Author: Natalie

Friday “Morning”

Well, oops, it’s definitely smack-dab in the middle of the AFTERNOON now, instead of morning! A few things…
A good motto to keep in mind…I so need this right now!
Mmmm….treat yourself to a beautiful lunch this weekend, full of good Spring things! I made some iced chai, local greens with strawberries, extra sharp cheddar, and raspberry vinaigrette; a raisin-cinnamon GF bagel with MAPLE CREAM CHEESE {super yum}, and a few stuffed grape leaves for good measure.
And get in some good exercise this weekend too! If you’re studying or otherwise need a break, I promise you that even some basic stretching or a quick walk will do wonders for your focus & energy! I’ve been doing yoga recently…just be sure to find a class that isn’t toooooo out there (mine plays classical music), and instead of chanting or meditating, I pray.
Weekend Yoga

Old Navy top
$6 – oldnavy.gap.com

Dog Crest Terry Hoodie 7-14
$98 – juicycouture.com

Yoga Accessories, Equipment & Props – Gaiam
$9.98 – gaiam.com


I usually wear a version of this to yoga. I I love the organic cotton yoga bras from Blue Canoe. Soooo comfy! Throw a cute, brightly colored cami on top. I picked up a Juicy Couture hoodie secondhand, and it’s great for yoga class. The AE yoga pants are my favorite so far—I love the cute fold-over contrasting waistbands they have! Pick a bright, cheerful yoga mat. I actually made my yoga bag–maybe I’ll do a tutorial on that someday! But grab one with some pockets and a spot for your water bottle, for sure! As you can see, I’m a sucker for hot pink 😉 


And lastly, I tried my hand at a weekend playlist for ya’ll. Nothing too new/exciting, but some tunes I’ve been listening to…and what’s a playlist without some Taylor Swift? Am I right or am I right?! 


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

I hope you have a beautiful weekend!

xo


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Categorized as outfit

Orange & Blue

I got these orange jeans and was’t quite sure how to style them until I saw this picture. I just had to recreate this outfit as soon as possible! I’m so glad I did because this is one of my favorite outfits. It just felt really, really great to wear, and perfect for spring. You know those kinds of outfits? They really make the whole day seem better, don’t you think? Now I hardly want to take these orange jeans off. I’ve worn them twice so far, and just threw ’em in the wash, so I can’t wait to wear them again. I never would have thought in a million years that orange jeans would become my new favorite!
Style Secrets
Sunnies: Target
Tee: Gap
Linen Motorcycle Jacket: Charlotte Russe
Necklace: American Eagle
Jeans: Thrifted
Bracelets: J.Crew
Heels: Thrifted


Have a great day!

Proportional Priorities

(I didn’t make this saying up, it’s been floating around. But I did add the last part and then make it pretty 😛 also, it doesn’t entirely make sense with my post, but just go with it, k?)
Sometimes, we spend time a priority-amount-of-time on things that should only be options. We’re spending the most amount of time on the least important things. Ya know what I mean? This goes for people (been there, done that with boyfriends), clothes (can’t I get another pretty impractical cocktail dress even though I never go to cocktails ever?), and commitments (just one more TV show, that’s all!). None of these things are pulling their weight for priority status (they shouldn’t demand all of our time/closet space/energy).
Case in point: I started writing this “deep” blog post about priorities. And then I proceeded to spend OVER an HOUR creepin’ on Facebook photos. I’m not even kidding. Raw honesty. Things be gettin’ real. Ahem. 
Life and closets have a lot in common, metaphorically. I alluded to this idea in the Life:Beautiful article: create a closet that is mostly filled with pieces that work well in the space/place in life where you spend most of your time. Spend the majority of your money on pieces that will serve you well day in and day out. 
Then, too, we should spend the majority of our time on the most important things, and less time and energy on the less important things. Mind-blowing, right? If by mind-blowing I mean, incredibly simple and face-palm-worthy. Which I do. Why is it so easy to let our priorities become disproportionate with our time and energy? 
Consider this, also: The less-important things are not BAD things, in general. They are just LESS important. Facebook is not a bad thing, in and of itself. Have a Facebook check-in now and then with a cup of tea to relax. No biggie.Have a few fancy frocks in your wardrobe that are incredibly impractical for your workaday life. They make you happy.
 But when the majority of your closet becomes impractical frocks, your morning becomes a frustrated routine of “I have nothing to wear!” drama while staring into a packed-full closet. 
Likewise, an evening filled with Facebook-checking leaves a time-crunched, unfocused girl who says, “I don’t have time to write blog posts!” 

Silly Natalie. Of course you have time to write blog posts! But you might not have as much time for Facebook.
And so it goes with other areas of my life, too.
Where are you investing your time? 
Where are you investing your clothing budget?
Do they both line up with your priorities
or are you facing some of the same struggles I am, and needing to differentiate between the things I am letting be priorities, but are really more “option” level?
xo

Braid Failure

I’m compelled to admit it: I tried a Katniss braid. 
And I failed. 
I can’t even do something so simple as a wildly popular teenage-film hairstyle.
You see, the french braid across the back of the head diagonally is actually supposed to be an inside-out french braid, not a regular one. Oops.

Negative points for trying to be a teenager again.

Especially when I have no real idea who Katniss is other than that she’s somehow related to the Hunger Games. 
But all of that aside, I loved this mix of colors and textures for spring. A sequined tank top, patterned cardi, and wool tulip skirt and some cowboy boots. 
Style Secrets
Hair tie: Local artist
Necklace: Lucky
Sunnies: Local store
Sequin Tank Top: Talbots, via friend
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: H&M
Boots: Thrifted

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Categorized as outfits

Three Thrifted Things Thursday

Say that ten times fast! Ha!

You’ll never believe these three things I thrifted that coordinate so well! I got such a kick out of it!

Mod 1960s-esque dress (but it’s H&M)

West Elm tray for my apartment

Coordinating clip-on earrings
I have a feeling my mom is going to want to steal all three of these things. Because she’s coming to visit today!
We shall see, we shall see. 🙂
Happy Thursday!
xo, 
Natalie

Hello Sunshine

I dug out some of my summer dresses the other day, just to play around with them before it gets too hot to style them with any sweaters/scarves (boooooooooring). I found this yellow dress coordinated perfectly with a little cardigan I found at the thrift store last fall. It’s fun to see pieces from different seasons mix so effortlessly, don’t you think? 
And that beautiful forsythia! Welcome, spring! 
Style Secrets
Sunnies: H&M
Necklace: Self-made
Tank Top: JP
Dress: RubyRox
Cardigan: Thrifted
Handbag: Thrifted
Flats: Gap Outlet

Easter Sunday

Petals in my hair and wind in my skirt! Ha.
Colors, colors, COLORS!

I entertained a few friends after church for Easter dinner, and the tablescape made me feel so happy! 
Good food, fun, and fellowship. What a fantastic way to celebrate our Risen Savior. 
He is Risen, and He is coming again. Amen!

Coffee on the Cheap-0

Coffee, tea, or a mocha latte frappucino thingy with too many words. Hot, delicious beverages get us through our day (especially Mondays like today), and I certainly wouldn’t want to deny you that pleasure for the sake of a budget. Pssh.

But! I do have some ideas to share on how I personally cut my coffee/tea/fancy drink spending.

How I save money on my coffee….

*Get a resusable to-go mug that you ACTUALLY like and USE. 
Be realistic: is it dishwasher safe? Does it fit in your car cup holder? Will  it get knocked over on your desk? Does it hold enough to get you through the morning? Is it visually striking? I have had many to-go cups and only liked a handful of them. The rest languished in the back of the cupboard, missing tops or warped or having ruined too many of my white shirts to ever be taken seriously again. Ask friends, read online reviews, and be picky. Spending $25 on a coffee mug is worth it in the long run. Or, you can just use canning jars with an awesome Cuppow top! I LOVE my Cuppow top and canning jars. Caveat: they do not keep your beverage warm for very long. I made a quick cozy for mine (see the post here)

*Buy dollar store disposable coffee cups with lids. 
Sometimes, your coffee mugs are all dirty or nowhere to be found and you just want to get out of the house without too much fuss. Or you want to send a good friend home with a warm beverage, but don’t want to run the risk of losing your favorite mug to her cabinets forever. Or if we’re being honest, sometimes you just want to walk into a meeting with a to-go cup instead of your standard reusable commuter mug. Sigh.

*Go to 7/11 for Free Coffee Fridays.
7/11 gas stations have free coffee EVERY Friday morning between 7 and 11am. I admit I am not a coffee snob, and I am also more than willing to partake in a bananas foster gas station cappuccino. They are delicious, so don’t hate. Also, their regular coffee ain’t half-bad, and for us New Englanders, I’ve heard that it’s even better thank Dunkin’ Donuts (gasp!).

*If you live in New England, go to McDonald’s for coffee. 
In New England, all of McDonald’s coffee is Newman’s Own organic coffee, and it’s only $1! I actually love this coffee.

*Go INTO the bank, instead of driving through.
 Does your bank have a Keurig machine like I’ve seen several around here? I just love to pop into the bank for free coffee and my bank errands. It makes the whole morning feel like a real treat, and I’m not out a dime for coffee.

*If you are going to Starbucks or your favorite local coffee place, get a GOOD drink. 
Go for the five-word order. But just don’t go there often! That’s the trick! I personally don’t like to go to Starbucks for a plain old cup o’ joe when there are so many other places to get good coffee on the cheap! If I walk into a Starbucks, it is for a treat. Also, my mom just told me the CEO of Starbucks made like, $65 million dollars last year or something. So I don’t feel too bad about my curmudgeonly coffee ways.

I hope you’ll find these tips useful for saving a few dollars here and there towards one of your GOALS!

Good Friday/Holy Saturday

This is what I wore on Good Friday. Yes, including a veil. Because our Savior died. 

Now I know you’re probably thinking, “Yeah, but um, Natalie, He rose again, remember?”

And of course! But we can’t lose sight of the fact that HE DIED. He was sinless, blameless, spotless: the perfect lamb of God. This is the pivotal point in Christianity. “The most important weekend in the history of the world,” as my pastor said. He didn’t just die in vain. It wasn’t an accident–it wasn’t an oversight on God’s part Oops, man, how could I have looked away when Judas kissed Jesus? Darn, my plan A is ruined…


No. It was prophesied from the very beginning. This IS the plan.While we were yet sinners–still dirty and clothed in unrighteousness and our own selfish desires, God sent his only son to be nailed to a cross. 
We cannot forget the power and gravity of the fact that our Savior was betrayed, unjustly accused, beaten, mocked, flogged, spat upon, nailed to a cross, and left to hang until he died. 
And die, he did. 
For me.
For my sins.
In my place.
For you, for your sins, in your place.

ugh, someone move my hair out of my eyes
So yes, I wear a veil. A green polka-dotted velvet-bow one, of course, hehe.
And it might look a little strange, a little Catholic, a little old-fashioned and out of place, but
it reminds me. It helps me feel the mourning. The weight of my sins upon Jesus on that day. It feels right to cover my head, and bow before him.
I reflect on the cost of my salvation and freedom in Christ–a gift free to me, but Jesus paid the price. God paid it, by sending “his one and only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I know He died for me, and I know I will live with Him. Do you?
Tomorrow, then, we shall rejoice!
xo

Friday Morning

Good Friday morning, beautiful people! 
I’ve gots me some coffee with almond-coconut milk, what about you?

And I am SO glad it is Easter weekend. It is my favorite holiday, and I am also very anxious for the Good Friday service tonight. Good Friday just sets my heart right. It is So powerful. I’m sure I’ll write a post on Good Friday later.

But for now…
A few little snippets…
{my ring that was missing for months and months and months!}
 
{you’ve been seeing these nail colors on the blog lately}

{my new motto: spray paint ALL the things!}
{delicious thrifting snack}
This is my absolute most-favorite lip balm right now. I canNOT get enough! It is thick and rich like buttercream frosting, and smells and tastes like the “Vanilla Chai” it is. The thick tube reminds me of the Lip Smacker BIG chap stick we all had in school. Plus, it’s Vegan and 70% organic.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and how long and how high and how deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
~Eph. 3:17b-19

Wow! What a powerful verse!

Have a beautiful, powerful Good Friday, my dears.