By Natalie

Next Stop: Reno

Natalie — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:58:00 +0000

Recently, an opportunity presented itself to head to Reno for a few days. It had been a while, too long, truthfully, since the last time I got to travel. Reno had never been somewhere that was particularly on my radar, but I am forever excited by the chance to see new places.

To be honest, I had a few misconceptions about Reno before visiting. The first would probably be that Reno is a mini-version of Vegas. I thought that I would walk into a gambling town that was stuck in a time warp. Depending on where you stay in Reno, that might not feel too far off, but in our relatively short time there, I learned that Reno has a lot more to offer.

City of Reno

Admittedly, we didn’t have long to see all of Reno as we were only there three days. Besides, we had plans that were taking us West, through Donner Pass and into California. The day we were set to leave, a storm came in and changed those plans just one more time. With work finished and the trip beginning, we headed back to Reno-Tahoe Airport, rented a car, and decided that the storm would lead us South, further in to Nevada.

It was just about dinner time when we got out of Reno, and so we stopped at a gas station to pick up the best junk food we could think of. With the storm gaining on us, we set out, coffee and Pringles in hand, for the foothills and arid landscape of Nevada. Our plans, his first, were to drive until we couldn’t anymore. How far we would get depended on how long we could hold the steering wheel and keep our eyes open on the empty road ahead.

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Conscious Investing

Natalie — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 14:55:11 +0000

In partnership with COIN

Though my urban ambitions have been the driving force behind me staying in the city lately, I have started to notice that the older I get the more I long for a quiet life outside city limits. Preferably with a backyard that opens up to nothing but wide open space.

I’ve been saving and investing my money to be able to afford this dream of mine one day, but while I’m hearing about the barrage of avalanches and the inevitable summer drought headed our way, it started to dawn on me that I want to do more to preserve the quiet places. The places more conducive to life, to living it well, and to ensuring everyone else can, too. I want to play a role in protecting our planet and addressing climate issues we can’t ignore. What does this have to do with investing, though?

As a freelancer, it’s one of the most important things to learn early on how to work with your money wisely, which is why I’m so excited to introduce you to COIN, a conscious investment platform that also helps you support the causes most near and dear to your heart. COIN offers impact areas that include a mix of companies selected based on their abilities to make a real difference in the world.

Their 8 impact areas are:

Gender Equality

Climate Action

Better Health

Clean Water

Reduce Waste

Quality Work

Modern Cities

Shared Prosperity

The causes I care about most are climate action, gender equality and clean water. As a Denver native, I have grown up knowing how much a dry season can affect our water supply for years to come, and the thought of water scarcity on a much larger scale in other areas of the world is so upsetting. Investing with COIN and choosing clean water as an impact area means that your money is backing companies that are working toward sustainable water management and better sanitation practices so that hopefully one day no one will have to know what true water scarcity feels like.

Gender equality is another huge issue, for many reasons. Women who work in the labor market still make almost 25% less than men globally. There have been no meaningful wage gap improvements made in the last 20 years. We should celebrate the strides taken to get to where we are, but we should also continue fighting for an equal society that we can all benefit from.

Climate action is too overwhelming for many to think about, but by investing with COIN you can know that your money is invested in companies that are working diligently toward reducing global emissions and finding more sustainable options for our future. In the end, the more living I do, the more I realize that nothing can ignite in me the innate joy the way that nature can. Our planet is a majestic place that we need to protect and take care of. When we are confronted with the beauty of nature we should remember that it is our responsibility to do everything we can to keep it healthy, the way it does for us.

If you want to do even a little more to help the planet, here are a couple of easy changes you can make in your life.

Cutting back on your to-go coffees (have your coffee at home, or invest in a reusable cup for on-the-go).

Instead of ordering in, take some time for yourself and actually go out to eat! This will cut back on the amount of waste from takeout packaging.

Instead of stocking up on bottled water, invest in a water filter and reusable bottle. Water filters have become much more advanced and can often give you even cleaner water than you would get from bottled water, anyway. It’s a win-win!

If you want to get involved in conscious investing, use promo code COIN2019 to receive $50 when you invest your first $100. You don’t need to have a huge amount of money to get started, and you’ll know your investment is aligned with your passion to bring about change and a better tomorrow for everyone.

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Somewhere, Nowhere

Natalie — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:26:45 +0000

A state of mind simultaneously all over the place and yet completely still. The end of winter always leaves me at odds with myself and seemingly everything in life. Lack of energy, both in being creative and getting out there to head off the issues that continue to find ways to enter all aspects of my life the last couple of weeks. Come last Wednesday, I had the feeling that these issues were a prelude of something else, of impending disaster. That feeling was right.

While I have my back on one area of my life, trying to pick up the pieces of another, I keep hearing crashing behind me. I’ve been busy putting all the energy I can muster into putting those pieces back together as best as they can be. But life and work don’t slow down for unforeseen problems, and I have to juggle a while longer.

Until this never-ending cold snap breaks and the sun decides to come back to these Colorado skies.

I can’t help daydreaming about summer, when things come alive again and I can start living out the thoughts that get me through these oh-so-gray and dreary days. This summer’s dreams require more planning than ever before, and they also cost a pretty penny to be quite honest. Deadlines are looming ever closer, so I really should get back to work if I want to help make those dreams a reality.

I will just have to wait and see where the wind blows me. The warm ones that come with spring have rarely led me astray.

Until next time, when I will most certainly have happier things to share.

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Intention vs. Resolution

Natalie — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 17:00:21 +0000

vs. Resolution

Ahh, January. Another first month of a new year, where we all undoubtedly take stock of our lives, and ways to improve them. Talking with friends and family has reopened those resolution doors that always seem to close or be forgotten by the time February or March get here. Resolutions have always held a certain rigidity when it comes to expectations. That’s why this year, I want to set intentions for myself. Rather than sticking to the same deadline-oriented “goal” that tends to set us up to fail.

More often than not, resolutions we make are about the things we already know we need to change, so why not be a bit gentler with ourselves about making those changes, and to helping them stick?

Intentions serve more as a guideline, a roadmap along the path to the ultimate resolution for me. By no means does that make intentions less effective, though. Quite the opposite, actually. Versus resolutions, intentions are shown to stick longer and work better for us psychologically. So, instead of that age old “I will cut out all sugar and lose 30lbs starting January 1st” resolution, make an intention to focus more on healthy eating and trying new exercises to see what you enjoy.

My intentions for this year are:

Dance and Sing more
Get back into running and cycling
Read more
Celebrate life/be more present
Relax more
Take more walks
Simplifying and minimizing in all areas of my life

What do you think of intentions vs. resolutions? Will you be setting any intentions or resolutions for yourself this year?

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In Conclusion

Natalie — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 21:08:49 +0000

This is the time of year when everyone I know, myself included steps back to take stock of their lives and their year. In going over everything that happened this year, I find the intentions to be mindful of for 2019. What is most important for me right now is to focus less on the things that won’t affect my life in months, weeks or even days. Coming from a family of perfectionists and extremely hard-working women, failures, perceived or otherwise are one of the hardest things for me to deal with.

For 2019, I will work harder to ensure that I do not see my “failures” as shortcomings, but rather as opportunities to do better, to learn and to grow. This goes hand in hand with the age-old habit of stone hard “resolutions”. Resolution seems too strong a word for a time in my life where I am finally ready (for possibly the first time, ever) to be gentle with myself, so for now, I prefer the word intention. With that said, I want to spend the remainder of this year focusing on the abundance that has been bestowed on me and the ones I love, instead of the negativity that so easily permeates our every thought.

As I enter my last years of “twenty-something”, I find that my twenties have been spent in life-or-death weighted decisions. Racing to the next accolade, the next goal, racing through life without ever actually trying to *have *a life. So often we are afraid of moving on for fear of losing our current footing, not realizing that where we land may be so much better than where we started. This year required a good few leaps of faith, and I see many more coming in the future. But if you are struggling with where you’re at right now, all I can say is I have not once regretted jumping before looking. That job? That crush? That goal?

Just go for it, head on.

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Home Made

Natalie — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 02:01:33 +0000

Hello from home, where I barely have any time for this post in between packing (yet again) for 2 weeks away. Part of the problem being that, a procrastinator at heart as I’ve always been, I saved packing until the 11th hour, and errands in limbo.

Between 6 weeks in England, only a couple of weeks at home to catch up on projects and proposals before a trip to Florida last week and 4 days at home before I’m off again, I haven’t been able to be very productive. Whenever this happens, I tend to get pretty down on myself. It feels like there should be enough time in the day to accomplish everything, so it hits me harder than it should when that doesn’t happen.

In between all the messes I’m making (both physically and emotionally), I wanted to take a moment to stop by and say hi. I’ve always said I wanted this blog to be an honest place, and that means sharing the times that are less than glamorous. It’s always fun to show off new outfits and destinations, but let’s be honest…most of life isn’t so shimmery. So while this is yet another thing to fall below the guideline of what I’d hoped to provide for you this week, I hope it will do, at least for now.

The drier is telling me my laundry is ready (out of one suitcase and into the other), so I’d better go get that and wash my hair and finish packing and after that…well, it’ll all get done eventually.

I hope you feel right at home wherever you are tonight.

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Vivo Per Lei

Natalie — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 03:59:14 +0000

An Affordably Luxurious Experience

Today is going to be all about skincare! It’s been a roller coaster around here the last few days, and I’m in desperate need of some quiet self-care time. So tonight I want to tell you about a brand that recently came on to my radar called Vivo Per Lei. I’ll be talking about their Citrus Glow Body Exfoliating Scrub, the Citrus Glow Body Butter and the amazing manicure set with a gorgeous Hyacinth scent.

Their Body Exfoliating Scrub has quickly become one of my very favorites. The citrus scent is calming and invigorating all at the same time, while the exfoliation keeps the dry Colorado air away from wreaking havoc on my skin. It also gives my skin a glow that lingers long after I’ve exfoliated. I love it!

Next up is the body butter. This is the perfect compliment to the exfoliating scrub and leaves my skin feeling softer than ever! I’ve been using these two together for the past two weeks and I’ve noticed a significant change in my skin. It holds on to moisture so much longer than it used to, and I don’t find myself noticing how dry my skin is, which is normally a pretty common thing for me.

I especially like using it on the parts of my skin that tend to get a bit rougher. I work with my hands and feet a lot. There is nothing better than coming home at the end of a long day and being able to scrub off any rough patches that are starting to pop up. My feet (heels especially) take the brunt of the work, and this duo keeps them as soft as if I’d just had a pedicure. Needless to say, I’m a little addicted.

With paying more attention to the health of my skin overall, I started to notice that I tend to neglect my nails more than I should. That is where this amazing manicure set comes in. It comes with a cuticle oil, lotion, nail buffer and a great nail file. With 4 easy steps, my nails are looking better than they have in a long time. I want them looking their best for showing off my engagement ring, after all!

The way my hands feel after keeping up with these treatments over the last two weeks is amazing! I genuinely notice such a difference. The biggest difference I’ve seen has definitely been in my nails, though. They are so much pinker and healthier looking. I’m also experiencing a lot less breakage which is wonderful, because with my job I tend to break my nails all the time. It feels good to have nails I can show off again.

I would highly recommend Vivo Per Lei if you are looking for a wonderful way to pamper yourself without the huge price tag. I have loved testing them out and noticing all the changes in my hands, feet and skin overall.

*I received these products from Vivo Per Lei for review, but all opinions are my own

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The Goldilocks Effect

Natalie — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 03:53:18 +0000

So…posts of substance haven’t been popping up as much as I’d like on here. To change that, this post is going to be a little different.

As a person who has always experienced emotions in what I hope is their full intensity, finding a happy medium isn’t always (or hardly ever) an easy thing to do.

This relaxed place of harmony and zen is a place I often fall out of as quickly as I find myself stumbling in to it. I call it the Goldilocks Effect, because it tends to be an elusive area that just doesn’t happen often for me. This goes for the highs as well as the lows. With everything going on in life right now, the high is possibly the highest I have ever been, and coming back down from it is inevitable. Perhaps this is simply a woman’s take on it, but in my time traveling, working and really just existing in this world, I have found that society either cradles us like fragile glass, or is disgustingly cruel to us for reasons sometimes entirely unknown. There is no middle ground. And maybe, just maybe, that is part of why I have such a hard time finding my footing there in myself. I’ve struggled to find it externally, and so internally I have felt unsure of where or how to start.

While this summer has easily been one of the most exciting, memory-filled and growth-inducing summers of my life, it has also left a strange aftertaste. Floral breezes on warm summer evenings mixed with a hint of bitterness. I was unsure why until recently. Change is always bittersweet, and yet the bitter lingers. That is just part of our make up as humans. Sweet is easy, sweet is comfort and care, it can be addictive. Bitter on the other hand is something we have not so readily accustomed ourselves to. Bitter is foreign, unknown and leaves a sting. A lasting effect. Perhaps, at the root of everything, it can be explained as the simple high of a summer well-lived mixed with the melancholy flown in on the autumn breeze. That could very well sum up the place I’m in, but I’m not too worried about defining it. I have been here before, I will be here again, leaving each summer’s end with a deeper understanding of what it is I’ve been searching for. Although this time, I feel like I finally found it. Not only in my fiancé, but in me.

This summer has changed me. Both bitterly and sweetly, and entirely for the better.

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Wedding Planning – Part 1

Natalie — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 16:18:49 +0000

In case you missed my post on Instagram, I recently got engaged! It’s been just over a month, and I still can’t really believe it happened. We don’t have the most time in the world, so I’ve already started planning. We already have a location in mind and I’m going to try to get it reserved in the next couple of weeks. My fiancé lives in England as I’m sure you know, so we have to get a bit creative about planning together. I’m expecting a few more video calls then usual in our future, but that’s fine by me.

We are looking at invitations and other small details to start with for now, and we have a couple in mind that we really like! I haven’t gotten far, floral arrangements aren’t even on my radar, yet. But one step at a time, right? For now, here are a couple tidbits for the vibe we are going for.

I’m so excited for what the next few months hold! We know it’s going to be a whirlwind, but it’s going to be a great one. We have our first viewing tomorrow, and so it begins.

Do you have any tips or advice for planning a wedding?

I’d love to hear from you!

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British Summer

Natalie — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 17:15:43 +0000

Humidity, a slight breeze, the occasional gin and tonic while devouring the next book placed in front of me, and enjoying the afternoon light well after 8 in the evening. These are the sum so far of my summer spent in England. It also appears that no matter where I go or when, dogs and their owners will find me and I will end up being a dogsitter at least once. Just to be clear, that is not a complaint.

Dress // Amour Vert

Today is the first real cloudy day we’ve experienced since I got here. It feels good to finally have the heat wave break. As a person who dedicates much of her free time to crafting beautiful photographs, the clouds aren’t conducive to a great shot, so I’m pulling a few from the past few days. For today though, I’m enjoying being able to use this time to utterly fill and feed my heart and soul with novels, essays, history and fiction. I just finished reading I’ll Tell You in Person by Chloe Caldwell and can’t recommend it enough. Other than that, my new favorite thing is taking slow walks and stopping to smell the roses, as they say.

How are you spending your summer? I hope you’re all finding time to do what feeds your soul.

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