pineapple mango green smoothie.

Growing up, I was a Jamba Juice girl. Every time I went to the airport with my family, or hung out with friends on the weekends, Jamba Juice seemed to be involved. Aloha pineapple, anyone?

Unfortunately, after a short bout of employment with Jamba, I became painfully aware of just how unhealthy all of my favorite smoothies were. Thus, I started making smoothies at home and eventually fell in love with green smoothies. They aren't really anything fancy or special—just your favorite smoothie with greens added for extra nutrients and a funny color :)

I find spinach and kale to be the best in fruit smoothies. You can't taste spinach at all, but kale definitely leaves a hint of a taste, so I'd only use it if you're someone who also eats a lot of greens and is used to it. If you do go with kale, make sure to remove the stems before blending, as they have a bitter taste. Also—I just recently started adding some raw almonds and oats to my smoothies for texture and extra nutrients. It really does add body to the smoothie, as well as make it more satisfying.

Now, without further ado, I give you a fairly rough recipe for my latest favorite, which, now that I think about it, is slightly reminiscent of my Aloha Pineapple days...

INGREDIENTS
1 banana
Handful of greens (your choice)
Frozen pineapple (about 1/4-1/2 cup)
Frozen mango (about 1/4-1/2 cup)
Unsweetened soy milk (at least 8oz)
1/8 cup raw almonds (optional)
1/4 cup raw oats (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Put all ingredients into the blender and blend, adding more liquid if necessary based on the consistency you like.

Do you make smoothies at home? What's your favorite kind?

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my life motto.

Happy Saturday, girls! I rarely post something on the weekends, but this little gem was too good to keep to myself. It's pretty much my life motto, and if it's yours too, then I know we'll be great friends. Have a lovely weekend!

What fun, light-hearted motto would describe your outlook on life? Do share!

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water the grass.

Happy Friday, friends! I have a confession for you: I'm a "grass is always greener" person. I really wish that wasn't the case, but the perfectionist in me is always seeking out what could be better and make me feel happier. I always want to do my best, and make life as ideal as possible, and as I result I can often feel disappointed or inadequate.

As soon as I saw this print, I was reminded of the error of my ways. Where I tend to look outside of my circumstances to have "greener grass," so to speak, what I really need to do is water the grass. What does that look like, you ask? I think it means practicing gratitude all day every day, choosing not to compare what I have or am to what others have or are, and cultivating strong relationships in the here and now.

Are you a "grass is always greener" person, too? How do you pursue contentment in what you have and/or who you are?

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spring cleaning: online clothing sale for charity.

Spring is here and it's time to clear the clutter from our closets—but what to do with the clothes we don't need or want anymore? Madison from Espresso and Cream wondered the same thing, and has decided to have an online clothing sale for charity. As soon as I read about it I knew I wanted to share with you girls here on Thoughts by Natalie. Read Madison's post below (or go to her original post) to learn how you can get involved...

Twice a year, I go through my closet and do a little sorting and purging. I get rid of old items I haven't worn in the past year and bring them to my local consignment shop or Goodwill, depending on the condition they are in. This spring I wanted to do things a little differently. Most of the clothes I was thinking of getting rid of were in great shape, some had hardly been worn more than a few times (I have a bad habit of buying shoes I think I can squeeze my feet into but can't), so it seemed a shame to just give them away.

So this year, I thought it might be fun to host an online "clothing sale" where the proceeds of the sale go to a charity organization. Freedom From Hunger is a great organization that helps to keep women and children around the globe from going hungry. You can find out more about them by visiting their site, freedomfromhunger.org.

Want to be a part of the clothing sale? Well here's how you can be a part of it!

1. Make a donation. I will be collecting photos of items from my own closet, as well as items from yours, and putting the items up for sale on Ebay where people will be able to bid on them. If you think you have something that might be a good fit for the sale, shoot me an e-mail (madisonjanemayberry@gmail.com) and let's chat. The bidding will begin on Monday, May 14 and go through the week.
2. Buy something! As mentioned above, the items will be going up on Ebay on Monday, May 14 with 100% of the proceeds going to Freedom From Hunger. You get a great new item for your closet and you'll help feed the hungry at the same time. A total win-win!

Who's in? Will you donate, buy or both?

*UPDATE* The online clothing sale will take place from Monday, May 22 through Friday, May 25th.You can find all of the details on Madison's blog here.

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beating the heat: maxi dress obsession.

While many of you are likely enjoying a cool, crisp spring season, we in Texas are basically in summer. It's been around 90 degrees all week, and I'll bet it's only going to keep getting hotter and sweatier around here. Thus, my new obsession with maxi dresses. They're flowy and breezy, and while they look ultra-feminine and put-together, they're pretty much pajamas. These are some of my current favorites—some that I own, and some that I hope to add to my closet very, very soon...

J.Crew Amie Double-Stripe Maxi Dress, $110

Mossimo Women's Knit Maxi Tank Dress, Available in Target Stores

Mossimo Juniors Colorblock Maxi Dress, Available in Target Stores

Banana Republic Libby Halter Dress, $110

J.Crew Thea Maxidress, $98

Old Navy Women's Tie-Waist Tube Maxi, $30

What about you—what are your go-to hot weather favorites?

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officially published.

Deep in each of our hearts lies a series of lingering questions: Am I worthy? Am I enough? Do you think I’m beautiful? Am I of value…to my friends, to my family, and to the world? We yearn for worth, love, beauty, and value, and end up with an insatiable search for significance; a hunger deep within that fuels our dreams, decisions, and relationships.

Back in September, Allie, Christie, Kayla and I met in Los Angeles to sign our book contract with all of that in mind. Since then we've put in a ton of hard work, and today I'm excited to tell you that our new book, Wonderfully Made: Becoming Who You Are In Christ, is available for pre-order (with free shipping!!) through the wmBoutique.

Through six lessons filled with personal stories, discussion and journaling questions, challenges, and memory verses, this study helps you uncover your true identity and worth as a beloved daughter of God. You can visit the wmBoutique right now to order your very own copy and not pay one dime for us shipping it to you once it's in our hands.

I do hope you'll order a copy and check it out—especially chapter five, because it may or may not have been written by yours truly. Thank you to each and every one of you who have supported me and encouraged me in my writing. It's meant the world to me!

Alright, who out there plans to get some girlfriends together and do this study (or even use it as your next study for your existing small group)? Make sure to let me know so I can tell you how awesome you are :)

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getting sweaty: my first hot yoga experience.

[photo credit]

Let me just start by clarifying one thing: I really, really, really hate the heat. How on earth I ended up living in Texas, I have no idea; however, I do in fact live here, and the springtime temperatures are already what I consider "too hot." While complaining in my head sometimes does make me feel a little better, yesterday I decided it was time to find a solution to my heat aversion.

After just a few minutes of Google research, I discovered the very simple, but not too exciting answer to my problem: spend more time in the heat. According to everything that I read, the best way to adapt to a hotter climate is to let yourself acclimate—not sit in the air conditioning all the time. Bummer.

While jogging is normally my exercise of choice, I already knew I wasn't ready to do so in this muggy Texas air. Thus, I decided it was finally time to give hot yoga a try.

I know a lot of people who swear by Bikram yoga, but a jam-packed, 90-minute class in a 105-degree sweat box seemed a little too extreme for me (at least for now). Instead, I opted for a middle-ground option: an hour-long, 6:00am "sweaty yoga" class in a room heated to only 95 degrees, which happens to be offered at my favorite local (and donation-based) studio that's only a five minute walk from my apartment. Convenience and cost made all the difference, and I really think they were the two key factors in getting me into the studio at all this morning.

Because of the early hour, the class was nearly empty and we all had plenty of space to move around and get our sweat on. Also, the music was slow and soothing—just the kind of thing you want to listen to when you've only been out of bed for 20 minutes. It was hot for sure, but it truly wasn't as bad as I anticipated.

In all honestly, I absolutely loved it. Never in a million years did I imagine that I would be someone who would 1) take a hot yoga class, and 2) enjoy it; but that seems to be how life has played out, and I'm not too upset about it. Here's to many more early, sweaty yoga mornings to come.

If you've ever tried hot yoga, what do you think of it? If you haven't, would you ever consider giving it a whirl?

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book review: one thousand gifts.

I touched on this book a bit earlier this month, but wanted to write an official book review now that I'm all finished reading.

Let me start by saying this is absolutely one of my new favorite books—one that touched me to the core, and that I will read over and over again through the years. Ann has such a poetic voice that comes through in her writing and has a way of captivating your imagination. She creates imagery with every word and sentence, and has a way of making every day chores sound like a beautiful song. Every time I put down the book I couldn't wait until the next opportunity I had to read it again.

In a word, this book is about thankfulness. It's something so simple, yet underrated and undervalued. Through each chapter and story, she digs deeper into the necessity of all Christ-followers to cultivate grateful hearts. It's funny how God creates themes for different seasons in our lives—how he puts an idea or concept into our minds, and continues to make us aware of it everywhere. For me right now, that theme is gratitude, and it all began with this book.

As a personal challenge, my book club girlfriends and I have started keeping our own lists of one thousand gifts—recording the little bits of life that we often take for granted, like the way the sun peeks through the trees as it's setting or the warmth of my puppy when she curls up and snuggles with me on the couch.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts of the book to entice you to start reading it ASAP (emphasis added)...

"Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace."

"I have lived pain, and my life can tell: I only deepen the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks for early light dappled through leaves and the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that a good God gives. Why would the world need more anger, more outrage? How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us?"

"Haste makes waste. Life is not an emergency. Life is brief and it is fleeting but it is not an emergency. I pick up a coat and thank God for the arms that can do it. Emergencies are sudden, unexpected events—but is anything under the sun unexpected to God?"

"God is always good and I am always loved."

"Is worship why I’ve run for the moon? Not for lunar worship, but for True Beauty worship, worship of Creator Beauty Himself. God is present in all the moments, but I do not deify the wind in the pines, the snow falling on hemlocks, the moon over harvested wheat. Pantheism, seeing the natural world as divine, is a very different thing than seeing divine God present in all things. I know it here kneeling, the twilight so still: nature is not God but God revealing the weight of Himself, all His glory, through the looking glass of nature."

"All gratitude is ultimately gratitude for Christ, all remembering a remembrance of Him. For in Him all things were created, are sustained, have their being. Thus Christ is all there is to give thanks for; Christ is all there is to remember. To know how we can count on God, we count graces, but ultimately there is really only One."

Do any of those excerpts resonate with you? What books have you read that helped you cultivate a more thankful heart?

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adored art: illustrations by katie daisy

Well girls, I've done it again—I've absolutely fallen in love with another artist, only to discover that she's only in her 20's! I absolutely love seeing women creating beauty through art, and it really delights me when I learn that they are pursuing their dreams at such a young age. Inspiring, isn't it?

I first found out about 24-year-old Katie Daisy through Pinterest (what's new?), which led me to her Etsy shop, The Wheatfield. According to her profile there, she is "inspired by vegetables, herbs, animals, weather, astronomy, trees, and so much more." She's clearly an outdoorsy, nature-loving kind of girl and her art feels like a fresh bouquet of flowers on a crisp spring morning. Here are some of my favorite illustrations of hers...

Salt Air Hair

Wild Air

Be Kind

Joy

Savor Beauty

You can find these and the rest of her lovely work at her Etsy shop, The Wheatfield, here; like her on Facebook here; and follow her adorable blog here.

Which one is your favorite and why?

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one year ago.

Emily Faulknor Photographers

One year ago I started my day with hot coffee and mimosas. I giggled with my girlfriends, curled and teased my hair, and had 1.35 million photos taken of me. I put on the most perfect white J.Crew dress, hugged my mom tightly, and walked down a grassy green aisle with my dad to meet a handsome, tall man under a big oak tree. One year ago I married my best friend in the whole world, and it's the best decision I've ever made.

Happy anniversary, Brian Borton!! You are my love, my support system, and my adventure buddy for life. I adore you and look forward to 100 more years of life with you.

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surprised by joy.

"Is it only when our lives are emptied that we’re surprised by how truly full our lives were? Instead of filling with expectations, the joy-filled expect nothing—and are filled. This breath! This oak tree! This daisy! This work! This sky! These people! This place! This day! Surprise! C. S. Lewis said he was “surprised by joy.” Perhaps there is no way to discover joy but as surprise? The way the small live. Every day. Yes, the small even have a biblical nomenclature. Doesn’t God call them the humble? The humble live surprised. The humble live by joy. I am ear and Jesus whispers to the surprised, 'God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth' (Matthew 5:5)."

Ann Voskamp
One Thousand Gifts

When have you experienced joy by surprise during a humble or emptied-out time in your life?

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dear ashley judd.

Dear Ashley Judd,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a woman who stands for what is good and true. Last night before bed I stumbled upon your recent article in The Daily Beast, and I am nothing short of grateful for your poised and honest response to the media criticism you've recently received as a result of your so-called "puffy" appearance.

You are an example of the true beauty I write about and search for so often in this world—a woman who defends those who cannot defend themselves, one who stands up to adversity, and one who refuses to let women continue to be valued and devalued because of the way they look.

You are radiant and beautiful and inspiring, and I hope you know that it does not go unnoticed. You are a world-changer and an activist, and no matter how many lies the media throws at you and the other, less-noticed women who fight for positive change, the good that you do will always trump the criticism you get.

I think these two excerpts from your article best capture your message, and I agree with every word:

"This abnormal obsession with women’s faces and bodies has become so normal that we (I include myself at times—I absolutely fall for it still) have internalized patriarchy almost seamlessly. We are unable at times to identify ourselves as our own denigrating abusers, or as abusing other girls and women."

"It doesn’t actually matter if we are aging naturally, or resorting to surgical assistance. We experience brutal criticism. The dialogue is constructed so that our bodies are a source of speculation, ridicule, and invalidation, as if they belong to others—and in my case, to the actual public."

As I read those words you wrote I can't help but think of what Julia Gazdag wrote about body image and the value of female appearance last month on Hello Giggles:

"We’re women, not purses, and that means we can own our greatness instead of comparing it to that of others while vying for mediocraty. Besides, if we focus too much on our aesthetics and not enough on ourselves as a person, and what that person wants, is passionate about, is inspired by, then we’re basically saying to ourselves that as a woman, our main feature is our ability to be sexualized. And the thing about being sexualized is that it’s something that’s done to us, which means we’re (often unwittingly) relinquishing our power. I’m not even comfortable with the amount of focus the media puts on women’s attractiveness, because it’s all well and good to have great hair and big, pretty eyes, but that praise doesn’t often come with similar commentary about the lady in question’s skills as a performer. Sure, act/sing/be brilliant, but what do you look like?

Indeed, women are not purses, nor shoes, nor pieces of art, nor objects to be criticized based on what they look like. We are human beings and our value comes from precisely that. Thank you for reminding all of us—women and men alike—that the devaluing of people based on appearance should not and cannot be tolerated.

With Love and Gratitude,
Natalie

What about you, girls—have you read her article? Do you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts on our culture's abnormal obsession with women's appearance?

Image via Pinterest

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it is safe to trust.

I mentioned last week that I'm reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts for the virtual book club my college girlfriends and I started this year. All I can say is, buy this book and start reading it immediately. I can't put it down! It's written so poetically and so honestly that I find myself entranced by each sentence she so beautifully strings together.

The theme of the book is giving thanks, and the connection between our thanksgiving to God and our trust and faith in Christ. Yesterday I spent the better part of Easter morning eagerly and fervently reading as many pages of this book as I could squeeze in, and this passage stood out to me:

When bridges seem to give way, we fall into Christ’s safe arms, true bridge, and not into hopelessness. It is safe to trust! We can be too weak to go on because His strength is made perfect in utter brokenness and nail-pierced hands help up. It is safe to trust! We can give thanks in everything because there’s a good God leading, working all things into good. It is safe to trust! The million bridges behind us may seem flattened to the earthly eye, but all bridges ultimately hold, fastened by nails. It is safe to trust.

It is safe to trust in Christ. How beautiful and true. Through thanks we remind ourselves of God's trustworthiness and unfailing grace—he is a sturdy bridge that does not give way, but rather carries us over the rough waters of life. It is through the practice of giving thanks that we see and feel this trust clearly. Most recently, I am thankful for:

• The taste of hot, dark roast coffee.
• Big, majestic trees.
• Pre-bedtime laughter with Brian.
• Fresh, seasonal fruit.
• Friends who have become family.
• The technology that keeps me close to those far away.
• Texas sunsets.

What small things are you thankful for today?

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conference recap: healthy body image + the wobble.

Good morning girls! I'm blogging from my iPhone app today, as I'm still in Fort Worth and away from my computer. Please excuse and typos or formatting errors :)

First of all I wanted to thank all of you who prayed for the health + wellness conference I spoke at yesterday, especially for you who lifted up the girls who were there to hear the message. It was an incredibly successful (although somewhat exhausting) day of sharing truth about eating disorders, real beauty and healthy body image.

I ended up having a total of five sessions, and really got a taste of what it's like to be a teacher and repeat myself all day. Teachers, I respect you so much more now! I was thankful that the girls were mostly engaged in what I was saying, and that they asked some real questions in each session. I hope that the information I shared was valuable to at least one girl that day--if so, it was totally worth it!

The biggest highlight of the day, however, was the fire drill flash mob at the end of the day. Flash mob, you ask? Yes, flash mob! A local marketing agency had coordinated it as a publicity stunt, and when the fire alarm went off at 4:10pm, the girls rushed out to the field and all did "the wobble" (shown in the photo). It was so fun and the perfect way to kick off the long Easter weekend.

In honor of the glorious celebration that is Easter (and thus, the resurrection of Christ), I'll leave you with this: "He is risen! He is risen, indeed!" I pray that this weekend will be filled with celebration as we remember that we are made fully alive through the Cross of Christ. Love to you!

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beauty, body image and self-acceptance.

[photo credit]

Today I'm hopping on the train to Fort Worth to speak at the Young Women's Leadership Academy's Health & Wellness Conference. My talk is called "Beauty, Body Image and Self-Acceptance," and I'll be sharing my personal story, educating on eating disorders, and providing practical tips for cultivating healthy body image.

While this topic area is my power zone, my audience will be much younger than I'm used to: 11-13 years old. Eek! Is it weird that middle school girls intimidate me? I'm so used to speaking to college girls that I'm afraid I'll lose their attention right away.

My plan is to show videos and mix around the personal information with the technical information. Plus, I've built in a time for anonymous Q&A time so the girls will get a chance to hear what they want to hear. All in all, I ask for your prayers this week as I prepare, and especially on Thursday as I meet the girls and share with them.

What would your middle school self want to hear about this topic?

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constant communion.

One of my favorite devotionals is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. The content for each day is brief, rooted in Scripture, and always thought-provoking, and reading it has truly become a favorite part of my mornings. Today I want to share with you the devotion from yesterday. I found it so relevant to my life right now and to the way my mind works, and I hope you will too:

"I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me. Basic training means learning to live above your circumstances. Even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life, you yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communication with Me can be uninterrupted. But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world. Accept each day just as it comes. And find Me in the midst of it all. Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you. It is to keep communing with Me. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me. Even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me."

What tends to define the success of your day?

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