She Makes It Look “Breezy” Giveaway With Marybeth Whalen
Published June 3, 2011Note: Due to a few glitches over the weekend when my site was unavailable, I have decided to leave this post & giveaway up until Wednesday. Also, if you still want to hop on my Facebook study on time & home organization based on my book, click here:
Ever looked at another woman and silently whispered to God, “Uh….I think I’ll take what she’s having, please”.
Yes, on the surface ‘she’ seems to have it all–good looks, a nicer-than-yours home, a solid marriage, better-behaved-than-yours kiddos and that natural knack at living life well with her canned goods alphabetized and never a dvd late fee or missed appointment.
She makes life look like a breeze while you? Well, you feel the whirl winds of life are about to knock you over and blow you completely away!
I’ve been there. I’m still there sometimes. How about you?
When will we ever learn that the grass isn’t greener on the other side? The grass is actually greener where you are careful to place the sprinkler, spread a little Miracle Grow and be intentional to pull your own weeds!
Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller.
Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.
Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.
She makes it Look Easy is the latest novel by my close friend & Proverbs 31 writer Marybeth Whalen. And you have a chance to win it, along with some other items that can make your life a bit more of a breeze! Simply leave a comment on this post. The random winner will be announced Monday. The giveaway includes:
~ A signed copy of She Makes it Look Easy
~ A mouse pad/notepad combo for you to use by your computer and make lists or doodle.:-)
~ A fun ink pen.
~ A set of sticky notes with a matching notepad for your purse or to place by the phone.
~ A $10 gift card to TJ Maxx/Marshalls– a place where I always find cool organizing & office-y stuff.
So, for your comment. Although the book is about comparisons, the lesson of the story is how to be content with your life and stop wishing you were someone else. So, no comments about what areas of your life you wish were more like someone else’s. Instead, let’s be a little goofy.
If you could have a different name, what name would you choose? We fondly refer to this our “Panera name”.
Yes— I have friends who like to leave a different name with the worker at Panera Bread for their order. That way, instead of hearing “Brenda?” when their sandwich is up. They stroll over when they hear the employee call out “Seneca?” :-)
Maybe it isn’t an exotic or regal name, but what is another name you like?
250 Responses to She Makes It Look “Breezy” Giveaway With Marybeth Whalen
Leave a Reply
Subscribe
My Family
Fun!
I’d like Gabriella.
Ok, granted I came up with my “panera” name at age five but it would be ‘Cinderella’.
I would be Monique
Next time I go to Panera, I’ll be Josie.
I like Anya.
Josephine or Emiline
I like Anna.
Oh, this is too funny!!! I think I’m going to choose HOPE…’cause that’s my favorite word EVER!!! Thanks for the chance to win! I’m having a give-a-way at Jeremiah 29:11, if you would like to visit and enter! HOPE you have a great weekend!
I would be Victoria!!
Some great names so far! I think my “Panera” name would have to be Giselle. Always thought that sounded kind of exotic to a small-town country girl like me. Have a great weekend!
That is too cute…I never thought to do that…Just call me Elizabeth, thank you
)
I like Tailor Grace. And yes, Tailor is spelled the way I want it to be spelled. We are tailored in the image of Christ – saved by Grace.
Oh my, Tailor Grace is so creative!!! love it
Me too!
My name would be Kathryn Beth…
Ah too fun! When I was in the 3rd grade I wanted to change my name to Kathryn. But now I love Elizabeth.
i have to admit there have been times I would like another name…..since Bobbie gets spelled several different ways, like Bobby….and comments like they must have wanted a boy, oh my. I do love my middle name Anne. Anne Grace is would be my choice. Have a great day and thanl you for your post.
I’m at Panera too much to try to pull off a fake name.
I’ll pick up my panera order by the name of “Joy” next time I go there…..b/c I am trying to be reminded of JOY in all areas of my life!
I can’t wait to read this book!
Once when my husband & I went out to dinner we gave them the name “Fine” & every time they asked how we were/how everything was & we responded fine – we would smile at the private joke
it’s a good memory
My “Panera name” would be Ruby. Hahaha! What a fun thing to do on a Friday! Thanks for the giggle Karen. I never read the other comments, but today I think I will have to return and read the other “names’ people have chosen. By the way Karen, what is your “Panera name”? : ]
I knew someone would ask!
Savannah
I think I’ll choose Faith. Thanks
I think I’ll be Kiki!
I think I would like to be a Lucy.
wow, I don’t have a panera bread name, but the woman b4 me said, Kiki, which is my daughters name, and so I will say that, because she would get a huge kick out of that!
I wanted to comment just to say how awesome the book is. I started stalking B&N as soon as I heard about it and downloaded it as soon as it was available. Finished it yesterday! Loveloveloved it!!
Think I will need to read her first book now!
Holly
Via email: I can’t get on your blog so I can’t leave my comment. But as far as a different name I’d use it would be Phoebe. It is different but fun.
Thank you, Stephanie Lutes
My husband calls me “Queenie” but I always wanted to be a Deborah
Thank you, Joan.
Karen, I just love this quote of yours “The grass is actually greener where you are careful to place the sprinkler, spread a little Miracle Grow and be intentional to pull your own weeds!”
I have always liked the name Nichole, but there are so many hip new names I’d probably choose if I had more time to ponder!
Panera name – - Sally!!! My real name is Daniela – “da knee la”. Would love to have a name others automatically pronounce correctly. I named my daughter Jill for that very reason.
I like Hope for my Panera Name. Love your blog. Have a great weekend.
Ohhhhh…how fun! I have always loved the “two-name” name…like Emmy Lou, or Saddie Mae…they just make me smile and think of a vivacious girl full of life and love running in some big sunny field of glorious wild flowers with the radiance of God on her smiling face!
To be honest, I’ve never even thought about another name I would like to be called. My boys call me “mom” and my hubby calls me “beautiful”. There have been some really great choices throughout the comments, so with not much time to sit and ponder I will choose “Princess” because I am the only one in this house full of testosterone and it’s exactly how my Prince of Peace sees me : )
My grandkids call me Honey and I love to hear it come out of their mouth but I think I
will be Emily Elizabeth!! Must use both names!
I need a refocus! I can’t do it all!!!!
hOW fUN!! My pretend name would Katherine Victoria. Very “stately.”..don’t you think!!
I will be Margherita! I don’t know why that is the first name to pop into my head, sounds festive and fun!
Love your comment about the greener grass and the Miracle Grow.
I would be Lily Pearl because it’s simple & sweet!
If I hadn’t named my daughter, Megan, I would have chosen Tess or Tessa so I guess I’ll try using both (at different visits, of course).
I had to laugh, I go by “Nadine” on those awful days…. She looks like me, especially when I look in the mirror, but she’s not the nice, caring and thoughtful woman that I am. In honor of my cousin though, I think I’d like to be called Stella. She loved hearing them holler “Stella” when her order was ready and I always thought it was funny. Her name was really Coleen.
Hmmm. I guess my Panera name would be Morgan — after a gorgeous female friend I had years ago. She made it look easy!
I have always loved the name Esther. ?
Oops I meant to say Esther Violet ?
Growing up, I always wanted to be Tiffany!
I would love to hear Cutie Patootie! Wouldn’t that be fun!
I love Camille!!!!! I always loved the name so I named one of my daughters that!
I would choose the name Julie!
I’ve always wanted to be a Lauren. This book sounds wonderful!
This new book sounds so good.
Haven’t been to Panera Bread in over 7 years now, since I moved from Houston, Texas to eastern North Carolina. Use to love to go there. My daughter and I always used her name, Sheena.
I’ve always loved Tessa…although I actually like the fact that my name is spelled differently. There were definitely a bunch of Ch-K-ristis or Ch-K-ristinas during my age group. Not much since then. Loved reading about this new book. It seems that organization keeps smacking me “upside the head”
I’d like Clara or Kathryn
Wow, I’ve never thought of a different name for me. I guess I’d choose Abigayle – spelled that way because my mom’s name is Gayle. Loved the comment earlier choosing Anne Grace. That’s our youngest one’s name – literally grace upon grace. We’d thought about Grace Anne, but her initials would have been GAG!
I would have to choose Grace for the irony when I trip over something on the way to get my order
This is one thing I haven’t thought about. Although, I have always liked the name Melanie, so I’d probably go with that one.
There are so many thousands, maybe millions with my name, Debbie. I’d like to have a more unique name. One of my favorites is Sophie………or Emmy.
What an awesome blog and what fun this is!! MaryBeth is awesome and so gifted. Gosh, we can all think of things we don’t like about ourselves can’t we? I always loved the name Carly. My first name is Carla, but Carly just always sounded more fun and not so old. lol
You girls are real blessings,
(Carly) Robin Prater
I would be something unique like, Kennedy or Donovan
Hannah
I have always loved the name Cammeryn. I imagine it might be a challenge for a Kindergartener to memorize, but, as an adult, I think it would be lovely.
Christina- LOVE that name! All my kids names end in “ryn”:-)
I work in a school, how kind of you to think of those poor kindergartners that are still writing their looonnnggg name while the rest of the class is halfway through the page…LOL. Your comment made me smile!
I love my name, so I really wouldn’t want a different one. I didn’t like it when I was a kid, though, and thought I’d like to be Orrie Lynn or maybe Samantha
Love your blog!
I LOVE my name…Joy! The fact that my Daddy named me because he was so looking forward to a baby girl. Before he died he told me what a “JOY” I was to him! I LOVE my name!
Actually, I’ve always loved my name and have never tried using another.
I too, love my name and think my mother blessed me. I also follow Mary Beth’s blog and enjoy her so much. So I’ll stick with my real name Karen! Blessings
As a young girl I hated my name, I never could find a bike tag with my name on it. Now I love my name. But I used to pretend my name was Laurie Kay.
When I was little, there was NEVER anything personalized… now it is a very common name, and you can always find stuff!
My name Miranda has always been one of the hardest names for people to pronounce. When I was young I was called melinda maryann anything but Miranda. It was to long for my family to pronounce so they called me Randie. I love my nick name. Some people would call me Mirandie when they found out my nickname. My name started alot of conversations. ” its okay” I would say lots of people can not pronounce my name. Don’t be embarresed just call me Randie.” A name to laugh about. I call it a happy name.
Miranda white
I cannot come up with another name… even though it may not be that common that is all I can come up with!
I’ve always enjoyed my “legal” name, Kathleen. Now that I’m past 65 years, it seems more appropriate than the name “Kathy” which has a bit more younger sound than my given name. So, methinks I will switch to the more formal to reflect a person of maturity and a real “grown up” person.
My middle name is Thrace, which is the name of an ancient city in Greece. I love my middle name and think it would be so cool to have that as my first name!
I have always liked my given name because while I was growing up it was not to common and still is not. Plus, it is an Irish name and I am all about those
Colleen G.
Hmm…never thought about this before. I kind of like my name… used to hate my middle name, Ann, but it has even grown on me. I think if I could choose another name, though, it would be Bella Grace.. beautiful grace =)
“Panera name!” I love it! I’ll take “Phoebe.”
I love my name but if I had to choose another name it would be Linda because that is my mother’s name.
I actually love my name, so I haven’t really thought about choosing another one. But, I could go with what adjective might be describing me at that moment… like, say, “Forgetful” or “Tired” or “Blessed.” Kind of like a weird spin on the seven dwarves’ names.
Thanks for this kind opportunity! I so look forward to reading Marybeth’s new novel in the future, regardless!
I’ve always liked the name Camille, so looks like the next time I go to Panera’s with my girlfriends I’ll hear them call me by Camille! What fun!
I have always liked Scallet
Scarlet is what I meant
My Panera name would be Katherine Belle. Not sure why, just sounds good. Love the idea of a Panera name though.
Definitely Matilda. Not sure why I love that name, but I do and that would be the name I would choose for my alias. Fun idea too~perhaps I’ll start using that at restaurants (safer it seems!). : ) Blessings Karen!
I’ve never thought of a different name for myself. Having a panera name is a cool idea though.
my ‘new’ name would be ‘elisabeth’….thanks for the chance to read this novel
I like my name Nicol- it is still distinct enought. though becoming more popular- but if I could choose? Maybe- Lydia….it is soft and feminine, yet gives a sense of a strong woman.
That’s tough. I like my given name too, Kimberly, although I go by Kim. My Dad, who passed away five months ago chose that name for me and I am honored to have it. But if I had to choose a “Panera name”, I think I would go with Sadie.
I would be Francesca
I’ve loved the name PRISCILLA since I’ve been a little girl. Back then, I didn’t know it was actually a “bible” name! Imagine my surprise when I came to know the Lord that the name Priscilla is mentioned in His Word!
Monique
I think I would like to be “Kathleen”. It sounds so important.
While, I like my na,me. For fun, if I could choose, I love the name ‘Eliza’. Sounds a bit old fashioned and strong.
I always wanted to have a name that I considered regal like Kate, Elizabeth, or Lauren.
I like to use my Nickname as much as possible…its a great conversation starter & its a meaningful one that comes from the Isaiah 61:1-3 yrs I’ve had since Suicide Loss , menopause, remarriage, empty nest ect.
You can me STILLYBEE. Ask me why sometimes lol.
When I was growing up I wanted to be named Tiffany, like the singer from the 80′s. I loved her music and would have given anything for her life. Now I see her life wasn’t perfect like I imagined as a child, so I think I’ll just keep Dana. Over the years, I have grown into the name and come to love it. Nothing fits me better, in my opinion.
If I could have a different name – I would like: for Sophia to be my Panera name…
joining big sister Lillian Grace…
Connie K – our granddaughter – born March 28, 2011 – Eliza Kate
If I could have another name it would probably be Tatiana, or maybe Anastasia. I just love Russian names.
I would love to win this book. I devour books like a sponge soaks up water. i have always loved the name Ophelia, it means “help”. it’s so unusual and different that if i were to order soup under the name Ophelia and they called the name out – i’m pretty sure i would be the only one to respond
.
thank you!
(that was fun!)
Kristina!
I like my name but if I had to choose it would be Isabella.
I’ve always liked my name Jessie. But when I do the Panera bread game I go by Roxie! It’s a little feisty and I love it!
I have always liked my name, but I would say “Lydia”. If I had a daughter, that is what I would have named her. Fun idea!
I’ve always liked my name too. I love Andi-Jo!
This is a really cute idea! I think I would enjoy being called Carmelita. That was the first name of a teacher I had in middle school that taught us manners, how to make muffins, how to set a table, and all sorts of other things that I love to do!!
Growing up with a boy”s first name was embarrassing. My name is Ricki and yes that is my real name!!! I just turned 60 and still am asked that question today!! No longer embarrassed, I just smile and say yes. I loved my grandmother’se name, Ferra Belle….so I’ll choose her name! Kinda like playing dress up again!! How fun!!
There are so many names that I love, it’s hard to choose just one. I never have liked my name, Judy, so I would love to have a new name! I love the names that can easily be shortened and give you a “nick name”. Like Katherine (Kathy, Katie), or Elizabeth, (Liz, Lizzie, Beth) or so many others to choose from!
I’ve always loved my middle name- JANEL.
When my mom named me, Kelly, she thought it was very original. There were 4 Kellys in my Kindergarten class- and one was a boy! If that wasn’t crazy enough, my husband has a sister and step sister both named Kelly and all spelled K-E-L-L-Y!
Btw, I am reading The Mailbox right now and love it!
Well Teresa would have been nice, since that is my birth name, but my parents decided to call me Teri from day 1. Never liked it because it was also a boys name. In Jr. High I decided to change the spelling from Terry to Teri with one R……everybody still misspelled my name and they still do today. Now, when I am called Teresa, I feel a little more sophisticated.