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...
I am bogged down by worrying about my house’s current state of disarray. I have two boys under age three, a dog, and a husband with a penchant for not putting things back when he’s done with them. I need help!
I think my chronic illness issues hinder us most from following our desire to be more hospitable. I think everything has to be ‘perfect’ and I don’t have the energy for ‘perfect’ so instead of settling for ‘good enough’ we just don’t invite people over like we used to. We miss out on the blessing of opening our home to others and we loose the opportunity to get to know people in a comfortable setting. I’d love to learn to relax and enjoy spontaneous gatherings without the fuss.
I think cleaning my house beforehand bogs me down. It is not like my house is a mess, but I have 2 kids and a dog and a husband and it gets cluttered. I get stressed once party times comes thinking about it!
With 3 little ones and a home always mid-project, I always feel like I would not know what to cook, how to serve it or dishes to serve it in! :)
Followin ya on the Twitter! ;-P
Tweeted!
I *Liked* you guys on Facebook! ;-)
I follow both of you on Twitter!
I’ve always gotten bogged down at the thought of entertaining by waiting until everything is redecorated, organized, get cutesy dinner/serving ware, etc. But I’ve just recently kinda given that all up, realizing that if I wait for that it will never happen, as it hasn’t happened much over the years. And that makes me sad, realizing that I have a gift of hospitality, and have always wanted create a space where people could come & feel warm and welcome and enjoy themselves. Well, now I know they can without waiting for it to look like a Pottery Barn or Martha Stewart showhouse! I’ve opened myself up to this starting with having a home Bible study at our place and it’s doing wonders for my hospitable heart! ;-)
Cleaning the house! Another thing is related to the actual party. I like to have everything done in advance and really don’t want help in the kitchen. Its hard to get people to feel like they don’t need to pitch in. I like to have people just relax and enjoy.
I have a love/hate relationship with entertaining! I don’t really enjoy the cleaning the house part, or the organizing of what to do……but I love it when it is done and everyone has had a good time. I just recently, as of Sunday…..committed to hosting Easter this year for my husband’s side of the family!!!! Probably about 20 adults, 10 children!! I think what bogs me down is the feeling that things HAVE to be perfect! But as I am getting older, I realize that the joy of entertaining is just being with friends and family……and that they don’t care or even notice the things I might see as “not perfect”. I also have started delegating to family members. And this is sloop much help!
We used to entertain alot before we relocated almost seven years ago. I think since we have moved we have only entertained about 4 times. We don’t have the circle of friends like we had before we moved and that has kept us from trying it here.
I get bogged down about entertaining worrying about everything being perfect – so I figure if it can’t be perfect I just won’t do it. Trying to break the mindset!
I posted on FB!
jennymorrillmartin
Just liked you on FB =)
One of the resons I find it hard to entertain …..it there is never enough hours in the day….everyone seems to be so busy….its hard to get people together….seems kind of silly to plan months ahead just to have dinner together…..I think my life is too busy. Hoping to change that this year.
Great giveaway.
Happy Day
I’ve liked your pace on FB, also the Hip Hostess’ page too! also shared it on my FB page!
follow HH on twitter
jennymartin116
follow RE on twitter
jennymartin116
I’m so happy that The Nester pointed me towards your site! I think my biggest obstacle is ME! I’m too much of a perfectionist and always want things to be “perfect” when friends come over. That means I spend too much time in the kitchen instead of visiting. I still like having people over though.
Joined Hip Hostess on FB
jennymorrillmartin
Joined Relectant Entertainer on FB
jennymorrillmartin
I “liked” you on fb. I’ve been so interested in buying the Balcony Girls E-book; I’ve been reading your blog since you started blogging about that and just waiting until one of my girls got old enough to try it.
Several things bog me down when entertaining–first would be a clean house! I have to have everything perfect before people come over (and my house is never perfect!) I also love the planning/preparing—and have tons of great ideas, but little time (or money) to do everything that I want to do!
Yes my personality can be pretty strong-I want things done a particular way–and when they don’t get done that way–I get upset–and that affects more than just the one little mishap!
I actually love hospitality of any kind, but what often keeps me from entertaining is the wear and tear on my young family. Our kids need to be in bed early to do well the next day and whenever we have guests in the evenings, our routines get thrown off.
I worry that I won’t have anything to talk about and/or the people won’t have fun.