He Stole my Heart so I'm stealing his last name!

I am not the original author of that title, I stole if from a friend who is getting married to an awesome guy in September 2012.

We are getting married. He proposed on October 13th by slipping the ring on my finger while I was asleep. Tell me that isn't adorable (remember Time Travelers Wife).
We are still undecided on the date but it's going to be soon. We are undecided on the guest list because it seems like we can't trim it down to a necessary number.
I have been waiting to plan this for so long and now that I'm able to I'm totally freaking out. I hoped I would be a calm cool and collected bride but I have no idea where to start.


More to come soon. Including inspiration boards and such.

Ring is personal photo. 

The Kitties

Now, in this post, I am going to seem like a total crazy cat lady. But I'm not. I promise.

My first cat actually is my first cat. Simon James is a fat beautiful baby that I have had since November 2001. I was eleven. This cat has been my baby since I was a baby. His nicknames include: Simey, Timey, Fat Squishey, Lord Tubbington, Sigh, and Kittypotomus, He loves the outdoors but while outdoors he is usually sprawled out in the sun somewhere. Otherwise he is on a couch hogging your spot or on the bed hogging your spot. He will snake your couch space in the time it takes you to get a glass of water. Also, he is very smart and even spiteful at times. He likes to drink out of the sink faucet and no where else. If we don't turn on the faucet for him he will whine (which for him sounds like a little moan, he doesn't have a real meow). If we kick him off the bed too much or are gone for too long, he will poop on the floor. This cat weighs nineteen (19!) pounds. He's looking at me as I type this... Don't try to give me advice about "oh you should put him on a diet". Because it doesn't work. Simon eats Royal Canin Light Indoor food and it does nothing. But it was a big step up from meow mix. Simon is the cuddliest, loviest cat ever. All he wants to do is have a good cuddle while your taking a nap on the couch or sleeping in bed.

Our second "child" is Aunichee Rose. She usually goes by Neech or Peach though. Greg got her when she was just a tiny little kitten back in 2004. Neech can be a little prickly but only because she likes to be loved on her terms. As soon as you sit down, Neech will want to curl up in perfect kitty position to sleep. But move an inch and she will spaz out and run away. Weird sweet little kitty. She has a beautiful coat and always looks like she's posing to be in Cat Fancy. She is also very tiny and light. A perfect black haired little model. She always sleeps next to me and her favorite thing is being chased by Riley and then hissing at him when he catches her.

And now for Riley Trace. Riley often goes by Ry-roo, Roo, Rye, Little Dude, Punk-Ass Kid, etc. We got him in September 2010 when he was just a kitten. We went into the pet store in the mall and Greg wants to hold the kitten. Greg then says, "we have to get him." I told him no, that we already have two other cats. And he says, "just hold him." And then it was all over. Riley was sick however from the time that we got him. He slept all the time and had diarrhea. Four or five days after we got him, he started throwing up, wouldn't eat and wouldn't drink. His condition deteriorated quickly and he wobbled when he tried to stand, he was listless and cold. Greg stayed up all night watching to see if his chest was moving. In the morning we rushed him to the hospital. The doctor took a look at him. He weighed only 1.6 pounds and his temperature was 93 (cats are supposed to be at least 102). The doctor told us that he was very sick and that there was a chance we could lose him. We were already so attached to this little ball of black and white fuzz. After two nights in the hospital and heated IV fluids, he was able to come home. On a special diet of canned wet food he gained weight and did better.
Now he is an 8 pound fully grown cat, although he still hasn't matured. This was not the lethargic sleepy little kitten we bought at the pet store. He is a wild ball of energy. Bouncing off walls and finding something to mess up no matter what. He is a whiner and thinks he's tough but is too scared to be outside without mommy or daddy or Simon. Total third child.

So now I'm sure you think I'm a crazy cat lady who mutters to herself and smells like cat pee on a bus but I'm not. Somehow, we keep the house clean and pee-free even though sometimes I feel like I have to follow Riley around with a vacuum.

Greg and I love our kitties. Although it would be nice to have a bigger place for them. But more on that another time.

Haven't Posted in Awhile

This year will be a year of blogging. I have plenty to blog about. I am very much in love and I have a home. Greg and I have three kids (they are fuzzy kids that meow and poop in a litter box). We are both working extremely flexible hours that give us time together. I really do feel good with who I am and where I am in life. I have a good trajectory and I have plenty of things I still want to do. I am very blessed and I will try to count my blessings on this blog as often as possible. Don't get me wrong, I have some things that are still in process in my life but I am grateful for the opportunity to grow.

For a long time in my adolescence, I always felt like I was gripping a carpet that was about to be ripped out from under me. Nothing in my life was certain from the time I was fifteen. Through high school I survived and worked to hold my head high. In college, I was finally able to let loose and have a bit of a wild streak. I made mistakes and things that I wish I hadn't done but definitely nothing life altering. In fact, I forged some incredible friendships with some pretty awesome ladies. I feel as though I got the full college experience and while I do miss it, I probably wouldn't go back.

Though I didn't know it at the time, I emotionally prepared myself for meeting Greg just before I met him. I made a conscious decision that I would not waste my time with people who did not make me feel good. And I would stop apologizing for my needs and who I am. I still felt like I was standing on a rug about to be ripped away but now I was accepting that fact and ready to go on without my rug.

And then, as if on cue, Greg walked on in. "My soul saw you and kind of said, "Oh there you are. I've been looking for you."  The rug was suddenly there, and a floor, and a foundation and walls and a ceiling and roof. Someone shook up the puzzle that was my life, and when it was dumped onto the ground it was all put together just as it was supposed to. For the first few months we dated, every time I saw him, I would just lean against him and breath. Like I couldn't breath anywhere but next to him.

The universe knew I needed him. Of course I suppose I could have gone along in my life without him, never knowing him. I'm sure I would have been okay but there is no way to know where I would be right now. I do know that it wouldn't be as great as where I am now.

So here is to love and life and the tiny moments that make Mondays and shots and toe stubbings worth it.
Here is to my three fuzzy babies, Simon, Neech and Riley.
Here is to my great friends even though I'm not the greatest at keeping in touch ( I'll work on it I promise)
And here's to my family which feels as though it grows every day.
And also to my love Greg. May I always strive to be my greatest so that we can work together as our best.

The Apron

I have been kind of slacking on the whole blogging thing but I am working 40 hours a week and trying to get over a cold so i think it's justified. I haven't however, been slacking at sewing and being artistic.

This is the fabric I bought for the apron and the pattern. I decided to make view C.  And this is the finished product! Greg definitely likes it. :)

Greg and Natalie

     On August 4th, I woke up and for some unknown reason, I decided to curl my hair and wear makeup to work. Since it was HOT, i usually didn't dress up for work since I was usually a sweaty foody mess by the end of the day. But for some reason I wanted to look really good that day. It was my last week of work before heading back to U of I for sorority recruitment work week. I worked at Spud's, a great restaurant with a deck over the water in my hometown. I loved working there in the summers.

     That day, at almost the end of the work day, FH (future husband), and his family came into their favorite restaurant, Spud's. The second he walked in I thought "wow, he is gorgeous!". Now, on my left ring finger, I always wear a ring given to me by my mom. FFIL(future father in law) walked up to the counter and asked, "So do you have kids?" Me: "umm, no." FFIL: "Well are you married?" Me: "No." FFIL: "Well whats that ring for then? You're scarin' all the boys away." I laughed and replied, "maybe that's my plan."

    The only thing FH said to me that day was, "I'll have the half chicken and American Potato, no sour cream."

    FH would tell me later that the second he saw me, he thought, "Oh S#!$, she's important." But then was too scared to talk to me. After they finished eating, they circled in the marina in their boat while FH decided if he should come ask me out or not. By the time he came back to ask me out, I had already left for the day. It might've been the last time we ever saw each other, if it wasn't for God and N.R.

     I was so excited to tell my mom about the hot guy FH who came into work that day, I even wrote on my facebook, "I hope he comes back in tomorrow." But he wouldn't come for the rest of the week.

Two days later on Thursday the 6th, while I was at work I got a text from my friend and neighbor, N.R.. He told me about a really cool guy who met me at Spud's and thought i was the greatest thing ever. After jumping up and down and doing a bit of a dance, I continued texting him about it, getting the low down on this guy named FH. Apparently, FH's family had a cabin on the lake next to NR's cabin and they had known each other for years. After FH was telling NR about me, NR told him he would text me.
    An hour and a half later, I would be out at the cabins to meet FH again. That night, I had dinner with his family, got to know him better, held hands through dinner, and kissed in the laundry room. I ended up staying the night there and then for the rest of the days I had, we were inseparable. He took me to dinner the last night before I left and asked me to be his girlfriend. It is cliche to say it was love at first sight but this was pretty darn close.
     Three weeks later, after work week and recruitment, I went to see him in Missoula for the first time. Although we had talked every night for at least two hours, I was still pretty anxious about seeing him again. But once I saw him, I melted into him and was finally home. For the rest of the semester, I drove four hours, every weekend to see him. It was terribly romantic and absolutely perfect. Then in December I packed my car up for the last time and drove to Missoula. We spent Christmas with his family and New Years with mine.

FH and I have been through hard times and great times and have had our share of fights, but we always come out better on the other side. I love this man more than anything and can't imagine life without him. He is wildly intelligent, funny, cute, sweet, romantic, handsome (okay i'll stop). Everything with him happened fast, and I don't regret any part of it. Believe me, love does exist and it is without a doubt worth every lousy boyfriend, broken heart, and asshole you have to go through to get to it.

Love is all you need...

What this blog is all about.

This is my first and only blog and let me tell you, I am excited about it. Stephanie Campbell was the one who really turned me on to the blogging. Her blog is "Cheers to Mediocrity" if you want to check it out. In this blog, I will recount the small goings-ons of my cute little life. I am big into sewing, crafting, and painting so there will be lots of posts about my various projects. Also, since I am new at the Housewife business, I may post pictures of meals I am proud of.
A little bit about me: I grew up in Sandpoint, ID, a great little town next to a beautiful lake. I was spoiled to grow up in such a great spot. My mom and little sister, Alex still live there. I was homeschooled for 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade then I went to a private school, charter school and finally, Sandpoint High School. My mom did a great job at homeschooling my sister and I and I plan on homeschooling my kids as well. I graduated in 2008 and then I went to college for 1.5 years at University of Idaho and was in the Alpha Gamma Delta womens fraternity there. I met a lot of amazing girls, including Stephanie, while i was living there and i know i will be friends with those women for the rest of my life.
Summer 2009, I met the love of my life, Gregory. From the minute we met, it was absolutely perfect. I will detail our first meeting in another post. At semester, I moved to Missoula, MT to be with him. That is where I am now, learning how to cook, clean, and take care of a man (before Greg, i could barely make Mac n' Cheese from a box). I have a good job, great family and friends, and lots and lots of love and abundance.

This blog will only discuss the positive things that I am happy about. I will use it to count and recount my blessings. I hope you enjoy!