{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.
I am an almost reluctant entertainer. I am really trying to do better. I’m learning to shut doors to rooms I haven’t gotten to and not be so particular about things that most people never take a second look at. Some encouragement would be great from this book!
I grew up in the home of a preacher Dad too. We had people over for Sunday dinner a lot. I remember one Sunday on the way home from morning services, my Mom warned us to only take 1 peice of meat the first time around….a family from the mid-west was visiting our church that Sunday. Mom invited them to our home for a meal and she was concerned she may not have enough food to go around. But that didn’t stop her. What a Mama I had!
I’m not as good at as she was. I’m quite certain I would love this book!
Growing up my house could best be described as “My big fat Cuban Family Entertains” LOL. My mother could, at the drop of a hat, have people over for dinner. She could miracously hunt through the pantry and an hour later have gourmet dinner for 20 ready.
She was practically famous in our town for her entertaining. A “get-together” could end up being 75 people! And all this done seemingly effortlessly…without endless to-do lists and grocery shopping like a madwoman.
So how I ask, can I not seem to pull together just having a FEW friends over without it being a monumental task? I should by genetics alone be able to accomplish something that resembles gracious entertaining!!
Reluctant Entertainer…may be my middle name.
HELP! Rosa
You know some people just seem to have the talent of entertaining. They may be like the little duck, cool and collected on top, but paddling like crazy to get it all together. But you’d never know it. I could sure use a book like the Reluctant Entertainer.
oooooooooh, what a nice giveaway! i have been a reluctant entertainer too, mostly because i didn’t think i knew how to do it. i’m trying to just go for it, and this book would be a huge help!
I have been a frequent entertainer in the past, but have fallen out of the habit lately due to sickness and just the general busyness of life. This book sure could inspire me to jump back in!
I am a frequent hostess. About 2 years ago, God really convicted me in the area of hospitality. Hospitality is NOT entertaining. Entertaining places the focus on the hostess and what she can accomplish, hospitality is all about the guests:) So, my husband and I decided to make our home an open home. We invite anywhere from 4 to 6 families a month from church to dinner- it is a GREAT way to get to know new folks! We also are always home to drop-in visitors even if they stay and stay and stay:) We host Bible studies and playdates on a regular basis. HOWEVER- that being said, I could use this book, because I still struggle DAILY with wanting it all to be about me and what I can and can’t do and whether or not I have the time, the right food, the clean house. Any encouragement to grow in this area is always appreciated!!
That sounds like a wonderful book. Seems like I come up with a lot of excuses for not entertaining like I used to. This book might be just the thing to get back on track and open up my home to visitors. Thanks for having this book giveaway.
I’m a reluctant entertainer. Our dining room is going through an overhaul right now, so now that it’s almost done I could use some tips!
I love entertaining. I just don’t much time for it.
I love to have people over but right now we are in a small rental house while we are building our new house. I can’t wait to have the space to be able to entertain again! Thanks for a chance to win Sandy’s book!
I’d love to be a more frequent entertainer. I must confess that sometimes I find myself using one of those excuses. Shame on me! Maybe this book would really help me to be less reluctant.
I am working on being more intentional in my entertaining. It is another one of those things in life that you have to MAKE happen. I know I have good intentions but taking phone in hand and inviting someone over is another thing altogether. This book sounds like a Great Resource!!
We have several families over twice a month and enjoy it. But what I’m craving is the intimacy of us along with one or two other families sharing a meal, but more importantly, sharing rich conversation. Surely the Reluctant Entertainer would have just the encouragement I need.
I am very reluctant to entertain and I can come up with many excuses, just ask my husband! Would love to win this lovely book and overcome my reluctance. Love your blog, Rhoda!
Sheila Hill
Oh boy, do I need this book!! I think I want to have people over and then I end up stressed out over it. My house doesn’t look good enough…. I’ll never get everything ready…… I would love this book! Thanks!
I would love this book – I love to entertain, but am always looking for ideas and things to make it easier. I now work full time and find it’s getting harder, but I don’t want to give it up!
I would love to have a copy of this book. While I love to entertain, I am always looking for new ideas and better ways to do it.
Love your blog, Rhoda! Thanks for the chance!
Hi Rhoda! I enjoy your blog very much! I love to cook and entertain but don’t do as much as I’d like to…I would love to win a copy of this book…it’s looks wonderful!
Thanks for sharing your great pics!
Tammy 🙂
I used to entertain SO much, especially when my children were small because I loved adult company. Not it seems I have excuses even though I have the time.
Sandy’s book sounds wonderful. I’d love a copy!
XO,
Jane