Comments on: Don’t Miss Your Own Dinner Party by Trying to Do it All

By: Lily

Lily — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:42:19 +0000

This is an awesome event. I am pretty sure this is very enjoyable. Thank you for sharing this.

By: Liz @ The Lemon Bowl

Liz @ The Lemon Bowl — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:14:24 +0000

Love this!! I could definitely do a better job of asking for help. Sometimes as the “foodie friend” I feel obligated to do more of the heavy lifting when it comes to cooking, etc.

By: Shari Kelley

Shari Kelley — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:47:44 +0000

I try as much as possible to do everything ahead of time, because I can’t cook and talk at the same time! It’s hard for me to ask for help as a lot of our friends work and I don’t, so feel like I want to treat them. I appreciate your tips as I hate to miss out on visiting with guests, too.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:02:50 +0000

So far I’ve only had menus that require last-minute things like “take the bowl out of the fridge and throw away the plastic wrap” or “remove from oven when the timer goes off.” So it hasn’t been an issue for me. We have some regular guests with physical limitations, so I try to make sure there’s nothing to do when they get here but chat. That has just become a habit. But we always welcome it when someone offers to bring a dish or wine. Oh, and I really don’t like to cut and serve dessert. (But I do love to make and eat it!) So usually someone steps in to do that!

By: Heather @ Heather's Dish

Heather @ Heather's Dish — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:50:14 +0000

Like Nancy said, I got an email from you too – I figured something was off, but it does look like you were hacked!

P.S. You should totally do a show like Barefoot Contessa – you have so many amazing and gracious hosting tips!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:57:01 +0000

Sandy,
I think your email has been hacked. I just received spam email from you with a link to active cleaning solutions. Might want to change the password as fast as you can.

By: Shary

Shary — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:01:19 +0000

I don’t mind asking for help. I have a “rule” about people coming for dinner. The first time they come, it’s our treat. We prepare the whole meal. Any time they come after that, they get to bring a dish as well. Like you, sometimes they come back, sometimes they don’t. I try to focus on easy. Recently we moved to a city we’d lived in before, but for a different church (hubby is a pastor). We wanted to have the Board over for dinner and treat them. A dear friend from our previous church came and helped me cook and serve so that I could be free to visit. THAT was an incredible gift. When all was done and the last guest left, all I had to do was put clean dishes away. She had washed them all!!

By: Kim in MD

Kim in MD — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:27:19 +0000

Great post, Sandy! I would say I’m a 3. Like you, in years past, I would do it all myself. As I get older, I am much more comfortable asking for and accepting help. I’m still kind of a control freak about the food, but I’m very happy to have help when it’s time to serve or clean up!