Easiest Pillow Cover how-to

Mine (insert was an old pillow I had laying around, $3.50)

Pillow covers are easy to make and solve so many problems in my life. When I am bored of a room, changing the pillows puts my soul to rest.

Pottery Barn (insert not included, $25)

If you can sew a straight [ish] line, you can sew a pillow cover. Pottery Barn charges $25 for a 18" pillow cover, but you can make one for the cost of about half a yard of fabric.













Click "read more" to see the full directions.











Basic directions:

• Measure the pillow you want to cover and add about an inch for seam allowances. 

• Cut one square for the front

• Cut two pieces for the back. These pieces will overlap like a pillow sham, so divide the total in half and add a couple of inches (4" or so).

• Finish a long edge on each back piece by turning it under and sewing.

This photo brought to you by Taupe-lovers Anonymous

• Lay the two back pieces, overlapping, to cover the front piece. Right sides together.

• Pin and sew 1/2" seam all the way around. 

• Turn right side out and insert pillow.

Goodbye bold, hello neutral paradise

Back, with overlapping panels

Here is a link to the post I did about the white pillow made from a clearance shirt and extra curtain fabric.

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Call Me Despondent

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength."

Proverbs 17:22

Funk. It is defined on Dictionary.com as "a dejected mood." Funk's synonyms are: gloom, misery, and despondency. I'm feeling better already [insert sarcasm here].  Defining the mood "funk" is one thing. Getting rid of it is another.



This despondent, dejected mood doesn't need a reason to come settle over me like a rain cloud. Everything is going along fine. Okay, fine-ish. I can't name "one thing" that is just horrible. It's a bunch of little things. I feel sorry for myself. Blame it on the hormones. Maybe my feelings were a little hurt. My kids are just pushing my buttons. I'm discontent. There is a hole in my sock. The weight of the world creeps in and makes ugly faces at me.



Irony is alive and well as I wrestled with God about this topic. "This really isn't a good time God. I'm kinda in a funk. I'm feelin' a little despondent. I don't feel like writing. At. All. Let alone writing about getting out of a bad mood."





I'm pretty sure God could have found someone feeling cheerful to write about this. But then again, it wouldn't ring true if you didn't know the advice-giver struggled with the medicine first.







So, I told God I wasn't in the mood to get out of my bad mood. And he said too bad. Why is hanging on to gloom satisfying? A bad mood feels like my right sometimes.




There is a story of a man in the Bible who was an invalid for 38 years. Jesus came along and asked the man why he hadn't gone into the healing waters, just steps away. We don't know the extent of the man's disabilities, but Jesus knew he could make it to the water, but didn't. The man made excuses, "There is no one to help me. Someone always gets in my way." Jesus, the Great Healer asked him a question:



"Do you want to get well?"



The answer seems obvious. A disabled man who spent 38 years suffering, of course he would want to get well. But maybe, like many of us, that man hung on to the misery instead of desiring change.



I'm not suffering a true disability. My problems are tiny, but still I can wallow all day long in my dejected mood. All week long even. "Woe is me. My life is so hard. [Sniff, sniff]. Nobody loves me." Will I accept it when Jesus comes along and asks, do you want help?



With a bit more struggle and angry eyebrows, I accepted it. I wanted out of the funk. Okay, now what?



These are the ideas that came to mind and I practiced them. Tried, tested, and approved:

• Pray for joy. Step one, desire change and let go of the dejected attitude. Pray for God to restore a good mood.

• Intentionally count blessings and write them down. I found a piece of scratch paper and started writing. Gloom keeps us from seeing the good things. Intentionally looking around and seeking to see blessings is like water in a drought. It is impossible to be discontent while dwelling on thanksgiving.

• Meditate on Scripture. My very first desire when I am in a bad mood is to avoid the Bible. "Don't open it. Don't read something convicting. Don't learn. Don't grow," these grumpy thoughts feed my despondency. It is an act of will to pick up a Bible, read and retain. I read this and took it to the bank: "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12).

• Serve others. I fought this one because I can name many things I've done recently to serve others. No one ever serves me [more grumpy thoughts]. My service was done with the hopes of being compensated in some way. It wasn't done in love so I left empty. Service done God's way is fullfilling. Jesus asks us to "serve one another humbly in love. The entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:13-14)

• Plan something fun. In highschool I used to literally cry into my pillow because no one called and invited me to do anything fun. "No one loves me" became my excuse for a bad mood. Over the years I've learned that I can't blame my lack of a social life on other people. It might be insanely difficult (if you are an introvert like me), but it is worth it. A play date with friends, a shopping day at the beach, a family outing to the park. Having something to anticipate is wonderful medicine. 

• Smile. Pasting a smile on my face actually helps. Veggie Tales was right once again, wearing "angry eyebrows" leaves a person open to all kinds of grumpy attacks. When I force myself to put a pleasant look on my face, my whole outlook changes. 

The biggest lesson I learned through all this was that gloom for no good reason is a choice. The funk I wear is not necessary and is especially not beneficial. Like the man sitting beside the healing waters, I could get up, but it is easy to make excuses. Even though I went kicking and screaming, the other side of despondent is a lot more fun.

"You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace."

Isaiah 55:12

PS My posts here are few and far between because of other stuff going one. Mainly family, homeschooling, changing poopy cloth diapers, basements projects, church commitments, occasional napping, and Drops. Speaking of Drops, I write inspirational (at least they are supposed to be) posts twice a week. The motivation to stay in my Bible, making time for prayer and change in my own life is very satisfying. Investment in a personal relationship with Jesus has an amazing return. His faithfulness knows no ends.

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A New Favorite

I know I owe you a larger post on my favorite beauty products, but in the meantime, I wanted to share my new lip color obsession. I give you the Clinique Chubby Stick... odd name, awesome product.


Sheer lipstick-like color that's as moisturizing as chapstick. I started with the Mega Melon, which is the perfect coral color to transition into Spring. I highly recommend! Read More.. Read More..

Cardigan

A couple cute pieces from Cardigan's Spring line...


I love the knits paired with cutoff jean shorts!


And do you recognize the model from Joanna's hair tutorials? Can't wait to try the braided top knot!


{First two images via Cardigan, third image via A Cup of Jo} Read More.. Read More..

Counting Blessings

Mismatched socks in with the pots and pans.


One pair of training pants in the around-the-world puzzle game.


Cheerios that crunch under my feet after I just swept.


Laundry that never ends.


"I'm hungry," heard all day long.



These are things that show that my children are healthy, active, creative, and silly.


Can I be thankful for the messes because I am thankful for the children?

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Thessalonians 5:18

I was listening to a relationship talk-show host on the radio a few years ago. A woman called in complaining about her husband. Apparently he never put away his dirty clothes. And he always left cupboard doors and drawers open. If he made a sandwhich, he left everything out, knowing his wife would come along and pick-up after him. "He's worse than the kids!" she said. The wife was tired of his behavior and wanted him to change. The host listened and then told the woman that her husband probably wasn't going to change his messy ways, so she might as well get used to it.



A bit later in the show, the relationship expert host said that she just received an email related to the "my husband never picks up his stuff" call. The letter went something like this:



I was listening to the call moments ago about the husband who absently leaves his things out and never closes cupboards or drawers. I would give anything to pick up after my husband again. After 5 years battling cancer, my husband died last year. I miss him terribly. I miss picking up his socks that he tossed right next to the hamper. I miss the wet towels he left on the floor. I miss him leaving his paper beside the chair. I even miss the messes he left in the kitchen. Now I never find something out that I didn't get out myself. I am alone. Please pass on to your listeners to remember that picking up after someone is not a chore, but a blessing in disguise. Those messes mean there is life.



I remember that woman's words and think of her sentiment almost daily. Stooping to pick up mess, after mess, after mess. Mostly my children, but sometimes my husband. Will their clutter never end? It feels like I take one step forward and fourteen steps backward in trying to keep my house "presentable."



Give thanks in all circumstances.



My sister-in-law has 4 energetic young boys and often gets stares and remarks when she is out in public. People say to her, "Wow, your hands are full!" To that she replies, "Better than empty." After almost losing her youngest son at birth, she knows too well that energetic and healthy, plus the chaos that goes with it, is a blessing.




I need this reminder today as I look around my messy well-lived-in home and am distracted by naughty rambunctious children. I don't know where to start. Laundry or dishes? Sweep or knock down cobwebs? Then I'll have to dust and who is unfolding all the laundry!!? Again.




The frustrations mount, I feel overwhelmed and grumpy. I saw the mess and forgot about the people who are healthy, active, creative, and silly. Without them, I would sit around in a clean house and be lonely, missing them.... and their messes.





Those messes and frustrations will still be there. (Believe me, there isn't a maid who will miraculously swoop in and save the day). So instead, I'll call my husband and say, "I love you and miss you." I'll cuddle my children on a cluttered carpet and read stories. I'll rock them and kiss their hair that needs a bath. I'll say "I love you, precious child." My family and everything that goes along with them are blessings. Sometimes in disguise.

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Thessalonians 5:18

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Fabric choices...

I vascilated too long. By the time I went to order (just now), the brown dot was gone. Also, the brown stripe is gone. Overwhelmingly, FB and blog commenters requested the brown stripe for the couch and the other prints as accents. 

Since the brown stripe is gone, I can forgo my mental attempts to make a decent looking slip-cover out of stripes. Whew, that was exhausting.

Now on to my final choices:

For the couch :)

Taupe dot for the curtains. Boring, but even boring looks glamorous at $3 a yard.

I'll be on the look out for a nice brown stripe for pillows and such. Thanks for weighing in. It looks like I was subjected less by your votes and more by what Fabric.com had in stock.

May the slip-covering begin!

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Spring Transition

A simple yet perfect outfit for transitioning into Spring... Chambray Shirt, Slim Black Denim, Black Penny Loafers & a Black Envelope Clutch...


Madewell Shirt ($68), Levi's Hi-Rise Denim ($59.50), Bass Weejuns ($109), Super Sunglasses ($147), Clare Vivier Clutch.

{image via Glam Canyon} Read More.. Read More..

I ♥ Faces: Sunflare

This is part of a challenge at I ♥  Faces.

I had a hard time decided because I ♥  sunflare. This one of Rem makes me happy.

See some fantastic entries...

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Iron Will (hers and mine)

I didn't want to be there. I was at a conference for Christian women and well, I am a Christian woman. It is where I was supposed to be and needed to be. The entire event was designed to teach, enrich, and encourage. A world-class worship leader led the huge group of women in a song designed to woo us to a place of surrender before our Lord.



And I resisted.



My chest felt tight and I crossed my arms. The sights and sounds were penetrating and my mind started listening to the words. I knew once I opened my mouth to the melody of these praises that I would start down a difficult path.




And I would need to surrender my will. I would hear things that would convict. I would absorb things that required change. I would be drawn to a closeness to my Creator that frightened me. He desires of me things that I felt so unwilling to give.




My will is strong.





The worshipful music's melodic sounds, as well as the pumping drums, were breaking down my resolve. God's spirit was working on me. Familiar words came into my mind. They were words that I had actually spoken to my own petulant child.



Emma has an iron will (I wonder where she gets it). She barely passed babyhood when she was challenging my authority. "I do it!" was a phrase heard so many times. I coaxed and disciplined and through the years she has learned that "mama knows best." There are still challenges every now and then. She knows the house rules and that we've created them for the family's benefit. She KNOWS what is right and good and her desires creep in and she disobeys.



Her tantrums are fierce. She physically wrestles with herself, the desire to do what SHE wants and the knowledge she is in the wrong. Her face is angry red, teeth bared, she kicks and screams on her bed. I leave her alone to fight through her emotions. There is no dealing with her when she is like that. It takes quite awhile for her to finally get quiet. When she can hear me, I say,



"Child, do you trust me? I know you what is best for you. I know you better than you know yourself. You are capable of amazing things. I see beauty in you. Surrender your will to me. You can trust me. I love you so much."



She doesn't calm right down, but gradually she breaks as I keep repeating these simple truths to my child:



"You can trust me. I know what is best for you. You can trust me. I know what is best for you."



Gradually her tears give way and I catch a glimpse of her repentant heart. Oh, how I love this child! Within her stubborn character is tremendous potential. Her compassion for others and energetic spirit will make a beautiful servant for Christ. I see this and know what she needs to learn while she grows. I know what is best for her.




My own words haunted me as felt the conviction of my Father. I sat very much like a petulant child. Knowing that I needed to surrender my will so that I could learn. I was in a venue that could be hugely valuable to me as I grow in my faith... But only if I was willing.



"Child, do you trust me? I know you better than you can possibly imagine. I know you are capable of amazing things. I see beauty in you. Surrender your will to me. You can trust me. I love you."



It was as though my inner tantrum had come to a close. "Okay. I surrender my will. Mold me, shape me, give me ears to hear the message. Convict me and make me uncomfortable in my sin so I can learn and grow even if it hurts."



The penetrating words of the worship leader strengthen my desire to obey and I felt sweet relief.



"In Christ alone my hope is found.

He is my light, my strength, my song.

This Cornerstone, this solid ground.

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace...



Here in the love of Christ I stand."

Author's note: I went on to have an amazing time at the Beth Moore conference in Tacoma on Friday and Saturday. Andrea and I attended with another friend and heard a powerful message on following God's road signs in our lives. Travis Cottrell's worship band was moving, outstanding really. I feel so blessed to have been able to attend. But attending wasn't everything. Learning, growing, changing... that is my challenge.

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Basement: in progress

It's here: an updated picture of the basement. New windows, subfloor, carpet, and paint. I'm enamored with all the improvements and can't decide which is my favorite. Natural light, warm floor, soft carpet, or clean, earthy paint color.... all totally awesome. Also awesome is my hardworking husband who works tirelessly to make me happy.

I mixed together 7 partial gallons of paint to come up with this sagy green color. I love how it turned out. I poured over greenish paint chips for a few weeks until my husband encouraged me to just mix my own. I love to paint, it is one home improvement project I can do without my man's expertise. So, I have a lot of paint and most of it is in the natural shades. 

There was one scary point when I had about 3 gallons total mixed and the color was MINT. In a panic, I called my interior decorator grandma and pleaded for help. She recommended mixing in some red and dark brown and I was back to the earthy tones I crave. She also suggested working with a small amount in a cup and keeping track of the ratios I added so I didn't end up with a 5 gallon "oops." Brilliant woman.

And now I need a little design help. I am purchasing fabric for slip-cover for a couch that I got for nearly free. The whole fabric series is on clearance, so time is a-tickin away.

Paisley

Stripe

Geometric

Dot

I also want to do something on the 4 small windows, maybe a roller shade. It's easy to snoop in basement windows, so I would like to be able to cover them when we aren't playing down there.

My first thought is paisley for the couch, stripe for the windows. That's the safe bet, but is boring.

I'm drawn to the playfulness of the polka dot and that groovy geometric print. Leave me a comment with your input! You will save me from asking my husband one more time for his opinion and getting that glazed-over "Please don't ask me about decorating" look.

PS All the fabrics are medium upholstery weight and are the same clearance price.

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Encouraging Words

Sometimes good advice takes awhile to sink in. I can hear something valuable and nod my head in agreement, "Yes, yes, that's right." Good advice means nothing unless practiced. And that's where life found me when I heard the same good advice again:



Speak kindly about your children to their father and he will be encouraged. Speak harshly in frustration and their father will be frustrated with them.




I first read that nugget of wisdom about 5 years ago in a book on being a good wife (Created To Be His Help Meet, Pearl). Sure, it made sense. I usually unloaded my frustrations on my husband and he in turn would be irritated, especially at our challenging toddler (at the time we had one child who caused me lots of angst all day long). I thought the advice was good, but I didn't change my behavior.



For years, I've followed the same pattern. My kids were behaving terribly (now 3 of them causing me angst), I got frustrated and I called my husband to tell him all about it. Or he wasn't available and I fed my frustrations until he got home and then I really piled the heavy load of my day on to his capable shoulders. It kinda made me feel better to throw all that nasty irritation at him.



I called it "sharing." Shouldn't a father hear about every terrible thing his children did that day? I justified my frustrated venting by thinking I was enlightening him to his offspring's behavior. And I was. He was enlightened... and frustrated.




Nothing makes a man crankier than being confronted with a problem he can't fix.  Problem: irritated wife + naughty kids = cranky father. The result was unpleasant. What can a man do with this? He wants everyone happy and he walks into his home to find chaos.



My foul mood spread to the whole family. Mom is powerful like that. If Mama aint happy, aint nobody happy.

"It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop [on the flat oriental roof, exposed to all kinds of weather] 

than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome, and faultfinding woman." 

(Proverbs 21:19)

That's what Scripture says, so maybe it was time to heed that good advice and my husband could come in off the roof:



Speak kindly about your children to their father and he will be encouraged. Speak harshly in frustration and their father will be frustrated with them.






The advice goes along with my resolve to be thankful from moment to moment. One sentence doesn't adequately describe how huge a change it has been. I was missing so many blessings because of a bad attitude. And in turn, I was spreading my toxic outlook to my husband.



As I see more joy, I can share it with my husband. Instead of calling my husband's cell phone in frustration, I now call to tell him about something funny one of his children did or a behavior that was really great. Instead of venting all the naughty things our children did today, I tell him about the good things. The highlights. He is proud of them and proud of me for delighting in his children.

An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

(Proverbs 31:10-12)

I changed my frustrated words to encouraging ones. The results have been amazing! This was actually a quick fix. My husband is encouraged! So many times over the last few weeks my husband and I have exchanged a smile over the heads of our children. Silently we are saying, "Aren't they amazing!!? How awesome that we get to be their parents." Because I am more positive, he is able to be blessed by his children.



I still share the challenges from my day. My husband is my partner. There is time to talk about parenting frustrations, but amazingly enough, my husband is much more receptive.



This is a little good advice that goes a long way. I hope you give it a try... sooner than I did.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, 

a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

(Ephesians 5:1-2)

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It Bag

I am not a super-expensive It Bag kind of girl, but every once in a while a super-special bag just gets stuck in your head. Here are my top three favorite It Bags that I will not be purchasing (just occasionally dreaming about):


Mayle Billie Bag ($575)


Vanessa Bruno Lune Satchel ($738)


Alexander Wang Eugene Tote ($795)

Do you have a favorite It Bag? Read More.. Read More..

"Go to the basement!" punishment

My kids like to drive me crazy and "run the loupe." The loupe goes through the living room, dining room, hallway, mudroom, and right through the middle of the kitchen and back again in a circle. Pushing some noisy car, screaming and chasing eachother, blankets over their heads and running into walls. It's especially loud when other kids are over. Oh my! 

Every day when they are running to and fro, I say, "If you want to run, go to the basement!" There is plenty of room down there. But the children do not go unless forced.

"Come on, please just go play in the basement!!?" I beg, I plead. I force.

They cry.

And what's not to love?

Windows covered over because they are broken.

Mold growing in the corner.

Cold, uneven, dirty concrete floors.

Storage space mixed with all the un-loved and broken toys.

Dark and dank. 

Circus paint treatment from previous tenants. Not to mention the outdoor siding used on inside walls.

One of my nephews was over at Christmastime and I sent the kids downstairs to play. Soon after, my nephew came up crying, "There are mice and slugs down there!" And what could I say to comfort the poor boy. It's true.

Mice and slugs.

For 9 years we kinda pretended like we didn't have a basement. On tours of our house, I would skip that door saying, "Oh, its just the basement. It isn't finished. More like, "It's frightening."

About 8 years ago, Jeff made a valiant effort to spruce the place up. He thought it would be a fun game room for friends to hang out. He cleaned it all up, put up the falling down ceiling, and painted the walls white. The big problem was still the coldness, moisture, and it was VERY loud. Two adults couldn't have a conversation if anything else was going on. 

We rarely used it.

Jeff and I decided it was time to tackle this project. Is it even possible to turn this unused, creepy, dank space into a livable, inviting retreat for young and old?

We started about 3 weeks ago with a major clean-up. Also, Jeff installed new windows. Let there be light! A subfloor was next. Then paint. Then carpet. I can't wait to show you the results.

Someday soon, "go play in the basement" won't be a punishment. :)

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