Emily Marie is Me

ME THIS MONTH February! What a month. It's always amazing to me how many things can come up when you originally didn't have much planned. And yet as I'm about to start writing this I feel like I'm going to say the same things I always do! I ended up working a lot and doing some extra/new stuff (coupon book ads!!), I spent a lot of time with friends, had a really bad weekend, had a really good weekend, and got a few things passed off from my list! Maybe next time I plan my month (sometime in the next 24 hours) I should just assume that this same stuff will happen. If I consciously expect these "spontaneous" things, then I won't be so thrown off when it all comes up again. I mean, they're always a little different, but in essence it's all pretty similar. And honestly that's one reason why I'm so happy to have this list to do! It spices things up :) I did have a really good birthday though! That doesn't happen every month :) Jonathan...

63. Read all the Harry Potter books again (2/18/2018) Finally finished! It took me a lot longer than I thought it would. I physically read each book this time through, except a few chapters from #2, and listening to more might have helped me get through them quicker. But I wanted to actually read them this time, because I listened to 4, 5, and 6 my first time through and I wondered if I missed anything. While reading, I discovered that I definitely didn't remember as much in those three books, but nothing seemed like new information. Both ways of experiencing Harry Potter is great, but I really love listening to them (Jim Dale is the BEST). I'll probably just listen to them the next time through. If I had wanted to go more in depth with this goal, I would have written up a paragraph or so of my thoughts after I finished each book. But I didn't think about that until the 5th or 6th book, and technically it wasn't part of the goal, so that won't be happening. B...

ME THIS MONTH This month has been good! We had a pretty uneventful New Year's Eve - just played games and spent the night at my in-law's. Then on the 12th, we had a faux New Year's Eve party with our friends! My high school friends and I used to throw New Year's Eve parties with friends all the time, and it's become kind of a tradition for me. A group of our friends were all busy or out of town on the 31st, so we decided to postpone it, but still party! We played tons of games, I discovered a love for cucumber sandwiches, and we even had confetti poppers! (Sara is the best) Other things of note this month! I finally got stuff up for my Etsy shop and officially opened by sharing it on Facebook and Instagram! A few friends and family have followed my stuff, and some random people favorited a few of my designs! It's been about 2 weeks and I still don't have any sales yet, but I didn't totally expect to. I'm going to need to do a lot more marketing...

5. Try 5 Oreo flavors I've never had before (1/11/2018) I like Oreos, but I always get the same ones - hence this goal. Jonathan was such a great help with this one. The only ones I decided on trying myself were the salted caramel thins. He bought all the others, telling me that whenever he went to the store and was near that isle he would look for ones that I hadn't tried. Cutest husband ever :) Here are the 5 flavors I tried (in order) and the scores I gave them ( ●  out of 5)! 1. Apple Pie ●●●● ○ These were really good! Oreos with the graham cracker cookie never seem to disappoint (if you can ever get S'mores Oreos, DO IT, one of the best Oreos ever)  and the creme had a really good flavor. It kind of reminded me of those caramel apple suckers - which I love - and they were super good in milk. I would totally buy these again. 2. Salted Carmel Thins  ●●●● ● These. Are. AMAZING. They are my favorite Oreo. (So good they're the only ones that get a picture.) I ...

74. Get family photos taken (12/24/2017) My entire immediate family was all together for the first time in YEARS this Christmas, so naturally we had to take pictures. The very talented Danielle Poulsen, my sister-in-law's sister, took them for us. She also did our wedding photos, so I knew they would turn out great. And the heavens were definitely smiling down on us, because not only was the weather great, but all the kids cooperated!! These will definitely be pictures we cherish for years to come, because we probably won't have pictures done again for that long! And so, without further ado, family pictures! ( Featuring: the cutest baby EVER, just the Smiths, EVERYONE, the OG crew, and the grandparents and their super cute grandkids!) This is so us...a bunch of goons :)

61. Take care of all my stuff at my parents' (12/16/2017) I had a LOT of stuff at my parents' house. Old school work, craft/scrapbooking supplies, old clothes I never took with me, and other random things of mine, were all just taking up space in my parents' huge house. My mom kept asking me to take care of it, but being 3 hours away, always having some event going on when we visit, and with only so much space in our car when we go back home, I haven't done anything about it. But! I was determined to be an obedient child and do as my mother asked. So on a last-minute trip ( without the husband and baby ) to my new sister-in-law's bridal shower in October, I set aside some time to go through my stuff. I started with an old dresser and my closet first, then two big bins ( like pictured ) with some random knickknacks and things that I have saved over the years. There were lots of things that I was ready to get rid of, but with other things I still wasn't rea...

ME THIS MONTH What a month to finish out 2017! My December was crazy busy. Lots of work, travel, and fun times. We were at my parents' for Christmas, along with ALL of my siblings. It was the first time we had all been together in about 10 years or so. It was really cool to be with everyone and their families. The cousins were all so cute together, and I loved just listening to my brothers joke with each other. It was a pretty chill weekend - we just ate, played games, and ran after kids - but it was a Christmas I won't ever forget. The best parts were singing nearly every Christmas song in the hymn book all together on Christmas Eve and surprising my mom with a gift card to buy a new stove and dishwasher. I'm getting teary again just typing about them! I love my family, no matter how crazy they are or how little we may see each other. And, as my dad brought up, we've all found spouses who make us happy and who get along with each other. My family is the best ♥ W...