{Giveaway is Closed}
When I started blogging back in early 2007, there was a special friend named Sandy who I connected with early on in the blogosphere. She is beautiful inside and out, as well she writes a beautiful blog and I had the pleasure of meeting her at the last 2 Blissdom conferences. She is just as genuine in real life as she is on her blog.
(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. I would love to get better at this! We have people over very sporadically, usually twice a year for a big group.
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.
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 TWO copies to giveaway, so just leave a comment! I’ll draw a winner on Sunday evening.
Helen says
I am ashamed to say when the last time we even had anyone over for dinner! I don’t even know. Sad, huh? But my hubby works out of town and when he gets to come home for a few days it just seems unfair to him to have company. I know we are missing out on making some friends. Sure would love to win this book!
kay says
I am definately a reluctant entertainer… always thinking that everything has to be just perfect before extending an invitation. This book sounds amazing!
Betty says
I love to entertain. I entertain on the blog. I love to play with dishes and flowers. We do have company about once a month. Tomorrow I will be cooking two meals. Brunch and Dinner for two sister-in-laws and two brother-in-laws, plus my husband and me. I do love to cook also. I hope you draw my name for the interesting book. I love to learn something new everyday.
xoxo
Betty
Athina says
Just found out about Sandy’s book! What a great idea to write such a book…especially those of us who think their house is too small to entertain need to read it 😉
JL says
I love to entertain but always say, “I can’t cook”. And I can’t so it really hinders me from entertaining as much as I would like to. We’ve recently moved to another country for two years. We can’t get hardly any English literature here so the book would be a real treat for me and I’m really trying to entertain so we can get to know others from cultures all over the world!!!
Sallie Baker says
Funny, i used to entertain more when my kids were little and at home, and money was tighter! Now I have gotten out of the habit, and really have NO excuse! would love to have the book….love her blog.
Ginger says
Thanks for the chance at this!
Leslie M says
I need this book. I always feel like I don’t keep house well enough for guests to come over. My goal for October is to get my laundry under control- out of the dryer and off of the couch. I think that would make me more likely to have spur-of-the-moment play dates at my house and invite people over for casual dinners.
Wendy J says
I’d fall on the reluctant side because I have four small children, which makes prep a little… interesting. But we’re going to have to start entertaining more in the future, so I’d love a little help! Thanks!
Cassie says
I love entertaining, but don’t do it often enough. My husband and I have lived in a house for over a year now and I still feel like it’s not finished!
Debbie Smith says
We love to have people into our home but usually keep it fairly simple. I really have enjoyed Sandy’s series and have learned a much from her wisdom : )
Millie Gardner says
I am a very reluctant entertainer. Mainly I feel like our small house is a wreck (with 4 growing children in a small house, it is always a challenge). However, I would love to show more hospitality to our families and our friends. Why do I feel like everyone else’s houses look like magazine spreads and mine looks like an ad for a reality show? We do clean up usually once a year or so to host a family get together. Nothing fancy, but again small house + big family = harder than I feel like it ought to be.
That said, I’d love to win a copy of the book. Thanks for the opportunity!
Lou Ann says
I am somewhat of a reluctant entertainer. I would love to win a copy of the book to help me overcome my fears in the area of hospitality!
Kathy says
I love to entertain, but don’t do it as often as I’d like. With children and hubby’s schedules it isn’t as frequent as I’d like. This book sounds so good.
Bobbie Jean says
I would love a copy of this book! My husband was unemployed for a year and finances were tight, so needless to say we put off entertaining in our home. He is now back to work and even thought the pay is not near what he had been making, we would like to start having people over again. I see a big dis-connect in the church today and I would love to see our church members connected with each other. I would like to open up my home at least once a month and invite families from church over. I could use some new and inexpensive ideas for entertaining in our home. I would like “jump start” my gift of hospitality. I always say that if God gives you a gift, He expects you to use it. Now I just have to to it.
SallyAnn says
I’ve just started following Reluctant Entertainer! I’d love to have this book! Hope I win! Thanks for the offer.
Scooper says
I love to entertain and I never do. Being too busy or the house being crazy seems to preclude having people over. I’d love to change this though. I grew up in a pastor’s home too and people were over all the time. Now that I’m a grown-up, I wonder how my mom did it with ease and grace.
Randi says
I’m dying to look through this book. I love to entertain and have parties although I have to be very deliberate about it so life doesn’t get in the way.
betty says
Rhoda,
I understand your thoughts on growing up as a pastor’s daughter and your mom always entertaining. I am married to a minister and enjoy entertaining also. I would love to win the book on entertaining.
I enjoy reading your blog.
Kelly says
I wish my we could entertain more, I feel like our house is too small!