Tiny Book of Tiny Stories, Volume 3

You all know of my affinity for HitRecord, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s (JGL) online collaborative recording/creating studio. Oh, you don’t know? Check out Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Reviews Volume 2 and one collaboration I was a part of here.
I adore the concept of tiny stories. They fascinate me. They’re like little snippets, little poems, even dearer for the fact that they leave so much to your imagination and interpretation.

 Love this one!

And this one! I love that the illustrations and stories are all collaborative, so they’ve been mixed and remixed by artists to create the final product. It’s such a fun thing to do, and you can be a part of it, too, at Hit Record. I’ve got an account (goodgirlstyle)! Even better? You get a portion of the proceeds of any products that are created using your artwork or words.
Love these little books. 
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has also created the first collaborative variety show, Hit Record on TV, that just debuted. I just watched it…how fun is this, guys? It’s so quirky and has such a cool edgy vibe. Here it is:
JGL is one of the most multi-talented people I’ve ever seen, I’m pretty sure. He plays the piano, sings, acts, writes, produces, and is always doing something new and unique. In a pretty one-dimensional Hollywood, I admire that he steps out from the crowd to do his own thing. And I just LOVE being a part of cool new projects.

“Getting started, it’s always the hardest part, just walking up and saying Hello! Or sitting down in front of that blank page. Once you start writing, there’s plenty to say.” 
JGL

Let’s get started. Let’s live and write and share and record our own tiny stories. 
Who knows, to someone else, they might be the biggest stories ever told. 
xo
Natalie
PS> Thanks to it!Books by Harper Collins for the review copy of Tiny Stories, Volume 3. I loved it.

Sale Shout! ModCloth

Sale Shout! Modcloth is having one of my favorite sales of the year! Gah, so many cute things, such great prices! You’re probably gonna want to click on that image above….or here…

Since it is SO COLD out EVERYWHERE today, let’s take a look at cute coats, shall we? For 70% off? Yes please. 

Meet you over there, don’t take all the cute things in my size! 😉 Kidding! 
xo
Natalie
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Hello Darling

Welcoming the New Year with an open heart and an expectant spirit. I will wait for you and incline my ear, O, Lord. 

Best. Year. Ever. #boom

{feel free to pin this! hover over the image and click the pink “Pin It” heart!}

You guys. Like no joke I am BEYOND pumped to jump into 2014. You can bet I’ll be the one at the starting line, in ready position, jumping off the blocks on January 1st (actually, before, but January 1st is when all of my new calendars start so…yeah).

I’m investing in 2014. Socially, spiritually, emotionally, fearlessly, boldly, bravely, and financially investing in 2014. I feel strongly that God has called me to be *prepared* for BETTER this year.

Better
is my word for 2014.

The past two years have been full of heartbreak and the difficult struggle to get my heart put back together again, whole and healthy and ready at the feet of God. He has been ever-so gracious and patient with me, and I can see His hand all over the last few years. That Footprints poem might be cliche, but I can see it was only Him who was carrying me. Now, He has set me down on two feet, and said, “Go, now, and be better.” Be stronger. Be healthier. Be braver. I think He is calling me to fill a bigger space, to be more beautiful in heart and spirit, and to dance with Him this year. To be a better version of myself, for me, for Him, for my family, for my friends, for my boyfriend, for my church, for my employers, for you beautiful readers, and even for strangers I meet in day-to-day life. Once again, I have no idea how this word will look in practice, in the rubber-meets-the-road moments over the next 12 months. I am scared, but I am willing.  

I thought I’d share some of the resources I’m using to rock 2014. I’m just so pumped to see what God is going to do and I want to do my best to be intentional and organized (woah, hey grown-up Natalie, where’d you come from being all organized and all?) to be the best version of Natalie I can be for whatever God wants me to tackle.

These are my #PowerSheets from Lara Casey. They are designed to guide you through the entire process of defining, setting, and completing goals that give you the framework to make your dreams a reality. Go far with God! I’m loving them so far.
I also purchased an Emily Ley Simplified Planner (look at those cute gold edges!). The planner is designed to simplify your life so you have the space to accomplish more. You even plan dinner in your planner…a major time-suck and money-waster if you don’t have it written down ahead of time!

Necessities: Pink legal pad, Powersheets, Emily Ley planner, Afar magazine (to get my heart interested in adventure & travel again?), hot pink Post-Its, light pink Post-it flags, pink pen, metallic pencil, blue highlighter, striped paperclips, Martha Stewart goals binder with pink clips, tea, Good Girl Style business cards, and polka-dot washi tape. Happy little things 🙂

Other Resources That Have Informed My Heart So Far for 2014: 
This song.
This blog post.
This challenge.
This reminder.
This sermon series, followed by this one.
The fact that THIS is our God.
This goal-setting plan.
This convicting blog post.
This Twitter feed.
This organization.
This poem.
This heart-truth.

There are so, so many more resources that have been speaking to me as I prepare for the new year. I hope you find some of these helpful to you as well.

Lysa posted on her Facebook page this question: “Lysa, if you are a woman with faith then are you willing to live a life that actually requires faith?” And it’s one that has been tumbling around in my own heat and heart. 

Am I ready?Are we ready?
Let’s be game-changers and faith-walkers this year. 

xo
Natalie

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#allthethings

This is a new feature 😉 It’s “Hashtag All the Things,” or #allthethings, as it is popularly referred to. It’s the hodge-podge catch-up, favorites, little things posts. So here we go…
The best thing about the day after Christmas? Leftover lasagna. Lasagna and Christmas toffee for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes I really am Buddy the Elf.
Christmas Night, my poem for Darling Magazine, read by me as a special after-Christmas treat! Wearing my Christmas Eve outfit

Can I just take a moment to recognize how amazingggggggggg my hair decided to look on Christmas Day with a terrible webcam shot?! 
Christmas Day outfit: Feather/Velvet hair barette from Anthropologie, Gold Silk Charmeuse Blouse from TJ Maxx yearsssss ago, Vintage black cardigan with black beading, jeans from ON, black lace-up boots from Timberland.

Just a few little things for ya’ll!
Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
xo
Natalie

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Christmas Love

Hello dear friends! It is the night of our Savior’s birth, and I am so excited for our church candlelight service very soon here. I just wanted to pop in and say MERRY CHRISTMAS and I am so glad you are all here, sharing a little bit of life with me 🙂 

This is my outfit for Christmas Eve church 🙂 

The coat and hat are vintage and the dress is Modcloth.

And the smile? Courtesy of Christmas love and being beyond-happy. 
(PS Check my Twitter and Facebook tomorrow and Darling Magazine for my Christmas poem!)
Much love to you and yours this Christmastide!
xo
Natalie
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Friday Catch-Up

Hi friends! I’ve been missing you all something fierce lately. Let’s have coffee and chat for a bit, yeah?

God has completely stolen my heart, in the best way possible, lately. He has brought me into such a spacious, beautiful place with Him. He has been giving me the desires of my heart and making my heart desire more and more of Him, every day. #blessingsbacktopraise
There are so many little happy blessings, too, like: 
My advent wreath for 2013 with beautiful beeswax candles in a Swedish wooden heart-and-greens candle holder I dressed up a bit. 
Living in a snowglobe lately!
Beautiful special gifts to brighten my heart from someone I really-really-really-really like 😉 
Blessed to be able to share gluten-free desserts over on the lovely Big Girl Small Kitchen site, such as this Frozen Hot Chocolate and something even fancier coming soon 🙂 
Sharing poetry on my heart over at Darling Magazine…where they take such good care of my words. 
These are just a FEW of the many, many wonderful things in my life right now. I can’t wait to keep sharing with you as we prepare for the coming year. 2014 is going to be the BEST YEAR EVER, I’m pretty convinced 😉 
xoxo
Natalie

Inspire Your Week



“We were all made to live, love, and
dream courageously. He has given us
brave spirits and hearts that long to
take part in adventures with Him.”
One of my dear friends, Katie from Letter Bird Art, is such an encourager. Such a beautiful heart. She has written an ebook titled An Inspired Life, and I want to tell you just how awesome it is! 
Katie seeks to “live an inspired life full of possibility” and in the time I’ve gotten to know her, I can say that this truly sums up her life…inside and outside, she is so beautiful! Her blog, A Place to Dwell, never fails to put a smile on my face and a bit of an inspired spring in my step and living. 
I was blessed to read Katie’s new e-book, An Inspired Life, a few weeks ago. It has drifted through my mind often since then, particularly the Prayer Prompts. I used my pink Moleskine to take notes on the great questions Katie’s asks to help you see, refine, and dream with God over the current season in your life. There is a call to both embrace it wholeheartedly and yet never let go of patient and hopeful expectation on the Lord. 
Just look at these inspiring chapter titles: 
~Seeking & Becoming
~Fully & Fearlessly
~Leaning & Dreaming
~Marking & Remembering 
~Embracing & Creating
~Celebrating & Sharing 
Sounds like a pretty full, wonderfully inspired life to me! 
It’s probably a short work-week for you, meaning hopefully you’ll have lots of lounge-around-on-the-couch time. Why not download Katie’s book and use that time to be inspired to dream with God? 

Katie is offering, today only, to kick off the holiday week, a 25% discount on the book! You guys, you’ve gotta snag this NOW! For real! You won’t be sorry. 
Promise. 
Use the code: GETINSPIRED to knock the price down from $9.99 (still a total bargain) to $7.50 (a REAL bargain!) Shop Here!

Thanks so much, Katie, for writing this book, for LIVING this book, for making me smile, and for sharing all of that with us through your words! 
xo
Natalie

Fancy Friday Vlog

Hey friends! It’s Friday…time for a vlog!
I just have to tell you that God is bringing so much light back to my heart and so much life back to my body. I can just feel it, you know? Like an internal Spring, ha. #blessingsbacktopraise
New theory: The happier I am the crazier/more vintage my outfits get. This is shown in some recent sartorial choices: 
Basically I am Blair Waldorf in real life.
Also yes I do have tights with knee patches. Aren’t you jealous? #thoughtso
Anyway, did you watch My Hope with Billy Graham on TV last night? If you didn’t catch it, you can stream it at any time here. You can also see my live tweets if you follow me on Twitter!

Also I read a poem for a contest and if you’re interested you can vote for me here! I’m so not going to win but we can at least maybe keep me out of last place? Yeah that’d be cool.

I hope you have a great weekend!
xo
Natalie
#sorryforallthehashtags
#I’mjustexcited
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