Blossoms, RE Books, Aprons & The Nester’s GIVEAWAY Day!
Hey Friends, I’m super excited today because it’s a big giveaway day!
I’m getting closer to 1,000 posts here at RE, with my message of journaling about entertaining and hospitality going back to 2006. Yes, way back then, I shared this simple post:
With the best intentions, many of us think about entertaining, but never get around to it. Usually this happens because we don’t have enough time, we’re disorganized or our spouse isn’t interested in hosting a party, or even a small dinner! For many this blessing of gracious living for both the hostess and her guests never takes place, because of fear … fear of failure, unable to cook, unwilling to share their lives with others, fear of deepening friendships … they are intimidated and think the meal has to be perfect, or … they don’t have the lifestyle that says, “welcome.” (-my very first post on RE)
Hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated at all, and today’s little tip is to bring beautiful Spring blossoms indoors to spruce up your home a bit.
You might have read my post on forcing branches, but my real love is the elegant pink and white blossoms that are currently blooming in Oregon. Stunning!
Clip and put in water.
Arrange and bring indoors!
Along with these beautiful blossoms today, The Hip Hostess and I are offering an amazing giveaway for 3 WINNERS. (Thanks to The Nester if she sent you over.)
1 person will WIN all 3 of these items:
Signed Copy of The Reluctant Entertainer
Balcony Girls E-Book
Sheath Style Black a la Mode apron from The Hip Hostess2 people will WIN:
Signed Copy of The Reluctant Entertainer
Here’s HOW to WIN:
1. Leave a comment telling me what it is about hospitality or entertaining that bogs you down? Also, do you think your personality type affects your hospitality/entertaining style?
2. Join our Facebook pages and leave a comment telling me that you did (Reluctant Entertainer and The Hip Hostess)
{If you’re already a member, leave a comment. You guys get one too!}
3. Follow us on twitter and leave a comment telling me you did. (@SandyCoughlinRE and @TheHipHostess)
{If you’re already a follower, leave a comment. You guys get one too!}
This counts as three entries.
4. Facebook about the giveaway, and leave a comment, telling me you did.
5. Tweet about the giveaway, and leave a comment telling me you did. (using @SandyCoughlinRE and @TheHipHostess)
6. Blog about the giveaway, and leave a comment telling me you did.
It’s your choice to just comment, or do all six! So that is 6 chances total!
Contest ends midnight on Thursday, April 7th. Winner will be announced Friday morning, 4/8/11.
The Nester is featuring all of her sponsors today over at Nesting Place, so head over there for a kazillion more giveaways and chances to enter for some incredible prizes.
GOOD LUCK, Friends!
(I want to thank Debbie from The Hip Hostess for donating one of her classy aprons. The quality is superior. If you don’t have one, you’re really missing out. If you want to read more about Balcony Girls, go HERE. If you want to read more about my book, The Reluctant Entertainer, go HERE.)
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
For me it is over thinking the whole thing!! I want everything to be perfect instead of just having fun:) Working on it, would love the book!
Hmm…my biggest obstacle to entertaining….I can think of so many! But what encompasses them all is a fear of being inadequate (an inadequate hostess, cook, housekeeper, etc..) It may or may not be true, but it’s what keeps me from entertaining. I’d say personality type definitely plays a part in this. Is perfectionism a personality type or a disease!! :)
i am just so tired with three kids three and under! i know i should just do it because i get a spurt of energy as soon as people come over, but the thought of it is overwhelming!
slstepec@hotmail.com
Love to entertain, but life is so crazy right now it is hard to find the time to do it. So, I guess just to be more intentional about finding the time.
I’m already a member on Facebook! (Jessica B.)
I think one of the hardest things about entertaining is just being intentional about it. Life cruises along so fast without any of us thinking about it, so to choose to stop and have people over takes forethought and planning and purposely adding it to your life. I am a “recovering perfectionist,” as my husband puts it :), so it is hard for me not to apologize when something goes wrong at dinner. I try really hard to remember what you said about not apologizing – and I’m really getting better at it, even when I want to blab about every little thing I see that didn’t come out right with my meal. lol
Well, I think there are actually several factors that prevent my entertaining. Mostly, though, I feel like an inadequate housekeeper. My home is generally cluttered. But…I am starting to realize that true hospitality is about putting yourself out there, whether that be includes your housekeeping, cooking skills, conversation skills, or a combination. Since finding this blog, I am truly beginning to see hospitality and entertaining in a more positive light. Bring on the guests! :)
Figuring out what to serve bogs me down, even though I love to cook. We have a lot of friends who suffer from food allergies, and it’s a lot to figure out. Also, I’m an introvert who enjoys smaller gatherings and really enjoys being home, so it’s always a little stretch to bring other people into our home — but I always end up so happy with the resulting gathering!
And I just FB’d about it. Thanks for the opportunities to win.
I already “liked’ on FB.
Fun! Fun! Fun! I think the thing that bogs me down the most is WHAT to serve. Especially if it’s someone I don’t know very well and have never had over for dinner. I wouldn’t want to serve them something with mushrooms and them secretly be hating it. You know what I mean? So I’d say that’s my biggest struggle.
I think just the initial invitation. I always seem to hesitate, but the good thing is that my husband end up doing the inviting. I’m not sure why I hesitate, but one thing that comes to mind is that people seem so busy that I wonder if they really want to spend their time coming to my house! I know that probably sounds silly, but time is precious, and when our friends do spend their time, I count it a privelege.
Lately my biggest problem is feeling like my house isn’t clean enough. I haven’t been feeling well due to my pregnancy and just can seem to get it clean enough to want to have guests over :(
It’s the asking that gets me…in a different language than my own! Sometimes I’m so afraid that I’m not going to understand…but then I realize that the people we’re ministering to are forgiving, and it brings us so much joy to get to know someone in our second culture and language.
I followed you both on Twitter
I tweeted about the give-away! Tweet!
I posted on Facebook about the contest…crossing fingers!
I became a follower on Twitter! Tweet!
And I facebooked (if that’s a word???) about the giveaway!
I became a Facebook fan!
I am always stressed out the day of because I feel that everything (mostly my house) needs to be perfect. I am very control freak-ish and I need to learn to go with the flow much more.
I joined your facebook pages!
My biggest problem is being focused on the people instead of on the stuff involved. Loving the visiting children instead of getting frustrated with the messes they are leaving everywhere, for example. I tend to focus too much on things looking perfect, instead of connecting with the people.
I never know what to cook and Always worry that the food will flop. I can be a perfectionist so that definitely affects my entertaining style!
My biggest entertainment bog down is probably “the order” in which I keep my home. Working full time I don’t keep my house in the “shape” I feel comfortable at the drop of the hat inviting people over. This is an area I can definitely work on. My personality is outgoing and we love having people over but working full time with people, often at the end of the day and on weekend,s I’m ready for downtime and quiet.