It bears repeating

The kids are sleeping late this morning and something has been on my mind a lot in the hours before I fall asleep each night. Maybe if I put it out there, I'll feel better.

A few months ago I made a simple little image that became popular on pinterest. It's my most viewed post ever. I'm glad people have liked it, but I made it mostly for me. 

I need to hear it over and over again.

 The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes to everyone else's highlight reel. Steven Furtick

Does anyone else feel like they are beating themselves up for just being ok or even good at a lot of things, and not "great" at anything? It seems like the women around me are successful in so many facets of their lives, and I worry about my failings. Why does it seem like women today are supposed to be so completely well rounded, when men are expected to focus and specialize.

Is it like this mainly for mothers because we can't just specialize in our career? We have to be juggling so much, yet we want to be wonderful at them all. At least it feels that way to me. 

I'm a decent photographer, but I'm not as good as I should be for how long I've been doing it.

I'm a good mom, but struggle with the stamina to really be present like I should.

I'm a okay blogger, but I don't put the effort in that would make it spectacular.

I have style, but most of the time I'm found wearing a hoodie and jeans.

I've traveled, but my passport has been expired for a few years now.

I'm relatively frugal, but still find ways to spend more than I should.

I like to write, but I don't have to ability to make it into a career.

My house is coming together, but nothing to make magazines.

I'm a good friend, but too shy to really put myself out there. 

I'm musical, but haven't played for people since college.

I'm spiritual, but I've fallen into a rut of complacency. 

I can cook alright, but nothing to write home about.

My house is tidy, but only the parts people see.

I'm a good wife, but I could do so much better.

I'm attractive, but not winning any contests.

I never would have dreamed that as an adult, the thing I would worry about with such intensity, 

was mediocrity. 

Madeline Themed Playhouse

It all started while I was reading "Madeline" to Lydia. The book dropped and she went to grab it. The cover ended up ripping in half. I thought it was sad that such a pretty cover was ruined. So yellow, gray and black. Within about 10 seconds I had a plan to use that pretty ruined cover.

I've had this cardboard playhouse in a box for 2 years, just waiting to be put together. 

I had extra yellow paint from our guest bathroom. Lots of black and white scrapbook paper.

After a few late nights......

We have this.

I cut lots of triangles out of different black and white paper and hung them like a bunting. 

They are glued down, so you don't actually have to bother with making anything from fabric. 

The window shades are covered with velvety paper to give them a little texture. 

It seemed the French thing to do.

I used Modge Podge for all my glueing. That "sky light" window at the top is decorated with lots of black velvet stickers against the yellow paint. I modge podged over them to make sure they sticked.

The bird pillow was made by Nikki at Nature's Heirloom. 

 The other two pillows were Hobby Lobby clearance.

You can see part of the ruined Madeline cover on the door. I glued it to a nice basic background paper. Don't you just love those 12 little girls in two straight lines?

We've already spent lots of time reading in this cheery little hideaway. I think my love of yellow is spreading to my daughter. (She still likes pink most of all though.)

Ah Madeline,  tu es la douceur même.

See who I'm linking up with here.

Don't forget to enter to win some brownies!

The best photos ever

A couple weeks ago I showed you this sneak peek of a mini session I had with Randi from m Photo. It was the only shot I had seen. Then I got the rest of the images and I am dying over them. Dying! I want an entire wall of my house to be covered with them. I always wondered if I thought my kids were the cutest in the world because they were mine and that's just what moms think about their kids. But no. I'm pretty sure they are the cutest ever.

Look at that fist full of cheek!

Got this cute clip from Petunia Blooms.  Bowtie from Gloria Jane.

They don't get these blue eyes from me.

But the curls, I can claim.

That and the attitude.

Oh my gosh, he is SOOOO darling!

And she is just so lovely.

Did I mention these were taken with film? Look close and you can tell.

I did crop them a bit for blogging purpose.

(Randi usually takes digital for sessions. Just FYI.)

See the candy? I told you, it's the key.

I had no plans of being in any photos, but for the last minute of shooting, I jumped in. 

Good thing I actually put on makeup this day.

HOW do I choose which ones to frame???

I can't. I'll have to frame them all.

Thank you thank you thank you Randi from Randi M Photography!

Spokane WA sessions also available. 

Oh I'm so excited! I totally forgot about folding a huge basket of laundry last week. I didn't find it until today, right before I started this week's laundry. What does that mean??? Oh yes, a laundry party! So many clothes to fold it becomes an epic event. This little pile photographed doesn't even include whites and towels!

Tell me. You can admit it.

You so want to be me.

Instagram Easter - 9:45pm

Wow, I'm tired. I love holidays, but it's exhausting. The early morning was spent finishing Easter baskets and getting everyone's church outfits ready. I could have done it last night, but Shane and I finally went to see "The Hunger Games". Oh my gosh SOOOO good! Can't wait to see it again. 

No photos of us before church. We barely made it on time as it was. And the kids were crying anyway. Fighting over some crappy toy that neither of them had ever noticed before. 

Isn't it always that way?

Besides, I got the kids professional photos done in their outfits. That's plenty.

But I did get this one of me in my new Easter apron. Thanks mom! 

I made sure to wear something yellow with my Easter wares.

Aren't my nails pretty? I tried the "gel manicure" this time. It's been over a week and they still look like the day I got them done. Totally worth the extra cost. 

Of course, I can say that since I only get a manicure a few times a year.

After church, Shane took a nap (it was his turn) and I started on dinner. A huge ham with all fixings. We ate maybe 7% of it. Whipped up a Pineapple Upside-down Cake. Usually I don't like that dessert, but Shane asked for it. I had a fresh pineapple from bountiful baskets so I thought I'd try it one last time.

So, not the prettiest dessert I've ever made, but it was actually delicious. 

I used this very simple recipe and I highly recommend it.

And the fresh pineapple made all the difference.

We had simple flowers for the table...

the kitchen....

and in the living room. 

Had the bunting and potted flowers up for a baby shower I threw on Friday. They looked so nice, I kept them up. More on the shower later.

After dinner, we finally got around to coloring eggs. Well, Shane and the kids did.

 I had a project to finish.....

My Easter Origami! I love how these egg holders turned out. Not that I will ever (ever) attempt this paper art again, but now that they are done, I like them quite a bit.

Hope your Easter was wonderful.

If you want to follow me on instagram, it's natssentiments. 

Not sure the point of it for social networking, but it's sure fun to play around with. 

And after a day like today,

 I need something fun I can accomplish without leaving the comfort of my bed.

And isn't that the whole point of mommy blogging?

From my little family to yours

A couple days ago I took Collin to an Easter Egg Hunt while Lydia was in school. 

It was a beautiful, windy day. 

I turned to find Collin standing with his mouth wide open and his eyes closed. 

I asked what he was doing. 

He said "tasting the sky". 

card by Minted, photos by M photo
kids made by me

Easter Breakfast

While holiday dinners are always a big ta-do, I personally love holiday breakfasts. 

So easy to make them extra special.

Just add a pressed table cloth and fresh flowers...

something baked with a bit of color (even if it's just from a box)

Lydia picked out the decorations.

Creamy yogurt served in a white dish alongside fresh fruit.

Finish it off with your nice china and cloth napkins. 

Just a few extra steps to make a simple breakfast into something lovely.

The kind of post that happens when I'm laying in bed next to Shane and he's reading and I might as well blog, even though I don't really have anything to blog about.

In case you were wondering after my last post, I did manage to pull together some motivation and had two very successful days. I woke up on Wednesday morning exhausted, so I gave the kids a box of golden graham cereal with sippy cups of milk (almond milk for Collin), turned on cartoons and went back to bed. After an hour, give or take, I felt great. Came in to find it had actually snowed golden grahams all over the living room. Of course I had totally expected that. And now I had motivation to vacuum!

After that I took the kids to the gym and I ran. (check) Played with kids in the rain. (check) Did laundry. (check) Did some service and prepared my talk for church. (check, check) I even figured out some of that Easter origami that I was wasting so much time on. Bonus!

Can you tell Shane was out of town? I get so much done when he isn't around to distract me with his manly nature.

Some things I'm excited about.....

General Conference this weekend! - 

It's the time when the leaders of the Mormon church speak and it's wonderful. 

Root Beer Slurpees. Have you tried these things? Taste just like Root Beer floats! 

(They have them at Fast Edy's in Boise -  FYI)

Shane has started texting his clothing choices to me to make sure he looks right for the particular occasion. Which means, of course, I've succeeded in life. 

He is just 6 feet of scrumptious, I'll tell you what.

Found this old collage in a box while I was at my parents. 

It made me laugh and laugh and laugh some more. Ah, high school.

Don't I look so sexy with my hand running through my hair? 

How did anyone resist me, that's what I want to know?

See that prom pic? Two HOURS of curling my hair with a tiny curling iron. 

Yikes. 

And Randi, are those really the clothes we chose for traveling in Europe?

Head to toe denim and high waisted khakis. Are those socks with my Birkenstocks? Surely not.

I mean, it was the grunge era and we were from Washington, but really, had I no dignity? 

Well, I say that, but then I look at the fashion choices I've made more recently and I may not have changed so much. Really Natalie, yellow nails?

Getting a manicure this weekend. Totally forgot about celebrating my birthing day in January!

Lots of celebrating in our house...

Collin pooped in the potty! Woot woot!

(potty chart here)

So proud of our big boy!

And the huge news in our family is the edition of a niece last week!

My sister Abby went into labor while watching the Hunger Games, and soon after gave birth to little Katniss!

Just kidding, they named her Lexi Michelle. 

AND 

I can't believe I didn't mention the birth of my sister Emily's son, Grant Stephen, born Feb 2!

Congrats!!!!!!

Oh dear. I may just need to get me one of those. I just don't think 2 kids is going to cut it for me.

Ok. That was a lot more blogging that I had previously planned on.

Shane's been asleep for 30 minutes.

nite nite.

Simple Bathroom Wall

12:00 AM Wednesday. Can't sleep.

Oh man I'm unmotivated lately. Really, really unmotivated. Is there a pill for that? 

Actually I'm sure there is, but it's probably not a good idea to take it.

 I pretty much did paperwork tonight and ignored the massive to-do list I put together earlier.

And when I say paperwork, I mean I put the kids to bed, paid two bills and spent over an hour trying to do some Easter origami. There is a lot of colored paper in the trash.

It was this weekend I found myself slightly more motivated and I started looking for a house project.

One that look minimal effort and expense. I did say "slightly" more motivated.

The half bath needed the most attention as it was completely bare.

I had the (I think) brilliant idea to frame photos from an Etsy desk calendar.

They are all over the place on Etsy for under $20 and for 12 frame-able photos, that's a bargain.

Search for Photo Desk Calendars.

I got the frames at Hobby Lobby (always 50% it seems). 

Use a level to get them just right. 

(or a husband with a level in my case.)

Easy peasy.

Except for the shot of my Chattanooga home, which I photographed, my prints came from Amelia Kay Photography, but there aren't any more calendars in stock. I made a list of other shops below.

I know the photos of the bathroom aren't great, but I took them tonight with bad lighting and I didn't want to take them again. Remember...unmotivated.

Now on to the rest of the house. I'll keep you updated.

Some desk calendars I like:

shannon blue

alice b gardens

circe creations

lori a mckee

my beach wishes

jude mcconkey

the shutterbug eye

jessa mae

If you want to splurge - grab this set from Eye Poetry. Just perfect.

***

Tomorrow is going to be great. I'm going to be so motivated, I will start of load of laundry that includes running clothes worn that morning, my kids will take great naps just because I exhausted them will all my focused playtime, and there will be a pattern in my vacuum tracks. 

I mean it. 

Seriously, I'm confident it's happening.

well, slightly confident.