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.

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-

AUGUST 20, 2008 3:30 PM 

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.

AUGUST 20, 2008 3:44 PM 

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!!!

AUGUST 20, 2008 7:27 PM 

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

AUGUST 20, 2008 7:56 PM 

Anonymous said...

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

AUGUST 20, 2008 9:13 PM 

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....

AUGUST 20, 2008 9:37 PM 

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)

AUGUST 20, 2008 9:56 PM 

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!!

AUGUST 21, 2008 11:59 AM 

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-

AUGUST 21, 2008 12:41 PM 

Anonymous said...

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

AUGUST 21, 2008 1:04 PM 

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....

AUGUST 21, 2008 1:28 PM 

alotalot said...

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

AUGUST 21, 2008 3:49 PM 

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

AUGUST 21, 2008 5:03 PM 

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.

AUGUST 21, 2008 8:14 PM 

simply kris said...

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

AUGUST 21, 2008 8:14 PM 

simply kris said...

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

AUGUST 21, 2008 8:57 PM 

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! :)

AUGUST 21, 2008 10:50 PM 

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! :)

AUGUST 21, 2008 10:54 PM 

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!

AUGUST 24, 2008 2:37 PM 

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?

AUGUST 27, 2008 12:21 AM 

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!

AUGUST 27, 2008 12:51 AM 

I got the best "early" birthday gift ever!!! Read all about it over in "Natalie's Essays".

Hair Jewels

After reading Grace Violet's blog about making hair clips from scrapbooking
brads, it took me all of 3 minutes to get my daughter into the car and off to the store to buy supplies. By the next morning I had finished over a dozen adorable clips of my very own. (If you don't want to go to all the trouble of making them yourself, I noticed that Bowhead is soon to get some similar clips in stock. )

While my daughter was sporting these funky hair accessories, I was thinking about how to implement this basic idea into a new line for Paisley Lane. Then it came to me: my collection of vintage brooches would be the most stunning hair jewelry. I've been saving them until I came up with the perfect use. Now I'm totally smitten. They're perfect for any dressy setting, but I'm loving them for the wedding scene. The "something old" for the bridal ensemble perhapes...

I love the idea of turning an heirloom into something modern and chic. I have one piece set aside for me to wear to the formal Christmas party we go to every year.

*

I have added a few of these beauties to my esty store and will be adding more in the next few months. If you would like to transform some of your own brooches, it really couldn't be easier. I bought a selection of several types of bobby pins and clips from craft stores and Target. Depending on the weight of the brooch, some may require a more substantial clip.
I attached the brooches to their clips using E6000 Industrial strength craft adhesive. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area while using this glue. I covered the entire pin of the brooch with the glue so that there was no chance of the pin coming loose. This also allows the pin to lie softly against the head and is useful in avoiding hair snags. Let it dry overnight. To display, find a vintage tea cup and saucer, fill with uncooked white rice and arrange like a bouquet. This would be a fantastic gift for a birthday, Mother's day, bridal shower, etc. Email me if you have any questions.

Drama Queen

Seriously, sometimes it is hard to keep up with this chick.

P.S. The video quality is really bad on this. It is actually a video of a video playing on my computer screen. Blogger wouldn't download the original copy. Annoying....

Potty Training Bribes

In case you are wondering, she only got a present for the first time she went, since it was such a big deal. Of course, it has ended up being the ONLY time also. She was so afraid of what ended up in her potty chair that she hid in her dark closet until Shane was able to convince her that the poop wasn't scary. Now she won't go near that chair. Potty Training is super fun.

Go USA!

In honor of the Olympics...