i can't believe it is already september. my favorite season of the year is about to end. i love summer! i love fresh fruits, the sun's heat, playing outside, bright skies, vibrant colors, and the general way it makes me feel. the only thing i like about fall are the colors. i can't stand the cinnamon smell of fall and winter. i do not know why, but i simply detest cinnamon's taste and smell! so my classes have been HARD. so much to keep up with. i'm really happy this is my last semester. i need a break from studying. we did our own little summer celebration of sorts. i have decided to become a better cook. with the help of the food network, of course. this is what i had to offer: rosemary orange chicken, baked sweet potatoes, and whole wheat taboule. i have always loved taboule, but never cared to learn how to make it. then a friend of mine from NIH sent me her fabulous recipe. i could eat a whole bowl of this stuff. so fresh. speaking of fresh. we had so much from our garden this year. i don't have picture because i was away all summer, but maybe next year i will get to show it off.
today i took a break from school and worked on some sewing projects. i made three things to give away in the next several weeks. this is how it will work: if you want to be enter the giveaway you MUST live comments on this post and the next post. i gotta tell ya that the stuff is pretty cute! happy labor day to you! i'm back to labor now!
ps: pardon my dust! i have been trying to make some changes to the blog. will keep working on it! new banner to come as well. i'm trying to embroider it so for now you can look at the stripes. so much to do!!
You don't need to enter me. I just wanted to say and nice to hear from you. The study will be worth it even if it is hard now...Here In Australia we are just shaking off winter and thinking of spring...
Posted by: jodie | September 06, 2009 at 04:27 AM
Mmm, that chicken dish looks good. You couldn't live at my house. My kids are cinnamon freaks year round! Good luck with your final semester!
Posted by: susan | September 06, 2009 at 07:04 AM
You summer celebration foods look so yummy! I always look forward to your great blog posts. Good luck with school! I finished grad school a couple of years before I had my daughter....don't know how I would do it now! You are amazing:)
Posted by: Natalie Stewart Graham | September 06, 2009 at 08:13 AM
The food looks delicious! And I can't wait to see what you've been working on! :)
Posted by: Amanda Wassell | September 06, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Love that tablecloth!
Posted by: Kari | September 06, 2009 at 07:53 PM
this food is LITERALLY making my mouth water. im sooo hungry! i love summer too! xo.
Posted by: b. | September 06, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Miss Nat~~
You're always just spin, spin, spinning!! I love to see what you come up with!! You are one amazing woman to be doing the college and mama thing!! Keep on keepin' on!!
Posted by: penny | September 07, 2009 at 06:33 AM
That tablecloth is amazing! On the bright side of saying good-bye to summer, the fall color make for amazing pictures. I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Posted by: Kira | September 08, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Nat - The chicken dish looks amazing. Can you share the recipe? I also make the Tabouli all the time..so easy and so good!
Posted by: Andrea | September 08, 2009 at 11:33 AM
ooh loving the new look & what's to come! The first photo spread
I love summer too, but I do love cinnamon v. much! I love the smell of it and the taste of it. I detest the red hot cinnamony taste though. How funny you do not like it. I'll forgive ya =)
Posted by: kellie h | September 08, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Fall is my absolute favorite season, maybe because I met my husband many years ago in the fall, and we were then married in the fall. I love leaves and pumpkins and jeans and sweatshirts.
And you are so, so busy with all you do, I get tired just reading about it :)
Posted by: Brooke | September 09, 2009 at 05:11 AM
Without even seeing it I know I would LOVE to win whatever you've made! Your creations are so inspiring!
Posted by: Nicole | September 09, 2009 at 01:36 PM
I love your new blog header! very simple and stylish! I can't wait to see what little goodies you have been making!
-Kelly
Posted by: Kelly Jones | September 09, 2009 at 05:54 PM
such bright pictures! i love color!!! miss you!!!
Posted by: rubyellen | September 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Hi girl,
Had a great time at lunch today; it had been way too long! We definitely need to set up a play date soon!
Posted by: Stephanie | September 10, 2009 at 02:24 PM
Natalie- my mom told me you were talented but I had no idea. Wow. You inspire me to want to be productive, make stuff, learn how to take pictures, etc. Oh, and Kennedy is precious. Tell Paul hi.
Katie Lofton Wallace (my mom is Linda Lofton, Mrs. Bearden's good friend)
Posted by: Katie Wallace | September 10, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Your blog is like a little slice of heaven...
Posted by: nichole | September 10, 2009 at 07:07 PM
I don't think I've ever had taboule, but you've piqued my interest. I would like to become a better cook, too. I have a few basic dishes that I make well, but my repertoire is verrrry small.
Posted by: Serena | September 10, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Good to see you posting more again. I love your ideas.
Posted by: Amber | September 11, 2009 at 08:32 AM
delicious!!!
Posted by: mirna | September 15, 2009 at 07:57 PM
OMG! the tablecloth is so beautiful. I'm so glad I found your blog. Great eye candy!
Posted by: sues | September 16, 2009 at 11:17 AM