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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Followers Fest

October Followers Fest!!
What an amazing thing these lovely ladies are doing!! Thank you Casey, Danielle, Ilene & Jess!

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I am very excited to meet new people! Please leave me a comment and I will hop over to your blog and check it out!

Want to know a little about me?

I am a child of God
I am happily married to my best friend!
We have one son and can't wait for God to bless us with another!
Both of my parents have 7 brothers & sisters- I would love a big family (maybe not quite that big)
I grew up in Amish country
I really dislike elevators
I love string cheese but I am not usually patient enough to string the whole thing
I am not a big risk taker but would like to become more of one
I finally too a leap and opened an etsy shop this summer. :)

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and see what Nat's Knapsack is about!

Looking forward to meeting YOU!




NEW

What a great day! I was able to spend time with my little family AND get some work done!
I have finally updated my blog, colors and banner!


As well as create some
NEW Stamped Pieces!

Fabulous Flowers

Hope you Love them!

What did you do this lovely Saturday??


(and I made this new button)

Great Tip

There are SO many wonderful bloggers out there and I hope to some day have the time to get to know everyone better! I ran across this great tip after going through a few awesome blogs.  I started out at The Wiegand's, then to Jolinda's blog and landed at Story of My Life. All such great ladies! Honestly I want to read every post of every blog but I know I just don't have that much time. :) I will find some me time to catch up and get to know more about all of YOU! That is one of the biggest reasons I so enjoy blogging! I love meeting new and amazing ladies! I love hearing your story and getting to know what God is doing in your life!
Anyway, my point... Jenni at Story of My Life shared a great tip and I wanted to pass it on.
Check out her TIP, and as Jolinda said- Read and Apply :)


Friday, October 28, 2011

Give Love Spark

Another great Give Love Spark over at La Luce AND a Special guest that has totally captured my heart!! Laura from Splendor! Please go check it out!!


See more about this Spark and the details 

Thank you AGAIN Ashley!



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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Hoo Are You


Hello again! I'm having fun with Hoo Are you- from Night Owl Crafting. She gives out 5 random question so that you might be able to learn some fun things about me and hopefully I can learn the same about you.

I would love to read about yours! Link up here and let me know!

This weeks 5 questions are....

1. Do you like the season, Fall? 
Yes I LOVE it! All the pretty colors and the wonderful fall fashions! 



2. What is your favorite fall smell?
Pumpkin or Apple



3, What is your favorite activity to do in the fall?
I have really enjoyed being outside with my son!



4. Do you dress in fall colors during the season?
I don't. I wish I had more colors to choose from so I could :)



5. Name 4 qualities about yourself that start with each letter in the word FALL!
(It's ok to brag yourself up)  
F-aithful
A-ttentive 
L-ucky
L-ove to laugh



Linking up with



NightOwlCrafting

Monday, October 24, 2011

My Simple Moment

My Simple moment this week was an answer to a simple prayer. You see my dear son has rather wide, chubby feet. We have to fork over big bucks to get him shoes that actually fit. It wasn't a big deal in the summer because he wasn't walking much and it is nice and warm and not much need for shoes. So last weekend we had a family photo shoot and I needed to get my little guy some shoes. Well sadly it wasn't but 4 days later and we lost one!


Luckily I noticed right before we walked out of Meijer so I re-traced my steps. I mean, we were all over the store trying to find this lost shoe. I asked strangers, I asked employees, I asked everyone... everyone but God to help me. 
I went to the customer service desk and left my number in case it was found and we left.
It wasn't til I was in the car that I realized I never asked God to help me find this shoe. You might be thinking, "why would you need to bug God for such a silly thing" but why not? He wants to help us and He wants us to ask, and He actually knows where the shoe is! 
So in the car on the way home I prayed aloud that God would help find this missing shoe. And you know what- HE DID!
A few hours later I received a call and someone had found his shoe! 


There are so many times in my life I go through the day without asking God for help, or I think that "this" or "that" is just too silly or small to ask God for help. 
But I believe nothing is too BIG or too small for God!


Believe it or not- he LOVES this thing!  I couldn't hardly keep him in the cart, but when he sits on it, he looks like this. HAHA




Linking up with

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Guest Post- Ashley from La Luce

I have a great guest today! I am super excited to have Ashley from La Luce here so we can all get to know her better. If you follow my blog you know that I adore her and love her friday LOVE SPARK! She is just amazing and I think you are going to love her too (if you don't already!)

MEET ASHLEY



Hey there! My name is Ashley Marie Wilson and I am an artist, a wife and love living my life for God. I blog about my creative inspirations, adventures, life and love over at La Luce. When Natassia asked me to guest post I was totally honored. She is an amazing warm-hearted woman, and I have just adored that I’ve been able to get to know her better.

Describe yourself in 3 words
I would say that I am….Creative, Faithful, & Determined.

Where do you live?
I live in the Washington DC Area, about 10 minutes outside the city.

What made you start blogging?
I’ve always kept a journal and I always like to save articles, notes, teachings, or pictures I found inspiring. For years I wanted to have a place to not only save it but share it. Back in April God placed the idea of starting a blog in my heart. I was hesitant but realized it would be an amazing outlet creatively and spiritually, so La Luce the blog began.

What do you do to relax?
Spend time with my husband, 
go on random adventures in the city, find a new cool place. I really love doing anything creative. Painting, photography, image editing, and writing are my favorite ways to chill and get what swirls around inside of me out…or just doing absolutely nothing ;)

What makes you smile?
The everyday adventures that come from walking with God, my husband, my friends, and being creatively fulfilled.

What is your guilty pleasure
My guilty pleasures are some of my food and snack choices. Red bull or a Cherry Coke paired with a bag of chips or anything fried… terrible right? but I love it!

Any advise for bloggers and/or shop owners?
Any creative business is a reflection of what’s inside of you. It's easy to become something that you think you should be or be influenced instead of inspired. It's best to find out what YOUR voice is, what YOUR style is, and what YOUR creative talents express, otherwise you will constantly be trying to keep up instead of making a mark. I recently did a career fair for our teens at my church and this was what I shared with them about being a creative entrepreneur.


Favorite item in my shop?
My favorite item personally is probably The Sophia.


It was one of my first pieces and the journey to how it was created was interesting to say the least. It happened totally by accident but created something unique.

Who do you look up to -and/or- Who inspires you?
My Pastors are some of the most amazing, wise and down to earth people I’ve ever known. They have literally made such a huge impact on my life. The wisdom and love that they share is out of this world and they

Something we may not know about you-
I’m super private, very simple, and love to learn new things everyday.

Favorite blogs-
That’s super hard. I’ll do a top 3 (in addition to yours, because that’s an obvious) I have been most personally impacted by or creatively inspired by are: Casey Leigh, Splendor, & A Beautiful Mess. There are so many other amazing blogs and women pouring themselves into those blogs that have truly blessed me and I have such a love for them too.






           Thank you so much Ashley for sharing some about you!

Again- am I not right about how great she is?! I just love her! She is one of the sweetest, most caring people I have ever "met"! I do hope to actually meet her some day!

Ashley has an amazing shop and I am a proud owner of a few of her lovelies!




Thank goodness for these beauty, 
to hide my messy/un-done hair




Get to know more about Ashley HERE

Visit her 
Blog : Shop : Facebook : Twitter

If you haven't already- Go check her out, say hi, and let her know 
Natassia from Nat's Knapsack sent you!


Give Love Spark


Hey everyone!!  Here is your Give Love Spark Challenge 
this week from La Luce 
What a great idea! I know I LOVE my pumpkin Spice Latte :) 

The next time you're out getting coffee, take care of the cup of the person behind you or in front of you. This simple act could change the outlook of their morning, and even the entire way they approach the rest of their day. 

Step out of your comfort zone & BE love.

Ask yourself what you would want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them, for this is the Law... Matthew 7:12 (MSG)



from the blog La Luce


See more about it HERE


Thursday, October 20, 2011

Inspiration Workshop- Accessories!

I am very excited about this weeks Inspiration Workshop over at Gussy Sews'
The prompt for this week is ACCESSORIES!! If you know anything about me, you know I love accessories! I have been blessed and able to open up my very own etsy shop this year where I create some of my own accessories. I love being able to go to my little corner and create something new to go with an outfit, and I absolutely LOVE the wonderful people I have been able to work with and create pieces for!

Here are some pretties from my shop!



Triple Rose (I made this for my mother in law)

*NEW*
I just started these and absolutely LOVE them and have worked with amazing people to come up with the perfect hand-stamped necklace for them!!

And one of my favorites that I LOVE to wear all the time!


A few others you can find here




I just love accessories! I feel like they can make all the difference to an ordinary outfit! 

Stop by my shop and receive 10% off with code
"INSPIRATION"

What is your favorite accessory?

Linking up with

Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Giveaway over at Mamas Like Me

Hey everyone- I am having a giveaway over at Mamas Like Me

She is such a sweet person, and I love her blog.

A little bit about Tina
About me
I am a wife and mother who loves the Lord. I left a career in teaching to stay home with my children, and I am enjoying every minute. I blog about my time at home teaching my children, playing in the kitchen, attempting some DIY, stretching our budget, and generally enjoying the simple things in life!


Stop by and enter to win a $30 Nat's Knapsack shop credit!

Giving it All

So today I wanted to share some things that God has kept putting on my heart this week. Lets be real shall we :)
On monday mornings I am in a ladies Bible Study. Some times it is not always the easiest thing for me to get to with a little one but I always always get some thing from these wonderful ladies.
Tuesday nights we also have a small group Bible Study where there are 5 couples.
Lately it seems that in both Bible Studies, even though we are reading two different, they both tie together some how. This week it was about Giving EVERYTHING over to Jesus! Not just the parts you want to but EVERYTHING.
I think there are times when I thought I gave something over to Him, to find that I truly didn't. I was still trying to do things my way, and let me tell you, my way stinks!  I want to give everything to Him and trust that God's way is far greater than my own.

We had a great discussion on monday about giving everything to Jesus and what that looks like. I feel like a lot of the time it is much easier to say something than to actually follow through.  Some amazing ladies shared their stories and how giving something over to Christ through prayer changed their moment or day.

-When your kids are going crazy and you just can't take it any more. You all seem to dislike each other.
-When everything at work is just going wrong and you want to break down and cry or scream
-When you feel you just can't get through a conversation with your spouse without it turning ugly.
-When school is just too much to handle any more.
-When a friend betrays you.

STOP and PRAY
Ask God to take that moment from you because you cannot handle it on your own.

There are so many things we face and Jesus truly wants what is best for us and He wants to carry us.  If reminds me of the poem Footprints In The Sand. I  love this and want to share it with you.


Footprints

One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord 
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. 
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, 
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. 
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life. 
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. 
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints. 
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me." 
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering. 
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

-Mary Stevenson


Thank you so much for stopping by! MAy God bless you and yours!


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Guest Posting over at Simplistic Beauty

Hey everyone- I am guest posting over at Simplistic Beauty
You can learn some random facts about me :)
Come stop by and say hi! 
It would mean a lot and I would love to hear from you! 


Tuesday Ten- Reasons to Smile

Tuesday Ten
Tuesday Ten is a link party about your posts of ten of anything.  It can be ten things you love, ten places you want to go, ten things you want right now, ten people you love etc....ten of anything really. - Miss Mommy

Today I want to share 10 things that have made me SMILE lately 
and have reminded me how blessed I am, and how 
Great God is!

1. Watching him be silly and have fun

2. Playing outside with my little man

 3. Watching him grow

4. Being able to stay home and play

5. Having someone else do the dirty work

6. Seeing him with my grandma (GiGi)

 7. Capturing a moment with Grandpa

8. This Smile 

 9. Spending time with my boys

10. Seeing my son learn to walk 


Linking up with 

Miss Mommy
UndertheTableandDreaming

Top Ten {Tuesday}