{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!
I would love to entertain more but feel the pressure that my home is just not up to par and I need to get over it!
I was just thinking of how I’m supposed to have people over next weekend and all the ways I’m not going to be ready. This book is right up my alley!
Love her blog, and I’d love the chance to win a copy of her book!
What an inspiration for doing more entertaining and feeling comfortable doing it! Thanks for sharing her blog as well!
I LOVE to entertain – except at my home. I’ve been in a funk all week because my husband has invited people (mostly his family) to our house for lunch on Sunday (Mother’s Day) – not discounting the fact that it’s our 29th wedding anniversary. I love to cook and love to mingle & laugh, but don’t feel as though we have space to accommodate everybody. According to my Spiritual Gift inventory, hospitality may not be one of my top gifts, but it was in the 2nd level – ’nuff said – if the Lord wants people in my house He’ll send ’em. I’ll try to be prepared. I sure would LUV this book!
I heard Sandy on Family Life Today and knew I NEED this book. I have a 5 year old and 3 year old and I grew up in a home where other than occasional BBQ’s we lived by a “We four and NO more” mentality. So I feel totally inadequate and unprepared to entertain people.
I’m definitely more of a reluctant entertainer but wanting to stretch myself and open up our home more. It’s a learning process for me (a newlywed, introvert, and perfectionist) about how imperfection is ok. My husband and I went over to a friend’s house this week and I was blessed to see…a big pile of dirty dishes in her sink. With three toddlers, she hadn’t gotten around to washing them. But it didn’t matter, and we hardly even noticed it. She never mentioned them or acted stressed out about that she hadn’t gotten to them (I know I would have been–majorly!), but just calmly and cheerfully welcomed us over and gave us a peek at their daily life. It was such refreshing lesson in hospitality.
I love to entertain and do so frequently. This past weekend I had a May Day party for a group of 12 women and we had a fantastic lunch outdoors on the patio here in Arizona.
Although I am known in my circle as the go-to hostess, I must say that I am frequently disappointed because many of my friends do not reciprocate thinking that their efforts will not live up to my expectations. This book sounds fantastic and a valuable tool for all of those who don’t think that they can entertain. Those of us who do go to the trouble of creating an entertaining experience, are merely looking to be invited back for a simple meal, or dessert/coffee. My advice: Don’t be afraid, create something and your friends will love your efforts.
Yes, an infrequent entertainer but want to be frequent!
I love to entertain but find it gets harder to do as my kids get older and have their own schedules and life is more hectic!
I used to do lots of entertaining. I was a SAHM and loved having couples over for fun on the weekend. Then life changed. Bad economy = working outside the home. Now we’re in a much smaller home and entertaining is last on my list of things to do, sadly.
I am a totally reluctant entertainer in reality. But in my heart, I would love to!
I would love to host more, but don’t have the skills.
I sure could use that book ASAP. Have invited 60 people over for a Mother’s Day celebration. My husband thinks I am out of my mind. But without family near by it helps to share holiday with friends. So I will try to concentrate on making them feel welcome and not sweat the small stuff.
I’m a pastor’s wife and could really use some new suggestions for entertaining. I’m starting to sweat too much of the small stuff. Thanks!
Very reluctant entertainer. This book sounds just right for me as I would like to have some life long friends come for a weekend.
This is a wonderful giveaway! Would love to have a copy of this fabulous book! Thanks!!
Terrell
My husband and I have worked with young marrieds at our church for a number of years and I can definitely say that most are hesitant to entertain! They want to, but feel so insecure. My best friend and I have a Christmas Open House each year along with our young adult daughters. We started it as a way to teach them how to entertain with warmth and graciousness. This would be a fantastic resource for all women, young and old. It’s never to late to start!
I’m one of the people that likes everything to be perfect when I have guests! I try to relax and let it go – it’s really hard to do when it is the way you were brought up. I do better in the summer when we can be outside. This book sounds like it is perfect for me. Thanks for the opportunity! Becki
I am an infrequent entertainer, but afterward, I always say “We should do that more often!”