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Sandy: The Reluctant Entertainer Book Giveaway

May 5, 2011 By Rhoda 202 Comments

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{Giveaway is Closed}

Do you find yourself saying any of these things?

  • I don’t know how to cook.
  • My food never turns out.
  • My house isn’t up to par.
  • I’m just too busy.
  • We can’t afford it.

Sound familiar? If you’ve had these thoughts, then this book is for you.

When I first started blogging, there was a sweet friend named Sandy who I connected with early on in the blogosphere. She is beautiful inside and out and she writes a beautiful blog as well.  I had the pleasure of meeting her at the last 2 Blissdom conferences and she is just as genuine in real life as she is on her blog.  Truly the best thing about blogging for me has been the friendships forged with women across the country who I would never have the chance to meet in person.  But, blogging brings us all together.
(me and Sandy at Blissdom)

One of the things that I noticed right away from Sandy’s blog is that she encourages her readers to open up their homes and entertain. Have people over. Share meals and share stories. Get to know others on a deeper level by sharing a meal. I love that and really would like to get better at it. Sandy really encourages that on her blog and now, in her new book, The Reluctant Entertainer.

Sandy was nice enough to send me a copy of her book and it is just beautiful. Every woman’s guide to simple and gracious hospitality is the tag line and it certainly delivers.

Chock full of Sandy’s own recipes, as well as real-life entertaining stories from Sandy’s family and home, this book is such a useful tool for opening up our doors to others. It’s filled with her own beautiful photos too that you will love.

I grew up in a Pastor’s home and we were always having people over to our house. My mom thought nothing of inviting a couple of families over after church on Sunday night for a meal. It might be nothing more than warming up left-over ham for ham sandwiches, chips and fruit, but it was a very memorable time for me, savoring friendships with those families and sharing a meal together. Food just makes everything better!

Sandy’s book is so useful as she goes through all the reasons why women do not want to take the time to have folks over these days. It does seem like the world has gotten busier and busier, with not enough time taken to slow down and savor friendships. Sandy’s book will definitely help you see the benefit of entertaining and getting out of your comfort zone.

If you’d like to win a copy of Sandy’s book, just leave a comment here and tell me if you are a frequent entertainer or are you like so many and reluctantly open up your home to others. We all probably have some improvement to do in this area, I know I do.

I will have ONE copy to giveaway, so just leave a comment! I’ll draw a winner in a few days!  Just in time for Mother’s Day, you can always give it a little late!

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Filed Under: Giveaway 202 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kay Dalton says

    May 6, 2011 at 1:24 am

    Trying for a hastily put-together party Saturday that is to be part Kentucky Derby/part College Graduation! My hangup is trying to get both house meticulous and food preparation completed, without exhausting myself, now that I am a bit older. The body can’t seem to do all that my mind plans! I need this gorgeous book for all its creative ideas, but particularly for attitude adjustment, as I need to be a bit more laid back with the striving for perfection! In my heart I know that the joys of enjoying each other’s company outweighs the pressure to be perfect!

    Perfectionism stands too much in the way of my good intentions! I would love to learn to be much more laid back about entertaining. Putting together a hasty Kentucky Derby/College Graduation party for Saturday has me in a tailspin once again!

    Thanks, Rhoda, for your lovely blog and this opportunity to win a gorgeous book that is JUST what I need!

    Beautiful book and love your blog, Rhoda!

    Reply
  2. Kay Dalton says

    May 6, 2011 at 1:37 am

    Perfectionism stands too much in the way of my good intentions! I would love to learn to be much more laid back about entertaining. Putting together a hasty Kentucky Derby/College Graduation party for Saturday has me in a tailspin once again!

    Thanks, Rhoda, for your lovely blog and this opportunity to win a gorgeous book that is JUST what I need!

    Reply
  3. Nicki says

    May 6, 2011 at 3:22 am

    I’m a reluctant entertainer. I let the imperfections talk me out of it. *sigh* Need that book!! 😉

    Reply
  4. linda miller says

    May 6, 2011 at 7:26 am

    Can never have too many books about entertaining. Easy one teaches something valuable and creative. Would love to win!

    Reply
  5. Doris says

    May 6, 2011 at 8:28 am

    Several years ago the Lord impressed upon my heart that I was to open my home to others. I was to prepare to be ready. At the time I was way too busy with family and a full time job. But I worked to prepare my heart and home. Now it’s been almost a year since I quit my job (long story) and I do open my home for our Women’s ministry meetings. My home is not lovely but it seems that no one minds. I do what I can with what I have to make it comfortable.

    This book looks so interesting. Even if I don’t win the book, I will keep checking in with you for fresh ideas on decorating…..just as I have been doing for a while now =)

    Reply
  6. Dorsey says

    May 6, 2011 at 9:59 am

    I love to entertain but my husband feels the house needs to many repairs Ugh!

    Reply
  7. MichelleD says

    May 6, 2011 at 10:23 am

    Wow… this is so me. I love to visit & mingle with people. I would love to “entertain” them at my home, but always feel like my house isn’t clean enough or we will have guests over when we finish painting this or that, and sadly, we never get around to having anyone here but family. 🙁 So… I would love a chance to win this book!! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Amy Justice says

    May 6, 2011 at 10:27 am

    I am forced to entertain quite often. Being a consultant for both Scentsy and Stella & Dot, I have home parties twice a season. I dread the uncluttering that comes along with it, but love having other women over for a nice evening in!

    Reply
  9. Susan Audrey says

    May 6, 2011 at 11:30 am

    I’m a shy person anyway, so entertaining at home really freaks me out. But I want to – I really do. This book might just help me crawl out of my little shell and invite over some friends and family.

    Reply
  10. Kayla Fulp says

    May 6, 2011 at 11:59 am

    My future hubby and I just found a new apartment. We are both fresh college grads and don’t have the funds to buy all our furniture at once. I’ve been trying to piece together things from Craigslist, yard sales and Big Lots–but I still don’t feel like I’m in a position to invite our family and friends over. Basically I just need to learn to be proud of the fact that we are trying to put together a nice apartment while staying out of debt, rather than worrying about not having brand new patio furniture.

    Reply
  11. Karyn says

    May 6, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    I saw this book somewhere else in the blogosphere yesterday and I WANT IT!!! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Renee says

    May 6, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    I fall into the “house is not up to par” category. My food usually turns out great I need inspiration to just “do it”. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

    Reply
  13. Carol Adams says

    May 6, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    I cont. dream of entertaining but just don’t do it… I would love to read this book to see what she has to say…

    Reply
  14. Jen Y says

    May 6, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    I so love your blog & your beautiful ideas. I’m facing the empty nest & really want to entertain more. This book looks like a great place to start!

    Reply
  15. Karen says

    May 6, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    This sounds like a great book. I admit to inviting people over so I will clean my house within an inch of it’s life. By the time company comes, I’m exhausted. Somehow it has gotten stuck in my head that everything has to be perfect before I can open the door and let people in.

    Reply
  16. Erin says

    May 6, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    I would love to win this book. I’m a frequent entertainer for the same group of people, but reluctant when it comes to opening my house to more people. That’s something I would love to improve!

    Reply
  17. Renee says

    May 6, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    We’re always on the go carting kids to various activities and having their friends over, but I’d love to have adult guests more often.

    Reply
  18. Carla says

    May 6, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    The title of her book definitely describes me! I would be thrilled to have a chance to read her book & share it with my daughters

    Reply
  19. Anna says

    May 7, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    I love having people over, when I can plan for it, that is. Drop ins, well, they don’t happen often, and make me nervous. With the bitties in the house, my home is never clean, unless I’m planning for company. haha So, for now, we have someone to dinner probably once a month. I’d love to get more fluent in hospitality!

    Reply
  20. Gina Blank says

    May 7, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    Don’t know if I’m too late but I would love to have this book. My mom always had people over and you could drop in on her anytime and she would put something together. I tend to be the same but do get nervous if everything is just not perfect.

    Reply
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Thanks for stopping by! I'm Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn't have to cost a fortune and I've spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I'm here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won't you join me?

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