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Last Day Conclusions to 31 Days of Fearless Entertaining

By on May 31, 2012

I can’t put it off any longer. Part of me is sad that today is the last day of the Blogathon and the last day of my 31 Days.

And there’s a large part of me that is relieved that it’s over because I feel like at times, I’ve droned on and on about this crazy challenge I gave myself and yet,

I’ve seen huge changes in my thinking about parties. Entertaining is not so mystical anymore.

It’s NOT so

impossible, scary, threatening, or intimidating.

Because I wasn’t raised with an entertaining background, I felt I was creating this part in my life for the first time. I didn’t know where to start but other blogs and books fed me ideas and encouragement. They gave me courage.

I struggled with the idea that I struggle with entertaining. And the traffic to my posts didn’t go up much like it did at last year’s Blogathon. But I finally got a comment from someone who said she didn’t even want to read my posts because she was afraid of entertaining.

BINGO. I wasn’t crazy. That was one of my best comments I could have received.

I say commit first! Make a date and send out invites. Panic later.

Write out your fears and if necessary, make them public. Share with a trusted friend or even have a party with another girlfriend so you don’t feel so easily overwhelmed with the task.

Ask yourself, “Is the editor of Better Homes & Gardens or Martha coming over?” Well, then…calm down and relax.

I can pretty much guarantee you that if you have a party, get-together, gathering with your friends, you will have a wonderful time. Remember a few of my tips and please let me know if I convinced you to have a party?

Please let me know if I encouraged you enough to have a girlfriend over for coffee and you went a little overboard to let her know that you were glad she came.

Let me know if you’re still scared, and we can talk.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I have a feeling I have many parties in my future. In fact,

I agreed last week to have a bridal shower for my daughter’s good friend sometime in July…Yep, me!…I even asked the bride if I could do it.

Score.

(Pictures are of the Bacon Mansion, dining table and Pike’s Place Market, Seattle WA)

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Fearless Friend Brings Tea to the Party

By on May 30, 2012

My dear friend, Pat has tea parties at her house once a month or so. She prepares simple dishes and always has a mixture of herbal or caffeinated teas on hand to serve her guests. Sometimes she only has her neighbor who stops in for twenty minutes or some parties consist of 20 chatty friends to her home. Why is this so remarkable? Pat is blind.

Pat has retinitis pigmentosa and has been blind for 15 years. She’s been having guests over her home for years but wanted to do more. A year and a half ago, she realized that some members of our church couldn’t get out for whatever reason and she knew she could do something about it. She teamed up with another friend and now Pat and she take the tea party to their guests at their homes or the convalescent home. One of her guests who is in a wheel chair asks Pat if they could use her personal tea cups because they don’t get used very much.

Pat says “We carry everything but the hot water.” They take tea cups, sweet treats, tea, powdered creamer and sugar with them and set it all up for their guest. Pat also arranges to have other people attend the tea party, too.

This gives all of them a time of fellowship and refreshment.

Pat, you truly are an entertaining queen.

P.S. I’m sorry that I don’t have a picture of my cute friend. I will place one up here soon.

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The Reluctant Entertainer Book Giveaway

By on May 29, 2012

A few years ago I met Sandy Coughlin through the pages of her book, The Reluctant Entertainer. Here was a woman who spoke about entertaining fears that I had but presented hospitality in such a simple, easy way.

I even contacted Sandy to interview her about the subject for an article but I never wrote the article because I felt like I still couldn’t face this issue.

Her faith-based book is filled with gorgeous, glossy pictures and has loads of ideas on gracious hospitality. What I truly love about her book is that it’s not a book that has over-the-top entertaining ideas. She shares real entertaining fears and offers suggestions on what to do with them.

Simple. Down to earth. Real. Gracious. Encouraging.

Since then I’ve talked to Sandy briefly through Twitter and even sent her an invitation (just to show her that I was having a party) last Christmas. (I’m going to have to update her on my recent party.) Last month I told her about the upcoming Blogathon 2012 and my 31 Days of Fearless Entertaining and she kindly offered to giveaway one of her books signed to my readers. What a perfect way to end my 31 Days!

So you can enter to win a free copy of The Reluctant Entertainer by leaving your comment: What is a fear you have about entertaining AND how can you overcome it? If you aren’t hesitant to entertain, what tips can you offer someone who is.

You can get two more entries if you share this book giveaway on your facebook page and you tweet about the giveaway and come back and leave me a comment that you did. The contest will close Friday at 5 PM, PST. The contest is now closed.

Guess who won? Tia, #1 was generated by Random.org. Congratulations!

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31 Days of Fearless Entertaining Wordle

By on May 28, 2012

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Want to Save Your Kids From the Gimmees?

By on May 27, 2012

As our blogathon is wrapping up, I thought about some of our parties we’ve had when the kids were younger.

I was a bit of a bratty child – only girl – (had two brothers)

-only girl cousin and

-only granddaughter which I think resulted in me being a bit demanding.

Therefore I was determined to help my kids not be as covetous in general.  So my dear hubby and I started off when our kids were very young with having one family over our house instead of the traditional birthday party with loads of kids and loads of presents.

We’d normally have dinner by potluck and our presents plus the gift from the family. It was always informal where the kids would play either inside or outside, we’d eat, open presents and then have dessert.

Those parties will always be precious to me for the memories they made because of our dear family friends. And I think the parties helped my kids stay a bit more grounded.

(Now they have birthday parties with peers but we still try to keep them rather low key.)

Do you have any tips on how to keep your kid’s birthday parties focused on fun and not presents?

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More Things I’ve Learned From Having a Party – Part II

By on May 26, 2012

Yesterday my list was getting too long so I wanted to share more ideas I learned from Thursday’s party.

1. Give yourself grace because you will be tired.

I found myself really tired the day of the party even before it started. I thought to myself that I had planned well enough and yet I was still tired?

It’s just part of the entire experience. The more I have people over my home, the more it won’t be so draining. I just need to practice and practice.

2. Laughter is so good for the soul.

It was so much fun to laugh with others. I don’t think you can get a bunch of friends together without laughing at life.

3. Serving others really is fun.

The Lord really knew what He was talking about when He said nothing satisfies our soul like serving others. It’s hard to share this because I sound like a martyr but when I could jump up and get coffee or tea for my guests – my eyes are off myself and on to enjoying others.  (I know. I know. I know how this sounds. But I want to bring it up as lovely benefit of a partay!)

4. Next party, I need to buy chair pads for my kitchen chairs.

Sitting on wood chairs without chair pads for two hours is not a good idea.

5. I was touched by other bloggers and friends who asked about the party.

This last topic is all about me but I felt very cared for when friends asked how my party went.

Have I convinced you to have a party?

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7 Things I Learned From Having a Party – Part I

By on May 25, 2012

Yesterday I had a five women to my house for a Baked Potato and Dessert Bar. Here are few of my thoughts:

1. Run don’t walk to the phone or your computer and invite your friends to your home.

(flowers on the bathroom sink)

It was so much fun to laugh and talk with friends that I can’t urge you enough to take the plunge and have a party. If you’re reticent to have a full-blown gig, call it a gathering or a get together. Have one safe, comfortable friend over for coffee. But just do it.

2. You learn things that you never knew before.

I learned one of my friends from church is a diabetic – I didn’t know that. It was interesting to hear her personal story on how she found out and what she does to control it. I also thought this friend was rather quiet but she knew another one of my guests and boy, was I wrong.

3. People feel loved when you go the extra mile.

One of my guests commented on the table decorations as she walked into the kitchen and said, “awwww, that makes me feel loved.” Taking time to think through what I already had on hand and how I could craft my party made a difference.

I also sent home with the ladies a small six pack of flower plants that they got to pick out from a bunch of them. Spending under a dollar a piece and seeing their faces as I offered each of them one, was priceless. I think it made them feel very special and unique and that I was glad that they came.

4. It’s fun for others to share food with each other.

People like to share their individual family recipes. Their dish is part of them that they’re sharing.

5. Showing people around the house could have been embarrassing but instead it was freeing.

I invited a few women who hadn’t been to my house before so when they arrived, I gave them a quick tour. I hadn’t been upstairs in awhile and when I went up there with all of these women trailing behind me, I was rather shocked how messy our old playroom was. (My two older kids live upstairs and I don’t go up there because it makes me crazy…) Oh well…my comment to my blind friend was, “This room looks like a huge purse was dumped out all over. It wouldn’t be safe for any of us to walk through it.”

6. Don’t believe any lies in your head about why you shouldn’t have a party.

This is similiar to #1: I believe if we listen to lies, we won’t reach out to others and will stay isolated. We, human beings are meant for community.

7. That I’m planning a party for next month for all the homeschooling moms at the charter school.

I learned from this Blogathon that I had to openly commit to having a party or I would have never had one. So I’ve already FB’d my dear mama friends and am committing to another one. Boo-yah.

Tomorrow I’ll have Part 2 on what else I’ve learned from this special time.

I’m so excited that I’ll be having a book giveaway next week. So please stop by next week.

What have you learned from having friends or family over?

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A Simple Gathering With Great Friends

By on May 24, 2012

My party today was more than I expected in so many ways and here are a few pictures. Since I want to think further about today’s events, I’ll share tomorrow about my special day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tomorrow is the Big Day…

By on May 23, 2012

I suppose if you just found my blog, you’d think I’m talking about some huge event in my life.

No…

Tomorrow morning I’m going to have five women over for a light lunch and yummy dessert.

They are safe, warm friends from church who are coming over just to hang out with for a few hours.

My house is cleaner, my table is set, potatoes scrubbed, cheesecake is in the fridge just chillin’ thanks to my dear hubby and now – I can relax.

Tonight I want to record my fears/concerns so after tomorrow I can see what is truth and what is a lie. I think fears are lies we tell ourselves.

Earlier today I wanted to put off a few chores but I thought about my advice on the blog like:

* Plan so you don’t panic at the last minute.

* Be ready an hour early so you can pray, relax, and just be in the moment.

* Make it about them and don’t expect accolades about any of the food or how nice the table looks. If someone compliments, say thank you but don’t give a long explanation on what you were going to do but didn’t, blah, blah, blah.

* Use convenience foods. I bought bagged salad and bacon bits for the potatoes.

* If we end up in the living room rather than staying at the kitchen table, don’t freak out because our couch looks like early American attic.

Well, pretty good advice if I do say. We’ll see how it all comes together tomorrow.

Any last minute thoughts to share with me?

 

 

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Planning My Party is Underway

By on May 22, 2012

I’m late in getting my post up today because I’ve been pulling out my all my dishes and glasses and serving dishes to find what looks nice with what.

I also had a consult today with my gifted designer – my dear neighbor – who charges me only a cup of tea and a few bites of chocolate covered nuts. We experimented with a few different ideas for the centerpiece. We talked about how I can make the table look nice but not too formal.

Here’s a picture of what my kitchen table looked like last night:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s another shot of my kitchen counter:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is a quick peek at some of the potted flowers that I’m going to give my guests…I haven’t figured out how I want to arrange them yet.

   Tomorrow begins the quick cleaning of the house and shopping for a few items.

I want to share too that I had my doubts that I even wanted to do this but blogging about it publicly required me to actually have a party.

The doubts have been plaguing me that there won’t be enough food or it won’t be fun.

Yet, I have to remember that it’s not about me, and it’s my attitude that I can control. Two more days…

What would you tell yourself when you’re having doubts about your upcoming party?

 

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