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 hang up is being shy, and not knowing what to say!
The biggest obstacle for me is wanting everything to be perfect and to go perfectly…..and having enough time to plan for anything that can go wrong.
I think what bogs me down is how busy everyone seems. Between working, being involved in church, and other activities, it just seems like there isn’t much time to entertain except Sunday, and right now that is the only day my husband has off of work, so I like to keep it relaxing.
My biggest worry is excluding someone and then worrying about inviting too many. Too many adds the fear of too many varied personalities. I fear the job of referee for crazy kids or polar opposite adults.
I tend to be a perfectionist when it come to cleansing. I feel I need to have every thing clean all the time even when company is still here.
I think worrying about everything being cleaned up & perfect. I love having people over, but think I cannot get it all clean and serve something decent in the time I have.
(Bought your Balcony Girls book and we start next week – my daughter and I are looking forward to it)
Following you both on twitter!!
WOoHoO I need this book! I get bogged down with the idea that it has to be perfect. I am learning to embrace the imperfections.
I always intend to host parties but often don’t get it planned. But thanks to my husband, we do entertain!
The one thing that I struggle with is comparing myself to the “top entertainer”. Knowing that I just can’t live up to her standards, makes me not want to try at all.
I know my personality type has everything to do with my struggle. I want it to be perfect and unless it is perfect, I will often refuse to try.
I liked both of your FB pages.
What bogs me down? I much prefer the impromptu “come over to my house” invites, but I also want to be more intentional. Just making the plan and inviting someone is what bogs me down. In my ideal world, my husband and I would decide we’re inviting people over every other Friday night (or sometime) and then keep a running list of all the people we want to invite, so that if I invite Family Y over and they can’t come, I can say, “How about two weeks from now then?” *and* I can invite the next person on our list for *this* Friday night. I’ve got it all figured out in my mind; it’s just DOING it. … Thanks for your inspiration.
I love to entertain and have people over. I sometimes get stressed with feeling like I need to have the house looking perfect which with 4 children is impossible becasue after our guests leave it isn’t even going to look like I cleaned anyways! ;)
thanks for the giveaway!
heather
The thing that bogs me down the most…trying to be perfect (as bad as that sounds)–perfectly cleaned house, perfectly decorated, perfect food perfectly styled, perfect table, perfect favors– all of it!! I am trying to let go of some of this and realize if I wait for perfect, I will never have any company at my house!!
Liked your facebook page ;-)
Following you on twitter!
LOVE this! I think I have trouble with setting a nice table. I seem to spend most energy on the food and then feel overwhelmed by making the table pretty!
I think the thing that bogs me down right now is the schedule. I have three teens/tweens and they are all involved in different things. It’s hard enough to find time to do something special with just our family. I am kind of an extroverted introvert if that makes any sense and sometimes I want to have other people around and other times I just want to “chill”! :)
Oh how I would love to win. . .especially that ebook. . .I have 2 daughters that I would love to start something like this with their friends. My biggest obstacle to having people over is it does take some effort. . .pick up the house, wipe down the bathroom, plan a meal. . and sometimes I am just tired from daily life to put in that effort.
My biggest entertaining road block is, eek!, perfectionism. The food, the house, the entertainment, all need to be just right. Sometimes it takes an unexpected guest to help me realize that it’s the fellowship that counts.
I also tweeted the giveaway!!
I shared your giveaway on facebook
I am following you on twitter :)
I joined your facebook pages
I followed you on twitter :) and Facebook:)
Hi Sandy! my issues with entertaining stem from wanting everything perfect…I’m getting better :)