I Will Not Miss 2013

I woke up this morning to numerous bloggers posting recaps of 2013, their year in photos, posting about all the happy memories in the past 365 days. I'll be honest. 2013 was a sucky year from my point of view. It was a year full of battle, a year of chemo, radiation, and 3 surgeries that my mom had to endure, a year that involved moving twice in one year, a year where we almost lost our house to foreclosure, a year of losing 2 grandparents, and a year of losing my closest friends.

But it was also a year where my mom fought for her life and tremendously came out the other side cancer free, It was a year of adventure for my family and I moving to a new house, It was a year we thankfully sold my childhood home to wonderful people, it was a year where 2 of my grandparents got to meet Jesus, a year of making new friends, a year where I started doing something I absolutely love: blogging, a year where I found the college I want to attend, and it's been a year where I've grown closer to my loved ones.

I'm not complaining, I'm simply stating, that my family and I are happily waving goodbye to this hell of a year. But as I always say, everything happens for a reason. And I truly believe I would not be who I am, and I would not have the great relationships with my family members that I do now, If we hadn't gone through a little bit of a struggle first. I believe God gives us only as much as He knows we can take. Which is why I hope He blesses us with an easier upcoming year.

Happy New Years Eve everyone. Be safe and have fun tonight celebrating the end of a happy or sad year, whichever it may be. I know we will be raising a glass to a new year!

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

Natalie's Style

Sweater & Pants: Ideeli

Shirt: Anthropologie 

Shoes: Jack Rogers

Newly Camera Obsessed: Photo Journal #1

Hi! I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!! For Christmas I got a Panasonic Lumxi DMC GF5 Camera. I wanted to upgrade from just a point and shoot camera. I LOVE this camera. I've only owned it for 72 hours and I can't seem to put it down. I've always loved photography so I'm ecstatic to dive deeper into the hobby and see where it takes me. I can't wait to share more and more photography on here as well! If you're in the market for a small, compact DSLR camera, and are looking to get more in depth in photography and want more than just a point and shoot, definitely consider this camera! Here are a few practice snap shots I've taken around the house during the past few {first days} of owning this baby.

Not only am I obsessed with my camera, but also obsessed with this cutie, my little brother Connor {who got a hold of some pretty pink eye shadow on Christmas day}.

What was one of your favorite Christmas gifts you received this year?

That Holiday Mood

There's something incredible about the holidays that makes everyone happier, friendlier, and a bit brighter. It's the magic of the season, and in my opinion one of the best parts of the holidays. Maybe people are happy about the crisp & cool weather, the gifts to come, or all the twinkling lights. But whatever it is I swear, something that's in the holiday air shifts everyone's moods completely.

The other day I was in line to buy OJ and the store I was at had one of those reward programs where you earn stamps on a card for every purchase you make, and if you buy 12 items {and therefore get 12 stamps} you get a free item! So I was standing in line to get {the best ever} OJ and the lady behind me said "Here, take my 12 stamps and get that OJ for free. Merry Christmas!" I was so taken aback by the act of kindness, I didn't really know what to say, except for thank you. You really don't come across pure kindness like that everyday. 

I don't know, maybe I'm just crazy! But I just feel like people in general act differently {in a good way} around the holidays. Strangers hold doors open a little bit longer, smile a little sweeter, and say "hi" or "have a great day" a little more often.

  

Have you noticed that holiday mood I'm talking about?

My challenge for you: even if its something big or small, share the love this season and do a random act of kindness for a complete stranger!

The Downside of Having Curly Hair

You may envy people with curly hair and think their life is a magical fairy tale due to having tons and tons of bouncy ringlets in their hair. Ok I admit, I love my hair. It makes me unique! Its how people pick me out in a crowd. But it does come with some negatives. You may think I'm kidding or over exaggerating about the annoyances I'm about to list, but I'm not. 

Soooo I kind sorta may have a problem with touching, twisting, and playing with my hair. Its just so fun finding that perfectly formed ringlet among the forest on my head and then twisting it around my finger as tight as it'll go without messing up the curl. It's a bored habit I've picked up at school that's turned into a game to find the perfect curl of the day.

Well other people can't keep their hands off of it either, someone in particular has uninvitingly joined this game of mine of finding the best curl of the day. This person who sits behind me in class has decided its soooo fun to play with my hair constantly. What I thought was just an odd one day thing, has turned into an everyday thing. -__-

After asking for them to stop multiple times, the annoyance still continues. To try to get the message across even further, I'll sit at the edge of my seat or lean forward to get my hair out of their hands, and instead of them releasing my hair like a normal person they actually grab my hair and pull my head back. Not only does this unnamed person twist and touch my hair (ewww) but they give me a headache in the process.

Having curly hair doesn't sound sound all that great now, does it? (It's not that terrible, I promise!)

Do you love it or hate it when people play with your hair?

Ombre

Yea yea I know, I'm about 6 months too late for this trend that's already come and gone. I couldn't decide if I liked it then, but I've decided now that I'm only a big fan of it when It's an ombred jean material or as a hair style. 

I picked up this button down while garage saleing this past weekend for a dolla! You can't beat that!

And it's a brand I know and love, the Xihlaration brand from Target! (aka heaven)

I love how its a bigger size so that way I can wear it with leggings, instead of having to go though the huge effort of putting jeans on at 6 am. (plus jean on jean? Not my favorite look) 

Happy Wednesday everyone, we're half way through the week!!!

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway HERE if you haven't already!

Top: Target

Leggings: VS Pink

Boots: F21

 Even the lake looked ombre, how fitting :)

 For all the people at school today who said I looked like a hipster, this picture

is for you. Peace out homies:-)

Are you an ombre fan or not so much?

A Christmas Movie

I watch a lot of movies, there's just something I love about them. It almost like a 2 hour escape that makes you forget about all the craziness going on. 

Today, while wrapping presents and decorating the tree, we turned on the Hallmark Channel to watch what we thought would be a sappy and cheesy Christmas movie, like 99% of all the Hallmark movies. But I was happily proven wrong when the movie "Christmas in Conway" started playing, it's apart of that 1% of Hallmark movies that actually aren't cheesy. I haven't done any posts on movies before because I'm not a movie critic and If someone wanted to read a movie review they would just Google it or ask Siri what she thought about the movie. But there was just something about this movie that was so special! My mom and I could not stop tearing up through out the whole thing. It is by farrrrr one of the best Christmas movie I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. What was refreshing about it was that It wasn't cheesy and all Christmasy, and about some dumb romance story where 2 people fall in love while frolicking in the snow. It was real, and sad, and so sweet! I would watch it any time of the year! And my girl Mandy Moore is in it {whose characters name is Natalie;}!

Go watch it on the Hallmark channel and let me know what you think!

What is your favorite Christmas movie? 

Guest Post + Giveaway + TBT

Hi everyone! You may of noticed it's been a little quiet around here, I have a valid excuse as to why!! I've been busy behind the scenes working with Amber, who runs the blog My Life In High Heels.

She has been kind enough to let me do a guest post AND a giveaway on her blog all at the same time! It is my first time doing both so I'm super excited for everyone to go check it out and enter to win

a gorgeous Silpada necklace!

Guest Post and Giveaway here

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So Last week I came across an unnamed file on my laptop, naturally I got a little curious as to what the contents were. The file contained pictures I took when my family and I were vacationing in the Bahamas in January of 2012. We went for my dads 50th birthday (shhh, don't tell him I told you that) and we had an absolute blast! I didn't include mushy gushy family photos, but I did include the pretty ones. Feast your eyes on the crystal blue waters, white sand beaches, tropical flowers and unbelievable scenery of Grand Bahama Island.

What is one of the most breathtaking places you've traveled to??