Pink Project

Happy Friday everyone

I would like to share with you all a project by the lovely Brittany from Naturally Estes.

She has such a big heart and is here to explain this amazing project with you all. 

The Pink Project!

Pink hair is FUN.
Pink hair is a little SCANDALOUS.
BUT...
Pink hair now has a PURPOSE!

Pink hair now means FOUR women's lives have been changed! These women in Ethiopia have a right to life. A life outside of HIV/AIDS and the sex industry. They deserve to feel worthy, loved, and to love themselves. WE can be apart of that!

"Women and children are often the most exposed and abused victims of injustice, especially in the war-torn areas of Africa. In Nazaret, Ethiopia, Mocha Club helps rehabilitate women in Ethiopia who were forced into a life of prostitution as an attempt to escape their situation of poverty. The “Women At Risk” program provides spiritual, emotional, and psychological counseling and helps them find alternate means of income to support themselves and their children." The Mocha Club

Just a quick recap:

*I've kinda, secretly wanted to die my hair pink
*But now I'm making it count!
*The Mocha Club is an AMAZING organization!
*They help women in Ethiopia out of the sex industry
*It's a holistic approach (counseling, rehabilitation, job training, daycare, healthcare, etc.)
*$400 saves ONE woman
*I'm setting a goal to save FOUR!
*That's $1600
    ....which can easily be accomplished by:

1 donation of $1600

4 donations of $400

16 donations of $100

160 donations of $10

Let's make this happen! 

Give hope to women who need it so!

Grab this button from "Pink Project" section in my nav bar!

Then SHARE about The Pink Project on your blogs, in your towns, EVERYWHERE!

...of course we'd LOVE for you to:

(all donations are tax deductible, you will receive an email with a receipt after donation)
*If you donate in honor of someone or as a Christmas gift please feel free to download a print to give them!*

**The donate button is FIXED!!**

And to make it simple, I've added a few options for you to tweet!

* FUN, SCANDAL, PURPOSE, HOPE. It's the PINK PROJECT with @naturallyestes http://bit.ly/PooT5h #pinkproject #purposeproject

* Let's make a difference with @mochaclub and help @naturallyestes get PINK hair! http://bit.ly/PooT5h #pinkproject #purposeproject

* My girl @naturallyestes is SO CRAZY! She wants to dye her hair PINK! But did you hear why? http://bit.ly/PooT5h #pinkproject #purposeproject

* Goal: $1600, 4 women freed, A chance to have pink hair #pinkproject @naturallyestes http://bit.ly/PooT5h #purposeproject

*thanks to the FAB Jac from BabEblessings for the graphics!*

   

What did I tell you- Amazing!
Make sure you also stop by her blog Naturally Estes TODAY (friday) and have a Vlog coffee date with her. 
She is challenging us, but don't let me spoil the surprise- stop over and check it out HERE

Every little bit helps! Lets see this lady with pink hair! 

Thanks everyone! Have a great weekend.

Hugs, Natassia

Keep Calm...

This is one Keep Calm that I really like

found here

We often stress about so many things in our life and while reading some blog posts I ran across two amazing posts this morning. I would encourage you to take a moment and check them out. You won't regret it. 

The first is by Kate Conner- I Dub Thee - I just fell in-love with this post and I know you will too. 

The second is a new blog I came across (the same one that provided the keep calm above) where Becky shared a video with us about Seeing the everyday. Check out the video "how will you be inspired today?"

While you are there you should also check out her Project Life  (her simple scrapbook)

These two posts have opened my eyes to the little things of today. 

I am now off to enjoy them. 

Have a wonderful wednesday! 

Auction!! March 3rd over at The Vintage Honey Shop!

Have you seen and are you as excited as I am about the auction over at The Vintage Honey Shop's Facebook page friday March 3rd??!!

Here is just a preview of some of the items being sold in our Spring Sale!! She has 5 shops participating (and more in the works!!)! Some shops joining are Nat's Knapsack, Beth @The Mrs., Sarah @The Fontenot Four, Kelli@eat pray read love & of course The Vintage Honey Shop!

I Can't wait to see what deals I can get too!! 

Make sure and mark it on your calendars!

Journal Swap Time!!

So at the beginning of the year I joined in on a journal swap with some amazing ladies, hosted by the lovely Aleks of aleks handmade.

I have to tell you that when I received my package it was like Christmas! I kinda feel bad for my swap partner..I did try my best and put my heart into it, I do hope she loves them... :) 

Anyway, here is my journal (and goodies I received from the amazing 

Meagan from Chesterrific!

She packaged it up she neatly and even sent me a card and some extras! Seriously, she is the best!!

I love everything and you will see why! Check out my journal! 

I think it is just perfect, it is simple and lovely! 

She took time to decorate random pages inside (here are a few pages)

 I really can't say "I LOVE IT!" enough

Thank you so much Maegan! It is perfect!!!

I have already started using it!

Blog Designs

Ok- I would LOVE to know
With blogs, do you go with the motto less is more or do you like easy access with seeing the buttons, sponsors etc on the main page. I know when I go to a blog I don't always look around at every tab so I tried putting what I could on my main page BUT- after seeing the fabulous Aimee from byaimee.com do what she does best. I am re-thinking it all. I LOVE the sleek, clean look of her site.

Help me out- tell me what you think?? Should I change up my blog to a more sleek, clean look??
What do you like, because I am in-love! 

Guest Post- The Amazing Amy from Sugar and Spice

I am so very excited to have an amazing guest post today! Please welcome Amy from Sugar and Spice! You will love her, if you don't already!


Hi ladies!

My name is Amy. 

I'm from Sugar and Spice, a blog about raising little girls, eating yummy foods, reading great books, encouraging your walk with God, and dressing cute! My little ones are Grace (oldest; the vanilla one) and Emma (youngest; chocolate)

I am so grateful to Nat for having me today, and I love her blog because we love some of the same topics.  She is a great mom with a great big heart for God.  Don't we love her?

Before I became a mom myself, my life was different in many ways.  I'll share a few of them with you, let's see if you can relate to any of this:

KIDS:  Before and After

I knew what sleeping in meant.

7:20 is a late morning for me.

I’d spend every Sunday morning reading at the coffee shop for an hour.

The coffee shop has made maybe $5 on me in the last year.

We ate out relatively often in a nice restaurant.

Chipotle, Noodles & Company, and Panera is going out for us.

My floors stayed clean for days after I swept them.

My floors stay clean for 5.6 seconds after I sweep them.

The grocery store was a place I could pop in to at any time.

Grocery trips must be strategically and carefully planned out.

My schedule was determined by my workday and social activities.

My schedule is determined by naptimes.

I drove a small black SUV.

I drive a minivan :)

I bought nice flatbread crackers with Portwine cheese spread for snacks.

I buy goldfish for snacks.

I was able to store all of our specialty glassware in our cabinets.

Two entire cabinets are taken up by plastic sippy cups, bottles, plates, and tiny colorful silverware.

My purse was organized, maybe a bit of loose change.

My purse has a loose kid spoon, nipple (for a bottle), travel wipes, and used tissue.

We had a guest room.

We don’t have much extra room.

I could talk on the phone as loudly as I wanted in the house.

I sometimes talk so quietly in the house that my friends think something is wrong.

I smiled and laughed at my favorite TV shows.

I smile and laugh at my kids.  (They are so cute!)

Even though my life has changed, and in many cases things are more work or simply harder to do than they were before, I would not trade this post-kids life for anything.  

I remember taking a walk alone shortly after #1 was born.  I made the realization that my life would never be the same again.  At the time, this was a frightening thought.  I was kind of a slave to my baby and her needs.  What about my freedom?  What about the things that I want to do?  These things would have to stop, or at least be put on hold.  I actually had to mourn the loss of my old life in those first few days after I became a mom for the first time.  

Mourning that loss was necessary, though.  It made me see that I truly was living for myself, and I had to embrace the reality that it wasn't all about me anymore.  Thank you, God, for saving me from myself in that way.  Kids force you to do what you should be doing all along - putting others before yourself.  I hope God gives me 25 kids so I can never stop learning that lesson.  (Just kidding about the 25). I'm sure if you're a mom you can relate to some of these "Before and Afters".  If you don't have kids yet, enjoy each moment of your time in the blue!  I hope you'll come by and pay me a visit some time.   Amy 


Thank you SO much Amy for being my guest! 
I hope you all have an awesome tuesday and were able to make a new bloggy friend in Amy

XOXO Natassia

Tuesday Ten- amazing blogs

Tuesday Ten Oh how I have missed you :) I have been bad about blogging through the holidays but am excited to get back into it! I LOVE reading everyones blogs, I feel so inspired, I hope I can inspire others as well!

This tuesday I want to share with you some of my favorite blogs that have inspired me

1. Beth from Through The Eyes Of The Mrs.

Her blog is what I hope mine will be like some day! She blogs about everything and shares other amazing blogs as well. She is amazing! Superwoman as I call her! xoxo

2. Katie from Punkin' Heads and Dooda Loo's

I am so thankful that I found her blog- She pushed me to make my 2012 resolutions!

3. Maegan from Chesterrific

You may have seen me blog about the 5 Things I am Loving Right Now. Maegan is the hands behind that linky. I am so glad to have run into her blog. She has a great blog!

4. Fancy Little Things- some wonderful women behind this blog!

They share so many things on this blog! You have to check out these inspiring ladies!

Love them!

5. Heather from Its A Long Story

She she a new blog find for me and a lovely one at that!
She is having a great new linky party starting tomorrow!!

One Little Word

You have got to check it out!

6. Beverly from Flamingo Toes

This is a new blog I am happy to have found!

There are SO MANY amazing crafty projects over there! I am so inspired to actually craft something!!
Just AWESOME!!


7. Andrea, a retrohipmomma from She's Crafty

Another GREAT crafty blog! She is one of those people you just know would be fun to hang out with!
So lucky to have met her here in this blog land


8. Amy from Sugar and Spice

She is just a great lady and a wonderful new bloggy friend!
There is so much on her blog I don't even know where to begin!
There is food/recipes, inspiration, books, mommy stories, and style! 

9. Chrissy from Boerman Ramblings

I am sure you have seen me talk about Chrissy before- she is such a great person. I love blogs that share the good, the bad and the ugly and I feel she opens up and shares her life.  She also another very crafty momma! I don't know how she does it all!


10. Megan from The Mrs.

She is another great blogger and a mommy-to-be. She too has a great inspiring blog! I first fell in-love with her blog while reading her iBelieve series. She is a wonderful woman sharing about her life and crafts!

Sorry but I have to add another

11. Sarah from The Fontenot Four

Her blog is another new blog I have found and I just love all she has to say! 

I first found her when she was creating coffee cozies to help raise money for a friend that is adopting! I was hooked after that!

There are so many amazing, inspiring blogs. These are just some of them! Check them out and I am sure you will love them too!!

Happy reading!!

Natassia

Craftaholics Anonymous Gift Exchange Link Up

So you saw my post about my other gift exchange (here). I also entered the exchange over at Craftaholics Anonymous.

Well I received my gift from Lisa (over at Lisa Gray's Creative Ventures) and I was so touched by these gifts! First of all she WRAPPED my gifts! Such a fun thing to get in the mail!! Take a look!

She made me a slouch hat/beret, an ornament and a bracelet with my son's name. 

I LOVE them and I will tell you I put the bracelet on right away and haven't taken it off!

I am wearing the buret too and love it!!

Thank you so much Lisa!! 

I really hope she likes her gifts I sent her!

I was so excited to make this! I just received this new lowercase font and was hoping to capture some of the names that make up Lisa. 

Trusting, Loving, Creating is something I found on her blog and would mean something for her. 

I also sent her a ring in her favorite color and a simple white flower necklace (one of my favorites)

Merry early Christmas

I was awarded the Liebster Blog Award

I am so excited to get my first award from, Christi, over at The Chapters Of Our Lives. She has awarded me with the Liebster Blog Award!! I am touched that she chose my blog!! Thank you Christi!

The Criteria: The Liebster Blog Award is meant to showcase bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers. This is all done in the spirit of pay-it-forward.

The Rules: You must mention and link to the person who awarded you with Liebster, and mention 5 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers who you think worthy of the Liebster!"

"‘Liebster’ means ‘favorite’ or ‘dearest’ in German. This award, which originated in Germany, recognizes up and coming bloggers! In accepting this award, I agree to:

• Thank the person that gave me the award and link back to their blog
• Copy and paste the award to my blog
• Reveal the 5 blogs I have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog
• Pay it forward by awarding it to bloggers they would like to honor

The five blogs I’m passing the award along to are featured below.  These are all blogs with fewer than 200 followers and they all have truly touch my heart! I love these blogs!

Mandy of Raising Little Dudes

"Raising boys, staying sane, finding deals, freebies, giveaways and more. Just another mom trying to survive young boys."

She is REAL and I love it!! You have to see her latest Real Bellies post!
Stop by here blog!

Jennifer over at Craft Sew Design
"I love to create.  It is kinda like therapy for me!  Some people lay on a couch...I glue down an embellishment!  My newest crafting sensation has been sewing.  Never thought of myself as the sewing type, but here I am owning a sewing machine & loving it!
Above all, I love God. I am a born again, spirit filled Christian.  God is my best friend.  I am so blessed that he calls me His daughter.  He is an AWESOME Father.  Love him soooooo much!!!"

Stop by her blog

Janelle of Simplistic Beauty
"A Wife to Wonderful Husband of 3 years. A momma to a little 16 Month old Levi. I Live in a cute little neighborhood. My husband remodeled our house. I love Jesus with all that I am."

Stop by her blog

Megan from The Mrs.
"I am a newlywed blogger. I am a wife to a precious man of God. I love Jesus and my relationship with Him. I am a mommy to be and loving every minute of it"

She has an amazing iBelieve series that had me bawling yesterday- read about that here
Stop by her blog

Heather over at morey girl
"I am a Christian, a wife, a mother of two boys, and I love to make things! You are invited to take a little look inside my life with all the crazy antics, lovely handmades, cutie little boys, and my hottie husband;)"

Stop by her blog

You are all going to love these ladies if you don't already!!I am happy to pass on this Liebster "dearest" Award to them ALL!

Some honesty

To be honest some days I wonder how I am going to keep up with this blog. I LOVE it, truly I do! But when I look at some other blogs I feel like there is no way I will ever compare. Then I meet new people and read their stories and blogs and am reminded again why I do it. I want to be a part of the blog world because I ENJOY it and I LOVE meeting new people! It has also been great meeting other Christian ladies.
Like Blessed Momma Musing   Check her out!

I found this on her blog and asked her if I could share it.

BEFORE I WAS A MOM

Before I was a Mom I made and ate hot meals.

I had unstained clothing.

I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted.

And never worried about how late I got into bed.

I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom I cleaned my house each day.

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies.

Before I was a Mom I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body and all my feelings.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was OK.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much...... ......before I was a Mom.

...Author Unknown