just potatoes.

tonight's just sweet potatoes. this time change has got me exhausted. & a little grumpy.

love,
natalie

the first egg(s!)

i have been a nervous mama for days now- hovering over the coop, making sure the girls had a comfortable place to lay, enough straw, plenty of greens. most of my irrational thoughts went a little like this- "why aren't the girls laying? are they healthy? they seem happy! oh no! they will never lay an egg!"

after days of conversing with the girls, urging, even begging them to lay, i walked out to the coop on this cold & rainy afternoon to find a beautiful egg. just sitting there in the nesting box as it should. pure joy. i jumped! i screamed! i opened the door to thank them for their generosity & found another white & brown speckled egg in a far corner! our girls know us so well! an egg for each of their proud parents!

there is something so sacred, so magical about the intimacy of growing & tending to one's own food. i am thankful to take part in that magic. & for the everyday joy of finding an egg. or two.

tonight's dinner- salad topped with an egg.

love,
natalie

in full bloom!

my farmer brought a few limbs home from the many pear trees in full bloom on the farm. it is almost (so close!) spring. & with that- tend is beginning!
do stop by & say hello!

love,
natalie

list no. 2

: two days left to purchase {print:: a year in film}!

: currently reading {this} - perfect for right now.

: last night's dinner - savored every bite of this {salad}.

: seriously. this is so {good}, too.

: {sugaring season} is here!

: preparing for our {true/false} road trip! we're seeing ten documentaries this year! i just can't explain the city during the festival. it's pure magic.

love,
natalie

corners of my home

throughout the months, i've noticed that i have neglected to show you the inside of our new home. honestly, i'm not a big fan of this house. there are only four (four!!) windows in the entire house. that just isn't healthy. also, when we moved in, i decided to paint the dining room wall a light & airy green. that green turned out to be the brightest lime green ever. this spring, i plan to change that.

we're workin' on it, though. in an effort to shoot a bit more film this year, i have captured the few moments of light & the favorite spaces i have carved out in this house of ours. i love our big ol' bookcase with our favorites displayed in fine sight. the blue textiles throughout our home are so calming & we have a little space for hanging our coats & placing our shoes.

i have a few projects up my sleeve for this spring. i am all about using what we have to make our space a little more functional & calming. some of the projects that i have for this spring include:
+ridding my life of clutter! a place for everything.
+ print some of our family photos
+ organize that garage! (i'm sure luke will love me even more for this)
+ a pretty pantry
+ invite friends over for dinner parties

love,
natalie

positivity

i believe in positivity & tend to look on the brighter side of things. until our big move, i have been a cup half full kind of person. this year, i want to get back into that old groove of seeking joy & claiming it as my own. that's what my newest project, print:: is all about. i also want to share it with you. so- here are some positive changes in my life. maybe they'll inspire you... it is the little things, right?

:: eating well & losing weight. i wasn't sure if i wanted to share this part of my life with you because it is such a hard topic for me, but these last several weeks have made such an impact on my life in such a good way. right now i am participating in the six sisters' get healthy challenge with my close friend, mother-in-law & sister-in-law. i am a believer! weight has always, always been an issue for me, but it is so much easier to stay healthy within a community. for the most part, luke & i eat within the seasons & have an overall healthy diet. i have noticed throughout this challenge, though, that i used to rely on high carb foods & sweets as easy go-to snacks. i have eliminated most carbs & sweets from my diet, avoided dairy products, & lost ten pounds! it feels so good to be exercising regularly, eating well, drinking water & openly communicating with girlfriends. love it.

:: weekly chores. once i read all of your cleaning & organizational tips, i knew i needed to get to work. i have created a weekly chore list that helps me get through the week. before preparing dinner, i try to complete the work that needs to be done for the day. it usually only takes thirty minutes or so & it makes such a difference. i have completed one week of this new routine & i already feel much better.

:: loving fully. it is so easy to not love. i confess that i sink into those patterns of blaming & pointing fingers with very little effort. & that just isn't fair for the man of my heart. i am so thankful for our partnership & commitment to one another. i am making every effort to forgive more, cuddle more & love fully. it makes life so much richer.


cheers to positivity!

love,
natalie

share the love

i embrace valentine's day with all of me. i am a flowers & dark chocolate kind of girl. i enjoy making little valentines & passing them out to my co-workers. yes, i even made a freezer paper stenciled t-shirt today with the largest heart i could manage. i just think sometimes we need a little reminder to be nice & share the love. we sometimes forget that pink hearts & glitter can be really good for us.

just some of my favorite valentine crafts to get you in the spirit!

::valentine party
::fancy wrappings
:: heart-shaped beets
::heart garland
::adornments for your hair
:: heart headband for that special day

happy valentine's day, friends!

love,
natalie