First - I participated in Gretchen's 'Sizzlin' Summer Book Giveaway Carnival'. Stacey at Kisses From the Father - won the 'How to Study Your Bible' by Kay Arthur. She was #4 and that's what Mr. Random Number Generator chose, so I'll be popping it in the mail, on it's way to her.

Then, guess what?! Out of ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-ONE ENTRIES, I won this:

Sandy, at 4 Reluctant Entertainers was doing a giveaway and I entered. She asked what our biggest entertaining challenge was, and mine was entertaining at all. (So I have a long ways to go on the hospitality scale.) I rarely enter them, since I so seldom win, but this was just too cute to pass up. And I won! Not only can I barely believe I won, out of 191 entries, but it's such a great giveaway. Look at all that sweet pink, a picnic cookbook which I think will be great for lunches served by the lake in a year or so, pot holders, towels, chocolates, and a personalized apron - Sandy emailed and asked me what I'd like embroidered on it. I chose 'Reluctant Entertainer', just like her apron, hoping wearing the same apron will somehow make all that wonderful entertaining ability flow through the air, from her home to mine. I'll at least feel inspired every time I don it. Next year we're moving to an area that is going to be much more social than our current lifestyle, so I need all the help and inspiration I can get. I'll be reading every single post Sandy does. She makes it sound at least doable, opening my home, having a beautiful table, and food that is edible.

Thanks, Sandy, for such a great giveaway, but even more for all your encouragement to me / us, to open our homes and hearts to those around us. I promise to only wear this when we're actually entertaining, and to wear it out!

Labels: Busy Buzz