The response to The Breathe Intensive has been out of this world! I’m so excited, amazed really, by the way everything is coming together, from the wonderful women who will be attending, to the beautiful venue, to the exciting sponsors who have come on board to support us! I’m so full of gratitude and excitement that I feel like my heart is going to explode.

I’m so excited to welcome:

Adorama, The Vintage Pearl, Fotofafa, Mike Colón Photographer

Thank you all! I’m completely honored to have you on board.

Now, I know you’re all dying to hear the recipient of The Breathe Scholarship. I literally spent hour upon hour (upon hour) reading (and re reading) nearly 200 entries. Many of you moved me to tears, and I want you to know how touched I was by you genuinely sharing your hearts with me. This decision was a heavy one to carry; I took the process very seriously. Each.and.every.one.of.you is SO DESERVING. In the end I had to “simply” rely on my gut.

A HUGE congratulations to:

Crystalyn Nilson & Lindsay Ross

Contact me at aloha{at}natalienortonblog{dot}com and we’ll complete your registration process ASAP! I can’t wait to meet you both!

click here to open post Feb 07, 2011 | posted in Personal | 8 comments

I saw this at Energy Kitchen (um, AMAZING) in NYC, and I’m in love with it. (The restaurant and just about every image they had adorning their walls.)

I know, you’re all chomping at the bit to find out who won The Breathe Scholarship. . . but here’s the thing, I’m really in love with this guy.

Instax image credit: Raleigh. Road trip. Summer 2010. Somewhere in Idaho?

Like I was saying, I’m really in love with that guy. He’s one of my “first things.” In fact, he’s one of my very, very, very first things. (Sometimes, I’m afraid I might not make him feel that way, but he is.) The bottom line is, he’s neck deep in the most Earth rattling, amazing, wonderful, impressive, powerful andonandonandonandon project you could ever hope to imagine, and he needs my full focus to help move it toward completion.

So there you have it. Today, I’m off focusing on my first things.

Cross my heart and hope to die that tomorrow I’ll be back with the big announcement!

I love you.

N

click here to open post Feb 03, 2011 | posted in Weddings | 13 comments

I really don’t know what to say about Kit and Nichole that wouldn’t sound trite or contrived. They are honestly two of the most laid back, down to Earth. . . NORMAL people I’ve ever met. (If you know me at all, you know that “normal” is the very highest of compliments in my book.) All day long, I felt like I was simply among friends. I felt like a was a part of the wedding, not at all like I was on the outside looking in. They are the kind of kindhearted, generous, and completely hilarious friends that dreams are made of. It was a beautiful day. In every sense of the word. I feel so blessed to have been a part of their perfect Turtle Bay wedding. . .  (5 minutes from my house).

And then, we danced. And danced. And danced and danced and danced and danced.

Above photo credit (left): my sweet assistant for the day, Lee Yen.

The day was amazing. All of it. Thank you K + N for letting me be a part of your PERFECT day. xx! N

click here to open post Feb 02, 2011 | posted in Personal | 6 comments

I don’t traditionally review books here, but oh my goodness. This book made me laugh out loud. Repeatedly. Raleigh (7) was teary eyed with delight. I highly recommend it for families with elementary aged kids. It would make a great gift!  Born Yesterday: The Diary of a Young Journalist

Here’s a particularly delightful excerpt:

“March 22nd. Finally–I have it figured out. Some things are noses, some are taxicabs, and some are Belgians. The up end of people is their hairstyles and the down end is their tootsie-wootsies. These tootsie-wootsie things are fascinating. I plan to write a book about them. My sister paints her tootsie-wootsie nails a special color called striped. I can’t wait till I can paint my tootsie-wootsie nails the color called striped, and thus become a super-chick person like my sister. For now, I just lift them to my mouth and suck.”

An absolute favorite from Kit and Nichole’s beautiful North Shore wedding.

Today.

Today, I reminded myself that life is too short not to spend more of it outside.

I also plan to put on my prettiest dress and spin in circles at sunset.

xx!

N

PS. Only 3 more days to “apply” for The Breathe Scholarship!