i am a workaholic.

something changed this summer. something inside of me shifted, altered & grew off balance.
this summer, i became a workaholic.
tears well up when i even begin to type that word.
workaholic.
isn’t that for the ceo of walmart & the highly successful business suit type? 
no, it actually fits quite nicely into my story… the long days, the numerous cups of coffee, the sleepless nights, the insomnia, the to-do lists & the neglected relationships.
it explains the poor judgement, the grumps & the weight gain. 
i am a blogger & a homemaker & a workaholic.
i lack work boundaries & life balance. i push myself until the wee hours of the morning & set my alarm to pop up before daylight. all for the sake of a to-do list & the approval of others.
friends, does this ring true in your life?
how did we get here?
do you need rest? i need a nap.
& change. 
i wish i could wrap this up with a pretty bow on top & entitle this blog post, “how i conquered workaholism & found balance”, but i would be lying.
i continue to struggle & lack rhythm. i still say yes far too often than i should, but i am finally recognizing my need for rest & balance.
so here i am, telling you i need change.
here i am sharing my guts out, sharing my inner most flaws & doubts.  
here i am sharing my mantra for this week:
seek balance & fight workaholism by
+ getting a full seven hours of sleep each night
+ eating well
+ saying no at least once this week
—-
friends, i would love to read your stories & journeys. i would love to read how you find rest & balance each week. 
love,
natalie

roasted cinnamon & maple glazed butternut squash recipe

let’s talk about squash.

a few weeks ago we harvested acorn & butternut squash from the garden. y’all, it’s a christmas miracle that we managed to snatch up some squash before the squash bugs & vine borers got ahold of them first. 
down here in the south they give you gold medals if you can manage to grow squash. we deserve a blue ribbon for that basket of squash goodness.

so naturally, we had to share the bounty from our garden with friends. we invited our dear farmer friend over for a little dinner on the patio & served up some delicious butternut squash.
i love experimenting with vegetables from our garden & this recipe is no different. i’m not one for measuring so you’ll have to bare with my “pinch” of this, “little of that” & “dash” of this. 
i also love that this recipe is one you can pop into the oven & go about your business until the timer is up. it’s a hands-off, no-nonsense sort of recipe & really, those are the best kind.

roasted cinnamon & maple glazed butternut squash
serves four
1 butternut squash
extra virgin olive oil
dash of cinnamon
maple syrup to liking
sprinkle of sea salt
sprinkle of freshly cracked pepper
sausage (optional)
preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. cut your butternut squash in half & scoop out the insides, leaving the skin on. place your halves of squash, face up, on a baking sheet. dribble just a tiny bit of good olive oil onto your squash, making sure it covers the entire surface. add a dash of cinnamon & a sprinkle of sea salt. sprinkle a bit of freshly cracked pepper & drizzle maple syrup to liking on top. place your dish in the oven & bake for 30 – 40 minutes until the squash is soft. you may serve it on the side just like this or add cooked sausage to make a stuffed squash entree. eat & enjoy!
let me know if you try this dish! i’d love to read your thoughts!
love,
natalie

the barefoot seamstress tote bag giveaway!

there are two articles of clothing in my life worth investing in: shoes & purses. 
i really wear my shoes. from farm chores to scavenging junk among piles at thrift shops & yard sales, my soles see miles & know hard work.

my purses & totes carry my life. at any given moment inside my purse, you’re likely to find a craft project, books, my daily planner, our cash budget wallet (by miss money bags– love her!), a measuring tape, & bits of life chicken-scratched on tiny pieces of paper fluttering throughout. 
my bag is my come-along friend, up for any adventure & tucked among rusty goodness stuffed in the back of my tiny hatchback car. 

so i was absolutely thrilled when becky sent me her new desert horizon tote bag from her shop, the barefoot seamstress. 
y’all, becky is the real deal & this bag is not playing around. 
it has deep pockets inside for storing chapstick, pens, your phone & more. it also has sturdy leather straps perfect for carrying weight, like that over-due library book. also, can we just talk about it’s cute factor? i’ve been carrying this tote for over two weeks now & it’s the highlight of my outfit every single time. 

it’s your lucky day because the barefoot seamstress is offering the desert horizon tote bag to one lucky natalie creates reader! it’s easy peasy to enter. simply –
1. visit the barefoot seamstress shop & browse her beauties.
2. follow @thebarefootseamstress on ig or like “the barefoot seamstress” on facebook.
3. comment with your email address & one piece in your wardrobe you often invest in!
i’ll pick a random winner next wednesday, september 17th, at 8 am CST. happy winning!
love,
natalie
p.s. head on over to the barefoot seamstress right now & get your shop on! becky is offering a generous 20% off with the code “nataliecreates” until september 18th. yay!
— comments closed! congrats to natalee for winning the giveaway! —