After spending time with Jess, I’ve felt so inspired to live & create more. With school & work, I can sometimes forget the activities & hobbies I truly love doing, alone or with others. Jess mentioned to me that she spends her mornings doing yoga & in quiet time with the Lord before checking her email, blogs, etc. I think this would be a very healthy way for me to make a sort-of routine for myself, a way to start the day off right. So instead of checking blogs in the morning before my first class, I plan to sit down & slowly eat breakfast while reading my bible (by the way, Luke & I are reading Matthew- it is so good!). If I have enough time, I would like to work on a creative project like the scarf that I’m currently knitting. By doing this, I hope to feel closer to & be reminded of God daily & live the creative, healthy life He intended for me. 

So thank you, Jess!

—-

& onto Valentine’s Day- I never thought Luke would plan something for Valentine’s Day (it being such a commercial holiday), but he knew I was a sucker for this day of celebrated love so he planned a perfect evening. 

He surprised me with a homemade Valentine (featured above), made of cardboard & colored pencils, & a box of dark chocolate-covered strawberries from the candy shop in downtown. We road our bikes, him in his blue three-piece suit & me in my red dress found while dumpster-diving, to Felini’s: a greek cuisine restaurant. It was delicious! We always order two different entrees & split them so that we can try everything. I love that about him- he gets just as excited about trying out food as I do. Then, we came back to my house, lit some candles, & watched When Harry Met Sally. It was so funny! Luke & I loved it so much. 

Our first Valentine’s Day together & engaged! It was wonderful 🙂

On Sunday, I spent my morning making breakfast with Luke & going to church. After church, I went to Ann’s nesting shower. Instead of a card, I bought a tiny nest with three eggs & placed the Target gift card inside. It was too lovely not to photograph.

As for this week, I’m drowning in exams & papers. It doesn’t matter, though- this weekend Tori‘s coming to visit Columbia! I’m off the entire weekend so we will have so much time to talk & bake & just do what we love doing together. I’m so excited!!

love,

Natalie

Good afternoon, all!

The weather’s beautiful- clear skies & a slight breeze. Downtown’s vibrant & bicycles are everywhere.

Tori, come & visit please!

love,

Natalie

I’m currently sitting in the kitchen of my home, watching my love read “The Humanure Handbook: a guide to composting human manure.”

I just took out a batch of cookies from the oven– fruit & oatmeal cookies from my favorite cookbook: Simply In Season. My favorite kind of evenings are the restful ones, spent with him in the covers, baking in the kitchen, sneaking a peak at him from across the room, laughing & discussing radical topics such as composting your own shit (no joke!), & imagining the lives we will be living this time next year.

This weekend was a true blessing from God. I’ve been suffering a bit, or at least this past week, with some winter depression. God brought, this weekend, blue skies & 60 degree weather. Everyone was on their bikes & eating ice cream from the local ice cream shop. It was a charming time in downtown. I love to be living & working & learning in downtown Columbia; it is a town so special to me.

& during the weekend, I had time to photograph my Saturday breakfast & lunch.

I suppose it is time to get back to my Sunday evening. I have to get ready for my week ahead. I’m starting a hip hop dancing class this week! I am beyond excited, haha!

ps: Tori tagged me to post my “6th folder, 6th picture” & explain it. 

During my first semester of college, my friends & I were walking on campus & found this letter in a bush. It was hysterical!

Natalie