tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post5426919625948315241..comments2023-10-24T06:25:41.782-07:00Comments on Everyday Romneys: The EntertainerJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07155042286165966395noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-75057204544147674382008-07-25T07:01:00.000-07:002008-07-25T07:01:00.000-07:00I like to entertain, but I'm usually too shy to in...I like to entertain, but I'm usually too shy to invite people over. I need to have a good excuse. I think that's my biggest hurdle.Anisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14599636551373733526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-62128136764480624802008-07-25T00:36:00.000-07:002008-07-25T00:36:00.000-07:00Folding chairs aren't okay? I now have a hurdle.A...Folding chairs aren't okay? I now have a hurdle.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Actually my hurdle is my husband who hates messes. He is definitely not going to love this next week as we throw the ultimate party.<BR/><BR/>I over buy too and I don't have cute stuff either, but if you love me you will eat a lot and not care what it is served on!!Jenibellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09627472635327336463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-84225886754611997572008-07-24T09:44:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:44:00.000-07:00Man, I sure miss your cooking Jessica! You always...Man, I sure miss your cooking Jessica! You always inspire me to cook some good stuff.Meridithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570278084807694604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-19443899926784087342008-07-23T19:39:00.000-07:002008-07-23T19:39:00.000-07:00Thanks for sending me to your Twilight friend's bl...Thanks for sending me to your Twilight friend's blog! Very funny. I already ordered my shirt. It says "Team Edward" and then in small letter "Jacob Stinks" Hope you are having a Breaking Dawn party too! <BR/><BR/>I guess I'm an enabler.☺Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12215390030414957826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-80937812309942986832008-07-23T17:31:00.000-07:002008-07-23T17:31:00.000-07:00Mine is that I want to get too "theme-y" (which is...Mine is that I want to get too "theme-y" (which is why I enjoy kids' birthday parties so much - but sometimes adults don't appreciate having to wear Harry Potter glasses at their book club meeting, you know?)? And I also over-buy, and over-plan, and over-make, but in the end, I'm always glad that I did since I have leftovers to enjoy! PS - I need your recipes to add to the book club blog (your menu, decorating and house were divine)! Not so much with my picture, though ... :-)Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08150073109212269953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-28181478786012989942008-07-23T16:02:00.000-07:002008-07-23T16:02:00.000-07:00My hurdles:#1. Not enough people where we live. ...My hurdles:<BR/><BR/>#1. Not enough people where we live. Seriously, when we first moved in, we were the only family with young children. I'm very comfortable having our "basic" friends over often, but I worry they may get bored with us. Can I borrow some of your 20+?<BR/><BR/>#2. Worry the house isn't clean enough. Did I mention I have 3.5 little boys (who cannot manage to pee IN the toilet, even though they frequently hit various intended targets outside) and 2 dogs?<BR/><BR/>#3. Totally hear you on the over food prep. Growing up, events were planned around food, good food, and lots of food. Hence, I'm rather well-rounded. :) Really, this shouldn't be considered a hurdle, but a talent.<BR/><BR/>#4. Another hurdle--space. I want the bigger kitchen and house. I mean, when my own kids drive me crazy in the confined area, I don't feel like inviting more over.<BR/><BR/>#5. As for serving pieces, I LOVE them. I'm curbing my urge to buy more all the time (you can only use so many cake plates).<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the novella.Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04943058750557849289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-54839593620507569802008-07-23T11:37:00.000-07:002008-07-23T11:37:00.000-07:00Numbers 1, 3 & 4 I can definitly relate too! L...Numbers 1, 3 & 4 I can definitly relate too! Luckily though, my mom is a Sam's Club/Costco host, so if I remove the food from the original package, I am pretty much going above and beyond something she would do. <BR/><BR/>I remember Thanksgiving at your family's house, and your mom had EVERYTHING perfectly pretty!Jackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11176998963398045071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-75610514715058901512008-07-23T11:10:00.000-07:002008-07-23T11:10:00.000-07:00Number 4...definitely number four. It seems like n...Number 4...definitely number four. It seems like no matter how hard I try someone gets hurt. You just can't please everyone.<BR/><BR/>I love that you over do the food because we get to enjoy the fruits of your labors the next day!jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153179191440308985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-41307043690352221092008-07-23T09:45:00.000-07:002008-07-23T09:45:00.000-07:00My hurdle is the size of my house/kitchen. When w...My hurdle is the size of my house/kitchen. When we moved here we bought a 60 year old house that was made for very small people. None of the counters are high enough, very little space, etc. Plus... I don't have a dishwasher, and Will complains when we have people over because he does the dishes.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03550446982763941052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-26620216155774222442008-07-23T09:34:00.001-07:002008-07-23T09:34:00.001-07:00I so understand all of these hurdles but especiall...I so understand all of these hurdles but especially #2. I have a Queen Bee of Entertaining for a mom, too. (Whose most common question for me when I was a teenager, besides "will you please clean your room?", was "Why don't you throw a party?")<BR/><BR/>I thought I wasn't that good at it but turns out, I love it! I have to keep remembering I'm doing it because I like these people and want them to have a great time, not because they are coming to judge me (this is probably obvious to everyone but me).<BR/><BR/>While I enjoy a fancy, perfect party as much as the next guy, I especially love it as a guest when things are a little imperfect and we all feel free to let our hair down and just be together.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941198405523733540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-77979089102256998652008-07-23T09:34:00.000-07:002008-07-23T09:34:00.000-07:00I like your style (even though you are disgusted w...I like your style (even though you are disgusted with me, lol). If I lived by you I would want to party with you all of the time. So here are my hurdles:<BR/>1. I work full time and spend too much time away from my kids as it is, so I feel bad planning a lot of parties where I really just want to hang out with my friends and not my kids. Although in reality I do this anyway sometimes, because I feel less guilty than getting a babysitter all of the time.<BR/>2. I'm worried that I won't actually have enough time to pull through with all of my planning, cooking, cleaning.<BR/>3. My hubby likes gatherings once people are actually over, but he always thinks it is a bad idea when I ask him so I give in far too frequently.<BR/>4. I have a hard time balancing between the people I love to hang out with, are good friends already, and I want to see more of, and those people that I want to get to know better but are untested. I'm also careful about mixing groups (e.g. college friends, ward friends, neighborhood friends, Craig's friends, work friends) to try to keep it from getting awkward when people don't know each other.<BR/>5. My kids are pretty little and so I worry I don't have anything for bigger kids to do, so I tend not to invite our friends with older kids for whole family parties.<BR/>Whew!<BR/><BR/>That all being said, I have a kid-free game night at my house this weekend, and I can't decide what to make for dinner. 8 adults, it will be 100 degrees out. Any ideas?Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15331821292708545511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-29930281486888438872008-07-23T08:48:00.000-07:002008-07-23T08:48:00.000-07:00My hurdle is in that I want it to be absolutely pe...My hurdle is in that I want it to be absolutely perfect and I WAY over do it in terms of quantity, just like you. But I secretly don't care because I know we'll just eat the leftovers for the next week.<BR/><BR/>If your spacing is screwey, go to edit html and delete any < div > from the post. That should fix it.Christiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05769700320834756050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-82507170518946956272008-07-23T08:40:00.000-07:002008-07-23T08:40:00.000-07:00oh this so gets me off the hook.skip said to me (a...oh this so gets me off the hook.<BR/><BR/>skip said to me (and this is the honest truth) "when we go up to CDA, why don't you give stephanie a call. maybe she can meet up with us." i said, "do you mean jessica?" he said, "yes. jessica."<BR/><BR/>he wanted us to be more social. i figured <BR/>a) you are pregnant and have four little ones. a 17 mile bike ride might not be so fun.<BR/>b) you've been loading up said crew a lot lately, and also just recently consumed gooeys. it might be overkill.<BR/>c) you would feel pressured to accept our invitation when you didn't really want to.<BR/><BR/>so. in the spirit of guilt-free, enjoyable socializing, i didn't tell you we came up. <BR/><BR/>so we're good, right?the wrath of khandreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124348938056284964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-42257609652368038362008-07-23T07:47:00.000-07:002008-07-23T07:47:00.000-07:00I love to entertain too, but never feel like my st...I love to entertain too, but never feel like my stuff is pretty enough so I just don't do it as often as I'd like to. I get caught up in the 'my house isn't good enough, big enough and my serving dishes aren't pretty enough' category. John has 6 sisters and one of them has the most beautiful serving dishes ever and for some reason, she pops in my head with all her pretty stuff when I think about planning a party. Stupid, I know. Also, I'm much bigger at social gatherings than John is so that's a hurdle too. <BR/><BR/>Hey, are those Pampered Chef stones with vegetable pizza? I love that recipe. I used to make it all the time at my PC shows.Hollyweenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02965955385923756263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-22541265442163875002008-07-23T07:20:00.000-07:002008-07-23T07:20:00.000-07:00I'd say my hurdle is Cameron. He is starting to lo...I'd say my hurdle is Cameron. <BR/>He is starting to loosen up and will go for last minute social events at our house if he's completely comfortable with the folks who are coming.<BR/>The man likes his down time.Camihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11781160165639433696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-67069887457968591992008-07-23T04:54:00.000-07:002008-07-23T04:54:00.000-07:00Space! I don't have enough room for the 5 1/2 of ...Space! I don't have enough room for the 5 1/2 of us, let alone friends. All our entertaining has to be done in the very short summer, consequently, we have more outdoor furniture than indoor. <BR/>I think the reason I love entertaining so much is hearing, "ooh, this is yummy" from other people instead of my family's usual, "I want spaghetti instead!"The Parkershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01520009667676597816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-17871432982563003072008-07-23T01:15:00.000-07:002008-07-23T01:15:00.000-07:00Oh how I love a good party!!My hurdle is worrying ...Oh how I love a good party!!<BR/><BR/>My hurdle is worrying if the food I prepare is edible. I'm always so freaked out it will kill someone.<BR/><BR/>But I oh so love entertaining, too.<BR/><BR/>Another hurdle of mine (and my hubby's) is the dilemma of WHO to invite over. I always want to invite friends we're comfortable with and don't have to worry about awkward silence with - but HE wants to fellowship and invite over new ward members or his hometeaching families. Such the dilemma...rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06314219581234153166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-89559041569358891102008-07-23T00:34:00.000-07:002008-07-23T00:34:00.000-07:00Your parties are always so amazing, fun and full o...Your parties are always so amazing, fun and full of good food! You get all of us to be more social - thank you for that and for being so thoughtful about all of it. You guys are great! Thanks for not giving up on us with our monumentally bad timing - we love hanging out with you guys.<BR/><BR/>As for my hurdle... is not being able to decide on a hurdle a hurdle, or do I have to pick just one... or should I narrow it down first and then alphabetize it before I ... wow, I just answered my own question - YIKES!The Hansen Clanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08411287135478431918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-68218643383124678852008-07-22T23:19:00.000-07:002008-07-22T23:19:00.000-07:00I think having a party SHOULD be a daily plan...My...I think having a party SHOULD be a daily plan...<BR/>My dad wakes up every morning and plans dessert and I learned from him, oops he's diabetic?<BR/>Well, glad to hear that you are a party lover too!<BR/>I have actually gotten to the place in life that <BR/>parties need to be SIMPLE and EASY!<BR/>Costco helps a lot!<BR/>After the big house... I now party w/ paper goods!<BR/>Potlucks are good.<BR/>New tastes offered up, especially here in Hawaii!<BR/>Meeting and eating at the beach is easy over here.<BR/>The more the merrier is a great Hawaiian motto, so<BR/>we KEEP getting invited to show up!<BR/>I've found that IF I don't expect enthusiasm from MY spouse it is easier on BOTH of us...<BR/>AND yes, YOUR mom puts on a party with the best of 'em!!! Loved doing parties with Dorrie!!<BR/>AlohaJ'nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11570061053458399408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-22238802185389427052008-07-22T22:30:00.000-07:002008-07-22T22:30:00.000-07:00You're my kind of girl. I like entertaining too, ...You're my kind of girl. I like entertaining too, but don't feel like I'm very good at it. <BR/><BR/>I have a teeny kitchen area, and I don't really have any pretty serving dishes. But I also don't mind the paper plates idea.<BR/><BR/>Da da da DA da DA da DA......Wendihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657459550460985456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-7714423272486960372008-07-22T22:25:00.000-07:002008-07-22T22:25:00.000-07:00I'm a party girl too. Paper plates and potluck wor...I'm a party girl too. Paper plates and potluck works for me.<BR/>With teens it's almost every night. I keep lots of microwave popcorn and popscicles in the house.dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01336225169297736488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-92178116053795726932008-07-22T21:30:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:30:00.000-07:00My hurdle is having to ASK people over. I am alwa...My hurdle is having to ASK people over. I am always afraid of rejection. You would think I lived a sad life but I didn't. My mom and sister are total party-throwers like you and somehow I just missed that entertaining gene.<BR/><BR/>It was so much fun being a part of your party rotation. I was super impressed by the mix of people you were always including. I miss it.<BR/><BR/>I should follow your example here but well, I am just proud of myself for saying "hello" to someone in R.S. Baby steps, you know? <BR/><BR/>By the way, I never noticed the dishes because I was ALWAYS busy eating the super beautifully made food...Ilenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355626401656271880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-1280143113152222332008-07-22T21:21:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:21:00.000-07:00My biggest hurdle is 4 kids and under with no fami...My biggest hurdle is 4 kids and under with no family around...<BR/><BR/>With the spacing... sometimes I just push the "bullet" button so it puts bullets before each paragraph, then push it again to take them off, and WALA!!! The spacing is fixed.♥Shallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887476132578228213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-77120563479477898532008-07-22T21:20:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:20:00.000-07:00the high f can be found at http://www.youtube.co...the high f can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znluwLNcL7g<BR/><BR/>It was not a stunt-like event live, it was simply amazing and in the middle of a 3-hour long opera.<BR/><BR/>EnjoyEl Doctorcitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14110453836933276264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534899535780442639.post-90367224748916561432008-07-22T21:13:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:13:00.000-07:00I am with you with the food. It's got to be good ...I am with you with the food. It's got to be good - we only do parties with GOOD food, otherwise, why bother?<BR/><BR/>Decor? I'd say I am above average in that category.<BR/><BR/>My hurdle is the whole who-to- invite/who-not-to-invite thing. I have some very DEAR core friends (who I like to call the fab 4.) But people like to start throwing around the "clique" word if we spent too much time together. I mean, I have no family here - am not supposed to have any friends? I have NEVER understood this concept, because let's be honest: I would have to have a maid, a cook and a considerably larger budget to invite EVERYONE. <BR/><BR/>Another hurdle: as my kids get older, I find less time for my social gathering. Sports, scouts, church activites, school events, calling responsibilities and we are pretty much booked. And I am okay with that.<BR/><BR/>My biggest hurdle is not living next to YOU because I'm pretty sure we would party all the time.<BR/><BR/>Sorry that was so long.Cariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17898887873242328840noreply@blogger.com