Sunday, August 31, 2008

Summer Holiday

Due to the unfortunate expense of fixing my car after being hit by lightning, we had to cancel our planned beach vacation. As disappointing as that was, we are trying to make the best of it by doing little "mini vacations" as a family. Yesterday we hit the pool and to our delight, found we were basically the only people there. We swam as a family for a while. Lydia likes to ride on my back and hold on to my swimsuit straps like reins on a horse. Then Shane grabs my arms and whips us both through the water, Lydia and I screaming and laughing like it is the greatest amusement park ride.

After a while I couldn't ignore the cry of the lounge chair and a little Orson Scott Card reading. Feeling the hot sun on wet skin may be the most fantastic of all summer pleasures. After a chapter or two, however, my book became merely a shield from UV rays as I watched my daughter and her daddy swim together. When Shane is around, Lydia needs no one else. They are so utterly smitten with each other. I don't feel the least bit jaded by her obvious favoritism towards him. It just makes me smile. The bright sun, the refreshing breeze and the laughter of my two favorite people in the background; it may have been one of the best family "vacations" ever.

Happy Labor Day!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Old School Giveaway

So my 31st birthday is next weekend. I am just a tad freaked out. I really never thought that I would be one who was squeamish about my age. I loved turning 30. That is a big birthday and everyone made sure it was a huge affair. I even posted it as my best day of 2007.

But 31 is.....30 something. Like that crappy TV show from the 80's that only old people watched. It is totally boring. Now that I am a mom, do I just take the backseat on this day just for me?
-
"No way!" says I. I am a supporter of full fledged birthday celebrations at EVERY birthday. Cake, gifts and none of this "oh, I am too old to do the birthday thing". NO. Not me. I work too freaking hard to not have a day when I get to be the center. One day a year. I'm not giving it up.
-
In honor of my creed, this week's giveaway is an "Old School Giveaway". All fantastic vintage treasures to remind us that just because it is a little old doesn't mean that it isn't awesome. So without further adieu...

************************************************************

I am giving away this sweet "Grandma chic" vintage purse along with some of my Paisley Lane lovelies. I have made the hair clip from a vintage brooch and the vintage earrings were originally clip (as they always are), but I have changed them to pierced. They will come wrapped in the vintage linen that they are laying on in the photo.


And as an added bonus - check out these recipe cards! When I found these (unopened) at an antique show I actually squealed like a little girl. I mean come on, how retro cool? I also will send a pack of vintage plastic recipe savers (the plastic sleeves that protect the cards).





Four chances to enter:
  1. Leave me a birthday greeting on this blog before Sept 4th at midnight. -
  2. Let me know that you are a subscriber in a separate comment.
  3. Mention this giveaway in your own blog and let me know you have done so in a separate comment.
  4. For one more entry - Check out my jewelry line - Paisley Lane and tell me your favorite item.
I will select the winner using a random generator on Sept 5th. Good luck!
Oh yeah! I almost forgot. As a birthday treat to you - I am giving a free pair of earrings to anyone who makes a Paisley Lane purchase over $20 in the month of September. Just mention "Birthday" when you order.




Lovely two story home in a quiet family friendly neighborhood. 
4717 Rose Briar Ln, Ooltewah 37373
                           $169,000


Call 423-785-7294 with questions. 
Located a few short minutes from both Hamilton Place and Volkswagen. This charming home is both functional and inviting. 
  • 1,850 Square Feet
  • 2-story
  • Side-entry Garage
  • Built 2006
  • 3 Bedroom
  • 2 1/2 Bath
  • Walk-in Master closet
  • Large walk-in storage
  • Vaulted and tiled master bath with jetted tub
  • Fireplace
  • Gas utilities 
  • Fenced backyard
  • French doors in study
  • Dining room with Wainscoting 
  • Large Master Bedroom with tray ceiling
  • Stainless Steel kitchen appliances 
  • Small cul-de-sac neighborhood
  • Less than 10 minutes to Hamilton Place
  • Less than 10 minutes to Volkswagen Complex
  • Less than 5 minutes to Collegedale park

And the award goes to....

For the End of Summer Giveaway, the random generator chose number 5, so that makes Lisa the winner! Congrats! Email me your address and I will send the Dipstiks and gift card to you. I will announce the next giveaway in a few hours.....

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my beautiful daughter, this sunny day, and that the only thing on my schedule is to have a picnic, swing on the swings
and play pretty princess.

Loving this pic? Check out Flutter Photography. And fantastic news if you are in the Chattanooga area. Randi from Flutter is coming here the 2nd weekend in October. She still has a couple openings left (at an incredible price just for that weekend) Email me for details.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

I love Decor8...especially when the day's post looks like it was designed for my blog.

Monday, August 25, 2008

END OF SUMMER GIVEAWAY

My last blog was a bit a a bummer, so I thought I would make this one a positive entry. And what is more positive than a giveaway?! I'll tell you what....4 weeks of giveaways! That's right, I will be doing a giveaway every week for the next 4 weeks. This first giveaway is in honor of this ending summer and my favorite summer treats. Mecinna from Price Products has donated a 4-pack of dripstiks to one lucky reader, and just for fun, I will add a $5 gift certificate to target so you can try some Edy's Whole Fruit Bars. All you have to do is make a comment on this blog telling me your favorite summer treat. For an extra entry, let me know that you are a subscriber to my blog. (Tell me in a second comment.) I will announce the winner on Friday, along with announcing the 2nd giveaway! Good luck....

Oh - and this is the giveaway that I am DIEING to win for myself. Check it out.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

ARRRRGGGGG!!!!!!

I was about to have a full on vent session on how this is the worst Sunday ever**** how I spend all my non-Lydia time cleaning and the house is still a disaster*****how Lydia spends at least 30% of her waking time screaming and crying***** how I made the most awesome lunch and she wouldn't touch it (and of course Shane is always at late at church so he isn't even home to eat)**** how no matter how badly I want to nap, I can't because it takes me a full hour to fall asleep so by the time it actually happens, Lydia is just about to wake up*****how I actually went in my room and screamed just to release some frustration***** how there is laundry piled up to fold because I had 7 loads on Friday and I just couldn't fold it all**** how I am jealous of all my friends because they have family around and I just want one day to say "Mom, come take Lydia so that I can have an hour or two to myself" instead of cramming in a random post at the beginning of her (short) afternoon nap. *****

Hum, guess I did do the whole vent thing. Don't feel a whole lot better though. Really wishing I had some chocolate right about now.






15 PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY:


Natalie Jane said...
Still searching for chocolate - if I can't find any I am hitting the Diet Coke. (The full caffinated "only in emergencies" supply.....
beth said...
You can take me up on my offer and not even feel bad. Just ring my doorbell today and drop her off and leave and feel better. Sometimes that is all it takes. I think sometimes I just need something different and this will give you alone time with Shane. Those are much needed also. I spent many years without being able to hand my kids off to mom and now I try not to abuse it but man she helps me out a ton.
Scattered Mom said...
(hug) Have a bath, with a nice glass of wine or something, and don't worry about the laundry or the house. It's not like they're going anywhere and really, none of us get points for a perfectly clean house. I didn't have family around when Jake was that age, either. It's hard sometimes!
LOLiTA said...
Aww, hun. This is a hard stage, and even harder without family. The laundry and stuff can wait til tomorrow. Kick up your feet and relax, or go for a drive with Lydia. I declare this to be a lazy day. ~Esmeralda PS. I found your blog through Krisit's.
kristi lee said...
One of THOSE Sundays huh? You know you can always drop her off at the house of crazy boys! I can't promise that she won't learn something that you don't want her to though. . .like how to fight ninja style! I am going to Sam's in the morning. Is "THE" cake calling your name?!!! It's close enough to your birthday to start celebrating anyways!!!
Natalie Jane said...
Oh "That" cake is ALWAYS calling my name. Email me details and we will see...
April said...
yes drink wine... um- I know exactly how you feel- with a crazy child and no mom anywhere close... your feelings are more than valid- some days just suck.
Christine said...
Chocolate would be nice. :) ((hugs))
Are You Serious! said...
♥ I feel for you! I haven't had family close by for 7 plus years of my kids lives! It sucks and sometimes I dream about what it would be like! I hope your week is much better!!! :)
kailani said...
Sorry to hear the day wasn't going well. Hope it got better!
Randi said...
Mercer told me today, "YOU ARE NOT BEING MY BEST MOM EVER!!!" Followed by "TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED, MOM!!" Not my best weekend, let's just say. I bought a tub full of chocolate chip cookie dough to make it all better. No oven required.
Randi said...
NOT an overshare. I actually posted mine, read yours, then went back and deleted mine. Mine was too much. Yours :funny. :)
Elizabeth said...
Natalie All I can say is that I understand.
xcdenke said...
PLEASE CALL ME NEXT TIME!!! We can vent together. It probably would be good for both of us. I swear, for me it never fails that when one kid is happy, the other one isn't. Keane is my sensitive one and I have to be really careful about him. Ethan is always picking on him. The big kid gets bullied by the little guy. Funny huh? Thanks for venting. You always seem like the perfect mom and it's nice to see that even you have your rough moments.
Jennifer said...
I hear ya girl! Good to know that other people have tough days like mine too every now and then. And, I definitely know what you mean about family!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Best Summer Discovery

Well, it is still over 90 degrees everyday, but apparently summer is on the way out. School is already in session (which blows my mind since we never started until after labor day in Washington). Shane and I took Lydia to the mall tonight and it is Halloween everywhere. TOO EARLY! says I, but the chain stores don't listen to me.... We did stop into Yankee candle to do some smelling and the Autumn Leaves candle is seriously fall bliss.

Anyway I wanted to share my personal pick for the best discovery of summer 2008. And the winner is... Edy's Whole Fruit bars. - (Called Dreyers in the west). The exact same product. Anyway, these are so yummy to my tummy.
At least that is what Lydia says. We especially like to eat them with the best invention - the dripstik. These are obviously awesome to avoid a sticky mess, but Shane and I love them because we can eat a Popsicle and then set it down! Eating a Popsicle while playing cards, typing on the computer....fantastic.


Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Oh for the love....

Ok. There is this one thing that Shane does that drives me crazy. When you read what it is you will most likely roll your eyes and say something like "Natalie, come on. Pick your battles." But here is the thing. I do pick my battles. And this is my battle of choice. I never nag. In fact, I could be considered the anti-nag. But I swear, if Shane leaves one more empty carton/cereal box on this exact section of the kitchen counter, I am libel to blow a gasket. Anyone else have a random spousal grievance they want to share? I know you do......

-Shane you really are wonderful. But let's work on the empty carton thing. The garbage is like 5 feet away. Thanks love.




April said...

Chay leaves empty pizza boxes in the fridge and empty tupperware from left overs in the fridge-

100 Percent Cottam said...

haha, chris does the same thing. he says it's to let me know that we're out of something, otherwise i won't know to pick it up at the store. suuuure! :) although, that does sort of make sense.

bumblebeebags said...

I cannot stand it when my boys(all of them) drink the last of the ice tea and then put the EMPTY pitcher in the fridge....urgh!!!

Mechelle said...

Ok so I'm with you~ I hate it when my hubby and daughter do this and I've asked them over and over again to please put it in the garbage.
That extra motion it would take must cause them considerable pains~ LOL
So glad to see it's a universal problem. ~
((hugs)) Mechelle

Anonymous said...

Give Shane a break,afterall,isn't he the one that usually empties the garbages...that is when he is home.

Natalie Jane said...

Fess up, who wrote that last comment....Mary, Mom???

And no, I take out the garbage now. I'm not really sure how that happened....

Barbara said...

My hubby has this annoying habit of leaving empty glasses NEXT TO the sink, never IN the sink. Dishwasher is totally out of the question. After 19 years I should just give up, but I am still trying. ( I am Kristi's neighbor)

Gilbert Family said...

my biggest "hubby petpeeve" is the fact that I have to ASK for certain things like that are so obvious to me, for example...getting ready for church. I can be running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get everyone ready and he is taking a 20 minute shower and whistling his favorite tune...ARGH, that drives me CRAZY!!

April said...

look what you've started Natalie...

maybe you should start a blog exclusively for wives- so they can have a place to vent out their little marriage frustrations- and we could all have fake sign on names so it would be totally safe...ok I'm kidding-

but seriously what is up with that annonymous comment- I thought it was Emily for a second-

Anonymous said...

The trouble I see with where he leaves stuff is that he covers up that ADORABLE collender on the counter.

Natalie Jane said...

Thank you. I am quite enamored with it myself. Maybe I will put a photo of it on my side bar....when I find my camera again....

alotalot said...

I'll trade your random empty cartons for my husband's PANTS on the dining room chairs. :)

Her Shabbyness: Sweet 'n Southern said...

My husband does the EXACT same thing. Although, at our house, it is often empty boxes as well. As in, an empty box of oatmeal packets or something like that...It just gets left in the cupboard and then when I go to the store, I don't buy oatmeal, because I checked and there was a box.... Ok, so, I kinda of ranted there a bit. Whoops

simply kris said...

Natalie! I can't come up with one grievance in particular at the moment, but I do know that he hates it when I don't clear the countdown on the Nuker if I stop it early. And it bugs me that he picks at me about it all the time!
Oh wait. He eats out of packages, bags and boxes IN the pantry. AND-he leaves the mayo, condiments etc. on the counter forEvah. He says it's because he Might want to come back for seconds. (We're talking an HOUR later.) Wow. That felt good.

simply kris said...

Oh yah. I have a giveaway on MY blog.... not Saying It Simply. Just FYI.

simply kris said...

just sent you an email example for a paisley lane sign. it's rough. but i won't give up.

Are You Serious! said...

♥ My husband does the same stuff and what really irks me is when he put flipping garbage (ie wrappers, paper towel or other retarded stuff) In the SINK!!! WHAT THE???? That's just one! Luckily I haven't had to worry about that in the last 2 months since we don't have a house yet! :)

Are You Serious! said...

♥ The comment on getting ready for church that's ANOTHER one for me too!!! I tell my hubby that he primps more than I DO!!! There is just something wrong with that and I have to get ALLLLL the kids ready! WHAT'S up with THAT! :)

beth said...

Come on. What is better than putting moldy bread back in the cabinet and after I eat a piece, then he tells me that it was moldy. NICE! That and everything else is annoying but we still love them ANYWAY!

Melonie said...

My husband leaves food on his fork when he is done with it. I don't know why this bothers me so much but most of the time it dries on there and then I have scrub it off, cause you know the dishwasher isn't going to get it. I know it is a little thing and I do it cause I love him, but come on. Just put the fork in your mouth and clean it off when you are done. Is this too weird?

xcdenke said...

OMG, Xander does the same thing!! He'll open something and leave the wrapper on the counter when the garbage is right under the sink. UGH! The other thing is his dirty socks. Every night when we're chilling, he takes his socks off and leaves them wherever. Does he pick them up? NO! I do, everyday of my life. Ahhh... thank goodness I love him SOOOOOO much!
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