it’s almost autumn, but around these parts, we’re seeing little hints already.
we have begun collecting wood for our winter wood stove & wrapping ourselves in blankets during the evening hours. the days are cool, which our garden & animals really love, & that warm autumn light is absolutely magical.
hints of autumn also mean autumn mantels.
…pumpkins, happy flags, red & orange tones, bright leaves & whatever else might strike my fancy.
i keep a little basket in our guest bedroom closet of seasonal decor. it’s so exciting to pull out my little bits of festive goodies to decorate our home for the seasons.
i have become a big fan of clipboards. if you’ve stuck around for long enough, you know this.
my dear friend, sara of the rosy life, gifted me this print. i clipped it to one of my favorite rusty clipboards & placed it on our mantel. it’s the focal point of our decor & the best reminder of the good stuff about autumn.
i now want to curl up with a book & rest next to the cozy fire, yes? grab me a slice of that homemade apple pie while you’re up!
sweet sara is offering up one of her autumn bucket list prints from her rosy life etsy shop to a natalie creates reader!
it’s simple to enter this giveaway…
1. check out sara’s shop & browse a bit. what’s your favorite print in her shop?
2. leave a comment with your email address & one activity you plan to add to your autumn bucket list this season!
3. follow sara on instagram @therosylifeblog
happy winning, friends!
love,
natalie
p.s. sara is offering 20% off in her shop with the code “ROSYLOVE20.” grab yourself a print right now, y’all!
— giveaway closed! congrats to elizabeth for winning! sara will contact you soon! —
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
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