I am having another wonderfully busy week getting my girls settled in Washington, so I asked my good friend Sandy from Reluctant Entertainer to share some lovely life inspiration with us today — and naturally for her, that means entertaining. If you think entertaining beautifully is only for people like Martha Stewart, please stay awhile.
Through Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy encourages readers to focus on connecting with people rather than trying to impress them. When we shift our mindset this way, we free ourselves to care for neighbors and welcome new friends despite imperfections, busy schedules, and the obstacles life throws at us.
A beautiful life is about the authentic life we live and how we share it with others.
As we head into the weekend, please welcome Sandy, who will inspire us with her idea of a perfect summer evening. I love that it includes an invitation to dinner!
{the rest of this post was written by Sandy, Reluctant Entertainer}
Let’s imagine that my friend Melissa Michaels and her family are coming for dinner tonight
For several years our families lived only four hours apart. Now that Melissa has moved to Seattle, that drive is seven hours, so our chances of getting together are fewer. We wish we had tried harder to spend time together when we lived closer.
Yes, entertaining takes effort. Yes, you have to make it happen. It doesn’t happen for you.
So I’m going to pretend …
It’s beautiful in southern Oregon right now — cool nights and warm days, ideal for a summer evening with guests.
I’m setting the table with one of my favorite oilcloth tablecloths made in France. Imagine a tablecloth you don’t have to launder; these wipe clean with a damp sponge and look like new. They are far prettier and more practical than the vinyl or plastic cloths of years past — perfect for relaxed entertaining.
I’m setting the table for our family plus Melissa, her husband, and their son. If her daughters and son-in-law drop by later, that would make the evening even more fun. I can be spontaneous — the more the merrier.
Simple table setting: a few votive candles and snips of iris from the yard.
Food prepared: halibut that melts in your mouth and a fresh salad from the garden.
Melissa is bringing dessert — the power of delegation.
Backyard arranged for guests to enjoy easy ambience.
Kids ready to play and spend time with Melissa’s son.
Music playing softly in the background.
The night is young.
More than the ambience or the tablescape, what makes entertaining real for me is the connection — the conversations, the relationships formed, and the intimacy shared.
Reaching out to new families and welcoming them into our lives is how we make a difference. Genuine entertaining is about creating space for people to connect and feel at home.
It’s real entertaining for real people.
When was the last time you invited a new family over for dinner?
Please share your thoughts in the comments and any links to your own moments of hospitality.
{photos: Paul Coughlin}