Johnson and Johnson

Thank God for His provisions.

2012-01-29T15:48:00.000-06:00

When I quit my job last May to become a stay-at-home-mom, Brian and I knew our financial situation would be different.

We knew that sometimes it would be difficult.

And we believed more than anything that the Lord would provide.

And He has...

Countless times.

Through BIG things and little things.

He has provided.

Today we went to Publix to get groceries. I had some coupons for formula that were pretty great and expire kind of soon so I thought I would pick up a pack while we were there... just to stay ahead of the game.

As I grabbed the formula off the shelf, I noticed it was $4 less than it normally is. Woo hoo! If we could use anything, it would be a little bit less $$ on formula- let's just say that baby girl eats a lot.

I walk up to the register, put our formula on the conveyer and walk to the register.

It rang up at it's old price, not the $4 less price.

If you are a Publix shopper, you know what that means- any item that rings up wrong is given to the customer free.

We walked away with a $35 double refill pack of formula for free.

That is 1.5 weeks worth of food for our sweet girl.

*And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus.*

Philippians 4:19

Praise God for His provisions!

Rainy day.

2012-01-26T11:36:00.000-06:00

Today is the first day EA and I have just stayed at home in a LONG time.

We couldn't have picked a more perfect day. It has been raining since she woke me up this morning at 8:30 (did I mention my daughter is dreamy? Totally is.)

So far we have watched Matlock, worked on a few banners, and now I am catching up on what feels like months of my favorite blogs as I listen to her talk on our bed.

I don't have much to say but wanted to leave a note saying I am still here and I hope you are enjoying the fabulously rainy day.

Happy Thursday my friends!

On a roll.

2012-01-15T17:07:00.002-06:00

So, this week I have been on a roll with cooking dinner.

We managed to eat out alot over the holidays so I was anxious to get back into some normalcy.

Monday night was the National Championship, so we opted out of real dinner to enjoy football snacks. Congrats to the Tide, but let's just say I liked last year's winner a whole lot better. Ah, well, we win some, we lose some. War eagle.

Tuesday night I tried a new lasagna recipe that knocked my socks off. It was CRAZY simple and amazingly tasty. And Brian has mentioned how good it was at least 5 times since we sat down to enjoy the meal. (Go to the bottom of the post for the lasagna recipe!)

I won't deny it- I was tempted to go out Wednesday night. We were supposed to have crockpot chili, but I conveniently forgot to get the crockpot ready until about 2 (AKA naptime.) We had Bible study at 6, so it seemed like the best thing to do would be to grab something before we went, but instead I decided to try crockpot potatoes. Folks, this was the answer to all my potato woes. I wrapped my 2 clean, holy baked potatoes in aluminum foil, placed them in the crockpot on high, let them cook for about 3.5 hours and voila- done! Spread on the toppings and had a great dinner. I will never go back to potato confusion again. Ladies, you must try it.

Finally, the caramel to my apple.... Thursday night's meal. As I mentioned in my Football Friday posts, I really enjoying following Plain Chicken's blog... she has amazing recipes that are made with normal ingredients... I don't do fancy or over the top, so she is my recipe hero. A week or so ago she posted about her Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken Chili. The recipe is so simple and the results were fantastic. I had never made a chicken chili before but will definitely make this deliciousness again. Heavenly.

Classic Lasagna with a Johnson twist
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
2 1/2 c. Kraft Italian cheese
1 container of ricotta cheese
1/4 c. fresh parsley
1 egg
1 jar spaghetti sauce
12 lasagna noodles, uncooked

Mix 1 1/4 c. Italian cheeses, ricotta, parsley, and egg until well until blended, then set aside.
Brown meat and drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Add 1 cup of water to meat mixture. Stir until well blended.
In a 9x13 baking dish, layer 1 c. meat sauce, uncooked pasta shells, and cheese mixture. Top with another cup of meat sauce. Repeat with remaining noodles, meat sauce, and cheese.

Cover with fail and bake at 350* for 1 hour or until heated through. Remove the foil after 45 min. and finish cooking.

What are your favorite go-to meals for week nights? I would love some suggestions to keep this roll... rolling!

Cereal.

2012-01-12T10:43:00.002-06:00

Emily Ann had cereal for the first time on Tuesday night.

She was okay with it the first few bites, but became continually more disgruntled with every passing bite.

We have tried it in a bottle a few times since then and have had much more success, so I think it was just the spoon that was throwing her off. We will try again tonight and hope for a better attitude!

Have a great Thursday my friends!

A day at the park.

2012-01-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

January 1, 2012

Emily Ann- 4 months

2012-01-06T15:44:00.002-06:00

Emily Ann, you are the best. I could not ask for a better daughter and I am loving every minute of watching you learn and grow. You are absolutely precious and your Daddy and I adore you.

We love you baby girl.

Firsts: Trip to the beach, trip to the Grand, first time in the swimming pool, Christmas, visit to Daddy's work, New Year's Eve and New Years

Milestones: Holding yourself up in your Exer-Saucer, talking loudly on a regular basis

Measurements: 14 lbs. 2 oz (60th percentile), 25 inches long (90th percentile), size 2 diapers, 3-6 month clothes

Like Mommy: Big blue eyes

Like Daddy: Sometimes gets fussy when shopping....tee hee.

Food: You are eating about 6.5 oz. every 4 hours. You got the go-ahead to start on baby food at your 4 month appt!

Sleep: Most of the time, you are sleeping about 12 hours at night. You usually take a nap in the morning somewhere around the house and a nap in the afternoon in your crib. You also snooze in your pumpkin seat/ in the car when we go out during the day.

Challenges: At the beginning of the month, you fought with your bottle every time we fed you. This made feeding a verrrrrrry long process. We moved your feeding schedule from every 3 hours to every 4 hours and changed your bottles from Medela to Dr. Brown. This has made the feeding situation much much better.

Our Days: You wake up at 8:00 each morning and have breakfast. After you eat, you usually play in the Exer-Saucer or on Mommy's bed as she gets ready for the day. If we have plans for the day, we usually plan for about 10:00. This gives us time to go out before your next feeding. You eat again at 12:00 then we play from the end of that feeding until 2:00 when I lay you down for a nap in your crib. You sleep from 2:00-4:00 (unswaddled). At 4:00 you eat again, then spend some time with Daddy. You sit in your Bumbo as Mommy and Daddy eat dinner, then we play a little more before bedtime. You take a bath every other evening right before your 8:00 meal. We feed you at 8:00 and you go to bed at 8:30 (swaddled).

Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: Hearing you talk and giggle.

Daddy's Favorite: Seeing you smile when you wake up in the morning.

Nicknames: EA, Doodle Bug, Baby Girl

Photo ops:

Meeting Santa at the mall with Mommy and Grandma

Our trip to the beach

Our trip to the Grand/ First time in the pool

Naptime with Daddy

Christmas Eve with Annie

Visitin Daddy at work

Playing hard

Cooking with Mommy

Your hands in their permanent residence.... your mouth

Talking

New Year's Eve/ The Chick Fil A Bowl... War Eagle!

Goodbye 2011!

2012-01-02T16:29:00.001-06:00

This year I...

became a mom

started an online business

decorated and crafted
sold my faithful VW Beetle
became the owner of an SUV

became a graduate of graduate school

learned about selfless love

came to respect my husband even more than before

developed a greater understanding of my Lord and Savior

2011 in Review

January. We're pregnant! Auburn wins the National Championship.

February. Knit Day at the McFarlands.

March. Savannah.

April. Honda Grand Prix.

May. Trip to Gatlinburg with the Johnson's.

June. Getting ready for our Sunday School baby shower.

July. Maternity pictures by Cadence Photography.

August. EA's best friend, Johanna was born!

September. Our lives were changed forever.

October. Pumpkin patch. First Auburn football game. Happy Halloween from our little candy corn.

November. Black Friday shopping.

December. First trip to the beach. Merry Christmas!

2011 Blog Recap

2011-12-30T22:28:00.001-06:00

Following Chrissy's lead, I am featuring my most popular blog posts of 2011 based on comments. Thanks to everyone who has commented this year! And to those who haven't, I would love to hear from you!!

January-

Same Kind of Different as Me

This post featured a book review on the awesome story by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Such a picture of the work of God in people from all different backgrounds.

February-

Then and Now

I announced my pregnancy to the blog world!

March-

A Lot of Good Food

This post featured some of the delicious meals we enjoyed on our trip to Savannah.

April-

We're having a...

Our gender reveal post!

May-

The Last Day, a New Beginning

Transitioning from teacher to stay-at-home-mom.

June-

The Possibility of Early Labor

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Preview. :)

July-

Celebrate!

I finished graduate school!

August-

Baby J- Week 37 Nursery Reveal

I celebrated 37 weeks by sharing pictures of our nursery!

September-

Introducing Emily Ann Johnson

October-

The Pumpkin Patch

Documenting our family trip to the pumpkin patch!

November-

Favorite Things Party

I linked up with the Nester to document some of my favorite things!

December-

Insta-Friday

I linked up with Life Rearranged to note some fun Instagram pics!

Happy New Year everyone!

EA's first Christmas

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

Christmas is so much fun with a baby! It was so awesome to make Christmas memories with our sweet little girl- I can not wait for the Christmas's to come!

Opening a gift from Annie and Poppy

Hanging out in her new red wagon

Looking at her stash from Santa

Merry Christmas from the Johnson's!

Last minute decor

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-06:00

Several months ago, my friend Beth talked about a Pinterest find that featured old Christmas card pictures and numbered them according to the years. I loved the idea but never found the time to get the pictures printed. She mentioned how much her kids loved looking at past pictures and it dawned on me... I kind of like that too :)

A few weeks ago, Shutterfly offered a great deal that included free prints! I quickly got our Christmas card pictures from the past and a few pictures from the years we didn't send cards printed, then used my Cricut to create a background. I finished them off with the years on the back.

My favorite part is seeing where we have been and what we have done each year we have been married. I imagine hanging them from our steps when we are in a larger home, but loved how welcoming they looked on our entry mirror.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

One Year.

2011-12-27T01:00:00.000-06:00

One year ago today we found out we were expecting our precious bundle of joy.

I will never forget how I felt when that second little line appeared.

Who knew how much our lives would change? And how thankful we would be that they did.

Jan. 17, 2011

April 7, 2011

September 1, 2011

December 2011

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T19:12:00.001-06:00

Handwritten Wishes Christmas

Customize your Christmas cards this holiday at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Just Beachy- Part 2

2011-12-19T09:52:00.002-06:00

After hitting the beach on Friday, Brian, EA, and I headed to the Grand for the end of our weekend away.

The Grand is probably our favorite place. It's beautiful and peaceful and calm and all of the good things that makes a great vacation- from the amazing rooms to the warm fire pits overlooking the sunset, you really can't beat it.

This time, one of the things I was most excited about in going to the Grand was the indoor pool. Our sweet friends Jared and Ashley gave EA a swimsuit when she was born and we haven't had a chance to use it. The pool was a great opportunity to pull out the swimsuit and let Brian and EA have daddy/daughter time while I snapped pictures!

teehee, how could such an ugly look be so adorable!?

Basically, I took no other pictures at the Grand. Hindsight, I'm pretty sad about that, but it made the trip super relaxing and incredibly enjoyable!

Want to see more of our trips to the Grand? Check here and here.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Just beachy.

2011-12-19T00:07:00.000-06:00

We went to the beach this weekend.

The weather was amazing.

For EA, the verdict is still out.

For B and A, it was absolutely perfect.

Insta-Friday

2011-12-09T01:00:00.000-06:00

1. In line for EA's first trip to meet Santa at the mall. He was late, but I suppose that's forgivable because he's Santa. 2. Craft inspiration. 3. Hanging out with Great-Granny. She thinks EA is a doll. I agree. 4. So cute. 7. Sleepy Thursday. 6. I got this lovely magazine in the mail yesterday. Just a happy day surprise- a full years subscription! I'm pumped.

Our Christmas Mantel

2011-12-08T14:03:00.001-06:00

I was very pleased with our Christmas mantel this year! I knew I wanted something similar to what I had done in the past, but wanted to change it up a little to make it more unique to the year.

I used leftover scraps from our tree to make garland and added berries for a little extra color. Though it does not sit as high as artificial garland, I love the smell and the extra spunk that it adds to our decor.

On the right, I used our Willow Tree Nativity wall hanging and paired it with the Isaiah printable from Jones Design Company.

For the left, my mom and I had a craft night one evening when Brian was out of town and made book Christmas trees. After folding the pages, I hot glued the book trees onto various candle holders to change up the heights. It was such a simple craft and added a fun, classy look to my mantel display.

We placed our Willow Tree Nativity on our entry way table. I covered the table with burlap to give a more rustic look. We used our three stars as the backdrop- a great deal from Kirkland's a few years ago. We added height with a wreath on a wreath holder.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season!!

Linking up here and here!

Our Christmas Tablescape

2011-12-06T07:30:00.000-06:00

I love the challenge of setting the table for holidays or events. I like to use what I have and see what I can come up with. This year's Christmas table is a mix of old and new with new napkins from Pottery Barn accenting my Christmas china.

I began with my favorite burlap runner and layered with a solid brown runner. I puddled three striped napkins in the center of the table and topped with two artificial trees and a dome full of miniature ornaments.

At each place setting, I used my red chargers, my Christmas tree plates, and a striped napkin. I finished the napkin with ornament napkin rings inspired from here.

I topped the buffet with homemade garland made from our Christmas tree. I used berries to add a bit of color and placed our Nativity from Bethlehem as the centerpiece.

Can't wait to see everyone's tables and Christmas decor!

Dare to DIY- Homemade gifts

2011-12-05T22:04:00.001-06:00

This week's Dare to DIY Challenge is homemade gifts!

My problem with homemade gifts is that I tend to kill a dead horse...

I make the same thing a billion times and it is no longer unique or fun, so I love this challenge to get new ideas!

My favorite homemade gift this year was inspired from Pinterest (of course!)
When I found this Christmas mantel this summer, I immediately knew I wanted to try to make one of the O Holy Night boards- so cute and such a perfect addition to any Christmas display.

I used a 1x6 piece of wood for the background and asked the hubs to cut, sand, and spray paint it. I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts Alot software to cut the letters, then modge podged them onto the board. I let everything dry, then placed a hanger on the back and voila!
We actually made our first board in August for my mother-in-laws birthday, but have made two more recently for a friend to give as Christmas gifts.
I also made one for Emily Ann's nursery- I love that any phrase can be appropriate. Simple and elegant.

Another favorite homemade gift I am enjoying right now is the yarn wreath. I made a cute gold one for the fall, but wasn't quite finished with my obsession, so I made a Christmas one as well!

There are tons of fabulous directions around the blog world, but they are super easy and such a clean door decoration. The red on the door pops from the street- so much fun!

Have a great night friends!

Strawberry Cupcakes

2011-12-02T20:53:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday everyone!

Since I kind of dropped the ball on the Football Friday recipe last week, I decided to wrap up the series with one last recipe today. Auburn doesn't play tomorrow, but we do have plans to go to a baby shower tomorrow night. These strawberry cupcakes are pretty easy and are always a hit. They are the closest things I have found to a bakery strawberry cake- minus the $$. They are pink (obviously) so they are great to celebrate the birth of this little girl!

Strawberry Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 box white cake mix

1 (3 oz.) box strawberry jello

1 (16 oz.) box frozen sliced strawberries

1/2 c. vegetable oil

4 eggs

Mix cake mix and jello in mixing bowl. Put strawberries in food processor (or blender), reserving 3/4 c. for later use in icing. Add strawberries, oil, and eggs to cake and Jello mixture. Beat about 3 min. Bake at 350* for about 20 min. Cool in pans for 15 mins. Cupcakes should be completely cool before icing.

Icing

11/2 box of confectioners' sugar, sifted

3/4 c. strawberries that have been reserved

3/4 stick margarine, melted

Beat to consistency to spread.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Emily Ann- 3 months

2011-11-30T12:24:00.001-06:00

Emily Ann, you are such a blessing to me and your Daddy. You are so sweet and happy- we are so lucky to be your parents. Each day I can't wait to spend time with you, watch you grow, and watch you interact more with us. From your sweet smile when I wake you up to your heavy eyes when we lay you down at night, I could never imagine a more precious little girl. We love you so so much.

Firsts: overnight trip, Thanksgiving, meeting Santa, first trip to Bass Pro, first Iron Bowl, first Black Friday shopping

Milestones: Growing like a weed, rolling onto your side

Measurements: A little over 13 pounds, about 23 inches, 3-6 month clothes, size 1 Pampers diapers.

Like Mommy: You love bath time.

Like Daddy: A definite morning person

Food: You are eating every 3 hours and eat between 5 oz. and 7 oz. every other meal. You are beginning to fight with your bottle a little more, so it makes the feedings last longer, but overall you are a fabulous eater!

Sleep: You sleep from 9:00 pm to 8:00 am every night. During the day you sleep for about an hour between every feeding. I usually lay you down for a longer nap between your 2 and 5 o'clock feedings.

Challenges: Recently, you have started fighting with your bottle at the end of each feeding. You have also started to get fussy as it gets later in the day. But honestly, you are a great baby- you are very chill and just love to be around people!

Our Days: I wake you up at about 8:00 each morning. After eating, we play for a little while before you fall asleep again. You eat again at 11:00 and 2:00. We usually go out around those two feedings. You lay down for a nap after your 2:00 feeding and sleep for about an hour and a half to two hours. When you wake up, you spend time with Daddy, eat again, take a bath, then go to bed.

Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: Watching you lay on Mommy and Daddy's bed and talk.

Daddy's Favorite: Watching you smile at him.

Nicknames: EA, Doodle Bug, Baby Girl

Photo ops:

First trip to meet Santa

Daddy's Hobby Lobby.

Hanging out with your second cousin Kaelyn who was the flower girl in Mommy and Daddy's wedding

Hanging out with your second cousins Ryan and Andrew and your Uncle Scott

Hanging out with Great-Mam-Maw Gaston

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the car for Black Friday shopping.

Precious smile.

You and Daddy in your matching rain gear.

Really, you are just precious and I love this picture of you cuddling with Daddy.

You have started biting your bottom lip.

We love you baby girl!!

Favorite Things Party

2011-11-30T10:37:00.001-06:00

This morning I was browsing through some of my favorite blogs and came upon this post at The Nesting Place.

Uh. Yes please.

In the post, she talks about a get together based on Oprah's Favorite Things episode, where everyone brings their favorite thing to share with the people at the party. The items do not have to be expensive or fancy, just fun! I *love* this idea and am dying to have a Favorite Things Party of my own!

In addition, The Nester is hosting a fun link party where we share some of our favorite things under $30-
Here are some of mine!

#1. Tyler Candles. These candles smell amazing and last forever! They have a ton of great smells, but my personal favorite is Fleur de Lis.

#2- Coffee-mate Sweet Italian Creme creamer. This creamer is so tasty! It reminds me of my dad making me coffee when I was little- I just add a little more coffee now!

#3- Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Extreme Wear: First Blush. This color simply adds a bit of gloss to the natural. It makes your nails really strong and is perfect for the every day!

#4- Nivea Chapstick. Basically, it feels like silk on your lips. Heavenly.

#5- The Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker. This is a smidge over the $30 max value, but is totally worth the price. With a mixture of milk, water, and hot chocolate powder, you will have the best cup of hot chocolate you have ever tasted. It mixes and warms at the same time to create the perfect temperature with the perfect flavor.

What are some of your favorite things? Head over and link up!

Dare to... Bake Cookies!

2011-11-30T08:16:00.001-06:00

This week's Dare to DIY challenge is dare to... bake cookies!

I adore baking... whether it is cookies, cupcakes, cakes, pies, or bread, I find it calming and enjoyable and love to taste the product :)

My cookie recipe this week is Mexican Wedding Cookies.

When I was in elementary school I took Spanish and each year we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a big fiesta. We had tacos for lunch, worked for weeks to make our own pinatas, and then had a blast. Since I went to a small private school, the parents baked cookies for the entire student body. My elementary self didn't realize what a commitment that was, so I volunteered my mom and thus got one of our favorite cookie recipes of all time.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Ingredients

1 c. soft butter

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

2 1/4 c. flour

1/4 t. salt

3/4 c. chopped nuts (We usually use pecans.)

Mix the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla together. Stir in the flour and salt. Add the chopped nuts. Chill dough for at least an hour to firm.

(I let my dough chill for a little too long, so it was too hard to form into balls- if this happens, just pop it in the microwave so the butter can re-soften.)

Rolls dough into 1 in. balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350* until set, not brown. (This took about 13-15 min.) While warm, roll cookies in powdered sugar. Once they cool, roll in powderered sugar again.

Enjoy!

Etsy Sale!

2011-11-28T12:47:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday!

Just a reminder- everything in my Etsy shop is 20% off through tomorrow! It's the perfect time to get a Christmas banner, a personalized banner for a birthday party or celebration, or a team banner for a bowl game! We also have wonderful stocking stuffers with earrings, ponytail holders, and bobby pins and fabulous fabric covered wreaths!

Coupon code Thankful!

Check it out!!

Dare to... Entertain!

2011-11-20T23:53:00.001-06:00

This week's Dare to DIY challenge is Dare to Entertain!

Brian and I began hosting a friend's Thanksgiving potluck dinner our second year of marriage. It is nice because it gives us a chance to pull out our fine china, try out new recipes, and spend time with friends. We have been with different people and done different things each year, but we always try to make it part of our Thanksgiving celebration.

This year's dinner is tonight and I am so excited! There will be 10 people eating, so we had to be creative with our chairs- I was just excited we were able to fit 10 chairs around our table!

I started with my burlap runner and topped it with a more narrow brown runner. I used my new wooden candle holder (a freebie from a sweet friend!) and alternated each votive with either a flower or a candle. I had a few extra tea lights, so I used them around the candle holder. I also sprinkled coffee beans all over the table for a little fall feel.

We pulled out our fine china and silverware, but went with mason jars for drinking glasses. I really like the mix of the formal and casual and can't wait to find more uses for the mason jars! I wrapped our silverware in brown napkins, then tied a strip of burlap over them. I attached homemade place cards to each napkin with a piece of twine.

Once I was done with the table, I added a bit of festivity to our buffet as well. I hung my Thankful banner over the buffet. Next, I placed a piece of wrinkled burlap on the corner. I topped it with our pumpkins and our letter J. I also added the two extra mason jars with flowers and a few more coffee beans to add congruency. We will put our desserts on the buffet!

Thanks for checking out our Thanksgiving table!

It's not too late to join the party! Head to Newly Woodwards and link up!
Next week's theme is Dare to... Eat Cookies! Can't wait to find some new recipes and bake some cookies!

Don't forget! 20% off everything in my Etsy shop until Tues., Nov. 29th! Coupon code Thankful!

Etsy Shop Sale

2011-11-20T23:18:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that there is a Thanksgiving sale going on in my Etsy Shop from now until Tuesday, November 29th- 20% off everything in the store!

Use coupon code Thankful when you are checking out!

Have a great Monday!

Football Friday- Spinach Dip

2011-11-18T23:13:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday friends!

Today's Football Friday recipe is a fabulous spinach artichoke dip recipe I got from my good friend Ashley a year or two ago. It's delicious and is good for any football game or party.

Tomorrow Auburn is playing the Samford Bulldogs in our homecoming game! War Eagle!!

Choke the Bulldogs Spinach Dip

Ingredients

8 oz. sour cream

8 oz. cream cheese

2 pkgs. chopped, frozen spinach

1 can chopped artichoke hearts

1/2 onion chopped

1/2 stick of butter

8 oz. monterey jack cheese shredded

Dash of red pepper

Cook the spinach according to the directions. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Sauté onions in butter. Mix all the ingredients and put in a 9x13 dish. Bake at 350* for 20 min.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T01:00:00.000-06:00

Dare to... Be Thankful!

2011-11-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

This year, I am joining Kim at Newly Woodwards to take part in the Dare to DIY Blog Party!

This party is so much fun!

Each week Kim provides a holiday themed topic to create a DIY project for- after a little creating, we blog about it, then link up! This is the 3rd year she had hosted this party and I am looking forward to seeing everyone's creations.

This week's topic is Dare to... Be Thankful!
I have so SO much to be thankful for- an incredible Savior, a wonderful husband, an adorable little girl... the list could go on and on... so I wanted to take this project as an opportunity to let a few people know that I love them and am thankful for them.

To start, I used my Cricut to create a fun card just to let them know I was thinking about them. The base was a fall-toned plaid, layered with a sparkle orange, then topped with a short note.

I attached the card to a pumpkin...

and plan to make a few special deliveries later in the week!

Next week's challenge is Dare to... Entertain! Think about your Thanksgiving table, set it up, and show it off! Link up and join the party!!

Have a fabulous week!

And the winner is....

2011-11-14T16:54:00.001-06:00

According to random number generator, the winner of my giveaway is.....

Comment #3- Rebecca at Tales from the Taffs!

Rebecca, I will put your package in the mail in the next day or so!!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Have a fabulous week!

Tour of North Alabama

2011-11-12T12:44:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, Brian and I decided to take advantage of his day off and the incredible weather to head up to north Alabama. The foliage has been so pretty so we knew that no matter what the day brought, it would be fun.

We have been looking for a new coffee table for quite some time... our current table was a hand-me-down from my parents and though it is still in good shape, it is topped with glass, which makes me nervous. Our good friends Rob and Ginny have gotten great deals from Akins "Dogtown" Furniture near Ft. Payne, so we decided to check it out. The prices were incredible and they had amazing furniture for every room in the house. They charge significantly less if you are paying cash, which we didn't know, but will definitely come more prepared the next time. We found a coffee table we really liked but with EA and the carseat, it didn't fit in the back of the Highlander :( We plan to order it sometime soon and have it delivered to Dogtown's sister store in Calera, which is much closer to our house.

This cage was sitting right outside the furniture store. I found it ironic that there was a cat outside of "Dogtown." It was really cute... not sure why it was hanging out outside.

After we left the furniture store, we drove to Little River Canyon. It was pretty cool outside, so we had to get EA wrapped up.

The view was absolutely gorgeous. As you can see in the pic, we missed the leaves by a week or two, but it was still so pretty. The best thing was that this was only 2 hours from our house- much closer than the 4-5 hours it takes to get to Gatlinburg.

Finally, we stopped by the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro. I have been wanting to go there for ages, but the opportunity had never really presented itself. Once baggage has been unclaimed for a certain amount of time, airlines send the items in the bags to this store to sell. As far as I know, this is the only store like this in the country.

Inside, it was pretty stressful. There were racks and racks and racks and racks of clothes- for men, women, and children. They also had electronics, books, DVDs, purses, shoes, and lots of other things. I found that I wasn't really in the digging through clothes to find a jewel mood, but we did end up with a few good deals- Brian got a nice Tommy Hilfiger belt that flips from black to brown as needed, and EA got two new pairs of footie pjs with the Carter's tags still on them. They weren't super cheap, but were still less expensive than they would have been in a store.

The day was so much fun. We saw a lot of Alabama we have never seen before and really enjoyed our time together. Even better, we were home by 7:30 and were able to relax in the evening- the joys of a day trip!

Football Friday- Saltine Toffee

2011-11-11T22:57:00.001-06:00

It's Football Friday everyone!

Last week was Auburn's bye week, so I took a week off as well, but I am back today with a scrumptious sweet treat!

I got this recipe from last year's Gifted event. Part of the event included a desserts section where women within the ministry provided a favorite recipe and shared it at the event. Because I was running around like a crazy person, I was only able to try a tiny bit, but grabbed the recipe and have been itching to make it ever since. It is the perfect sweet snack for watching a football game, but would also be great to wrap in a cute box or jar and give for a Christmas gift. It is really easy and only takes about 10 min. to prepare which makes it even better!

Auburn plays the Georgia Bulldogs tomorrow at 2:30! We will be enjoying this treat and hopefully cheering our team to victory!

Tousle the Bulldogs Saltine Toffee

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 sleeves saltine crackers

2 sticks butter

1 c. brown sugar

16 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. finely chopped pecans

Cover a large cookie sheet with foil and spray with Pam. Cover pan completely with Saltine crackers in a single layer. Break crackers if needed to fill in around the edges of the pan. Simmer butter and brown sugar in a saucepan on medium-low heat for 5-7 min, stirring constantly. Mixture should be foamy. Drizzle the sugar mixture over saltines, covering well, and bake at 350* for 10 min. Remove from oven. Pour chocolate chips evenly on top and spread while they melt. Sprinkle with pecans. Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway! I will be drawing a winner on Monday and would love for you to win! :)

50 Followers and a Giveaway!

2011-11-08T23:09:00.001-06:00

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Last week hit a fun milestone here at Johnson & Johnson- 50 (actually 51!) followers!
To celebrate, I am hosting a fall giveaway!

The giveaway includes a $5 Starbucks giftcard, a pink/ brown flower rosette hairclip, a black/white button ponytail holder with matching earrings, and a Thankful banner!

Similar banners and ponytail holders can be found at my Etsy shop!

To enter, be sure you are a follower of Johnson & Johnson and leave a comment telling about your favorite Thanksgiving tradition! For additional entries, tweet or blog about the giveaway and leave a comment letting me know!
The winner will be chosen on Monday November 14th!

Gifted 2011

2011-11-07T00:45:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday was our second Gifted women's ministry event at my church. It went fabulously!

Just as I did last year, I worked with my wonderful friend Beth to plan the event. This year, the event included a ton of hard work, but not near the frustration or confusion that last year's provoked. In the end, we had about 175 women, 22 vendors, 5 delicious desserts, 5 cute crafts, 2 huge containers of coffee, and 1 incredible speaker. God taught me so much about the opportunities He gives us to serve in the church and how we should follow through until completion. He taught me about adjusting my attitude toward women and how expectations of people almost always hinders the potential of a relationship. He also revealed to me the necessity of prayer when considering each aspect of the planning- I think this was something that I lacked last year and contributed to a lot of my aggravation. Once again, He provided wonderful friendships through this event- He strengthened my friendship with Beth and also introduced new friends that I haven't spent much time with up until this point. I am blessed to have been part of planning for this event- God used it to work in me and I hope, to work in the hearts of the ladies who attended. It was a excellent night of fellowship.

In addition to the planning, I was also a vendor at the event- check out my booth!

By the end of the night I was about ready to yank those banners down because they kept falling down, but overall I think it turned out pretty cute! I worked long hours to create some new banners for Thanksgiving and Christmas and was really pleased with the results. Some of them are up in my Etsy shop so check it out!

Have a wonderful Monday my friends!

Emily Ann- 2 months

2011-11-06T23:31:00.000-06:00

*I started this post last Tuesday when EA actually turned 2 months old, but that was two days from Gifted, so needless to say it didn't get done in time.... Maybe I should say 2 months and 6 days :) *

Emily Ann, it seems like just yesterday I was anxiously awaiting your arrival- you are such a wonderful blessing to me and your Daddy. You have such a sweet disposition and are so much fun to watch. You are continuing to grow in your interactions with us and we adore it. Seeing your precious smile makes my day every time. I love hearing your little giggle and can't wait for that sweet sound to become more frequent. Emily Ann, we are so thankful to have you for a daughter. We love you and are praying for you. You mean the world to us!

Firsts: Smile, giggle, Halloween, trip to the pumpkin patch, road trip, trip to Auburn

Milestones: Sleeping through the night

Measurements: A little over 11 pounds, about 22 inches, 3-6 month clothes, size 1 Pampers diapers.

Like Mommy: Loves her daddy!!

Like Daddy: Likes to smile and have a good time :)

Food: You are eating between 5-6 ounces every 3 hours.

Sleep: You are a great sleeper! Most of the time, you are sleeping between 7 and 8 hours a night. You nap off and on through the day, but lay down for a nap in your crib after your lunchtime feeding. You love to sleep in your pumpkin seat and love the "shocks" on the jogging stroller when Daddy and I go running.

Challenges: You developed some stomach issues earlier this month, so we had to adjust your eating a little bit- but all's well now!

Our Days: You usually wake up at about 5 each morning. You eat breakfast, then go back to sleep for some time while Mommy gets things done around the house. When you wake up, you eat again then spend some time hanging out with Mommy- sometimes we go out and see people and sometimes we just hang around the house. After your lunch time feeding, I lay your down in the crib for the afternoon nap. You usually nap for the entire 3 hours. Once Daddy gets home, we go for a jog then come back and enjoy our time together. You go to bed between 8:30-9:30 each night.

Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: Seeing you smile.

Daddy's Favorite: Seeing you smile.

Nicknames: EA, Doodle Bug, Baby Girl

Photo ops:
Our trip to Auburn

Our trip to the pumpkin patch

LOVE that smile.

You and Annie on your first Halloween!

You and Grandpa hanging out in the car in Auburn.

Senior Treats with the Preschool Ministry at our church. Clearly you were having a blast.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!!

In honor of the day, I am sharing my Snowy White Owl Cupcakes.

They are a variation of the Owl cupcakes from Pinterest, but when I started thinking about them, I realized two things...

#1- I don't like chocolate icing

#2- the only owl I truly care about is a snowy white owl that became one of Harry's best friends in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- Hedwig!

These were a super quick treat. I used chocolate cake mix and a can of white icing. Crack open some Oreos (the hardest part.. it's so difficult to get the icing to separate smoothly!), place brown M&Ms in the middle, and finish with a piece of candy corn! We brought some to a party on Friday night and plan to bring the rest to a party tonight- so much fun!

Speaking of candy corn...

Isn't my little piece of candy corn adorable? :)

Happy Halloween friends! Have a spoooooooky day!

Emily Ann is an Auburn Tiger

2011-10-30T22:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Brian, EA, and I headed down to the Loveliest Village on the Plains (Auburn) with my parents and Brian's parents. Though we didn't have tickets to the game, I really wanted EA to experience Auburn during her first year of life, so we made plans to tailgate, see the sights, and shop.

We started our time in Auburn with a quick feeding. It was much colder and windyer than we originally expected- EA really hasn't been outside much except for some jogs in the stroller, so she kind of had to get used to it!

After we finished eating, we headed downtown to see Toomer's Corner and do some shopping. Toomer's Corner is one of my favorite places on Auburn's campus- after Auburn wins a game, all of the fans head down to the tree and roll it. It is a great tradition and is a fabulous way to celebrate a win. Last year after the National Championship, some jerk decided to be spiteful and poisoned the tree, so they are not sure how much longer the trees will last. This was one of the major reasons I wanted to get down to Auburn this season- so EA could have a picture at Toomer's Corner!

Next, we headed to Samford Hall. This happens to be very close to where Brian and I had our first kiss :)

Auburn themed kissy picture- we might make this one a habit until she gets too old and makes us quit :)

Here are Brian's parents (left) and my parents (right) with EA.

Group pics with my parents

Group pic with Bri's parents

Finally, we headed to Tiger Walk, another big Auburn tradition. Fans line up along Donahue as the players and coaches walk through to the stadium. If you get there in time, you get to slap hands with the Tigers- it is so much fun. The band is always there and there are always a ton of people. Yesterday was no exception.

As I was standing at Tiger Walk, holding my precious little girl and talking to my sweet husband, I got emotional (shock, I know.) Brian and I met at Auburn. We fell in love at Auburn. It is where he proposed and where our story really began. I love Auburn football, but so much more importantly, I love the memories that we have at that school. Very few of my memories from Auburn do not include Brian and that makes it all the more special. It was such a joy to be able to bring Emily Ann down there so she could be part of those memories.

After Tiger Walk, we saw some friends, stopped by the bookstore, then headed back to the 'Ham. We listened to the game all the way home- Auburn won 41-23!

War Eagle everyone!!

Football Friday- Peanut Butter Cupcakes, plus an extra!

2011-10-28T16:41:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday everyone!

I hope you have had a fabulous week!

Today's football Friday recipe is a new one for me- I found it in a cookbook and couldn't wait to try it for the Auburn vs. Ole Miss game. Since Ole Miss's coach is Houston Nutt, PeaNUT butter seemed an important ingredient! They are delicious!

Feeling Nutty? Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Ingredients (For cupcakes)

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
11/2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
2/3 c. milk
1 t. vanilla

Cream shortening, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Add eggs and beat well. In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Add milk and vanilla. Combine shortening and flour mixtures. Pour into 12 sectioned cupcake pan. Bake for 25 min. at 350*.

Icing

1 stick butter

1/2 c. peanut butter

6 t. milk

1 lb. powdered sugar

Bring butter, peanut butter and milk to a boil in a saucepan. Add powdered sugar. Spoon mixture over cupcakes.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we are headed to Auburn tomorrow for some tailgating with our families- I can not wait!!! I plan to bring these scrumptious cupcakes and some fabulous looking Sourdough Bacon Cheddar Pulls to enjoy while we are down there. Here is the recipe for the pulls from Plain Chicken- such a great blog!

Pull Their Tails Bacon Cheddar Pulls

via Plain Chicken

Ingredients

Sour dough bread

6-12 oz. cheddar cheese

3 oz. real bacon bits

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 T. ranch dressing mix

Cut the bread going both directions. Place the slices of cheese between each cut. Sprinkle baking bits on bread, making sure to get between the cut. Mix the butter and ranch dressing mix. Pour over bread. Wrap in foil and bake at 350* for 15 min. Continue baking until cheese is melted.

Have a great Friday everyone!

13 on Thursday

2011-10-27T22:24:00.000-05:00

13 thoughts on this lovely fall Thursday....

2. Instagram. I am sad that I just discovered it a few weeks ago because it means I missed out on it for ALL THOSE MONTHS! I love that I can post pictures of EA through the day and Bri can see them at work. I feel like it lets him keep up with what's going on at home, plus it reminds me to document the every day. Such a fun app.

3. Tonight we had a date night. We went to Johnny Rockets, then Sam's and Target. This is the second date in a row that we went to a superstore. I feel like we are back at Auburn and have run out of inexpensive dates... except now they are expensive dates and are more necessity than fun outings.

4. For the past several months they have been doing construction on the interstate near our house. The past two weeks they have been busting up the road. Every day I hear *bump.... bump.... bump....* all day long. It's enough to drive a person crazy.

5. So far, I am through season 5 of Friends. I feel like I am catching up on history.

6. We are going to Auburn on Saturday. I can't wait to smell that Auburn air, to tailgate, to shop, and to take about a zillion pictures of EA surrounded by the beauty that is Auburn. Aaaah. War Eagle.

7. Today my little girl is 8 weeks old. Her 2 month appointment is drawing closer and closer. I am dreading those shots.

8. Gifted is one week from today. I have 300 Christmas napkins and 160 bottles of water in the back of my car. My house is covered with banner, ponytail holder, and earring materials. I can't wait!! Birmingham folks, let me know if you are interested in coming!

9. We recently made reservations to go to the Grand in December. I can't wait to bring Emily Ann! Their Christmas decorations are gorgeous and it is so one of my favorite places!! We have been for the past 3 years and I am excited to continue the tradition.

10. I don't particularly care for baseball, but I have decided that because of Chrissy from Everyday with the Jays, I am going for the Rangers in the World Series. Thanks Chrissy for giving me someone to cheer for!

11. In one week, EA's mobile and swing batteries died. C and D batteries are pricey!

12. A cold front is coming into the 'Ham tomorrow!

13. EA was the last of 4 sweet babies to be born of our friends. Lily was born in May, Johanna in early August (on my birthday!), Laylee Claire in late August, then Emily Ann on the 1st of Sept. Last Friday night, all four families got together so the girls could begin to get to know each other and so we could introduce them to our friends Ryan and Brittany, who moved to TN a few years ago. It was so much fun to see our friends and to see the girls together!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T22:34:00.000-05:00

The Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-23T22:39:00.000-05:00

Today after church, Brian, EA, and I headed out to the pumpkin patch. I can't swear that I had ever been to one before- and if I had, it was nowhere near as legit as this one.

After parking and going in, we road a hayride out to this huge open field of pumpkins of the vine. It was so fun... and fally! I must have looked for the perfect pumpkin for at least 30 minutes. The options were endless- orange pumpkins, green pumpkins, striped, multi-colored, big, small, flat, tall, skinny.... you get the idea. We both ended up with orange/green pumpkins that were just the right shape and size. After we picked our pumpkins, we jumped back on the hayride to head back. We then made our way through some fair foods (fried pies and boiled peanuts!) and a huge corn maze.

EA basically rocked the pumpkin patch. She got a bit fussy once we got out there, so we hid behind a shrub and fed her and she cheered right up! She was definitely the cutest baby there :)

It was an absolutely perfect fall day. I can't wait until she is a bit older so she can enjoy it as much as we did!

Surrounded by pumpkins

I have been dying for her to wear these boots, and I almost waited too long... the left one keeps trying to fall off! I love this picture though... so cute!

The fam with Brian's pumpkin. I was still deciding at that point.

Be still my heart.

Have a great week my friends!

Football Friday- Caramel Brownies

2011-10-21T22:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone!

This week's football Friday recipe is another classic in my family. My mom doesn't like chocolate, so this was a great dessert that EVERYONE could enjoy. It is so tasty and is a nice change of pace from some of the ordinary brownie recipes.

Tomorrow, Auburn is playing #1 ranked LSU at Tiger Stadium. As a former member of the Auburn Marching Band, I still remember driving onto campus in Baton Rouge in our buses and seeing every LSU middle finger up, including those of toddlers and senior citizens. They are serious about their football. All I know is that our team keeps making gains every week so we can hope for the best! War Eagle!!

Cream the Cajuns Caramel Brownies

Ingredients

2 sticks soft butter

2 eggs

2 t. vanilla

2 c. light brown sugar

2 c. self-rising flour

2 c. nuts (optional, but I love them with pecans!)

Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, flour, and nuts. Bake at 350* for 25 min in a 9x13 dish.

Delicious!

Have a super night!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-10-19T09:45:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up with Jamie at This Kind of Love for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving the show Friends! I know that I am 10 years late, but I recently started watching it and just can't get enough!

Source

I'm loving Beth Moore. Just in general. I am working on my third of her Bible studies and I continued to gain insight on God's Word. God is so faithful and His Word is the Bread of Life.

I'm loving Chai Tea Lattes. I have a giftcard to Starbucks and plan to treat myself sometime today!

I'm loving this adorable little girl...

And her handsome daddy...

Have a great Wednesday my friends!

Infinity scarf

2011-10-18T21:36:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, I was looking through some favorite blogs and found the infinity scarf via Kelsey's blog. It sparked my interest. So very cute.

See...

After exploring a little more, I found a few great tutorials on an DIY infinity scarf. Turns out, they are really easy to make! I grabbed an old shirt of Brian's and made my own. A cold front is coming through tonight and I can't wait to pull out my new scarf for the change in temp!

Want to make your own Infinity scarf? Here are fabulous and did I mention, SUPER EASY, directions!

Have a great night!

Door decor

2011-10-15T17:30:00.001-05:00

I need to begin this post by informing you that I have a Pinterest problem.

It's so incredibly addicting and I continually find projects to work on- though they take much more time than they used to.

My most recent find was the yarn wreath.

It all started at the hospital. The day after EA was born, I was dying to get out of the room, so I took a stroll around the halls to look at all the door hangers. Some were cute, some were subpar....

then I found this jewel..

So so cute. Classy. Simple. Ahh and the obsession began.

When I finally began functioning again, I decided to see what I could find on Pinterest and online in the way of yarn wreath tutorials and found some precious wreaths. See...

This week, I finally got started making my own and found it was so easy! All you need is a straw wreath form, yarn, and hot glue, plus whatever embellishments you want. Wrap and glue, wrap and glue.

Here is my version of the yarn wreath-

And on our door...

Happy Saturday!

Linking up to Tatertots & Jello!

Football Friday- Candy Corn Bark

2011-10-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Football Friday guys!!

I found today's recipe through Pinterest- aaaahhh what I ever did without it :)

This candy corn bark is a fabulous treat for those October football games! I actually made this for a high school tailgate (Hoover vs. Vestavia Hills High- Go Bucs!) with my Sunday School class tonight and everyone really enjoyed it. Because of my sweet little darling, we didn't stay for the game, but really enjoyed hanging out with friends leading up to the game.

As a Hoover alum, I had to dress up with my precious little girl- I kind of love that we are matching here!

Auburn plays Florida tomorrow at home. We generally have a good track record with beating Florida, but there is no telling this year. Hopefully this treat will *scare* the Gators off!

Spook the Gators (or Rebels!) Candy Corn Bark

(As found on The Girl Who Ate Everything)

Ingredients

Broken up Oreos (I used about 15)

Candy corn

Broken up pretzels

16 oz. almond bark or white chocolate (I actually used an 11 oz. bag of white chocolate chips which seemed to work okay)

Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread broken up Oreos, pretzels, and candy corn over the sheet in a thin layer. Melt the white chocolate in short increments in the microwave on 50% power. Stir until smooth. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the candy corn mixture and spread so that it covers the mix. Place tray in the refrigerator until firm. Remove, break into small pieces, and enjoy!!

Have a great night friends!

Emily Ann- 6 Weeks

2011-10-13T23:38:00.006-05:00

Today, my little girl is 6 weeks old. I can't believe it. I feel like she is doubling in size every day. It is amazing how alert and active she is getting! She is definitely the apple of our eye- she is absolutely precious. Her little disposition is beginning to come out and we love it!!

(For some reason, my photo software isn't working. The fact that this isn't formatted like the other ones is kind of stressing me out.)

Firsts: First bath in the big bathtub, meeting Great-Mam Maw Gaston, first play date with Johanna, first time at La Fiesta (Mommy's favorite Mexican restaurant!)

Milestones: You've started smiling! You are also getting pretty good at tracking things with your eyes.

Measurements: Close to 11 lbs, 23 inches long, 0-3 month short sleeved clothes, 3-6 month long sleeved clothes, size 1 (Huggies, which apparently fit smaller than Pampers, which do not yet fit) diapers

Like Mommy: As of right now, your big blue eyes :). And your love for bath time!

Like Daddy: A lot of your facial expressions

Food: You are eating 5 oz. at every feeding. You eat every 3 hours during the day and between 4-5 hrs. at night.

Sleep: Your nights are getting much more stable- you finish your nighttime meal between 8:30 and 9, then sleep until about 4:00. After your early morning snack, you sleep until about 8:00. You are still snoozing at random times during the day, but usually staying awake for 1-2 hours between several feedings.

Challenges: Getting a consistent schedule with set times.

Our Days: We usually get up between 8:00 and 9:00 and have breakfast. You go back to sleep until your next feeding at 11ish. We continue to eat every 3 hours, though it varies in whether or not your stay awake :) During the day, we love to go out and see friends, play on your playmat, swing, and hang out on the bouncer. You can't decide if you prefer the bouncer or the swing more... it tends to rotate on a daily basis. When Daddy gets home, he spends most of his night cuddling with you, then we put you to bed between 8:30 and 9.

Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: Taking baths in the big tub- You LOVE it!!!

Daddy's Favorite: You smiling at him

Nicknames: EA, Doodle Bug

Upcoming Events: First time in the church nursery, first tailgate party (Hoover High School vs. Vestavia Hills High School- Go Bucs!), first Auburn football game!!

Photo Ops

Storytime with Daddy

Tummy time on your playmat

Your first time at La Fiesta- you didn't actually eat the chip :)

Your new Auburn pillowcase dress! Annie made it for you the week she hung out with Mommy.

Some mornings, you come hang out with Mommy before it is actually time to get up. You look so pretty with the sun coming through the window.

What a precious smile!!! Mommy got lucky to catch this one on camera!

We love you Emily Ann!!!

Liebster Blog Award

2011-10-13T22:35:00.000-05:00

Today, my blog friend Chrissy informed me that I was one of 5 ladies to win the Liebster Blog Award! This sweet award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The word liebster is a German word that means dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, and many many other like words. I am so grateful to Chrissy for this precious award and am excited to bestow it on some of my favorite blogs! Thank you Chrissy!!

As a way to keep the award going, the recipients of this award are to nominate 5 outstanding bloggers with less than 200 followers.

The rules of the Liebster Blog Award are to link back to the blogger who gave it to you, reveal your top 5 bloggers and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog, copy and paste the award on your blog. Finally, have faith that your followers will spread the word too!

Here are my 5 favorite blogs in no particular order!

1. Kathryn at And Baby Makes Three. I have mentioned Kathryn in several other posts- I have been following her for a little over two years and adore her blog! She clearly loves the Lord, her husband, and her sweet little girl Madelyn. Her pictures are fabulous and her posts are such fun!

2. Brittney at Far More Than Rubies. Brittney and I became bloggy friends when I first started blogging and I have loved following her. After living practically all over North America :), Brittney, her husband, and their sweet little girl are now living and working overseas. Brittney is such a talented writer and such a fun blogger! Her love for the Lord and her hilarious stories make her so much fun to follow!

3. Rebecca at Tales from the Taffs. Rebecca and I met at Auburn flag try-outs our senior year in high school. She is still one of my most dear friends, though we don't get to see each other near as much as I'd like. Rebecca's blog is a fun smorgesboard of funny stories, creative tidbits, and fun updates on her sweet son Eli!

4. Brittany at A Merry Heart. Brittany is such a blessing to me! Her faith in the Lord is unwavering and she continually praises Him and gives Him the glory through her blog. She posts great updates on her adorable little girl Lily and excellent stories of how God is working in her life. Her blog is such an encouragement!

5. Kelsey at A Time of All Sweet Things. Kelsey was one of my senior girls in my first core group 4 years ago. Since starting at Auburn, she has also started an adorable blog with fun craft and cooking projects, great stories, and humorous updates on her life. I love her creativity and spunk for life!

Thanks again Chrissy for this wonderful award! Check out these great bloggers and see what all the fun's about!!

Courageous

2011-10-09T20:31:00.000-05:00

Friday night, Brian's parents kept EA and Brian and I enjoyed a date night. We had dinner on our own, then headed to the theater to see Courageous with some friends. This was by far the best movie I have seen in a long time. It was heart breaking, hilarious, and challenging. We have full intentions of seeing it again to be sure to catch what we missed the first time. We certainly recommend it!

Have a great night!

Football Friday- Cheese Cookies

2011-10-07T14:15:00.001-05:00

Happy Football Friday everyone!

I don't know about you, but I adore cheese straws. That cheese with a little bit of spice is a definite weakness of mine- but at the cheapest price of $6.99 for a little bitty bag, they are not something I am able to enjoy often. When I was growing up, my mom used to make cheese cookies. They are a lot like cheese straws, but wayyy less expensive. They are the perfect addition to a shower or party, but also a great tailgating food!! We will be enjoying them as we watch Auburn play the Arkansas Razorbacks tomorrow!

Grate the Razorbacks Cheese Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks butter

2 c. plain flour

2 c. sharp cheddar cheese

1 c. rice krispies

Dash of cayenne pepper

Mix thoroughly and roll into balls. Press with fork and sprinkle with cayenne for additional kick! Bake at 350* for 18-20 minutes.

Source

Terrific Tuesday

2011-10-04T22:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday!!

I don't actually have one topic to blog on today, but a random sequence of things on my mind.

I adore the way she is looking at the camera here!

My baby is a month old. She's incredible. But a month old!? Really?!

I dropped the ball on last week's Football Friday post. So sorry about that. I plan to be back with my weekly recipes on Friday!!

Brian is out of town a lot of this week so my mom is hanging out with me. Our list of things to do is a mile long. My mom is fabulous with a sewing machine so

this

and these

are both on my list.

Since it is October, one of my favorite coffee shops, O' Henry's, has hot apple cider. I can't wait to go and get some. Last year, I stopped almost every day on my way to school to get a cup. Kind of expensive, but it was a luxury I could only enjoy in Oct. so I didn't feel so bad.

I have officially had 2 sales at my Etsy shop! I recently added some new items that are super cute, so go check them out!

Here is my favorite...

Gifted is less than a month away. Eek!

I love bath time.

I really enjoy spending time with friends. It's fabulous to catch up and to be encouraged. Praise the Lord that He gives us a support system here on Earth.

10.

Actually, there is no 10. I just didn't feel right leaving it blank.

Have a great night friends!

Fall Football Mantel

2011-09-28T17:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Fall!

I adore this time of year! The weather in Birmingham is beginning to get cooler and the fall and Christmas decorations are filling up the craft stores. I love it!

My mantel is definitely centered around my favorite thing about fall- Auburn football!

The banner is one of my custom creations from my new Etsy shop So Filled With Love. I have Auburn, Alabama, and fun fall and Thanksgiving banners, so check it out! (I can also do custom banners, so let me know if you are interested!) I added Aubie, a framed picture of Samford Hall, and 3 cute decorative pumpkins and voila! I am so pleased with how it turned out!

(A closer look)

I am linking up to the It's Fall Ya'll linky party over at The Lettered Cottage! There are so many awesome mantels- such great inspiration!

Have a super Wednesday!!

Emily Ann- 3 Weeks

2011-09-27T11:22:00.000-05:00

Emily Ann is 3 weeks old!

Firsts: First real bath, first time at church, first baby-sitters

Milestones: Umbilical cord came off, no longer fit into newborn footie pjs :(

Measurements: Close to 9 lbs, 21.75 inches long, 0-3 month clothes, newborn diapers

Like Mommy: Likes to swing and shop

Like Daddy: Likes to eat

Food: You are eating between 4 oz. per feeding. You eat every 3- 3.5 hours during the day and every 4 hrs. at night.

Sleep: Your nights are getting much more stable- you finish your nighttime meal between 10 and 11 then sleep until 2:30 or 3:00. After your early morning snack, you sleep until about 5:45 or 6:00. During the day, you snooze off and on but are spending much more time awake.

Challenges: Diapers are getting a bit more full and smelly.

Our Days: After our 5:30 feeding, we take a nap until 8:00ish. We usually spend the morning around the house, then try to go out around lunchtime and in the afternoon. We like quality time with Daddy when he gets home from work.

Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: First time at church

Daddy's Favorite: First time at church

Nicknames: EA, Doodle Bug, Baby Girl

Upcoming Events: 1 month birthday!!

Photo ops

This was your first time at church- meeting Brother Danny, our pastor!

Hanging out with Mommy and Daddy in the sanctuary.

A-Z of Me!

2011-09-25T20:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone! As I was exploring some of my favorite blogs this afternoon, I found this fun questionnaire and decided to participate!

The A-Z of Me!

A. Age: 26
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Folding clothes.
D. Dogs: No dogs, but we do have a fabulous cat named Bodie!
E. Essential start to your day: Recently, it has been feeding Emily Ann.
F. Favorite color: Pink
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'6" (Actually, on my 15th birthday I was 5'7" and on my 16th birthday I was 5'6". Go figure.)
I. Instruments you play: Piano. Kind of.
J. Job title: Stay at home mom. Formerly a 2nd grade teacher.
K. Kids: A sweet little girl- Emily Ann!
L. Live: Birmingham, AL
M. Mother’s name: Ann
N. Nicknames: Ash, AJ
O. Overnight hospital stays: Just one and I came home with a baby!!
P. Pet peeves: On-going sounds- like beat boxing. Also, the fact that when you cut and paste in blogger, you can't change the font.
Q. Quote from a movie: "Fumble rooski, fumble rooski! Turn it up!!!" -Little Giants
R. Right or left handed: Left handed.
S. Siblings: Only child
T. Time you wake up: About 5:45 (The first time).
U. Underwear: Such a strange question- it's not actually a question. And since I am a girl, I have no idea what to say.
V. Vegetable you hate: English peas.
W. What makes you run late: Not having my outfit picked out before it is time to get ready. I can try on 15 outfits before I choose something. It's a problem.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Dentist
Y. Yummy food that you make: Mac and cheese, cowgirl cookies
Z. Zoo animal: Giraffe

I would love to read the A-Z of you so if you are interested, answer the questions and leave a comment to let me know!

Have a great night!!

Football Friday- Bruschetta

2011-09-23T20:24:00.000-05:00

Happy Football Friday everyone!

Today's Football Friday post is a newer favorite of ours. Bruschetta is such a tasty treat and offers good variety from traditional salsa. My mom made this recipe last April for my dad's birthday and Brian and I couldn't stop eating it!
So in honor of Auburn's game against the Florida Atlantic Owls (hehe) tomorrow....

Brush off the Owls Bruschetta

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. tomatoes
2 T. finely chopped red onions
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
2 t. red wine vinegar
3 T. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Parmesan shavings
Toasted crusty bread

Cut tomatoes in half, squeeze out seeds and excess juice.
Dice tomatoes and place in a bowl. Add onions, garlic, basil, vinegar, olive oil, and salt. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Brush toasted bread lightly with olive oil. Scoop tomato mixture onto the bread and sprinkle with shaved parmesan. Enjoy!!

EA- Newborn Pictures

2011-09-20T10:41:00.000-05:00

Last Monday night, Brian's brother Kevin took Emily Ann's newborn pictures.

He did an incredible job.

He is so talented and has a great eye for pictures.

Check out his website- he's starting a photography business and has some of his shoots featured. He also has some great misc. shots. He's the perfect photographer for engagement, maternity, or newborn pictures!!

Here are some of our favorites from the newborn shoot!

Check out cadencephotography.net for more of Kevin's work!!

Emily Ann- 2 Weeks

2011-09-19T19:18:00.000-05:00

Emily Ann is 2 weeks old!

Emily Ann, you are so much fun! You are such a happy baby and have been such a fun addition to our family. You are spending more time staying awake during the day and Daddy and I love watching you look around with your big, bright eyes. You are beginning to follow us with your eyes and are getting a little control of your head and neck. You are so precious and we love you dearly!

Firsts: First Auburn football party, first official doctor's appt., first diaper blow-out

News Headlines: 10 year anniversary of Sept. 11, Auburn beat Mississippi State 41-34

Milestones: Staying awake more during the day, eating 3 oz. per feeding, newborn pictures

Measurements: 7 pounds, 10 oz. (about 30th percentile), 21.75 inches long (over the 100th percentile), newborn clothes, newborn diapers

Like Mommy: Big eyes, blond highlights :)

Like Daddy: Easy-going personality

Food: You are eating between 3 and 4 oz. per feeding. You eat every 2 hours during the day and every 3-4 hrs. at night.

Sleep: You are staying awake more during the day and beginning to sleep longer at night. You nap between 5-7 of your feedings each day.

Challenges: Feeding

Our Days: Now that Daddy is back at work, we wake up at about 5:30 to eat and spend some time together before he has to leave. Then, depending on the previous night, we decide whether we will go back to sleep or not. We spend a lot of time just hanging out at the house, but hopefully we will get more active in the next week or so!

Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: Cuddling during naptime on the couch

Daddy's Favorite: Newborn pictures

Nicknames: EA, Doodle Bug, Baby Girl

Upcoming Events: First time at church

Photo ops

You and Johanna during the Auburn/ MSU game

Our first football family picture

Your gameday gear

Uncle Kevin took awesome newborn pictures. Here is a teaser.

Your first doctor's appointment. You slept straight through it- you were great!!

You met your great-grandmother Granny!

She thought you were such an angel.

She is so right!!

We love you Emily Ann!

Football Friday- Dessert Squares

2011-09-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday ya'll!

This Football Friday dessert is a favorite of mine from growing up. It was always my dessert request and continues to be so even today. These treats are easy and delicious! They are perfect for a tailgate, for a football party, or for simply indulging in a sweet temptation! Auburn plays Clemson tomorrow at 11:00 so I am bringing these babies out for our football fun!

Dessert the (Clemson) Tigers Squares

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix

3 eggs

1 stick of melted butter

8 oz. package of cream cheese

1/4 t. vanilla

1 box confectionary sugar

Mix the cake mix, 1 egg, and melted butter and pack into a 9x13 pan.

In a separate bowl, mix the cream cheese, vanilla, 2 eggs, and confectionary sugar. Spread on top of the cake mixture. Bake at 325* for 35-40 min.

To add a bit of school spirit, I used gel food coloring to dye my dessert squares orange, then added blue sprinkles. It took quite a bit of orange food coloring, so if you try this, beware!!

Have a great weekend!

Freshly Baked

2011-09-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

Freshly baked.

Take two on sourdough was a success!

10 years.

2011-09-11T17:43:00.002-05:00

Brian and I spent a lot of time watching coverage of the World Trade Center memorial this morning. I was taken back to that day 10 years ago and have realized again what an amazing country we live in.

I get tired of politics. I do have views and opinions that I have no intention of sharing on my blog, but overall, I believe that politics (not government) can sometimes hurt the integrity of our country. This said, as I watched President Obama walk with President Bush this morning at the memorial ceremony, I was thankful for the sense of togetherness.. that we as a country can put aside politics for a day and remember people who were sacrificed for the sake of our freedom.

Both President Bush and President Obama's speeches at the memorial were great- both respectful and historical, but I was truly impressed with Obama's tribute. It was simple and to the point. It gave glory where glory was due.

The entirety of his speech is followed:

^"1 God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.
⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.
⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done,
   the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
   to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”
¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Psalm 46

As I listened to the president speak, it made me so thankful to live in this country. Praise the Lord that God is our Ever-Present Help and that He knows the destiny of our country and of the people effected by September 11 far before the attacks happened. Praise the Lord that our country gives us a freedom of religion that allows us to stand bold and say "He is God." Even in this day of great sadness and remembrance, praise the Lord that He is "our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble."

Be a dog.

2011-09-10T16:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Gameday!

Today was our first official gameday with EA in the house, since we were coming home from the hospital during the game last week. I was a bit unsure about what the outcome would look like, but we pulled out a victory in the end. War Eagle!

Here is our first Auburn family photo!

Emily Ann loves football. She slept all the way through the game.
Recognize her little dress from this post? I made matching earrings and a ponytail holder so we could match. Corny? Maybe, but I love it.

Finally, I saw this clip this morning on ESPN. Hilarious.

So, when in doubt, be a dog.
Have a great Saturday!

Football Friday- Mississippi Sin Dip

2011-09-09T20:56:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday!

This Football Friday recipe is a new one for me. As I mentioned several posts ago, I have fallen in love with the blog Plain Chicken. She posts very easy and user friendly recipes that are great for dinners, parties, desserts, or simply just a "quick fix." The ingredients are normal and the recipes are super do-able. Add the fact that she is an Auburn grad and I quickly became a follower.

As I was scrolling through her recipes, I found an awesome dip recipe that would be perfect for any football party. Since Auburn plays Mississippi State tomorrow at 11:21 and this dip is called Mississippi Sin Dip and I knew I needed to try it!

Mississippi Sin Dip (As found at Plain Chicken)

Ingredients-

16 oz. sour cream

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 c. chopped ham

1 green onion, chopped (I actually mis-read the ingredients and used regular onion... it's still good.)

1/4 t. hot sauce

1 t. worcestershire sauce

salt

pepper

In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients until well blended.

Bake dip at 350* for 1 hour.

Plain Chicken suggests using this recipe with a french bread loaf, but we skipped the bread and went straight to Fritos scoops. Either will work :)

Now, we just have to hope Mississippi's sin isn't beating Auburn!

Have a great weekend friends!

Emily Ann- 1 Week

2011-09-08T19:46:00.000-05:00

Emily Ann is 1 week old!

Emily Ann, you are such a blessing to me and your daddy. I could never have imagined loving someone the way we love you. I adore watching you make sweet faces and squirm around- you are absolutely precious. I can not believe you are already a week old and I can't wait to see what the next several weeks has in store!

Firsts: Everything - First bath, first car ride, first stroller ride, first time to sleep in your crib, met your family, friends, and neighbors, met Bodie...and the list goes on and on!

News Headlines: Auburn beats Utah State 42-38 with a last minute on-side kick. Tropical Storm Lee dumps huge amounts of rain on Alabama and knocks out power to over 200,000 Alabama Power customers.

Milestones: Coming into the world!!!

Measurements: About 7 pounds, 20 inches long, newborn clothes

Like Mommy: Nose, long fingers and toes

Like Daddy: Lips, head of hair

Food: Feeding every two hours during the day and every three hours at night.

Sleep: Usually one-two hours between feedings.

Challenges: Feeding and sleeping

Our Days: One giant day since September 1st :)...we're still ironing out a schedule.

Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: Holding you for the first time.

Daddy's Favorite: Giving you your first bath.

Nicknames: EA, Doodle Bug, Baby Girl

Upcoming Events: Daddy going back to work, newborn pictures

Photo ops

Welcome Emily Ann! Weighing in at 7 lbs. 7 oz.

You have no idea how amazing it was to hold you for the first time. My life was changed immediately.

Your first hairbow/ hair flower! You looked so precious!

Your first birthday cake. Annie and Poppy brought this to the hospital to enjoy. (Chocolate cake with white icing- Mommy's favorite!)

We love naptime!

Heading home from the hospital. You wore the outfit I wore home from the hospital and the shoes Daddy would have worn if he was a girl. The knitted cap was from our friend Mrs. Debbie.

A closer look.

Settled into the car seat for the first time.

In the car and headed home!

We showed you your room as soon as we got home. You didn't say it, but I know you loved it.

Auburn was playing as we left the hospital and got home, so I had to change you into your first gameday outfit! I used this inspiration to make the onesie. Your friend Johanna gave you the headband.

Meeting your Great-Mam Maw Johnson!

Your first bath. You didn't love the actual event, but really enjoyed the cuddling (and smell) afterward.

After the bath. Love that hair.

I made you a hairband like mine- We match!

The most wonderful pair ever. Love this picture and these two!!

We love you Emily Ann!

Emily Ann- September 1, 2011

2011-09-07T20:08:00.000-05:00

Coming to the end of our first week of Emily Ann's life, I really want to document her birth. It was such an incredible day and I don't want to forget a bit of it!

I had been going to weekly appointments since June and had been checking for progression since 36 weeks. Things were progressing very slowly. Brian went with me to my 39 week appointment with the hope that we would have more... and better... news. My doctor did what she does and said that I was maybe 1 cm dilated. Okay. As we continued to talk, she mentioned that because of my gestational diabetes, we needed to consider our options. We made plans to go to the doctor on Wednesday, August 31 to determine what to do next.

Wednesday afternoon, Brian and I went to the hospital and determined that we would do a procedure that help with the progression. The doctor completed the procedure, then we spent the night in the labor and delivery room, allowing it to do it's job. Though a c-section was an option, we definitely wanted to see what my body would do if it had a chance for a more natural labor.

Thursday morning, after a pretty lame night's sleep, my doctor came in, checked my progression from the procedure (which was successful! 4 cm!), then began the process of inducing. They inserted my IV and started pitocin at about 8:00 am. By 9:00 I was having pretty consistent, though bearable contractions. By 9:30, they were getting rough. I was nervous about taking the epidural too early for fear that it would #1- wear off or #2- slow the process so I tried to hang on. By 10:45, I couldn't handle it any longer, asked my nurse to talk to the anesthesiologist, and got the shot. Wow. One of the best decisions of my life- just saying.

By 11:20, my contractions were still regular and fairly strong, but I could still feel them a bit (not nearly as bad though) which was certainly not a side effect of an epidural. Because of this the nurse decided to check my dilation and discovered I was 7 cm. The nurse checked again at 12:20 and found that I was 9.5 cm.

Things were progressing super quickly and we were thrilled! Our nurse Beth was amazing. She said that she would check again in 30 minutes. At 1:45 I was just shy of 10 cm. and began pushing! I pushed through several rounds of contractions. When she began crowning, Beth called our doctor. After a few more contractions, Emily Ann was ready to come... but our doctor wasn't there. A final contraction sealed the deal and Emily Ann joined our family at 2:21 pm! My doctor walked into the room about 5 minutes after she was born.

We were so blessed to have a fabulous nurse. Beth was with us every step of the way- including the actual birth! She was wonderful.

The rest of the time in the hospital was a bit of a whirl wind of events. We had so many wonderful family and friends come visit us, great nurses and lactation consultants, and an overall good experience. We headed home on Saturday ready to be full time parents!

Sigh.

2011-09-04T21:08:00.000-05:00

I am so in love.

Football Friday- Oatmeal Cream Pies

2011-09-03T18:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Game Day everyone! Next week's Football Friday will actually occur on Friday- Enjoy the recipe for the week!

Today's Football Friday post is inspired from Brian! My husband adores the store-bought oatmeal cream pies. When my mom came home from Atlanta with a dozen bakery style OCP's, I decided I must try them myself. The recipe came from one of our good family friends, Mrs. Treva. They are delicious!

Cream the Aggies Oatmeal Cream Pies

Ingredients

1 c. butter

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 T. molasses

1 t. vanilla

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

1/4 t. cinnamon

1 1/2 c. of quick oats (At least 1 1/2 cups- less makes cookies a little runny)

Cream

2 t. very hot water
1/4 t. salt

7 oz. jar of marshmallow creme

1/2 c. butter

1/3 c. powdered sugar

1/2 t. vanilla

In a large bowl, beat the margarine, brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, vanilla, and eggs. Add flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Mix in the oats. Place dough on a parchment lined cookies sheet (***We tried these on a plain cookie sheet, a parchment lined sheet, and a Pampered chef baking stone and they had the best consistency and fullness using the parchment paper). Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes. (Don't let them get crunchy!!)

Once the cookies have cooled, combine the hot water with the salt and mix until the salt dissolves. In a large bowl, beat the marshmallow cream with the Crisco. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat on high until creamy. Add in the salt water and mix until well combined.

Spread the filling on a cookie, then top with another.

We had a bit of the cream left, so I made football laces to add to the fun!

Happy Friday everyone!

Introducing Emily Ann Johnson!

2011-09-02T22:44:00.000-05:00

Brian and I are pleased to announce the birth of our precious baby girl!

Emily Ann Johnson was born Thursday, September 1 at 2:21 PM.

She weighed 7 lbs, 7 oz. and is 20 inches long.

She is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

Praise the Lord for such a wonderful miracle!

He is such a fabulous daddy!

EA with the grandparents

EA with the uncles

Our family of 3!

I will post the Football Friday post a day late so for those of you looking, look for it tomorrow!

Have a blessed Friday my friends!

Feeling a bit sour.... dough....

2011-08-31T08:18:00.000-05:00

Last week, my friend Ashley's mom gave me some of her delicious sourdough bread starter and taught me how to make it. Though I went home with loaves last week, it was really her doing- they were incredible!!

This week, it was time for me to start the process on my own! I was so nervous!

First I fed the starter... then waited 12 hours.

Next I created the dough... then waited 12 more hours.

After 24 hours, I finally got out the camera :)

Here is the dough after it had risen.

I then separated the dough into three loaves. Clearly they were not even.... I will be more careful next time- I was just so nervous!

After dividing into loaves, I had to wait 8 more hours.

Here are the risen loaves...

Then I finally got to bake!!!

25-30 minutes at 350* and I got these beauties!!

For a closer look...

And not only were the pretty, they were scrumptious!!!!

It is quite a process, but I must say, grilled cheese on sourdough bread will make your life better.

You must believe me.

My next take will be in the middle of next week... we are hoping we have a major interruption this week, so we will see how it goes, but my first attempt was a success!

Happy Hump Day!

Gifts

2011-08-28T23:26:00.000-05:00

It is amazing when I see people follow God's call for their lives. It is incredible that He gives us specific gifts that are intended to glorify Him. Our talents are not by accident- they are "divinely designed." What a blessing.

This morning at church, I was struck again by how intentional God is not only with His plans, but with the gifts He has given us. Brian and I have a wonderful Sunday School class. This morning, our normal teachers were out, so our good friend Rob taught the lesson. It is so clear his gift is teaching. He KNOWS the Bible and conveys the truths from the Bible with confidence, clarity, and depth that can only be found in God. His lesson was excellent- he talked about the importance in finding Christ throughout scripture, rather than making scripture fit us and our needs. He then tied that relationship in with how we are to view marriage and a Christ-like marriage. He made a lot of great points I had not considered and I was excited about what he shared. It was so good.

Fast forward about an hour. Brian's brother Kevin has recently joined our church's staff. He is also a very gifted speaker and has a great ability to draw people in. He begins seminary in the fall (actually maybe this week?) and I can't wait to see how God uses him and his talents and gifts to enhance His kingdom. This morning, Kevin led his first baptism in the church service. Maybe it is the psycho-emotional 9-month pregnant Ashley coming out, but as I watched him, I clung to Brian's hand and just cried. He is doing what God has gifted him with and what he has been called to do. He is intentional and is growing closer to the Lord through His obedience. It is such a cool thing to watch and to be part of.

Though these Godly men are such fabulous examples of God using His gifts to enhance His kingdom, I am thankful that He was just as intentional in choosing my gifts. I love that it might not be something as big as speaking or teaching, but that each gift comes directly from Him and can be used to glorify our creator. What a faithful God to serve.

The following was some Old Testament scripture that Rob mentioned in his lesson this morning- I am adding a bit more than he talked about because it is just so good! Enjoy!

Football Friday- Cinnamon Blueberry Muffins

2011-08-26T17:04:00.001-05:00

As those of you who have been around for more than 9 months know, I *love* Auburn football. I met my husband in Auburn, I met many of my best friends in Auburn, I was a member of the Auburn Flag Line and was therefore part of the Auburn band, I graduated from Auburn, and I truly believe that to be in Auburn, AL on a fall Saturday is one of the best ways to spend a day.

This football season I am excited to introduce a new weekly series to my blog called Football Friday. This is a chance for me to share various recipes that I have found in a cookbook, on a blog, or (of course) on Pinterest, that would be great for tailgating or simply watching the big game on TV. Some of these recipes are old faithfuls while others are new and are meant to add a fun spark to the week.

So, in honor of being a week and a day from football season, I bring you my first Football Friday recipe!

Don't be BLUE, Football Season is a Week Away Blueberry Muffins

(Okay, super long name, but so appropriate, right?)

Ingredients-

Muffins

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour

3/4 c. White sugar

1/2 t. salt

2 t. baking powder

1 egg

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1/3 c. milk

1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

Topping

1/2 c. white sugar

1/3 c. all purpose flour

1/4 c. butter

1 1/2 t. cinnamon

Muffins

Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place vegetable oil in a one cup measuring cup and add the egg and enough milk to fill to the top. Mix the flour mixture with the vegetable oil mixture. Fold in the blueberries. Fill muffin tins 3/4 of the way full.

Topping

Mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle the topping on the uncooked muffins.

Bake at 400* for 20-25 minutes or until done.

I got this recipe from a mom in my class two years ago. They are absolutely delicious and freeze really well. Auburn kicks off at 11:00 next Saturday so this would be the perfect treat for before the game!

I don't have pictures today, but I plan to have them for future recipes :)

Have a super Friday friends!

13 on Thursday

2011-08-25T22:55:00.000-05:00

As I sat down to write my 13 on Thursday post today, I honestly only have one thing on my mind....

#1. I can not wait to meet Emily Ann.

It's not 13, but it's the complete truth.

Happy Thursday friends!

A week of dates

2011-08-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

So, as we draw nearer to the due date, the due date seems much closer. Funny how that works.

Though we can not wait for Emily Ann to be here, we have both found ourselves to be very protective of our time together for this week and the coming weekend. Maybe, hopefully, we won't make it until then, but on the other hand, a nice, carefree weekend would be the perfect way to prepare for a baby.

So in honor of our last few days of just the two of us, I created date night cards for Brian to choose from each night (for up to 8 nights.... hopefully we won't have to wait that long :) ). Our budget is much tighter than it has been in the past, so the ideas aren't expensive, or even out for the most part, but they are simple things to keep the TV off and just enjoy each other.

After finding this idea at Find Joy in the Journey, I decided to create an idea board of my own. I typed up fun ideas using cute fonts and borders, then printed them out and adhered them to scrapbook paper.

Next, I mounted them on magnets and placed them on the fridge. Each night, Brian can choose an activity for the evening!

I loved Shannon's idea of mounting fun ideas for summer- I think you can use this set-up for so many different things!
What are your cheap date night ideas?

Happy Monday!

Home Management Binder

2011-08-20T17:02:00.000-05:00

As I was browsing Pinterest earlier this week, I found an idea for a Home Management Binder to contain all of the major household organization items. Like most of the ideas I find on Pinterest (while I am waiting... um... patiently for my baby), I thought it was genius, determined I would begin mine the next morning, and went to sleep.

After browsing A Bowl Full of Lemons post and pictures of her binder the next morning, I knew this was a must for our household. I have been trying to determine a way that we can organize our information and have it in one neat, concise place. In addition, with the change in our budget, we have to be much more serious about the money we spend and where we spend it. As I looked through Toni's binder ideas, I began thinking of the information we would need or want close at hand...

our budget

a monthly expenditure sheet

a bi-monthly menu

a bi-monthly grocery list

a breakdown of where our envelope cash goes (We completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University last November through our church. It was a great investment of time and gave wonderful resources.. we highly recommend it)

everyday gift logs

Christmas gift logs/ planning sheet

emergency contact information

important personal information

EA's immunization schedule

Following Toni's lead, I grabbed a clear view binder, a binder pencil pouch, and a 5 tab divider (all of which has a special home in our garage... one of the perks of collecting school supplies like they will never go on sale again)

I setup my labels a little differently than Toni. My first section is budget, my second is household items, my third is gifts, my fourth is Emily Ann, and my fifth is Brian and Ashley. This kept me from having to buy another pack of dividers, but still holds all the necessary information.

As I consider our budget, menu planning is definitely our biggest weakness. As we found out this month, one trip to Sam's will kill our allotted food money... even if we need what we purchase. Because of this, this was my number one priority in setting up the binder.

After browsing the web and considering our specific needs, I created templates for our bi-monthly grocery trips and meal plans. These allowed me an overview and specific information.

Next, I focused on our budget.

I created a Bill and Payment checklist similar to this one from Clean Mama Printables. I added our specific bills so we would be able to track them more easily. I also added additional boxes to track things we may not have considered yet. For further budgeting, I created a Dave Ramsey-like spreadsheet with our specific spending elements. This includes our bills and food, as well as personal money and what we spend on misc items. Here is Clean Mama's overview budget for an example.

Next, I realized how often I need information about Brian's workplace and have no idea what it is so I have to call or text him to get the information. Though this works, it is not always ideal. Because of this, I created a selection of personal information forms that are specific to each of us and that will be easily accessible if needed. Items listed on these forms included name, social security, workplace, work address, work phone, general physician's name and phone, dentist's name and phone, OB's name and phone, insurance information, etc.
In this section, I included an immunization checklist for EA. I got this information from my pediatrician's website... this does not include all of the doctor's visits, only immunizations.

I also created an emergency contact form similar to Clean Mama's family information form. Mine differs from hers by adding less information about the surrounding area, but focusing on personal emergency contacts and providing more space for neighbor information.

My next task was gifts. Though they are sporadic, it seems that birthdays always catch us by surprise. Add in the occasional happy day surprise, baby shower, or congratulations gift and we really struggle! Because of this, I created a gift log and Christmas gift log/ planner so that I can begin thinking about gifts ahead of time. This will also be great for me to refer back to when the next birthday arrives.

Other useful templates from Clean Mama include the Home Improvements Checklist and the Cleaning Kit. Her website is truly fabulous! Though several of these forms are specific to my family, her site offers forms that are appropriate for everyone.

Finally, I realized that you can not have an organized and useful Home Management Binder without a cute cover! Using my rocking awesome Creative Memories software, I created a binder cover and side tab to make my binder cute!

Feel free to use the cover, spine filler, and any of the forms you deem worthy to set up your own binder. Shoot me an email if you want more information about a specific form or would like me to email you any of the forms in PDF format. Check out A Bowl Full of Lemons' Home Management Challenge and Clean Mama Printables for more organizational ideas!

What do you do to organize this information? Do you use a filing system, a binder, or something completely different? Are there any forms you would add to YOURS that I haven't considered? Leave a comment and let me know!

Happy Weekend!

Baby J- Week 38

2011-08-19T15:51:00.001-05:00

How far along? 38 weeks, 1 day

Baby Bump? Absolutely.

Maternity clothes? Absolutely.

Total weight gain: 8 lbs. I was at 11 two weeks ago but it somehow disappeared. It's the craziest thing.

Cravings: Coke. Cherry Coke. Coke Icee. Bottled Coke. Canned Coke. Coke float. And soft served ice cream.

Symptoms: Contractions on a nightly basis... not painful ones or ones with any kind of time between them, but contractions none the less. Also, swollen fingers.

Sleep: Sleep has been great. I have decided the key is to go strong during the day, stay up late, then sleep for as long as I possibly can the next morning. Sometimes that is 6:00, sometimes that is 9:00.

Movement: She's really been moving a lot for the past week or so. BIG movements that rock my whole body and sometimes hurt. But I love it!!

Gender: We are having a little girl! Emily Ann!

Belly Button in or out? In but barely.

What I miss: Lol... Coke. My engagement and wedding bands. Cute clothes... or at least a variety of clothes.

Best moment this week: Brian's sweet co-workers surprised us with a baby shower this afternoon! They got me to the office with the promise of an "award for Brian" and gave us both a fun surprise! It was so wonderful. We had delicious cake, received some fabulous gifts, and enjoyed a great time with his office!

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, the doctor mentioned that we could talk about inducing next week. We aren't going to but the fact that it could be discussed was enough for me! We are getting so close!

Have a great weekend my friends!

13 on Thursday

2011-08-18T22:34:00.001-05:00

Happy Thursday guys!

Here are 13 things that have happened or have been on my mind today...

1. I had my regular appointments this afternoon.... Things look good, but slow. I am just so ready to meet my little girl!

2. I had lunch with one of my good friends from high school, Christy, and her sweet little girl Audrey. I love Diplomat Deli and I love catching up with old friends!

3. Brian and I had these Black Bean Quesadillas for dinner last night. They were so so tasty! That lime and black bean mixture is something special!

4. I found this home organizer on Pinterest last night. I worked on ours for a while today and am so excited about the results. I plan to share sometime soon!

Here's a spoiler...

5. I need a pedicure.

(I'm sorry for people who are grossed out by feet- You might not believe me if I didn't show you :) )

6. I can't wait to have a normal waistline again. I am drooling over some of these outfits...

I am also recognizing my great attachment to solid white shirts and grey accents. Honestly, I just want a pair of blue jeans that have a button, not elastic.

7. 16 days until football season.

Image

8. I have been working on dressing up onesies for when Emily Ann gets here. Here are a few examples...

In case you can't tell, the top left is a zebra print Beetle. The bottom left is an owl. I know- my hand stitching still leaves a lot to be desired.

The polka-dotted onesie was inspired by this shirt refashion at Ruffles and Stuff.

9. I completed my first sewing project this week. After severe distress that Emily Ann wouldn't have a girly Auburn outfit for the first game, I got to work on a onesie dress.

I also have a matching bow. I am really pleased with the result and hope to make another one soon. I got directions for the onesie dress here.

10. I have had a McDonald's ice cream cone every day this week. (.75 including tax- such a bargain!)

11. Brian's brother Kevin had dinner with us tonight. We had taco lasagna, chips, and salsa. It was delicious.

12. I am really liking Blake Shelton's new song, "God Gave Me You." I am so thankful God gave me Brian Johnson.

13. I have really been itching to see The Proposal again. I have seen it several times, but it is just so funny!

Have a super night!

Sweet Peas and Bumblebees Giveaway

2011-08-16T10:31:00.000-05:00

Last night, as I was exploring some of my favorite blogs, I found some awesome giveaways from Sweet Peas and Bumblebees in celebration of their birthday!

Today, they are giving away a gift certificate to Amy Cornwell's shop.

Amy has the cutest engraved jewelry!

Some of my favorite include the Bloom ring

and the True Love ring

They are also featuring several other wonderful giveaway, so head over to Sweet Peas and Bumblebees and check out the goodness!

Have a great Tuesday!

Fearfully and wonderfully made...

2011-08-15T18:56:00.000-05:00

With Emily Ann's birth coming so soon, this verse has been on my mind a good bit. The verse is so good and sweet and has held with all my hopes and expectations for my little girl- that she recognize who she is in Christ and that she has value in the eyes of God.

But in all my reading of this verse recently, I have put aside the truth that stands in the fact that this verse applies to me as well. I am not perfect. I have so many insecurities. I am lacking in my relationship with God, with my husband, with my family, and with my friends and those things are something that I must always work on. I am not finished with the tasks God has for me and I must continue to work as for the Lord. But He knew what He was doing when He created me and He alone can complete me. My insecurities can only be "cured" by Christ. What a blessing that we have a Savior who allows us to put our hope in Him.

Check out Emily's post from today. Such a great reminder of a great God.

Happy Monday!

Baby J- Week 37 Nursery Reveal!

2011-08-12T12:11:00.000-05:00

In honor of being 37 weeks and full term, I am sharing Emily Ann's nursery!

We have had the room painted since well before we found out EA was a girl- funnily enough, we changed it from pink to the brown/ grey instead of vice versa. I love the color and the way it brightens up with the white furniture.

The view from the door :) Our crib is from Babies R Us. We went back and forth about getting a 4-in-1 but decided this was the best option for our budget. The curves and feet make it so elegant! Our bedding is from Land of Nod and was definitely the biggest splurge in the room. It is so bright and friendly- I love it!

We got this dresser from Ikea several years ago as a dresser for our guest bedroom. When we were shopping for nursery furniture, we realized this was the perfect height for a changing table! We added the changing pad and voila!

This little corner makes me so happy! My mom made the curtains with inspiration from this picture on Pinterest. Brian's parents and brothers gave us the rocker from Cracker Barrel. The quilt from our bedding was the perfect throw for the back of the chair. The nightstand came from the unfinished furniture store about 5 years ago. We left it unfinished for years, but knew we wanted it white once we started the nursery.

This armoire came from Minerva's in the spring of 2010. I have wanted an armoire for ages and really wanted one for the nursery. We found the piece before we were pregnant but went ahead invested because it is so versatile. This piece was from the 1930's and adds so much additional space for storage.

Here is the view from the other corner of the room.

One of my favorite parts of the room is the handmade decorations. We definitely splurged in different places when decorating this room, but I was determined to create the art myself. I spent a lot of time looking for ideas and wasted at least 5 canvases completing work that I didn't really care for and painted over in white. The best part was the things that some of my sweet friends made. It makes the room so special!

My wonderful friend Ginny made these as part of the decorations for my Sunday School shower. I love the colors and the work she put into it. They are so cute! They are the perfect door decorations and really help the room come together.

This Creative Memories frame/ magnet board was a wedding gift. The best part about it is that I can change it any time I like without a lot of extra effort. Right now we are featuring ultrasound pictures, but that will be changed as soon as our little girl is here.

I looked and looked for a bulletin board but couldn't how to figure out how to keep the older than newborn Emily Ann from pulling down the thumb tacks. After spending lots of time on blogs, I determined that a magnet board would be a much better option. I purchased the frame from the clearance section of Hobby Lobby and the sheet metal from Home Depot. My handy, dandy husband used his talent and tools to put it together. We used round magnets and covered them with the tops of Coke bottles that were Brian's Father's Day gift.

I have also fallen in love with doilies! I am still not sure about this canvas, but I wanted to add scripture somewhere in the room. The doily accent makes it very sweet and feminine, but honestly, this may or may not stay- the handwriting bothers me. The picture in the frame was one of our favorites from our maternity pictures- though you can't tell in the picture, we are holding a banner that says Emily Ann.

These paintings were a true labor of love. I looked for inspiration for ages and finally came up with a mixture of a few different paintings. I created the scalloped edge, then used my Cricut to make the monogram. I found scrapbook paper to match the bedding and created pennants to go at the top of the paintings, but also used the pennants to create consistency throughout the room. They are also on our Creative Memories frame and on our magnet board.

I have loved this alphabet canvas that I found several months ago, but needed it to match my nursery. Once again, I put my Cricut to good use, used the same matching papers from the pennants, and created this great alphabet/ number board. Since this display sits on top of the armoire, it allows us to keep some of our nicer books safe from sweet baby hands, but still accessible to share!

Finally, my sweet friend Jennifer completed the nursery with this painting. We found a similar painting in a store in the area, then she used colors from the nursery to create her own version. It is such a beautiful addition and really finishes off the room.

And there you have it! The only thing missing from this room is our baby girl! I can't wait to see Emily Ann in here, to rock her in the chair, watch her sleep in the crib, and enjoy her growing up. The Bump said in my weekly updates this week that her major organs are finished developing, so she is welcome to come whenever she likes! 3 weeks until her due date!

Happy Friday friends!

13 on Thursday

2011-08-11T17:22:00.000-05:00

Once again, I am following Rebecca's lead and participating in 13 on Thursday! Here are some random things I have done today or that are simply on my mind!

1. I spent the morning and lunch time with my dear friend Ashley and her sweet baby girl Johanna. It made me so so excited for Emily Ann to get here. I was also super grateful for all the advice and information Ashley was able to give.
Here is me and Johanna after her noontime meal. This was my first swaddle with a real baby! Ashley was great to trust me. :)

2. Once again, I enjoyed a nice afternoon at the hospital with all my many doctors appointments. Everything looks good but nothing much has changed since last week.

3. I have started watching the Nate Berkus show in the afternoons at 3:00. I don't see it every day but really enjoy any opportunity to get new home ideas.

4. I recently discovered the recipe blog Plain Chicken through Pinterest. Her recipes look delicious and so do-able! Add the fact that she is an Auburn fan and basically I am thrilled! Check out her blog!

5. I burned my thumb using the hot glue gun last week. It is still recovering.

6. I got the sbcStudio digital scrapbooking program as a baby gift. I am loving creating new things... right now I am working on direction and recipe cards for Gifted. I can't wait to get started on books and cards for Emily Ann!

7. Brian introduced me to the new Shane and Shane song "The One You Need." Such a great song. Check it out.

8. Brian got the game Golden Eye for the Wii as part of his birthday gift. It's humorous to see him play with different guys and decide how good he is based off their performances. Lucky for him, he will always be better than me at video games. I just can't handle it.

9. I am halfway finished with Baby Wise. I keep meaning to finish it but then get distracted by something else. No rush- I've got 3 weeks, right?

10. God is continuing to bless me through the Word and revealing incredible things about not only being a woman, but being a mom.

11. I have made several cute crafts over the past few weeks. Here are a few...

(See the little heart on the onesie? That's how I burned my thumb.... at least it ended up cute!)

12. I love that Brian Johnson. Seriously. I couldn't ask for a better husband, a better leader, or a better man to be married to. I adore the fact that God created us for each other. I can't wait to see him be a dad.

13. I ate my first Subway sandwich in 9 months today. I had it melted and it was delicious. I probably won't be that daring again until after EA is born, but I really enjoyed my walk on the wild side.