[my pickle predicament]

i don't know who this cute woman is, but she's strong!

cleaning out the refrigerator is always one of those daunting chores, but i love it when i finish! so today, i threw away 3 jars of pickles!!! what in the world am i doing with 4 jars? i do admit i have much affection for those crisp little green things, however, i am again reminded of my need to plan!

i am the first to admit my shopping impairment... i keep telling myself and my dear husband that i will write out my meals and buy accordingly, but i just get up to my ears in other trappings & run to the store on a whim!

so today after throwing away millions--okay, not millions, but a bountiful myriad of pickles. i am again made aware of how much i bear a grudge against throwing away food! plain foolishness! so i now aspire to get my junk together and devise a course of action!

you may be asking yourself right now why you would care about my pickles gone bad, but this is a reminder for me to step it up and not get myself into a "pickle" like this again!
i'm really not a pun girl, it's just worked out for me the last little while :)

[scripture power]

the last time i went to mark my scriptures, i decided it would be so nice to have more room!

i write all over the sides, in the middle crack -- it appears so chaotic.

wouldn't it be nice to have a "notes" section down the side of the page or something?

don't take this idea... i think i'll try to mark-it it :)

[silent chambers of your own soul]

last night i grabbed my old jr. high scriptures. i began flipping through them while searching for a great scripture. meanwhile, i find carefully pasted between the pages a talk given by President Ezra Taft Benson given at the Boise Institute of Religion Dedication Sunday, November 20, 1983. his words are powerful and i'd really like to share what i was given way back in my jr. high seminary class... who knew i'd be finding blog post material from 7th grade? Awesome!

highlights from In His Step

"While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time: God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest and most valiant children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. That is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God."

"Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain--the forces of righteousness will finally win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle--and how tall we will stand? Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?"

"Great battles can make great heroes and heroines... Some of the greatest battles you will face will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul. David's battles in the field against the foe were not as critical as David's battles in the palace against a lustful eye."

... "The tactics which the enemy will use against us will vary from time to time. He will seek to exploit our weak spots, so we must be alert to the devil's devious designs--the subtle sins and clever compromises as well as the obvious offenses."

"We must remember that the devil seeks to make all men miserable like unto himself. We must also remember that the Lord loves us and seeks for us the fullness of joy which He enjoys. We must choose whom we will serve."


i would publicly like to thank my Heavenly Father for my testimony of his restored gospel! i cannot imagine living in this world we live in today and not having the peace, comfort & help my family & i have been given during these tumultuous times. we have so many frightening challenges to face each and every day. so many families are being torn apart by drugs, alcohol, adultry, pornography, pride, lust, money and the list goes on and on. we really do need to take serious action to protect our families from the devil's destruction! lets help lift eachother up and build strong spiritual walls of protection!

i say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

[act like a celebrity]

a month or so ago, my mom & i were shopping at the one and only tj maxx
(one of our adored stores) and came across this fabulous book!
we sat and read it together giggling in the aisle...
hilarious! we agreed.
who can we buy this for? we asked each other.



S C H O L A S T I C

we remembered my little cousin Hannah's birthday was coming up soon, so my mom snatched one up for her!
come to find out, she loved the book!
her mom told us she's always reading & studying it!

. . .

then, my mom surprised lulu with one for her birthday as well!
here is one of our favorite parts...
we think it's a riot!
.because i have 3 very silly lovely little girls, i may appreciate this more than most... i don't know.

.HOW TO ACT LIKE A CELEBRITY.

-Create an aura of mystery and celebrity around yourself by acting like the hottest A-lister in town.

-Buy a pair of enormous sunglasses and wear them all the time, even at night and when you are indoors.

-Say things like "No photographs, please," and "I just wish my fans would leave me alone. I need 'me' time."

-Always look immaculately groomed, even if you are just going to the supermarket.

-Get yourself an entourage to follow you everywhere (walking a few paces behind you, obviously).

-Always look bored, even if you are having fun.

-Always order something that is not on the menu and send it back even when it is delicious.

-Pout a lot.

-Practice signing autographs. Your signature should be flamboyant and completely unreadable.

-Write a list of unreasonable demands to present to your parents. Include things such as every drink I am served must contain exactly six ice cubes -- no more, no less."

-Ask your father to wear a chauffeur's hat whenever he drives you somewhere.

-Start writing the first part of your autobiography. It must be published before you are 2o years old.

.pg 23.

if you're looking for a fun, unique book, give it a go! they have one for boys too!

.oh, just received an e-mail from my friend saying that the boy's book isn't as fun & fancy, maybe a little boring.
.it's mostly about finding bugs & tying knots.
good to know!
thanks nat!

[the tale of a wedding ring]

i had a wedding ring.
i loved it.
my arthritis took over.
one day my knuckle grew so large i became claustrophobic.
i begged sam to cut it off.
i cried.
he tried to make me feel better.
"it's not like you're 500 lbs and we have to cut it off" he teased.
that made me feel a little better.

short story short, it's time to fix it.

i started thinking about the possible symbolism of a scratched cut off ring.

i looked up the definitions of the words cut & swollen/swell. there are many. here are a few:

cut. verb, cut, cut⋅ting, adjective, noun
1. to divide with
2. to detach with
3. to hew or saw down
4. to abridge or shorten; edit by omitting a part or parts
5. to lower, reduce, diminish, or curtail
6. to dilute; make less thick
7. to dissolve
8. to stop; halt the running of
9. to absent oneself from
10. to wound the feelings of severely

swell. verb, swelled, swol⋅len or swelled, swell⋅ing, noun, adjective
1. to rise in waves, as the sea
2. to well up, as a spring or as tears
3. to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.
4. to become puffed up with pride

thankfully. i did not "take off" my ring because of a wounded marriage, but how easily like this ring can we detach, lower, become puffed up, scratch and consequently dissolve, halt, absent oneself, wound feelings severely, and halt the running of our marriage.

after we cut my ring off, people asked if i tried soap, crisco, or other any other method to remove it.
i didn't.
the absurd thing is that my knuckle shrunk back down to it's normal size shortly thereafter... i could have slipped it right back on.
there are many different solutions to problems.
try not to cut it off if you don't have to.
this is my advice :)

[substitute]

today i will be a substitute teacher. i am going to teach lulu's primary class! are you catching my enthusiasm? i'm using an exclamation point here... at first thinking i am being a little sarcastic, and then remembering that i really love primary, it will be totally fine and i'm actually very happy to teach them. [this is supposed to be uplifting & enlightening!] "this" is why i like to stop, re-focus and evaluate my state of mind most days. "this" is why i began this blog, to remember the positives. you may think, "gag!" -- that's cool. i just know i'm happier and nicer when i look on the "bright side". back to my class... they're 7, they're cute & i have a great lesson to teach! our lesson today is,
"We Believe the Book of Mormon to Be the Word of God" can i say that i am always totally amazed at how well these lessons are written! everytime i teach, my testimony of divine inspiration is heightened. heavenly father knows what they need, and we are his substitutes.

as i sat on the toilet [lid mind you] bathing my girls, reading this month's Ensign (General Conference Addresses) while little splashes of water hit the pages... i came across this talk by Margaret S. Lifferth, first counselor in the primary general presidency titled Respect and Reverence. i'd like to share with you a few appropriate paragraphs that coincide with teaching:

Our teachers in Primary, Sunday School, and the youth programs have unique opportunities to teach and exemplify respect and reverence. May I offer a few ideas.

First of all, love those in your class. Often the child who is the most disruptive needs your love the most.

Be prepared. Prepare not only the material, but prepare yourself to teach with the Spirit. Many problems with reverence can be defused with a well-prepared lesson in which the students participate.

Years ago President Packer promised the Lord's blessings to those who worship in reverence. Surely those promises apply today: "While we may not see an immediate, miraculous transformation, as surely as the Lord lives, a quiet one will take place. The spiritual power in the lives of each member and in the Church will increase. The Lord will pour out his Spirit upon us more abundantly. We will be less troubled, less confused. We will find revealed answers to personal and family problems."⁹

I believe the promises of a prophet. I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father and that His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior. I pray that our increased reverence will reflect our deepest love for Them and improve our quest to feed Their sheep. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

read entire article

[make me shriek]

Robert Childre ss, "Fun for Three," 1962

my husband sam can be a total goof ball & tease! this lively quality makes really happy! alright, sometimes i can get a little annoyed... he can tend to go too far & push it with me here & there, but all in all, it's a really great thing!

some of my favorite childhood memories are of when my cute dad would just mess around with us! he's a party guy! he knows how to have fun, and we loved it! still do!
i can remember my dad being pumped about a new record he had just bought! "Everyone in our bedroom!" he'd shout with glee! "Come listen to a new tune!" we'd gather in their room where his killer sound system was set up. record on, volume up, we'd dance and jump on their bed giggling with utter joy! it was just plain simple silliness and fun! it goes a long way!

i'm grateful for sam's "let loose" example. our girls adore his zaniness. yesterday as i was fixing the girls lunch, i just started dancing around acting hair brained and breenie & annie were just entranced with my behavior. they loved it! Shrieking with delight! i must remind myself to show my "silly side" more often and not take the day too seriously. it's extremely easy for me to get wrapped up in all of my responsibilities and forget to have fun!

go ahead & do it again today!

[luster lifter]

in honor of mother's day last sunday, i found it appropriate to share with you today:

my dear friend petra gave me this book for my birthday, and i adore it--almost as much as i adore her. i would love to share with you an exert from it's pages. i'm sure i'll refer to it often!

Jane talks about how she keeps this quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taped to her nightstand: "You are doing God's work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you, and He will bless you, even--no, especially--when your days and your nights may be most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and weep over their responsibility as mothers, 'Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole'. And it will make your children whole as well" ("Because She Is a Mother,"37).

A "co-partner with the creator himself."
That is a mother.
We are mothers.

I am a Mother
by, Jane Clayson Johnson

[found]

two barbies naked on the old hide-a-bed & a new job! yes! sam found a job! after two months of interviewing & throwing me off balance, he'll be starting next wednesday with a company called hci (healthcare insights) as a senior software developer! my favorite part is his new commute... it will only be like 10 min! no more 45 min drives each way! way to go sammy! i'm proud of you lover! now back to spending some $! j/k, i'll be good.

the barbies you ask? okay, so sam & i were laying in bed chatting while the girls were in our tub this morning... sometimes when we're not quite ready to get out of bed and the girls wake up early, we have them come bathe in our bathroom so we can listen to them play and talk. we love to lay & listen to their makebelieve. anyway, somehow we started talking about the fact that lulu is getting so big & how next year is the reccomended age (8) to give her the "birds & the bees talk"!?! Yikes! i'll need some help with that! and ironically today when i went downstairs with the two little ones, this is what i found! lulu's camp rock barbies decided to really go "camping"!?! oh no! this is our first boy barbie... what do we do with him? i hope it was totally innocent. maybe they just undressed them and placed them together? i guess we'll be having a small mommy daughter convo after school! i already asked breenie breen about it and she said nothing. this is not unusual for her. as many of you know, she can sometimes be a mute. she's either loud and super chatty, or silent. as a matter of fact, some days when i pick her up from preschool, her teacher will tell me that she said nothing that day. funny girl. so back to the barbie situation,
if you have any words of wisdom, please share!

About

W  E  L  C  O  M  E

Hello!  My name is Amelia Smith and home is where my heart is. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. I love being a wife, mother & homemaker.  One of my greatest desires is to continually create a fun, fresh, comfortable home my family will always want to come home to.  

I believe anyone can achieve a killer vibe no matter what your space & budget is like- it's all about style, color, texture & meshing it all together.  Interior design has been a passion and hobby of mine for a while now, and recently decided to step into the design world to help others create their happy place.  

I am currently working on a site to showcase my work and outline my services.

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Deals are my absolute favorite!  I owe my love for bargain shopping to my parents- they are wise and taught me how to achieve a high-end style for less.  It takes patience, time, and serious searching skills.  

I love music and love it loud! My husband Sam and I are night owls and spend many late nights in our shared office working away on our computers while jamming to music as he writes code and I bargain hunt or play with graphic design.  I think we're pretty fun together. Oh yes, Sam makes a pretty mean breakfast sandwich at midnight. Come on over! 

My husband and I are both born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah.  We actually grew up on the same street.  And yes, we are Mormon.  We love it here and don't ever plan on moving.  

I studied Art & Business Marketing at Westminster College in SLC, and absolutely loved it.  Boy do I wish I would have had the passion and drive like I do now though!

Thank you for visiting!  I aspire to make this worthwhile as I share my work, trends, and designer deals for less.  Have a great day!

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