Love from NYC :: A constant in every season.

Good morning my lovely friends :) I'm sending love to you from New York City! Happy Tuesday for the Aussies and happy Monday to us here in the northern hemisphere... I am writing this post from the bedroom of my beautiful first floor apartment, red geraniums are smiling at me on the balcony as I look down to the tree-lined street below. Here's me watering them the other morning...

So... I have travelled quite a distance since my last blog. After Vancouver I boarded The Canadian train for a three day journey across Canada to Toronto. Oh my gosh, what an amazing experience it was. Sailing through the Rockies, past gorgeous fields and prairies, and just having some time to reflect on a busy but wonderful past month travelling through Alaska and Canada. And now here I am in my beloved NYC! I arrived last Thursday afternoon and am still pinching myself that I am here. Hello NY Public Library :)

And here's my beautiful street...

I chuckled to myself as I powered up Park Avenue through the crowd the other day, two overflowing Wholefoods paper grocery bags in hand, overtaking people at lightening speed and feeling completely like a local! Hey, when in Rome... 

Here's the view from my apartment at night... very inspiring I think :)

Washington Square Park on a balmy night... 

Such a great atmosphere with street performers everywhere...

So I'm here and it's wonderful, but as with any new season, mixed emotions often follow along. Over the past four days I have been overwhelmed with joy and excitement that I am finally back here in this city I love, but I have also found myself faced with fear and uncertainty. Being a very organised person, I like things to be in order and planned out, but when you're in a new city, out of your comfort zone, with nothing familiar around you, this is sometimes not as easy to do as it may be back home. :) So I've had to shift things around a little bit and reassess. This morning (after a restless sleep due to a silly migraine) I spent the morning just reading my bible and sitting in God's presence. Ah, it was honestly like water to my soul. 

His presence is everything. What a gift hey. When the busyness and craziness of life is whirling around us, we can feel so out of control, but the wonderful thing is that no matter how far off course we might spin, he is always right there waiting for us. And his presence is a breath of fresh air. It's a constant and sure thing in our lives and it never, ever changes. 

Are you in a new season? Or feeling like you are in transition? Or maybe you have just been in this season for such a long time you are not sure what to do next? Well, whatever you are facing, let's both be encouraged... as we navigate new territory, journeying this day set before us, let's be aware that we are pioneering a brave and new path. My friends, we are doing a great job and all of heaven is cheering us on. We are not alone in this... So today, know that you are loved by me and that I am cheering you on in whatever season you are in! < Insert big group hug here! > Here's me sending you love from my little home in New York :) xxxxx

My heart for this blog is to build a community of friends near and far, who can encourage each other and cheer one another on as we dare to chase the things in our hearts. So if you have some encouragement to share, feel free to send it our way. What greatness is ahead of us! I love you all and am sending you a big hug today from NYC :)

Have an amazing day my friend.

Nat xoxo

All images by Natalie Box

PS  - And a HUGE shout out to my dear friend Louise! Happy happy birthday babe!!

PPS -  And this is me looking like a local heading out of my apartment the other night ha ha...

Just enjoy the moment.

Hi friends how are you?! :) After a few weeks travelling along Alaska's Inside Passage visiting Haines, Wrangell and Prince Rupert then through the Rockies, I'm now in Vancouver. Ah I love this city. Well, it does help that it's summer and the weather is stunnnn-ning at the moment :) 

So do you ever find yourself thinking ahead and planning for the next thing, while you're actually still in the middle of something else? Well I do. It's kind of like I'm half enjoying the moment, but then I'm half in the future at the same time. Do you know what I mean? Anyway, last night after a few long travel days, I went for a run along the waterfront. I wanted to make the most of the balmy summer night and it was just so gorgeous. After running for a bit, I sat down on a bench overlooking the marina at Coal Harbour, when suddenly my mind began to tick. 

One second I was running along the water, the wind in my hair, enjoying the moment, and then all of a sudden I was in a spiral of thoughts twirling around and around like a tornado. Thoughts like, "okay tomorrow we're doing this... and then next week I have to arrange this... and then next weekend I'll be getting to New York... and then oh my gosh I have to arrange that..." What the heck?! And all the while I was sitting on a stunning harbour, looking at this view...

Then I heard that still small voice say... Nat, stay in the moment. :)

Oh my gosh! That very second I wanted to slap myself! There I was watching one of the most breathtaking sights of my adventure thus far... and my mind was off with the pixies! So right away I captured my 'slightly-psycho' runaway thoughts and I stopped. As if talking to a child I said to myself, "Natalie, look where you and let's just stay here for now!" Instantly my eyes were drawn to a boat sailing away in the distance. Then to some ducks swimming leaving a ripple behind. Then I spotted some girlfriends walking along laughing. Then along came some kids skipping. I inhaled a big breath... and just sat.

How much more is there for us when we actually stay in the moment? We need to be aware, because tomorrow often tries to rob today of it's joy. But let's not worry about tomorrow, or next week, or next month. 

"Let us not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, definite requests with thanksgiving, continue to make our requests known to God... 

And his peace shall be yours. That peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  What a promise hey. :)

So let's stay in the moment today. Take a moment to go for a walk... Grab a coffee on your own and just people watch... Put your phone away and look up to the sky (it's amazing how gorgeous the tops of buildings are if you just look!)... Go to a new park at lunchtime and lay on the grass... Spend ten minutes chatting to someone new... Stop and take in the view around you...

You don't have to rush ahead. You have permission to stop and enjoy now, because all too soon that moment will be gone. I have four days left leading this tour, but I am not thinking about what's ahead, I'm thinking about now. We are about to head out on a city tour of Vancouver which will be fun. So I am going to stop in each moment, enjoy every new sight and smell... and hang out with some amazing people.

Have an awesome day my friends. Sending you lots of love from Canada :)

Nat xxx

Ps here are some pics from my Alaska and Canada journey so far... 

(more pics on my Instagram - @thewritersink)

Bears eating salmon at AnAn Bear Observatory. (Wrangell, Alaska)

About to jump on a light plane and fly up to the Arctic Circle. (Fairbanks, Alaska)

Real live glacial ice! (Shakes Lake, Wrangell, Alaska)

Mendenhall Glacier. (Juneau, Alaska)

Relaxing by the creek. (Denali, Alaska)

The colours of Dawson. (Dawson City, Canada)

One of my favourite views. (Wrangell, Alaska)

The leaning tower of Dawson. (Dawson City, Canada)

 The stunning Chena River. (Fairbanks, Alaska)

 Cute Pioneer Park. (Fairbanks, Alaska)

 A little friend I found along the way. (Somewhere in Alaska)

 Stikine River jet boat cruise. (Wrangell, Alaska)

The gorgeous Canadian Rockies

A little blurry as this was taken from the train, but this is with NO filter!!

Stay tuned for more fun pics :) xoxo

Images - all Nat Box

Beauty where you least expect it.

Aloha from Alaska my friends!! It's been so so long and I have missed you SO much!! How are you? This is me in Haines the other day... it's such a pretty little town on the top of Alaska's Inside Passage (just north of Sitka, for those who have watched The Proposal... it's totally like that!) Anyway, I hope this blog finds you well, I have been thinking of you guys lots over the past two weeks :):)

It was actually a few weeks ago in Anchorage that I got the inspiration for this little post, so I pray the timing is right for you and that you are encouraged! :) After a gorgeous walk along the coast path in Anchorage (it was sooo sunny and pretty walking along past all the beautiful wildflowers and overlooking the water), I was on my way home and I took a little shortcut. I had been feeling a bit discouraged about a few things that day and I asked The Lord to speak to me, I often do that just to hear what he is saying about things. Then as I walked up an alley way, I saw the back of this old building. 

Pretty ugly and boring right? But then something stood out to me. There amidst the piles of rubbish and weeds growing, stood one lone flower. It was as if it was standing there with such purpose, determined to bring beauty to it's boring surroundings no matter what it took. How pretty is it?!

Immediately as I held this little source of life, surrounded by such an ugly scene, I heard God whisper to me. :) 

"Nat, wrapped up inside every season, every discouragement, 

there is always something beautiful". 

Right away my heart was encouraged and I began to see differently. Do you ever find this happens to you too? Life happens, things are messy, you look at a scene in your life from afar, and all you can see is the rubbish, the junk, and everything just looks ugly. Well, God's promise is that "He has made everything beautiful in it's time", which means in all seasons, good or bad, there is something beautiful to be thankful for. 

It was only after my eyes were opened that I noticed the flower. When we look for it, beauty is always, always waiting to be seen. After I'd admired this pretty little thing, I stood back and looked at the same scene again, but with new eyes. Everything looked so different and this time.

So let me encourage you, always be expecting beauty. Stop and look around you this week because I guarantee wherever you go it's already there, waiting to be found by you.

To see more of my travels feel free to check out my Instagram :) (@thewritersink) 

Just in case you missed my fabulously inspiring Interview with Camille Styles here it is!

Sending love from Alaska... have an awesome week!

Nat xoxo

Images - Natalie Box

Inspired By :: { Camille Styles }

Happy Wednesday my lovelies :) So as I promised in Monday's blog, I have a new friend to introduce to us all today hooray! Super talented, ridiculously creative, and one of the world's most highly sought after stylists, there is pretty much nothing she can't do. She has a fabulous blog, she styles and creates content for major brands such as Kate Spade New York, West Elm, HGTV (and heaps more), annnnd her brand new book is being launched this coming October. Hello! Camille has been a huge source of encouragement and inspiration on my personal journey, and I wanted to thank her by introducing her to you all and telling you all how incredible she is! :) So without further ado, it's my absolute privilege to introduce to you the lovely Camille Styles.

You started Camille Styles Events in 2009, how did this come about and what gave you the courage to chase the dream of starting your own company?

After working as an event planner for other companies, I always dreamed that one day I might own my own… then when I was 25, I had an “aha” moment that I was already equipped with all the skills and experience I needed to do it sooner rather than later! I think that as young women, we often feel like everyone else is the “expert,” when so often, we already have everything we need to go after our dreams. Most things are learned by doing, anyway! We just need the confidence to go out and dive in.

Tell us what does a typical day looks like for you?

I wake up around 6am and start the day with a cappuccino and a quick scan through emails and social media. Then I get my 2-year-old daughter Phoebe up and dressed, and my husband Adam and I take her for a long walk around the neighbourhood. I love starting the day with quality family time — we get caught up on everything that’s happening in each others’ work lives and go over goals and challenges for the day ahead.

After dropping Phoebe off at one of her grandmothers’ houses (we are so lucky to live in the same town as both our parents!), I head to the office, whip up a green smoothie, then spend the next few hours meeting with my team about upcoming stories, working on blog posts, answering press inquiries, or working with brands on upcoming collaborations. If it’s a day where I have a photo shoot scheduled, I’m on location for my entire workday — which is a nice way to shake up the routine and constantly keep me on my toes!

 

If I don’t have a lunch meeting, I work right through it and eat a big salad at my desk, because at 3pm when Phoebe wakes up from her nap, I’m officially on mommy duty. We spend a couple hours in the afternoon having fun with just the two of us — a trip to the park, swimming in our backyard pool, meeting friends for ice cream, or a long trip through Whole Foods are some of our favourite outings. 

In the evening after Phoebe is bathed and in bed, I make dinner for Adam and me, pour a glass of wine and we get to enjoy some “grown-up” time over a nice meal together. Since becoming a mom, I’ve become much better about carving out times when I’m disconnected from my phone and emails, and just focusing on spending time with family. After dinner, I might catch up on emails that came in during the afternoon, do some stretching and a few planks, and wind things down with whatever show we’re watching at the moment (cannot wait until Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey come back on!!)

3. What was your very first project? How did you make your way from there to where you are today with a fabulous team of sixteen contributors?

I launched my blog, Camille Styles, as a creative outlet while I was also running my event planning business. Since so much of my job at the time depended on making other people’s visions a reality, my blog was the place where I could indulge my own aesthetic and explore the things that I loved. Over time, I slowly began building a following and when we reached a certain level of readership and I could start supporting the site through advertising, I took the plunge to make it the company’s full focus. 

 

The Writer's Ink readers are big dreamers, what would be your advice for those who are wanting to step out with a new and creative idea?

When you start a business of any kind, prepare yourself for the fact that there will be a day when you want to give up — I considered throwing in the towel and applying for a more “corporate” job so many times in the early days of my business! But if you start with a clear vision and a true passion for what you’re doing, that will help you push through and hang in there when the going gets tough. You’ll realize that those challenging times are a passing season that your unique vision can withstand. And ultimately, being able to make a living doing what you love is so worth it! 

You're about to launch your first book Camille Styles Entertaining which is very exciting :) Congratulations! How that all came about and when will it be released?

Thanks! This book is a longtime dream of mine… I still pinch myself to think that this massive project I’ve been working on for the past 2+ years of my life will finally be released on October 28th! The book is all about inspiring readers through the seasons with ideas for life’s big celebrations, as well as showing them how to infuse beauty into their daily lives through the food they make, the rooms they design and the outfits they wear. It’s packed with simple details and creative shortcuts that make everyday moments feel special (with 75 simple + seasonal recipes woven throughout.)

What other projects are you working on now?

Camille Styles will be launching a big site redesign at the end of the summer. We’ve been working for the past few months to create a new design that will make the site easier to use on every device, and a more accessible and easier-to-navigate resource to readers as they plan their menus, homes and celebrations. I’m so excited for our readers to finally get to see what we’ve been cooking up!

Obviously you're someone who dreams big :) What are some of the other things bubbling away in your heart you'd love to see come to pass? 

I am a big believer in taking it one day at a time, and right now, I am so thankful for my family, my friends, and being able to do what I love every day. Right now my focus is really on making Camille Styles the website, and Camille Styles Entertaining, the book, as inspiring and creative as they can be. But who knows? I’m sure that any day now, I’ll suddenly feel the itch to dive headfirst into some new creative endeavour!

And now for the fun part
-----------------------------------

60 Seconds with Camille Styles

* my secret hidden talent is…

Almost no one knows that I was a pianist for 12 years!

* my favourite subject in school was…

English literature. I couldn’t believe that I got to read great books as “assignments!” 

* the thing that makes me feel most alive is…

Watching my daughter laugh.

* my hot drink of choice is…

Cappuccino.

* when I want to feel inspired I…

Travel to Europe!

* if could visit Australia I would definitely want to see…

It's beautiful beaches and the Sydney Opera House.

* the book I'm reading at the moment is…

The Secret History, by Donna Tartt.

* my happy place is…

A tie between cuddling with my daughter in bed, or sitting on our terrace with my husband and a glass of rosé.

* if I had unlimited time, money and resources I would…

Live at the beach. (Someday!!)

Thank you so much Camille for sharing today with us!!
Love you guys... Have a great day ;)

Love Nat xoxo

Home images - Casey Dunn | Sister Brother Management

All other images - CamilleStyles.com

PS... here are some pics of Camille's gorgeous home :) Enjoy!