A Fulfilling Weekend

Even though the temperatures dropped in my neck of the woods, I had a great family weekend.

On Saturday night, we attended our annual "mom's group" family dinner and gift exchange.  Our friend that hosted even had Santa come visit! However that was quite interesting with a group of three year olds and under. Not many warmed up to the jolly ole guy or even Mrs. Claus.

On Sunday, my in-laws watched Conley while my husband, Nolan, and I went to church.  It was great to just go with Nolan, and I realized that was the first or second time my husband and I have both  been alone with Nolan since Conley has been born. How crazy is that? 

Then after church, I took Nolan to his first movie! We have a dollar theater (even though it is $2.50 now) that was playing Planes! He loved it and sat still the whole time. He did not want to leave though and had a little bit of a tantrum but all and all we had a great time.  It's nice to have a little special time with my boy! 

I will be taking a break to enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday with my family and friends, and I hope you do the same!

Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

Natalie

Review Extravaganza 2013!

We are so excited to announce the 4th Annual Review Extravaganza!  This is getting bigger each year and we are so excited to have you all join in with us.

What is the Review Extravaganza
  -It is your way to look back over the year and each week recap three months at a time of what happened in your life, your favorite blog posts, favorite pictures- whatever you would like to share. (Here is an example of one of EmmyMom's recaps from last year)

We would like to introduce you to this year's 8 amazing hosts!

From Left to Right:(Click on the names to get you to their blog)

Emmy- Emmy Mom One Day At a Time

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest

Shell- Things I Can't Say

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest 

Janette- The Johanson Journey

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest 

Lourie-CA Girl

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest 

Natalie-From Corporate to Domestic

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest 

Nicole-Life's a Beach

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest 

Kenzie-Life and Lemons

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest 

Amy-Involuntary Smiles

Twitter//Facebook//Pinterest 

How to Play
- Each Thursday** in December link with your recap of 3 months at a time     December 5th: Recap January, Feb, and March     December 12th: Recap April, May and June     December 19th: Recap July, August and September     December 26th: Recap October, November and December and 5 goals for upcoming year
** Posts do not have to be posted on Thursday but MUST be posted by the following Wednesday to count.  So, the first week you can post Dec 5th through Dec 11th, etc.
The Rules - Must link up a recap, not just a general blog post- please link to your actual post - Must include the Review Extravaganza button in your post for your entry to count towards the prizes - Must link up at least one week to be eligible to enter - You will receive LOTS of bonus points for linking up all four weeks - Anyone can recap with us-but you must live in the Continental US to be eligible to win the prizes - We will be using Rafflecopter to keep track of entries and must use that form to get your bonus points -There will be two winners this year, with a Grand Prize and a Runner Up Prize
The list of sponsors this year is amazing!  Such wonderful prizes that you have a chance to win.  
The Prizes
Our sponsors are so amazing and we love all the amazing things they are offering for the Review Extravaganza.  This year we have so many great sponsors that we are going to have two winners, one Grand Prize Winner and a Runner-up.  
Our wonderful sponsors (in no particular order)- please visit their sites and see what amazing things they have to offer.  Here are our sponsors in no particular order.  Power of Mom's- MOM Organizational System  $75 Value Grand Prize

Mind Organization for Moms (M.O.M.) is a mom-specific adaptation of David Allen’s best-seller, Getting Things Done®, designed to help you accomplish your most important tasks so you can fully enjoy your family.

In our simple online program, we’ll show you how to clear your counter of “the pile,” organize projects without the stress, set up an effective Weekly Review system, and keep up with the never-ending stream of emails, phone calls, and papers (yes, it’s possible!).

Find the Power of Moms Here: Website//Facebook//Twitter//Pinterest 

Sweet Adornment  Hand-stamped Hugs And; Kisses Sterling Silver Pendant  $24 Value Runner-Up

Sweet Adornment is a mom and daughter run Etsy shop.  It offers beautiful hand stamped jewelry and keepsakes personalized for you and those you love.  This pendant is a sterling silver pendant, silver filled chain along with the silver heart charm.  Would make an awesome gift for someone you love. Find Sweet Adornment Here: Etsy//Facebook//Twitter  jijamas- Pajama Set $90 Value Grand-Prize This couple met, feel in love and had babies.  As their babies finally started sleeping through the night, they realized that the babies' pajamas played a large part in how they slept, all incredibly soft and comfortable.  So they created a line of incredibly soft pajamas for women made with the same Pima cotton that our kids love to wear, in designs women will want to wear.   Find jijams here: Website//Facebook
Thirty-one Retro Metro Wallet and Key Fob $30 Value Grand-Prize This cool and casual wallet includes 12 card slots, an interior zipper compartment and stylish snap closer.  It's perfect for teens or moms looking to carry their essentials around town.  This is being offered by Courtney a blogger (at Optimistic Mommy) and Thirty-one consultant.  Thirty-one makes beautiful and long-last purses and accessories.  They come in a variety of colors and styles and would be a perfect gift.   Find Courtney here: Blog//Thirty-one Site//Facebook//Twitter
Blog Makeover from Social Chic $75 Grand-Prize Sarah is a blogger with a passion for web design and graphics, she is offering a $75 Blog makeover package, which includes custom header, nav bar, sidebar headers, about me gadget, social media links, button with grab box, custom signature and full installation!  Your blog can have a whole new look for the new year. Find Sarah here: Website//Blog//Twitter//Facebook
2 Autographed Copies of An Altered Existence  $24 total  Grand-Prize and Runner Up Melody Nunez is a blogger, an artist and now a published author! Melody collected antique photos known as cabinet cards that were "orphans" from flea markets and antique stores.  They sparked her imagination and resulted in 14 short stories illustrated with photos "altered" by the author.  I (Emmymom) have read her book and love it!  Melody is giving two copies, both autographed to the lucky winners.   Find Melody Here: Blog//Facebook//Twitter//Art Program
Gift Certificate to Shadow Rouge Originals Etsy Shop $25 Value Runner-Up
Shadow Rouge Originals features handmade jewelry with enchanting chainmaille designs with a modern twist.  Heather, of Shadow Rouge Originals, offers bracelets, necklaces and pendants.  She is offering a $25 gift certificate to her esty shop so the winner can pick which piece they love best.  Find Heather here: Etsy//Facebook
Motivated Decor-Chalk Art Prints Runner-Up Chalk-art is all the rage these days and Amanda of Motivated Decor not only makes beautiful chalk art but does it with a purpose.  All of her products contain quotes that can help motivate us all in each key area of life. She wants to help us feel motivated in some way to make improvements in your life. These art pieces will be the perfect subtle reminder to kick start your day!  This will be more than just the digital file to download, she will send the winner the chalk-art of their choice printed. 
Find Motivated Decor on Here: Etsy//Facebook
Rodan + Fields Dermatologists Mini Facial Kit $20 Value Grand Prize Give your skin a glow with a home facial that will reveal a more vibrant, youthful looking completion.  The ENHANCEMENTS Micro-Dermabrasion Paste exfoliates to enhance cell turnover and improve tone and texture. REDEFINE Night Renewing Serum with retinol leaves skin soft and smooth improving skin texture and firmness and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles. REDEFINE Lip Renewing Serum smooths lip texture, reduces lip wrinkles, and increases moisturization. This pampering packet is good for 2-3 treatments. A few sweeps of the full size ENHANCEMENTS Lip Micro-Dermabrasion will keep your lips smooth throughout the dry winter months. Keep your beautiful skin fresh and young!

Keslie, an independent Rodan + Fields Consultant is giving away a Mini Facial and Lip Dermabrasion.

Find Kelsie Here: Website//Facebook 

Gift Certificate to The Lovebug Collection $25 value Grand Prize The Lovebug Collection is an online boutique that offers baby items and hair accessories for women and children.   There is everything from baby clothes, leg warmers, wipe clutches, headbands, and hair accessories.  The winner will receive a $25 gift card to use at the Lovebug Collection.   Find Lovebug Collection here: Website//Facebook//Twitter//Instagram
Emily Kathryn Photography-Starbucks Gift Card $15 Value Runner-Up
Emily is a Southern California photographer specializing in newborns and families.  She has always had a camera in her hands and through study and lots of practice she has turned her hobby into a business.  She loves capturing those real moments, the love and interactions and giving each client something they will treasure forever.   Emily is providing the winner with a $15 gift card to Starbucks.  Find Emily Here: Website//Facebook 
Sur Le Feu 3-Earring Set $20 Value Grand Prize Simple, stylish, functional handbags and accessories. Sur Le Feu features modern designs with a vintage touch. Each item is unique and never duplicated - just like a real vintage treasure, you'll never see another one exactly like it!  Kristine is offering 3-earring set in coordinating cotton print and silk dupioni hand-covered buttons. 1/2" diameter, very lightweight and easy to wear.
Find Kristine Here: Website//Etsy//Blog//Facebook
Olive And Ivy Design Credit Towards Blog Makeover $30 Value Runner-Up Olive And Ivy Design is here to help you fall in love with your place on the web.  They specialize in blog beautifying and pretty custom designs for bloggers and small business.  They can also help those wanting to switch from blogger to wordpress.  They are offering a $30 credit for a blog element or towards a bigger blog makeover package.  Find Olive And Ivy Design Here: Website// Blog// Facebook// Pinterest 
Ephemeral Moments Art Print $15 Value Grand Prize
Every home needs beautiful artwork and Christine of Ephemeral Moments takes beautiful calming nature shots that would be beautiful decor in any home.  She is offering the winner their choice of either an 8X10, 2 5X7's or 2 4X6's of a piece they love.   Find  Ephemeral Moments Here: Etsy 
My So Called Chaos- Original Nail Polish Art $30 Value Runner-Up
Miss Angie's etsy shop is filled with lovely handmade art and accessories filled with heart!  She specializes in watercolor and ink prints of simple every day items that bring a spark of whimsy to art. She is offering 2 4X6 Nail Polish Arts. 
Find Angie Here: Etsy//Blog//Facebook//Pinterest
Tooth Fairy Pillow Shop Gift Certificate  $25 Value Grand Prize
Tooth Fairy Pillow Shop offers Personalized Tooth Fairy Pillows, Tooth Fairy Letters, Tooth Fairy gifts and other handmade, happy gifts for kids!  These adorable pillows will make the tooth-fairy's job a lot easier at night.  Jen is offering a $25 gift certificate to her etsy shop.  
Find Tooth Fairy Pillow Here:  Etsy//Facebook
Kim Cannon Illustrations Print $16 Value Grand Prize
Kim is an aspiring children's book illustrator with ample experience in the visual arts field.  She aims to evoke both an emotion and a personal narrative with every image she creates.  Kim has a passion for art and strongly believes that it needs a stronger voice in the education system and she hopes to be able to incorporate these beliefs into her classroom.  Her illustration are her source of income and support for her education.
Find Kim here: Website//Facebook
Your Charmed Life -Personalized Hand Stamped Bracelet  $35 Value Grand Prize
Kelly of Your Charmed Life Etsy shop uses all types of metals, from sterling silver, brass and copper. Boosting the charms with textures and dings, oxidizing and wool brushing for that marked rustic look. YOURCHARMEDLIFE, is all about YOU and your custom CHARMS.   Kelly is offering a beautiful personalized stamp bracelet.  
Find Kelly Here: Etsy//Blog//Twitter//
And Finally $25 Starbucks gift card- donated by our own Janette  Grand Prize $20 Amazon Gift Card- donated by our own Lourie Grand Prize  Wow!  That is quite the list of prizes, in fact almost $630 in prizes!!!  Please visit all of our great sponsors by clicking on their links, these are all shops we love and support. 
Get ready, as next Thursday, December 5th this amazing extravaganza will begin!  Remember, the more you participate (hint recap all four weeks) the more chances you will receive to be one of the lucky winners.  Even if you don't win it is so much fun looking back and remembering the year, meeting new bloggers and reading other bloggers recaps.   Please remember you need to add the button to your recap posts to help spread the word; just copy and paste the code below the button to add it to your post.
If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and ask.  

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Can't wait for you to join and to hear about how your year was!

Natalie

Time for a Checkup

Today I took my boy to his 3 year old checkup.  Hard to believe he's three, and this time around the check up was definitely more in the "big boy" visit with standing up for his height and weight check, getting his blood pressure checked, identifying cards for eyesight, and the whole peeing in a cup.  That has elevated him to big boy status in my book!

Typical Nolan was more concerned with checking out all the books than paying attention to the doctor.

The boy is 40 inches tall and in the 95th percentile of height and 37.5 lbs which is in the 90th percentile.  So needless to say that boy is tall and heavy!  I knew he was tall, but I had no idea it would be in that high of a percentile!

And then his sidekick was not too amused by all of this:

Nolan did great and actually asked to stay at the doctor's even after getting a flu shot!  I guess the B Toys Medical Kit really got him ready for his visit!

How are your kids at the doctor's office as they get older?

Natalie

Moms Always Finish Last

As moms, we are constantly putting other needs above ourselves--whether it's our children, our husband, or family and friends, we put ourselves utterly and completely last.

And while most the time, I am ok with this because it's just something I have learned to accept.

However this past weekend, my husband coordinated with my mother-in-law to watch BOTH boys overnight. (Conley has only had one night away from me while my husband watched him at the house.)

He did this so I finally could get my master bedroom makeover that I have wanted for so long. Every room in the house had been updated before ours.  So I was so excited to see the transformation.  While he painted the ceiling and prepped the walls, I went shopping for new curtains, bedding, and accessories.

I found some curtains at World Market that I absolutely LOVED and knew they were the ones. We also have an arch window which is weird about curtain lengths.  We decided to make the jump to putting the curtain rod above the window, and I am so glad we did.  It really lengthens the wall and makes the room seem larger.  We painted the walls a gray/brown (Frappe if we are getting technical), and I couldn't be more in love.  We also rearranged our furniture, and I just love the openness it created.  I also finally have canvases of my babies on the wall!

I took these with my phone, so please excuse the lighting.  Once we completely accessorize I will take photos with my real camera.  We are doing new bedding, more of a gray/brown color once I find it.  But loving the orange accent pillow I found!

Is your bedroom styled the way you want it?

Natalie

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas! {Shutterfly Giveaway}

We've said goodbye to the pumpkin and on our way to the turkey.  Which can only mean on thing, Christmas is right around the corner!

That means it is time to check out some Christmas & Holiday cards from the fabulous Shutterfly!

I have been using Shutterfly for years, and I am always very happy with the quality and service, not to mention all the compliments we get on the cards!

This year I've found a few favorites that I'm choosing from:

I'm really loving these designs, and I'm going to have a hard time choosing!  This year Shutterfly has a few new card options such as the 5x7 folded tri fold and back of card designs.

• Classic: Traditional colors, iconic illustrations, aspirational sentiments, snowflakes, monogram
• Contemporary: trend forward colors, texture and layering, water color techniques, shine, glitter, Instagram pictures are perfect for this style
• Whimsy: humor and nostalgia meet, fun sentiments
• Merry and Bright: all about color and having fun
• Religious: metallic type treatments, incorporated story ideas
• Photo Basics: multiple colors, vertical type, and family name highlights

Don't miss out on the Twitter party with @Resourcefulmom on Friday, November 15th at 8pm EST with #PhotosYouLove.

Now if you love Shutterfly as much as I do, you will be super excited about the $50 credit (pluse free shipping) giveaway!  Just enter the Rafflecopter below to have a chance to win!

I received a Shutterfly credit for this post, but all opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Natalie

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire {Giveaway}

Are you just as excited as I am about the upcoming release of CATCHING FIRE? I can't believe it has been a whole year since I saw the last one!  I remember when I read the series I could not put it down until I read all three books!

Are you getting giddy just looking at these movie scenes? I seriously can't wait!

To hold you over until the big release date, I have a fun giveaway to offer you.

You get a chance to win your very own CATCHING FIRE Prize Pack!

This includes:
*T-shirt
*Movie Poster
*iPhone cleaner
*iPhone dot and wristbands

The giveaway is only open to U.S. residents, ages 18+.

I received the same prize pack in exchange for this post, however all opinions are my own.

Enter the Rafflecopter below to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Natalie

The Many Emotions of Feeling Helpless

A few nights ago, we accidentally left our garage door open at our house.

We've done this a few times on accident, and I'm sure we aren't the only ones who have.

I didn't know about it because my husband is the one who gets up super early for work, so I had no idea until I got in my car.

I was getting it ready for our first KMB event when I noticed my glove box was open, my console was open, and a birthday card I had ready for a friend was open.

My stomach dropped.  First I thought...did I do that, was I looking for something?  Was my husband looking for something?

Then I knew.  Someone had been in my car.  And that someone stole my iPod out of my car.

It's an older iPod Nano from 2007 or 2008, so it's not about the value.

It's the invasion in MY GARAGE and in MY CAR.  It makes me angry, frustrated, and just plain out violated. Nothing in our garage or my car was taken which leaves me with the impression it is one of the punk kids across the street.  Because who leaves tools and all the other stuff for an iPod?  A kid, that's who.  Luckily I don't keep anything of real value in my car but just to think someone touching my things makes me want to throw up.  It just disgusts me that we have to worry about this type of problem in our homes and neighborhoods.  And what about my kids? What if it had been someone to break into the house...or worse after my kids? Just the thought of this gives me chills and full of fear.

It pretty much ruined my whole day because I was so angry at the situation.  I can't imagine how people feel when someone steals items from inside your home.  It's just such a violation, you know?

Anyhow it's my birthday today, so I will try to get over my rant on this.  Maybe a Starbucks run and a glass of wine at dinner will help, don't you think?

Natalie

Where I Have Been and What I Am Up To..

You may have noticed my blogging and my commented as slowed slightly.

That is mainly due to my new project and business.  Some of you may know and already follow but for those who don't and are interested, well here it is!

I have founded the Knoxville Moms Blog! I am super excited that the site launched yesterday and can't thank our sister sites, especially the New Orleans site for all your support and advice.  My contributor team has been AMAZING and the feedback we are receiving is truly inspiring. It really shows how strong the bond of motherhood is and how connected we are.

Many of you have probably seen the sister sites in your city.  Our goal is to connect moms online and offline and provide useful content and personal stories from local moms.  We also partner with local businesses to provide resources to our moms and to create fun events.

We already have three and almost four small events that we are hosting with local businesses, so we couldn't be more excited about the beginning of our journey.

So if you see I'm a little slower on my comments on your blog, or that I go a few more days without a post, please know I will be back and will be reading you...it just might take me a little longer until I get in a groove.

I probably won't post much about KMB here on my personal blog, but feel free to follow along. For those who already are through the different social media channels, I really appreciate your support!

And for fun, a few photos from our photo shoot for the site!

The KMB team!

(Please ignore the fluffy hair in these shots the wind was ridiculous!)

You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Hope to see you around! 

Natalie