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 think the fact that my house is regularly a MESS makes me reluctant to entertain… but my hubs and I are always so happy when we do have people over. Being a procrastinator definitely gets in the way of entertaining, because “later” seems to be the time I want to get things done, and before I know it my guests are at the door and I’m up to my elbows cleaning the vacuum canister or running to the bathroom to put on my makeup (ha, you think I’d learn!) We’re working on it!
My husband is such a non-entertainer, that it is hard to throw a party around here. However, I do LUV having people around my table.:)
I follow you and Hip Hostess on Twitter!
I liked you and Hip Hostess on FB!
I get bogged down from all the cleaning I feel is necessary before I invite people over. But my daughter’s friend is coming over for a playdate Friday and some other friends are coming over for breakfast on Saturday!
I am very introverted and I do feel that this holds me back from being more open to inviting people into my home.
I keep thinking I need to clean the carpet on my stairs first. I know. I know.
I love to have people over and the only thing I sweat is the state of constant remodeling. Great giveaway!
hi! i love your blog! the apron is so hottie, and as a homeschooling mom, i would love to get my hands on your ‘balcony girls’ ideas to bring to my daughter & her friends! i think, just like your first entry, what holds me back is my own self-doubt. since we bought a fixer-upper, i feel like there’s just always something that’s not done, even though my friends say what a nice home i have turned it into, in my mind, i am still stuck in “fix-it” mode!
And I’ve followed you both on Twitter. Thanks so much!
I’ve liked y’all on FB, too . . .
Clutter is what gets in my way . . . well, clutter, and feeling like I don’t yet have the know how to make things really beautiful. I can get the place clean, but then I rarely have the mental energy to entertain afterward.
like you both on fb!
cleaning! ugh… i swear, if i could keep my 2 year old from touching everything that i just cleaned, i would entertain more often! :)
Posted on FB about giveaway
FB fan for sometime now!
It comes down to making it a habit to entertain so that it eventually becomes second nature and easier to entertain. Part of what we have to do in our family is not schedule ourselves so tightly that we are too dog tired to invite others over…because when it comes down to it, I would rather spend time with friends than to do one more activity!
My biggest “bog” is remembering to invite someone over!
The thing that gets me every time is that I spend too much time worrying that everything is perfect rather than relaxing and enjoying my guests. I LOVE entertaining though and have been working on not stressing over small things. Easier said than done! ;)
I get too frustrated witht what my hubbie calls “the small stuff”
I think most often, our house being clean and picked up bogs me down when it comes to entertaining. But, we started hosting a weekly small group for our church at our home a few weeks ago, so the house is at least spot cleaned every Wednesday now!
I am a type A personality…my greatest struggle with entertaining is my perfectionist tendencies which can leave an evening feeling not too warm :( I would love to receive this package…awesome!!
I love to entertain and share our little house with people, play board games, sip tea, etc. Finding the time and energy to do so even monthly is a challenge. I also like to be in charge of my kitchen when entertaining, I love playing hostess and making sure everyone is full up and enjoying themselves. Little bit of a type A going on here.
I get bogged down by what I perceive as “flow issues” in my home… I need to fix them already!
My biggest problem is just “to do it” already…set the date and get in gear. Once the plans have been set, I love the entertaining part.