Re-purpose? And giveaway.

I was shopping at my favorite store, a local thrift shop called H2O, and as usual I was determined to find a treasure. This place has lots of junk at really cheap prices. What's not to love?

I was almost done combing through the bargain basement when I saw a smooth and elegant piece of fabric shoved in the piles of yucky 1980's pilled sheet sets. I pulled out the fabric to investigate and found what appeared to be a curtain panel, about 40" by 108." The tag said "West Elm," so you know I bought it even though it was pricy at one whole dollar.

It appears to be brand new with packing creases still intact. I looked on West Elm's website, but this particular curtain is no long available. Their similar panels are $60 and up for one.

The fabric is a smooth, sheer burlap and the edges are bound in satin. Really a dramatic and lovely piece.

I'm a fan of West Elm for their sophisticated, modern country decor. Rustic finishes made chic with polished accessories. But wow, is their stuff expensive!

But now my question is.... what do I do with my amazing curtain panel?

My earlier shirt-turned-pillow inspiration tapped out my genius. I'm at a loss.

I don't have any single windows in the house where this panel could go, so it needs to be re-purposed.  Please, please leave a comment with your ideas. 

If I use your suggestion, I'll send you a Starbuck's gift card.

Thanks in advance for your help!

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An ordinary day with a better outcome.... plus a GIVEAWAY.

It's easy to appear perfect here. So white and bright and clean on my blog. I never post pictures of the nastiness (except if it is Bag Balm related). And I never, never yell at my kids. I never say nasty things to them. You think you know me... the perfect me.... but you don't.

This is what today looked like:

• Good morning world. Fed the baby at 7am. He spit up all over me and the sheets.
• I put on exercise clothes and made oatmeal for breakfast.
• I ate my oatmeal while feeding Rem some baby oatmeal with peach puree. Yum.
• Cleaned off the table while amazing husband loaded the dishwasher and started it.
• Picked-up the garbage around the house and found 15 dirty diapers sitting in the hallway where the garage can is supposed to be.
• Wondered where the garage can went.
• Said goodbye to my husband and sent the girls upstairs to get dressed, make their beds, and clean their room and put Rem in bed for a morning nap.
• Started the Shred DVD and began a very intense workout.
• Was interrupted by the girls coming down, one very smelly and one very unhappy with the smelly one. The girls started exercising with me, running through my legs during lunges and sitting on me when I did sit-ups. I endured the stench from Mandy's poopy diaper, then she decided to change her own dirty diaper and I paused the DVD to intervene.
• While I dealt with that mess, I wiped out the sink and cleaned the toilet because they were on my list for today from the motivated moms checklist.
• Rem was crying in his crib after hearing all the ruckus from dirty diaper #1 and I found that he had a dirty diaper too. Changed it making 2 for the morning.
• Tried to pick up the living room floor so I could vacuum and realized I forgot to give Rem his bottle. Sat down to feed him.
• Heard screaming from upstairs, "Mandy is cleaning the toilet and licking her hands!" I put the baby back in bed and ran upstairs to find not too bad of a mess, but plenty of germs ingested by Mandy. Gross.
• I encouraged the bed making, dressing, and room cleaning while I wiped out the sink and cleaned the toilet, changed the hand towel, and replenished the TP stash in the upstairs bathroom.
• Came back downstairs with a basket full of pink dirty clothes and vacuumed the living room, throwing everything from the floor onto the chair and couches. Another task to cross off my list.
• Ran to the basement and started a load of laundry and brought up 3 loads of clean and dry clothes to be folded. Added them to the couch to be folded later.
• Smelled something icky and realized it was me. Thought about taking a shower.
• Told Mandy to go to the potty and she did it. Amazing. Yay for dry underwear!
• Let the girls choose a Christian movie to watch on YouTube. They chose Adventures In Odessey. 
• I changed the sheets on the bed in my room where Rem puked on them and then stretched out on the comfy bed to take in some of God's Word. I read in Micah and then prayed for patience, endurance, and joy. Reminded me of an old cartoon called Anamaniacs: Pinky would ask Brain, "What are we going to do today Brain?" He would answer, "Same thing we do every day Pinky. Try and take over the world." That's my life. Every day: try to take over the world with patience, endurance, and joy. I also prayed for focus of thought as I banished the Anamaniacs and tried to pray again.
• Started another 10 minute continuation of movie for the girls and once again thought about a shower. The dishwasher was still running AND the washing machine. The combination would have been horrible, so instead I called my sister to see if she had done the Shred and more importantly to gloat that I had. While chatting, I swept the floor in the dining room, kitchen, and entryway.
• Another 10 minutes gone. The girls then watched a really strange, but Biblically accurate portrayal of Adam and Eve and I ran to take a shower. Hot/cold, hot/cold, hot/cold. Love water fluctuation in old houses! I was in and out and dressed in 5 minutes, face moisturized, and moose in my hair, hoping for the best.
• I found a wall in the hall covered in blue ink. I called for Mandy and she claimed she drew me a pretty picture. I got out the soft scrub and she scrubbed (to no avail). 
• I realized I was almost done with my extra chores for today and quickly did the last thing on the list, clean out the freezer. I got sloppy joes out for lunch.
• Moving on, I encouraged the girls to help me fold three loads of laundry by paying them with one piece of candy when they were finished. Both helped and folded with beautiful attitudes. 
• UNTIL we were done and I asked Mandy to go use the potty. She threw a royal fit, screaming, and throwing herself around. I left her alone to work out her frustrations until I heard, "Stupid mommy. Stupid." At that point she was made to change locations to the time-out chair where she encountered some "picy" on her tongue and other discipline. She also lost all chances of a candy prize.
• We then attempted school. Emma got out her book and reviewed the last letter while I talked with Mandy. She wanted to play Play-doh and I said sure, as soon as you go use the potty. She obediently walked into the bathroom and went with no complaint and dry underwear. Strange child.
• Rem woke up from his nap and had a poopy diaper. Changed #3 for the day.
• Rem played on the floor, Mandy played with Doh, and repeated everything I said while I talked with Emma about "C" "O" and "Q." Such similar looking letters, but are oh, so different.
• Almost time for lunch, I put carrots in the oven to roast with seasoning salt, salt, and pepper. 
• Made the girls set the table.
• Was thankful for hard to break Corel dishes.
• Nursed the baby who was far more interested in the dish breaking attempts in the dining room.
• Got a call from my husband saying he would be late for lunch.
• Smelled something gross and realized it was Mandy in her nice, clean (formerly) underwear. Changed #4 for the day.
• The baby cried for more food.
• Finally sat everyone down for lunch. Sloppy joes and carrots for us, oatmeal and apple sauce for the baby.

And here I sit, the house quiet with all three napping. My list isn't all that impressive, although I was a tad more motivated than usual. Moms have a constant "to-do" that look like this. Finish one thing, just to realize there is more to be done somewhere else. It is a relentless job.

I really reached a low this last Fall. The relentless, all consuming push of motherhood had taken the best of me and I was beaten. Although I had a new baby, it wasn't post-partum depression. I was void of joy. It was a bad attitude leaving me irritated with life 24/7. One morning in particular I woke up with dread like any other morning. My loving husband kissed me and tried to snuggle as I tried to hovel deeper under the covers, "What do you have going on today," He pleasantly asked. And I snapped back, "The same horrible day I always have. The children will make messes and be naughty, the house will be a filthy mess. I DON'T WANT THIS DAY!" And he was sorry for asking and happy he got to go to work.

On that morning, I finally grumped out of bed at the last possible moment and turned on the computer. A friend posted on Facebook that Dobson had a great podcast to listen to called, "Real Help for Angry Moms." I knew I needed to listen to it. I put a movie on for the girls and found the podcast on and listened while I cleaned a really yucky kitchen. I cried all the way through both episodes. The speaker, Julie Ann Barnhill talked about the frustrations of motherhood. Yes, they are normal. Yes, it's hard. And here is how to get through it without the anger. Without the stress and irritation that robs all the joy from the process.

I immediately ordered her book, "She's Gonna Blow, real help for moms dealing with anger." When it arrived in the mail a few days later, I devoured the contents. For so long I had known that I had a problem with anger, even reached out to a few other moms asking how they dealt with it, but received no real help. This book gave me real help.  Julie Ann defines the anger moms feel and then shows how to overcome it and change. Along the way, she gives concrete ideas based on Scripture. The book was just what I needed.

All this happened in early December and the road to change has come very, very hard for me. There are 40,000 things a day that are irritating. If you made it through my to-do list for today, you saw that I didn't finish my work-out, I had to change 4 gross poops (one being in underwear), found ink pen on my wall, was called "stupid" by a child, taught school, potty trained a 2 year old, and had a husband who was late for a meal I prepared. All of those things are reasons for me to simmer, be irritated and snappy and/or explode. But I didn't. By the grace of God and his ever sufficient grace, I am gaining ground and changing. I found joy and pleasure with my children like I've only heard about on blogs. My God is so good.

I know I'm not alone, but it is not an easy thing to talk about. Although I don't expect lots of comments saying, "I totally understand," I hope to lure you in with the promise of a free book. So, I'm giving away a "She's Gonna Blow," book to one lucky mom who is ready to read it. Enter to win by leaving a comment and I will randomly draw a winner on Thursday, April 29th. My only condition is that you are willing to read the book and that you think you might learn something. If your greatest life's stress is whether you should pick your toenails or watch Oprah today, then you need not apply.

Have a joy filled day,

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Cookbook winner and some recipes

I used Random.org to generate a random (imagine that) number between 1 and 30. The service was quite extraordinary and gave me a really random number. Katie D. is the winner! I enjoyed reading through the fantastically yummy holiday food ideas from all those longing to win the PW cookbook. Katie submitted Chocolate Snow Caps and I want to try them right now. I should have made the rules to winning the cookbook to include bringing me yummy treats in order to win. Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. In large bowl, mix oil, chocolate, granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours.
2. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray.
3. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into powdered sugar; roll around to coat and shape into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.

One of my husband's family traditional foods is Portzilke, a German dumpling translated to mean New Year's Cookie. Jeff's grandma always made these on New Year's Day and I am continuing the tradition. They are like a donut with raisins. Seriously delicious if you are into the idea of deep fried sugary dough.

1 c. warm milk

1 pkg dry yeast

1/2 cup. warm water

3 eggs

1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. sugar

2 c. raisins

3 c. flour

• Dissolve yeast in warm water and milk. Add all other ingredients. Beat well. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk (dough will be runny). Heat fat about 3 inches deep to 380 degrees. Drop a tablespoon of dough at a time into the fat. Brown on both sides. Shake warm cookies in granulated sugar. Eat 45 and save 3 for your husband. All is well. Yields 4 dozen.

• Start weight loss regimen tomorrow.

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Recipes from an accidental country girl...

I have this totally awesome friend. I would never say that I value my friends based on the gifts they give me. No, no, friendship is about sharing and caring. Not about gifts at all.

Laura stood in line for 2 and a half hours to get me the Pioneer Woman's cookbook autographed in Nashville. That's some sharing and caring!

PW actually scrawled my name across the page. I wonder if the crazy spelling of my name haunted her, "One 'l', a 'y' not an 'i', and a 'u' not an 'o.'

To Alysun

Enjoy!

(heart)

Ree/PW

Sigh. I am utterly content. Thanks Laura for this awesome gift! I was drooling over this cookbook ever since I heard PW was working on it last year. My sister and I agreed we had to have it. Of course we both set about getting it for each other's Christmas gift this year (great minds think alike). Then Laura stepped in and stole the show. Sorry sis! But it is autographed to me. I was so excited about receiving the cookbook from Laura that I told my sister about it. She said, "Great," really un-enthusiastically. Turns out she had already bought me a copy.... un-autographed. It wasn't her fault PW hasn't visited the northwest. Now we were in a quandry. My sister had a copy of the cookbook already and I had a copy that I had ordered for her, plus my super cool autographed copy. We scrambled about and exchanged different gifts on Christmas, leaving me with 2 copies of Pioneer Woman Cooks, Recipes From An Accidental Country Girl.

It's a great cookbook and has some fabulous photography and lots of good recipes. I'm keeping my autographed copy and hugging it each night as I fall asleep. I'll get around to cooking from it sometime soon too. And I am giving away the other book to one of you! Leave me a comment to win the random drawing (I'll ship the cookbook anywhere). I will announce the winner on Friday, January 1st, before noon my time. In your comment, tell me what your favorite recipe is to make during the holidays. Don't forget, your comment should include a way to contact you.

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Give-away, but not from me...

Oprah is also giving away meals from KFC. Get 4 coupons for their new grilled chicken. Just go to Oprah.com/kfc to download the coupon.

I love blog giveaways! I really do. I won something from Design With Christine a month ago and received it in the mail -- it was better than Christmas!

Check out another one of my favorite decorating sites, the Lettered Cottage, and enter to win this table runner from an Etsy seller:

Check out that initial. It was meant for me!

Also, Design Mom is doing a giveaway every day this week in honor of Mother's Day. I was bummed I didn't win the silk baby sling from yesterday. Some blogs get a lot more entries than others, so the odds aren't great. When I won on Christine's blog, I was one of 15. Another blogger who frequently does giveaways is the Pioneer Woman (mixers, kitchen stuff, Photoshop, photo books from Snapfish). I enter almost every time she gives something away and I am one of about 15,000. Alyce is a friend from church and she also does frequent giveaways (books that she has previously reviewed). Most the time, all you have to do is leave a comment and check back to see if you won. Pretty easy!

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And the winner is...

We have a winner and it's Sara. Thank you everyone for commenting and mounding me with compliments. I will live another day to blog about paradise. :) Give-aways are fun! I should do them more often -- with a sponsor of course. I need a sponsor like Cannon and I could give away cameras, or Target, or Pottery Barn?("Today I'm giving away the Arlington leather seating collection valued at $15,000.") I might not be quite there yet. Stay tuned.... Read More.. Read More..

Commenting on comments and my first big give away!

I love them. I need them. I wouldn't blog without them. They make my days sunnier and give me purpose. No, not my children, but the above longings do apply to my two sweet daughters. I am actually talking about comments. Blog comments specifically (especially the nice ones). I often hop from blog to blog and wonder how come some blogs get lots of comments and not on others. What makes a post most comment-able?

One thing about me is that if I like a blog and stay there for more than 10 seconds, I will leave a comment. My husband commented (no pun intended) that he thought it was strange when strangers commented on my blog. I confessed that I comment on strangers blogs all the time. And he thought I was strange. I comment because I want the person to know that what they are doing means something to me. If I laughed or if I cried, or if I was encouraged, I think the author should know that little ol' me enjoyed it. I hope people would do the same for me, although many don't. (I see you Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Grand Prairie, Alberta and I am anxiously waiting for you to comment some day.)

I love getting comments and I've developed a little bit of a following of commenters I know I can depend on. They are with me through long mommy ramblings and funny posts with pictures -- everybody loves pictures. Sometime people come out of the wood work, so to speak, and specific post got tons and tons of comments. I'm no pioneer woman, but I think 13 comments is tons and tons. Okay. Call be desperate, but I take what I can get. I did a little research and thought I would share what topics in 2008 got the most comments on Paradise.

I knew in 2008 that I was going to have to show some humility; let you see the real me. You loved hearing about Alaythia (my life guarding alter ego), my saggy skin post pregnancy, frightening hair trials, my insurance issues, and I let you all know I don't have perfect grammar (you were deceived for so long).

Apparently thought provoking surveys are also popular because I received many comments on what to do with my books, what I should do when I have to go the bathroom really, really bad, what my children should call adults, and whether or not I should delve into the world of leggings. Thanks for all your help. What would I do without you? I'd be over loaded with books, my kids would be calling you all by your first names (gasp!), and I would never wear leggings again. I don't want to live in that world.

If only I could be really funny every day, I think I could be PW and get 3, 000+ comments a day. My 2 funny posts for the year were a big hit. Read this one and this one and you'll never look at barley or butt cracks the same way again. I'm setting my sights higher for 2009 and I will attempt to do 3 hilarious posts. Stay tuned and keep the comments coming.

In reviewing other sites and doing extensive research, I've discovered what I am lacking. What will take the commenters to the next level (more than 13)? That's right. A. HUGE. GIVE. AWAY. Hold on to your mouse because I am doing my first give away! Since my idea of tons of comments is 13, then you can expect my idea of a HUGE give away may not be that huge. It is a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com. It could be yours for a comment here on this post (maybe also check out my last post about marriage -- it is feeling lonely and just a bit self-conscious). Comment about your favorite post from the 2008 and you could be the winner.

* One entry per person (let's here from you Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Alberta).

* Deadline for commenting to win the prize on this post is Sunday afternoon-ish-sometime.

* Winner to be selected Sunday night (1/4/09) by asking my husband to randomly pick a number. He may not be a blogger, but you can trust him with this weighty responsibility.

* The gift certificate will be awarded electronically, so go ahead and comment even if you are on the other side of the world (if you Amazon can get to you, so can I). I love hearing from my international blogging friends.

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