The last few days have been very exciting, to say the least – almost like a party! Thank you friends, for all of your comments over at Nesting Place.

Now on to this party.

No party is out of reach! Even a simple luncheon party for 4. I recently had a few ladies over for a yummy green salad. Perfect on a hot summers day.

Rotisserie Chicken
Salad greens
Red onion
Feta cheese
1 orange
Fresh raspberries
Your choice of toasted nuts
Add a light amount of your favorite dressing!

My original plan was to make my own muffins the night before, but I ran out of time! (Time is always the magical word, isn’t it?)

I had to give myself a pep talk and remind myself of what’s important: Less is more. Less time in the kitchen means more time with my guests, enjoying their company, creating deeper friendships, and forming stronger bonds. So it was okay that I bought already baked muffins from the store!

I also picked up a few desserts – only 79 cents each. All you need is a tasty bite for dessert, right?

The ladies who came were previous co-workers whom I’d worked with for over 25 years. We had a lot of catching up to do!

Simple times around the table are sometimes the beginning of beautiful friendships, or they’re a gift in nurturing what you already have.

When’s the last time you had friends over for lunch or to just be together? And what’s your favorite summer salad?

Hospitality is all about making one feel warm and welcome. That’s what my 1st Commandment to hospitable living is all about. And that’s exactly what Jyl (Mom it Forward) and Rachael (Todays Mama) did this past weekend in Park City, UT when they coordinated the EVO ’10 conference. It was a fabulous time with incredible speakers. I just felt so welcomed by all.

What an amazing place to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation! My wonderful husband, my daughter and her friend, came along, and we explored the mountains and the great outdoors together the first day.

I was inspired, to tears, with the Make A Wish presentation about online social activism with a personal and inspirational story. We learned how an organization uses social media to raise money, build strategic partnerships, and share its message. It reminded me of this large group fundraising event which I was a part of planning a few months ago. Another cause saving lives today.

Giving. We walked away with a better understanding of what it means to be a part of a community. What it means to give. And how we bloggers can be a part of this by giving back ourselves to what we believe in.

One of the blessings for me was hanging with this group of gals, some new and some old friends. (Jane Maynard, Helen Dujardin, Katie Goodman, Kristen Doyle, Maria Lichty, me, Amy Johnson, Aggie Goodman, Tina Butler.)

And the wonderful Bush’s Beans family who brought me to Park City, who we enjoyed several intimate meals with. I can’t say enough about our time together …

Grappa.

350 Main.

“Mm-m-m … what to order?”

Of course we analyzed the meals we ate as “Foodies” do, discussing what kind of beans and other ingredients were used, but more importantly we engaged as a family, getting to know each other on a more intimate level. (Thank you Bush’s Beans, for caring about and encouraging eating together and family life! Your example of how you did this for us says a lot about your company.)

Come back Tuesday to meet a very special guest here at RE while she talks about entertaining when on vacation. Also stay tuned as I’ll be sharing a recipe that I personally created for the EVO ’10 Closing Event.

Yes, they served one of my recipes at the Bush’s Beans sponsored western-themed closing dinner for almost 500 people Saturday night! Very exciting!

Were you at EVO? I’d love to hear your thoughts about the conference, or just a quick hello!?

(I have entered into a partnership with Bush’s Beans, as they paid for all my expenses while at Evo ‘10, but I’d cook with their beans anyway, because we just love beans! They did not pay me or tell me to write these nice thoughts today; I was inclined to on my own.)

I’m over at SC Johnson today with a great visual laundry lesson for our kids. Would you join me there today and leave me a message? I’d love to hear what laundry system works for you.

My kids are wrapping up the school year and are already thinking about summer! One of the things I’ve taught them is to do their own laundry, and when they see a stain … read the rest of the story – HERE.

Sometimes hospitality is as simple as peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Sometimes that may be all you have in your cupboards!

Or sometimes it may be the only thing that your “little people” will eat.

I love days where life is as simple as a P&J.

Running around.

Enjoying the sunshine.

Helping in the garden.

Two brothers just wanting to have some fun.

I’m thankful that hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated.

Peanut Butter and Jellies work for me!

Do you always keep peanut butter stocked in your pantry?

(Above photos: My darling great-nephews!)

I have to admit, I was scared to death when I was asked to speak to a group of young mommies about hospitality.

But I knew I couldn’t say no.

When I arrived, I just couldn’t picture myself standing at a podium and delivering my message.

I am NOT a podium girl!

So I begged the leaders – puleeeez can we sit in a circle? So the tables were set in somewhat a circle format. But I still wasn’t happy.

I begged again … puleeeez can we move the chairs and form a circle with those?

Ok, Sandy. (I could tell they were hesitant.)

Each mommy picked up her chair and moved it in FRONT of the table, forming a circle (about 20 ladies).

And then I began … Hospitality is not about you …

I was so blessed to be a part of this hour-and-a-half time with mommies and darling babies. Mommies just learning about motherhood and being wives. They were young sponges that need nurturing. And as almost every woman in the group spoke up and shared in one way or another, I thought to myself – Wow! This group really knows how to engage!

They shared heartfelt worries, anxieties, fears, frustrations – all that had to do with expectations or the lack of hospitality!

After our session ended (and I was relieved!), I found out that the leaders had never seen such “engagement” or liveliness in the group. Now, it’s possible that the subject was relevant and hit home with each lady. But I like to attribute it to the “intimate circle” that we formed.

There’s something about feeling safe within a circle, where you can let your guard down and be real with one another.

Do you feel you can open up and share in a smaller, more intimate group setting?

What’s a two-faced friend? I asked my Balcony Girls last week. All 6 of the girls had their own answers and a story to tell, as we ended our BG year. (Yes, that is our dog Haggis running in the background. He seems to be in every outside picture.)

Some meanings …
Pretending to be someone you are not
Acting differently around different people
Nice outside of school
Talks negatively
Acts like a friend, trashes behind your back
Trashes others to feel better about themselves
Feels inferior to others
Ignorant, Insecure, Criticizes

Or, my definition that I read to the girls: deceitful, insincere, hypocritical.

Being a two-faced girl is really destructive and childish behavior!

How do you act around them?
Still be friendly
Respect yourself first
Don’t ever take a person’s dignity away
Know what you will tolerate in a friendship
Hang out with positive friends
Don’t tell your secrets to these friends–it will lead to them gossiping about you
Don’t make enemies–just don’t engage with them

I wanted to make a simple, impacting lesson for the girls this last time together for this school year. It seems the harder the concept, the harder it is to come up with a lesson. But this idea was really fun!

Each girl had a partner and painted 1/2 of their face (we used make-up!) Then the girls swapped places.

They ended up looking like this.

Starting out like this.

Then two-faced like this.

Point made. Spot a two-faced friend and get yourself out of the situation. I think each girl really understood the lesson clearly.

Then we made yummy treats!

ROLO and Walnut Goodness
30 small mini pretzels
30 chocolate covered caramel candies
30 pecan halves (pecans, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts)

1. Preheat the oven to 300F.

2. Upwrap the Rolo’s. Place pretzels on a baking sheet. Top each with a Rolo.

3. Bake in the oven for 4 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.

4. Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately place a nut on each piece of chocolate.

Eat. And then eat some more. (Because we don’t want the leftovers in the house!)

Our craft today was taking old t-shirts from the school’s boys’ soccer team (Size XL) and cutting, tying, and painting to make fun shirts for summer time.

It was a great ending to a wonderful year with these girls. We learned a lot. I say “we,” because I continue to learn about relationships. (I’ve learned that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different, which is a perfect idea for a new BG lesson for next year!)

What have you learned from my Balcony Girls lessons over the years? I would love to hear from you!

(I’m still working on my first BG EBook. The design is in place, and I’m formatting the lessons, etc. Thank you for your patience.)

Today I got off the phone with a very dear friend. We talked about changes in life, our homes, and what makes a home.

We could live in places where we really don’t want to live, but as long as we have each other … friendship … we can be happy.

It’s not our homes that define us. It’s who we are as people.

I was able to share with my late Auntie some precious words – in writing – before she passed away. And as I was sharing this with my friend, Meredith, I so appreciated her insight.

Thank goodness you were able to share what she meant to you while she could still hear it. You remind me of the great gift of our words, so easy to share if we only take the time.

And, dare I say it, even more meaningful than a meal?

Sharing a meal together is worthwhile, but realistically our words also count for much!

Can you recall a situation lately where words had an impact on you?

I’m posting over at SC Johnson today, if you’d head over and leave me a comment – I’d really appreciate it! The Family Economics page is awesome, as it features bloggers like myself. You can browse around their site, and you can also read about the Johnson family and how the business has evolved over the generations.

I wrote this post when it was still officially winter, and I had on my jeans, my warm socks and my pink dingle-berry apron from my friend, Anne. And as I was cleaning out my freezer and pulling out Ziploc® bags of frozen strawberries from last years’ crop, I knew I needed to get my jars sterilized and ready to make strawberry jam … read the rest of the story, here.

Yesterday was a special day because my friend Dee came over. I love spending time with Dee, who’s a huge blessing in my life!

Not only did we share a bite to eat, using leftover Easter napkins.

And drank refreshing lemon water.

But we got down to business working on the “galleys” that were delivered to my house a little over a week ago.

What are galleys, you might ask?

Galleys are proofs or preliminary versions of publications, in this case the uncut and unbound version of … The Reluctant Entertainer!

It’s been a very exciting process! One that I’ll forever be indebted to several amazing people: My husband, my friend, Barb, and my editor, Natasha.

And to Dee.

Dee has helped me organize and get my recipes ready for this book. And in the process, we’ve shared many laughs. There’s been something very steady about Dee’s presence when she’s come to help. I told her today that she’s kept me grounded and sane. She’s given me good, wise advice and I’ve so appreciated that.

In return for my hospitable, loving friend giving me so much – I decided to bless her with a Hip Hostess apron, as a little thank you!

So here are the galleys, my friends! In a few short months (August 2010), The Reluctant Entertainer will be available in book stores. It’s been an amazing process … and thanking Dee is just one of the many girlfriends who’ve offered their gift of friendship and support to me … just like adult Balcony Girls!

I’d love to hear about one particular friend in your life who always seems to be there when you’ve needed them?

Ladies, bring your Easter Memories back here tomorrow! Link up for Home Is … Day here at RE! Here’s a little teaser post – one that I hope this blogger will link to and share on Wednesday! Check out Ginger’s fabulous post! If you want to see how we did it last week, you can read about it, here.

At our last Balcony Girls time together we talked about what it means to give a compliment.

You really are an encourager! I love how you look today! I like how you stood up for that person! You make me smile! Thank you for being a good listener! I appreciate your courage! I love your outlook on life! You always look so pretty!

Why give one? What does it feel like? How does it make the other person feel? What if you’ve never given a compliment?

I asked my friend Kay to come and help me out, because last year she shared something with me that I felt I really needed to share with these girls. Kay and I worked together for over 25 years, and she shared with the girls that years ago, a person came into her life who would give her compliments. She found it made her feel special, but also uncomfortable, because she realized that she had never learned how to compliment others in her growing up years!

Kay changed the way that she viewed others. And it made her look inward to evaluate why she wasn’t a more complimentary person! Kay changed her ways and a whole new world opened up when she started genuinely looking for positive things in others, and words to build them up with! Kay began to take on the trait of a Balcony Girl, building others up with complimentary words.

Reasons we don’t compliment people:
1. Jealousy
2. Simply being unobservant…too caught up in ourselves.
3. Emphasizing the physical (clothes, hair, shoes, etc) that can be perceived to be of greater value than true character traits like generosity, loyalty, honesty, sincerity, etc. This could lead to an over-inflated opinion of ourselves based on appearances rather than deeper integrity issues.

Sincerity also plays a factor. If you can’t be sincere, then it’s better to say nothing unless you can see that what is keeping you from speaking the “truth” is jealousy….and then face your jealousy…rise above it…and compliment the person so that “jealousy” can’t get a foothold in your character. Jealousy can hold you hostage!

Reasons we might not receive a compliment well:
1. We feel unworthy.
2. We feel self-conscious.
3. The pressure to “live up” to the compliment.
4. Living with the expectation that a compliment can sometimes bring…always needing to be the winner, whether with shoes, hair, talent, etc. We don’t want people to expect too much from us!

You have to be secure within yourself to be able to take a compliment and graciously say, “thank you,” and just let it be. By not being gracious in accepting the compliment you invalidate or diminish the giver’s kindness, generosity, and “truth” by rejecting it or feeling the necessity to “qualify” it. A simple “thank you” is sufficient and both individuals come out feeling “good” by speaking and accepting a truthful observation.

I then jumped into the conversation and shared with the girls that there have been times that I KNOW I have not been gracious, that there was a time when I had a hard time receiving a compliment. When a person would give one to me, I’d discount it and say, “nah, that’s not true,” or I’d say something silly that would divert the attention away from me, because I was uncomfortable.

It’s freeing to be able to give a compliment and mean it. Focusing on the positive is a great way to not only become a better friend, but it makes you kinder as a person.

Easter activity
We went around the table and each girl gave a meaningful compliment to the person on her right, and then on her left.

Then the girls were encouraged to “give a compliment” in a card, by sending an Easter card to a person of their choice.

Written compliments are sometimes just as important as verbal compliments.

I promised to mail out the cards, just in time for Easter!

Easter snack
We made individual cheesecakes for the snack and topped them with cherries and strawberries.

A perfect Easter snack, an impacting Balcony Girls lesson, a gorgeous day, and a meaningful lesson from my friend Kay – I’d say it was another awesome time for the Balcony Girls.

I say this in almost every post, but I love what the girls learn, because every lesson is a reminder for me too!

Was there a time in your life when it was hard for you to give or receive a compliment?

(Not sure if you saw yesterday’s post on how to make the perfect Deviled Eggs!)

I am so excited to share with you today something new at RE! You may have seen on my side bar a new button “Home is …” and you’re wondering what it’s all about.

Just think about these words …

Homemaking
Entertaining
Hostessing
Cooking
Gardening
Thrifting
Tablescaping

Starting on March 31st, and every following Wednesday, you’ll be able to link up here at RE with posts relating to your home!

This is a brilliant idea because our homes are different to each of us, and we can offer so many ways, tips, ideas and inspiration by sharing those ideas with one another!

So each week you’ll use this button:

And bring people over to YOUR BLOG to feature YOU and your home! It’s a great way to visit other blogs and to meet new people.

Because Reluctant Entertainer is all about hospitality, gracious living, and entertaining (of course it also features friends, family, food, recipes, gardening and tips, along with bargains, tablescapes, cooking tools, etc.), this carnival will be so easy and fun.

It can be as simple as this. Fresh blossoms brought in and placed in a vase, right next to a family photograph.

Or, how you set the table for a dinner party.

Let’s put RELUCTANCE and IMPERFECTION aside and share what you love – what makes your home simple, more beautiful, more family-oriented.

Would you join me on March 31st?

The new LINKY is going to be like this. It’s really cool and easy and you can actually see a picture of what you’re clicking on to! I’ll be posting about it again, with the easy rules that will apply. Feel free to grab the RE button now, and put it on your sidebar to remind you where to come EVERY WEDNESDAY!

(In the meantime, if you have any questions about what a permalink is, Darcy has done an outstanding job and answers all of your questions. And there’s still time to enter the Bush’s Beans GIVEAWAY, winner announced tomorrow!)

One of the last things we did while spending time with Bush’s Beans in the Culinary Institute was we made chili!

WIN THE BASKET!
Bush’s Beans has put together a basket full of amazing items for one of my RE readers to WIN! Thank you, Bush’s Beans, for your generosity!

o A Sonoma Diet Cookbook signed by Connie
o Napa Valley specialty items including: olive oil, candle and chili spices
o Culinary Institute of America items including: towel, wooden spoon and decorative spoon rest
o Bush’s Beans items including: Bush’s Beans apron, bean strainer, assorted Bush’s Beans

COMMENT TO WIN!
Have you ever added sweet potatoes to chili?
Would you mind sharing your secret ingredient in making chili?

TWEET THIS GIVEAWAY!
Tweet this giveaway for a second chance, and come back to tell me!

WINNER CHOSEN!
Come back on Friday (Mar. 19th) and I will announce the winner to this fabulous giveaway!

THE RECIPE!
The recipe I’m going to share today is so full of nutrition and taste, even your kids won’t know what you snuck into it!

First of all, I have to tell you that this recipe was created for BUSH’S® Beans by Connie Guttersen, R.D., Ph.D., nutrition instructor at The Culinary Institute of America, mom, and author of “The Sonoma Diet.” It was so fun working alongside Connie (and that’s her cute son who joined us later in the day.)

Remember when I boo boo’d and drained the beans when I shouldn’t have? Connie explained by not discarding the liquid, it can add richness, body, and flavor to soups and sauces. And you would not have to add as much salt.

BUSH’S® Spicy Black Bean and Corn Chowder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 pinch favorite dry chile or chipotle powder, to taste
1 cup chopped red peppers
1 cup chopped green peppers
2 cans (15 ounces) BUSH’S® Black Beans or BUSH’S® Reduced Sodium Black Beans, with liquid
1 cup peeled, diced sweet potato
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 cups cleaned baby spinach
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
salt and black pepper, to taste
*Optional Toppings: chopped fresh cilantro, salsa, reduced-fat yogurt

Tip from Chef Andy: The first thing we did was lay the peppers whole on the cooking grill and cut the onions and garlic in half, and lay those in a pan to toast.

1. Place olive oil in a sauce pot. Add onions and cook until caramelized.
2. Add garlic and spices, cook until aromatic. Add peppers, sauté 5 minutes.
3. Add beans with liquid. Bring to a simmer, cook 10 minutes. Add sweet potato; simmer 10 minutes or until tender.
4. Add corn and spinach. Bring to a simmer until the spinach wilts.
5. Adjust seasoning with lime, salt and pepper. Add *optional toppings, as desired.

We tasted while we cooked. I loved the little spoons in different places in the kitchen.

And then we got the chili ready, with different salsas.

Absolutely Delicious!

For more family favorite recipes, visit www.VegetableWithMore.com.

(Bush’s Beans covered all my costs on my trip to Napa Valley. The opinions stated here are entirely my own and I have not been compensated to write this post. And if you want another chance to win, head over to Amy’s at She Wears Many Hats – because she’s giving away the same thing!)

After I made a comment on Facebook about the Winter Olympics and Curling … that I just couldn’t get into it (although my husband loves it!), my friend Jennifer commented:

Every time I see it I think I need to invite them to my house to clean my kitchen floor!

So true! My husband and I laughed as we read her comment. Which reminds me, I’d love to hear how you clean your kitchen floor?

Do you mop it?
Wash by hand?
Use a Swiffer?

Would you be willing to share your tips?

I have new hardwood floors and it’s hard to stay on top of them.

I’d really like a ROOMBA!

Have you heard of or do you have a ROOMBA?

(Thanks Jennifer, for humoring us!)

The winner to the Kelly Anderson Art Giveaway is Chris Ann from Love Feast Table. You MUST check out her incredible blog (she blogs along with her sister Kristin!), as these girls are True Hospitality Sisters at heart. Congrats Chris Ann!

When my friend, Mary, from Giving up on Perfect commented on this kitchen post, she asked me: Why did you choose a one-bowl kitchen sink over two?

My answer is easy. Years ago I sold Pampered Chef, and after 160 kitchen shows, I learned what I loved and what I didn’t love in a sink! What I found to be more efficient was a one-bowl, deep sink!

Our home at the time had a deep one-bowl ceramic sink and it was perfect for cleaning big pots, roasting pans, 9×13 pans, and just being able to soak larger items in. (I did not have a utility sink at the time.) There was no maneuvering pots under the faucet to make sure it was completely washed, and I really liked that.

I also loved bathing my babies in a deep sink.

It even held a certain big boy who broke his arm in Pre-K!

And then I got into canning, where I’d fill the entire sink with apples or pears, and wash and get ready for the canning process.

I felt confined with 2 shallow bowls (my old sink) …

And since redoing our kitchen, I’ve not regretted our decision, simply because one-bowl is way more practical. Yay!

Melissa, (The Inspired Room), shared similar thoughts as me (Melissa is sort of like an expert, in my mind):

I love that you chose just a one bowl sink. I also made that choice in my old kitchen and I LOVED it. It could fit any size pan I wanted to put in there. Now I have two bowls and I really dislike that, it makes it impossible to wash most oversized dishes!

So, I’m a “One-Bowl” girl. And I love it. Love it. Love it!

What is your ideal sink preference? One or two bowls? Deep or shallow?

(Above pictures: My kiddos … um, like, … 13 years ago!)

The winner to the House of Havoc books are AnNicole and Jackie FO. Congrats!

The Balcony Girls and I met last week, and being dressed in somewhat of a queen’s attire, my goal was to pull the girls into my drama as I whined, I cried, and then pitched a fit. What a big baby!

No, really I was acting like a DQ. A Drama Queen.

Drama Queens make something out of nothing. Oh, and by the way, I’m not talking about girls who are exuberant in life, funny, and loud – you know, the kind that do well in school plays. I’m talking about girls that like to bring other girls into their meanness and insecurity … (cliquey might be a good word here) … into their drama.

We talk a lot about Drama Queens in our house. The other day we even discussed the subject with our teenage sons, so they can be prepared in life as they deal with DQ girls! We pointed out to them what to look for.

Drama is intentional. It is not an accident. It usually is deliberate! It’s exhibited in a person who’s not getting what they want, and by golly – they are going to get it. And often they want it from YOU!

Next I showed the girls how “drama” can come across in meanness, in looks, or jokes, or even notes or text messaging (or Facebook or email!).

Eggshells
I then asked the girls to help me out. They each drew a scenario out of a cup: gossip, eye-rolling, silent treatment, and walking on eggshells! Walking on eggshells – you just never know how to act around that girl. Is it a day she’ll be nice to you and include you? Will she even talk to you?

Eye-rolling
When it came to “eye-rolling” I explained to the girls that this, or even what I call “big eyes,” is a sign of contempt and disdain toward a person. It’s a position of saying “I know more than you!” It’s a sign of supremacy! Eye-rolling is one of the rudest gestures you can do! And Drama Queens love to do this. I’m always surprised at how many of their mothers let them get away with it.

Gossip and whispering
We laughed as we role-played, but role-playing works well with teen girls. It draws them in, involves them in the lesson, and it gets the point across, especially when we’re talking about gossiping, whispering, and just plain rudeness.

(even our doggie sits in on the lessons!)

Don’t get sucked in
When we turned the vacuum cleaner on, I said, “Don’t get sucked in, girls,” as I threw a bunch of paper on the floor and we vacuumed it up. “Drama girls LOVE their own drama! And they love it when others join in!”

These role-play ideas are simple for 7th grade girls, but I believe any way of visually showing them a life lesson that will impact their minds and hearts will work!

When my family met a couple of weeks ago (remember, I have 3 teens in my house!), we came up with these solutions when dealing with a DQ:

- Be smart! recognize what’s happening
- Let them know you have their number
- Let them know you know what they are about
- Ignore and walk away
- Don’t get sucked in
- Hang out with other girls

It takes confidence, but once you stand up to a Drama Queen, it gets much easier. Once you become wiser to what they are about, you feel more free.

As I’ve said for the last 5 years with my Balcony Girls group, it takes a wise mother to help her daughter and to observe her friendships. Of course we can’t be there at all times, but we can certainly pay attention when the girls are in our home!

Being Valentine’s Day week, we made individual heart brownies and each girl decorated their own to take home.

My tablecloth was oooh, a tiny bit wrinkled. But that’s okay – it was festive, pink. And our snack was Chix Noodle Soup (yup, out of a can!)

A little fun.

Smart girls who “get it.”

A whole lot of love.

And very teachable girls.

Who, by the way, do not stray away from one of my BG rules: We may talk about true-life scenarios, but we never mention names while in a group setting. That is a respectful way to talk about the problem, and come up with a solution, without slandering or gossiping ourselves!

I always come away refreshed after Balcony Girls, because I know our time together makes a difference!

(Don’t forget I’m giving away 2 COPIES of House of Havoc – winner’s announced tomorrow!) This post is linked to Chatting at the Sky’s A Truce on Tuesday.

Take a peek at this post (Sister Power: Burnt Breadcrumbs), where we’re all wearing Hip Hostess aprons and having a LOT of fun in the kitchen making my Dad’s birthday dinner. (Even though now we can’t remember what was so funny!)

Hip Hostess Debbie is a friend who over the years has supplied me with many of her beautiful aprons.

They’re actually hanging in my pantry! (Thanks, Vicky, for getting me organized!)

And here’s my favorite sheath style “Pink Sorbet!”

But today, with Valentine’s Day almost here, The Hip Hostess and I would like to give away ONE of these 2 beautiful aprons!

That’s right – you get to pick between the high-quality Pink Licorice or Pink Mocha apron designs!

COMMENT
Just comment on either question:

1. OK, I did a short survey (well, just between The Nester and me) – and our husbands do not read our blogs. It’s not that they don’t care, or that we don’t share with them what we are writing about – it’s just that their days are like hurricanes!

IF you have a blog, DOES YOUR HUSBAND READ IT?

2. Or, what’s your favorite occasion to wear an apron?

WIN
Your choice of one of the above 2 beauties!

TWEET
Tweet this giveaway and come back and tell me (2nd entry).

COME BACK
Come back on FRIDAY, Feb. 12th, and I will announce the winner!

If you’re interested in ordering an apron right now, you can use this PROMO CODE: HHRE for 15% Off until March 1.

The Hip Hostess is throwing in a matching magnet set, too!

Happy Valentine’s Day – early – sweet friends!

Coming back from the BlissDom conference can leave one’s head spinning – so much good information and advice. What do I implement first? How do I maintain the friendships and connections that were made while there? (Photo: Julia, Sarah, AnNicole, Beckie, Melissa, Kimm, Kimba, me, Rhoda, Layla, and Kate.)

The key-note speaker was fabulous (as was every other panelist throughout the weekend!). I wrote down iPhone notes from his talk because I wanted to remind myself of my goals for this blog! Kevin Carroll said it like this, as he encouraged all of us bloggers to live differently – to live with a purpose, a passion, and with intention:

Commit to it
Find what you are passionate about and commit to it – chase your dreams! Edie is a physician but has chosen to stay home and raise her family, and she writes a powerful blog, full of wisdom (that’s how I feel every time I visit her), and she also makes killer cupcakes!

Seek out encouragers Surround yourself with people who believe in you and who give you permission to dream! These girls are a great support to me – I am thankful for them!

(Roommies at Opryland – Emily, Melissa, Nester and me)

Feed your creative side
Amy from She Wears Many Hats, and I met for the first time, and we both have a creative love for food and an exciting adventure is ahead – but more on that later.

Maximize the day (today is a gift!)
{In}Courage is a place to be encouraged and to find “rest” in beautiful words shared by inspiring bloggers. They threw a lovely dessert party for us all to enjoy! (Read my post on today being a gift, here.)

Speak up, stand up for something, and be courageous
If you were a fly on the wall during this luncheon, you would have heard the words courage and courageous spoken often. What a special time with Layla, Traci (my sister?), Melissa, and Rhoda and Kate. And here’s Layla’s exact words that describe our time together:

As we dined together under the giant palms, we talked about all kinds of things. We laughed, we cried, and we bonded.
It was a fascinating sixty minutes and it’s hard to put my experience with them into words, but in a nutshell, they’re the kind of women that understand your past, believe in your future, and accept you just the way you are.

And the last point … Expect the unexpected (you never know where you will end up in life!)

Although Kevin, the speaker, was very entertaining, he was also inspiring to listen to. I even texted my husband during his talk and told him about Kevin. When anyone brings “courage” into a discussion, my husband and I both listen. We have had many date nights with conversations wishing more people would act with courage. Our world would be different.

But one thing is true. The world became different when blogs were born and more voices were heard! The “blogger chicks!” at this convention have made a difference and are a part of that. They’ve stepped out into an “unknown world” (who is reading my blog, anyway?) and have shared their hearts and lives and passions. That takes courage!

It took courage for me to start my blog a few years back. I felt that too many people were caught up in the lies of perfectionism and image-making to open their homes and invite others in. So I started typing away … wanting to encourage others. To show them it’s easy. It’s meaningful. Entertaining and hospitality has rewards!

Blogging may not be for you, but I’d love to hear an area in your life that you wish you had more courage in?

Maybe it is entertaining, hospitality, speaking, writing, working on friendships, being a better wife, speaking up in an area you are passionate about …

(Thank you Barbara Jones and Alli Worthington, for long hard hours put into BlissDom 2010. And photo credits go to Emily (Chatting at the Sky), Layla (Lettered Cottage, and Rhoda (Southern Hospitality).

I need to have more of a cooking schedule for my kids, where they take turns making dinner for the family. Because how else will they learn?

My sisters and I made dinner a couple times a week growing up. My Mom would leave out hamburger, and then we’d come up with our own simple recipes (tacos, spaghetti, enchiladas, etc.)

Last week, one night, my son made dinner!

With this easy 3-ingredient recipe, I knew he couldn’t go wrong. And Kraft Foods made it even easier with a dressing made of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (with a hint of basil and Parmesan and much healthier for us!) Oh, and the new packaging design reduces plastic usage by 19% while the shape of the bottle makes it easier to handle and pour!

Baked Italian Chicken
4 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 bottle Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Basil & Parmesan Vinaigrette)
Reduced calorie Ritz Cracker crumbs

Garrett put the chicken in a Ziploc bag.

Added the whole container of vinaigrette and marinated for about an hour. (Or overnight – it will become richer in flavor!)

Next he made his own cracker crumbs made with Ritz Crackers.

(At this point he microwaved the chicken for 4 minutes.)

Rolled the marinated chicken in the crumbs.

Added leftover marinade on top and covered the pan with foil.

Baked at 350, covered, for 30 minutes.

Delicious!

(Option: If using a whole chicken you will need to bake the chicken for 1 hour.)

Thank you, Kraft Foods, for making it easier for me to get my kids in the kitchen cooking!

Do you have a regular schedule where your kids help out in the kitchen?

(Don’t forget the iFood Assistant to help you with over 7,000 QUICK meals, when you’re on the run! This Kraft dressing product sample was provided for free, courtesy of Kraft Foods. And I was not paid by Kraft Foods to write this post.)

Last weekend our family reaped the benefits of a great meal. When the night was over with our wonderful friends, they sent enough food home (delicious enchiladas) for an entire meal for our family!

When this happens in my home, I have to warn the family the next day, NO TOUCHING. Because we love leftovers, I have to be a stickler about it when I’m counting on a night off from cooking!

One of the blessings that came from that evening was when our host’s 80 year-old mother, Margaret, joined us. That was a real treat for all of us.

A little background is that our almost 18 year-old son works in a retirement home, as a food server, and one benefit is that he gets to be around some great older people! They all have a story to tell, with interesting lives, and most of them love the younger kids.

Margaret agreed that the younger men that are hired really seem to bring the residents joy, and noted how helpful those young waiters are to her and her people. My husband pointed out to her that the older people also make a contribution to the younger people, one they don’t realize. The seniors have a solid, time tested orientation toward life that the kids can learn much from.

And those long-reaching observations are what makes life valuable and worth living!

Many more meaningful conversations took place, an evening that centered on a meal that eventually became leftovers and dinner the next night. But this post has a deeper meaning, one that I’m passionate about. Food sometimes tastes better when we mix it up. The younger and the older.

Has your family reaped the blessings that come by mixing ages around your dinner table?

I know when I began to really adjust my thinking about dinner plans. I mean seriously planning it out and getting a healthy meal on the table. It’s when I became a mother, when I became crazy busy just like everyone else!

If you’re looking for a wonderful way to plan your meals, visit Laura at Organized Junkie. She is the expert!

My way of cooking is planning a meal, doubling up the recipe, and having leftovers or enough left over to make a totally different meal.

I came across this wonderful roast recipe after I pulled a Sirloin Tip Roast from my freezer. It was very tasty, served alongside rice and broccoli for dinner. And the next night the leftover meat went into enchiladas!

I try to use seasonal ingredients, like the oranges I have sitting on the counter, to prepare a simple, yet flavorful meal!

4 lb. sirloin tip roast
salt and pepper to taste
2 carrots, grated (I used a peeler)
1 large onion grated
1 lemon & 1 orange – zest (or grate the outside)
3/4 cup sour cream

Lay the roast on a large piece of foil. Season with salt and pepper. Pat the vegetables and the rind (zest) onto the meat.

Wrap the meat in foil, sealing tightly. Place the package of meat in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 3 hours or until done.

Open the foil and remove the roast to a platter. Pour the meat juices (and all the leftover veggies) into a small pan and heat on medium. Add the source cream, whisking lightly. But do NOT boil.

Serve the sauce over the meat, rice, or potatoes. Serves 8.

When did you get serious about dinners? And if you are a mother, was it motherhood that forced you into a routine?

(This post is linked up to Jen’s Tasty Tuesday!)

I recently got an email from my friend, Kim, who was wondering what my schedule looks like when it comes to entertaining/having people over? It’s really not as crazy and busy as it may seem. Remember, often I write about “aspects” of entertaining – and a lot about “family!”

I think it would be so interesting to hear what a “typical” month looks like for you. How often do you have people over and what “types” of groups do you have over? (Like how often is family over? how about your kids and their friends? or sports groups? How often do you have Balcony Girls? How often do you have a dinner party? How often do you have small groups or people over just for coffee / dessert?). Mostly I’m just curious, but I think it could be very interesting!

Well, just this last weekend I entertained 14 family members.

But my answer goes like this:

I do have dinner parties booked in advance – to get everyone there! (sometimes 2 months in advance, never more than 1 a month)

Same thing with family parties – we usually book them in advance to get the date on the calendar that works for everyone! (I’d say 1 every 3-6 months, since we all rotate)

Balcony Girls meet once a month.

Sport events come and go with the seasons! (Last party here was a Chili Feed in November.)

Smaller dinner parties (1-2 couples) are often more sporadic and last minute. Which I love. (These happen 1-2 times per month)

But back to my dinner party last weekend …

I’d say I do not have the flow of my kitchen down yet, but that’s okay.

With “sister power” it’s always fun.

Aunt Barb looking on, checking out the recipe with us.

Hilda kept us on “schedule” because we did get off track when our water was boiling.

Di and I tried to figure out my new oven. (Still don’t have the convection part down.)

And then the best part of the evening came. Dinner time!

Singing our family prayer around the table means we’re just about ready to dive in to a delectable dish.

And that we were. With a bit of entertainment to follow.

I would say that larger dinners that take 6 hours (we started at 3, ended at 9) definitely take planning and coordinating who’s going to bring what, and the question of whether we can all get the same date on the calendar?

And many of you who know my message already know that planning and organizing are essential to a successful evening. Especially with a large crowd and a specialized meal.

So, the question now goes back to you. How creative is your monthly entertaining schedule?

I’d love to hear about the last minute invites, pre-planned dinner parties – any kind of gathering where food is involved!