#dressinhappinessdaily update + my first stitch fix!


in 2014, i started the #dressinhappinessdaily project & i have never looked back. as i've shared hundreds of times in this space, i am no fashion blogger, but this personal project has been life-changing. 

jeans from the loft // top thrifted by a friend // purse thrifted // sandals saltwater sandals

i went from yoga pants & a tee to an inspiring wardrobe that makes me feel good. i didn't spend a ton of money. i simply got up & got dressed, took risks, experimented & shared my outfits along the way.  who knew what you wear could be so empowering?


dress tj maxx // sandals old navy // clutch the barefoot seamstress
after learning what felt good & made me happy, i started the capsule wardrobe project. i curated a well-rounded closet of about thirty pieces that made me feel amazing. i have been doing this for almost three seasons & i am thrilled with the results. it makes getting dressed each morning super easy because i'm excited about everything in my closet. if you'd like more info on the capsule wardrobe concept, click here.

at the recommendation of a handful of friends, i decided to try out Stitch Fix. i absolutely love it, y'all!

i wasn't quite sure how stitch fix would fit in with my capsule wardrobe project, but i've been so pleased. i chose the every two months shipping option, which is frequent enough for me to plan my upcoming capsule wardrobe while also saving money/shopping less when i am not expecting a fix.

i was also worried about the prices. they're more than i usually spend ($80 was my most expensive piece), but i have learned that the quality of a piece often matches it's price tag. 

as with every stitch fix, the recipient always receives five pieces. in my first stitch fix, i received two tops, one necklace, a pair of jeans & a maxi dress. here's what i kept...

evys tree hoodie // lace tank from a local boutique // stitch fix jeans // country outfitter boots // the barefoot seamstress clutch

the perfect pair of jeans: hands to the heavens, these jeans are perfection. when i first pulled them out of the box, i was very hesitant. a stretchy band around the waist?! i am not elderly & i am not pregnant. thankfully, my stylist informed me that these jeans were one of their best sellers among ladies of all ages. 

i now know why! y'all, i've owned these pants for less than a month & i have already decided i need about 15 more pairs. i wear them nearly every day. the waist band never shows, they're high waisted so your privates don't hang out, they keep the muffin top contained & you don't have that weird bunching at the waist because the denim lays flat against your tummy. the jean legs also fit into cowboy boots & look super cute with flats. 

i'm a stitch fix believer, y'all! give me all the magical jeans!


the boho maxi: i would have never chosen this maxi, but stitch fix is all about challenging your comfort zone & encouraging you to try new things. this dress is so flattering & so versatile! i even wear it with a knotted tea for a maxi skirt look. i've worn it to church & to work. i love it paired with neon accessories like my fun old navy flats!

my two biggest stitch fix takeaways:

1. you can feel good no matter your size. i often fall into the rabbit hole of "if only i lost twenty pounds, i would feel & look great." my good people, you can rock a fun outfit & feel great no matter your size. when i tried on my stitch fix pieces, i was once again reminded that well-made clothing can make you feel like a million bucks at your heaviest & your lightest. 

2. professionals are awesome & they save you time. instead of spending endless hours online searching for key pieces for my capsule wardrobe, i am leaving it to my stylist! i requested a classic jean jacket for my next stitch coming in october & i absolutely cannot wait to see what she sends me!

friends, join me for some Stitch Fixfun! fyi: your first shipment costs $20 to pay for your stylist's time, but that fee goes toward whatever you purchase from your fix. 

love,
natalie

p.s. let me know if you sign up for Stitch Fix!!! it's so fun! xo.

stuffed portobello mushroom casserole - healthy & affordable


in an effort to meet my health goals, i have been very intentional about what we eat for dinner. 

we cook & eat at home most nights of the week so having a well-rounded list of recipes & meal ideas keeps me motivated & excited!


 skinnytaste, a healthy eating blog,  is one of my go-to places for healthy & wholesome meal ideas. i love her approach to eating well (cooking lighter - but an encourager of good fats) & her love for vegetables. 

she recently posted this stuffed portobello mushroom recipe that looked delicious! after surveying our freezer, garden & pantry, i realized i had most of the ingredients for our tuesday night dinner already on hand. with a quick list, i headed to the store. once at the grocery, i realized the large portobello mushrooms were about $12 for the quantity i needed - well over my allotted budget. i revised & quickly grabbed the carton of small chopped portobellos for just $3. 


at home, i made skinnytaste's recipe, but i revised it to make it more affordable without skimping on health. instead of stuffing each mushroom, i created a mushroom casserole with mushrooms on the bottom followed by the layer of vegetables, marinara & cheese. 


it was absolutely delicious & approved by the family! consider this a little nudge to eat well within your budget & add this recipe to your menu plan this week!

friends, what's on your menu plan this week? please share your healthy ideas! include links to your favorite recipes in the comments section!
love,
natalie

a girls' weekend with grandma


what's better than a girls' weekend, my friends?

last weekend my mom & aunt roxie surprised my grandma with a fun girls' weekend to branson in honor of her first wedding anniversary without grandpa. 

you & i both know this, loss is just so hard. in the most ordinary & simple moments, i think of grandpa & fight back the tears. yet in our grief, we are reminded to soak up every bit of life's goodness so i jumped at the opportunity to spend a weekend with my favorite people.




oh y'all, we shopped! we also treated ourselves to pedicures & enjoyed dinner at the keeter center - an amazing farm to table restaurant at the college of the ozarks. we cried & we equal parts laughed. we made some sweet memories & lordy, we took our share of selfies. 

as annie dillard said so well, "how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

love,
natalie

currently

ring by the mosaic butterfly, cuff by mountain girl melodies, paper beads by noonday collection 
currently...

+ anxiously awaiting the start of roots festival - our favorite fayetteville music festival full of all things folk & food

+ loving the cooler weather but mourning the loss of summer

+ dreaming big & choosing fabrics for the winter natalie creates collection of headbands & happy flags. so many fun collaborations & surprises!

+ eating lots of salads (this one is a new favorite!) & getting serious about #nataliegetsfit


+ canning tomatoes like it's my job

+ soaking up as much pool time as possible before we close the swimming hole for the season!

+ reading for the love & wanting to bottle up every single word. 

+ reminding myself to simply breathe.

what are you currently doing/savoring/reading/enjoying?
love,
natalie

a vintage-inspired backyard birthday barbecue


on saturday, we celebrated my farmer's birthday with a backyard barbecue! 

we grilled brats & paired them with homemade sauerkraut. we cut up vegetables from the garden, made a caprese salad & shared kettle chips with guests. our guests brought along side dishes & we filled up a wheelbarrow with beer. it was such a good night!


this little get-together cost us next to nothing, but it was so much fun! i pulled together rusty, chippy bits from around our home & paired it with goodies from my party closet - paper goods & party decorations i keep for home celebrations. 


we had a dessert table & drink bar on our back patio. i purchased a chocolate cake from the local bakery & put together s'more ingredients for the fire pit in our backyard.


i found this old campfire marshmallow tin at a yard sale this past summer & we have already put it to great use. it's one of my favorite vintage finds.


i got the hog cups from shindig paperie & decorated the tabletops with zinnias from our flower garden.


it was such a simple party filled with good food & great company in celebration of the best guy!

love,
natalie

p.s. for more simple & inexpensive party ideas, check out my blog post here. 

my diy jewelry organizer


i'm all about making lemonade from lemons. or in this case, a necklace organizer from rusty metal junk.

we had so much fun shopping with the canning girls (more details to come from our amazing weekend!)! while junkin' on saturday with the gals, i picked up a rusty ol' piece with hooks for just $8.


with a leftover can of spray paint, i turned this piece of ol' junk into a jewelry organizer perfect for my necklaces!


my friends, you never know what you might reinvent from rust & spray paint! happy creating!

love,
natalie

the shop is open!


friends, the natalie creates shop is open!

while you're there, enter "NATALIECREATESBLOG" to receive 20% your order of $10 or more. yay!
love,
natalie
01 09 10 11 12
Blogging tips