Oh my…I don't see how Oprah does it–giving away all her favorite things. I'm genuinely delighting in the fact I'll get to make a bunch of people's day in a little over a week, but I would love to sneak and keep all this loot to myself. To "minimize my carbon footprint" I'm having everything shipped directly, but the truth is if this stash came to my house first, it might not make it to your house.
Of course, Oprah can buy the Statue of Liberty if she wants to, and far be it for me to rob someone else of the joy of winning.
But I digress. You just want me to tell you what today's gift is, don't cha? Well, it's a doozie.
Sandy Coughlin, author of the beautiful blog Reluctant Entertainer, and I met a few years ago. We're close to the same age and our children are, too, but since she lives in Oregon we just don't get to see each other very often. When I knocked on her door to see if she'd be willing to donate one of her gorgeous books this week, lo and behold, she said YES!
So, today's giveaway? A copy of The Reluctant Entertainer: Every Woman's Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality
But that's not all. Sandy extended her hand of hospitality and connected me with Harry & David; if you aren't familiar, Harry & David ships scrumptious gourmet foods, fruits and chocolates TO YOUR DOOR! And I didn't realize this until now, but they also special deliver gorgeous flowers and plants.
A while back I won a Fruit of the Month prize from H&D and I can attest to the excellent quality, substantive packaging and fresh factor. Whoever wins this is going to be thanking me (and Sandy) for ages.
Up for grabs? Feast your eyes, people…feast your eyes–
A Mother's Day Tower of Treats
Doesn't it almost look too pretty too eat? Yep…if this showed up at my place it would be my DUTY to take care of it, right?
Mandatory first entry:
Leave a comment sharing your favorite tip for entertaining or about a disaster that happened when you had people over.
Additional Entry Methods (not required but doing so increases your chances of winning since I'll use Random Integer Generator to select the winner):
Entering a separate comment for each entry, feel free to do any/all of the following (or none at all); for Tweets/Pins & FB shares, please comment the specific URL from your browser:
- Tweet about this giveaway & be sure to include #50thBBB @RobinDance in your tweet. Here's one you're welcome to use:
Today's #50thBBB from @RobinDance: Treats from @HarryandDavid & Reluctant Entertainer by @SandyCouthlinRE! Enter now!
- Like this post using the easy share button below.
- Like Harry & David on Facebook (and thank 'em for donating this gift).
- Follow Harry & David on Twitter.
- INSTAGRAM my blog button!! Pull up http://pensieve.me on your phone; click on the image in my sidebar; then instagram and share about giveaway week!
- Follow SandyCoughlinRE on Twitter.
- Like Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook (and thank her for contributing her book!)
- Share this giveaway on Facebook.
- Re-pin this post: http://pinterest.com/pin/138063544799076313/
- Subscribe to pensieve.me via email (& comment to let me know; if you're already a subscriber, just tell me!)
- Stumble or Google+ this giveaway.
- Blog about my 50th Birthday Blog Bash (fine to simply mention this in a round-up post since deadline to enter is 4/7/13). Please include the button in my right sidebar and link to the .
- Giveaway is limited to those in the continental U.S.
- Entry deadline for all giveaways unless otherwise stated will be Sunday, April 7th.
- Amazon affiliate link used.
CONGRATS to # 120 Carolsue. When I checked to verify her entry, I had to smile–Carolsue entered this giveaway 11 times! How much do I love that???
Not really a disaster, but a few years ago I invited a friend from college to my family’s house for Friday movie night. We ordered a bunch of pizza, as our family does every Friday, and only then did my friend tell us she had given up pizza for Lent. I felt really bad. Note to self: As a host, always ask the guest if s/he has dietary restrictions; and as a guest, remember it’s perfectly okay to pipe up ahead of time if you’re not able to eat something that might be served. 🙂
I repinned the post here: http://pinterest.com/pin/220113500510286590/
I attempted to do all you asked. The Reluctant Entertainer is among one of my favorite sites and Harry and David a favorite store. Would love to win and celebrate with you.
My tip is my own advice – be prepared so I can throw a party together in no time. I would say the biggest roadblock that keeps me from entertaining more is that I am not prepared so I tell myself I “can’t” 🙁 I NEED this book 🙂
My tip is to do as much prep ahead of the event as possible and be prepared for extra attendees.
I tweeted about the giveaway. https://twitter.com/CrystalGB/status/317248864648327168
And I am an RSS Subscriber of your blog 🙂
My biggest disaster was a New Year’s Eve Party – no, two New Year’s Eve Parties – one year after the next. The weather was HORRIBLE. We had tons of food left over because hardly anyone could make it. After two years of this happening, I gave up giving NYE parties.
hmm, lost my first comment.
To summarize, you’re awesome, and my entertainment philosophy is to make sure everyone feels at home.
I tweeted your message.
Following Harry & David
Following @SandyCoughlinRE
The Reluctant Entertainer is my mentor. I read her blog and try to do things she suggests. It’s a shame for so long I thought things had to be perfect before entertaining. Invite others in and don’t apologize for your home.
Never make something you haven’t already made. Some people can get away with this, but I never can. I also love Jan’s comment. I also really need this book. I rarely entertain, both because my house is never ready and I really need some advice on how to do it better! Thanks very much for offering this book!
Oh, so many disasters that I don’t know where to start, but one my husband and I often refer to was the “great rib debacle.” We were newly married, and I didn’t have a clue how to make ribs, so I just slathered them with BBQ sauce and threw them on the grill. Those little puppies were so charred, we couldn’t even eat them. So embarrassing. Ugh.
Tips? I wish. Disasters, plenty! There was the time that our cat ate the top off our Thanksgiving turkey (2 hours before company was to arrive) and then the time that I had to pass off a chocolate cake as brownies (still don’t know why it didn’t raise at all–it came from a box, for heavens’ sake!) and the time my son loudly informed everyone at the table he had just pulled a hair from the dessert (mine, of course). My do I ever need this book!
https://twitter.com/ShellyWildman/status/317262022133817345
Liked on FB!
I’m also an email follower of your blog!
Followed H&D on Twitter! (Can you tell I want this one?!)
Follow you via RSS!
Liked on Facebook!
Already follow @SandyCoughlinRE on Twitter
Liked H&D on Facebook!
Entertaining tip? Its not about the house, food, presentation, etc. that matters. Its just about inviting people and making them feel welcome. My husband and I love to have people over and don’t “sweat” it. My house is not mine and its always open to whomever 🙂
Oh and I’m already a subscriber! Love to read your words!
I always try to do as much ahead of time so I spend time with my guests and serve food buffet style: taco bar-potato bar-ice-cream sundae bar-that kind of thing.
A couple of years ago I was new to cloth diapering & my daughter had a nasty diaper. I left it on the changing table & went back to my guest. Not long after she left & I put my girls to bed. THEN I went downstairs & discovered my 2 yr old had tried to rinse it off for me & the bathroom was a disaster. In horror I rushed to her room & sanitized the heck out of her sleeping little hands. I learned that there are some things you just can’t wait until after your company leaves to take care of!
I’m a subscriber!
My brother and I had friends over the first warm day of Spring at my Mom’s house some years ago. Right in the middle of dinner a swarm of termites exited the dining room wall and circled the table until my quick-thinking dad opened the back door and shooed them out into the porch. We all stopped flapping our hands and just looked embarrassed at each other.
I liked Harry and David on facebook. Crystal Broyles
I follow Harry and David on Twitter. CrystalGB
I follow SandyCouglinRE on twitter. CrystalGB
I liked The Reluctant Entertainer on facebook. Crystal Broyles
I am an email subscriber. crystal816 at hotmail dot com
Here’s my pin.
http://pinterest.com/pin/138063544799076313/repin/
I’m following Sandy on Twitter.
And here’s the tweet:
https://twitter.com/SoGalThoughts/status/317282297940430850
New pastor: everyone’s having the family over for Sunday dinners. My dinner? BBQ brisket (burned on the bottom) & that Southern classic, marinated tomato salad. He doesn’t eat tomatoes! Oh well,,,,,
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/scubagirl1/status/317286405002899457
a disaster, when you try everything to go perfect and the sauce in the chicken dried too much and tasted like rubber…I will never forget the embarrasment, but my guests were very gracious and laughed it out and had dessert! Never leave your food unattended on top of the stove!
Liking H & D on Facebook
Following H & D on Twitter!
Following Sandy on Twitter!
Liking Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
Repinned: http://pinterest.com/pin/125678645823878090/
I’m an email subscriber!
This book must have been written for me!! My biggest issue is ME, I really like to entertain, when people just stop in I’m fine, but when we invite someone or someones for a date down the road, I panic. So much to do, have to clean the house, what am I going to have to eat. It’s rediculous, but torcherous for me and my husband.
How about the time I was carrying a casserole to the table and tried to throw a hot pad underneath it and accidentally dropped the whole thing all over the table and floor. Pizza, anyone? Or the time I insisted that my husband de-giblet a turkey and it didn’t have giblets in it so he was basically trying to rip the spine out? Yeah, I’ve got a ton more. Sigh.
I subscribe to your blog and love it!
It was Father’s Day and our family began to arrive. My 2 dogs were in the back yard where we would be feasting. My nephew walked in the house and to the back yard with his new golden retriever puppy. We did mot know they had a new dog or that they would be bringing it to our house that day. He put the dog down and my dogs attacked it. That was not fun! The rest of the day we spent trying to figure out how to keep the puppy safe and to calm our dogs down. I think dinner turned out fine, but I can’t remember!
A good tip for hosting a bbq is to make sure the propane tank is full beforehand!
I follow Harry and David on twitter.
Definitely having fresh flowers on my table 🙂
Gaspinwall@me.com
I like entertaining close friends with a cookout or something small. Love love love Harry & David foods. Wish I were rich enough to afford some of their delicious foodies!
My husband’s family always makes WAY more food than they could ever eat. When they have people over, it’s usually six or seven dishes. While I don’t go that crazy, he did help me realize that having a wide selection of dishes just gives guests more options. So now I make five or so dishes. Not all are crazy or complicated, but variety is good! Also, I think being relaxed helps guests enjoy themselves, too!
My favorite tip is to invite their children!! hardly anybody has a kids table anymore, but i think it fosters to gift of hospitality in your own children!
MAny blessings!!
i pinned it! http://pinterest.com/pin/106327241174907203/
My tip is to Invite the kids!
have a kids table and let it foster hospitality in them too! also – it really takes the edge off any perfectionism!
I had a could-have-been-a-disaster that turned out okay. I invited four couples over for a Christmas party and set the time for 6 p.m., but in my head it was at 7. Everyone had things that made them run late, so they all showed up at 7 apologizing. I was happy because I would NOT have been ready for them at 6!
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/DawnMHSH/status/317407870192857089
Followed Harry & David
Repinned!
Of course I’m an email subscriber, girlfriend!
I have all kinds of entertaining catastrophes (to me) that I could share, but the best advice is just to stay cool and remember to have fun.
I’m an email subscriber.
I follow Sandy C on twitter
I repined this post: http://pinterest.com/pin/146930006565277768/
Is this real life? Those treats look DELECTABLE. Favorite tip for entertaining: it’s about the people. Not the food, not the experience, not the music or the decor. Slow down, take a breath, and then start a conversation with a guest. That’s what they’ll remember.
Happy 50th again. 🙂
I think my favorite tip is to have a fun and trusted friend to help to get things ready all before hand…food prepared, drinks/punch made, all utensils out and all ready before the guests arrive, so I can pretty much relax and chat with guests.
My tip is simple, but one a lot of people don’t/ won’t do: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s food prep or clean up! That way, you can enjoy spending time with everyone.
I already subscribe to email.
Favorite tip… enjoy your company!
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/BeckiMaroon/status/317777239624269825
oops, wrong give away!
One of the first times we ever had friends over as a married couple, Mr. V and I set an oil fire in the kitchen, filled the apartment with smoke, and destroyed one of our brand-new wedding gift pans. Oops!! But it’s a funny story to tell.
I’m a subscriber!
The only disaster that comes to mind is when I had a bunch of people over for a party and the power went out. No food. No lights. No music. Just beer, candles and conversation! LOL.
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/MsCarolsueA/status/317926555890352128
I liked this post
FB name is Carolsue Anderson
I shared on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MsCarolsueA/posts/290406211090583
My type of parties are outdoor picnics during the summer. We cook over a fire and have nummy salads and S’mores and play games.
I always get water for my guests…bottled. If some seem to be partaking a little too much in alcohol its great and if some want an alternative, its great. I fill up a huge cooler with ice and water and put it on the front porch so people see it coming and going.
I enjoy decorating very special for company…Thanks, Cindi
“Tweet!”
https://twitter.com/cmh512/status/318057485229498368…
Again, many thanks!
Cindi
“Pinterest Post!”
http://pinterest.com/pin/240450067577499775/.
Many thanks, Cindi
“Google+!
https://plus.google.com/117567911572052087597/posts/aXwpM9KqfKu.
Merci, Cindi
“Facebook Post!”
https://www.facebook.com/cindi512/posts/177999165688952.
Thank you!
Cindi
I “Liked” this post on Facebook…
Thanks, Cindi
I “Like” Harry and David on Facebook!
Thanks so much…Cindi
I follow @HarryandDavid on Twitter.
Thanks much!
Cindi
cmh512
I follow @SandyCoughlinRE on Twitter….
Merci bien, Cindi
I “Like” Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook.
Thanks, Cindi
“Facebook Post!”
https://www.facebook.com/cindi512/posts/110793189091367.
Thanks, Cindi
I am already an email follower of yours!
Many thanks to you…
Cindi
I’ve subscribed to your blog.
I pinned it here: http://pinterest.com/pin/200199145907944724/
I always cut something from the yard to place in vases. Flowers or branches.
I am subsribed to your blog.
Prepare your food in enough time to get it done by the time guests start to arrive because let’s just say it could be a disaster. Um and pound cake does taste better cooled. Or even served at least a day old in my opinion. 🙂 That is all.
!!Tweet: https://twitter.com/mommasreviews/status/319344233096044544
Oh, and I got so wrapped up in that last comment I didn’t say Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday!! ??
Liked the post.
Liked and heartily thanked Harry and David for this giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/harryanddavid/posts/516901521689894
Following Sandy on Twitter.
Like and thanked Reluctant Entertainer! https://www.facebook.com/ReluctantEntertainer/posts/10151530691064295
Already an email subby.
Subscribed to your blog!!
Just love Harry & David! If I could I would buy gifts from them for lots of people!
Keep it simple!
I am a subscriber.
I love to serve my guest Chicken anything because it’s so easy to prepare you just place everything in the oven…I love to entertain!
My entertaining tip- relax and have fun!
I liked Harry & David on Facebook.
I followed Harry & David on Twitter.
I followed Sandy on Twitter.
I subscribe via email.
I like the Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook.
I repinned.
Entertaining is never about perfection. It is about hospitality. Just welcoming someone into your home and showing that you care for them is far more important than a spotless home and a perfect table.
Oh yum!! Favorite tip…do some dancing in the kitchen! Disaster…my husband was grilling at our son’s grad party and about set the whole grill on fire!
I pinned it
http://pinterest.com/pin/138204282287403811/
I follow Harry & David on Twitter as @cezovski9
I follow Sandy on Twitter as @MsCarolsueA
This should have been @MsCarolsueA (but I follow them on both, actually)
I Subscribe to pensieve.me via email
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I like Harry and David on Facebook as Carolsue Anderson — and thanked them for the giveaway
I like The Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook as Carolsue Anderson
My best entertaining tip is to simply focus on what you do WELL and not fret over your weaknesses. 🙂 (e.g. I’m a great baker, but I never feel my home is tidy enough.)
I follow Sandy on Twitter. 🙂
Tip: Let friends/family/guests bring items to help with a meal. If they say hey can we bring…ice, bread, dessert. Let them!! It makes them feel good and you’ll have one less thing on your list to do.
The biggest upset I can remember is when guests dropped a bottle of wine on our front stoop. Fortunately we had more 🙂
I follow @SandyCoughlinRE
I follow Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
I like Harry & David on Facebook
Tweet: https://twitter.com/iamjustonegirl/status/320566110493741057
Do everything ahead of time that you can – keep it simple!