happy - Natalie Wise Blog

Good Monday Morning

{first snow + Minnetonka mocs}

Good Monday Morning, lovelies! Goodness me, I haven’t done a GMM post in forever 🙂 But where there’s sunshine, there’s happiness, and where there is happiness, there is inspiration. So, since it is a sunny morning this AM, I’ve got a GMM post for you!

~taking in the happy explosion of color and pattern in my apartment while sporting a crown braid. Vintage couch, vintage beach bag, clothes steamer, chevron satin pillows, Kaffe Fassett wool hooked rug, closet/vintage clothing explosion on left.~

I’ve had these pictures of my old apartment on my desktop since I moved, because I enjoy looking at them. The space was very happy…very Natalie. I loved that anytime someone new came over they would glance around, smile big, and say, “Natalie lives here.” I love the little corners, and thought I’d share a few with you this morning.

~city skyline porcelain tray from Urban Outfitters~

~Mercury glass votive holders from local store~

~Etched glass frame from a tag sale (brand new!)~

~Katie Daisy card framed~

~Curly Girl leftover calendar page~

~Birds + branches coat hook~

~midweight coat, heavy coat, rain coat~

~Vintage yellow desk~

~Vintage lamp, files, cell phone, etc.~

~”Wag More, Bark Less” sticker~

~Vintage lamp~

~Marimekko Tin~

~Giant clothespin~

~Liberty of London pen holder~

~Pointe shoes picture~

~Pink scissors, fan from Japan, palm cross kept from Palm Sunday~

~Clean water around the world is one of my missions. This Hope photo holder with a picture of a family that we donated a water purification system to, gives me HOPE too, and reminds me to be selfless and grateful.~

Also wanted to share this great, great poem by William Stafford that was the Poem of the Day from The Writer’s Almanac (psst…they have 20% off in their store with code “DANCE” today only, and that’s not an affiliate link!).

Any Morning

Just lying on the couch and being happy.

Only humming a little, the quiet sound in the head.

Trouble is busy elsewhere at the moment, it has

so much to do in the world.

People who might judge are mostly asleep; they can’t

monitor you all the time, and sometimes they forget.

When dawn flows over the hedge you can

get up and act busy.

Little corners like this, pieces of Heaven

left lying around, can be picked up and saved.

People won’t even see that you have them,

they are so light and easy to hide.

Later in the day you can act like the others.

You can shake your head. You can frown.

“Any Morning” by William Stafford from The Way It Is. © Graywolf Press, 1999.

Have a GREAT Monday and a beautiful week!

Friendship

I’m feeling so happy and blessed today. It was a wonderful weekend–it was sweaty and hard work to throw a 2-day tag sale (alllllllllllll day both days), but such a blessing, too. I met some great people, had wonderful conversations, gathered so many ideas, drank a lot of coffee, enjoyed fellowship & company of friends, and was thrilled to make some gas money for my move.

I ended the weekend with a cookout and several toasted marshmallows, with more good friends!

This darling little dress? Well it is bound to become a great friend in my closet, too. I’ve worn it twice since I got it last week!

{Details}

Friday morning, my french press broke. Not even the glass! I was washing it and the plunger just snapped off. Crazy. Anyway, one of my best friends is such a dear and she gifted me this HOT PINK french press.

The best.

Friendship is oh so dear.

I’m already loath to leave, and start over on that front.

Enjoy your Monday! I hope you have the day off…but if not, put a smile on and enjoy the day anyway. Why not, right?

xo!

Things Of Late

How’s your summer going?

Mine has been wonderful so far!

Here are a few snaps of what’s been going on lately…

I’m TOTALLY smitten with a crown braid:

These outfit pics were all overexposed, but this dress is so much fun. Strangely, I feel it has a Sound of Music vibe to it…

I’ve been doing some travelling, which for me means “tattoo”ing myself with words like “Sovereign” to combat anxiety and wearing SeaBands. Oh boy.

I finally did the seafoam/yellow nail polish combo, and it’s so cute! Also, these GoPicnics are my favorite thing to eat while travelling. Gluten-free and fantastic. I can’t say enough good things about them.

This beautiful drink is delicious. And the bottle’s a keeper!

Been brewin’ up lots of iced coffee:

{cold-brew = only way to go}

Playing tennis:

My friend said, “You look like a piece of candy.”

Hahahaha. That’d be me.

Looking like a piece of candy.

No big deal.

Also, tennis is one of those things I always wanted to be amazing at…and never got past “halfways-decent.” Or, as the same friend said, “We’re below amateurs.” And I said, “What’s below amateurs?”

“Losers.”

Haha.

On that note, my dears, have a wonderful day!!

xo!

Happiness

Gosh vacation makes me feel so happy.

Mint green makes me feel so happy.

Family makes me feel so happy & loved.

Coffee definitely makes me feel happy.

Doesn’t it feel good to be happy?

To feel loved, happy, and free inside your heart?

You know what I mean?

For such a long time, I didn’t know what that freedom inside my heart felt like, even though I still thought I was “happy”.

But freedom? It feels different from happy. It is this amazing mix of calmness from such a deep well, and this utter freedom to explore and dream and do and love…to shine for Christ…nothing holding you back inside your heart.

It’s utterly stunning to experience.

And it’s only from Christ that I can ever say I feel freedom in my heart.

Only, ever, always Jesus.

Words for my heart:

Words for your heart:

“Let your love, God, shape my life

with salvation, exactly as you promised;

Then I’ll be able to stand up to mockery

because I trusted your Word.

Don’t ever deprive me of truth, not ever-

your commandments are what I depend on.

Oh, I’ll guard with my life what you’ve revealed to me,

guard it now, guard it ever;

and I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces

as I look for your truth and wisdom;

Then I’ll tell the world what I find,

speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed.

I cherish your commandments-oh, how I love them!–

relishing every fragment of your counsel.“

Psalm 119:41-48

{the message}

These words, my dear ones.

Let these words soak your spirit in healing and encouragement.

There’s not much more I can say, because those words feel so weighty and yet so weightless to my heart tonight.

Good Morning!

Who has the cutest new mug on the block? This girl! Hehe. Love my new strawberry mug, so summer-y! This morning, I’m drinking Tazo “Passion” tea.

It has been a very busy week here, how about you? I can hardly believe it’s Friday already! Feels like the pace of life is picking up again, and I suppose I can’t complain. It’s good to have down-times and it’s good to have busy-times.

Have a great day, my dears!

Friday Morning

{my Bible and books in a new little arrangement for Easter on my bedside table…}

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

~Psalm 12:25

I’m thinking this morning about how important affirmation is to the human spirit. How deeply we crave kind words or an extra bit of encouragement. Encouraging words for a friend are truly sunlight to a heart.

When my friends tell me, “You are sunshine,” my heart lights up. Something within me feels deeply understood, appreciated, fulfilled and sometimes, on mornings like this, it makes me a little misty-eyed. It also encourages me to continue being happy-Natalie, to continue sharing sunshine in all the many little ways I love. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?

A wise man’s heart guides his mouth…pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

~Psalm 16:23a-24

Obviously, I am not saying that we should seek attention or approval from others. That must come from God alone. We must always go to HIM first.

I am saying, though, that it is so important that we take time to respect, love, encourage, and support the endeavors of our friends. What a delightful occupation to cheer on our friends! I absolutely adore it! Not only does it give the recipient joy, it gives the giver joy, too.

Friendships multiply joys and divide griefs.
~H. G. Bohn

You, dear reader, look lovely today! You are beautiful, and I hope you find many joys in your day today that remind you of how loved you are.

Blue Suede Shoes & Orange Sherbet

Look! I made a weird face and pointed to my shoes! Highlighted by sun flare/dirty camera lens?

Blue Suede Shoes, baby!

I also switched to some black ballet flats for part of the day.

Cupcake earrings!

Orange vintage beads and ruffles!

Goodness, this is such a happy outfit to me! Perhaps it had something to do with the utterly SPRING-like weather today! But no matter, I’ll chalk it up to this divine color combination.

Hooray! Thanks, God!

Style Secrets

Earrings: F21

Necklace: Vintage

Dress: H&M

Sweater: Thrifted, J.Crew

Tights: TJ Maxx

Heels: Thrifted

Birthday Girl

{happy, happy}

{beautiful, lovely birthday snow!}

Last week I was the birthday girl–the spoiled rich, totally blessed, very happy birthday girl.

Oh my goodness, it was lovely.

One must put all the happiness one can into each moment.

~Edith Wharton

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

~Philippians 4:8

I’m a firm believer in the importance of birthday, regardless of age.

I’m a firm believer in special party dresses.

I’m a firm believer in polka-dot hose.

I’m a firm believer in the beauty of a lovely snowstorm.

I’m a firm believer in the deliciousness of living a happy life, and finding blessings in all of the small things.

I’m a firm believer in a great pair of high heels.

I’m a very firm believer in birthday morning coffee cakes on gorgeous platters.

(that got a ton of compliments, Dorothy! Thank you!)

And I believe in pretty pink candles in ‘Death by Chocolate’ with amazing local ice cream after a fancy dinner with friends.

And I’m an incredibly lucky girl because my friends are believers in birthday flowers! Gah! Gorgeous pink gerbera daisies and lilies! And a pop-up birthday bouquet card! And bright pink and orange carnations (my birthday flower)! With leopard ribbon! And they believe in birthday balloons, too 😉

And every good birthday needs a good birthday song:

Rachel Platten’s “1000 Ships” sums up my birthday perfectly. And besides, it’s happy, jump-around catchy.

p.s. the dress fits my fingertip rule.

Have a beautiful week!

Goodnight

After a weekend with my boyfriend, I feel like I could conquer the world. It’s such a wonderful feeling, my dears. What makes you feel like you could conquer the world?

I’m posting this to remind myself (and you, if you need it), that come Monday morning, I want to hold onto that feeling.

Goodnight!

{P.S.> I drew the winner of the Thankful cards tonight, and I’ll post the winner tomorrow. And also, I’ve got some really fun outfits to share this week.}

Love!
Natalie

Overflowing Happiness

This past week and weekend has been absolutely overwhelmingly beautiful with overflowing happiness. I give it ALL back in praise to God, the source of it all. My boyfriend and I went on a quick trip to Iowa for a special project {to be announced later} and to visit my family. I am still just giddy with the goodness of it all. The fun-ness! See, don’t I look happy:

Yeah, maybe just a little bit happy.

{eyes are open, promise}

Style Secrets
Necklace: Gift from Israel
Tee: Old Navy; hand-me-over
Cardi: J.Crew, thrifted
Scarf: hand-me-over
Belt: Coach, thrifted
Jeans: Joe’s Jeans, tag sale
Boots: Consignment trade-in

More of the good things:

Being {Home}; Pretty red coat and gingham curtains; Boyfriend with coffee from a favorite diner

And we stumbled upon a great little Christian bookstore, too, called Branches. I picked up what is destined to be a new favorite:

This beauty. {image from dayspring}

The verse is

“You have filled my heart with greater joy.”

Psalm 4:7

I think it was a suitable souvenir, wouldn’t you say? I’m sure you’ll see it in future blog posts.

Remember, God is the only one that can bring us back to life. This song has been on repeat tonight—such a good reminder that our God does and will fill our hearts with greater joy. Amen.

Breathe Your Life, by Chris and Conrad