i am so excited for 2015 – a fresh start, new projects, more memory making & all the good stuff that comes with a new year!
but let’s just for a moment tip our hat to 2014.
it was a rad year!
here’s a recap of my top ten moments of 2014 (in no particular order)…
photo by nikki toth photography
1. FIVE YEARS – we rocked five years of marriage & celebrated with a romantic dinner on the beach. married at 19 & 20, we’ve earned that five years! & we still totally dig each other. he’s my very best friend & together, we can’t wait to rock 105 more years.
2. FARM FRESH – we completed our first year of a farm subscription to our small farm. we sold vegetables, herbs, flowers & eggs. we learned a ton, grew a ton & fell even deeper in love with this community we call our own! it was the hardest of work & most days we were completely exhausted, but every moment was absolutely 100% worth it.
3. KICKBALL – we got together as a church & played the meanest game of kickball this side of the mississippi. it was a gloriously good workout, too. homemade matching game shirts- nailed it.
4. SAYING YES – in 2014, i said yes to my dreams & began blogging/making full-time. it’s been the scariest thing i have ever done, but it’s the most fulfilling & life giving work i could ever do. my tank is full, y’all.
5. PAINTED BRICK – we had no idea what we were doing, but we did it anyway! happy birthday to me! we painted our house! & we love it. more house changes to come in 2015… yay!
6. #FREEMANSINFLORIDA2014 – we flew to bradenton beach, florida & spent an entire week on the beach. we stared at the ocean, collected seashells, stuffed ourselves with good food, napped, read books, did minimal physical activity & experienced the best darn vacation of all time. bless.
7. FARMHOUSE EC WORKSHOPS – i gathered an amazing group of women & opened our farm up for a day of canning. it was the first ever farmhouse economics workshop & definitely not the last. we came together as strangers & left together as sisters. it was one of my favorite & most inspiring days of 2014.
8. BIKES & BREWS – this past summer, we planned & executed the first ever bikes & brews tour! we gathered with friends & road our bikes on various trails to some of our favorite breweries! it was the best of times; i could spend every weekend doing just this.
9. LADIES WEEKEND – in 2014, we gathered the tribe for the first time ever & headed to branson for a weekend of pooling, shopping, drinking, eating, gaming, laughing & all of the other ladies’ weekend appropriate activities. i’m counting down the days until our 2015 weekend (!!!)! these women are my favorite.
10. #NATALIEGETSFIT – I said peace out to gluten, completed my first ever whole30 & dropped 20 pounds in 2014. like any journey, i’ve gained a few pounds back & learned a whole lot in the process. i am looking forward to continuing this health nut adventure in 2015!
what was your favorite moment of 2014? i would love to read your top ten! please share!
love,
natalie
every year i choose one little word to focus my intentions on in the new year.
with every move, the word “quality” echoed in my heart.
quality rang true in my journey toward self-love. i lost 20 lb., worked out regularly, & started the #dressinhappiness project. you can find out more about this project here.
quality rang true in my work life. for so long, i was afraid to take that jump because of fear & an overwhelming amount of student debt. in 2014, i made the leap with arms wide open!
quality rang true in my marriage. luke & i shared our hearts openly & unguarded. we attended counseling sessions together & grew even more connected as partners. it makes me weepy when i reflect on 2014 & all of the growth that happened in that space & time.
quality rang true in my friendships. i stayed connected with friends from the past & cultivated deep friendship within our community. i co-led a women’s retreat within our church community & created a weekly coffee date for my lady tribe. i am so thankful for the opportunity to share my life with women of quality who inspire & motivate me.
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| “pursuit” bracelet by debi dean |
in 2015, my one little word is pursuit.
pursuit, noun: the action of following or pursuing someone or something.
my heart is set on the pursuit of a healthy balance in my work & family life.
i will focus on the pursuit of a clear path in my work life. i will say no so that i may say yes to work that fills me up, inspires others & cultivates joy within my life.
i will focus on the pursuit of saying yes to more time well-spent by saying no to material goods that rob us of our freedom to enjoy life. friends, i am getting off of that consume-more-work-more treadmill!
i believe that our lives are made up of well-crafted & intentional everydays.
how will you make every single day count?
choose one little word & follow me along on this journey, friends!
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i am so thankful for debi dean who makes incredible jewelry that speaks truth! i am so excited to wear my “pursuit” bracelet as a daily reminder of my intention for 2015.
debi dean makes bracelets & necklaces with custom stamped words – the perfect gift for you in the new year!
debi is offering a $40 gift certificate to her shop so that you may pick out any piece & wear your word throughout the year!
to enter this giveaway, simply:
1. visit the debi dean shop & take a look around.
2. like debi on facebook or follow her on ig @debidean
3. comment below with your email address & share your one little word for 2015!
i will pick a random winner on january 7th & share the winner’s name here!
love,
natalie
p.s. debi is offering free shipping in her shop to natalie creates readers until january 18th! just enter the code “nataliecreates” at checkout!
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congrats to amy huneycutt for winning the giveaway by debi dean! yay!
it’s the week before christmas & we are feeling oh so festive around these parts!
drinking hot cocoa with marshmallows every single night.
enjoying dinners by candlelight & holiday parties with loved ones.
watching christmas movies under warm blankets.
surprising friends with secret gifts by their front doors.
leaving baked goodies for the mailman.
baking, making, wrapping & gifting.
& so much more.
today i thought i’d share two fun gifts in a jar ideas for quick presents just in time for christmas!
this recipe for chocolate candy cane muddy buddies is so delicious & inspired by my gal pal, katy. we gifted jars of muddy buddies to our neighbors & mailman. it’s inexpensive & perfect for those in need of a little sweet treat!
ingredients:
– peppermint candies
– 2 tablespoons butter
– 1 package ghiradella melting chocolate
– 1 tsp real peppermint oil
– 1 box corn chex
– around 1 cup powder sugar
to make:
melt butter in a saucepan. add chocolate & allow to melt completely. while your chocolate is melting, add the peppermint candies to a ziplock bag & thoroughly crush with a rolling pin into very fine pieces. set aside.
once your chocolate is fully melted, add peppermint oil & stir to combine. pour your chex cereal into a bowl & pour the chocolate on top. mix until your chex cereal is completely coated in chocolate. add powder sugar & the crushed peppermint candies. stir until all of the chex cereal is covered in candies & powder sugar. allow to cool.
we filled large mason jars with muddy buddies & decorated our jars with fabric tops. a cute tag & string made this little sweet treat gift extra special.
next up is this fun mason jar recipe for grown-up hot cocoa!
this gift was created for a $5 or under secret santa gift exchange. this gift is especially perfect for those men in your life who enjoy a good drink during the holidays!
ingredients:
– pre-made hot cocoa mix (you can make your own, too. here’s a great recipe that we love!)
– marshmallows
– candy cane
– mini bailey’s bottle
– large mason jar
to make:
pour the hot cocoa mix into the jar & add marshmallows to the top. screw on the lid & tie a candy cane, the bailey’s mini bottle & a cute labeled tag with twine. gift with love! so simple & so fun!
what are some quick & easy gifts for loved ones you have up your sleeve this year? please share!
love,
natalie