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2 Simple Entertaining Ideas +Giveaway!

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February 25, 2014 by Kendra 53 Comments

In today’s society, we no longer offer hospitality. Instead, we call it entertaining and there are huge expectations that go with it. How about 2 simple entertaining ideas that truly allow for hospitality without all the stress of planning something fancy and serving it?

Hospitality verses Entertaining:

Entertaining makes one think of a fancy meal with at least 5 courses. A spotless house, and a kitchen that shows no signs of having prepared those 5 courses are also expected. It’s the stress of getting everything together and in front of the guests. It’s the being so stressed and busy that you never actually get to talk with your guests. And it’s the sigh of relief after everyone is gone.

Hospitality is much simpler. It’s the front door thrown wide in welcome, it’s the inviting smiles of friends as they great you and pull you inside with a hug. It can be a simple meal, or maybe not even a meal but just a few snacks. It’s the laughing together and spending time with your friends.

2 Simple Entertaining Ideas

Idea number one: A quiet evening with with a few close friends where you serve a meal and then enjoy talking together and catching up.

This is truly the time to pull out your nice dishes. I understand that it takes time to wash china when you could just toss things away, but getting out the “pretty stuff” is just one way to tell your guests that they are important.  In addition, many times when the meal is over, your women guests are willing helpers with the dishes, and it can give the guys time to talk “guy stuff”.

2 Simple entertaining ideas. Idea number one: intimate dinner with close friends

This is a time to pull out place-mats, cloth napkins, and even place-cards if you like.  Your menu can be simple but filling. I’ve placed dishes for soup and salad, a desert, and then coffee or tea afterwards.

Menu idea for a gathering of close friends:

  • Soup: Taco Soup or Cheddar Chowder
  • Salad: A basic Garden Salad or a Spinach Salad
  • Simple Desert: Sopapilla Cheesecake and Ice Cream
  • Coffee and hot water for Tea

Simply elegant entertaining

I used my fine china (garage sale find), and regular flatware for the table settings. The place-card and holder came from Mary and Martha. The place-mat and cloth napkin are from Mary and Martha as well. Both of these are reusable up to 6 washings. They are very nice, slightly more expensive than paper and much cheaper than actual cloth. The place-mat says Grateful Hearts Gather Here, and the napkin says Thankful for His Grace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simple entertaining idea number two: Game night. These are best for Sunday evenings when there isn’t church or something else going on. Winter time is the best for this because one cannot be outside much and Sundays can seem long when it gets dark by 6:30.

Simple entertaining ideas #2 Game night fun!

For your basic game night you will need: salty snacks, sweets and drinks; and again coffee and teas are perfect.  I popped corn here, and put out chocolate and gummy bears, along with hot chocolate, teas and coffee. If you wish to serve some actual food, consider buying and baking freezer pizzas or just order in pizza for complete simplicity.

The theme you want here is fun. You don’t put out fancy dishes because you are going to be playing games; paper works great in this case and is easy to move around when the cards are flying.

Game night ideas

I used some fun stuff from Mary and Martha here as well. The boxes that I put the candies and teas in, say Goodness and Love. While the boxes that I put the popcorn in say “He fills my heart with good things”. They are just a small part of the new paper-ware products found at Mary and Martha. Both styles of boxes are very sturdy and are a fun way to add color and scripture to your gatherings.

What I hope you will take away from this post: Hospitality and entertaining can go hand in hand. You can offer warm hospitality and keep things elegant (or casual) at the same time, leaving you free to enjoy being with your guests.

Disclaimer: I was sent the items from Mary and Martha in exchange for a fair and honest review of them.  Since I find ordinary reviews boring, I instead chose to show you the fun and useful ways in which I will use them.

Now, who wants a giveaway? You? Of course you do!!! Well, today we are giving away a bag of free trade coffee (Burundi Mountain Blend Medium Roast) and a lovely coffee scoop that says “My cup overflows” One lucky winner with a prize value of $42!

2 simple entertaining tips plus giveawa

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed Under: Home and Garden Tagged With: entertaining, family time, fun together, mary and martha, menu for christmas party

Respectful opinions are always welcome

  1. Su says

    February 25, 2014 at 5:19 am

    I like the aprons and the sugar and creamer set that is on a tray. thx

    Reply
  2. Gude @HodgePodgeCraft says

    February 25, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Yay! Gotta love games night! Can’t wait til my kids are old enough to join in too… 😉
    Thanks for sharing at #Pintorials

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      February 25, 2014 at 1:01 pm

      I know! Our only child is still taking up residence in my belly 😉 But it’s sometimes hard to play games with just 2 people. Last weekend we actually called up Jason’s grandparents and went over there to play games for a couple hours 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sara D says

    February 25, 2014 at 2:08 pm

    I like the Queen Anne Lace Dessert set!

    Reply
  4. Sara D says

    February 25, 2014 at 2:09 pm

    This is a really great post! Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Sarah B says

    February 25, 2014 at 2:29 pm

    I like the cookbook holder.

    Reply
  6. Laura says

    February 25, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    It’s a shame – I come from a generation that just doesn’t play card games like everyone else use to. I love that you include this as an entertaining idea!

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      February 25, 2014 at 6:48 pm

      Games are such a fun way to spend time with friends and family!

      Reply
  7. Melissa @ This Girl's Life Blog says

    February 25, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    Love the little individual popcorn bags, really cute. I rarely break out formal dining wear. Wait, I don’t even think I own formal dining wear. haha! We are just super casual around here. We love game nights though, those are always fun.

    Reply
    • Melissa @ This Girl's Life Blog says

      February 25, 2014 at 3:10 pm

      Haha… dining ware that is… clearly i’m thinking about clothes 😉

      Reply
      • Kendra says

        February 25, 2014 at 6:47 pm

        That’s a funny one!

        Reply
  8. sharon says

    February 25, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    the glass lanterns

    Reply
  9. Darlene Sullins says

    February 25, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    The Grace & Gratitude Apron is ADORABLE!!!!

    Reply
  10. Brianna says

    February 25, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    I love the jute placemats!

    Reply
  11. Laura My Newest Addiction says

    February 25, 2014 at 9:18 pm

    your china pattern is GORGEOUS!

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      February 26, 2014 at 8:59 am

      Thanks! I really like it and could not believe how cheap it was at that garage sale.

      Reply
      • Michelle DeVore says

        October 25, 2015 at 12:22 pm

        FYI, Your china pattern is called the “Grafenwoehr Rose”. My mother bought this entire set (amoung others) when we lived in Germany. My father was stationed with the US Army at Grafenwoehr for several years and we made several trips to the China Factories in Nurnberg Germany to find pieces to complete this set for my mother.

        Reply
        • Kendra says

          October 27, 2015 at 10:06 am

          Yes 🙂 A dear older sister in our church called me up a few months before our wedding and told me she had 3 different sets of china that she was getting rid of and wondered if I would like to look at them. While I had picked out a set that I loved, it was really expensive so I agreed to go take a look.
          I loved the blue but there was only enough for a 12 place setting. I told her I would think about it and let her know in a week.

          I looked up the china online and it was going to be quite pricey to buy more so I wasn’t sure what to do. In the meantime I had shown my gran a photo of the plates to see if she liked them.

          Two days after showing grandma that photo, she calls me up all excited like. She was at a garage sale and she thought she saw a set of china for sale that I should come look at. So I went, and would you know, a full set of china identical to the one the sister in our church was going to give me.
          It must have been a God thing. $50 later and I had a beautiful set that will serve 20 people.

          I still love that print to this day and God knew we didn’t have the $800 needed for the china I originally chose.

          Reply
  12. mechele johnson says

    February 25, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    I am loving the Sugar and Creamer set on Tray! Gorgeous!

    Reply
  13. Sarah Hayes says

    February 26, 2014 at 1:33 am

    i like the cream and sugar set on tray

    Reply
  14. Chelsea says

    February 26, 2014 at 1:51 am

    These are great ideas! I totally agree that entertaining these days has high expectations.

    Reply
  15. Jamie Rippy (@MamaMommyMom) says

    February 26, 2014 at 8:08 am

    I’m more of a hospitality kind of girl than I am an entertaining type. I grew up in an environment where the door was always open, coffee could be made at the drop of a hat, and the only true entertainment you offered was conversation.

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      February 26, 2014 at 8:54 am

      I love that as well! Sadly, most people do not feel comfortable “just dropping in” anymore. If we want our friends to visit us we have to make an effort to invite them. And honestly, conversation, especially with some people truly is entertainment all on its own!

      Reply
  16. Carly says

    February 26, 2014 at 11:55 am

    I love all these ideas!!!

    Reply
  17. Lynne says

    February 26, 2014 at 10:21 pm

    I like the Blessings Carafe. Our family loves card games and board games too – no gathering is complete without them. I have such lovely memories of my husband’s grandparents teaching me to play five handed pinochle. I’m awfully glad Grandma was OK with letting the dishes sit for a bit so she could play with the grandkids…..

    Reply
  18. Casey @ Beauty 101 says

    February 26, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Your entertainment setups are so cute!! I love them!

    Reply
  19. Ashley Trail says

    February 27, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    I love the grateful tile and chalkboard for the kitchen and the notecards, very pretty !

    Reply
  20. Mary Beth Elderton says

    February 28, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    The Premium Birdie Note Cards are so pretty!

    Reply
  21. Madeline says

    February 28, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    I like the Honduran Gold Medium Roast – Ground coffee.

    Reply
  22. Danielle F says

    March 2, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    I like the celebrate plate! A fun way to make someone feel special http://www.mymaryandmartha.com/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=83727

    Reply
    • Jane says

      March 3, 2014 at 4:42 pm

      The Celebrate Plate is a favorite of many and it is HUGE and AWESOME! Make sure you check out the dimensions!

      Reply
  23. Amy M says

    March 3, 2014 at 8:10 am

    I LOVE that breakfast tray! These are nice things.

    Reply
  24. Sandra Beeman says

    March 3, 2014 at 8:31 am

    I would really like the 1000 Gifts Gratitude Journal.

    Reply
    • Jane says

      March 3, 2014 at 5:18 pm

      Sandra Beeman! Very good pick!

      Reply
  25. Kristi S. says

    March 4, 2014 at 12:37 pm

    I love the Chalkboard Tray. I have always wanted one for my kitchen (a chalkboard) and that is a really cute way of doing it.

    Reply
  26. Kristi S. says

    March 4, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Blessed By the Grace of God Wall Decor – I love Crosses & Christian wall decor so this is a definite favorite!

    Reply
    • Jane says

      March 4, 2014 at 6:20 pm

      Kristi, if you ever go to my website and would like a better deal, fee free to contact me! The Blessed by Grace wall decor graces our home and I LOVE it!

      Reply
  27. Dorothy Reynolds says

    March 5, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    I REALLY like the item : Blessed By the Grace of God Wall Decor. It’s beautiful and I can see it hanging in my living room. I feel it fits my family situation perfectly. My husband and I started out homeless, living in a shelter with a newborn baby. Almost 8 years later we have a house with a great landlord, a dependent vehicle so no more walking, access to internet so I can work (AAA work at home). We are truly blessed.

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      March 5, 2014 at 8:59 pm

      That’s amazing! Our God truly can do anything!

      Reply
  28. TylarKlemmer says

    March 6, 2014 at 2:46 am

    The “Blessed By The Grace of God” sign is just beautiful

    Reply
  29. Yona Williams says

    March 6, 2014 at 1:37 pm

    I like the Birthday Book Journal.

    Reply
  30. Stacy Lo says

    March 6, 2014 at 4:42 pm

    I adore the Blessings Carafe!

    Reply
  31. Barbara Montag says

    March 6, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    I also like the ABC magnets – thank you.

    Reply
  32. Katherine Donovan says

    March 7, 2014 at 8:13 am

    I love the Be Grateful Sign Tiles. What a cute idea!

    Reply
  33. Nancy says

    March 7, 2014 at 11:02 am

    I like the Celebrate Plate.

    Reply
  34. Stephanie Jones says

    March 7, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    I like their Angels unaware tray

    Reply
  35. wen budro says

    March 7, 2014 at 2:37 pm

    I also like the handblown glass lantern….beautiful.

    Reply
  36. Sky Evans says

    March 7, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    I like the Angels unaware tray

    Reply
  37. G says

    March 7, 2014 at 11:29 pm

    A couple other things I like are the blessing carafe and the birdie jute tote. And love the giveaway items as we are huge coffee drinkers so this is perfect. Thanks for the chance to win

    Reply
  38. Marilyn Wall says

    March 7, 2014 at 11:36 pm

    http://www.mymaryandmartha.com/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=17841 this is just beautiful I collect stuff like this not have to go check my check book balance

    Reply
  39. Stacy says

    March 7, 2014 at 11:56 pm

    I could really use the Kitchen Caddy for when we have friends over.

    Reply
  40. Lizzy says

    August 27, 2014 at 12:08 pm

    I love the simple beauty here. To just share a ‘something’ with others that’s not about putting on a show.

    I should be in bed but I’m having a date with insomnia. Loving discovering your blog… just one more post… 😉

    Reply
  41. Gentle Joy says

    November 5, 2014 at 10:15 am

    This is good stuff – It also seems that another difference is that hospitality is about others… while entertaining is about upholding MY image. 🙂 By the way, I love your china… and I have some of it also. Thank you for the post. 🙂

    Reply

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about-small Hello, my name is Kendra. I am married to an amazing young man named Jason, and together we have 3 boys! Here at A Proverbs 31 Wife, you will find posts on homemaking, natural living, marriage, and motherhood. My goal is to uplift and inspire Christian wives and Mothers. {Read More}

 

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