I just love this picture my bestie Michelle of Chelletography took! Can't believe this was 10 weeks ago now! WOW! Things have been going great this pregnancy! I feel her move daily and she is a mover and a groover! We are SO excited for her arrival! My c-section date has been moved due to new hospital policies so we are having her on a Monday (April 15th) instead of a Friday (April 12th). I will be taking a few weeks off from blogging during that time as I tend to have a slower recovery from the surgery! But you can follow me on Instagram to see what we are up to (@britchesnboots). I feel like I have just POPPED out this week! I am 29 weeks! I decided to do a comparison of pictures over the past few months which was kind of fun to see! OH and if you didn't hear my announcement on Facebook, we have finally decided on the name! She will be Olivia Joy (so we have Emily Grace, Noah, Ava Faith and then...). Its been a tough decision for us (all but the middle name!) as we also loved the name Bekah! Its super sweet to hear my 2 year old call my belly "Livy" and the big kids are already calling her "Livy Love"!


I felt big back in these pictures! And then comes the next:


Because we live in a small home and are gaining a 6th person I will be doing an entire room re-do. THIS TIME...its my own! I am embarrassed that I am actually going to show you how Paul and I live...I mean our room is the ONLY room in the entire house we have done nothing to. We also have a desk in our room when Noah entered our world! So with Olivia's pending arrival I have been given the go ahead to re-do our room...but. We are on a budget! I am going to re-do our entire room for under $600 and that includes new furniture! I will post a before picture of my entire room soon and explain some of my ideas! Then when I am done I will show you the reveal! I can hardly contain my excitement! Something I have wanted to do for 7 years now! Last but not least a belly shot of me...29 weeks! Have a blessed day!

I was looking for something cute, yet easy to do for my mantel...the elusive mantel that has a lovely love seat in front of it {due to lack of space with large furniture!} I was given some super cute mini clothespins from my sweet friend Steph over at Crafting in the Rain...I had been staring at them for like a month as they spoke "use me...use me!" I also have a crazy stash of bakers twine that I use for decorating my packages before I ship off my Bliss Baby Designs orders. AND THEN...have you seen the adorable colors of felt you can buy at Joanne's fabrics these days? Holy moly at 39c each I could go crazy and my husband can't get mad for over spending!!


You will need felt (I used 2 different colors), scissors, twine and mini clothespins (you can find them at Michael's or most craft stores! Remember if you don't find a specific color you like...spray paint is your friend!) and bakers twine.

I start by folding my felt over about an inch and a 1/2. I then just cut out a heart shape. You will need to eye ball it for your next ones! Literally that is the hardest part of it! You will then hang your twine across your mantel and cut to the size/length you would like. I then just made a pattern with my hearts and the clothespins! And you are done!.


Did you notice the mason jar up on my mantel too??!! OH me oh my my sweet Emily Grace is the mastermind behind that and I LOVE it! We went to an art crafting place and she found the heart doilies, the jar and the paints and went to town! We put a fake candle inside and she is tickled pink its the center of our holiday decor!

I get asked from time to time if I have my kids help out with chores? If I do, do I pay them? My answer is simply this...we are a family. A family that works together, plays together and needs to co-habitate together! I do not pay my children to help out around the house as we are a unit. A team. And we want to instill good habits within them now! I do not pay them! In fact you will see from time to time on Instagram (My name is britchesnboots) that I use the hash tag #Ipaythemincookies! I do not feel the need to pay my children to help out! I do not make them do major amounts of chores and they don't do them daily! BUT I do want them to learn that when mommy needs help they should be capable of stepping in! I feel as though I purchase many things for my children...the random movie that is on sale at Target. Or a cute toy I knew they wanted super bad and I found a great deal on it! We go out to donuts and hot cocoa a lot. And when I have excess amounts of change in my purse I tend to give to them so they can put in their piggy banks. Because of this, I do not pay my children nor do I want them to get in the habit of thinking they need to get paid to help out {I do not have a problem with other people paying their kids to do things! Please do not take this in the wrong context!!}


I started having my kids help out as soon they started showing interest! With small things like helping put dirty clothes away. Sitting on the counter during dinner prep and helping to toss the salad! My kids have all started cooking in the kitchen hands on with me since the age of 18 months! I can still remember Emily Grace's very first thing she made...chocolate chip cookies! Was there a mess afterward? Sure was! Did she have fun? You bet! Did she learn the ability to help mom? Yes indeed! At ages 2, 4 and 6 my children can make banana bread almost better than I can! Of course they are sitting on the counter while they do it but the farm girl in me wanted them to have these sorta character building opportunities! I too this day do not regret it!

Ava Faith is 2. Her chores are:

1. Empty the dryer into the laundry baskets and push to the side of the couch.
2. Assist in loading the dryer (I hand her the items...she places inside)
3. Put away her toys.
4. Help put shoes away in appropriate rooms (you know the never ending pile that accumulates by the back door!)
5. Assist with dinner prep or baking.
6. Put away folded socks in drawer.

Periodically I add things to her list. But only because she asks if she can help! I figure if I can catch them while they are young...its better than having teenagers that are yelling and complaining about making their own beds!





Noah is 4. His chores are:

1. Take personal dishes and put them in the sink (dumping food and napkins in garbage).
2. Wiping down the dining room table.
3. Making his bed.
4. Dusting.
5. Washing windows (Can't guarantee they will be sparkly...but you know what. I don't care! As long as its done with a happy heart...who cares!)
6. Put away personal laundry in appropriate drawers.
7. Feed the cat.
8. Take empty bottles, cans etc to recycling in the garage.
9. Help unload and put away clean items in dishwasher.
10. Helping with dinner prep and baking.

Noah argues with me to WHY he can't do some of the stuff his big sister gets to do! He actually is dying to turn 6 so he can add more jobs to his chore list! It makes me laugh really!





Emily Grace is 6. Her chores are:

1. Making her bed. (often times she gets to my bed before I can!)
2. Dusting.
3. Washing windows.
4. Unloading groceries from the car.
5. Putting away folded laundry.
6. Vacuuming (This was one she LOVES to do! Its funny how as a parent its actually kinda hard to teach them...don't run over the cord. Hold it upright here etc! But once they learn they LOVE it!)
7.  Put water out for the cat.
8. Waxing the coffee table. (we have a coffee table that the wax just sucks dry if wet...so we wax it once a week!)
9. Help fold laundry (its not perfect but its done!)
10. Clear table (her sisters dishes and her own etc)
11. Assist with dinner prep and baking.
12. Help clean out the car.
13. Always look for other things that need to be done (she keeps a watchful eye and asks "can I help with that?")

I love her happy heart! She wants to do chores even when I DON'T want them to do chores! She is cheerful and is definitely a doer! 

I don't think a child is ever too young to learn how to help out! What are some things that YOUR kids do? Maybe they are helping out already and you hadn't really thought about it! When the topic of money comes up from my kids we tend to ask them if they would rather get paid for their chores or receive small gifts and fun treats from time to time like they already do? They always say they don't want to get paid! Have a blessed day!

Who out there just ADORES the infinity scarf craze?! As y'all know I live in Oregon. Oregon winter starts in December and goes well...through February. BUT our warm weather wear comes out in August. JUST when our Summer really hits. I am NOT thinking about what I may or may not want to wear in January as I lather the kids in sunscreen and enjoy the rays outside! Currently our stores are already stocked with...you can guess it...Summer stuff! AACK! I just want a scarf darn it! I ransacked the Internet (OK and Pinterest!) searching for a tutorial for an infinity scarf. Thinking for sure I would find one. But...I did not! SO I figured I should make one! This took some trial and error so you will have to just "go with it"! I am now so addicted and happy with how it turned out I am also going to make one for my daughters! In mini-size!! First thing...go to your local fabric store and find something that "moves", "stretches" and you will love rockin' with your outfits! I fell in love with some good ol' tee-shirt style cotton fabric! It stretches making it easier to wrap, will wash easily and had plenty of color choices! I came home with off white, maroon and the one you see above! I bought a yard and a 1/2 Which I should get about 3 scarves from (think friends...birthdays...gifts etc!) If you don't want that many you can go from this method you see below:


Measure for whom you are making the scarf for. For me I cut my fabric 59x9". As you can see with Mushy I wrap around twice (how I would wear it!) and set the measuring tape where I would want the scarf to fall...with this sweet pea you can see she is holding it at the 42" mark. I will then add an inch to give myself room for the inseams! SO would be 43" and the width I will do the same as mine so 43x9".


I first took my fabric and matched up the ends so it was folded in 1/2 this way I was saving myself  inches to cut (doubled up basically). I cut the ends off to make sure I have a nice clean straight surface...cause I am type A like that!


This is where you will measure...and cut your fabric. Remember I have my fabric folded in 1/2 (doubled up) so that I save on cutting! I also decided I wanted to cut mine to sew each end. The reason I decided this is I wanted it to not twist when you wear it so I could easily pouffe it!

1. You will take your fabric that was correct side out and turn it INSIDE out! 2. you are now going to pink it so you are sewing the seams inside of your scarf. 3. Sew a straight line down each side (don't forget to reverse stitch at beginning and end so that your stitch doesn't come unraveled!

OK this is where I need you to pay CLOSE attention as I am having a hard time "wording" it! 1. you are going to now turn your inside out seams sewn scarf right side out. Easy right! Shake it...make sure you get it nice and neat! 2. OK here is the toughie...you are NOW going to turn inside out ONLY 1/2 way. So that the ends meet at the end...get it? SHAKE it out again to make sure its a perfect flat area or your scarf will have a twist in it! 4. Pin all the way around...making sure your ends are together. Leave a hands width space. This will be where you will need to stick your hand back inside in the next steps!

Here we go! Your ALMOST done!! 1. Make sure you flatten your seams down words (Had one side go one direction and the other the opposite so it was evenly distributed! You are going to sew a straight stitch all the way around (don't forget to reverse stitch at beginning and end so not to lose your stitch later on!) 2. you can see where I left a hands width space so I can... 3. Stick your hand inside and shake out your scarf! You are ALMOST done! 4. This is where you will do an invisible stitch to close up your "hand hole"! I have a tutorial HERE on how to do the invisible stitch! They are easy peasy!

Now where your rockin' new scarf with pride! YOU DID IT!! Have a blessed day!

For Emily Grace's 5th birthday she had but 2 requests...it be bubble gum pink and rainbow themed! I had to stop and think about this one a bit! Then the ideas started to flood in and I let her get involved with the process!

First thing we did was make the birthday candle!


Then because my girl loves sparkles she picked out a bag of sequins and we decided to decorate a medium sized wooden #5 that we bought at Joanne's Fabrics. We used the same glitter glue and coated the wood in sections. With each section we dumped on sequins until it was finished!

I used the number to set up against a picture I made. I typed out the meaning of Emily and then all of the versus from the bible that contained "grace". I put it on a bubble gum pink background and it now hangs on her wall in her bedroom!


For the cake table I bought bubble gum pink fabric to use as a table cloth (and then use for sewing later!). I then took different colors of streamers and cut them out to create a rainbow in each entry way. Emily Grace had fun drawing out "clouds" on white card stock that I then cut out and strung amongst the "rainbow"!


The cake is probably my favorite part of the party to design! I know I only have so many years where they will let me take charge so I take advantage! I have an amazing cake designer I work with. I come up with the design and he makes it come to life! I have yet to be disappointed!


I made the cupcakes myself. I will not lie the rainbows seemed much easier than they actually were! I had to drive to different candy stores before I actually found the sour leather for the rainbows! And each time I formed the rainbow they tried to bow in the center! But in the end I figured out the shorter...the better!


For each party I kinda go crazy with food! Emily Grace picked out 2 different types of jello that I made in little paper cups. We had skittles, my famous meatballs (Costco meatballs, grape jelly and BBQ sauce...cook in crock pot and they are delish!) I also made "rice krispy treats" with fruity pebbles! OH MY WORD! They are the best! If you haven't...make them! We cut celery and carrots and put ranch in the bottoms of little plastic cups where we then put the veggies inside. So each person could just easily take a cup and dip! We always have a meat/cheese platter and fruit as well. I borrowed a large glass jug that we made a punch in (use Hawaiian punch and 7 up...add ice!)


It was simple yet colorful! She said after wards it was exactly what she wanted!

These I kid you not will MELT in your mouth! I have seen MANY different variations of this recipe go across Pinterest but here is mine! Now for this recipe you can either use chicken or pork (shoulder, butt...you name it! I just prefer boneless skinless!!)


First you are going to put a crock pot bag in your crock pot (I know I have told y'all about them...its a must for easy cleanup!!) Then you are going to dump in 2 cups of root beer! (I have fudged and just bought a refrigerated root beer...you know the grab and go kind and dumped the entire thing in!) for Chicken I throw in about 2 breasts (depending on size if they are smaller do 3...if you use thighs do a pound!) You will then cook on high 6 hours or low 8 hours. When the time is done you will dump out the root beer that it has marinated and slow cooked in all day (will make it so tender and sweet!). Keeping the chicken in the crock pot.




You are going to take 2 forks and shred your chicken (or pork!) and mix in an entire bottle of your fave BBQ sauce! I love Baby Rays personally! You can then let it sit on low as you prepare your coleslaw.






When it comes to coleslaw I am SUPER picky! I actually prefer the Fresh Express coleslaw kit over homemade coleslaw any day! It doesn't have a tangy vinegary taste that some have! Its perfect! When I mix the kit together I don't use all of the sauce. I pour some in...mix it and then do a bit more! Do it to your own preference! You will then layer your meat on a bun and then add some coleslaw to the top (Paul eats his coleslaw on the side!) and enjoy! Have a blessed day!

Do you ever have one of those days where you are seriously trying to find something for your child to do? You go out to your craft shelf look around and you have a million and one pipe cleaners...and then it clicks...you also have way too many straws to count! Hence where this project came from! It was super easy and the kids were able to do the entire thing themselves! You will need a large bowl (I used a pencil box!), safety scissors (Unless you prep this craft yourself!), straws in various colors and pipe cleaners (or you can use yarn...which then you would need tape for the ends!).


You will next clip your straws so they are about 1" or so.

They can mix and match and create to their hearts content! Then you just close up the box and save the rest of the straw beads for later! Enjoy!

OK...you ready for some YUMMY goodness??!! You sure??!! Well these bad boys I had at my Community Group for our Holiday Party (we normally do our bible study but we celebrated Christmas together!) and let me just tell you I about passed out they are so good! I asked my dear Patti if I could share with you and she said OF COURSE! She obtained the recipe years ago from a pastors wife!

1 package Chocolate Chips
1 package Butterscotch Chips
1 cup Peanut butter

Combine the above ingredients over medium low heat stirring constantly! When fully melted/combined remove from heat and dump in a 12 oz container of peanuts (I used salted...but don't think it matters!). Let the mixture cool a bit and then dump in a full package of mini marshmallows. Spread in a greased 9x13 dish and refrigerate. I plopped the whole thing out on my cutting board and cut strips first and then smaller pieces! Keep in the refrigerator!

That's it! SO delish!! Enjoy!

I'm Emmy, I'm 35, and I'm infertile.

Wait, let me back up.  I'm Emmy.  Aleisha has been so sweet to allow me to invade her space for the day.  I own Much Ado About You {where I used to sell printed day planners, and now I just sell printables}, I occasionally blog {Confesstions of a Paper Freak}, and I incessantly Instagram {@itsjustemmy}.  I am married to my high school sweetheart and as of this year we have been together for more than half our lives.

Almost 11 years ago I got pregnant for the first time.  Nathan and I were so excited, and immediately started planning that child's future.  We were thinking of names... wondering if it would be a boy or a girl... hoping its due date of December 26th would not mean we were going to have a Christmas baby.

But just a few days later I started bleeding heavily, and knew in an instant that that baby was gone.

We had only just begun trying to get pregnant, but I had so many friends experiencing infertility and I begged God to spare us from that roller coaster.

Our doctor told us that since we were so early in the pregnancy I would not need a D & C, and that technically I could get pregnant as soon as my next cycle.

Which I did.

That pregnancy was such a relief, and I vividly remember thanking God that I was never going to have to walk that long and painful road of infertility.


A year after Beau was born we decided to start trying for a second baby.  We wanted four, so we thought we'd better get going!

God had different plans for our family. 

The next six years were spent going from one doctor's appointment to the next... from one surgery to the next... all in an effort to figure out why my young and seemingly healthy body was not working.

I have Endometriosis, a condition that basically destroys your body from the inside out.  During my final surgery my doctor made the painful decision to remove both of my non-functioning fallopian tubes, hoping it would increase the chance of my third and final IVF {invitro-fertilization} treatment being successful.

The next month we had our final IVF procedure.  It failed.  We were done.

We were physically {well mostly me on that one}, emotionally, and financially spent.  The chance of a natural pregnancy was eliminated with the removal of my tubes.  I was officially STERILE.  It is still strange to say those words.  I am a woman that cannot do what I was created to do... bear children.  That is a very strange reality to be faced with.

I spent seven dark years in the thick of my infertility {I say "my" infertility because the issues were mine... with another woman my husband could have had more children... more salt in the wounds}.  For some of those years Nathan and I were not on the same page.  He didn't understand my desperation for a child when I already was a mom.  Those years I struggled with a deep loneliness that I had never known.  It is so hard to explain what infertility feels like to someone that has never experienced it, but the bottom line is... IT SUCKS.

However, God also used those seven years to challenge my character and bring me to a place of total trust and reliance on His plan for my life.  I came to a point where I had to say, "God, I love you and I trust you, and I know that {while very different from mine} Your plan is the best plan for my life.  So even if I never have another baby I will praise you and be thankful for whatever it is that you call me to do."

And I really was at peace.  Without tubes I no longer had to live in two week cycles, wondering if each late period was the one.  I had an incredible eight year old that was the joy of my life, a loving, supportive husband, a thriving business... life was good.

Now since I have already babbled on for quite some time {and probably lost most of you} I will leave this next part of the story short and sweet {if you would like to read the whole story, you can find it here}.  Through miraculous circumstances, in March of 2011 we brought home the most beautiful baby girl that looks nothing like us.



And in the instant that I met her I understood every no that God had placed in my path. 

If you are in a season of not understanding the circumstances of your life, please be encouraged that someday you may understand and even appreciate the painful path that you are walking. 

Since experiencing infertility and adoption I have a heart for encouraging hurting women.  Several months ago I felt a calling on my life to do something to help other women that are experiencing similar trials, and the Choose Joy event was born.


Choose Joy is a one-day conference in Southern California for women and couples that are experiencing infertility and/or desire to grow their families through adoption.  I have somehow convinced several other women from all over the country to come and be a part of this event.  We have speakers on topics such as "God's Heart for the Hurting; Waiting Hurts, Waiting Perfects", "Having a Heart of Hope: Overcoming the Hurt of Infertility", "The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly of International Adoption", and much, much more.  My desire is for this to be a day of connection and community, and for women to open their minds to the plan that God has for their family.     

The event will include a luncheon and a dessert, and at the end we will be raffling off a cash prize to help someone grow their family.

Tickets are on sale for $30 through the 25th of January.  {After that the price goes up to $40, so don't delay!}  Please visit the website for all the details on the location and schedule, bios on each speaker, and to register for the event. 

If you aren't experiencing infertility, statistics say that someone you know is.  Please pass this website on to your friends or family that could use some support. 

Thanks for reading my story.
XOXO,
Emmy