{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 love to entertain and I would love to win this book so I could learn to entertain better!
Thanks for the giveaway, Rhoda. I’m a relatively frequent, though reluctant, entertainer. I usually feel that my house is not up to par, but my family encourages me to “get over it” and have people over anyway. I’ve found that most people don’t care about the house, but appreciate the invitation!
Blessings,
Marilyn
I love to entertain! And, am a pastor’s wife as well. However, I do feel pressure to make things perfect. Instead of worrying about how the people feel in my home, I worry about how things look. I hate that! I am trying to lighten up and worry more about loving on the people that are here and fostering those relationships, and less about our surroundings!! I think that is a wonderful idea for a book. Thanks for doing the giveaway!
Love her blog and I need help with entertaining! I would love to have a copy of her book 🙂
I am a Reluctant Entertainer IN MY MIND!!!!! I plan all these wonderful, theme nights, and then talk myself out of doing it because the house is never clean enough, it’s not decorated well enough, or I make myself think no one will show up. Excited to read a copy of this book. AND, Rhoda, LOVE YOU AND LOVE YOUR BLOG! 🙂
I really like to cook and have people over, but lately it hasn’t happened. We’ve recently moved and I’m recently pregnant, so not only is our house very unfinished looking, but I’m exhausted. I know once this early pregnancy exhaustion wears off I need to swallow my pride and have people over, despite the fact that I don’t even like to be in my own house right now! Thanks for the link to Reluctant Entertainer. It’s very encouraging!
I WANT to entertain and have people over. .. just never seem to find the time with the busy-ness of life. Maybe this will spur me on.
My husband and I entertain fairly often, but hardly ever have the favor returned. It is a bit frustrating. Still, it would be great to read this book and get more tips for being a better hostess.
I need to entertain more than I do. We just moved and right now, I fall into the ” house isn’t up to par” category. I need a bit more furniture!
My excuse for not entertaining is dust on the ceiling fans and windows that need to be washed. Happy Mother’s Day to all!
Oh, i would love to win this book. I’m 54 years old and this year i have decided to really learn how to cook properly. To learn good basics and be able to try differnt things. I’m learning kinda late, but i figured there’s no time like the present, so a great book like this would be a fabulous resource tool for my learning to cook properly project.
Many thanks for the opportunity.
Jane B
I love entertaining, especially spontaneous because I am not worried about perfection when it’s spontaneous.
I love to entertain, except if my mom is there- she is a tough act to follow! I’m learning though.
I love to entertain my girlfriends! But I find it hard have couples over. Wonder why?
I really need some improvement in the entertaining area. Really if I would just reach out and invite…Iced Tea or Coffee could go along way…
I like to entertain but I get so anxious about everything.
I want to entertain more…need to just get over myself and my anxiety!
I want to teach my children the joy of showing hospitality. All too often, though, I let “perfectionism” hinder and halt me.
I would love to go back to the old days of ‘visiting’ with friends and relatives.
Extremely interested in the book! 🙂