free mrs. meyer's cleaning kit ($38 value!) + three organizing tips for your home!


oh, it's the most wonderful time of the year to tackle that clutter that is sure to drive you crazy, scrub every inch of your home, dust those nooks & crannies, organize your closets & start fresh in 2016!

friends, you know just how much i love epantry! for two years, we've used them exclusively within our home. we buy all of our household goods from epantry, including toilet paper, soaps, detergents, toothpaste, shampoo & everything else you might need to run a home.


if you haven't heard of epantry, they are an amazing company that sends your favorite, all-natural home supplies right to your door! their products are cheaper than what you'll find at the store & it's convenient! plus, their monthly subscription makes budgeting for home supplies much easier (this is a big one for us)!


i am so excited to share that epantry just released their mrs meyer's cleaning kit & they are giving away a FREE mrs. meyer's cleaning kit ($38 value) to every natalie creates reader! yay!


this offer is valid for new epantry customers only, but because our friends at epantry provide the very best in customer service, they're offering up the exclusive cleaning kit at 50% off to existing pantry customers. grab yours HERE!


you can choose just one scent of mrs. meyer's goodies or mix & match to try an assortment! we have shifted to using just mrs. meyer's products to clean our farmhouse... the scents are just too amazing! the free scrubber sponges are equally wonderful. we use the sponges & kitchen towels for cleaning up spills & messes within our cozy little home. 

here's a step-by-step on how to grab this fun epantry deal:


2. once you sign up, epantry will ask you a few questions to personalize your account. this takes less than 30 seconds, i promise.

3. after answering the questions, a customized dashboard will pop up with a set of basket suggested items for this deal. you'll see your freebies, including your cleaning kit. on the right, you'll also see the discounts & free shipping.

4. tweak the basket to your liking & needs within your home. your minimum order amount needs to reach $20 or more to receive the cleaning kit for free. that's just $20 for $58 worth of cleaning products, friends! 

5. click finish & pay & place your order! 

6. to take advantage of free shipping, make sure to select the free 60 day vip trial after you checkout!

7. don't forget: existing customers click HERE to receive the cleaning kit for 50% off with your next order.

friends, this special offer is only available until friday, january 8th, 2016 or while supplies last. grab it just in time for new years cleaning! 


here are three ways i keep organized & make the most of our space:

1. i keep mrs. meyer's dish soap & hand soap along with our scrubbers by my sink in a little wire basket. this keeps all of my dish cleaning supplies corralled & makes wiping down that area easy peasy. 

2. i carry my mrs. meyer's cleaning kit from room-to-room during chore time. i keep all of my supplies, including wipes, sprays, towels, scrubbies & more, in the portable caddy so that they're at hand & convenient when cleaning. this has (thankfully!) cut down quite a bit of time i would have been looking for or locating a cleaning supply. 

3. my extra cleaning products are stashed in a clear shoe organizer hung on the back of my laundry room door! taking advantage of door space has made our tiny home much more functional!

how do you keep organized within your home? i'd love to read your ideas!


don't forget to grab your FREE mrs. meyer's cleaning kit with free shipping here! this offer is valid only through friday, january 8th, 2016! 

let me know if you have any questions! i can't wait to read just how much you love your handy dandy cleaning kit!
love,
natalie

my one word for 2016


unannounced, in 2013, i chose joy.

the act of choosing a word & living it out has changed me in more ways than i can count. some years i have lived & breathed my word each & every day. in 2014, i chose quality & my rhythm of life was forever changed. i created the #dressinhappinessdaily project (learn more here), brought women together over coffee each week & dug deep into our marriage. 

other words have lingered for only a bit & resurfaced at the end of the year, revealing their power in ways i hadn't really noticed at first glance. in 2015, i chose pursuit & honestly, i forgot about it until deep into december. upon reflection, though, my focus for the year has indeed been pursuit. i pursued my work, my community & my health with earnest & intention.

in 2016, i choose present. 

adjective, 1. in a particular place... here, near, available, at hand.
noun, 1. the period of time now occurring... now, today, the present time/moment.


2015 was a busy year. 2016 will be an even busier year. we are birthing a big & beautiful venture into this world, full of sweat, grit & heart. we are doing this together & i can't quite even predict the efforts & work to come.

but i do know this - i want to be present. i want to be present with my family, with myself & with my community. 

in 2015, months flew by literally unnoticed. i spent a few weeks in 2015 experiencing some of my darkest fears, realizing if i don't quite slow down & press pause, i will leave this life having not fully lived it. 

so in 2016, i am working harder & pressing pause to enjoy it. i will take full advantage of my working hours yet slow down each night to pick up a book & read. i will pick up my camera & capture our fleeting family moments. i will say no to distractions in order to say yes to the people & opportunities & things that mean the most to our family. 

friends, i am excited for the work, adventure & experiences of 2016. and i am thrilled to be present for each & every one of them.

what is your word for 2016? please share!
love,
natalie

our christmas 2015



before we pull down the christmas tree & beginning setting new intentions for the new year, i just want to soak up the richness of the christmas season. 









we made memories & shared the wealth of the season with our nearest & dearest... rudolph the musical & hot cocoa with my sweet nephew, intentional gift giving by the tree with my love, advent-ure games with my in-laws (sure to be a new family tradition!), fresh linens & warm soup at the candlelit table, down-home barbecue feasts with my grandparents, monogrammed aprons & time in the kitchen with my momma, new pajamas & copious amounts of chocolate. 

wishing you all a cozy handful of days before the new year, making memories & slowing down just a bit to reflect on the richness of this season we are in. 

looking forward to sharing my new 2016 word with you on friday! xo.
love,
natalie

a winter solstice gathering on the farm


yesterday we gathered greenery & foliage from around the home along with twinkle lights, candles, baskets & more for a festive winter solstice gathering with family & friends! 











i love gathering at our farm. with such unusually mild temperatures, we took advantage of the evening & built a fire outside in honor of the winter solstice! we strung twinkle lights onto the barn & set up a hot cocoa station outside. luke made hand-tossed pizzas & i pulled together a cheese & meat spread. our friends brought sides & dessert. luke made homemade eggnog & we served wine. candles were lit & we celebrated well into the evening with our nearest & dearest.

i think this might just be a new tradition on the farm. simple & cozy. 
love,
natalie

festive girlfriend gatherings


friends, let me speak truth into your life.

i know this season is busy. i know you've got an endless list of to-dos & something tells me you're running on very little sleep. you're probably short on patience & in need of a beach & a cocktail asap.

dear one, i cannot grant you sand between your toes, but i can offer you up the best tradition of my people.

once a year, my besties & i gather together for a holiday girls' night in. we eat lots of carbs, drink too much wine, make girly cocktails, indulge in the finest chocolate & play a thrilling game of dirty santa!


it's worth your  time to invest in your ladies. 

your party doesn't have to be themed or even cute, but if you're into that sort of thing (meaning you're a party planning freak like me), you can head over here for all the details to plan your next holiday shindig with your gal pals!

 i've even got a recipe for toffee chocolate chip bars & the word on the street is they're gooooood.

tell me about your holiday traditions with your besties. please share!
love,
natalie

our 2015 christmas card


one of my very favorite christmas traditions is sending christmas cards to our loved ones. i love that our list grows with each new year!



this year's card might be my new favorite! we chose a photo from our winter shoot with jessica (see photos here) & paired it with a fun red gingham back! 

i shopped locally & ordered them at shindig paperie from kramer drive etc. i added a kraft envelope with red washi tape for a hint of holiday cheer! simple & cozy.


here's to the good that found you & the great that awaits!
love,
the freemans

sacred winter walks


at the end of the week last week, i found myself with about thirty minutes of daylight & a freshly checked off to-do list. i headed outside with my big camera to capture that early winter glory.


i've missed these walks down our dirt road. as a small business owner, i find my days filled to the brim with inside work & nonstop hustle. it's such a gift to carve out a bit of sacred time for self-care & quiet. 




i've been thinking through what i want the new year to look like in our little corner of the world. perhaps more walks on this dirt road & space for quiet are just what we need. 

what does quiet self-care look like for you?

encouraging you this week to carve out thirty minutes just for you. xo.
love,
natalie
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