Sneak Peek!

I just have to share some sneak peeks of Baby Girl Johnson's Nursery--her quilts! A few years ago while at Michael Levine in Downtown LA (the only fabric place worth going to in LA for quilting fabric, IMO) I stumbled upon this owl fabric and bought two yards of it on a whim. When we found out we were having a girl, I brought it to Utah on my next trip and had Mom help me pick out coordinating fabrics to make nursery quilts. I couldn't be happier with the way they turned out!!!!! A huge thanks to Mama for all her help and running around for me!

I especially love that the quilting has owls in it! And special thanks to Aunt Pat for fixing some of my applique--her blanket stitch is amazing!!

I'm so excited about it, I can't stop--now I am determined to make crib bumpers and a crib skirt to match everything, and am working out the details for it all--luckily I already have some amazing coordinates to go with it--Mom made a beautiful Yellow quilt that is perfect for the bassinet and Grandma Beck made a coral afghan. I just feel so lucky!!!

Uh-oh

Earlier today I posted on Facebook about how I needed help figuring out what I needed to get together for baby girl Johnson. So many people are so helpful and so supportive...

but guess what? It made me realize how LITTLE I've done, and how much I have left!

With Ryan, I had a spreadsheet with everything I could possibly need, and by 32 weeks i had purchased and crossed everything off that list. I'll be 34 weeks in two days, and I don't think I have a thing! The carseat needs to be washed/recovered, the crib needs to revert from being Ryan's stuffed animal storage to being a crib, new sheets to be ordered, quilts to be finished, bassinet sheets to be washed, nursing bras to be scoped out and figured out so I can purchase with relative ease once I see how ginorm I am, storage for her clothes and necessities, baby carrier to be picked out and purchased, burpcloths to be made/purchased...um, and then the 35 other things that I'm forgetting.

And I have 7 loads of laundry that I can't even manage to do. Don't mention that I need to wash all of baby Girls's clothes, too!

Let the nesting begin!!! :)

Update:

Well, my friends, it turns out a day and a half is all a girl needs to get the real necessities taken care of! I organized my thoughts/wants/needs yesterday, and this morning ventured out to Target and Babies R Us, scoring some GREAT deals and getting *almost* everything I needed for this little one. We're holding out on a few items, knowing that they'll come in or be easy to grab, and I'll make steady progress on the things I "need" to make and we'll be set!

One Little Word 2012

Last year it took me months to come up with our one little word 2011. Probably because we didn't know what was around the corner for so long, and it was a process to find "Purpose" in everything. You know what? It was a good thing that I did it rather late than never, because Purpose was exactly what we needed to focus on. I would re-use the word for this year because I like it so much, but we came up with a few other good ones last night, so on with the new!

I also have to credit Heather for motivating me to get our One Little Word in order, since she's selling cute posters of the word at her site, Simply Fresh Designs. Check them out. Buy One. Hang it up and remember it all year. And by all means, tell Heather that she is so super talented while you're at it. She has 5 kids and somehow can still stay on top of everything and still have time for the cutest lil business--that's sainthood, right there!

We have a few runners up for our one little word this year, namely:

I think if there's a word that will sum up 2012, it will be CHANGE. New living situations, New jobs, maybe a new state, new baby, new challenges with 2 kids, new challenges with kid #1, new weight loss goals, new marathons to run....lots of NEW. Lots of CHANGE. Lots of UNKNOWNS!!!! I think recognizing these things will help me keep some sanity, since I normally thrive on a set course of knowing what to expect. So if I expect change, maybe I'll be prepared for it???!?!? (Insert panicky half-laugh have terrified scream here).

As I was setting new years resolutions, I realized how impossible it is to actually control some of them. You know, like "Don't get Mastitis." BUT, there are things I can try to do, and that I can focus on, to at least get me in a better position for a lot of these things!

So, as I was looking at Seth's goals, my goals, and trying to work toward a one-word solution for all of them, it came...


ORGANIZE.

D&C 88:119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

I know the context of this scripture is referring to a "House of God" AKA Temple, but what a better example to follow than to establish a house that reflects the same order as the Temple? So, that's my goal, that's my word. We're going to work on getting this house in order--spiritually, physically, mentally!

I'm looking forward to this year. My friend Natty used to always tell me she had "Lucky Feelings" about things, and while I feel a little foreboding at the daunting changes before us, I also feel a little lucky feeling, like that we're ready for lots of tender mercies and blessings to recognize and be thankful for in this upcoming year. And as I type that I knock on wood, because we're going to need lots of that to get us through!!!

Have I mentioned that I'm a little terrified and overwhelmed lately?

I also just have to add that as Seth and I were discussing our One Little Word last night, I added that I needed a post script to our word. Organize. *Stay Sane. Wish me luck!!!

So, what's your One Little Word?

Cream Cheese Chicken and the New Year

I've been feeling really selfish for the last 20 minutes because I realized that I haven't shared my absolute favorite Chicken recipe with the internet, and it's really such a loss, so I thought I'd relieve my conscience and post it here for you all. Let's just say Donna changed my life with this one, it's creamy and delicious and super duper easy. For whatever reason, I just love it more than all the other creamy chicken recipes. And, for the record, if you use canned soup, I do not guarantee the results. It's really just as easy to use the homemade cream of chicken soup from my MIX here, and the results are out of this world.

Cream Cheese Chicken
(From the Hollywood Ward Cookbook 2010, submitted by Donna)

2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup (Undiluted) OR a double batch of homemade.
1-8oz Cream cheese (I use the 1/3 less fat one)
1 Envelope Good Seasons Italian Dressing (Dry)
6-8 Boneless Chicken Breasts

Place 1 can of soup in the crockpot, then layer the chicken over the soup. Slice Cream cheese and lay on top of chicken, followed by the dry dressing mix. Add second can of soup, cover, and cook on high for a few hours or low all day. If you are home and can stir occasionally, you will get a smoother consistency. The gravy is perfect to serve over rice or pasta.

For the record, I usually use 4 chicken breasts and it's great.

Also, if you add the tiniest touch of cream at the end, the creamy results go through the roof.

Also, I always sprinkle Paprika on the top, because Mom taught me that Paprika makes everything a little yummier.

Also, you're welcome. ;) (Haha, I'm cracking myself up today. Pregnancy does weird things to my humor).

Also, Happy New Year! One little word post coming soon....

SFD & RyanAmelia Giveaway!

Hi Friends and Family!

Just when you thought my sale couldn't get any better (hardy har har), we're doing a giveaway, too!

Head on over to Heather's professional site (Simply Fresh Designs) and enter our giveaway for a pair of earrings and a custom print!

http://www.simplyfreshdesigns.com/2011/12/ryanamelia-design-sfd-give-a-way/

Christmas Ideas!

I just thought I'd let friends and family know that I'm having a sale on my Etsy shop until Christmas! Buy three, get one free!

To get your free pair, order three earrings you'd like, and then message me the one that you'd like for free and I'll include it with your order.

Bring on fun gift giving!

Ryanamelia.etsy.com

Thankful: Day 24

Today I'm thankful for Thanksgiving!

For Family and Friends. For the YUMMY Delicious FOOD, and for what it means--we get together to express our thanks for everything!

I have to be honest, some years all these thankful posts from people drive me a little crazy. But this year, I decided to do it in part because I needed the reminder of all the things I have to be thankful for. There's nothing like counting your blessings to get out of a slump!

I loved thanksgiving growing up--the ones I remember most are the ones at Grandma Nelson's house or the Mackay's house. We always got three candy corns and got to go around the room saying the three things we were thankful for. Grandma Nelson always had the best lines, I laugh every time I think of her "thankfuls". And remember "Bingo" nights with cousins afterward? And all our fun crafts!?!? How bout that year where we crammed our family of 9 in the pulsar. I was a wee thing, but I still remember sitting up on the dashboard in the front. Was that the same year we showed up with wax lips at the door?

More recently I've spent thanksgiving away from family. Which, to be quite honest, is hard for me. I love our traditional fare, and our traditions, and just...the way we do it. But it has been fun to see the different ways we can celebrate. One year in DC I went to the Seays house, and I still remember how much that meant to me--to find a home in the big city where I could feel the spirit of thanksgiving again! The year I started dating Seth he let me come to his home, and I was so grateful to feel so included and a part of things that first year, and it was fun to see some of the traditions they have that are now a part of our family, too! And two years ago, when I was battling my second round of mastitis and bailed on helping with turkey day prep, our friends still let us come at the last minute to the Chez Seguine Thanksgiving I, which was one of my most thankful thanksgivings yet! And who will ever forget Seth's MSG free Green Bean Soup Casserole!?!?!

Thankful for memories, thankful for thanksgiving!!! (Okay, and thankful for FOOD! I am SO excited to go eat!!!)

Thankful: Day 23

Today I'm thankful for The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Living without the Gospel is hard to imagine. It's the very foundation of who I am. Often when I'm singing primary songs to Ryan I get teary, thinking that I'm pretty lucky that I was raised with the simplest and most profound knowledge as a part of my earliest years on up.

The bottom line, for me, is that Christ Lives. He loves us. He guides us. And, most importantly, he atoned for our sins and through that can carry our burdens when we rely on Him. And guess what? After I put that into perspective, some of those other "things" seem to just fall into place.

So I'm thankful for the knowledge of the Gospel, and for my Savior.

Update: I did NOT mean for my post to sound so critical or negative about the church...don't worry, I'm still in full fellowship and participation! :) I corrected it to try and sound less negative...sorry!

Thankful: Day 22

This thankful month would not be complete without the following:

I am thankful for clothes.

Since that is what more of our discretionary money goes toward than anything else (sorry Seth) I have to express my gratitude.

Confession: I finally stopped buying by size and started buying what fits. Guess what? It's AMAZING!!! I really used to only look at a certain size and if it was a little snug I convinced myself that I was just bloated or something. And you know what? Properly fitting clothes are amazing.

I've really been *trying* to get versatile pieces that are both fashion-savvy and mom-friendly. And especially with this pregnancy, I've been trying to get non-maternity clothes that I can wear for a few months after the pregnancy, too. Because we all know that the post-baby weight takes a m̶i̶n̶u̶t̶e̶ marathon to get off, and no one likes to REALLY be in maternity clothes for that time.

It's kind of fun to see what I can get away with fashion-wise. I probably make most people gag with some of my combinations and colors lately, but it's all about that creative outlet, and heaven knows I need it! :)

Thankful: Day 21

Today I'm thankful for Snuggling.

I am less of a snuggler than I used to be, but I still love it all the same! Ryan started asking to "Sun gul" all the time, and I think it's too cute.

There's nothing better at the end of a long day than a good snuggle from someone you love :)