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...
Just subscribed to your blog — I found you through A Holy Experience and now follow you on Google Reader — I don’t do twitter, though — but I did join your FB page as well as the Hip Hostess — all very good stuff!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I just shared your giveaway on FB with all my peeps @ http://www.fb.me/longabergerlifestyle
Sandy…I already like you on FB as http://www.fb.me/longabergerlifestyle :-)
My biggest obstacle to entertaining used to be having a house that was clean enough. Well….I’ve finally organized my home so that I don’t have major clutter centers any more. Yaaay! And now…my home looks good most of the time. Now it’s easy to invite folks over. Gosh…why did it take me soooooo many years to figure this out.
To answer the personality thing….good question….I have no idea. I just know that my aunt used to set a beautiful table….every time I ate at her house and she was my role model. But, I do believe it is a spiritual gift as well….but a like all gifts…it needs to be exercised.
I have a hard time balancing enjoying time with people while they are there and getting everything served/cooked etc.
My least favorite thing about having people over is the CLEANING!!! It definitely holds me back.
My biggest problem with entertaining is space. I love to cook massive amounts of food and have an army over to eat it – I just don’t know where to put them all. I don’t want people to be uncomfortable, balancing a plate on their knees.
i like you on fb!
whenever i enetertain, i’m always afraid something is going to go terribly wrong…somehow my food wont turn out right, or something is going to spill all over, etc…. once everyone is there and the entertaining is started, however, i’m fine :)
I get nervous when I have my family over for dinner. My grandsons want my attention and I get side tracked. Then I also want everything to be perfect.
I just liked you and the hip hostess on FB. Very fun. But I don’t twitter, so I won’t get ya there!
finding time. or not being so tired. At the end of the week I just want to veg. I want to recoup and not have to do one more thing. I miss seeing people, but I have a hard time getting worked up to do something about it.
My biggest problem when it comes to entertaining is that we live in a small apartment for the time being. I feel like I can’t offer a big beautiful roomy house. But I know that in order to welcome people it is about open arms and my attitude. If I make people feel like we want them in our home, then I know they will feel loved and welcomed. It’s not what I have that matters, it’s what I can give of myself. Looking forward to reading your book.
~Jessica
lewis.jessica1@gmail.com
I am now a follower on facebook :)
I am a new follower on facebook
My husband is a youth pastor and we host our small group, so we have people in our home sometimes 3/4 nights per week. My biggest struggle is that because of this I’m not that good at inviting other people into our home. We just get so busy! I want to be better at having people over that we don’t know as well or just friends to enjoy some time together!
I find that I’m my own worst entertaining enemy. I’ll talk myself out of having people over just thinking about all I’ll need to do…but if I just invite people on a whim then I’m locked into just rolling with it and we always have a great time.
what bogs me down is not knowing what to cook and thinking that everything has to be perfect. I think my, somewhat, perfectionistic personality gets in the way of me relaxing and enjoying entertaining. I’ve heard good things about your book and would love to win! ;)
What bogs me down is making sure all my home decor and party accessories are really great. I usually make everything ‘to’ perfect and then spend all my time on the look of the party and end up rushing on all else!
I am always challenged with pulling everything together as well as myself before our guests arrive.
I think the thing that bogs me down is that my house is not “company ready”, so by the time I get it looking good, and then get the food done, I am usually heading to shower and change 5 minutes before my company comes.
I also joined your FB page!
I think what bogs me down is fear of failure and I am very shy!
I think what bogs me down is my very limited food budget. So I have to try to be extra creative!
What to serve is a big one for me. Also my personality is naturally introverted – this surprises people sometimes because I try very hard to overcome that tendency; although I still get tired after being around people for lengths of time and need quiet time to recuperate!
Sometimes my husband wants some quiet time at home, which I can understand. And sometimes it’s just hard to fine time on the calendar. I do love to entertain, so we squeeze it in when we can.