there’s nothing quite like getting a little housewarming basket full of homemade goodness from your neighbors.
that is, unless your neighbors happen to be a bit on the crunchy side. bless ’em.
you see, i’ve been craving banana bread lately. actually, i’ve been craving all of the bread things lately.
so in an effort to justify my baking cravings & stick to my paleo eating plan, i made two loaves of refined sugar-free, grain-free bread.
yes, we gave our new neighbors hippie bread.
(i used this recipe from against all grain if you’re into that sort of thing)
just in case the hippie bread wasn’t their thing, i made it better with a cute basket. i pulled out some of my favorite recipe cards by lesley of recipe for crazy & jotted down the recipe for them, too.
i wrapped the bread in parchment paper & tied it with string. i even got out my little stamps & made them a sweet welcome tag with washi tape & fabric details.
i snatched up these little word cards at the antique mall recently. this “home” card is just perfect for a housewarming gift. you could even make your own with plain card stock & letter stamps.
i also added a card with our contact information. i always include our phone numbers so neighbors can easily get in touch.
paired with a candle & a fresh bouquet of flowers from the garden, this basket came together for less than $10!
how do you love on your new neighbors? i’d love to read your ideas!
love,
natalie
friends, dating is fun.
why do we not put more time & energy into this?
why do date nights go forgotten & time together unintentional?
i’m preaching to myself here, y’all.
friends, dating is fun.
& dating is necessary.
luke & i try to date regularly. sometimes i get stuck in the thick of workaholism or busy seasons happen, but we set aside budgeted money every single month ($50) to date each other.
go ahead & fit “date night” into your budget. it’s worth it, friends. even if it’s $10 a month for a red box movie & a bag of snickers, set aside money to date your partner.
i use the word “date” intentionally here. i think we too often forget to really date our partners.
do you remember your first date with him or her? how did you feel? what did you do?
my people, let’s recreate these events, feelings, butterflies, conversations, kisses & cuddles.
again, i’m preachin’ to myself, too.
i truly believe our relationships are investments & what we put into it is returned to us. too often luke & i get stuck into the boring routine of dinner out. don’t get me wrong, going out to eat is fun, but i get absolutely giddy when we plan creative dates. it brings about those first date butterflies.
when luke suggested we pack up the farm truck & go to the drive-in movie, i’m not quite sure i could have loved him more. it was so much fun!
it cost less than $15, too. we packed up the back of our truck with sleeping bags, quilts & pillows. we brought our own snacks, popped our own popcorn & paid $14 to get in. we watched the film in the back of the truck & held hands while munching on our little treats & drinking coca cola from mason jars (his idea! he’s the cutest!)!
essentials for a drive-in movie date night:
– radio: allows you to tune into the radio station to hear your movie
– snacks: we brought popcorn with nutritional yeast & salted butter, peanut m&ms, tortilla chips, salsa, & candy corn.
– drinks: we brought coca cola & sprite with a cooler of ice.
– blankets, pillows, sleeping bags: provides a comfy space & keeps you warm
what are some of your favorite date night ideas? how do you plan intentional time with your partner?
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big hugs to these small businesses, makers & bloggers for supporting natalie creates this month:
if you would like to support my blog, click here. this small fee includes an ad on the sidebar & an optional giveaway for my readers/ig followers! the fall months are the perfect time to sponsor; holiday shopping is just around the corner! there are just a few spots available for this upcoming month so purchase an ad today! it’s easy & oh so fun.
love,
natalie
hooray! my shop is now open & stocked with reversible headbands & happy flags!
i’m offering a little treat to blog readers, too! just enter “BLOGTREAT” at checkout & receive 20% off your order. yay!
love,
natalie