I’ve been waiting a year and a half to get my grubby hands on something. It’s something that my friend and fellow blogger, Sandy from Reluctant Entertainer has been working on for like, as long as I’ve known her. Every year at Blissdom, my sister and I room with our dear friends Melissa and Sandy. And every year we look forward to hearing about her project.
Hanging out in our room at Blissdom 09 Kim, Melissa, Sandy, Amber, Emily
Y’all, Sandy wrote a book. And not just any book but a book that if you were to walk by it in the store you would stop and pick it up and pet it, maybe even rub it up against your face not that I’ve done that because that would be really weird. I am totally a person to judge a book by its cover and this one is jacketless and smooth and matte and hardbound and large and glorious. And then inside there are photos on pretty much every page!
Oh, besides having a great cover and pretty photos, it also has words. Freeing words of wisdom. Freeing words of wisdom about real entertaining for real people. Entertaining is a way of life for Sandy and her family, and she has so many tips and tricks to make entertaining work for any family. We all like to have people over right? I mean, in EVERY. SINGLE. episode of HGTV’s House Hunters every couple on there talks about how they love to entertain. I think we all love the idea of entertaining but, once again, perfection rears it’s perfectly daunting and shaming head and tells us that we have to wait until we have it all together until we can invite people into our life and home.
I got to read Reluctant Entertainer the book, a few months ago, before it was even printed in book form. I was so inspired with Sandy’s ideas and encouragement that that evening, my husband and I hung lights out in our back yard. We’ve made it a point to utilize the back yard when we have friends over, something in the past I was hesitant to do because of lack of perfection.
But, Sandy reminded me that the point of having people over is to connect with them. So I decided I’d rather have friends over and serve store bought ice cream than wait until I bought an ice cream maker to make home made ice cream for them.
I also utilized another one of her ideas–when people are coming, make something you know well. So I made this chocolate ooze cake thing that I’ve made a billion times. Old standby, no brain cells were wasted and it always turns out yum.
I took Sandy’s words to heart again when we invited our neighbors over for Easter. One drape on the windows, half painted walls, it was the first time many of them had been into the “renters” house. I had to forget my dreams of having a put together family room and just enjoy the company.
By the way, Melissa and I liked Sandy’s book so much that we both endorsed it. I’m telling you that for two reasons. 1. To brag because I’ve never had my name {ok, fake name but whatever} on the back of a book and 2. To point out that Melissa and I both used a form the word “gentle” in our description. And that is exactly what this book is. You don’t put it down and feel like you have something else to add to your to do list. You put it down and wonder why you’ve been putting off inviting your neighbors over and then you go call them.
Next weekend we are having some dear friends from Alabama come visit. They have four children and we haven’t seen them for years. We were close neighbors years ago and it would be very easy for me to start stressing over every detail this week before they come. We’ll do a few fun things, have good food and hopefully, really have time to connect and laugh and just be together. Maybe the shelves will be dusted, maybe they won’t. I’ll be reading over Sandy’s book again this week and I think I’ll even pick out one of the many recipes included to try along with some old standbys.
Sandy is giving away a copy of Reluctant Entertainer to FIVE lucky winners.
All you need to do is leave a comment here, tell us when you are having people over next or, what your standby menu/food/dessert is that you are “known” for making. If you would like to go ahead and preorder a copy in case you aren’t feeling lucky, Amazon has the books discounted to $12.23 {for a big hardback gift type book with color photos throughout!}. I learned the hard way with my Pioneer Woman Cookbook that it seems like they discount books for preorder and then mark them up once they are released or relinquished or open to the public or whatever that fancy book term is.
Even in entertaining, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful, worthwhile and meaningful!
I am having a playdate at our house… nothing too exciting. I’ll probably make a delish fruit salad of my grandma’s. It’s an easy recipe, everybody and their mom knows it – it uses fruit, canned fruit, and instant pudding.
Oh, please pick me! (Either way I am getting the book!) We love to serve potato tacos, easy to make and very yummy. We’re vegetarian but this is a dish anyone can enjoy, no one misses the meat! I love how I can put out toppings and everyone can make up a favorite combination of their own. (Oh and the hubs makes a mean guacomole.)
I love this!!! This is totally my sister & I. As a fellow renter I’m always reluctant to have people over at our house b.c in my eyes, it’s not perfect yet & I know I need to change that. I’d love to have this book! My famous go to recipie is my cheesy hash brown cassorle that is just delish but I don’t make often b/c there’s always a couple sticks of butter in it. :-D
I was just thinking about this topic earlier this week…would be fun to have a copy of Sandy’s book to hear her insights.
Lately I’m known for General Tsao’s chicken but our next company is Saturday and we’re doing an ice cream bar! That’s more my speed this week and probably just as much of a hit (especially with the kiddos!).
Blessings!
I am having friends from work over this weekend! My husband and I just bought our first house and this is the first time I will have hosted a dinner party. I am so excited and after reading this blurb I feel much better knowing that the house does not have to be PREFECT! I would love to read this book and get some more ideas on parties!
This book sounds fabulous and so helpful! I love to entertain and have people over and do so often even though our new home is no where near being as complete as we want. We are having friends over this weekend and are making mexican food – one of my known for dishes is guacamole! yum! This book would definitely help me feel better that our home decorating and furinishing process takes time.. just little by little.
Wow. I so need a copy of this book. We love to entertain but usually I stress about the perfection of everything. I’ve been letting go of that attitude lately and trying to focus on what is important….the people and the memories. My stand-by is fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil…..you can come up with something fast with those ingredients….a caprese salad or use them with grilled chicken on a baguette, or a pasta meal. These ingredients are always in our fridge.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Christine! Mm-m-m, tomorrow I’m mentioning that salad you are talking about. One of my favorites!
Sandy
RE
We try to have someone over once a monthish. As for food I make. Every year we take a trip in the Fall to a church Gathering (Feast of Tabernacles) and this year will be the 4th year I make a huge pot of broc cheddar soup and invite as many people over as I can. I enjoy feeding large groups, and this is a hit with EVERYONE.
A friend from high school is coming to visit us next week. We just moved into a new house and I still have suff in boxes. Thankfully, I know she wont mind a bit!
My go-to dish for entertaining is Buffalo Chicken Dip….it works no matter what type of gathering it is.
LOL-I’ll have to come back later and read the rest of the comments, but I just have to say-NO ONE can see the weeds in the back yard after dark, even with twinkle lights on the patio. Don’t sweat it!
Hi Colleen, HA! Great comment. So true. I remember when I used to want to entertain in the winter time because no one could see the yard!
Hope you win!
Sandy
RE
I love having people over, but I hate getting ready for company. We’re having our small group from church over on Saturday – I’ll be making chocolate peanut butter brownies. Yum!
my go to dish? BBQ. I live in CA and we have out door weather almost year round. If someone comes over- I throw some chicken on the grill and do a salad and bread to go with. Always delish (and even a little healthy!)
We’re bad…I need this book. We rarely have people over and because my husband is on staff at a church, we feel burdened to have people over, but we never do. I NEED this book. However, I make meals for people rather often and my standby is spinach chicken florentine. So easy, so tasty.
We almost never have people over any more because we have two 3 year olds and a 2 year old. We have a Thomas the Train table in the middle of the living room and our real coffee table is shoved off into the corner from when we baby-proofed. We are currently looking for another house that has at least one more room if not a basement so we can feel like we can reclaim the family room for us and for company. Back when we used to entertain, I was known for making a broccoli salad that my college campus minister’s wife taught me how to make.
I tend to always make tacos/burritos with homemade salsa and homemade guacamole when people come over. I have my mom coming to visit in just two days and I never quite know how to make it special for her when she comes!
I will be having guests over for my daughter’s 3rd birthday in a few weeks. Everyone is looking forward to my Chicken and Broccoli Salad on croissants!
I would love this book! After seeing my mom stress for years about company (even though I think her house is beautiful and clean!), I knew that when we bought our house we would make it welcoming and well used. We are doing good so far! We constantly invite people over, and as the new Children’s Pastors at our church we will hopefully be using our home more for events and small groups. I know I could learn from this book, but my real motivation is to pass it on to my mom!
We live far away from most of our friends and family (no less than 25 miles, but most of our friends and family are over an hour away)…so when we entertain, I’ve always made it a big deal. I mean, these people come to our house maybe once a year, if that…it has to be perfect right? Guess what. In making something perfect, I have zero fun. Sure, I love seeing our friends and family, but by the end of the day, I’m so exhausted I don’t want to see anyone again for at least 3 months. And that’s usually what happens…not cool.
So, we’re hosting a big barn party and bbq over Labor Day weekend and this book couldn’t come at a better time. Please please please can I have one??? :)
Thank you so much for the chance to win!
“Reluctant Entertainer” hits a real chord with me. Being in ministry, we’re “forced” to entertain pretty often, and though I enjoy it, I’ve never felt very “good” at it. Even now, we have guests in our home. I would love to win this for some tips on being a better and more comfortable hostess. Thanks for the giveaway!
We host dinner guests weekly as an extension of my husband’s job. I always enjoy reading tips about entertaining.
I love making desserts and I am often known for my carrot cake and my scones. They are both from scratch but I’ve made them so many times that they don’t take any longer than a mix. Recently I had my parents, grandparents, and my brother’s family with his two kids over–4 generations under one roof. It was a great time! The group I still stress about whenever they come is my in-laws. I need to practice some “reluctant entertaining” when it comes to them!!
We have company over just about every weekend because we are the only ones with a pool. I always try to keep some Trader Joe’s staples in stock like heat and serve apps, crackers and their dips. Easy peasy without the worry, plus it gives me a chance to swiffer away the dog fur tumbleweeds.
I love to have people in my house –and it usually never quite looks the way I thought it would. Time, money, distractions, people..they all get in the way of my ‘perfect plan’. But I love people too much to let that worry me. My home is my haven and a haven for others. Next week a dear friend from SC is coming up for the whole week. I will definitely be serving my Bean Dip, Chicken Diane and of course my favorite, tried and true Brownie recipe. If I don’t win this book, I will be purchasing it. Great review and I loved seeing how you applied it immediately!
My go to dish is a taco dip (ground beef, salsa, sour cream, cheese with some chips!) I love the RE too…so I hope I win… I need major help!!!! :)
Last night I had our semi-permanent houseguest and my doctor here for dinner. Two hours before the meal I got out my vacuum to pick up rice that some sweet babies had distributed on the carpet… and it didn’t pick up ANYthing! I am thankful for a neighbor who lent me hers at the last minute.
After the vacuum fiasco, I made gazpacho and fusion hummus (both from allrecipes.com) with pita chips … a great, cool summer dinner! I love using allrecipes.com because you get to read the reviews with great suggestions – sort by rating and read other peoples’ tips and you’re set!
We love to entertain! And I totally feel ya on the “perfectionist” attitude. I’ve learned to accept that I will never be completely happy with the way my nest looks, but thats ok cuz I would rather have people over, laughing and having a good ol’ time!!
There are a few things that are requested of me whenever we go to someones gathering: my salad (just a green salad made with love and my balsamic dressing), seafood potato salad (sounds gross, but oh so yummy!) and my homeade salsa (its pretty much the beez neez…. :)
Thanks for the chance to win her book! It looks oh so darn purdy!!
XOX
Love all your blogs and how exciting for the RE. Our go-to dish – grilled flank steak and veggies (so easy) and dessert (brownies out of a box, vanilla ice cream and/or popsicles). Thanks for the chance to win!
Oh my goodness! This book is meant for me! I completely freak out when anyone comes over to visit. I tell everyone that they have to give me at least two weeks notice before they come by for a “surprise” visit…lol! I stress about every little thing, and end up not enjoying anything, because I am so worried about the little things I forgot to do.
I hope I win a copy, but if I don’t, I will definitely be buying one!
Oh, I would love to win this book! We are having some friends over on Saturday night and I am making the old standby…ribs, baked beans and potato salad. Yum!
Hey Nester! Marshal and I are actually hosting our very first party next Friday! We went to Napa Valley in May and are having a “Bringing Napa Back” party to show our friends how to taste wine like they do in fancy-pants California! I would LOVE this book to help me plan it, I am overwhleming myself trying to make throw pillows because I want things to be as good as they can be, so clearly I need some help.
Thanks!
Molly
LOVE this post and would love to win the book! I don’t really have a stand-by recipe because I like to use company as an excuse to try new things that we don’t usually have! But I do love to grill out and make guacamole in the summer! That’s definitely a no brainer, kick back and relax meal that leaves plenty of time to chat and just enjoy the company!
We can’t have anyone over this month, since we are traveling. Sometimes we feel like we host at a friend’s house (he has a pool and a big backyard). My husband makes awesome rubs for the BBQ. I’m known for my baked brie and layered Oreo/tiramisu dessert. Oh, and Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing makes a terrific marinade for chicken, trust me on this! It’s a big family favorite.
We just moved two weeks ago, and my family (of 9) is coming for a 5-day visit, along with my sister/husband and their two babes. We haven’t built the dining room yet, so it’s going to take some creativity to feed them! Old standby…Pioneer Woman’s shredded pork and tortillas, quiches for breakfast, and make your own sandwiches for lunch.
As one of the 9 whose coming to your house, Brite, I speak for the group when I say “Bring on the PW tortillas!” And we will be fine without a dining room, because you are the Hostess with the Mostest (and you make adorable grandchildren for me to hold, so who needs to eat anyway?!)
I have no idea when we will be entertaining again. I am paralyzed with perfection fears. I have 7 children and pulling it all together for perfect entertaining hardly ever happens. I am sad about this. I need this book. I need an intervention. Please come to my rescue and let me win! Amy
We are currently planning our soon to be 3 year old son’s birthday bash in August. We try to have people over often though. It’s so much fun. In the beginning I really stressed over EVERYTHING but over time I’ve gotten more laid back about it and try not to make things so hard on myself with less decorating and simpler food, etc. I would love to read this book. Sounds right up my alley.
i want this real bad!! i have a go-to cookie…the sweetie. a good cute pink southern cookie. however i rarely have people over because of the disarray here at home and the bazillion projects i started and forgot to finish. but the book looks just lovely, i’m hoping to be inspired by it!
What a great looking book! We are known for smoking meat. My husband has a smoker and is obsessed with it and we basically always do some sort of meat and I make a dessert. Our friends fill in!
I suffer from too much stress when having others over. We have had tons of young adults in our home on a monthly basis for the past five years. I try to fix things that are easy and loved by most people. Since I am busily cleaning (and stressing about) my house, I use stand by recipes or even easier, treats from Sam’s club!!
Soon we’ll be inviting loved ones over to announce that I am prego with our second child!! :)
One of the dishes I’m “known” for is my pasta salad…easey peasey!! It involves some fresh veggies…store bought dressing and a few seasonings to taste…delish and I get compliments every single time!
I should read that book because I always feel like my house isn’t great enough to have people over! My husbands family will be coming in two weeks and I feel like I might be a wreck before they come! Would love to have a copy!
You have completely peaked my interest in this book. It looks like it has great ideas for simple entertaining, which is something I’d like to do more of. My husband and I are always spontaneously inviting people over for bbq’s. The next one could be tonight for all I know! I would say the dessert I’m “known” for making would be no-bake cookies. I know it’s an easy one, but I’d like to think mine taste extra yummy! :-)
oh yeah, my standby thing to bring is usually fruit salad….just different kinds of fruit cut up with some storebought strawberry gel mixed in ( so simple and yummy).
LOVE to have people over…and my favorite thing to make is burgers! And for dessert…I love to pull out a bunch of different flavors of ice cream and douse them with home made hot fudge sauce. Or sometimes, we just get spoons and eat the sauce…
I’d love this book! My go-to dish is chicken enchiladas. Because they’re yum, and everything looks better with cheese melted over the top of it!
I just had one set of neighbors/my hubby’s boss (yes, his boss is our neighbor but we love them so it’s okay) and we are having our other neighbors over this weekend. My standby “dinner party” recipes are italian herbed pork tenderloin and risotto with peas and then ususally some simple cookies or brownies for desert. They are super easy to make, I don’t need to use a recipe and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Thanks!
I do love having guests. I just had my family over for lunch on Sunday and plan to invite my fiance’s grandparents over for dinner sometime next week. We’ll make quesadillas…although we aren’t necessarily KNOWN for making that.
My son wants to have a group of his friends over, so that is next on the list for this reluctant entertainer.
I’m a newlywed living in a small apartment, so I am often hesitant to invite people over because our space is so small. But I, too, like to make this chocolate lava cake thing when people do come over.
This is absolutely me! I have been putting off and putting off having people over, because my house isn’t “finished” (and is still in the middle of being renovated this week!) But is isn’t about what your house looks like is it?