Comments on: Quit Being a One Woman Show!

By: What Can I Bring? - Out of the Box Hospitality | Frugal Hacks

What Can I Bring? - Out of the Box Hospitality | Frugal Hacks — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:36:57 +0000

[...] that I’ve identified and overcome my hang ups about entertaining, (check the comments) we’ve been having lots of fun with dinner [...]

By: What Can I Bring? - Out of the Box Hospitality | Frugal Hacks

What Can I Bring? - Out of the Box Hospitality | Frugal Hacks — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:36:57 +0000

[...] that I’ve identified and overcome my hang ups about entertaining, (check the comments) we’ve been having lots of fun with dinner [...]

By: Dee Ann

Dee Ann — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:33:53 +0000

I love the idea of getting together at times other than a big dinner. We have coffee time in the afternoon at our house. This is a time when we drop whatever we are doing and enjoy a cup of coffee and each other’s company. I love to invite people over for coffee time. It is relaxed and we always get in a good visit.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:59:51 +0000

I think for me, the key is letting my guests know what to expect ahead of time. This Easter I invited friends for a “simple lunch of quiche and fruit.” They offered to bring desert. I made the quiche ahead of time and served it with melon slices and some berries on the side. Because I had told them up front what to expect I didn’t worry about having enough and it was fine.

By: Piratemum

Piratemum — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:31:32 +0000

I was just reading the ‘More With Less Cookbook’ where it asks when did we get away from ‘come over for dinner’ to now we’re ‘entertaining’? When did we lose the joy of sharing simple food to having to razzle dazzle our guests?

Why become encumbered by our own misguided ‘entertaining’ expectations and end up hating every minute of preparation and fearing the visit – we entirely miss the point of breaking bread together. I, too, will resolve to re-align my own expectations and invite more friends over for simple fare. The cookbook lays out several interesting ‘company’ ideas i think I just might use – including an ice cream supper. Thanks for the reminder!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:05:44 +0000

Amy,
This is a great piece!

I too used to try to do to much partially out of a tendency to be more of a Martha instead of a Mary and partly out of a desire to impress. I am much better now and try to keep things simple, and do as much cooking before hand as possible. I can enjoy time with my guests now and have a lot less stress!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:27:49 +0000

I’m big on not making entertaining feel like a burden. I even have pot lucks a lot of times. People are glad to bring something. Then i have time to get the house clean!

Lisa

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:52:04 +0000

Amy – Thank you for this post! Love it!

By: Damsel

Damsel — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:35:26 +0000

Ummm… are you sure I didn’t write this post? Because it sort of feels like you are in my head.

Thanks for a great post. I’ll definitely be thinking about this next time I decide to entertain — or next time I think I shouldn’t entertain because it’s too much stress.

By: Francie

Francie — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:39:19 +0000

Boy, did you hit the nail on the head. If I’m not careful, entertaining CAN become a one-woman show. The thing I must constantly remind myself is, it’s NOT about ME. Yes, I will have fun of having my friends over, but when it becomes a “Look at How Domestic and Martha-Stewart-Like I am!,” it’s no longer hospitality.