Natalie's Favorites

To help you get to know Natalie, here are some of her favorites.

Games - Ticket to Ride, Skipbo, Farkle, Minute to Win It games

Nic's cup tower just came crashing down.
Love everyone's expressions in these pictures.

We hosted a lively Minute to Win It party for New Year's Eve
with Nic's side of the family

Music - "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. My Pandora stations have Adele, Michael Buble, Colbie Cailat, Rascal Flatts, Showtunes, and many others, then of course Disney and Kids Bop. Some favorite hymns are "How Great Thou Art" and "Come Thou Font." And a couple favorite primary songs are "A Child's Prayer", "Scripture Power" and "My Heavenly Father Loves Me."

Flowers - Magnolias and Gerber Daisies. And to plant -alliums, cosmos, and zinnias, among others!

I served a church service mission in Louisiana, since then magnolias
have a special place in my heart. They are so unique, big and smell amazing!

Alliums are a bulb flower that come back year after year.
Again I love the uniqueness of this flower.
The tall purple balls are just so unexpected. 

Both these (zinnias) and cosmos are fun
because of their pop of color. Colorful flowers make me happy.
Add some flowing sweet potato vine and the planters are gorgeous!

Sayings - We can do hard things. Sure love ya. "Find joy in the journey," Gordon B. Hinckley.

"Suuuu-re love ya!" - Our family "cheer" after
family prayers each night.
A tradition passed on from my childhood and family.

Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss have pretty great quotes too.
This is a wall in one of our bathrooms.

Food - Chicken Rollups, roast, pizza, sushi, breads, breakfast foods, and fresh fruit

What a good bread helper!

Dessert - Oh man, so so many! I love homemade treats! Cinnamon rolls, mint brownies, homemade ice-cream (or a combination of a brownie, ice cream, hot fudge sundae!), cookie dough (and the baked version), anything chocolate and peanut butter... The list goes on and on!

Vacation - Our trip to Disneyland with the family, which included a trip to the beach was dreamy! We surprised the kids as a Christmas gift and went about a month later. They had been dying to go. It seems like "everyone" had been but them. The kiddos opened a box of Disney balloons and a sign with a count down, when they realized what was happening one of the kids just said, "Finally." The trip really was magical! I loved seeing the excitement in their eyes at each new ride, each character they say, treat they tried, and sites they saw!
    Other favorites include quick trips (often with my extended family) to Arches National Park, Zions, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, etc.

There really is something so magical about Disneyland!

Can't you just feel your belly flip just looking at the picture?!
We are on the right, front row with our oldest. I LOVE roller coasters and thrill rides!

We went to California the end of January, so the water was freezing!
But we enjoyed every sandy second at the beach!
The crashing waves and keowing of sea gulls, sand in our toes and ears (and everywhere else!),
castle and trench building, sea shell and sea weed collections... 

Goblin Valley, a day trip with some friends and neighbors.
We loved exploring and climbing all the "goblins."

TV Shows - Fixer Upper! I also like watching Studio 5, American Ninja Warrior and some Netflix favorites to watch with Nic have been White Collar, Chuck, and West Wing.

I love Chip and Joanna! This show has the building aspect for Nic,
the decorating inspiration for me combined with a fun mix of humor and family.
Seriously, if you haven't watched it, do! 

It's clever. It's thrilling. It's humorous.

Movies - As a teen my favorite was Remember the Titans. Some younger favorites are Tangled and Enchanted. I also really like proper romances like Pride and Prejudice.

Leisure Activities - "Projects!" I've usually got some sort of project going on, from gardening and canning, to decorating and refinishing furniture, to church or PTA planning, or baking. I also enjoying sitting down at the end of the day after kids are in bed and relaxing with Nic and a TV show. I love biking with the kids, reading them books, and boating as a family.

Veggies from the garden

...on a dreaming child, on a snoring granny...
in a napping house where everyone is sleeping.

Enjoying the boat. Nic is in the background wake boarding.

Books - I like proper romance and regency books like Edenbrooke and Blackmoore. (I recently joined a book club and I have been surprised at how much I have loved the books that we have read, most of which I never would have picked up.) My very favorite books though are kids books. I love children's literature. A Visitor for Bear, Love You Forever, The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, and A Sick Day for Amos McGee are just a few.

Ultimate Favorites - Mel's Kitchen Cafe (http://www.melskitchencafe.com) a food blog I follow and LOVE and cook from ALL the time! I often talk about Mel as one of my bestie, though I've never actually met her - my family knows her well! She makes real food with ways to make things healthy and simple but also has the most divine desserts! 

   Reese's Peanut Buttercups (or the homemade version, which is even better) and Scor or Heath bars (or homemade English Toffee)

   Long, hot showers and Christmas!

Our Christmas mantel last year with our homemade stockings.
One stocking is up for Christ.We write down what we are giving to
Him each year and read it as a reminder on Christmas morning.

Acting out the nativity with cousins is a Christmas Eve tradition.
My side of the family a couple years ago.

Nativity last year with Nic's side.