• Blog
  • Home
  • How to Start a Blog
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Hundreds of ideas for creative ways to eat, make & decorate!

  • Chalk Couture SHOP
  • eat
    • Dessert
    • Drink
    • Dinner
    • Side Dishes
  • make
    • crafts…
    • diy projects
    • cleaning and organizing
    • holiday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • 4th of July
      • Valentine’s Day
    • freebies
  • decorate
  • subscribe

Learning to enjoy entertaining

Last week on Instagram, I shared a short post about how we learned to have faith in timing. More specifically it was about the fact that I had grand ideas of entertaining friends, when we really didn’t have any. I know that might sound a bit shocking coming from a girl who’s basically lived her whole life in one house, but it’s true. We just didn’t have many local friends to invite to dinner or hang out with on a Friday night. But we decided to think about entertaining when we began renovating outdoor areas and more specifically finishing up the inside of our home.

Boxwood Wreath

For five long years we worked diligently on our home. Almost every weekend was filled with home projects and I’ve even built a business that supports our family from the blog (so THANK YOU for allowing me to do that!) With all the plans, especially in the last two years, we really thought through how it would work for entertaining more than just us 4. Like 20 or 30 or even 50 people. Could we make it work? Occasionally we’d think “we don’t even know that many people.” But we built it anyway. And we hoped they would come.

Christmas decorating ideas

Then one day I ran into my best friend from high school. We had run into each other a few times over the 2+ decades since high school, and always mentioned getting together. This time, though, it was different. I told her that I really, really wanted to go to lunch – we always said we would but never did.And so we made plans right then to have lunch the next week. After that we got together often, finding it was very easy to slide right back into our friendship.

Christmas decorating ideas

She introduced me to her friends… and they brought their friends. Then I found other friends, like the parents of my daughter’s best friend. I just realized that instead of being mildly friendly – why not be truly friendly and invite people to lunch or invite them over to dinner and then we could truly become friends.

Christmas decorating ideas

So this year I had a Christmas party and invited all of my friends. Of course a year ago I wouldn’t have had enough seats for them to all to sit in – but thinking forward helped me choose a sectional and other chairs.

Christmas decorating ideas

But I think the key was to choosing only items that I truly, truly loved. The same forward thinking helped me realize less is more – and to decorate with very few things so my house felt cozy but not cramped.

Christmas-Greenery

Christmas decorating ideas

Christmas decorating ideas

So I lit a few yummy Yankee Candles. I’m especially crushing on their new scents of the season: Luscious Plum, Candy Cane Lane, Luscious Plum, Magical Frosted Forest, Angel’s Wings tumblers. They also have the pretty Pure Radiance™ vases (like above) in new fragrance Winter – which is the one I love, and the oh so perfect for the season: Christmas Candy.

Christmas Decorating IdeasBecause everyone looks better in candle light…

Christmas decorating ideas

Poured a few drinks (because we are THOSE kinda girls)…

Christmas decorating ideas

And made a lot of yummy food…

Christmas Decorating Ideas from The Shabby Creek Cottage

And I invited everyone into my house to enjoy time together.

Christmas Kitchen Decorating

For the first time (maybe ever), I didn’t explain away how we still had to finish the siding or the living room floors were left to complete.

Easy Christmas Decorating ideas

We just enjoyed our time together and laughed, and ate, and drank, and laughed some more.

Shabby Creek Cottage Yankee Candles

Because entertaining shouldn’t be about apologizing where you feel your insecurities are. It should be about welcoming people into the home you’ve created and sharing the love you have for them. They’ll just be happy to be there – they really won’t notice that the dog chewed the corner of the bathroom door.

And of course a few great party favors never hurts. Yankee Candle was super sweet to send their gorgeous candles for my party. I never realized what great gifts they make! Easy to stock up on, too (which makes gift giving all the much easier!)

Christmas Decorating IdeasChristmas (and entertaining) is only stressful if you allow it to be.

Slow down. Light a candle. Enjoy your friends.

Life is short and our to-do lists are too long. That was my mantra this year.

*Thanks to Yankee Candle for Partnering with me on this post. All ideas, words, opinions and photographs are 100% my own.*

 

ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
Get instant access to this free guide to The Best Sources for a Farmhouse Style Home on a Budget!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________

Filed Under: Christmas, decorating ideas, holiday ideas

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

« Easy memory ornaments
craft this: Mini-Melted Snowman Ornaments »
become a blogger banner

Comments

  1. Julie says

    December 12, 2014 at 6:08 am

    Oh Gina, I love this post!
    So well expressed!
    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  2. laura@top this top that says

    December 12, 2014 at 6:08 am

    Merry Christmas gina!

    Reply
  3. Christal says

    December 12, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Gina, I am so eased to have you in my life again! I love hanging out with you and sure do love your family.
    Spending time on the porch listening to the creek and talking (though not near as often as I wish) has been special to me. I hope to do it more and more and share some new adventures!
    I love ya girl!

    Reply
  4. Beth M. says

    December 12, 2014 at 10:29 am

    Really enjoyed your post. It was kinda like a smack up-side my head. A reminder of what really matters. Thanks!
    Oh, and you home is beautiful. Love your choice of colors.

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    December 12, 2014 at 11:28 am

    Great article. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  6. Marcie says

    December 12, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    I loved your post. I’m like you, always wanting to invite people over to hang out but afraid of my house not being pretty, clean or good enough. Thank you for setting the example.

    Reply
  7. Jenn @ My Fabuless Life says

    December 12, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    You know I love this! Disco balls and antlers for the win!!

    Reply
  8. Christina Kindschuh says

    December 13, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    I love this Post! I too have had feelings of my house is “good enough” but threw a bunco party outside and I then realized that they came for me NOT my house. Thank you for this post!!

    Reply
  9. Christina Kindschuh says

    December 13, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    ooops- NOT “good enough”!

    Reply
  10. Susan says

    December 13, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    Wher did you get all the deer and antler ornys. Love them!

    Reply
  11. deneen@dreaming-n-color.com says

    December 14, 2014 at 11:06 am

    It all looks beautiful. Glad you found a comfortable spot to enjoy friendship. Sorry I had to miss your get together but my Open House was all day and night. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  12. Gail Golden says

    December 27, 2014 at 9:52 am

    You are so right about not apologizing because you certainly don’t need to apologize for anything. This brings to mind an article or poem I read years ago called The Sorry Hostess. It makes a guest feel uncomfortable. I’m sure your party was a huge success because your focus was on them and not yourself. THAT is what makes a guest feel welcome and gives an enjoyable visit, not matter how humble the home. Merry Christmas, Gina, and Happy New Year to you and your family.
    GG

    Reply
  13. Tracey says

    December 1, 2016 at 5:51 am

    Your house is a home! So pretty with so much character…….sounds like you had a fun time entertaining 🙂

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      December 1, 2016 at 7:47 am

      Thanks Tracey, I do enjoy it 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Gina Luker

Privacy Policy & Disclosure Statement

Searching For Something?

The Shabby Creek Cottage is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

[instagram-feed]

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 The Shabby Creek Cottage Log in

Join over 50,000 Farmhouse Fans!
Want to know the secrets to finding the best farmhouse decor? Get instant access to my FREE guide!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________
ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
Get instant access to this free guide to The Best Sources for a Farmhouse Style Home on a Budget!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________