Girls Weekend on Lake Pepin

A couple of weeks ago I got to go on a girls weekend on Lake Pepin in southern Minnesota!Girls weekends are so needed! We cooked, shopped, talked, drank coffee, shared secrets, watched chick flicks....and relaxed.
What a great weekend! I feel so blessed to work with such amazing girls... here's a peek into the fun from our view on Lake Pepin! I am loving all these fall colors! What are you doing to get out there and enjoy fall?
Maybe you need a girls (or guys) weekend with your friends!?

Documenting Life

Lately I am obsessed with documenting, and getting all my photos in order! Unfortunately with the digital world we live in I have not kept up on all my printing of photos. Do you have this same problem!? Even some of the most organized people I know don't have their pictures in print! I really can't imagine how I will be able to keep up with it all when I have kids! Yikes!

I have given up on scrap booking completely! I realized I don't love scrap booking like I love other things like painting, and illustrating, and taking pictures and cooking...
AND guess what?
There are only so many hours in the day!
It's hard to make time do do the things I love let alone things I just feel obligated to do..
so people...
let me tell you something...
Do what you love... and Love what you do.
Don't waste time on hobbies, activities or people that don't light you up!

My goal for the end of the year is to get all caught up on my photos!
Shutterfly has a free book deal going on until tomorrow! I decided to make a book of all my recent paintings! One of my big ones that sold this year I never got a good picture of it! How sad! Take my advice... Keep up on it so it doesn't become ONE huge task! 
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY....
Make it easy and fun! 
For me Just slipping my photos in a "old fashion" photo album is 
AWESOME AND PERFECT! And making books like this one on Shutterfly are fun and easy!
YEA!

Click here to view this photo book larger

You'll love award-winning Shutterfly photo books. Start your own today.

Camping in the Coon Cove!

Making breakfast with my boys!

Cooking breakfast!

A couple of weekends ago my husband and I went on our first EVER camping trip together. It's hard to believe it was our first time camping because we've talked about going since we got married... three years ago! What a blast we had.... not sure why we've waited so long to go! Camping is just so much fun! 

I have so many fond memories of summer camping trips in my parents pop-up camper! My parents liked to camp at the Minnesota state parks. As a kid I remember earning their Junior Park Naturalist patches/badges. To earn the patch you had to observe, draw, write (fill out little books) attend the naturalist programs, they were really fun for me (DORK ALERT! I know!) By doing that I really learned to appreciate nature. My parents and grandparents loved camping, and wildlife I remember my grandma & grandpa identifying birds, and loving to see deer and other camp critters!

My favorite meal we made - breakfast burritos! YUMO!

Let's just say tent camp is a little different than camping in a pop-up camper! We have a very small tent that JUST fit me, hubby and the golden. The bummer was we had raccoons at our campsite all night, sniffing, scratching, talking, hissing. So needless to say, we didn't get much sleep!

We joked all weekend with our friends that our site was the coon cove and on the second night while making dinner at their campsite (which was across the road from us) we could hear the coons cooing us over! Our site was very wooded - so beware if you head to Sibley state park - campsite #130! You'll be living in the coon cove!!

Despite the raccoons dampering our sleep we sure did have fun, hiking, cooking, having campfires, laying out at the beach, fishing, boating and hanging out with our friends. The weather was perfect... we couldn't have asked for better weather! We only went for a weekend... it was way too short! It really gave me the itch to camp more, and of course now I really want that pop-up camper! I always have wanted one, but even more so now! What's so fun about camping is that their are so many different places you can go & see!

One of the many critters that visited our camp site!

Sunset hike up to Mount Tom!

Hanging out on the lake fishing & exploring!

Flowers on our hike!

Where's your favorite place to camp? I'd love to know! I hope we can plan at least one more camping weekend before the summer disappears!

Nat

Winter at the cabin

We had a weekend away and although it was a very short weekend, the views were inspiring and revitalizing. I think nature has a way of doing that. I'm not sure how you could look be surrounded by this kind of beauty and not relax a little more and have that beauty seep into your spirit and soul.

We visited Itasca State Park, where we drove around and explored... saw about 20 deer. We went right at sunset so it was perfect.We took the snowmobile for a couple of rides, cooked and just relaxed...winter at our cabin is winter camping! No water and outhouse!

I hope some of these shots will inspire some new paintings!

How do you you stay inspired in the winter?

Buddy watching his dad take off on the snowmobile!

One of grandpa's 
MANY bird houses!

Get outside even in the winter!

You never know what beautiful things out in nature you might find!

Nat

Instagram Takes Over

My year so far has been amazing... 
I CAN NOT believe I haven't had blogged ONE TIME!
So Bad! I think my followers (if I have any left) think I fell off the face of the planet!

I LOVE, LOVE, photography and I really feel like Instagram has changed my blogging habits. I got a smart phone at the end of last year and it's not really convenient to blog on a phone and I typically just don't pull out my computer at night! I miss this space though! It's not going anywhere!
I'm back! I'm back!


So since I was too busy Instagraming....I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite Instagram pics that I've taken this year!! 

We opened the year with relaxation, family, and lots of snuggling up by the fire. We bought a load of firewood which  was something we have wanted to so since we owned our house. I just love it. It's romantic, and soothing, relaxing.

Here's my best friend... keeping me company on the bed (so bad I know) He typically doesn't even like to jump up on the bed anymore he's 7 now! I can't believe we've had him for 3 years now this February!

The best dog I've ever had!
Nick name: Sweet Sweet

In the winter we send a lot of time at the dog park! It's happy hour for the dogs and the people. 
 I can walk of my work day and, get some fresh air AND get some nature in, while buddy gets a ton of exercise! It's a win win for us both!

This was a spontaneous big one for us! We bought a new car. It's green, and it's a little mini SUV thing, and I love it. It's my first ever brand new car!

Room for dogs, future kids and all my art supplies! I'm happy.

My moms friend got sick with the flu so
I by chance got invited to Priscilla at the Orpheum Theatre. 

So funny! Beautiful costumes!
SO INSPIRING! 

My husband and I went to Ike's for breakfast in downtown Minneapolis.
One of my goals for 2013 is to try lots of new restaurants!
YEA!
Most amazing Bloody Mary Ever!
Delish!

One night my mom and spontaneously stopped at the Eastman Nature Center and saw this big guy from the glass windows inside the Nature Center!

My paintings are up for 3 months at the local Dunn Brothers in Maple Grove!
I am over the moon phyced and excited!!
I am in charge of a new program at the Maple Grove At Center called The Business of Art... this program gets art into local businesses!!

Another amazing
sunset at the 
dog park!

My word for the year is CREATE. Even though I'm an artist and graphic designer my goal is make time to do something CREATIVE every day! Maybe it's sketching, blogging, painting. Something creative!

I painted a canvas Valentine's Day banner!





Working on lots of new canvases!

Ice fishing with my dad on Bass Lake!

Capturing the beauty on Bass Lake...
While we were out on the lake it snowed a couple of beautiful white fluffy inches!
This really inspired me!

Adding Luscious layers to my canvases!

Really loving this canvas! 
So dreamy!

What's your favorite thing to Instagram!?!?

Oh ya... did I mention you can follow me on Instagram at: Cre8tiveQueenNat

Gratitude & Abundance!

Do you ever get crabby? In a FUNK? Beaten down? Frustrated?
Or maybe its just that you're chugging a long... finding it hard to FIND THAT inspiration and joy...
Or maybe you have a bad experience? A crabby waiter or store clerk? 

We all experience these "Funks or Bumps"...
and that's why I wanted to give you a few ideas for boosting yourself back to gratitude
These are DAILY HABITS to practice... not just a one time deal and your good for life!

5 Easy Tips to Bring More Gratitude & Abundance 
Into Your Life!

1. PICTURE IT!
One my favorite ways to express my gratitude is to take pictures through out my day of the little things in life... that I'm grateful for. The other night I captured this shot on my walk with bud...with technology, iphones and pocket cameras this is so fun & inspiring!
 
2. WRITE IT!
At the end of your day - make a list of the 5 things you are grateful for. (Sometimes I sketch mine) If you can write more... AWESOME! There have to be at least 5 things that you can be thankful for, even if it's as simple as your warm bed or a cup of tea.

3. VISUALIZE IT!
I like to visualize! I walk everyday with my 4 legged best friend and as I'm walking I start to take in all the things around me and in my head (or sometimes out loud) I say...Thank you for the birds, Thank you for the beautiful trees, Thank you for the clean air, as I think about all the beautiful things in nature that I am thankful for I visualize that love and gratitude going out into this world. I always feel lighter and brighter after I do this one.

4. FLIP IT!
Have you ever heard the saying "Attitude of Gratitude" ?? When your speaking negative things or thinking negative things you are actually drawing that to negative energy into your life. My husband and I kind of have a deal, when one of us is getting into the negative talk or focusing on all the bad - we say "Attitude of Gratitude!" This is our cue - and our friendly reminder to one another to stay on track with a positive mind set. Catch yourself when you aren't in that positive mindset or if your speaking negatively - and FLIP IT! All it takes is that simple little shift!

5. EXPECT IT!
Ya, I just said.... expect it! You should expect greatness in your life. Why wouldn't you? When I expect my day to suck, it always does. When I expect that my day will be AMAZING, it ALWAYS IS. ALWAYS. Expect beauty. Expect joy. Expect love. Expect blessings. It is life changing.

Your attitude, your feelings, your words - can shape you, can transform your life and your days for the better or for the worst. Maybe you aren't sure which way you are being shaped right now but you have the power to change that....
RIGHT NOW.

Try one or all five! Gratitude = Abundance
xoxox,
Nat 

Finding My Voice

I love to sing. 
So, so, so much. Music can take you on a journey - it's so freeing. It's kind of like painting - I can get lost in it. I hate driving long distances but the best part about my 30 minute commute to work is jammin' out at the top of my lungs.

I was in choir all through elementary school and junior high.... then for some reason - singing in a choir just fell off my list of activities... for no particular reason, other than I was doing other things. I still loved music and had always had knack for learning the lyrics to every song on the radio. A couple of my friends parents growing up even called me "Singing Natalie"
I used to blare the stereo after school with my best friend and jam out to Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Micheal Jackson. Singing our favorites on repeat for hours.

I wish I would have stuck with it.
I have felt this tug on my heart to sing again... for over a year.

At the church I go to they have a team that sings up in front... I've kind of thought wouldn't it be awesome if I was good enough to sing with them?

I have been out of practice for so long though... 
It's scary and a long shot!
What will my family and friends think?
Now all the sudden I want to sing? 
Do I really want to make that commitment?
How do I even approach that? 
What if I'm not good enough?
Do I love it enough?
These questions have been swimming around in my head for over a year, paralyzing me.
It was way too out of my comfort zone to start singing again.

One day my wedding photographer who I had no idea was a singer - posted this video on his website about how he found the courage to sing again after he had  given it up. He actually released an album! He encouraged everyone to GO DO THAT SCARY THING that we've been thinking about...just have the COURAGE TO GO FOR IT!

Oddly enough mine "scary thing" was singing too...

Now... don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to release an album any time soon.
I just want to sing.

As soon as the video ended I reached into my purse and found the little piece of paper I had grabbed at church the week before. It said
"Would you like to join the Music team at Journey? Contact.... so and so."
So I emailed "so and so" and set an appointment to meet him and talk to him about singing at my church.

He just started his position at my church and is the lead singer in the band at the alternative service. It's a laid back kind of service geared towards a more nontraditional approach.

When I went to meet him to talk about the possibility of singing somewhere (maybe at the nontraditional service) at my church, I quickly blurted out... "I'm not very good... I haven't done this in so long... I'm not ready to just join, I need to practice."

"Let's Jam" he said, as he pulls out his guitar...

OMG.

REALLY?

My voice was quivering.
I was was so nervous.
What am I doing?! 
(I thought)

I went and "Jammed out" with a total stranger at my church.
Seriously!
It's not skydiving but I was soooooooooooo nervous!!

After doing it... I kind of felt like

DAMN.

I did it.

Sounds simple, sounds like no big deal.

But it was a leap of courage for me.

I'm not sure where I'll go with this adventure but I'm on my way to finding my voice.
And it feels pretty awesome.

So just like my Wedding Photographer... I want to encourage you.

Go get em'.

This life is so short.

If not now... then when?!

You are never too old to start doing anything!

Who knows what's next for me? Dance, Guitar?

I won't limit myself. I won't be defined by what I think I can or can't do.
And you shouldn't either.

ROCK IT,
Nat

 

In Memory of Jacob

Today was Jacob's funeral. It was such a beautiful fall day. The sun was shining and leaves falling. I took note of the birds, the clouds, the grass.... 
feeling gratitude for all the little things on this earth that I see everyday.

As I approached the open casket I noticed noticed pieces of paper propped up inside the casket. They were drawings his little son had drawn. They looked like drawings of their family, stick figures drawn in markers.

My heart just broke.

I wonder if his son will be an artist like his dad?

As artists we create things with our hands. When I paint - I pour my heart, my spirit, my soul out onto the canvas. It's raw... it's sometimes scary to put that out into this world and I think that's why so many are afraid to say they are an "artist." People say oh it's JUST a hobby, I'm not really good at it or whatever. 

But these snip-its of our soul... whatever they may be - paintings, photographs, quilts, sculptures, journals, scrapbooks or whatever it is you create are left for those to remember you by. 
Although I know that when we leave this earth all of our earthly possession are gone. 

What matters is who you touched on this planet.
Did you make a difference? 
Did you follow your dream? 
Did you do what you love? 
Did you sing, and you laugh, did you dance? Did you live in the moment? 

Somehow though....the art that Jacob created, all his sculptures that are left...
Can bring back memories, can make his friends and family (or admires or strangers) smile and hopefully inspire them and bring them joy. 
His high school in Iowa wants to make a memorial garden for him with some of the sculptures.

How cool is that?

I love hearing that! I hope his art touches and inspires generations to come.
I never really thought about leaving this planet and leaving behind art.
You would hope it would be when you are kids are grown and you have grandchildren.
 
Because Jacob was taken so abruptly in such a senseless act, I feel like the sculptures are something they can cling to, pieces to his heart, his soul and spirit. 
From what I knew of Jacob in only the short time I knew him...
I could tell he was very passionate about his work... and like most artists
he poured his heart, soul and spirit into each and every piece he created.

Recently I asked my grandma about my her mom, my great-grandma. 
I was wondering if she had any journals, or old letters.
Something.
Some sort of light that I could shine onto my past, a piece of her, a story, something more that pictures and what little memories I have of her.
She died when I was just a little kid, but I feel strong a connection to her even now.
She has given me signs but I'd love to know the stories of her heart.


The funeral actually inspired me to create. 
I left thinking... Why has it been over a week since I picked up a paint brush? 
I need to keep doing what I love.
Why? 
Because I believe that when I do what I love I might give someone else the courage to follow their passion and do what they love.

Let's make this world shine!
xoxo
Nat

Two wake up calls in one week!

It was a normal Monday morning I woke up and got ready for a meeting at work. A beautiful fall day, the sun was shining and the sky so blue, the colors at peak.
On the car ride I was listening to a local radio station that always lifts me up. They were talking about gratitude... and what we can be grateful for on the Monday morning. Some mentioned sunshine... I tuned it out for a moment and thought about my beautiful mama.

The night before we had made jam. I had my first ever canning experience. My mom taught me all the tips and tricks. She has the biggest heart, and is SUCH a good cook. I look up to her because she has been such an amazing home-maker, I admire that. I was thinking about how lucky I am to have her, she is really a gift from God!

My nose started to drip...
So I reached behind me under my seat... I couldn't feel it.
I know it's there...
I looked up and I was in the other lane (oncoming traffic) I turned the wheel HARD to the right... I was going into a ditch... a field...

I had 
l o s t  
c o n t r o l...

It was feeling of helplessness.
Of fear.
Of surrender.
I saw a green metal yard stake that was about waist high...
I blacked out.
I shut off.
I think I missed it.

The car stopped.

And there I was in tall grass... deep down in a ditch.
I looked up at the road and there were 2 gentlemen pulled over, and out of their cars checking to be sure that I was okay.

"I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay."
Was all I could say.
The car really had no damage, a flat tire and my already broken windshield shattered a little more.

I was alive.

No one was hurt.

When I saw that green stake I envisioned it going through my head...
I thought that was it. My life was over.

All that I have...

my family, my friends, my dog, my life...gone

I was so scared.
When I called my dad the tears came.

"How could I do this? How could I do this?" I cried to my dad.

It's been a week and I'm over the initial shock and shake up of it all.
It sure was a wake up call.

I have so much to be grateful for. My angels were watching over me that day.
If I would have been 10 yards further I would have hit a bridge guard rail and maybe been seriously injured. What if I had hit someone else... What if...

I've WHAT IF-ED the scenario so many times over and over, I can tell you everything that could have happened, but didn't.

..............................................................

That next night I was supposed to meet a couple of friends that I volunteer with at the Maple Grove Arts Center but because my car was out of commission and I was so shaken up I emailed them to see if we could change the date.

We were going to meet on a new program we are going to start at the Maple Grove Arts Center. It's a program to get businesses involved in the art community by featuring local artists' artwork - called "The Art of Business." Another artist - Jacob was interested in this idea too. So Jacob and director of the Arts Center - Lorrie and I were all going to meet to brainstorm ideas. We were emailing a lot but thought it would be best to just meet in person.

I had only meet Jacob a couple of times, but after seeing his amazing sculptures I was psyched to be working on this with such a talented artist. At the last board meeting he had brought this sculpture of a bunny head made out of found objects... I was scolding him for not getting a booth at the ever popular Junk Bonanza - a perfect venue for him to sell his recycled/found object art.

On Friday night I got a message from Lorrie on my voice mail, call me I need to talk to you about Jacob. 

I thought that was kind of weird message... we were so busy we a birthday event and then a wedding all day yesterday, I thought maybe she had emailed me about it.

This morning I hopped on the computer and read on a local website that artist and active volunteer at the Maple Grove Arts Center Jacob Beneke was one of the victims in recent shooting tragedy at a sign shop in Minneapolis.

Sadness.

Shock.

No.

I had emailed him and Lorrie after the accident. 

He emailed me back and said "I feel for you. I have been in a few myself. Yeah, its a life check."

I asked him about making a sculpture for me. 
Because I'm obsessed with sculpture. OBSESSED.
 
I've always wanted to make my own found object sculptures...
So I've been collecting and saving antiques and junk. 
I really wanted a "junk" dog (a dog made out of old junk!)
We emailed back and forth a few times - he said he was looking forward to it.
We were supposed to meet tomorrow.

Now tomorrow we will meet as a board to figure out a benefit for his family.
 
When I went to my email after I read the story on the local news website...
I had gotten an email from the director - Lorrie.

The words felt like a ton of bricks.

I only briefly knew him. I was so excited to be working on the "Art of Business" project with him. He seemed like such an amazing guy.
He was passionate about the arts, and artists... and having them get their artwork seen. I have this same passion. I could help but admire his artistic talent. I barely new him and I really admired him....I just can't imagine what his family is going through.
He seemed like a pretty special guy.

I send his family a prayer for peace
For understanding
For love
For light
FOR HEALING
FOR HOPE

How can you recover from the sadness... from the shock of this tragedy?

From my understanding he was married and had a little son, my prayers is that maybe the child can bring joy and happiness to their world as try to put the pieces back together.

My heart is just breaking.

I am so sad that this world lost such a talented and special person.


Two wake up calls in one week...
 
Life is so fragile. So special. 
Don't wait until tomorrow.
Make it count.
Always kiss your loved ones good-bye.
Tell them you love them.
Make time.
Make memories.
Show you care.

Ya get where I'm going here?
 
 
All my love,

Nat

 

Some weekend wind!

I wasn't really intending to take all these but it just kind of happened...
This dog is happiest when his ears are in the wind!
Dang... he got to ride a four-wheeler this weekend at the cabin (didn't get pic) but it happened! And now I'm laughing just thinking about it - did we really do that?
Oh... yes we did!
There's something about golden retriever's I'm telling you! I've never had one until this guy... but I'd swear he's part human. I can't tell you how many people have said to me "They are people with four legs!"
Happiest with the wind is in his hair...

This view is nice too... just not as nice as the first one, and definitely not the preferred view.

















And the view inside the car, well - not so much... lots of huffs and puffs on the four hour ride this weekend!

Luckily....
There are lots of small towns along the way where we slow down to 30mph... so we can take breaks to get some air!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Are you smiling yet?
I hope so!
Nat