Christmas Season Motto

There is so much to be done this time of year with all the business of travelling, finals, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, running here and there, getting presents, scraping the ice off the car....GASP! The list goes on. With the never-ending to-do list written neatly in my planner each day, sometimes I feel that I am more worried about myself and the things I have to get done than the people around me. 

And so now I hereby officially deem one of my favorite quotes as my Christmas season motto:

 "Never let a a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." 

-Thomas S. Monson

I whispered silent prayers throughout my day to my Father in Heaven, asking Him to let me feel some of the love He has for His children. Asking Him to help me as I tried a little harder to pay attention to how I thought  about and acted toward others. 

I am so humbled by the change those little prayers brought.

People weren't as frustrating anymore. Suddenly, instead of criticisms, I felt something closer to empathy. If I saw somebody who wasn't feeling their best, it was easier to think of reasons they might be having a fluke day than assuming they were always that way. It was so much easier, and more pleasant, to presume the good and doubt the bad.

Because isn't that what Christmas is about? Isn't it about treating others as Christ would if He were in the room? As I remember my Savior this season and celebrate His life, I hope I can do a little more to show it. 

This Christmas season, I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so glad that He gives me the benefit of the doubt, even if I do not always give it to others, even if I don't deserve it. I'm so thankful that His life proved that people are more important than things.

Ms. Emma

Connecting the Dots

Nothing out of the ordinary happened today, it was just a great day.

In fact, I think what really happened is that I finally opened my eyes a little wider and connected all of the ordinary parts of my life.

Thank heavens I got three hours of sleep last night, because it means that I'm in the college program of my dreams and that I am healthy enough to ignore when my body tells me I'm tired. Thank goodness I'm stressed, because it means I'm learning and growing. Good thing some classes are infuriating, because it makes the good ones that much better. Lucky me that I have tests, because it means that I'm worth testing. The dishes may be dirty, but clean water runs out of the faucet on command. The break room might be out of silverware, but that's about the extent of my problems at work. My problems are so minimal and my blessings so miraculous.

My heart has been so full this week. Full of gratitude and a sort of wonder for the way my Heavenly Father is connecting the dots. There have been times when I have felt as though there are too many dots and not enough lines. Too many things to be doing and not enough reasons to be doing them. But then there are times, like today, when I am blessed to see the lines connect the dots and make a picture that I know I could never have made on my own.

Why? Because I only know how to draw dots.

It is my Eternal Father who draws the lines.

My Name

I love my name. 

I always have, and I think it has a lot do with the women I share it with. 

I wasn't named after Emma David Rees, but she is my Great Great Great Grandma. She was born on August 5th, 1839 in Llanelly, Glamorganshire, South Wales and passed away on January 10th, 1915 in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Although I have never met this woman, her life greatly affects mine. Learning about her makes me want to be better, to do more, to be more like the Savior. 

This woman just had it together. If a baby was being born, she was there even if the doctor wasn't. If somebody was sick, she was by their side despite her own illness. When her community needed help, she was there to organize and cooperate even with 10 children and a husband to feed and care for. 

"[Emma] was very hospitable, kind-hearted, brave and generous. With her husband, she was always ready to give a helping hand to those in sickness and distress. She was very generous to the needy, always ready to aid her neighbors and friends where help was needed." (From her daughter, Hannah)

Basically, she was awesome!

On my 18th birthday, I inherited a small ring that was another Emma's. Emma Phillips Hughes is my Great Grandmother, the mother of my mother's mother. I never met this Emma either, but I know the women she helped raise and they are all amazing. My mother told me that ever since she was a girl, she knew that she wanted to name her daughter "Emma". I'm glad I get to be Emma! My Mom would show this little ring to me every few years when I was little and I just remember counting down the years until I could wear it. I love wearing that ring and the reminder it brings that I carry on a name that belonged to lovely ladies.

Ms. Emma


Coming Soon: DIY Mittens & Legwarmers Step-by-Step!

Fall Veggies

I'm lovin' how cheap all these yummy vegetables are right now! Why can't it be fall all year long?!

I tried this recipe recently, and not only was it WAY easy, but soooo good.

Roasted Vegetables
Let's ignore the horrible picture/oven and just make some veggies, shall we?

I got this idea from marthastewart.com, but I ended up changing a few things to add color, etc.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees, then...

1. Pick out your veggies
I used red potatoes, carrots, yellow squash, acorn squash, brussel sprouts and red onion, but you really can't go wrong. Just make sure you peel squashes like acorn and butternut if you're going to use them (it's a pain, but it's worth it). Cut them up into manageable pieces and spread them out on a foiled/papered pan, preferably one that has a lip.

2. Season
I LOVE spices. They just make food so much better. The fun thing about this recipe is that you can spice it however you'd like! I just quartered 2-3 garlic cloves and placed them evenly throughout the vegetable pan. Then I threw some olive oil on there (a couple of tablespoons should be plenty) and sprinkled everything with salt, pepper and just a little bit of rosemary.

3. Roast
Roast these babies until they're tender and brown, usually about 40 to 50 minutes. The potatoes, etc. will shrivel up a bit, but I love it when the skins char a little so it's just what you prefer. You can rotate them halfway and mix everything up a bit, but to be honest mine turned out great even without this step.

Serve them up with your favorite meat or toss them in a salad with some goat cheese and arugula and you've got yourself a fancy fall meal! Just don't tell your guests how easy it is :)

Ms. Emma

Simple, Fun & Pure Genius

I was practically raised on popcorn.

Well, I WISH I was raised on it. BUT, some of my happiest memories revolve around heavily buttered, salted, hot, yummy popcorn.

Learning how to make popcorn with Mom, movie nights with the sibs, popcorn balls at Halloween when Grandpa visits, the list goes on!

Why so much popcorn? WELL, there is a long family line of what I like to call "Good Popcorn Makers". Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I like to think I've made the list. But don't worry, we "Good Popcorn Makers" love to share our wisdom, so come on over with a good chick flick and you have yourself a deal.

And then there's peonies.

Peonies are just pretty, aren't they? They are feminine and frilly and delicate and ah! They just remind me how beautiful this world can be.

My house has peony bushes that bend to the ground because they're so full of blossoms every summer. I always love watching my mom cut them and fill the house with fresh flowers and the fresh flower smell.

This blog is going to be for everything simple, fun and pure genius!

If you ask me, peonies & popcorn are some of the simplest, most fun, most genius discoveries out there.


Ms. Emma