encourages us to put the focus on making our guests feel welcome and comfortable…not worrying if things arenʼt perfect. It took me awhile, but Iʼve finally learned that itʼs not about me, our home, or the skill of my cooking…itʼs about the love and friendship that we offer to others.

My home is clean enough, the food is simple home cooking, and hopefully my guests feel welcome, relaxed, and look forward to returning.

Love, Mary
marysnest.com

Here are some great posts by Mary:
Secret to Easy Meal Planning
10 Top Kitchen Items to Simplify Your Life
Intuitive Cooking
10 Steps to Organizing the Kitchen

Hospitality is an important piece of life that we should all be savoring, and teaching our kids about.

A month ago I hosted a small dinner party with 7 adults when, just when I thought things were going “perfectly,” the fire alarm went off. You should have seen my husband and me rushing around, fanning the smoke detector, opening every window and door, yelling at the dog … yes! I let something burn in the oven. I looked up and saw my guests’ faces staring at me; it was rather humorous! We went on to enjoy an incredible evening, but I will admit, it did take me out of my “entertaining mode,” for a short amount of time.

I’d love for you to join me over at Simple Mom’s today where I’m sharing 7 Ways to Practice Imperfect Hospitality … Visit, HERE.

Oh, and Tsh just announced all of the contributors to Simple Mom blog for 2012. Check out this post on who the writer’s would invite to “their ultimate dinner party.”

You may have noticed that I’ve stepped up my photography a bit here on RE. It’s not that I’m more creative, in fact I’m still using the same classic white dishes I’ve always used. The difference is, I’m using fabrics under my plates to add more color and variety.

We learned a lot about staging food and photography at EVO ’11 this year, and it was fantastic. My style is to cook the food, quickly take a picture, and then move on to serving my guests or family. I rarely cook something just to blog about it. I always cook for someone.

But it’s still fun to take a quick picture first.

If you head into a local design studio or furniture store that sells fabrics in your town, they update their fabric samples on a regular basis. All you have to do is call or ask for them to save you their samples, and then you can do what I did.

Sort through the stacks and find what works for you and your blogging.

If you’re a blogger, do you look for ways to improve your photography?

(Thank you Krissy at Terra Firma Home in Medford, Oregon, for letting me rummage through your fabrics.)

Please welcome my guest today, Aggie, from Aggie’s Kitchen.

Hey there! I’m so happy to be here today! It’s been a while since I’ve stopped by. Last time I was here it was last summer, and I brought dessert. Today I decided to do something different, and have you over to my house for some Sunday lunch with my family.

Sunday lunch has always held a special place in my heart, my family is Italian and growing up Sunday lunch was always just a given. It was a meal that we shared together every week, no matter what and without a fuss. It was just what we did. I would wake up each Sunday to smells of garlic and onion simmering on the stove, my grandmother and my mom already in the kitchen getting the sauce and meatballs ready before we went to church. Sometimes it was just the immediate family around the table, sometimes there were aunts, uncles and cousins over and sometimes we would share it with friends. Our meal changed slightly each week, but I can assure you that it always included a nice big comfy bowl of pasta.

For those of you who don’t know me, I met Sandy over a year ago through our relationship with Bush’s Beans. I feel extremely blessed and grateful to have met Sandy, because over time, our friendship has grown so much. I find myself always asking her for advice and sharing with her my thoughts and goals…I look to her to hold me accountable. She’s someone I trust and am so thankful to have met through the wonderful world of blogging.

(Sandy and I just last month in Park City for Evo ’11)

Before we get to the food I wanted to share with you a couple of things I’ve learned this past year as far as entertaining and hospitality goes. I’ve talked a lot of this out with Sandy already and she has helped me so much in this department. I have never been afraid to entertain and am very comfortable with having people over my home. I can thank my parents for that, we always had friends and family over and it was just part of our life. No matter how comfortable I am having guests over though it still never fails that I tend to drive myself a little nuts before each “get-together.” I think its something a lot of us do right? (please tell me I’m not alone!!) A lot of it stemmed from feeling like every single thing had to be perfect.

Lesson 1: Imperfection is so much easier.

I have also always felt like I have to do everything. Now of course, I am the one having the gathering, I have to do something…but sometimes it really is okay to ask for help. For instance, if you are having a large get-together with multiple families where a meal is going to be served, ask your guests to bring a favorite family dish, dessert or even wine. People love bringing food and helping. It’s okay. The day or morning before ask your husband to help you out a bit by wiping down the bathroom counters or straightening up the patio. And ask your kids to help you by putting their toys and school papers away. I recently asked my kids and their cousins to wrap plasticware in napkins and fill up water balloons for our 4th of July family barbecue…it kept them entertained a bit and helped me get organized.

Lesson 2: It’s really okay to ask for help.

One more thing that I learned…and this probably has a lot to do with the perfect/imperfect lesson, is to take shortcuts. And what I mean by shortcuts is this: when you are strapped for time but have plans for a nice casual dinner with friends or family…don’t get overwhelmed. Instead, order a bunch of pizzas and garlic bread, and make a nice big salad and open a couple of bottles of wine. No one will mind I promise you (and get this…you can probably get away with “nice” paper plates too).

Lesson 3: Take shortcuts.

These lessons have really been a real eye opener for me. And I like to think I’m a more relaxed hostess because of it.

So are you wondering what we are going to eat?

Well, I wanted to share with you my recipe for my family’s favorite Sausage and Peppers. I make this all the time for friends and family and is one of my favorite meals to share with others along side a bowl of pasta or as sandwiches on crusty Italian bread.

If you are feeding a large group it’s a great recipe to double and can be easily served buffet style.

Thanks for having me over today Sandy and hope you all enjoy the meal!

When you are strapped for time, do you feel like you can ask your guests to help out?

Aggie Goodman, of Aggie’s Kitchen, is an active mom of two who’s always thinking about the next meal. Her kitchen is her “happy place” where she can relax and do what she loves to do, feed her family and friends. Most of the food she cooks is healthy, but the occasional treat is permitted (and welcomed!). When she’s not cooking, she’s most likely running after her kids, getting in a good workout, finding peace in a book or talking food on social media. You can find her on Facebook and as @aggieskitchen on Twitter.

I’m so honored to be a part of the LoveFeast Table Journey and the brand new launch of Chris Ann and Kristen’s site, LoveFeast Table. I’ve always admired these ladies; their passions and inspiration to so many.

LoveFeast Table is a Food & Lifestyle blog written by two moms from two different cities. They write about what’s on and around their tables and what inspires them!

Over at their place today, I’m sharing how community happens when you host a dinner party! These generous ladies are also giving away a signed copy of my book, The Reluctant Entertainer.

When I entertain, I rely on the abilities of my friends and family.

Like when my family comes to dinner … life just happens.

—-> follow the rest of the story, HERE.

Cheers to a new chapter, and thank you, Ladies, for letting me be a part of your journey!

(You can follow LoveFeast on Twitter @LoveFeast, and also on Facebook.)

I’m also over at Simple Mom’s today: Six Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party with Kids in the Mix!

You can read more, HERE.

I’ve had many people ask me what a blogging conference is, why I go, and what happens at these events. I thought the best way to share about my recent travels to Evo 11‘ in Park City would be to share my honest thoughts with a few pictures to go along with each inspiration.

Evo 11‘ is a social media blogging conference nestled away in the hills of Park City, UT, held at the Canyons Resort. This was my second year to attend and I’d recommend it to anyone. Just look at the beauty!

It’s designed for bloggers in general, like foodies, mommy bloggers, design bloggers, and dad bloggers, too, to come and learn about blogging, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. There’s always something new to learn and the speakers are usually outstanding! It’s a well-balanced group of people and I really enjoy that. And, yes, a blogger looks like a social media geek with an iPhone, computer, and camera in hand.

EVO is very family friendly, as you can see by the fun that my husband and I, our daughter and her friend, are having at the Bush’s Beans Party at Park City Mountain Resort. (More pictures below.)

We enjoyed an intimate dinner downtown Park City at 412 Bistro with the “Team Beans.” We do sort of feel like family now, since we’ve been working together with Bush’s Beans for about a year and a half. At blogging conferences you’ll hear great information about working with brands.

(Aggie and Maria)
(Katie, Cheryl, Kristen, Aggie, Laura, Maria, and me)

Attending a conference allows you to either dive into the lives of others and make new friends, or you can be really quiet and keep to yourself. One of the greatest gifts of blogging that I’ve received in the past 4 1/2 years has been very rich friendships. I’ve also found people with similar interests and passions as me.

Because I love to entertain, I think about the people I meet that I’d be giddy to invite into my home to a dinner party.

Wouldn’t a virtual dinner party be fun? I adore these ladies! (Annalise, Kelley, Helen Jane, Lisa, me, and Alison)

And these lovely ladies. Flavia is a brand new friend who I just met and our family could have swooped her up, packed her in our suitcase, and brought her back home with us. Katie is a sweetie, too, with a beautiful, family-friendly blog. (Katie on the left, Flavia on the right.)

Cheryl, Marla and Kristen know way more than I do about blogging, and are quick to offer advice and to help other bloggers out. They are resourceful and awesome ladies!

Aggie and I worked out hard climbing those BIG hills every morning. It was actually a very spiritual time as we reflected on our goals and direction for blogging. It was very refreshing, encouraging and exciting! (Love ya, girl!)

Another important fact I’ve learned over the years is that blogging is not about perfectionism, arrogance or pride. Blogging is about sharing your passions, giving out to others, and treating everyone with respect and dignity. For example, even when you may not have the perfect photo on your blog, it’s okay. For me, as the hostess of real life dinner parties, I rarely have time to stage and get the perfect picture before I’m waiting/serving my guests. That’s when I hope the story comes through and hides the not-so-perfect photos. (Love covers a multiple of sins, right?)

Here are some of the inspirational pictures from a food/photo workshop up in the hills of Park City at Lookout Cabin.

(Helen, me, Aggie, Maria, and Alison) Alison is a new breath-of-fresh-air-friend, too. Really special lady.

The workshop was photography instruction (taught by Helen of Tartelette) and a cooking demonstration. The food was delish and the setting was …well, … you decide. Go God!!

My favorite part of going to conferences is meeting new bloggers. You can tell right away when you meet a genuine person, because, again, they ask a lot of questions about your life.

(My new friend, Sara, from One Charming Party.)

One of the classes I attended was on food styling and photography with Diane Cu and Todd Porter from White on Rice. I learned so much from these two. They were relatable and taught us so much about the camera. As we ended each session, they encouraged us to take the information learned and to pass it on to 5 bloggers. In other words, their insights and instruction were not to be kept a secret. I so appreciated their “pay-it-forward” mentality.

Todd and Diane were very humble. Teaching is definitely “less about them and more about others.”

And then there’s the incredible Jeffrey Saad, with the same style of teaching, who taught a hands-on food workshop, sponsored by Bush’s Beans. This man lives and breathes enthusiasm and excitement. You can clearly feel his love for food and the people. (You can watch Jeffrey on July 12th for session 2 of United Tastes of America.)

I’m sort of starting to sound like a rerun here on RE … the people, the people … it’s not about us …

I was able to reconnect with Tsh from Simple Mom and Melissa from The Inspired Room, two of my very first blog friends who I met 4 years ago at Blissdom. They are “balcony” friends in my life, for sure. Meeting people from different states (and even countries) is another added benefit of blogging. (These two gracious ladies also endorsed my book.)

I met Jo Packham one year ago at EVO, and if you don’t know Jo (Where Women Create and Where Women Cook), she’s also the founder of The Creative Connection conference, if you’re looking for a blogging conference to attend this Fall. I love this picture (below) of Jo and me talking, because it shows her in action. She is talented, creative … I think “bigger-than-life” explains her well. She has a new book coming out this Fall called: Where Women Cook: Celebrate!: Extraordinary Women & Their Signature Recipes. It’s a hard back book of 27 beautiful photographed parties and I’m very honored that my annual New Year’s Eve dinner party was included in this lovely book!

Back to the Park City Resort party, sponsored by Bush’s Beans … a few more “fun” pictures.

(Kristen)
(Aggie)
(Lisa)
(Alison)

(hubs and I on the scary roller coaster ride)

So, who made this conference a huge success? I would say for sure the founders Rachael and Jyl, but also the speakers, teachers, sponsors, and the venue itself. But mostly, the people who attended.

As a group of bloggers were gathered around a “celebrity blogger” (very popular and wonderful person, just too many people gathered around) my family and I quietly slipped away and found the closing key note speaker. Have you heard of Me Ra Koh? Her keynote was so inspiring, we texted our teenage daughter to quickly come downstairs to join us. Both having photography and the same faith in common, she had words of inspiration, little nuggets of wisdom, that my husband and I could never have given to our daughter. It was our last little “gift” of EVO before the night ended.

So what is a blogging conference?

As we left the closing event and headed back down the steep mountain in the rain, and as we said our last good-byes to old and new friends, I felt happy and content.

It’s the positive relationships in life that make us better people. The ones that challenge us to grow, to have more courage, to make a change, to step it up, to try something new, to see things in a “new” light, to recommend us, to teach us to put perfectionism aside. Ones that encourage us to become better parents (which is more important than better bloggers), that inspire us to love our spouses more (when it’s tempting to love our computers more) … to become better people.

It was the people at EVO that once again changed my life.

Have you attended a blogging conference and if so, how did it change your life?

(Bush’s Beans paid for my trip to Evo 11′, but they did not pay for me to write this post today.)

More posts on EVO:
Completely Delicious
Two Peas and Their Pod
Use Real Butter
Ingredients, Inc.

I recently got home from a fabulous sunny mini-vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona, where I was hosted by Thermador for a blogging event in their world-class showroom.

We were able to cook on all of their exquisite appliances, and then eat, and then cook, and then eat. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve eaten this much food since last Thanksgiving! The family “feel” was so incredible as we ate our meals family-style and got to know one another.

The hands-on experience working in the Thermador kitchens, with some of their chefs, and with other amazing bloggers, was incredible! I really appreciated their passion for healthy foods, and especially Chef Brad’s inspiring presentation on cooking with and eating whole grains.

I say mini-vacation because my husband was able to join me early for our 20th anniversary! Yay! We went from depressing Oregon rain to glorious Arizona sunshine. It was a true gift. And I must say, I do love it when my husband gets to come on blogging adventures with me! I love that all of my blogging friends get to meet him and he loves to meet them!

So, back to Thermador. We arrived at their beautiful showroom …

As someone who’s passionate about cooking and entertaining, I so appreciated hearing the 75-year history of Thermador with Zach Elkin (Director of the Thermador brand), walking through their “oh-so-cool” and very stream-lined show room, (I could live in a house like this!), and more importantly viewing their BRAND NEW Thermador Pro Grand®Steam Range.

As Zach says, “Our new professional range empowers home cooks to achieve their best and experience the absolute finest in cooking, whether it’s healthy steam cooking, baking in the large-capacity convection oven, precise simmering on the Star Burners, or just keeping the family meal warm.”

I was so impressed with the performance of this beauty.

The unveiling …

Entire group of bloggers: Maggy from Three Many Cooks, Dana from Dana Treat, Kathy from Healthy.Happy.Life, Jaden of Steamy Kitchen, Sarah of Tastespotting, Tabitha of Lady and the Blog, Linda of Better Homes and Gardens, Leslie of KB Culture, Susan of The Kitchen Designer, Robyn of Add a Pinch, Kate and Sarah of Our Best Bites, Tessa of Handle the Heat, Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod, Amanda of Kevin and Amanda, Anne of Fannetastic Food, Irvin of Eat the Love, and Brooke from Cheeky Kitchen

This new 48-inch Thermador Pro Grand Steam is the world’s first kitchen appliance to offer seven distinct cooking options — steaming, convection baking, burner cooking, simmering, grilling, griddle cooking and warming — with a combination Steam & Convection Oven, a large-capacity convection oven, a six-burner gas cooktop. WOW!

Cooking Innovation & Performance

–To maximize cooking possibilities, the Thermador Pro Grand Steam Range offers seven distinct cooking options with four integrated appliances: a full-function combination Steam & Convection Oven; a large-capacity Convection Oven; a six-burner Gas Cooktop and electric grill/griddle option with ProCoat™titanium surface; and a Warming Drawer.

–The fully integrated 1.4-cubic-foot Steam & Convection Oven cavity is large enough for a 14-pound turkey, serving 15 people. (A 14-pound turkey takes only 90 minutes to cook in Combination mode, resulting in a moist inside and a perfect crust outside.) The steam oven offers 30 easy cook food programs, and its simple water tank design allows for convenient, spill-proof refilling, and eliminates the need for plumbing modifications during installation. (We cooked and ate 2 whole ducks – delicious!)

–The Steam & Convection Oven enables cooking without using butter or fat, improves overall food quality and appearance, and preserves healthy vitamins and nutrients typically lost during traditional cooking methods.

–Patented six Star Burners with QuickClean™base, which allow for more ports and flame distribution, greater heat coverage and a smaller cold spot than conventional round burners.

–Power Star Burner offering 22,000 (Natural Gas) BTU, while the remaining burners produce 18,000 BTU.

–Four Star Burners featuring ExtraLow®simmering technology that cycles the burners off and on to as low as 100 degrees (375 BTU).

–Large-capacity 5.1-cubic-footConvection Oven offers maximum cooking space and nine advanced conventional cooking modes.

–Spacious 1.4-cubic-foot warming drawer holds up to 10 dinner plates.

(Kate from Our Best Bites)

Design

–Highest-grade stainless steel construction and handcrafted in the United States with signature bull-nose design.

–Professional®Series handles and trimkits offer design consistency with any Thermador kitchen.

–New hydraulic SoftClose™hinges prevent the slamming of oven doors, and SoftClose glide doors for the warming drawer.

–Full Access® telescopic racks with integrated easy-grip handle.

–Electronic oven display interfaces to cook timer, meat probe and preheat status.

–Commercial-style stainless steel knobs.

–Commercial-style temperature gauges and illuminated electronic displays.

So how does this relate to my audience and to many who are reluctant entertainers?

Thermador actually helps take the reluctance out of entertaining!

It helps you take the question marks out of your “performance” in the kitchen (you know, worries like … will it turn out? what if I overcook the food?), because of its 7 reliable features all in one.

The settings will not steer you wrong. Did you know that you can leave a plate of chocolate chips on LOW on the burner all day long? They will not burn! You can actually trust this appliance, which gives you more confidence in the kitchen.

And you can actually boil your eggs quickly in the steam oven! Brilliant!

Lastly, this appliance brings tremendous elegance to the kitchen. They are absolutely stunning!

I’ve heard from many readers over the years that they have this spectacular kitchen, but they hardly entertain! Thus, they come to RE for encouragement and the “you-can-do-it” spirit in my message!

Maybe you’re one with a beautiful kitchen, or you’re thinking of a kitchen remodel, or possibly even just replacing one appliance at a time. I highly encourage you to at least review and read up on the Thermador products.

More of our Thermador experience …

The food we cooked and enjoyed together.

Great friends … some old, and some new.

(This group shot photo credit to Amanda.)

Maggie from Three Many Cooks and I made a scrumptious salad. I’ll be sharing the recipe here at RE soon!

Love these ladies, Kathy from Healthy.Happy.Life and Dana from Dana Treat. Dana (on the right) and I are part of a NEW Where Women Cook “Celebrate” book coming out this August 2011. This was our first time to meet!

Helping Robyn, from Add a Pinch make spring rolls.

Jayden, from Steamy Kitchen, is so classy and loved by all.

But what was really cool is that the Thermador staff wanted to learn from us! Yes, from us little bloggers, as we discussed the culinary trends taking place around the states and the world.

The whole trip was fascinating to me, so here’s a BIG thanks to Thermador for inviting me to come.

If you could replace one appliance in your kitchen, what would it be?

Thermador compensated my travel, room, and meals enjoyed during my stay in Scottsdale, but they did not pay me to write this post. It’s purely my opinion and a great honor to write about such an elegant, stately, and state-of-the-art appliance.

One of the best things about going to a blogging conference is not only all there is to learn, but that you get to see your friends. And in my case, attending BlogHer Food last week in Atlanta, I also had a couple of other perks that made the trip fun. All of the speakers were fantastic, the vendors and the food were great, I got to meet some blogging friends I’ve never met before, and overall it was one of my best trips ever in the world of blogging. (Above photo credit by Amanda)

I’ll start off with the first night, when my friend Susan from Doughmesstic put together an amazing party at the Hard Rock Cafe (with all of these cool sponsors). She did a fantastic job with her 2 partners, and all of us bloggers benefited greatly!

The next day the learning sessions started. I have to brag a bit here about my 3 friends who were the panel on “branding.” These gals were great: Georgia from Georgia Pellegrini, Amy from She Wears Many Hats, and one of my roommates, Lori from Recipe Girl, whom I adore! (Smack!) They did a really great job talking about their personal experiences working with brands.

I attended a “Vlogging” session, which gave information and tips on putting video clips on your site. Yes, I’m thinking about doing some vlogging on RE. I have the perfect kitchen set up, so why not? This session was awesome, because they talked about all the details and how simple it really is! I took home with me some great ideas that I’d love to incorporate here on RE. In the meantime, I thought this slide was hilarious. So true … look at Julia Child’s wonderful helpers!

Another session that I thought was wonderful was Molly Birnbaum being interviewed. Molly lost her ability to taste after an accident, and she writes her latest book around her experience and as she slowly engaged a damaged sense of smell. It was touching and she was so humble. I loved her story and her new book is coming out, Season to Taste!

I was also so honored to attend a National Pork Board “Pork Crawl” with some pretty fabulous ladies. You might be wondering what that is! We rode around in a limo and ate dinner at 3 incredible restaurants, Dogwood, Pura Vida, and Rathbun, eating fantastic pork dishes cooked by some of the top chefs in Atlanta. We were spoiled, but more importantly, I have a very exciting giveaway coming up on RE, where I’ll be sharing some great products that you’ll be able to win. Stay tuned.

(Lori @ Recipe Girl, Angie @ Bakerella, Jenny @ Picky Palate, Jaden @ Steamy Kitchen, Sandy @ Reluctant Entertainer, Georgia @ Georgia Pellegrini, Marla @ Family Fresh Cooking, not pictured Carrie Minns @ La Pomme De Portland, and photo credit by Amanda @ Kevin & Amanda

One more thing about the National Pork Board. They have just released some new JUICY news that is going to affect the way we cook and enjoy pork from now on …

The JUICY news …

This week, the USDA confirmed that 145 degrees F as measured on a food thermometer, followed by a three-minute rest time, is safe internal temperature for pork chops, roasts and tenderloins.

This cooking method results in juicy, tender and flavorful pork—like that unforgettable chop we had at Rathbun’s Restaurant on the Pork Crawl. It was mouth-watering! (You can read more about it, HERE.)

Not only did I get to go on a Home Goods Shopping Spree (stay tuned next week for your chance to win a $100 gift card!), a great group of ladies had lunch with Ree Drummond’s sister, Betsy, Christy from Southern Plate, and darling Bakerella. Plus a bunch of wonderful ladies whom I adore!

I also got to meet Aimee’ from Simple Bites (photo credit of Aimee’). We both write for Tsh, for the Simple Mom Network. I also learned I’ve been saying her name wrong all this time. Instead of saying (Amy) you say it like, ‘M-ay,’ if that makes sense. The French way. I loved my chat with Amy, from Mom Advice and Erin, from $5 Dollar Dinners (who was on The View this week) I met both of these ladies at a blogging conference 4 years ago … see how relationships can grow and continue through blogs? (Above photo credit @ Simple Bites)

Blogging events are such a beautiful way to connect with people around the world with like interests. RE is more of a “lifestyle” blog, but I have friends in every niche, which makes it even more exciting.

I came back with new ideas, new friends, new experiences … and more I’ll be sharing here at RE.

Thank you for tagging along with me on my recap and I do have one last question for you.

IF I did get into vlogging here at RE, what kind of material would you like to see?

or … Have you ever been to a blogging conference and how has it changed you?

(The National Pork Board did not pay me to write this post today, but they did provide the dinners for the Pork Crawl.)

I also want to send you over to my friend Traci’s place today, because I’m sharing about my NEW BATHROOM JOURNAL … head over and check it out.

… here’s Coryanne …

The spring holidays are upon us: guests are ringing door bells, hostesses are clicking their heels and before we know it, the merriment will pass and the memories of those festive spring celebrations will fade….unless you have a guest book on hand to collect them.

Call me a traditionalist, but I adore reading guest books and leaving guest comments. However the tradition of having a guest book in your home disappeared with the milkman. The timeless guest book is a catalogue of your guests name, address, date and comment…however there are many ways to update this classic memory journal and reintroduce them as a staple of your home celebrations.

Photographs are timeless, but adding another layer to your memories, one that you enjoy upon reflection or share at your next party brings everyone together and keeps your memories alive longer. Here are a few of my favourite guest books that hold the memories that make our house a home:

The creative journal—Perfect for family parties, invite your guests to draw a picture of the gathering, people attending or choose a theme for them to get creative with. It keeps the younger guests entertained and surprisingly, after a few glasses of wine, the older guests get a burst of creative genius too.

The wine journal—Knowing what your guests think of the bottle you shared will help you in decide your wine menu for your next dinner party, and give you a further chance to understand the complexities of wine tasting.

The conversation journal—This acts as a great ice-breaker and really opens up the conversation when you are entertaining a group of guests who are newly acquainted. Pass the journal around and ask people to capture quotes from the evening.

The Joke Journal

The joke journal—Great for cocktail parties, encourage your guests to note down their favorite joke in the book, everyone will love sharing new entries and reading past ones.

The recipe journal—Great for coffee mornings or casual luncheons with friends, encourage your guests to share their favorite recipe. This is the perfect opportunity to not only collect new recipes but allow your guests to share their culinary favorites.

Do you keep a guest book or journal in your house for guests to sign?

Coryanne lives in Arizona with her husband, 3 small children and rather mischievous miniature schnauzer. And that’s a stylish Hip Hostess apron that she’s wearing – so classy! To learn more about Coryanne’s view of domesticity, visit www.housewifebliss.com

Today I have a wonderful friend as my guest, talking about her Balcony Girl’s group and sharing a delicious, darling, Springy recipe. But before I begin, I want to show those who’ve been following my Balcony Girls posts, if you remember this post where the girls made pillowcase dresses for African girls, here are some pictures of the dresses they actually sewed of the little girls wearing them. I was so blessed to be a part of this amazing group of girls and their moms and grandmas that came to sew one afternoon back in November. My friend, Jeannie, actually hand delivered the dresses on a recent trip.

Today, Brenda from A Farmgirl’s Dabbles is here to share with you a special time that she had with her Balcony Girls group. And if you head over to her site, I’m giving away “3″ BG EBooks today, so you can enter over there to WIN. Brenda’s blog is amazing, I love the recipes, stories, and beautiful photography.

Here’s a few tasty recipes to check out: Lasagna Soup, Orange Poppyseed Drops, and Snickerdoodle Cupcakes. She is one talented girl and her recipes are always ready for printing (love this feature, which I’m working to bring to RE).

So here’s Brenda …

My blog is where I share my cherished family recipes from growing up on the farm, plus new food I keep finding along the way. Preserving memories and family traditions is very important to me. You’ll always find a story woven into the food I share. And it seems I often have my fingers in some kind of artsy-fartsy project, so you’ll see some of my creative dabbles mixed in, too.

Today I’m going to share with you a fun and colorful treat, Spring Brownie Pops. At the core is a brownie recipe that’s very special to me. These brownies practically raised me, as they were one of the more common treats found on our farm’s kitchen counter as I was growing up. With just a few ingredients, they are quick and easy to put together, while offering loads of fudgy homemade goodness.

I first made these Spring Brownie Pops as a fun decorating activity for my daughter’s 9th birthday party last month. I had assembled the brownies and sticks the day prior to the party. Then shortly before my daughter and her girlfriends arrived home from school, I melted the candy coating disks and assembled a tray of spring hued sprinkles. I decorated a few of my own, for examples, and waited for the giggly girls to arrive.

When they saw brownies on sticks (everything’s more fun to eat when on a stick!) and all the pretty ingredients laid out, that’s when the real chatter started! They were giddy. And they dipped and sprinkled every last brownie on a stick. What a fun treat for them to sit down and share together!

This was such a great activity for these young girls. I know we’ll be making them again. And all the while I watched my daughter and her friends laughing and dipping brownies, all I could think about was Sandy’s “Balcony Girls” project. If you have special young girls in your life and haven’t yet checked out Sandy’s e-book, I highly encourage you to do so. It’s about investing in our adolescents and teaching them about virtues and positive relationships. I haven’t formally set up a Balcony Girls program of my own, but I’ve been able to incorporate what I’ve read in the e-book, just in casual conversations with our 9-year-old daughter. It’s really good stuff. Stuff every young girl should be taught. Stuff every not-so-young girl should be reminded of. Please, please, please check it out!

If you want the PRINT-OUT RECIPE for the Brownie Pops, you can get it, HERE.

Head over to A Farmgirl’s Dabbles to say “hi” to Brenda and to win a copy of the BG e-book if you are interested!

Or, leave any comments here if you have any questions about BG. We’d also love to hear if you’ve heard about or participated in the Pillowcases for Africa Ministry?

Winners to the New Sonoma Diet Book GIVEAWAY are Marla, from Family Fresh Cooking, and Amy, Amy’s Cooking Adventure, and Vinnie (no blog). Congrats, Ladies!

I’m welcoming my friend and guest today, Mindy Lockard, from The Gracious Girl blog. I love meeting new Oregon bloggers, and Mindy and I hit it off big time. Well, it only makes sense since I write about hospitality and she writes about graciousness. Her blog teaches about the value of caring for others in your community. Mindy’s sharing a fabulous recipe today … and it’s really easy, too!

Here’s Mindy …

I don’t know about you, but life seems to be getting busier and busier! Busyness can sometimes get in the way of how we connect with other people. Especially where family dinners are concerned. And although I’ve tried–oh how I’ve tried–to master the art of being in two places at once, I simply have yet to find a way to make it happen.

However, what I have found is this perfect little Sammie – a great solution to being on the soccer field all afternoon and around the table come dinner time.

This little sammie is also a favorite when we entertain friends for a “big game” or casual dinner party among friends!

Here’s how it all goes down…

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup red pepper
• 1/2 cup yellow pepper
• 1/2 cup orange pepper
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 minced sweet yellow onion
• 2 1/2 cups BBQ sauce (2 cups for slow cooker / 1 cup to spread)

A few other items…

• Rolls
• Broccoli slaw–for an added crunch

After a long day, this shredded chicken in the slow cooker will greet you at the door with a sweet aroma! A wonderful way to be greeted… don’t you think?

Assemble the sammie and…

Enjoy!

Do you find that busyness gets in the way of connecting with other people?

Or, what’s your quick and easy go-to meal?

Etiquette Note: Since these sammies have a tendency to get “sloppy,” don’t ever hesitate to wave the white flag and reach for your knife and fork. They say “Pride cometh before the fall,” and in this case the fall typically is on the lap or down the front of our shirts. Yes, the knife and fork are your friend!

Mindy Lockard is the founder of Mindy Lockard’s Gracious Living which includes a daily blog, trainings for colleges/universities, government agencies, and private companies. Mindy is a freelance contributor for Fox 12 Oregon, Crane & Co.’s The Crane Insider, Stationery Trends magazine’s column “What’s Write” and many other web and print publications. To learn more about Mindy Lockard you can find her on twitter: @TheGraciousGirl facebook: The Gracious Girl or on the web MindyLockard.com.

Welcome my guest today, Barb Collins, from Madre Minutes …

I am honored to be asked to post for Reluctant Entertainer. Sandy’s blog has kicked my thinking up a notch to opening up my home, my self and my hospitality in a more intimate setting such as a dinner party. Sure I have had people in my home since moving to Texas over the past nine years, but it has always seemed like its been in large groups. Basketball teams, graduation parties, wedding parties, women’s groups etc just to name a few. I had not hosted an intimate dinner party in a long time and was not sure I remembered how. For me the preparation of the table and anticipation of each person who will attend gives me as much satisfaction and joy as the people do.

I did however, two days before the guests arrived, had to deal with Carpenter ants that decided they wanted to either come to the party or be on the menu. No they were not a garnish!

So back to the party. I wanted to give my guests not only an experience, but a reason also to think about hosting one themselves. So, for the ladies, I gave each one a copy of Sandy’s book The Reluctant Entertainer as a door prize if you will or a plate prize in this case hidden under each ladies place setting. (Insert Sandy — thanks, Barb!)

For the guys I wanted to include them also, so decided to do a meringue lemon tart, which I had never done meringue before, but was willing. I wanted the crust a bit bigger than tart tins so made my own pastry cups.

I brought out the torches to allow the guys to brown the desserts. What can I say…..boys and kitchen toys were a hit. An interactive dessert that got everyone up from the table and moving around after a long sit, sip, and savor.

I have to say it was magical. Not only did they have fun, it was great to have laughter, discussion and praise in our home.

We decided to try and do it once a month for good measure and starters.

The menu for this evening started with nibbles in an orange vintage relish dish of candied orange peel (again not hard to make but sounds fancy), store bought pistachio nuts and cheese straws sitting under a flower arrangement I lined with carrots keeping the greenery on for color.

- Warm pear soup I got from Martha Stewarts cook book that I added my own kick to with chipotle. Delicious and not like baby food thank goodness.

- A roast cooked in Bourbon, veggie stock, water, Worchestshire Sauce, onion and potatoes all in a slow cooker turned out amazing.

- Romanescos with mascarpone, which is like a combination of broccoli and cauliflower (and I had never seen, it looks prehistoric, or heard of before going to Whole Foods ).

It all really looked hard to put together and sounded romantic and luring with its ingredients, you know the way waiters describe the specials with such flare, ambiance and style.

Well, it wasn’t that hard to prepare at all. I had a lot of fun and I can not wait to host another one.

I was the blessed receiver even though my guests thought they were the ones who left blessed. As it should be.

Sandy mission accomplished…..well done!

Do you have friends that, if possible, you’d prioritize a “once a month” dinner date with?

-Barbara Collins is the author of Madre Minutes and Madre’s Kitchen, a wife of 30 years, mother to 6 beautiful daughters, and host of two online tv shows called Madre Minutes on MomTv and Mingle Media TV Network. She loves to entertain and have people into her home, learning their stories and sharing her families stories over a hot meal.

Today I asked Marla to share about entertaining with kids, because even though mine are teens now (love the teen years, by the way!), there’s still so much to glean and learn from others.

So … here’s Marla!

Thank you Sandy for inviting me to your place for a virtual tea party! It is wonderful to be a guest here at The Reluctant Entertainer. Like a lot of you out there I get a bit nervous when I know other folks are coming over for a visit. I get the meal planning when it comes to cooking for my family, but guests are a whole other phenomena.

It is like we are on stage and sometimes the biggest critics are little kids.

Kids are not scared to share their true opinions and feelings, especially when you least expect it.

I know it is fun to overindulge our guests with big sugary treats, but the reality is we can offer up delicious foods and goodies that don’t have refined sugars and overly processed ingredients. I am gonna share with you some quickies you can prepare on the fly for when little ones and their bigger counterparts are popping over for a visit.

The goal at my blog Family Fresh Cooking is to invite people into the world of healthy eating. Making whole foods pretty, accessible and delicious are what I am all about and what I love to share with you.

No “Kid” Food Here

In our house our kids eat what we eat. Even if it is something I know they probably won’t really want I encourage them to try it. I always have back ups of healthy sprouted grain bread, cream cheese, organic cheese slices, natural nut butters and fruit sweetened jams for on the fly back ups. PB & J sandwiches and grilled cheese are acceptable over here as long as they are made out of quality ingredents. Meal time should not be about arguments, it should be fun and relaxing. If you are having little kids over offer them the meal you have prepared, but perhaps you have these back ups available too.

Here are a few sandwiches and some special pancakes that can be served any time of day.

• Egg Battered Grilled Cheese
• Strawberry Mozzarella Stuffed French Toast
• Raspberry Cream Cheese Pan-Crepes

Small Portions Are Cool

Overindulging is fun but not very satisfying when all is said and done. In our house it works best to have a salad plate filled with lots of little things. It is fun to taste a lot of flavors and the smaller plate size keeps portions in check. If a child or adult does not like something they can easily push it to the side or even have it taken off the plate without wasting too much food. Filling a large dinner plate encourages overeating or adds too much stuff to the trash.

Here are a few little bites that become larger if you add some protein such as grilled chicken breast, tofu, ground meat, etc.

• Three Cheese Spaghetti Nests
• Grilled Cheese Bruschetta
• Scrambled Egg Stacks

Nice Nibbles to have on Hand

My take on treats: even when I have guests I like to stick to a healthy eating plan. It is fun to show people that whole food ingredients can be just as pretty and tasty as their higher calorie counterparts. Ice pops can be made days ahead. Cookies and bars can be made ahead of time too. I always keep heavy whipping cream and light whipped cream cheese in the fridge for decorative frosting on the fly. A little stevia, maple syrup or honey are quick sweeteners that add more flavor than sugar.

Here are a few sweet treats that can be made ahead of time. They are healthy foods that only seem like big indulgences.

• Watermelon Frozen Yogurt Ice Pops
• Lemon Ricotta Cookies – Gluten Free
• Maple Apple Oat Bars
• Raspberry Lemon Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Feel free to contact me if you would like product suggestions, comments or to say “hi.” I can also be found on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon and at the local coffee shop.

All photography in this post is by me.

Thanks, Marla!

I know in recent posts, while sharing about whole foods and healthy living, many readers have viewed their opinions and concerns of the “cost” involved in eating healthy.

Do you watch the sugar intake in your family’s diet?

What does “healthy” eating mean to you, or do you worry about the cost?

Join me today with my guest and special friend, Susan Heid, who authors The Confident Mom site. I’m going to send you right over there, because her “place” is packed with encouragement, insights, and nuggets of inspiration that will HELP YOU OUT as a Mom! She even has an Ebook available (info below). Thank you, Susan! I appreciate what you are sharing here today at RE …

Our busy lives sometimes feel like they are spinning out of control. We have so many places to be and things to cross off our “to-do” list we tend to lose track of the little things we can do to add meaning to our lives and make our family feel appreciated.

One of the primary duties we are called to as mothers and wives is to create an atmosphere and environment in our home where our family can be refreshed, re-energized and renewed – a sanctuary.

Our family is bombarded with negative influence, harsh words and unrealistic expectations outside the walls of our home. Most everyone comes home after doing something that has consumed the best energy of his or her day. Everyone is tired, but dinner must be prepared, homework completed, and chores accomplished.

How can you create the sanctuary your family so desires and needs? Using hospitality at home – treating your family “as good as guests”.

Have you found yourself saying:

“Ah, that is good enough.” “That’ll do, it’s only family.” “No one will notice.”

It is easy to do as we try to cut corners to save time. Often we treat our guests better than we treat our family. I know I find myself falling into old, bad habits when I am stressed and feeling pressure. My tone of voice, my body language, how I complete a task, my attitude are all areas I have to constantly be aware of. Moms are the barometer in the house, if you are in a good mood and it shows, generally everyone else feeds off the energy and falls in behind you!

Establishing the habit of treating our family as we would a guest helps communicate our love to our family in a tangible way. Extending hospitality to our family allows them to reap the same blessings our guest receive in our home. In addition, we are modeling for our children – they learn from our example and learn how to genuinely treat others.

Here are some tangible ways to show hospitality to your family.

Prepare their favorite foods – Use food to honor a family member for a special occasion – or even with no “occasion” at all. Ask each family member their favorite recipe that you make and write it down. In addition, you can use a special plate that is inscribed with “You Are Special” to honor and surprise family members – it makes meals rather fun. Don’t wait for big celebrations; pick little things to celebrate – a toddler’s success at learning a new skill, a good grade on a test, or someone’s good attitude with helping another.

Create a warm atmosphere – We always try to create a peaceful environment for our guests, we can do the same for our family. Simple things like turning on music and lighting candles will create a restful ambiance for our family to enjoy.

Set the table – It is easy to get in the habit of eating buffet style especially if you have an ‘on the go’ family. Instead set the table. Use cloth napkins, which can be picked up rather cheap at the dollar store or I recently got a great set of 24 on eBay really inexpensive. Use different place-mats or a tablecloth, have some fresh cut flowers or simple centerpiece.

Remember, you do not have to do it all – involved your children in the process. Your child can create place-mats for each family member using construction paper, crayons and stickers then take them down to an office supply store and have them laminated so you can use them multiple times. Send your child outside to gather flowers or greenery from the yard and let them make a centerpiece. Remember, it is not about perfection, it is about teaching and honoring.

Create conversation – Encourage conversation at the dinner table or while sitting around preparing dinner. Our family enjoys sitting at the table long after the last person has finished eating. A favorite tool to help to guide conversation and get things started for us is Family Table Topics, a set of question cards that kick off the conversation. We definitely have learned a lot about each other we would have otherwise missed if we had not had this activity!

Create special events or traditions – You can make any day or meal a special occasion simply by investing some time planning ahead. There is no need to be elaborate – you may even do some of these things already: pizza/game night, ethnic food night (decorate in theme when possible) eat outside by candlelight on your patio, pack a picnic to take to the park for an outdoor concert or have a picnic at home in your living room. The possibilities are endless and the memories you make along the way are priceless!

Bless others unexpectedly – Find ways to surprise family members. Who doesn’t enjoy surprises? Write a note to place in your child’s lunch, or drop a note in your husband’s wallet. Instead of just making the coffee in the morning – serve the coffee – bring a cup to your spouse fixed just how they like it. Create a fun after-school snack for our children and sit down with them to share it together.

Keep an orderly home – Managing our home effectively is hospitality to our family; it communicates our love in a tangible manner. Our family benefits from our management on a daily basis, just as guests enjoy our efforts when they visit. When the house is in order, the stress level is down for everyone, which results in a place where family members can be refreshed, re-energized and renewed.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Colossian 3:23-24 NASB

What can you do today to show hospitality to your family?

Susan enthusiastically wears the hat of mom, step-mom and foster mom to 4 awesome kids – ages 18, 14, 10 and 14 months; is married to her very own prince charming, loves coffee, cloudy days, and does think the bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle. You can find her at her other day job, The Confident Mom, and get a copy of her FREE ebook, “Getting Kids to Cooperate and Become Team Players.”

Main Photo Credit

Photo Credits

A few months ago I had a conversation with a blogger that went like this:

Me: So, how do you do it all? How do you make these amazing recipes on a daily basis, take the “perfect” pictures, write the blogs, and keep the family going?

Her: I send my kids to school, start the cooking process and by the afternoon when I’m finished, I take the pictures. In between I am Skyping, Tweeting, Facebooking and blogging.

Me: What happens to the food after you finish the recipe? (I was hanging on for dear-life, waiting for the answer that I hoped to hear.)

Her: The food goes in the fridge and sometimes we eat it for dinner.

Me: Sometimes? Do you ever have friends come over to share the meal with your family?

Her: Nope. We either eat it that night or it gets tossed out. (*Gasp* No!)

Me: Being the foodie that you are, and with an active family life and a mother of 3 little ones, surely you have a lot of activities in your home and chances to entertain?

Her: Oh, no, we never have people over. Or if we do, maybe twice during the summer months.

Ouch. What’s the purpose of cooking tantalizing dishes, and then not sharing them with others? What has happened to the intimacy of eating together and sharing our lives with others?

The world wide web.

I will be the first to admit that I’ve been distracted by this amazing piece of technology.

Many of us have been caught and consumed by it like miserable flies. Blogging can turn into an amazing business, and I admire my friends who are savvy and run it that way. But before we know it, hours have flown by … or maybe even our lives.

Relationships around us change, and we don’t make time for others or invite them into our homes. Hospitality goes out the door …

… and then we toss out the food!?

When I write about hospitality and entertaining and my life on RE, it had better be real. My husband and I purposely invite others over for dinner because we need our friends! Life offers itself to us, but we have to be open to receiving what is there for us, what is best for us.

But I do get distracted, just like everybody else.

The Relevant ’11 Speakers:

But then I heard from Sarah Mae, founder of The Relevant Conference.

She asked me to attend the Relevant ’11 Conference October 27th-29th in Harrisburg, PA.

I’ve heard that this inspiring and transforming conference can be a rich time of building new friendships, while learning the importance of balancing priorities, time management, and striving to become intentional bloggers. I’ve heard that it’s a faith-building weekend, and I love anything that can move us in a better direction. Anything that deals with the real stuff of life, right?

So I said “yes,” to Sarah Mae, knowing that I would benefit from all of the help that I would get.

Intimacy along with intention is the key for me.

BUY YOUR TICKET!
Tickets are on sale now for this conference. If you have time, please check out this site, and would you consider joining us?

Do you still prioritize “the real stuff of life” or have you been distracted by technology?

Have you heard about the Relevant Conference taking place this year?

When Sandy first asked if I’d like to be a guest contributor on her blog I thought she was joking because I openly refer to myself as the “Anti-Martha” (not by choice but by DNA.) I own one wine glass and I only bust my wrinkly, ragged table cloth out to cover the permanent maker and glitter glue that covers our dining table.

A little over two years ago our oldest son Sawyer was diagnosed with autism, a year later our middle son Thatcher was given the same diagnosis.

Autism can be a lonely place.

Sometimes friends pull away because they don’t know how to act or support your family. And sometimes (like in my case) as a mom of two special needs kids, it’s just easier not to put myself out there.  My kids are AMAZING and have taught me so much about compassion and truly cherishing small blessings. But there are many days when the meltdowns and “stemming” suck every ounce of energy from my body.

There are times when I am so exhausted and emotionally spent, that the last thing I would ever want to do is invite people over to witness our chaos.

Last June my friend and I started a mom’s blog called Earth Monkey Moms. We were getting ready to launch our company’s first line of eco-friendly baby accessories and we knew we wanted to do more than just sell cute bibs. We used the blog as a place to open up about our lives … the good, the bad and the crazy… something amazing happened.

Moms started sharing with us how much our transparency meant to them… how they had gone through similar things or shared the guilt we place on ourselves as mothers when we can’t manage to keep up the illusion that we have it all together.  As the months pass we’re still passionate about encouraging other moms to stop pretending to be something they’re not… to stop thinking that we have to have it all together and to truly celebrate the women God made us to be.

It’s been through this journey that I have realized that we stopped entertaining when I got tired. Tired of the work, tired of pretending I had it all together and tired of feeling judged by people who didn’t understand how autism has taken over our lives. Reading Sandy’s blog and book has really inspired me to feel safe inviting the people we love most into our chaos once again. It’s helped me realize that it doesn’t matter if I only own one real glass and 1,700 plastic kids’ cups, and it doesn’t matter if there’s a pile of clean laundry on the couch or a stack (well let’s be honest… a mountain) of dishes in my sink.

The key to entertaining is inviting people you really want to share your life with.

Special needs kids or not, I know I’m not alone in feeling the pressure of needing to make it look like I have it all together. If you’re tired of pretending or just want a place to read and laugh and feel at home, visit our blog anytime, www.earthmonkeymoms.com and feel free to stop by our website www.earthmonkeys.com if you’re looking for unique, affordable eco-friendly bibs, pacifier holders and changing pads. We’d love to get to know you!

Do you know  families with special needs kids, and have you supported or invited them over for dinner?

(I’m so happy to have Lindsay on board as a sponsor of RE. I really wanted her to write this post and explain their site and what EM is about. I didn’t feel I could do “it” justice. I am so proud of Lindsay and her partner. If you’re a young Mom, and you like what you read here, or you know who could benefit from Earth Monkey’s, would you share their site and the Earth Monkey love? Thanks for being here today, Lindsay! Facebook: Earth Monkeys Twitter: @EarthMonkeys)

Meet my guest today, Richella, from Imparting Grace. I’m so happy that we get to meet for the very first time in Nashville next week at the Blissdom conference.

A little bit about Blissdom …
Some of my most favorite blogging friends (I won’t even try to name them because I’d surely leave someone out!) that I’ve met and have forged long-time relationships with (3 years is a long time, right? I mean, that’s 1000+ days!) will also be at Blissdom. One in particular is Robin, who authors Pensieve, and together we get to be Tribe Leaders for “Lifestyle” bloggers. Happy Dance!! You can read Robin’s post about it, here.

The organizers of Blissdom have created 20 Tribes/Niches with a host of Community Leaders to act as the go-to people within each group this year, which is a brilliant and thoughtful addition to the conference. It’s designed to encourage and to mentor relationships among bloggers before, during and after the conference. It’s a place to exchange biz cards, Twitter handles, chat and … forge new friendships! I love meeting new people!

So what is a “Lifestyle Blogger?” Robin and I have come to the conclusion that if you blog about family, faith, marriage, parenting, entertaining and hospitality, or even your personal interests (for me, one would be Balcony Girls)…then we invite you to join our (almost non-) niche! We’d love to meet you!

Anyway, today you will be blessed by jumping over and saying hi to Richella at Imparting Grace. Richella and Robin and I all have 3 teenage kids! How’s that for having a LOT in common with each other? Also, her writing is creative and beautiful, and so is her soul …

So, meet Richella … as she shares two yummy recipes!

I’m so happy to be here at Reluctant Entertainer today!

Like many people, I have mixed feelings in January. Part of me is glad to get things back to “normal”; part of me misses the festive fun of December.

As I’ve reflected on the things that make the holiday season special, I’ve realized that one of my favorites parts of the season is getting together with friends. In fact, we entertain more in December than at any other time of year. Between the end of November and the end of December 2010, we hosted five dinner parties. Each one was lots of fun.

One of my favorite go-to recipes for dinner parties is Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin. As a matter of fact, I served this main dish at two of my December dinner parties! I really like to serve pork tenderloin: it’s nutritious, conveniently packaged, often on sale for a great price, and it freezes well, so it’s easy to keep on hand. But it can be kind of tricky to prepare. The meat is so lean that it’s easy to over-cook and it dries out quickly. This recipe solves those problems.

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
1 pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon, more or less, steak seasoning such as McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning
(Note: I don’t actually measure; I just sprinkle it all over.)
Bacon slices

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle seasoning over pork.

Wrap tenderloin with bacon slices and secure with toothpicks.

Place pork on lightly greased wire rack in an aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. Then broil about 5 minutes or until bacon is crisp. (Pork is ready when meat thermometer registers 155 degrees. Do not overcook!)

If you’re watching your fat intake, you don’t have to eat the bacon. But wrapping the tenderloin in the bacon really makes a difference in how the tenderloin cooks–it comes out juicy and wonderfully flavorful.

The pork pairs wonderfully with a starch such as roasted potatoes and a green salad. And my favorite thing to serve alongside this pork is this recipe:

Baked Apricots
2 15 ounce cans apricot halves, drained
1 stick butter, melted
1 1/2 cups crushed buttery crackers (such as Town House or Ritz)
3/4 cup brown sugar

Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Place apricots, cut side up, in bottom of pan.

Mix butter, crushed crackers, and brown sugar together. Sprinkle mixture on top of apricots.

Bake at 300 degrees 35-40 minutes.

These are delicious alongside the pork. Or, if you like, you can serve them alone or with vanilla ice cream as an easy and delicious dessert!

One of my goals for 2011 is to regain some of that wonderful holiday spirit by hosting dinner parties more often. Sandy’s First Commandment of Hospitality is to remember that hospitality is not about me, but is about making others feel warm and welcome. I want to practice that more throughout this year rather than waiting for the holiday season.

Thank you, Sandy, for encouraging all of us to build joy by practicing hospitality!

Thank you, Richella.

Do you have a goal in 2011 to host more get-togethers in your home?

Have you thought about adding buttery crackers to apricots? (I haven’t, but it sounds delish!)

And … are you going to Blissdom next week?

If yes, and you’re worried about “what to wear,” Simple Mom has just the post for you. It’s an easy read and right on! (I know I’ll be taking my comfy black boots!)

Don’t forget there’s still time to enter the drawing for the Deliciously Organic cookbook. It’s fantastic!!

It’s important that I acknowledge some very special people here at RE today, because it’s a possibility that one of them sent you my way.

I’d like to take this post to thank my TOP 12 REFERRALS to my blog, and more importantly, if you have not read some of these blogs, now is the time to find a new “favorite!”

I love my blog sisters and I’m thankful for each one of them. Many I will be seeing in Nashville later this month at the Blissdom Conference.

So thank you, Ladies ….

Nesting Place

The Inspired Room

A Soft Place to Land

Organized Junkie

Southern Hospitality

Beneath My Heart

Chatting at the Sky

Notes From A Cottage Industry

Mommy’s Kitchen

My First Kitchen (who is leaving blogland – a huge loss for us!)

Tidy Mom

Simple Mom

And speaking of Simple Mom, if you haven’t checked out Tsh’s new book – do it now. It’s perfect for January organizing, and organizing your life in general. I’d also like to say “thanks” to Tsh for including me in her new 2011 lineup of guest bloggers that will be a part of the Simple Mom Team this year. I’m SO honored to be amongst some of these incredible writers.

How to SUBSCRIBE to RE:
Did you know that you can receive a RE post every day in your email box? It’s very easy — over to the right of the blog you’ll see a box that says, “FIND ME,” and you’ll see another box that says “SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL.” All you do is enter your email address and hit SUBSCRIBE. It’s that easy!

I hope you’re having a great week and getting back into your routines. I started out with good intentions, working out with my buddies early yesterday morning, and then I tripped … if you take a look at my hands and knees you’ll figure out the rest of the story. (LOL – gigantic gash on my knee, but I’m fine.)

I do love a fresh year year, because it’s exciting to come up with new goals as I always get inspired with healthier eating, exercise, projects around the house, and organizing. I told myself I was going to organize one drawer a day, read some new books, pray more, write more thank you notes, spend more time in the yard and garden. Already I’ve cleaned a bathroom drawer and my daughter organized the Tupperware cupboard. Every little bit helps!

Would you share a simple goal that you have for this fresh, new year?

(I also know there are so many other friends who’ve referred my blog to many this year, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I want to also thank Darcy, who designed this blog. Isn’t she amazing and talented? And the top photo is one of my favorites. It’s of me and my sisters and cousin cooking together in this post.)

For the past year and a half, my husband and I have spent every other Sunday night with three other couples and our seven children. In the beginning, we called our gatherings a Bible study. And despite dirty diapers, runny noses and squabbles between kids, we did manage to read some Scripture, discuss a few questions and pray together.

But as time went on – and the kids got more mobile and, well, louder – having an actual study became increasingly difficult. And so, after spending the entire summer in chapter four of Crazy Love by Francis Chan, we finally admitted the truth: This Bible study thing just wasn’t working out.

Instead, we chose to just be who we are for now: a small group of young parents who crave community and are committed to spending a couple nights a month encouraging, praying for and generally loving each other. And feeding each other.

Happy Meals for the kids and last-minute snacks for the grown-ups weren’t cutting it. And just like that, our Bible study turned into a supper club.

A couple weeks ago, it was my turn to bring dinner, and I decided on lasagna, salad and bread. As far as ease of transport, a dish of lasagna makes perfect sense. But as easy as it is to move, it’s a little more difficult to make.

The afternoon before our dinner, I found myself in my tiny kitchen, frantically running from one counter to another, turning in circles, sweating and generally going a little crazy.

I placed noodles in the bottom of two greased foil pans. Then I layered meat sauce and three kinds of cheese on top. I pulled the brownies out of the oven and turned back to the pasta dish. That’s when I realized . . .

I had forgotten the second layer of noodles!

“It’s RUINED!” I cried to my husband. “This will be the worst lasagna they’ve EVER tasted!”

I may have the tendency to overreact.

With my husband’s help – and four spatulas – we scooped one messed-up lasagna on top of the other. And then I covered the whole thing with shredded cheese.

Cheese covers a multitude of sins, right?

After I put the less-than-perfect lasagna in the oven, I turned back to the brownies. And grabbed the hot pan without oven mitts.

It was at that point that I decided I needed a little break from the kitchen.

But less than two hours later, I was in my friend Amy’s much larger kitchen, unwrapping a salad and cutting up the cheese-covered lasagna while my friend Erin washed dishes and my friend Amanda made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids.

As we took turns washing each other’s kids’ faces and filling their juice cups, we found time to enjoy our own plates of lasagna and salad (No bread. I forgot it at home.). It didn’t seem to matter that the pasta had just barely survived a near disaster earlier that day.

What mattered is that we were together – and that the lasagna tasted pretty good anyway.

For a few minutes that day in my kitchen, I forgot what’s most important about our group of friends. Our Sunday nights aren’t about fancy recipes or elaborate presentation. They really aren’t about food at all.

Our small group – and every night we spend together – is about friendship. It’s about taking time to connect. It’s about laughing and sharing and stories and jokes. It’s about our kids learning to take turns playing my friend Jeremy’s drum set and our husbands discussing how to avoid kidney stones and how to fix a crumbling fireplace.

It’s about being together. Not impressing each other with pasta dishes.

Although I have to admit, I kind of liked the fact that my friends ooh-ed and aah-ed over the brownies and didn’t leave any lasagna in the pan.

What do you do when you make a huge mistake while cooking for friends? Do you freak out? Or do you take it in stride and remember what’s important?

Mary is mom to a {usually} sweet, {always} sassy toddler and wife to her high-school sweetheart. When she’s not snapping photos left and right, reading a good book or organizing her to-do lists, you can find Mary {avoiding housework} curled up on the couch with her laptop. Mary blogs about her imperfect life at Giving Up on Perfect, where she writes about family, faith, books, diet-friendly and fiber-filled foods like granola bars and nachos, celebrity look-alikes and chick flicks. You know, the important stuff.

I felt the sting of rejection when I heard the ladies whispering about the most fabulous dinner party that they had just attended. My mind immediately went inward. I thought, “Why were we not invited?” I felt resentment as I thought of my husband and me sitting at home.

Yes, it hurt. Holidays should be a time to build memories with friends and family. But it doesn’t always happen the way we think it should happen, especially when the invitation never comes … continue reading.

(I’m guesting at {in}courage today, and they are graciously giving away 2 copies of The Reluctant Entertainer. I’ll look forward to reading your comments over there!)