{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!
What a great idea for a book. I love to entertain but often find one of the excuses you listed to keep from it. On Tuesday I had a Mother’s Day Tea using all my china tea cups collected from our overseas adventure. We sat around the table and talked for hours, stopping only because we all had kids to pick up at school. My soul felt so filled up afterwards I vowed to do it every year!
Thank you for your lovely blog.
Amy Canby
I am afraid I am a reluctant entertainer also. I like things perfect, so it means I stress out when things aren’t just so. I hope I win, I need help.
Thanks,
Jen
I am really a reluctant entertainer. I always want things so
perfect. Would love to own this book!! Wonderful giveaway
I love to entertain but I do not do it as often as I would like. Winning this wonderful book would probably inspire me….
Oh, maybe this will be my lucky day!!!! 🙂
Entertaining is always something I love to do, but to be honest, I think I can learn more about this area. This book would come handy! 🙂
Have a blessed day!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
I like to think about entertaining, but the more I think about it, the more involved it gets, so that I often talk myself out of it. Would really like to have a “organized and simplified” guideline to follow.
I just adore the “Reluctant Entertainer”. She is fab! Love her blog. Thanks so much for the chance to enter.
Jessica
Definitely, I am a reluctant entertainer. What will people think? –
that is my main concern . However, as I age – it is becoming a less
common question for all situations. I need to break out of this “shell of comfort” and enjoy people and everyday events.
I am a reluctant entertainer. I should do more because I enjoy it but always find reasons not to do it. That’s a shame.
Rhoda,
I loved your message in this post! You are so right — people get caught up in the production instead of each other. Please enter me in this give-away. Either way, I will be reading Sandy’s book.
Your Friend,
Deborah
Hi Rhoda, I would love to win this book. I had read about it on someone else’s blog and I was definitely interested. I used to entertain more than I do now. Since we’ve moved to a new town, I haven’t invited some local folks over. The book may give me the incentive to do so.
I love Sandy’s blog! She is an encourager among encourangers! I love to have people in but since we have moved have been slow to get into the groove and have only had company a few times in the last year. Would love to have a copy of the book!
Thanks for a great giveaway!!!
I’m a wannabe entertainer in our home and wish I felt more relaxed about it!
I guess anymore I am a reluctant entertainer. We used to have people over all the time after church on Sunday, but anymore life is so fast paced that no one has time for a quiet leisurely meal at home. Sad, that that part of life is so fast paced.
As a Mom to 3 young boys-7, 7 and 6…we love to have other families over but it doesn’t happen often enough!! When it DOES happen, I start with grand ideas that never seem to materialize…
I would absolutely love to win this book!!
I am most certainly a Reluctant Entertainer! I want our home to be the gathering place but I struggle with feeling like it’s not clean enough, the food isn’t good enough, there isn’t enough room, etc. I’m working on it though.
I used to be very hospitable, but life has taken me over. Maybe a book like Sandy’s would help me get back to the way I should be.
Rhoda, I am sorry you’ve had to go through these troubles and pray God’s blessings for you daily.
Mary
I’m a semi-frequent entertainer. It seems to go in spurts. I’ll do a week of entertaining and then nothing for 3 weeks…
I am a frequent entertainer of my children’s friends and our family. but not of our friends. We are in the midst of redecorating and reno and I have this reluctance to host until it is “done.” I know I would be happier if I just let go, thanks for the chance to win.
I love the decorating and tablescaping when we have guests over but the cooking scares me so much. I can cook resonably well but just start to panic when it’s time to serve up. Help!!!!!! Please count me in..
Suzyq