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...
My biggest bog down still sometimes is the financial aspect of it, though not as much anymore!
It would have to be the menu. I hate to cook and don’t enjoy making a mess in my kitchen.
The biggest thing that makes me think about not having people over is making sure the house is clean and everything in it’s place and then I remember that I don’t have enought space for that, so I straighten what I can and tell them to pardon the mess when they come in. :)
I would LOOOVE to host my friends and cook for them but I am always afraid they will turn down my invitation because they are busy :(
The thing that bogs me down is wanting to have everything look just so. It is something I need to get over since people come to see you. Baby steps, I think.
Well, I usually burn something if I’m cooking so that’s not good and then the clean up is always a real drag! But I love the time spent with friends or family!
I joined your facebook pages.
Ugh. I’m too much of a planner. We’ve had a few people over spontaneously in the last few weeks and that’s way more fun. I think I need to learn to let loose and ignore the dog hair on the floor more often.
I’m following both RE and Hip Hostess on Twitter.
Thank you both for your generosity.
I follow RE on FB. :)
My biggest struggle with having people over (not counting girl friends for coffee or tea) is that I gave a Christmas Tea and it was fun and beautiful. My house was completely decorated and everybody raved about it…but now, my pride is holding me back to have a small get together. Pride, pride and so more pride.
I definitely think extroverts,which I am one, have an easier time at entertaining. What bogs me down is planning. I am a spur of the moment girl and most people can not do things last minute.
P.s. Also joined the FB pages, not sure if I was supposed to comment here or there, so I did all of them.
Lots of different things bog me down, mostly the constant disarray of my house as a result of my 3 lovely children : – )
I love to have friends over and do it a fair amount but I do struggle with wanting everything to be perfect; so perfect in fact that I’ve been too exhausted to enjoy my own party!
So, when I injured myself last year, things changed dramatically. I didn’t entertain at all for a couple of months but when I finally started to have a couple or two over, it was different. I needed help and I let them help. And maybe in that this injury, which I will NEVER be glad for it, has helped me segue into a different style.And I had to step back and see that is good.
A year later, I’m not 100% but much more mobile so now I’ll have the basics done but everyone has a job they can chip in and take care of. EVEN getting a plate out to my photo studio (you might call it a dining room) for a shot before we eat…they now know the drill and enjoy the process.
One fellow said he ‘didn’t mind’ helping while I was injured. Hehe…I told him I was glad because it was my new style, injury or not!
I follow both of you on facebook!
I have a hubby that HATES socializing. That’s the biggest thing that has stopped me.
That and my only table is too small for my own family, let alone guests.
And money.
And time.
I guess you could say I need a crash course!
I am pretty shy, so hosting a party kind of intimidates me. My husband and I just moved into our first home, and we’ve had a few people over, but it’s been last minute get-togethers that my husband arranges. I would love to host a baby or bridal shower or something like that, but I’m shy and also a perfectionist, so I know I would be stressing out big time trying to make sure everything was absolutely perfect and everyone was having a good time.
I already ‘like’ and follow The Hip Hostess on Facebook, and just clicked ‘like’ and will now follow the Reluctant Entertainer
I’m now following both on Twitter…looking for you tweets!
The part of hosting and entertaining that really bogs me down the most is that I always mismanage time. I come up with ideas of what I want the party or dinner to be, and without fail, never manage to finish everything I want to include before my guests arrive. I definitely feel my personality has affected my style of entertaining, both in a positive and negative light. I am my mothers daughter. When I was growing up, I remember she would run around frantically, rushing to get details done and would always fear that there was not enough food or the end table wasn’t dusted enough. I have a similar routine where I question the food choices I’ve made, and doubt how the flow of the evening is going to go, all moments before the guests arrive. I also tend to put others thoughts and feelings before my own, so more often than not, I always go above and beyond to make sure that their nights are enjoyable.
Even knowing all of that, I love entertaining!
What bogs me down is the cleaning…and only because I want things ‘just so’. If it’s not to my liking then I don’t feel the house is ready for company. But that is probably because I tend to quite anal about things!!! I love it once they’re here; no problems with the entertaining, the meals, sleeping arrangements, etc. – just the cleaning prior to the visit. And yes, it’s related to my personality. It goes with the color coded hangers; towels folded in a specific way; alphabetized spices; etc.! :-)
What gets me bogged down is juggling preparing everything, keeping everyone happy/comfortable/fed, while trying to still socialize with everyone.
I have liked both of you on fb :)
Tweeted the giveaway.