{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 love Sandy’s blog and would love to own her book! I am a reluctant entertainer and have found Sandy’s blog to be so encouraging.
the decor of a home are the guests who frequent it!!
I host the “big” dinners, Thanksgiving and Christmas with family, usually a couple of BBQ’s in the summer and a yearly dinner with close friends but that’s it.
I would love to build the confidence in myself to step beyond that and could really use some helpful tips. This book sounds like a good start.
Thanks to you and Sandy for this giveaway. Really enjoy you blog too.
I’m a frequent entertainer, I think… or at least, I’m coming to understand that I entertain more frequently than a lot of people. But I’m always happy to learn to do it better. I’d love to win a copy of the book 🙂
Boy, do I need this book worse than anybody! I should have no excuse to NOT entertain, but I bet’cha I could come up with some. I would love to read this and maybe learn something from it.
Thank you so much for the possibility of winning such a great prize!
Have a wonderful weekend, MG
I have to force myself to entertain. Isn’t that ridiculous?
Oh, I hope I win!
OMG, I need this book! I say those things all the time. I get stressed out just having family over for a BBQ in the summer! I finally agreed to have a jewelry party later this month at my house and I am FREAKING out.
Friend, thank you so much for hosting this giveaway today. I appreciate you so much! Love and inspiration to whoever wins! 🙂
I don’t know if I’m a reluctant entertainer, but it seems when you have a good idea and theme and lots of ideas in pictures, it inspires you to throw a party!!
I LOVE to entertain whether it’s a football tailgate party in our TV room watching an away game, a fun, formal meal with our Dinner Club or a casual supper on the porch. I would love to win Sandy’s book because “simple and gracious hospitality” is what every woman (including me!) strives to achieve and I could use all the help Sandy can give!
Sounds like a great book! I love to entertain, but just don’t do it as much as I used to!
This is my first ever foray into commenting… I’d sure like some tips/encouragement in moving from reluctant = you can’t make me do it towards feeling comfortable in sharing with others. I’d love to win Sandy’s book. Thanks
I find that I’m hosting a little more frequently but I use all of those excuses on a regular basis too! I’d love to see what Sandy has to say in her book.
I’ve heard so much about that book….I’d love to win a copy to read!
Thanks!
I NEVER entertain! Boy, do I need to win this book!! Help!
Would love to win a copy:)
Hi Rhoda,
All of those excuses sound familiar to me. I would love to have that book, I know it would be a big help to me. My folks seldom entertained and I am like them it seems. But, I want to be different.
Btw, I heard you on the SRT and you sounded like the gracious, lovely lady that I had imagined you would be. You made some really good points.
Hugs, Cindy
I am definitely a reluctant entertainer. I would LOVE to have people over more, just to hang out, but I don’t feel that my house is adequate enough to have people over. Plus, my cookings not all that great, either.
:0]
I would love to win this book but even if I don’t, I’m more than willing to buy it!
Would love to win this book- saw her in Southern Living and the recipes looked amazing! I’m always looking for some new recipes to put into the mix.