If I...

I'm 'borrowing' a post from a few other bloggers. Fill in the blanks...

If I were to get pregnant again I would be...excited.

 If I could have any job in the world I'd be...SAHM

If I had a day to myself I would...sleep in and maybe watch a few movies that I want to watch.

If I could get married all over again I would...not change anything but maybe prevent some of the stresses that occurred that day. (Ahem, missing wedding flowers)

If I could live anywhere in the US I would stay... somewhere it is hilly and wooded. I'd love to live in the mountains of Tennessee but would hate to be away from family.

If BG were a boy he would have been named...a name that has family meaning, but not sharing it yet.

If I could have any talent in the world I would...like to be better at editing photos

If you met me in real life you would probably say I was...quiet

If I could go back to school and get a different degree I would...go for nursing

If money were not an object I'd...quit my job to spend more quality time raising my daughter

If I could meet one celebrity hmmm...Ricki Lake to thank her for her passion for natural birthing and her work to bring it into a more mainstream practice.

If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life it'd be...Target

If we get another pet I would want...either a mini husky (if money were no object and I were home more), or more likely another Egyptian Mau

If I could go on a trip, RIGHT NOW, I'd want to go to...Australia to see the Barrier Reef

If I had to chose between a house cleaner and a personal chef, I'd pick...a house cleaner.

If I had the option of plastic surgery I'd get...not plastic surgery, but I want to get lasik or some sort of vision correction done.

You Deserve A Medallion!

Marfmom is hosting a Winter Craft Carnival and since I LOVE crafts, I decided to write up one of my favorite crafts to make. Paper medallions are so versatile!



I've used them to decorate gifts, instead of a bow, used them as Christmas ornaments on a tree, and I've even matted and framed one for a wedding gift. They are pretty easy to make if you have a little imagination and access to paper crafting tools. The hardest piece to find is usually the medallion stamp. I haven't found them at my local craft or scrapbook store, but in a little mom and pop stamping and craft store. They can easily be found online though.

Tools Used

• Medallion Stamp
• Ink Pad (use pigment ink if also embossing)
• Embossing powder (optional)
• Embossing gun (optional)
• Scissors or exacto blade
• Baby wipes (cleaning ink off rubber stamps, do no use on clear stamps)
• Foam adhesive squares or "pop dots"
• Paper (cardstock weight works best, for the snowflake I used shimmery paper)
• Powder bag (optional)
• Cutting mat

First step is to look at the medallion stamp and decide how many layers to include. I decided to do 4 layers, but I easily could have done more but it requires more cutting and stamping. I wipe the powder bag over the paper. This prevents the embossing powder from sticking to the paper by reducing the static. I ink my stamp and press the stamp evenly onto my first piece of paper. Immediately I cover the inked image with embossing powder. You can skip this step, but I like how embossing helps the lines to stand out. If you do emboss, you will need to use a watermark ink pad or a pigment ink pad so that the embossing powder sticks to it. Dye inks dry too fast.

I tap off the excess powder onto a plain sheet of paper to save for later. I use the embossing gun to heat the paper and melt the powder. It's pretty fun to watch it change from a dull powder to a shiny liquid. Use caution as the gun gets pretty hot, like a hair dryer. If the powder gets too hot it will burn. Repeat these steps until you have all the layers you need.

Carefully cut out each layer. I find an exacto blade is better to use because you can get pretty detailed in cutting. However many find small pointed scissors to be just as easy to use. On my snowflake, I decided to cut out my 4th layer from the bottom layer since the part was going to be covered up anyway.

Use foam adhesive squares to adhere each layer together. This pops up the layers to make them look more 3D. If you know me, then you know I need to add some bling or glitter. Voila! You're done! If you decide to use it as an ornament you can also add layers to the back so it's not one sided.

Cross was embossed in gold on white paper and then colored with watercolors but could also be colored with pencils, markers, etc, before being cut out.

Poinsettia was embossed with red tinsel embossing powder, on red paper. Instead of using adhesive squares, I used permanent adhesive in the middle of each layer, but then curled up the leaves to make it more 3D. I used yellow flock in the middle.

Day 29: 30 Day Blog Journal

hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Plans have always seemed much easier for me to decide on than hopes and dreams. Maybe it's because it seems more definite. Hope seems like something that's too far out of reach, and dreams are on a similar horizon. One attains to reach their dreams but there is no assurance that they will get there. Not to say I don't waste my time on hopes and dreams, but the "Type A" in me definitely puts more weight on plans than dreams and hopes.

Plans For The Next Year

• I plan to be the best mother I can be
• I plan to sleep very little and to live life in a brain fog
• I plan to do the best I can to balance my attention between my child, my husband and myself
• I plan on taking lots of photos
• I plan on being the typical first time mother
• I plan on drifting away from some friends
• I plan on deciding on the next step of our family
• I plan on baptizing our child and confirming my faith
• I plan on there being struggles with breast feeding, and cloth diapering, and attachment parenting.

Hopes For The Next Year

• I hope motherhood treats me well
• I hope I get more sleep than I plan to
• I hope that my husband adjusts well to sharing my time with the baby
• I hope my photos are inspiring
• I hope I get the help I need
• I hope I gain more friends than I lose
• I hope we can start on expanding our family
• I hope that I can breast feed for 6 months

Dreams For The Next Year

• I dream that motherhood is a breeze
• I dream that I won't be lacking any sleep
• I dream that I can do it all myself
• I dream that there is no conflict with work
• I dream that breast feeding and cloth diapering will be a breeze

Day 28: 30 Day Blog Journal

whats in my handbag/purse

1. Wallet
2. Change ($.55)
3. lip gloss
4. business cards (1 free lunch card, MW card, etc)
5. Bed Bath and Beyond coupons
6. 2 old ticket stubs for Despicable Me
7. Ultrasound pictures from week 11
8. Coconut lotion
9. Stamps
10. Umbrella (ella, ella, a, a, a....)
11. Tucks wipes (pregnancy necessity)
12. Tums quick dissolve packs (pregnancy necessity)
13. Pad (because I am paranoid)
    

Day 27: 30 Day Blog Journal

My Worst Habit

Getting started on something and not finishing, especially if I loose my momentum

Ask Me Anything!

For Day 31, I wanted to use a blog post to answer any questions anyone has for me. So please feel free to leave a comment here with a question. It can be anon, so don't be shy!

Day 25: 30 Day Blog Journal

your day, in great detail
(oops, didn't realize I had this one scheduled yet!)

Between 6-7 I wake up, have breakfast, get ready for work
Commute 1 hour to work
Work for a few hours
Lunch around 12 or 1 (usually work and eat so I can leave earlier)
Work a few more hours
Commute 1 hour home
Chores
Make dinner
Depending on the day, we watch a movie or I'll watch some tv or read
Blog/hang out online
Go to bed

Day 24: 30 Day Blog Journal

where I live
There's more than corn in Indiana. Me, for instance :)

Day 23: 30 Day Blog Journal

a youtube video

Day 22: 30 Day Blog Journal

a website
Fertility Friend - A great resource and community for anyone on the TTC road.

Day 21: 30 Day Blog Journal

a recipe
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas (courtesy of Bakingdom blog)

Makes 8

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Salt and pepper chicken to taste.

In a large, heavy bottom skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken and saute for ten minutes.


Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan set over medium heat, combine the condensed soup and sour cream over medium heat. Stir in the taco seasoning and allow to simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes.

Add two-thirds of a cup of the sauce to the chicken and stir well. Add half a cup of the cheese to the chicken mixture and mix well.

Add a quarter cup of milk to the remaining sauce in the small sauce pan, mix well, and allow it to continue simmering over low heat.


Place 1/4 cup or slightly more, of the chicken mixture in each tortilla, roll tightly, and place seam-side down in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Once all of the enchiladas are in the dish, Pour the sauce over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.


Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Day 20: 30 Day Blog Journal

a hobby of yours
Watching sports, mainly Colts and Notre Dame Football but occasionally I'll watch baseball (live, not on TV) or basketball.
DH and I at a Colts game in 2009

Day 19: 30 Day Blog Journal

a talent of yours
Photography

Day 18: 30 Day Blog Journal

my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
I was married to my best friend on May 15th, 2004. It was an outdoor ceremony, and typical of my personality, almost everything was hand made. The weather was unusually cool for May, but we managed to hit the only day that didn't rain in the week before and the week after our wedding.


(Pictures are copyrighted, but I have permission from the photographer to post these)

Day 17: 30 Day Blog Journal

an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)


I've always liked Van Gogh, particularly this peice. I'm hoping to get a framed copy for the nursery since we're doing a star theme.

Day 16: 30 Day Blog Journal

a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
A hard subject for anyone to think about...


...remember you're not alone.

Day 15: 30 Day Blog Journal

Your Dream House
My dream house would be one in a hilly wooded area. It would be private (from all the trees and vegetation) but would have a lot of windows to let natural light in. It would have an open floor plan, and be made of natural materials (think modern log cabin). My taste runs a little more modern, but not quite to the point of industrial. I like simple uncluttered lines, but with a very organic feel.

I wish I could find pictures of my ideas.

Day 14: 30 Day Blog Journal

a non-fictional book



A great reference to any soon to be parents

Day 13: 30 Day Blog Journal

a fictional book


One memorable book from my youth, The Broccoli Tapes

Day 12: 30 Day Blog Journal

something you are OCD about
The most random one, volume number has to end on a 5 or 0. If I am watching a movie and I have to turn up the volume, it has to end in a 0 or a 5 or I will change it. I don't know why, it is totally weird.