NYE Fashionista :: "All That Glitters"

Merry Christmas my lovely friends!! How was your Christmas Day? I had such a special time celebrating with my family and making some beautiful (and crazy) memories (including my 92 year old Nanna Joy playing the piano for us!! What did you do? Did you get anything from Santa?! 

Well... it's hard to believe we are just three sleeps away from a brand-new year! Are you ready? Let me just encourage you to really expect wonderful things in this new season, because as I always say, at any moment, at any time, anything can happen. I have seen this ring true sooooo many times over the past year, so I am praying this for you too!

What have you got planned for New Year's Eve? Is it something formal and glitzy? Or perhaps a casual BBQ? I think I will be heading towards the latter option this year... but one year I would SO love to get all dressed up and go to a gala ball! But to help us get in the mood for celebrating this week, here is a little sprinkling of glittery, sparkly fabulousness to whet our appitite. Have a beautiful day! :) Nx

Well my friends... What did you think of the sparkle prettiness? I just love love love this last image of the black skirt and sequinned halter, don't you? It's so timeless, classic and elegant. Have a beautiful day today. My challenge to us all this week is to set aside time to dream. (Even if it's just 10 or 20 minutes every day) God sees your heart so be encouraged, God is working on your behalf right now.... :) 

Love you guys have a great day!

Nat xox

Refreshed by joy.

Hi friends! Merry Christmas! Eeeeek :) It's three sleeps to go! Well, I hope you have had a great week. Don't you just love this time of year so much? :) What's the most Christmassy thing you have done this season so far? 

Sooo my last post was on "Just chase the one rabbit", and you know what... I have taken my own advice. Yep. Rather than chasing a million rabbits and trying to get a zillion projects done, (and actually getting nothing done in the end!) last week I put everything else on hold and focused on one rabbit. And the rabbit I focused on was this little project... These ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN prints. And honestly, the only reason I was able to get them done amidst all the busyness of this time of year... was because I was able to focus on one thing. ;) Look how shiny they are!

Pretty beautiful hey :) So I have been a busy little bee this past week, processing orders and getting them out before Christmas. (More info coming soon (with pics!) on the printing process!) (PS: to order these prints see below). How about you, do you think you are able to cut back on the rabbits you are chasing? Let me tell you, there is LOTS more joy when we are focused on one thing at a time.

And speaking of joy, I recently noticed an article I wrote last year for Christian Woman Magazine on their website again this month. It's all about keeping our joy at this time. So I thought I would share it with you all today. Hope you have fun reading it :) xo

... REFRESHED BY JOY THIS CHRISTMAS ...

By Natalie Box

My family and friends know that by the time September hits, the Christmas season has pretty much begun for me. While other people are thinking about school holidays and sport, I’m already beginning to dream about decorations, gift ideas, Christmas parties and perhaps even playing some Christmas music (secretly of course). I just love the feeling of Christmas. Do you know what I mean? It’s that magical excitement that stirs when decorations start to appear in stores. Gifts are bought and wrapped, trees are trimmed, Christmas movies are watched and candles are lit (Christmas scented of course). However, even though these things do bring great joy, my favourite part of Christmas is celebrating the joy bringer himself. 

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given … and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. (Isaiah 9:6, NLT). The weight of hope that flows through these words carries truth and life. Here we find ourselves in a season where miraculous hope has suddenly invaded descended upon our planet. The whole world is looking to Jesus! However, despite the reality of this abundant hope, sometimes rather than overflowing with joy, we can actually become overwhelmed by busyness. Ticking off to do lists, sticking to (or going over) budgets, and watching our December calendar fill up right before our very eyes, all become the focus of our attention. All of a sudden we’ve boarded the train to “anxious-ville” and we can’t wait for Christmas to be over. What? Seriously! How crazy is that?!

But good news, this is not what our heavenly Dad has for us. Stress is not his will for our life. Instead of anxiousness and fear; peace, rest and joy are his gifts to us this season. Even as you read this article, I pray that his refreshing presence would wash over you, bringing life to your soul. The word ‘refresh’ means, “to give new strength or energy to; to reinvigorate” (Oxford Dictionary). However if you think about it with reference to a computer, ‘refresh’ means, “to reload and create an updated version of a website” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). God wants to reload us with strength, renew our minds, and refresh us with joy this season.

God is into exchanges. He loves taking our mess and replacing it with order. When he presses ‘refresh’; everything else fades away, and rest, hope, peace and joy come. In the midst of a flurry of to do lists, deadlines and appointments, joy is what he has for you. When it’s noisy, he gives you quiet. When things are moving too fast, he stills your soul. His promise for you today is, “I will lead you to quiet waters and restore your soul” (Psalm 23:2-3). Here are some ways you can be refreshed by joy this season.

5 WAYS TO BE REFRESHED BY JOY THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON:

1. Stop and remember.

What an incredible day that was, when hope entered the world. The finest of plans, meticulously set in place from the foundations of the earth, finally ready to come to pass. Stop and remember. That day, a waiting world watched. A Father’s generosity was poured out. And a Saviour came for the joy set before him. That’s you. What a reason to celebrate!

2. Instead of being overwhelmed, trust.

Worrying never helps the situation. Even though it feels like it’s helping, it’s not. Choose to consciously turn your affection towards him, despite feeling overwhelmed. In an instant his presence comes. “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for (his) voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” (Prov 3:5-6, MSG)

3. Rest in his presence.

All it takes is one moment in his presence. “In his presence is joyful abundance!” (Psalm 16:11, ISV). He is always there waiting with so much goodness for you.  The second you turn your affection to him; the connection is instant. This season, his joy changes everything. And he’s waiting right now with a fresh batch for you.

4. Cultivate thankfulness.

Thankfulness releases the miraculous. When you begin to thank God for the blessings around you, big or small, your perspective changes and hope invades. God says to you, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Rev 4:1) Instead of being overwhelmed by small thinking, let thankfulness elevate you to a place where joy abounds.

5. Have fun… It’s Christmas!

Think about kids. They don’t do anything unless it’s fun. So, it’s time for you to have some fun. Sometimes as adults we think we’re “too old” to really get into all the celebrations. Well I am here to tell you that you have permission to have fun this Christmas! So get ready because guess what… it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

So right now, take a deep breath. Breathe in his presence. Rest in his love and be encouraged. You are doing an amazing job and I am cheering you on! God bless you and Merry Christmas.  Remember to expect surprises... because anything can happen. ;)

Have a beautiful day guys! This is me bursting with excitement putting together my first orders :) If you would like to order these prints for $25 each (regular mail) or $30 each (express post in time for Christmas) simply email natalie@thewritersink.com.au to place your order :)

Love you guys lots!!

Love Nat xox

Images 3-7 via Pinterest

Just chase the one rabbit.

Hi friends! Who's a little bit excited it's just seventeen sleeps til Christmas! So I was thinking about what I'd like to write for today's blog, and I remembered something one of my very good friends has said to me many times (and he's German so he's very smart!) :: "if you chase two rabbits both will escape". Have you ever heard this statement made?

Well never mind two rabbits, I've felt like I've been chasing about seven rabbits of late! What about you? Maybe you've tried "multi-tasking", only to find both tasks either got done half-heartedly, or not at all? Then... all of a sudden all the rabbits you were chasing were gone!

So it's been five weeks since I've returned from New York, and I've got lots of exciting creative projects buzzing around in my mind... ready to be birthed. However, I've found that over the past few weeks I have been so focused on so many of these exciting projects, that none of them have actually progressed as far as I would have hoped! Maybe you know what I mean... You start one thing, then you think of something else, so you move onto that, then suddenly you think "oh I'll just stop that and quickly do this" and before you know it nothing is actually getting done!

So what's the answer? Well, I am not saying multi-tasking is not the way to go. For smaller, urgent things, multi-tasking is often a great option, however I think the key to successfully completing any large, important project is focus.

Focus means :: "to cause something, such as our attention, to be directed at something specific". But it also has another meaning, "to adjust our eyes, and to make an image clear". (Source) How cool is that. :) So basically, focus is HOW we see (with wisdom) and WHAT we see (with clarity). So friends... let's take a step back and help each other out with this okay? :) 

This week let's...

1. Stop, and take the pressure off ourselves.

 Creative projects are fun, but they require focus and they cant be rushed.

So take a breather and just rest.

2. Hang out with God and listen to his still small voice. 

As we are still in his presence, his peace comes. 

It's in this place of peace we know what to put our hand to.

3. Focus on 'that thing' and stick to it until it is done.

A mountain is never climbed by taking two steps forward and four steps back. 

As we stick to the path and keep moving forward, we will reach the peak! 

4. Remember if we mess up it's okay!

So don't worry, if we find ourselves overwhelmed chasing five rabbits that all 

escape, it's all good! We just skip back to number 1 and start over he he ;) xo 

5. There is plenty of time.

Sometimes it feels like we are running out of time, which is why we 

often 'chase so many rabbits'...  but God's timing is perfect and we are right 

on schedule. So let's just enjoy today hey... ;) 

Have a WONDERFUL week my precious ones! The world needs what you have to give today, so sow seeds of generosity wherever you go :)

Love Nat xoxo

Images via Pinterest