Arsenic Lace

Life

So I’m Writing A Book

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So I'm Writing A Book

Whether I’m developing drinks for a menu or for the blog — one thing is for certain — I’m constantly inspired by vintage cocktail books. It’s been hard holding on to this new for months but I’m so excited to announce that I’ve been working on a cocktail book!

I’m not giving away all the juicy details yet but it will be a compilation of my favorite mid-century classics and some of my own originals.

I can’t thank Page Street Publishing and Macmillan enough for believing in me and allowing me to make one of my biggest dreams come true.

Thank you for all of your continued support. 2019 will most definitely be my year! Coming July 2019! xo

An Open Letter To Myself For The New Year

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I accomplished so much in 2018. It should have been my year. I grew my business more than I could have ever imagined, traveled, got to collaborate on dream projects (hello Betsey Johnson), had wonderful clients, and got so many home features both online and in print. But all my successes were overshadowed by someone who was unsupportive, jealous, and most of all — abusive.

I’m opening up on the blog today with an open letter to myself for the new year. This might be too personal and some people might judge me for sharing but lately, the internet/Instagram has been leaving me feeling a little inauthentic. It’s really hard to create perfect things that are meant to inspire people when your whole life has just fallen apart. The internet can be a little too perfect sometimes and we’re all humans that ARE NOT perfect. We should be inspiring each other and lifting one another up through all sorts of things in life, not just the perfect moments.

This is my corner of the internet and I want to use it to heal. I also want to use it to inspire others, especially women, who might be in a bad situation like I was. Abuse, no matter what kind, is not acceptable.

I am thankful that I get another chance and a fresh start going into a brand new year.

I am thankful for all the positive things in my life and proud of all of my accomplishments. Today I leave behind all the negative. The past is in the past and it has no place beside me in 2019.

Dear Natalie,

I noticed that you haven’t been yourself lately. There’s been a lot on your plate and you’ve been having trouble keeping up. But don’t despair, please stay hopeful. Everything is going to come back. Your peace, your confidence, your joy, and the pink light which fills your heart. I know you feel like you’ve lost yourself and like the world and your whole life are crumbling down around you, but this is just a phase. It will pass.

This is just one chapter in the story you’re writing and when this chapter ends, you will find yourself once more.

You feel like you have lost control over your life and like you can’t do anything right. You feel like a fool for always trying to see the best in people and letting these toxic people tear you down again and again. You feel disappointed in yourself for allowing someone to treat you in a such an abusive and awful way for far too long. And you’re right, you deserve so much better.

You feel like you haven’t been living your life because there has been a dark negative cloud hovering over it for quite some time now. But that cloud is about to go away. Nothing lasts forever.

If you feel like you’re about to break down, give up, just remember one thing: you are strong and you are better than this and you can fight against anything that hurts you.

Bad abusive relationships, heartbreaks, failure, unfulfilled dreams, unaccomplished goals — you’ve been through all of this before. We all have.

I know what it’s like to have your heart broken into a million tiny pieces and to have to pick them all up, piece by piece, all by yourself. I have felt what it’s like to be in a one-sided relationship in which your expectations aren’t met. Instead of feeling loved, happy, respected, supported, and fulfilled, you feel lonely, unappreciated, sad, and empty.

We all deserve to be loved. We all deserve to be respected. And we all deserve to be happy.

I know what it’s like to be so close to reaching your goals and then something unexpectedly blows everything up in your face. And then you start thinking, maybe he was right. Maybe you are a stupid, worthless, washed up has been. Maybe you are a loser. This person loved you, right? So their opinion of you must be correct. No.

NO!

NO!

NO!

You can’t let heartbreak and failure tear you down. You can’t walk away from everything you want and everything you’ve worked so hard for. You can not believe the terrible words of an awful ABUSIVE person who is clearly projecting their insecurities on to you. You can not help someone that doesn’t want to change.

You need to remember your strength, resilience, and worth. There are so many people in your life that love and will continue to love you no matter what. And one day you will meet the person who will truly love, respect, and support you, no matter what. And you will be happy. So, so happy. I promise.

Life can be hard and unfair. It can be cruel and draining. People can be mean and hateful. But none of this is permanent.  I know it’s hard for you now, but remember that this is just a phase. It is just a chapter, not your whole story.

You haven’t lost yourself, she’s right here. Finish writing this chapter and turn the page forever.

2019 is waiting for you and there are pink skies ahead. Everything is going to be alright.

Happy New Year!

Love,

Yourself

Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support. Wishing you all the best. Happy New Year! xo

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists Giveaway

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A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

Recently I spent a cozy day in with my best friend Sam. We met each other through mutual friends 15 years ago but only became super close over the last 5 or 6. We even went to the same college but weren’t really friends then either! TBH she went on a date with my ex-boyfriend so I kinda hated her.

LOL. Sam if you’re reading this—don’t worry I’m totally over it.

I’d like to think that we came back into each other’s lives at just the right time when we were ready to be friends or perhaps when we needed each other the most. I think it’s true that people come into your life for a reason, sometimes exactly when you need them to.

As we get older different things are becoming more important to us. Last year Sam got married and also found a new job with more responsibility. While I moved in with my long-term boyfriend and started my own business. We both even talk about moving out of state sometime in the future. Which means it is possible that one day we won’t be living in the same state anymore. It’s safe to say that we both have our own busy lives going on but we try to make time for each other as much as we can.

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

Moorea Seal recently released another book in her 52 Lists Project series called 52 Lists for Togetherness. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to grab a copy for Sam and me to fill out together. The whole idea behind the book is to learn more about who you are, how you see your loved ones, and how you can thrive together by creating 52 lists, one for every week of the year. You can fill it out solo or you can use it as a tool to connect with loved ones by working on the lists together.

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

We spent a cozy day in filling out a few lists while sipping on Boozy Apple Cider a la Modes, a recipe that I made on A Beautiful Mess last Winter. This drink is so delicious and couldn’t be more perfect for fall. Mulling cider in the house is probably my favorite activity to do in the colder months. It’s so soothing and fills the air with warm baking spices.

Let us not forget about the bourbon.

Who could do such a thing?

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

Sam even got to meet Beemer — the little black kitten I rescued from the hood of a BMW in September. She’s so adorable and I think we might be keeping her but probably changing her name. Thoughts on the name Dolly? Please leave kitty name suggestions in the comments below. Bowie had to make an appearance too. He’s so jealous, he needs ALL the attention. It was a lovely day filled with snuggles from the animals and lots of talk about the present and the future.

I’m pretty sure the animals just wanted to steal sips of our Boozy Apple Cider a la Modes though.

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists for Togetherness Giveaway

I’m looking forward to filling out each list in 52 Lists for Togetherness and I’m so excited to be teaming up with Moorea Seal to gift one reader two books so they can also work on their lists with a loved one. I can’t recommend the journals in the 52 Lists Project enough. If you’re looking to deepen connections with yourself and the people around you this is the perfect way to do it. You can enter to win by heading over to my Instagram and following the rules. You can also pick up a copy here too. Good luck everyone!

What do you do to keep the relationships flourishing in your life? Would love to hear your tips below. xo