tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post642716898714736456..comments2023-11-02T03:35:19.455-07:00Comments on 4 Reluctant Entertainers Has Moved!: Confessions of a Party-Giver - Part IIISandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08910644413175366761noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-15629626851872384032008-11-07T16:15:00.000-08:002008-11-07T16:15:00.000-08:00I love the pictures of you and the girls...your ha...I love the pictures of you and the girls...your hair looks great!! Yah, it's much easier to just go with the flow, then fret over everything being perfect!!Kirstinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17792132554787453551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-19188821908071958612008-11-04T16:19:00.000-08:002008-11-04T16:19:00.000-08:00Ina Garten remarked once that you should expect th...Ina Garten remarked once that you should expect the have things go wrong, it is the way you solve the issue that matters, not the issue itself. I find an astute, creative, thinking hostess has the easiest and best time. I've held on to her remarks through hundreds of parties now and I always think to myself these two things: Initate to solve something before it happens. And define the moment, or the moment will define the hostess! Lovely blog!The Blushing Hostesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16303502206261407536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-13920329174692283642008-11-04T13:52:00.000-08:002008-11-04T13:52:00.000-08:00if you enjoy blessing people through food and conv...if you enjoy blessing people through food and conversation you most definitely have to go with the flow, i have had fun recalling some of the more comical moments of the minutes preceding or during a gathering that still bring smiles to my face!<BR/>thanks for sharing your party bloopers :))<BR/>xo<BR/>julia~j~https://www.blogger.com/profile/13154460142222481804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-28634324323564269592008-11-04T09:43:00.000-08:002008-11-04T09:43:00.000-08:00p.s. I found you thru the Inspired Room as well :)...p.s. I found you thru the Inspired Room as well :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-48690909816259107832008-11-04T09:42:00.000-08:002008-11-04T09:42:00.000-08:00I just found your site and already bookmarked it.....I just found your site and already bookmarked it... I love you! Thanks for all the tips on entertaining, and for once not worrying about everything being perfect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-60879778441056311582008-11-04T05:18:00.000-08:002008-11-04T05:18:00.000-08:00I just found your blog through the Inspired room! ...I just found your blog through the Inspired room! what a fabulous find! you blog is amazing and just the perfect one to find before the holidays too! I plan on stopping in often now!! <BR/><BR/>Im having my own first ever ....GIVE-AWAY!!...so stop in and say hi if you get a sec, and thanks for having such great information for us at our fingertips!! <BR/><BR/>~ Hugs ~ CynthiaCynthia's Cottage Designhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18125688372820550824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-68023162862841853022008-11-03T18:24:00.000-08:002008-11-03T18:24:00.000-08:00I just purchased some beautiful paper napkins from...I just purchased some beautiful paper napkins from Hallmark for our Thanksgiving season. As it turns out we will be serving a Community Dinner at our church on Thanksgiving Day. Good thing there is a season to be thankful. I will set my table with these pretty napkins for another meal! Thank you for your idea of keeping all your napkins pressed and ready to go. Now I am looking for such a place to put all my pretty napkins. I must admit~~it has become a habit of mine to collect pretty napkins :-)~nanashouse~https://www.blogger.com/profile/10810535392089222201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-26882266526932025592008-11-03T17:30:00.000-08:002008-11-03T17:30:00.000-08:00I'm with Meredith...how did you "wrap things up"? ...I'm with Meredith...how did you "wrap things up"? We had a family over for an impromptu casual dinner not too long ago and they stayed until 11:00 (on a school night too)! We even started putting the kids to bed and that didn't work...50s Housewifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00517530725609329801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-5581711050178148532008-11-03T16:37:00.000-08:002008-11-03T16:37:00.000-08:00That is so great! I have to relax in this area. O...That is so great! I have to relax in this area. Our office is a *catch-all* room right now, and I panic when people open the door. I need to just relax! :)<BR/><BR/>I laughed when I read that you cleaned one bathroom that they'd be using - I've done that many times! :)Ms. Teehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10155900118539180624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-75796195669325527042008-11-03T14:29:00.000-08:002008-11-03T14:29:00.000-08:00Sandy, you are really inspiring. Reading your pos...Sandy, you are really inspiring. Reading your posts makes me feel more brave to invite people over (which fills me with nerves!). I made your sloppy joe recipe last week. It was sooo good. Everyone loved it. So easy, too! Now, I want to copy your Fall luncheon recipes.<BR/><BR/>Thank you again tons for that post about how to get out of one's doldrums. It helped me more than I can express!<BR/><BR/>What do you do for a living? You said something about working..? I was wondering if you help people entertain professionally.<BR/><BR/>God bless you!!<BR/>ElizabethElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495298953834229360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-36468687578868111002008-11-03T13:50:00.000-08:002008-11-03T13:50:00.000-08:00Looks like fun! I used to be the type where everyt...Looks like fun! I used to be the type where everything had to be perfect and spotless etc. But over the years and after enough parties I have learned that it is much more fun to relax and not be so neurotic about everything... Thanks for being so transparent!!!Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344082924269705706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-11628345022166278372008-11-03T10:49:00.000-08:002008-11-03T10:49:00.000-08:00Sandy, I want to know how you were able to wrap th...Sandy, I want to know how you were able to wrap things up at 1:30--ie encourage guests to leave graciously. <BR/><BR/>This is sometimes a problem for me, although a good problem, as it means that people are still having a good time!<BR/><BR/>I know you must have an experienced perspective on this!Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08455517419708043340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-27471309378763652282008-11-03T10:29:00.000-08:002008-11-03T10:29:00.000-08:00I love your laid-back attitude. Each one of us sh...I love your laid-back attitude. Each one of us should attempt to be that relaxed when serving others. <BR/><BR/>I wish I had a local friend like you! Seens everyone is TOO BUSY and TOO RUSHED.<BR/><BR/>Betty in OklahomaOKGardnershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12449300289920477381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-21070985540562529662008-11-03T10:04:00.000-08:002008-11-03T10:04:00.000-08:00I agree w/you about not apologizing for soup not q...I agree w/you about not apologizing for soup not quite hot, etc. When you apologize, it puts your guests in an awkward position.<BR/>Thanks for sharing the reality of hospitality!Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04238679303715431171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-64274079476662765952008-11-03T09:45:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:45:00.000-08:00hee, hee, confession is good for the soul! One of ...hee, hee, confession is good for the soul! One of my funniest memories of entertaining was having my in-laws over for dinner. Our little eating area faced the kitchen. When I took the pie out of the oven with them watching I dumped it upside down on the floor. I scooped it up and we ate it anyway :0)ellen b.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14531430948905935301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-14370079120638834912008-11-03T09:41:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:41:00.000-08:00Thanks for your genuine & transparent behind t...Thanks for your genuine & transparent behind the scenes look at your luncheon! :) So often as guests, things look great on the outside and it's easy to forget that entertaining rarely goes off without a hitch for the hostess. I'm sure the ladies loved the chance to visit over a delicious fall lunch!Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02470745907344282143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-82104219635675617022008-11-03T09:33:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:33:00.000-08:00Such great advice - a blending of preparing, going...Such great advice - a blending of preparing, going with the flow, being yourself, concentrating on what's really important and not - thanks for the wonderful reminders. You always, always encourage me. oxoxGirl Raised in the Southhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589779898471579630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-89735965285117020232008-11-03T09:06:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:06:00.000-08:00A couple of weeks ago, I had planned to have guest...A couple of weeks ago, I had planned to have guests over for dinner but our plans changed to a late lunch at the last minute.<BR/><BR/>Fortunately, I had prepared the two casseroles ahead of time (one chicken based, the other beef)and all they needed was heating in the oven, the dessert was ready, and all I needed was a vegetable so the change it time was do-able.<BR/><BR/>What my guests didn't see when they arrived was the remainder of the dirty dishes in a cardboard box in the garage. The silverware was already soaking in a big bowl to make it easier to wash (I don't have a dishwasher).<BR/><BR/>My daughter often throws unwashed dishes in the oven although every time she does this, she remembers the time I did same and then forgot they were in there when I preheated the oven. Fortunately, nothing was plastic. :)Brenda@CoffeeTeaBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719695370857675146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-84064907335321576172008-11-03T08:41:00.000-08:002008-11-03T08:41:00.000-08:00Wow, that is one full dishwasher. You will have t...Wow, that is one full dishwasher. You will have to post next time how to get the dishwasher that full! :-) <BR/><BR/>I love the not apologizing for the error. I work on this one daily as most the time we are the only ones noticing the "error's" so why bring it up, right? <BR/><BR/>And the not washing hair but spray and tease, I will have to remember that one, I usually pull out one of my favorite hats! :-)Mandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11464763393017440090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-78198891460623220202008-11-03T08:03:00.000-08:002008-11-03T08:03:00.000-08:00Great post Sandy!You gave sooo many of your reader...Great post Sandy!<BR/>You gave sooo many of your readers permission to "lighten up" and "go with the flow"!<BR/>Thanks for the reminder Sandy!linda thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05819203001583691536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-28769175462732510842008-11-03T07:11:00.000-08:002008-11-03T07:11:00.000-08:00I'm always so encouraged by your honesty and trans...I'm always so encouraged by your honesty and transparency! <BR/><BR/>We're hosting our families for the holidays this year, for the first time. We're excited and nervous, but this perspective helps to take the pressure off!Tamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03021379723374102765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-7905589864072189722008-11-03T05:56:00.000-08:002008-11-03T05:56:00.000-08:00Thanks for sharing that your "behind the scenes" l...Thanks for sharing that your "behind the scenes" looks a lot like everyone else's behind the scenes.<BR/><BR/><BR/>The next time you drop an egg, scoop up as much as you can. Then, sprinkle salt on the remaining egg. Makes cleaning it up so much easier.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07531911213929482494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-63657129034388512432008-11-03T05:47:00.000-08:002008-11-03T05:47:00.000-08:00I have learned that things ALWAYS work out. And t...I have learned that things ALWAYS work out. And the junk I fret over no one ever notices. Going with the flow is the only way to go. Thank you for the reminder.Monkey Giggleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179794804486949129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-52382719691374437442008-11-03T05:46:00.000-08:002008-11-03T05:46:00.000-08:00I did the same thing with carrot soup and didn't f...I did the same thing with carrot soup and didn't figure it out the first time either. <BR/><BR/>I go with the flow better than my husband does. We had a Boxing Day party (Dec. 26) last year, and I wanted to use quality paper plates and napkins. He didn't want to until I explained that he then could wash the dinner and dessert plates of almost 20 guests when they were gone.Bettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266517579549649484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36263828.post-75724402407388745072008-11-03T05:34:00.000-08:002008-11-03T05:34:00.000-08:00Such good points! I find that I'm much more relax...Such good points! I find that I'm much more relaxed and realistic about these things than I was in my 20's (when I thought the entire house had to be spring-cleaned before someone came over!) :)Betsy Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06807795605763246015noreply@blogger.com