What holds you back?

Today while scrolling through Facebook, White house black shutters asked a question:

What holds you back from what you really, really want to do?

Out of nowhere, or so it seemed, I put "fear of judgement" and hit enter. I always thought I did things the way I wanted and didn't worry to much about what others thought, but then again, I don't really make big decisions or really do big things.  I am a stay at home mom and I raise our son (with my husband of course)  as best I /we can. I usually think that I don't worry about what others think on that subject. He is a good kid right? Well surprisingly enough, around Christmas time at a family event, I found that I care WAY more than I thought. There was a point in the day where I wanted to go lock myself in the bathroom, cry, and not come out until someone else put him to bed. My two year old was being a complete two year old and in front of my entire family. All 1000 of them (or so it felt that day). As I looked around at all the other kids, not one of them was acting up, being crazy, dumping water glasses or knocking things off the wall.... I was a mess. I couldn't keep up with him and I wanted to scream. I was so worried about what my family thought about how I was raising our son and what a craze he was becoming. (and of course that day my husband was sick in bed and I was on my own) In the midst of it all, my cousin Kristi, whom I like to call superwoman, told me something I really needed to hear. She said to stop worrying about him. No one was judging me, we are family and that I needed to sit and relax. Enjoy the day. She was so right, and Kristi, I should have hugged you right then and there. I needed that! I felt like everyone was watching me and thinking about the toddler I had created. I was worrying too much about what everyone was thinking and not focusing on how to fix the issue at hand. I know my son and had I just stopped for a moment, I may have seen that I just needed to let him be.

(all the little boys)

This story may not explain how it holds me back from all things, but on that day I needed to let go and enjoy my time with family and not worry about being judged. 

So, I have to ask,  What holds you back from what you really, really want to do? Anything??

Being Bold and a Giveaway!

So some big changes happened to this girl yesterday and it has been so much fun! It has also caused me to be more bold. Something I want to be with everything in my life. Love.Life.Faith.Clothes.Friends.Family.

Here is my bold change!

So on facebook I am having a giveaway. Stop by HERE and enter to win!

Its a Media Party

Hey everyone. I am excited to be linking up with Natasha in Oz for her social media linky party.
This is a great way to share all the different ways you can get to know one another! In the summer my blogging slows down and I focus on family and my shop. So if you want to see whats going on with me, these are a great place to follow along.

Facebook- Nat's Knapsack

You can also see what I have been working on here in my shop

for example:

I just added a new African Adoption Bracelet 

and I am also Celebrating Christmas in July with a 25% off coupon code

Use code "25injuly" at checkout

Another FUN way to follow is instagram. I LOVE using this app. What a great way to share cute photos and a wonderful app to edit them.  I have made some great friends just by following them on instagram.  Come follow along @natsknapsack   . You can follow along on your computer with Followgram. I would love to follow you back and see what all you are up to this summer. (This is where you will find me most right now) 

Then of course there is Pinterest. What a brilliant idea. I have way too may pins and just as many boards. It is such an amazing way for me to store ideas, how to's, and want to's. 

Are you on pinterest yet? If you need an invite, just let me know! 

Find me HERE

I am a little slow with Twitter but am learning :) Follow me here

I am also learning more about google + after reading Natasha's post. I have a google + account but I don't know a lot about it. 

Check out more on her linky party post.

Here is one really good bit of information I learn from here:

In a nutshell, clicking that little +1 button at the bottom of each of your posts does so much to help your search ranking because Google actually indexes Google+ posts and profiles and not the profiles of its competitors like Facebook and Twitter. 

So next time you visit me (and when you visit all of your bloggy friends) why notclick that +1 button! I know that I will be forever grateful if you do that for me!

If you want to join in here is some more info from Natasha
This linky party will be an opportunity for us to to do a bit of bloggy networking!

If you would like to join in here's what you need to do:

1. Write a blog post that features all the different ways that you are social! Include all the details we would need to find you at all of your social media outlets. Provide us with links to your Twitter profile, your Facebook page, your instagram address, your pinterest boards, your Google profile, your Tumblr blog, Etsy Page..everything! 

Hope you will join in (July 14th) and get to know some amazing ladies

Christmas Quiz

Christmas Quiz

idea found here and here

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?  Hot Chocolate- I do not care for Egg nog blah!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? It is going to be sitting by the tree. 

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  WHITE!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, I would like to find/get one though!
5. When do you put your decorations up? The weekend after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I really enjoyed it when my mom made stromboli every Christmas Eve. 
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Christmas Eve, after opening gifts my grandparents would always come over
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My parents didn't do the Santa thing with us
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We finally got a tree last year when the little guy was born. It is a huge 12 foot tree so I decorate it very carefully ha! We have white lights, gold and red ornaments and then each year I get a new ornament. 
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I love the white snow but hate when it turns to ice and everything is left dirty and brown. I say, if its going to be freezing, let it snow! 
12. Can you ice skate? I think so, I haven't tried in a long time
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I would say a snow globe my grandma gave me. (sadly I can't find it)
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Family time, and teaching my son the true meaning of Christmas! JESUS!
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? I love pecan pie! Or puppy chow! 
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? My families tradition is on Christmas Eve. We got together for dinner, had an icecream cake and sang happy Birthday to Jesus, then after everything is cleaned up, we read the Christmas story and open gifts. After that my grandparents usually come over and hang out. This year will be different because it will be here at our house!
17. What tops your tree? Nothing- it is too tall :)
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? GIVING! I can't wait to give everyone their gifts! 
19. Candy canes- yuck or yummy? I could take them or leave them... but I love what they stand for
20. Favorite Christmas show? Frosty the snowman :)
21. Saddest Christmas song? The Christmas shoes song  

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Right now I love listening to "All I Want For Christmas Is You" 

I would love for you to join and share too!! Leave your link in the comments!

Merry Christmas!

Natassia

Google+

Hey everyone
I am sure you heard that GFC is going away some time in 2012 and so with that said, a lot of blogs are connecting themselves to Google+

You can find me here

(its my new account)

If you have a blog and want a quick and easy way to display your google+ button go HERE

Just enter your own google+ URL and there you have it! 

Happy following and good luck 

Hoo Are You

Hey everyone- This week has been a little off with my unwelcoming visit to the ER. All is well here and I am doing MUCH better. I feel like I am so out of it and can't quite get down what day it is :)

Night Owl Crafting had 5 questions for us last week that I missed and since she is not doing any this week, I thought I would catch up and answer her questions from the 7th. . 

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! Let me know so I can stop by!

This weeks 5 questions are....

1. Do you type on a keyboard the correct way or do you peck like a cute little chick? I definitely peck, I can sorta type correctly but I have made my own way :)


2. Typically how long does it take you to get ready in the morning? To do everything- shower, makeup, hair, find something to wear etc... it would take me an hour. I have done it in 30 minutes.

3. Do you prefer lip gloss or lipstick? I am a gloss girl

4. Do you take clothes to the dry cleaner or wash them yourself even if they say dry clean only? I wash them myself

source

5. Do you prefer Wal Mart or Target. Target!!

Welcome...

Today I thought I would share a little bit about me... you may not like what you see :)

yes this is hanging in my kitchen 

This is what you would see if you came to visit today

1. teddy bear by my magazines 2. sippy cup of our coffee table 3. his lovely basket of toys (that I put in our living room), 4. all his toys that are currently still in "my" green room 5. more toys 6. his mater truck in the kitchen 7. his other sippy cup near by 8. toilet paper unrolled in our bathroom and 9. a football you may trip over when you go from dining room to kitchen.

BUT- then you see these cute little shoes and think of the adorable little boy, who is currently sleeping like and baby, and is the one that made all this possible. And you can't help but love it! 

Welcome to my home

Followers Fest

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



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!

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! 

via

2. What is your favorite fall smell?

Pumpkin or Apple

via

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 :)

via

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

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! 

God is Good

Yesterday was Pregnancy & Infant Remembrance Loss Day and I wanted to share some things with you all that you probably didn't know.

God is so Good! (That I am sure you know)
Losing our first child was really one of the hardest things I have even gone through, but also brought me closer to God than I had been in a while.

God is so good to me and my family (yet some time I think we all need a reminder)
August 17, 2009 we went in to listen to our baby's heart beat and found out that we had lost our first child. It was truly a hard day. I haven't cried so much before nor since. BUT GOD IS GOOD!

A year later and on August 17, 2010 I was headed to the hospital to be induced to have our precious son! ~ Granted he was stubborn and took 32 hours to make it into the world, but he is such a blessing! And I couldn't think of my life without him. (that doesn't not make me miss or forget our first child)

March 22, 2010 was our first baby's due date. On that day, as I remember what that day was to hold for us, it also became a joyous day. This was the day we were scheduled to have our BIG ultra-sound, for our second pregnancy, and found out we were having a BOY! A day of sadness and joy! GOD IS GOOD!

So a year after we lost our little angel, we welcome this precious little guy into the world!

Again I say GOD IS GOOD! 

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

October 15th: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Will never forget ♥

In October 1988, President Ronald Reagan Proclaimed October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. "When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn't a word to describe them. This month recognizes the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world. It is also meant to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirths, birth defects, SIDS, and other causes." (site)

I will never forget the day (August 17th) we went into the doctors office to listen to our babies heart beat and heard nothing.  The doctor didn't give us a lot, but gave us a small hope that I was just not as far long as we thought and we would check again in a week. Sadly for us, a week later when we went back in, our baby still had no heart beat.  My DNC was schedule for September 9, 2009.

It doesn't take a special day for me to remember our baby but it is special to have a day where families can unite and all remember. 

God bless and be with you all today!

AND I am so thankful for this reminder!

Third Day
Call My Name
It's been so long since you felt like you were loved so what went wrong
but do you know there's a place where you belong here in my arms

when you feel like you're alone in your sadness
it seems like no one else in this whole world cares
and you want to get away from the madness
you just call my name and I’ll be there
you just call my name and I’ll be there

the pain inside has erased your hope for love soon you will find
that I’ll give you all that your heart could ever want and so much more

when you feel like you're alone in your sadness
it seems like no one else in this whole world cares
and you want to get away from the madness
you just call my name and i'll be there
you just call my name and i'll be there

you just call my name
you just call my name

call my name say it now I want you to never doubt the love I have for you is so alive
call my name say it now I want you to never doubt the love I have for you is so alive

you just call my name
you just call my name
you just call my name
the love I have for you is so alive
the love I have for you is so alive
you just call my name
you just call my name
you just call my name

from a post I did while going through my loss -HERE

Hoo Are You

Hello again! I am really excited to see new followers and I wanted to let you know that each week I participate in 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 sleep with the tv or music on?

I cannot sleep with the tv on. I LOVE my sons sound machine though that I can hear from his room. My husband however cannot go to sleep withOUT the tv on.... who do you think usually wins? ya... not me :)

2. What is your favorite technology device that you own?

My iPhone- with having my etsy shop & blog, it has made it very handy to do things on the go. 

3. Do you shop the ads for groceries?

sadly I don't. I tried for a few months to cut coupons but we just couldnt keep up. So now, I just do my best.

4. What are you favorite pair of shoes?

hmmm lets see, right now- I love my new pair of boots from DSW that I got for $40!

here

 I also love my old pair of Uggs. They wouldn't have to be Uggs, I enjoy having my feet cozy, which makes the rest of me nice and warm

5. Have you done any fun fall activities yet?

We went apple picking with my 1 year old! 
He LOVED it!

Linking up with

Hoo Are You

Hello to you all and WELCOME new followers! I am participating in 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!

Here are 5 more questions from this week to get to know each other better.

1.  What is your Zodiac sign?

I am Taurus, if I am being honest, I don't really know anything about that stuff.

2. Name 3 things that are always in your purse besides your wallet.

If we are talking about my purse and not when I am carrying my diaper bag, I would say I always have a small pouch with some makeup powder and lip gloss, my coin purse, and a pen :) My actually purse is pretty boring

3. Which magazines do you look at the most?

I like Do It Yourself (craft magazine)

here

4. Do you pluck or get your eyebrows waxed?

I do both. My eyebrows don't grow too fast so in between waxes I pluck the strays. 

5. How often do you go grocery shopping?

Oh boy- not often enough. I am horrible at this and hate it! If I could stick to my original plan it would be once a week. I would plan my meals and go shopping once for the whole week.

Linking up with

Hoo Are You

Hello to you all and WELCOME new followers! I am participating in 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!

Here are 5 more questions from this week to get to know each other better.

1. What are your favorite 3 things about fall?

I love wearing cute sweaters, fabulous boots, pretty scarves and fun hats!

via

2. Are you a football fan and if so who is your favorite team?

Yes- Well I kinda have to be according to my husband. We cheer for Ohio State, Cinci Bengals, Columbus Blue Jackets  and I love ALL things Peyton Manning (that last one is my own choice!) :)

3. What is your favorite fall scent?

well I guess I am not much for scents in the house. I probably should be :) The one thing I always look forward to are the scented pine cones. That is more of a Christmas thing- but I love those!

4. So you have seasonal allergies?

Yes- well it seems I always have allergies...

5. Have you started Christmas shopping yet?

Yes actually. I have gotten one gift so far and I know what my husband and his side of the family are getting. So hopefully this will be an easier year.

Linking up with

Hoo Are You

Hello to you all and WELCOME new followers! I am participating in 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!

Here are 5 more questions from this week to get to know each other better.

1. Do you prefer sweet or salty foods? 

I am very much a salty girl, when it comes to snacks. Im not sure when that changed because as a kid I LOVED sweets. Give me chips and salsa/guacamole/hummus any day! However, I do not add a lot of salt to my food, nor do I need much.

Now I want to go eat some now :)

2. Name your 3 BEST personality traits! 

I am a true loyal friend to my true loyal friends ;), I'm honest, and I am here to listen when you need me

LOYAL:

:faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due

:showing loyalty

3. Name your 3 worst personality traits! 

I tend to speak before I think (I'm not talking about mean or nasty comments, I just mean, I could have probably waited for a better moment or worded something differently. I just get too excited some times), I'm honest (ya, thats both good and bad), my husband would say- I'm always late. I really do try and when it counts, im usually on time.

4. Do you collect anything? 

Scarves, Hats, and bags -its not a big collection but I would LOVE for it to be.

(See more of my favorite scarves in my next post)

via

5. What is your favorite season of the year? 

I can't decide between Spring or Fall. I love them both. Spring is always nice when it shows up after a long, hard winter, but not much can match lovely fall weather. The cozy clothes and fun accessories -ie. hats & scarves :)

So, I guess I would say FALL 

Linking up with