on sunday we, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, witnessed the sun peek out from the clouds for one glorious afternoon.
so naturally, i picked up my camera & documented our mantel because around these parts, when you blog for living & it’s been dark for weeks, you celebrate & take advantage of the natural light.
can i get an amen?
moving on…
about this mantel.. i’ve got a big ol’ crush on it.
i basically scrounged around my house for a good hour or so gathering tidbits here & there.
from left to right:
– the metal buckets (one of two of my purchases for this project) with the mini pines inside came from target for $3 bucks each in the one dollar spot at the front aka my perfect version of retail heaven. those buckets with the woven handles are so good i could have purchased all of them & not felt even one second of guilt for you people but sharing is caring so…
– the clipboards were thrifted months ago from the thrift shop. you know my deep love for clipboards.
– the farmhouse flashcard & metal frog stand were purchased at a local antique shop. i love purchasing little goods like that for displays within our home.
– the antique blue ball mason jars were purchased forever ago at a yard sale. i can’t even begin to tell you about that yard sale where i found a huge box of blue mason jars for only ten dollars… it still gives me chills.
– the books are from our random collection of books. decorating tip: when you find a book with a good cover, keep it. you never know when you’ll need it for your “winter-inspired mantel.”
– the scale was purchased at an estate sale for pennies. bless.
– i love collecting those white milk glass vases from thrift stores & planting (fake… shhh!) succulents inside. i purchase my fake succulents at hobby lobby, fyi!
i had some christmas money burning a hole in my pocket so i purchased that gorgeous boxwood wreath from target. it’s wreath perfection. this is the one right here.
thanks for coming over & basking in my well-lit mantel decor with me!
what are some of your favorite winter-inspired decor ideas?
love,
natalie
in 2014, i realized one big thing.
i can make choices that make my days, weeks, months & even years better. meaning, i have this big ol’ super power to make intentional choices, moves & decisions each day that will make my life easier & brighter.
today i want to share with you five tips that i have implemented in my own life that i hope will make your 2015 even better, brighter & easier…
1. find a tribe & build community: i don’t want to hear your excuses. call up some gals, text some acquaintances, write a status on facebook & put out a call on instagram. do it. now! start a book club, coordinate a play group or meet for coffee.
i used to not be a tribe believer; i was certain quality groups of girlfriends weren’t possible after college. people just don’t get me. i am a weirdo blogger after all. but after a series of unfortunate friend events, i finally threw in the towel & asked some girls to weekly coffee. i mean really, could it get any worst? my people, we are still meeting weekly for coffee & it’s the best thing ever. so make that call & schedule that meet-up in 2015.
2. budget: budgeting looks different for everyone & there is no right way to make intentional financial decisions. whatever way you choose to track your spending & earnings, just do it. i can’t wait to share how we budget (an upcoming blog post scheduled for late january…), but until then sit down with pen & paper (& your partner if you have one!) & start creating a budget. there is freedom in a budget, friends.
3. sign up for epantry!: my friends, i have never loved a company quite as much as i love epantry. look at my face when i tell you i’ve got a deep love for these people & their goods.
i signed up for an epantry subscription in 2014 & this sister will never go back! just a bit about epantry – epantry is a fantastic company that sends your favorite cleaning supplies right to your door. they’re cheaper than what you’ll find at the store & you can make thoughtful decisions about what you need versus that impulse purchase i know i tend to make at target. epantry also helps me to budget my household spending, which is always a plus.
the folks at epantry are sweet as pie & they are offering natalie creates readers $10 off their first month’s purchase, free shipping AND a free mrs. meyer’s hand soap. woo hoo! just click the link right here to join (there’s no catch, i pinkie promise!) & never run out of toilet paper again!
4. hire a housekeeper: it took months for us to budget a housekeeper, but once we did, i’m fairly certain i heard a choir of angels singing. my housekeeper, amanda, is my favorite person on this earth. she comes just once a month (that’s all we can afford!) & she does the dirty work i avoid like the plague. she dusts my open cabinets, cleans the baseboards, scrubs our dirty fridge & mops my floors. ask around & find a recommended housekeeper in your area that works with your budget. i can’t wait to see how it decreases your overall stress to come home to a cleaner, more relaxing home.
5. schedule date nights: we budget about $40 a month for dates. oftentimes those dates look like movies on the couch in our pjs & sometimes our dates are at a fancy restaurant in our sunday’s best. whatever date nights look like for you, plan & schedule more intentional time with your partner in 2015. tip for partners with kids: my girlfriends with children swap date nights. while one couple is off on a date, the other watches both sets of kids. try it! it’s free & it builds community. awesome.
please tell me! what tips do you have to share that make your days easier & brighter? i’d love to read your thoughts!
love,
natalie
friends, it feels so good to turn the calendar page & enter into a new year.
i am thrilled with the outcomes & accomplishments of 2014 & i am even more excited about the possibilities & adventures on the horizon in 2015.
today, i simply want to share with you some exciting news, goals & changes for 2015!
– expect monthly updates of product in exclusive, limited quantities from my handmade shop. every piece is from the heart & handmade from start to finish. i am so excited to bring to life some ideas that have been simmering for months! thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my handmade shop!
– luke & i are excited to collaborate on more home & garden projects! our planting calendar was so well received (thank you!) & a springboard for more projects to come! we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been up to…
– join me here in this space on monday, wednesdays & fridays for (what i hope to be) thoughtful, authentic & inspiring content. in all honesty, i’ve never considered myself a writer & the title “blogger” takes me by surprise every time, but i’m most certain that the community this space cultivates keeps me going. thanks for coming back day after day! i cannot wait to share deeper & a more personal narrative in 2015.
– you can still support this spaces by purchasing a blog love ad space! i learned a ton in 2014 & realized just how much time it takes to cultivate a thoughtful & well-curated blog. as a small business, entrepreneur &/or blogger, i hope you will consider supporting this space. you can click here for more information. my fees have increased to compensate for my time, experience & growth over the year, but i can promise you that every penny is absolutely worth it. it’s a great way to grow your business & online space! thank you for supporting our family & my creative pursuits!
– there will be farm updates! my hope is to inspire others to grow a garden, raise a couple of chickens & eat fresh tomatoes from your own backyard. in 2015, luke & i plan to offer seasonal updates & helpful tips in this space. stay tuned for more farm goodness!
– join us for more freckled hen farmhouse ec workshops in 2015! we are so excited to open up our home & farm to participants in the new year! we are currently working on content for a garden planning workshop in the spring & a home canning workshop during the summer. we cannot wait to once again share our farming & homesteading knowledge in an intimate & hands-on environment.
hello, 2015! let’s do this thang!
love,
natalie