Bring it 2013.

If you are anything like me then the New Year really excites you.  A new year always brings so much promise and hope.  A time to start fresh and get things done.  I am really not a resolutions girl.  Why make resolutions that you break and then beat yourself up about it??  I like to make life changes.   

This year most importantly I want to be more thankful and grateful.  I am bad about complaining and wishing for things.  I want to savour my life, each moment, most importantly all the little things and know that my life is good. 

I also want to work on being a better mom, wife, friend, daughter and sister.  I need to be less selfish and more selfless.

This year I also plan on accomplishing alot of house projects. I think you all know I am lazy when it comes to projects but this is my year to get some stuff done.  I plan on doing one project a month- lets not get too crazy right?  Here is my list I am writing it down here to hold my self accountable!

1) Finish Gallery Wall with Family Photos for Hallway

2) Paint Family Room and Hallway

3) Paint Hall Bathroom- This involves attempting to paint the tile as well

4) Paint Front Door Interior Black

5) Get up to date with all my photos- print them and put in books

6) Mount TV in Bedroom

7) Organize all my jewelry

8) New Light Fixture for Sterling's room

9) Paint Hutch in Dining Room

10) Recover Wingback Chairs

11) Clean and Organize our Garage- it is one hot mess

12) New Coffee Table and Ottomans for Den

So there you have it a few life changes, nothing crazy- hopefully I can stick with my plan. 

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We had such a fabulous NYE Monday.  This is our third year of hosting a little party with our friends and their kids.  Always a good time.  Our Mason tradition each year is we burn our Christmas tree- out with the old and in with the new.  Our best friends from Raleigh also came in town for the weekend and we had a blast with them!  Here are a few pictures from our New Years. 

While we are on the topic of New Years and new beginnings, please go to Earthfare asap and pick up this salad.  It is called the Energy nut salad and it was amazing!!  I have officially started my New Years Detox.

On another completely random note my favorite Christmas gift was this Missoni scarf my mom surprised me with.  Usually I like to pick out all my gifts but this was a total surprise.  It is my first infinity scarf and I am hooked.  I have honestly worn it everyday since I got it.  It looks cute with everything!

Good news for you ladies the scarf is onsale right now at ShopBop for 60% off.  And you can get an additional 20% til midnight tonight with code EXTRAOFF.   Such a steal for a Missoni piece!

It comes in these other two colors as well.

{Missoni Infinity Scarf}

You must check out my girl Caycee's blog today.  She is hosting her first giveaway and it is a great one with Tiny Prints!

 

Happy First Thursday of 2013!

My Top Ten Best Buys of 2012

With 2012 drawing to an end, I thought I would share a few of my favorite new finds this year.  From beauty to clothes these items all entered my life in the past year and I love them and can't imagine my life without them!

RAG AND BONE JEANS

I am obsessed with Rag and Bone Jeans.  They are my everyday jeans and fit like a glove.  I swear they have spanx in them because they suck you in and make your legs look like toothpicks.  This year I got the "Legging Jeans in Midnight" and the "Skinny Jeans in Kennsington Wash."  Both changed my life.  Best jeans ever.

TWO FACED 3 WAY EYELINER

This is the best eyeliner.  I have tried so many eyeliners it is funny, I am never happy with them but this one is different.  It goes on super easy and doesn't smear.  Always creates a precise line.

BREVILLE JUICE FOUNTAIN

This was technically a Christmas gift from last year because I exchanged a few gifts for it but I am counting it under 2012 because that is when I started using it.  This juicer has changed my life, I swear by it.  I am so addicted to starting my morning with fresh green juice.  It gives me more energy and helps me get in lots of veggies for the day.  It is easy to use and clean.  Hard to imagine life before the juicer.  Sterling loves it too and in the summer we use the juice to make Popsicles- added bonus!

LULULEMON WORKOUT GEAR

Quite possibly the best workout clothes ever.  I am hooked.  I wear them even when I am not working out (which is more often that I like to admit as of lately). They are the most flattering workout clothes.  They look chic for daily wear. The Run for Your Life Crop are my favorite pants.  They suck you in and lift you up- enough said.

JCREW SATURDAY PANT
In my quest to find the perfect lounge wear I came across these beauties.  The best lounge pants I promise you.  They are flattering and comfortable.  I like that they don't look like baggy sweatpants, they are cute.  Looks like they are sold out online right now but the stores may have them or I am sure they will restock online.

CHANEL VAMP NAIL POLISH
I am not one to buy alot of nail polishes.   I lusted after this Chanel for so long that I finally bit the bullet and bought it and I am so glad I did.  I wear it all the time.  Such a great nail color.  A classic to add to your collection.

GAP STUDIO SWEATER
In keeping with my loungewear quest I found this sweater from the Gap.  It is so soft and looks great paired with my JCrew Saturday pants.  Loungewear that you can wear out of the house and still look cute!  Double bonus they are on sale right now for $24.99!  I have the black and royal blue ones- love them!

HAPPINESS PROJECT/
JESUS CALLING
Both of these books are the perfect read for the new year.  I started the Happiness Project last New Year and it inspired me so much to clean out and organize many areas of my life.  Great tips on marriage and relationships as well.
Jesus Calling is a fabulous devotional.  Today will mark my final entry to read for this year.  It has provided me with alot comfort this year during personal struggles.  It is easy to relate to and easy to read.  I can't say enough great things about it.  I think I ear marked every other page I related to it so much!

MADEWELL PERFECT CHAMBRAY SHIRT

I had wanted a denim shirt forever but it was hard to find one that didn't make me look too butch.  I tried on many and this Madewell shirt is definately the most flattering.  It is soft and light weight so you don't look bulky in it.  I wore it all summer with shorts and now I have been rocking it with colored jeans this fall/winter.  A great staple for any closet!

ANTHROPOLOGIE ETCHED STEMMLESS WINE GLASSES

I am in love with these adorable wine glasses.  Stemmless glasses are always my favorite because you can put them in the dishwasher.  These make me happy while sipping my wine, always a good thing!

So, there are you have it, my favorite purchases of 2012!  I highly recommend all of them!

I hope everyone has a fabulous NYE tonight, see you in 2013!

xoxo

Natalie

Make This Recipe + Scenes From Our Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  I know we sure did!  I am stuffed full of delicious food and booze and need to diet/detox but that ain't happening til after the New Year.  I had to share this recipe that I made Christmas morning for breakfast.  You will never want to buy the canned cinnamon rolls again.  These are the tastiest cinnamon rolls I have ever had.  Best part is you can add as much icing as you like.  The icing is always my favorite part and the packaged kind never gives you enough.  The amount they put in there is only enough for one roll in my mind.  These tasty treats are bite size so you can eat several without feeling too bad.  Pretty sure it will be made again for New Years!  I promise these will be devoured if you make them!

{MINI CINNAMON ROLLS WITH MAPLE ICING}

Ingredients:

1-8oz tube crescent roll dough

2 Tablespoons butter

cinnamon

brown sugar

For the maple icing:

1 teaspoon maple syrup

1 Tablespoon skim milk

3/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1.Preheat oven according to crescent roll dough package directions. Layout half the dough (4 triangles) and pinch all the seams together. Flip over and pinch the seams on the back side together too.

2.Using a rolling pin, smooth the seams and roll the dough into a square about 1/4″ thick. Brush with half the butter, and sprinkle with as much cinnamon and brown sugar as you want. Roll into a log and cut into 8 pieces.

3.Place mini cinnamon rolls into a non-stick sprayed mini muffin tin. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the other half of the crescent roll dough. Bake according to package directions.

4.Meanwhile whisk together maple syrup and milk in a bowl. Add in powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls.

**One 8oz tube makes 16 pieces.  We doubled the recipe**

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Here are a few snapshots from our Christmas.  Such a great time!  Get ready for picture overload:)

 

The craziest lights I have ever seen and there was a man dressed as Santa who came out to each car with a candy cane for the kids- Thanks Bethenny for the fabulous suggestion!

And Sterling's two favorite gifts!  His umbrella and bike!  Who knew a kid would love an umbrella so much??  It was quite fitting it rained the day after Christmas so he got to use it all day!  The problem is now teaching him we don't open umbrellas in cars or inside:)

 

Have a wonderful weekend friends!  I am gearing up for our annual New Years Eve party.  Lots of undecorating and cleaning to be done this weekend!

xoxo

Holiday Wishes

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate)!   The past few weeks have been crazy busy and I need some downtime with my loved ones!  I want to truly enjoy the rest of this holiday because Sterling is so darn excited this year.  I want to savour every moment.  It is such a joy to see your child's eyes light up with excitement over all the decorations, presents, and food!  Each year it just gets better and more fun!  I am so thankful for my sweet boy.

  To all my friends I could not send a Christmas card to here is what ours looked like this year!  I think I may be the only person who still sends old school cards with actual pictures taped to them instead of the mass printed kind.  I am a freak about cards and I love the beauty of handwriting them.  

I hope everyone has a fabulous Holiday (and here's to hoping the world doesn't actually end today). I will be back sometime next week!


xoxo
Natalie