There is more than you think to a little pink.

Last week was a huge week not only in the Anderson household, but a huge week for me, as a mom.

I found out last week that my third precious angel was going to be a baby girl.

Aside from everyone screaming Team Pink and being so happy for Sam and I, this news hits me on a whole other level than the excitement. This news was another confirmation of God in my life, and his love and trust in me. Let me explain. 

For many women, having a girl is everything they could want...and for some having a boy is their dream. For me, I have the two most precious little boys a mom could ask for. You've never seen love until you've seen the way Jude and Titus love me. But aside from that, I have been praying for a daughter as long as I can remember.

From the moment Sam and I decided it was time for baby number three, I have been in constant prayer with God about the gender. Sound a little ridiculous? Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24. There is my justification. I wanted a daughter so bad, every time I thought about my pregnancy I would pray for Gods will to be done, and for a healthy baby, but if that will would be a girl, even better. 

But I got to the point in my walk that I started to doubt myself, doubt myself as a mom and as a person. I started to doubt that God would give me a girl because I wasn't good enough. That I couldn't possibly shape and form a little girl to be worth enough. I started to doubt if I even wanted a daughter, just to mess her up. I told God, "God, if I'm not good enough, or strong enough or smart enough, please DON'T give me a girl, I don't want her to be less in life because I don't have what it takes to shape her into a Godly woman." Now my boys, they were going to be okay because they have the most amazing father and mentor they could have. But a girl? What was I thinking? I am NO role model, much less someone that needs to teach a young girls heart.

Now I know what your thinking. Your thinking its all predetermined, and this is ridiculous and that no one should put this much thought into something so small.
Well you are wrong, on all accounts.

This was a huge struggle in my self confidence and my relationship with God. I began to feel like that high school girl again that wasn't good enough for anyone and wasn't fit for a king. 

Well that day, God showed me I am fit for a King, and I am fit for my daughter. 

Because he said so. And he is in control of all things good and perfect. 

And she is going to be perfect. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Can I get a hot tub?? and the Corn, Potato and Broccoli Chowder Recipe

 Annddd.... Can I get a hot tub?? 

Anybody else noticed that Danny (the captured brother) from Revolution is the "Can I get a hot tub" kid from the State Farm commercials?? 

Ruin it for you? Yea, me too.

I made this today, and it was fan-hot tubin'-tastic. Your turn!

 

Corn, Potato and Broccoli Chowder

What you need:

2 cups chopped potato

2.5 cups frozen corn (or canned)

1.5 cups frozen broccoli

.5 cup chopped onion

3 cups water

2 cups warm heavy whipping cream

1 tbsp flour

1 tbsp water

salt

pepper

onion powder

What to do:

Bring 3 cups water to boil

Add potatoes, corn, onion, broccoli- Cook until potatoes are tender

Mix 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp flour

Add flour mixture and whipping cream to pot

Add salt, pepper and onion power to taste

Bring it all to a boil and cook for 10 minutes

Lower and let simmer for however long you want!

Facebook for AmberLAnderson!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share with all of you that our Facebook page has officially opened for our Etsy shop AmberLAnderson. If you haven't, and you wanna, head over and give us a "like"! We will be keeping everyone updated if new products come out, giveaways, or any other deals we are giving out! If you do "like" us, shoot me a message, and I will send you a 15% off coupon code to use in our Etsy shop! Click below to take you to our new page.

Hardwood Project Part. 2

I wanted to give an update on the hardwood project I talked about a few months ago. Here's a recap: After living in this house since February of 2011, I have despised my carpets. They were cheap, light gray and stained. Every single time I vacuumed them, so much fuzz came up that my vacuum would jam, and they were impossible to clean. So after saving up some money, Sam and I decided we were going to put laminate down. It wasn't exactly what we wanted but Titus was starting to crawl and we had to do something. In measuring our square footage Sam decided to take a peek underneath the carpet, and what did we find? Beautiful oak hardwood. Ok, so come to find out it wasn't so beautiful...but the sheer fact that it was under there was.

So with the little money we had saved up we decided to refinish them. This was a back and forth struggle of whether we were going to attempt to do it ourselves, or just pay to have it done. In the end, we decided it was best to pay, and that way we would know it was done right. So that's what we did. Our re-finishers were fast, quick and fairly priced. (Around $2.50/sq ft. sanded, stained and finished)

Its AMAZING what a little hardwood can do in a house. 

Prayers answered.

 Next up, the yellow room is turning Tiffany blue :) And I'm working on some crazy cool curtains. I'll update when they are done!

Small talk.

Can anyone relate?

It's been more often than not lately that I find myself struggling to remember how normal adults converse in a social outing. Whats appropraite to talk about, whats not. Any of us find ourselves filling social time with talk of the babies?

Your not alone.

But thank you God, for my new social status, wouldn't trade these babies for world.

Homemade Pickles, y'all!

As you know from an earlier post my family came to visit at the beginning of the month. And you know what that meant? Food. And lots of it. I got a great recipe from my sweet southern sister, that is sure to please all you pickle lovers out there! (You know how I love your cooking, Sylv, and I'm allowed to call you "southern" because I'm a bona fide "northerner" now!)

Ingredients:

Cucumbers

Vinegar

Sea Salt

Pepper

Peel your cucumber and chop them up into 1/2" slices

 let them soak in vinegar, salt and pepper for about 20 minutes
or longer depending on how tart you like them.



Drain and chill.

Yum yum. Perfect hot summer day snack.

DIY Workout Tank

Even though my Zumba classes ended last week, 

I've been looking for things to lounge work out in.

Unfortunately, the spandex UnderAmour shirts aren't my best look,
so I decided to go another direction.

The DIY workout tee. 

*It works best with the softer material shirts, 

but plain tees work ok too. (Like the one I have pictured)

What you need:

 Step 1: Cut out neck, sleeves and bottom hem.

 Step 2: Cut the back of the shirt into a razorback.

 Step 3: Make sure you cut the neckline as low as you want it.

Step 4: Cut out a deep V in the back of the shirt.

 Step 5: Tie the back of of shirt, where you make the V, 

with the bottom hem that was left over.

 Step 6: Wrap up the back with the fabric, as high as you would like to go.

All done, party rock in your new lounge work out shirt. ;)

And the winner is....

According to our input into Random.org, the winner of our giveaway is....

Hannah Grantham

Congrats for winning the wall planter, and thanks so much for sharing it on all of your accounts! I am so thankful for all my readers! 

This Just In! Wall Planter Giveaway!

My Etsy shop just got a fun face lift, with a new fancy-schmancy banner from Danielle Burkleo. 

I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway to show it off a bit...

Soooo..

I'm giving away a favorite product, my Mason Jar Wall Planter! 

These are my best sellers in my Etsy store. Over 9,000 views and 1,300 admirers!

Giveaway will begin today and end on Friday, July 13th.

The winner will win 1 Mason Jar Wall Planter/Hanger, shipped to an address of your choice!

How to enter:

1. You have 4 options! You will get an entry for each one

 that you choose to do:

Tweet my shop on your Twitter,

Share my shop on your Facebook, 

Pin the above picture to your Pinterest,

Post the above photo to your Instagram.

Here's the link: www.shopmotherhoodmusings.com

  2. Leave a comment with your name and the links to where you shared it.

(i.e your Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram)

3. And last, you can follow my blog, or favorite my Etsy shop if you fancy!

•  

I'm so excited to give one of these away, its always fun to win something! 

•  

*Valid for US only. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited. 

(That sounds serious, huh?)

Winner will be picked at random via Random.org.

The Seals came to Michigan.

Last week, my parents, my sister, brother-in-law and nephews came to visit us!

I was sooo happy to show them where I live.

Here's some photos from the week.

DIY Lamp Shade Revamp

Raise your hand if every lamp shade in your house is cream, beige, tan, or white.

Perfect! This is for you. 

It's 2 steps, and can be done in 5 minutes. Ready?

What you need:

Old lamp shade

Spray paint

Plastic bag

Tape

1. Tape off the top with any type of tape and a plastic grocery bag.

2.  Spray lamp shade in even coats until completely covered.

*Tips* To check if you have enough coats: Replace shade and turn on the lamp. The shade will be slightly splotchy if you need another coat.  Also, I suggest a lighter color paint so splotchy spots are minimized and light can come through better.

I also suggest doing this the first time with a shade you aren't necessarily in love with in case spraying goes astray. :) Better safe than sorry! 

Recipes!

Anyone else find themselves cooking (and eating!) more these past few weeks with all the barbecues and birthdays? Within the past month, I think I’ve been to more birthday parties, showers, weddings and cookouts than ever in my life. And with all these celebrations comes food, and lots of it. Almost every time I left one, I've said to myself, I have GOT to get that recipe! So I’ve come up with a $3 solution for any us out there needing a quick fix to a recipe holder.

Here’s what you’ll need:
Paper box 

(they have these in the $1 section of Target literally every time I go, always different patterns)
Index Cards
Colored Card stock
Toilet paper roll

 

1. Simply cut your card stock to fit the box, and to hang over the top of the index cards, just enough to see their section. And label each one with your desired sections.

2. Divide your index cards throughout your sections.

3. Insert the toilet paper roll to help support your cards and your done! (If you have a lot of cards, you not even need the toilet paper roll.