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EP 86: Style, Curation, and Creating a Life You Love with Natalie Steen from The Nat Note
1.7k Plays3 months ago
This week on Mom Group Chat, we’re joined by the effortlessly stylish and incredibly inspiring Natalie Steen, the founder and creative force behind The Nat Note. If you love fashion, thoughtful curation, and finding joy in the little details of life, this episode is for you.
Natalie shares how she built The Nat Note into a go-to destination for curated style and inspiration, all while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. We dive into:
✨ The art of curation – how Natalie handpicks pieces and trends that make fashion feel fun and effortless
✨ Building a brand with intention – the story behind The Nat Note and how it grew from a passion project to a full-fledged business
✨ Finding your personal style in the chaos of motherhood – tips for feeling put together, even on your busiest days
✨ Balancing creativity, career, and family – how Natalie makes it all work (spoiler: she keeps it real!)
✨ Creating a life you love – how small, intentional choices in style, home, and mindset can help you build a life that feels truly you
This episode is like your favorite Nat Note—curated, stylish, and full of inspiration to help you design a life that makes you feel amazing.
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Transcript
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it.
Introduction to Natalie Steen and the Nat Note
00:00:14
Speaker
Hi, friends. On this week's episode, we talked to Natalie Steen, the face behind the Nat Note, a weekly newsletter riddled with outfit inspiration, kids' clothing, and fun finds for your home.
00:00:25
Speaker
Not only is she a style icon gracing our squares on a daily basis, but she captured mine and Candice's heart with her witty sense of humor and fun outlook on life. We talk identity after becoming a mother, upcoming soirees she is hosting, and maybe something about dressing like a goat, but you'll have to catch that portion of the story at the end of the podcast.
Career Transition: Lawyer to Content Creator
00:00:48
Speaker
Please welcome Natalie. What up moms? I'm Whitney Williams and I'm here with my best friend Candice and today we have an awesome stylish special guest Natalie from the Nat Note. How are you?
00:01:02
Speaker
um great. Thank you for having me. We are so thrilled to have you here. Like when I tell you you were on our list when we started this show. Yeah, literally. Like when we sat down to like brainstorm guests for mom group chat like two years ago when we started this, like you were at the top of our list.
00:01:20
Speaker
Oh, I'm honored. That I literally asked. was like, do all follow her? Like she sends out an email every Monday. It's so curated and so cute and inspiring. And I was and then we all like just did a deep dive and went on and on forever. But as one does.
00:01:37
Speaker
Yes. I love a deep dive. Yeah. But so easy to do. So we're so excited to have you today.
Balancing Motherhood and Career
00:01:43
Speaker
And we were hoping you could just tell us a little bit about yourself, who you are, sprinkling the family, because that's who we are. We're a mom podcast.
00:01:52
Speaker
And then what you do. Sure. um So. I'm Natalie. Uh, I have a newsletter called the Nat note. Um, I will say just like this hardest part about doing what I do is knowing how to introduce myself and like what I do.
00:02:07
Speaker
i like, what do I do? i kind of do a lot of different things. Um, But I think, you know, that word influencer has such like a little taboo kind of ick, unfortunately, tied to it. They're like, well, I'm not going to say that because that's not what I do. um But it is kind of what I do. And i guess I'm a content creator, another term of art that I've picked up along the way.
00:02:28
Speaker
um But most importantly, I'm a mom of three. i have a six-year-old boy, an almost four-year-old boy, and a two-year-old little girl. and And so before I started the NatNote, I was an attorney.
00:02:44
Speaker
um And a lot of the reason behind the NatNote was the kids and you know finding ah way to have a better work-life balance while also you know doing what I like to do.
00:02:59
Speaker
um And so it's all kind of enmeshed together. But I live in Houston, Texas. And what else can I say? um So you you were a lawyer before and you left that job to do the Nat Notes.
Leaving Law for Passion: The Nat Note
00:03:13
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, it wasn't kind of like I left it to do it. I was always, I was doing them at the same time, which is, i feel like something like moms can like, ah, yes, of course. Like you, you were invited because you weren't busy enough already. um Right.
00:03:28
Speaker
But I do feel like, you know, i think any mom can relate to the feeling of like, you know, during the day, if you are working a job, you do that while also, you know, momming. And then at the, you know,
00:03:43
Speaker
after bedtime, you're like, well, what about what I like to do? um And I think it's few, the moms that are, that what they like to do and what they do for work align perfectly. I think my growing up, like my mom is a federal judge and she loved what she did. So hers aligned perfectly.
00:04:03
Speaker
And maybe because of that, I followed a similar path and was like, oh wait a minute. What I like to do is I'm very far away from what I do during the day. This is not.
00:04:14
Speaker
um And so that kind of, i reached the point when I was working, when i returned after my second maternity leave. By that point, I had been doing kind of working on the net notes since 2017. So I had been doing it for about four years ah that I realized like you're juggling all these balls in the air.
00:04:38
Speaker
And you have your husband and your sisters and your friends who are like worried about you being like, you got to let one of those balls go because you're going to burn out. It's unsustainable.
00:04:49
Speaker
And I knew which ball I was ready to be like well, I don't want that one anymore. i just i never really wanted that one to begin with. And so that's when I left and started focusing on the Nat Note as my full time.
00:05:03
Speaker
That's amazing. It is so, it's, ah it's, it takes some bravery to, to kind of jump into this, you know, box of like, okay, I'm going to go all in on this and align my passion with like the way I make money.
Curating Authentic Style Content
00:05:19
Speaker
And it's inspiring to, I think it's extremely brave. I mean, it took me yeah so long and I mean, if From the very beginning, like if you looked at what I was doing and creating and sharing, like you could tell I was really scared. of i wouldn't even It took me, I think, around five years to even put my face on my Instagram page because I was like, no, no, no. I'm just going to do my collages and leave it at that.
00:05:46
Speaker
Who do I think I am? Also, I don't want the attorneys to see me you know and having a little photo shoot and them being like, well, she has time for that. Then we can put her on more deals. Totally. Totally.
00:05:57
Speaker
um And so anyway, that's all to say that, yeah, it took like it's like a whole ego thing. You have to swallow that. You have to do internal. Imposter syndrome.
00:06:08
Speaker
All of it. Yeah, yeah. And so I applaud anyone and I'm in awe of any everyone who does it. Well, even like you saying you feel like the word influencer gives you ick, like I almost don't feel like you fall in that category. You're so curated and have a special vibe where it doesn't feel like you're pushing or selling stuff in anyone's face. It's more like this is the way I'm living and I'm just sharing my life and this all happens to be beautiful and, and fun and cool things. Like it doesn't feel that way at all. So I guess, how did you find your, your style even after becoming a mom and, and it just feels so like fun and vibrant?
00:06:49
Speaker
How did you find your style that way? Thank you. That is like the best compliment ever. Um, guess um, aye When I think about what I'm putting out there, I also see it through the eyes of a consumer because I too am like the hyper consumer. And so I'm also, I'm not just like, you know, creating, I'm also consuming. And so I kind of put it through my own filter of like, do I like it? Do I not like it? Like, do I like the way this person, you know, gets on Instagram
00:07:22
Speaker
and sells or, you know, promotes a product. yeah And do i like the way this person does it? Or like what in my mind like would be a cool way to do it? and And so I feel like i always enjoyed shopping. I always enjoyed um fashion and homes and, you know, finding the beauty in things. um And I felt like this was a cool platform in which to say like look at what I found.
00:07:52
Speaker
Maybe you like it too. If you don't, that's okay. But this is just what I found. um And, or this is how I'm incorporating what I found into my life. um And so I try to be very judicious with what I share.
00:08:07
Speaker
I'm not, and, it I hope it doesn't come across like, oh, I think I'm better than these people. I don't feel myself talking just because I hate my voice. Like this was a big thing for me. I'm like, I will do a podcast. We're so lucky to have you then. will not listen to it after we do this. It's the same as like, I can't listen myself on a voicemail.
00:08:26
Speaker
I can't listen to myself on a video. i'm like good So for that reason,
Creative Process in Style Curation
00:08:29
Speaker
I don't do it. But I think in doing so, I create kind of a world where people are like, we know her, but we don't really know her. Right. Like,
00:08:38
Speaker
I think what's more, what I'm putting out there ah the end of the day is like, look at this dress, look at this, you know, piece of art, look at this thing for your home, look at this thing for your children.
00:08:49
Speaker
um I think it makes sense to contextualize it with me. And I see the value in that. But at the end of the day, like people don't know, like what my true thoughts and feelings are beyond like, she likes this or she doesn't like it. right I think if what I'm trying to do is create this, you know,
00:09:06
Speaker
account that's on style, the biggest compliment is when I get people say like, Oh, look, I found something and it reminded me of you. yeah and so I'm like, whatever I'm doing, I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing it right. If someone can be like, that would be her. And that would not be her, you know?
00:09:21
Speaker
And it's, I think you totally hit the nail on the head. And so did Whitney, honestly, when she was saying like, you don't fall into that classic, like the way I see your newsletter and your content, it's it's so inspirational. Like it's just inspiration. You're serving inspiration almost in the way that like Vogue does and like these magazines. And really like ive um I'm going to be a terror this week after the compliments I'm getting today from you guys. I'm going to be a terror.
00:09:54
Speaker
We love you the reason The reason I love your newsletter so much is it like almost takes me to like this like inspiration like center of my brain to be like, oh my gosh, look at this like curated theme of stuff.
00:10:07
Speaker
It just is like so I don't know. It's just so inspirational. And and you style it like you see a top and then you scroll and the pant goes with it and you're like, how did she freaking do that? You know, like, I'm not a pants gal. So I'm like, I know that looks good on Natalie.
00:10:25
Speaker
um And then you scroll and you're like, okay, I want my kids and all of this stuff from Minnow. And then you scroll and you're like, i need those freaking napkins. And who knew I needed a freaking cigarette lighter?
00:10:36
Speaker
Me. I need one. I don't smoke. I want it. i When I was younger, I just love like the collage pages of magazines. I loved that. I remember like at the grocery store, we get so mad. She's like, you don't even read them. You just like go through and look at the pictures. And we'll joke now. She's like, had I known that like, that was really truly how your brain works, how you see the world and how you contribute to the world. Like I would have, you know, taken it easier on you in line at the grocery store. Yeah. Totally.
00:11:07
Speaker
helen
Infusing Joy into Parenting and Life
00:11:10
Speaker
So has it been easy? Like, obviously, I think you were probably creating these collages and these like curated things before you had kids.
00:11:18
Speaker
Has it been harder to keep that up and like keep up the inspiration after kids and like on top of all of, you know, normal mom life stuff? Um, oddly, no, I think I was doing it before kids at the same time that I was working. And so when you remove, you know, corporate lawyer, you know, duties from the equation, you're like, wow, look at all this time. Although time. Yeah. Wow. Um, and at first, at first, I'll say at first, I, when I had my first, I remember I
00:11:49
Speaker
wrote this long, melodramatic, like, goodbye, everyone. Like, I'm about to become a mom. I have a no idea what that means, but B, surely it means that I don't have time to do this anymore.
00:11:59
Speaker
um But, you know, the second um I went back to work and I was sitting in front of a cube computer, I was like, well, I just found like 20 things and the world needs to know before I buy it all myself. and Right. And so um once I eventually left practicing,
00:12:17
Speaker
I find like I'm constant. My husband will tell you like you work way more now than you ever did before because you never turn it off. You don't know how. um But the beauty is that I get to create a schedule where I'm working while also doing all these things as a mom that in you know, and when I was started, i was like, there's no way, how am I going to be able to do carpool like go on the field trip or, you know, bring the cookies to school?
00:12:47
Speaker
I wanted to do all those things. I really did. And I was worried that I wouldn't be able to. And so, I think also while I'm living my life as a mom with kids, I know and now I'm thinking like, okay, what do they need? What are moms shopping for before spring break? what do they What do they want to put in an Easter basket? Like now, because I'm doing those things too. And so it actually, um one goes in hand with the other because even if I wasn't sharing it with
00:13:18
Speaker
you know an audience i'd still be doing it myself right and that was the greatest lesson that i learned when i first made that like vi i'm not doing this anymore this was fun but i'm a mom now was like well you do it all anyway like you'd be doing it all anyway and that's why people like ask me they're like it looks like a lot of hard work i'm like yeah but unfortunately my kind of crazy is that i do it anyway like i i would be doing it anyway for myself um and so i find it to be a huge blessing that I get to say that my job is this, you know, little tick I have of having a little shopping problem is that I get to share it with people and, you know, hopefully help people in the process.
00:13:59
Speaker
um So it kind of goes handin hand in hand. That's amazing. I love it. And I guess, can you tell us how, i know you'd said you took the dive, but how did you decide, I want to start this?
00:14:15
Speaker
And did you learn how to push the email newsletter yourself? Or did you start on Instagram? Like, how much time goes into this? and Or is it just an all day, all day thing?
00:14:28
Speaker
It's hard to tell my CEO, which is my husband has been like, Natalie, he's so numbers focused. He does all my like Excel spreadsheets. He's like, how many hours? I'm like, it's impossible to know. Cause I'll be, you know, waiting in the carpool line. I'm like, Oh, I found something like, and so it's happening kind of simultaneously.
00:14:45
Speaker
and it started though.
00:14:49
Speaker
i um um Let me think. I was, i had known how to use photo. I learned how to use Photoshop in high school, oddly. Like we learned it in a class called digital imaging and I hadn't used it since high school.
00:15:01
Speaker
And I was, it was and i had just. got married in the fall of 2016. And that really like all the creative energy of wedding planning, I loved, I was like, this is so fun. Like getting to carry all these outfits, getting to help my so mom, like know what to wear. And my sisters know what to wear and, you know, finding like bridesmaids dresses and the accessories and the gifts and this, I loved it. And so when it was over,
00:15:29
Speaker
I was actually like, you know, everyone kind of has post wedding blues, but I was like, what I missed most about it was just that. And so I kind of took that, applied it to life was like, okay, we're not getting ready for a wedding, but we are getting ready for, you know, a party this weekend, or, you know, my mom has this thing coming up. And so I'm looking in kind of delving into that.
00:15:53
Speaker
and And then i the email really started because I was so sensitive as a lawyer, baby lawyer to the, like the feeling of a Monday inbox.
00:16:05
Speaker
I was like, wow, like is this is actually like the doomsday. is that Monday inbox and not knowing what your week's going to look like and like what assignment's going to come through that might like wreck your week, you know?
00:16:19
Speaker
And so i and then the other thing was, I just knew any, if there's people like me out there, you're refreshing your inbox all the time. That's something that is steady Eddie and you're checking.
00:16:31
Speaker
And so i was like, I think I'm going to do it as an email. And so I really just, and this is, I think like way pre Substack is cool days. I just like Googled, like what's the easiest way to send an email?
00:16:44
Speaker
Like shout out to MailChimp that I still use. And so, you know, websites like that, like Squarespace, it's like websites for dummies, email for dummies. And like, I was at dummy, I was like, I just need a platform in which to like put it out there.
00:17:00
Speaker
um And that's how it came to be. It's so funny. You mentioned about the Monday inbox. I was just this morning, you know, that trend on Instagram right now, it's like my nervous system doesn't know the difference between being chased by a bear and, and then whatever it is.
00:17:15
Speaker
That's, I literally talked about my nervous system doesn't know the difference between opening my Monday inbox or like being chased by a bear. Yeah. And last I feel i like I'm passionate about that because I my husband be well, you know, if you change it to be a different day, then like your Sunday night wouldn't be wrecked.
00:17:35
Speaker
Like some Sunday nights are just uglier than others. It just depends on like what the weekend looked like and if we were traveling whatever. Um, but my kind of, you know, Capricorn Enneagram three is like, no, and must to be monday it Monday. has to be Monday and it has to be done this way. And I cannot take a week off.
00:17:54
Speaker
Um, but really I'm like thinking about the Monday inbox. I'm like, I just want to be something happy in there that people know, like, Oh, this is going to be ugly, but this will be waiting for me there.
00:18:05
Speaker
Yeah. Also, I am also a Capricorn Enneagram 3. So we are- Yay! You're obnoxious. Yeah, yeah. I like overstand. I totally understand.
00:18:18
Speaker
um You overstand. I overstand. I always say that to people. I'm like, that's, you know, beyond understanding. Um, I did have a question that kind of falls into what you just said of like some Sundays are certain newsletters or certain themes of the newsletters, like harder to do than others. Like, are there some that just flow naturally and you're like, yes, we're, we're going tropical like this, you know, I have all these i find things easily.
00:18:44
Speaker
It is a dark Sunday when I call my sister-in-law and I'm like, what are you, what are you thinking about this? I got nothing. Like below yeah hello that middle line, I got nothing.
00:18:55
Speaker
yeah So we'll just talk and she'll be like, Oh, what about this? What about that? And then once we like, you get on a roll, I'll say like most Sundays are not like that. And I try to be like better and more responsible. I'm not, you know, but, um,
00:19:12
Speaker
Even on the darkest of a Sunday night, and once it's all done, all I feel is so much excitement still. Because people are like, are you still into it? Like, whatever. I'm like, can't. I just, when I find something really good, i would just want to look what I found. Somebody get this.
00:19:29
Speaker
Somebody get this. I don't need it. But I certainly don't need anything anymore. But i'm like, who would have known? it's all Are people sending you stuff constantly? Sometimes. I don't mean like brands. I mean like real people being like, I saw that, like kind of like you said earlier, I saw this and I thought of you type thing. I've been like one of those a week and it makes my week. They're like, look at what I found. or they like I'm sure you saw this already, but just in case, like I, it's cool to see this community, you know, like that. I'm like, you get You know what makes me feel so cool is when I see something that I like and then it comes up in the email and I'm like, whew.
00:20:06
Speaker
Oh, how know i know like I think in today's email, it was like some, I think that brand Sabo skirt and it was like yeah han one. And I was like, I saw that ad. Literally the pat. That was it. It got me too. I was like,
00:20:24
Speaker
Yeah. Ads get me. I will buy anything from an ad. I'm like, I appreciate an ad. I'm like, an ad is kind of doing its work for me. I'm like, oh, thank you. Thank you, algorithm. Thank you, world. You know, people get all kind of nervous of like, everyone's listening. Instagram is listening.
00:20:39
Speaker
like it. are doing like no I need like, i have nothing for next Monday. So can you please, when I tell you that I accept all cookies, I'm sorry. I do.
00:20:50
Speaker
I want, I want the Give me all the cookies. Infect my computer. I don't care. Um, so something that I am super curious about because you are always going to these fun, like lavish, cool,
00:21:06
Speaker
parties.
Themed Parties and Community Support
00:21:07
Speaker
Texas is crazy. Let me just say Texas is crazy. Is it a Texas thing? Like I want to go to this alien disco. Okay. Like I want to go to your 35th birthday party where you had a custom suit made. Like I, what, this is awesome.
00:21:22
Speaker
Tell me about all this. am very pleased to have like a really wonderful group of friends here that like really can appreciate, um, a theme,
00:21:34
Speaker
And we get excited. And it's kind of like this rotating, like, okay, pass the ball to you all now. Like, now you get the ball, now you get the ball. We love to celebrate things.
00:21:46
Speaker
um I think I'm originally from Miami. um And I love Miami. My parents are still there. And I still spend a lot of time there. But and people always ask me like, oh, is moving to Houston so hard? But the thing that makes Houston the best is the people and the people are warm and they're welcoming, but they're very fun and they love to celebrate. And I think like that's also how I would describe Miami people. And and so.
00:22:12
Speaker
You know, within our friend group, we have like a lot of creative minds that are like, what about this? What about this? um And so it just makes it fun. i think, you know, it might be probably drives our husbands crazy. But I was going to say, is your husband on board? My husband like can't will never lean into a theme with me. I'm like, come on.
00:22:34
Speaker
Just dress up. No, get on board. I mean, I feel like I do, you know, I kind of, it's the day of event and I'm like, I present, I'm like, I present you what your option is. I'm not telling you, you have to wear it. I'm just giving you an option, giving you an option. um But we have the, like, I guess the history is we met in college where like theme parties is where like my love of theme parties, that seed was planted. Totally. And so,
00:23:03
Speaker
like, you can't like, you put in contact colored contact lenses to dress this Avatar with me when we were seniors in college. All I'm asking you to do is put on some bell bottoms. Like, yeah come on. I'm not asking for too much right now. There's such a trend now too.
00:23:19
Speaker
Put on the bell bottoms. Oh my God. Avatar was such a thing in college. It was It totally was. you have like a picture on like the frat dance floor of like us connecting our tails? I'm like, ugh. Yeah.
00:23:31
Speaker
Oh my God. Yeah. be what Have you always been this way? I'm like, yeah, I think I have always been this way. think I've always been this way. That is hilarious because we do that with like, with my nieces and nephews, I'll get my hair and I'll connect. I'll be like, I am bonded.
00:23:46
Speaker
I'm bonded with this child. on it We do it to the And now like, you know, surprise, surprise. My kids love to dress up and they love a family costume and which is what we do for Halloween every year.
00:23:58
Speaker
But like all year long, we discuss at length. Like they're like, we watch a movie. they're like, maybe that's what we do. yeah maybe he Like we need to buy the costume. Like it's, we got a long wait till October. um yeah But I really love that my love has been instilled in you. And my husband's there like rolling his eyes like, great.
00:24:16
Speaker
Yeah. Halloween's the best. I'm sorry. is so, any chance you can to dress up. I love it. But yeah, your parties look so fun. Like, it almost gives like, you have friends.
00:24:29
Speaker
I don't know why it reminds me this of like 1950s, 60s, where y'all are going to play bridge, but you're like doing it up. Like y'all are like so fun that way. We're like, we're deep in everything yeah, everyone hosts a party. I'm like, I need to figure that out. I'm in Nashville, by the way. And I'm like, what can I get going over here? I mean, even, you know, and it's like,
00:24:49
Speaker
I feel like our community Houston community is pretty big and there's different pockets of friends, but within each pocket, like there is that kind of spirit of like, why not? Like I have a great, um, book club. And I, one time when I hosted, we read that like dragon book, um, you know, and I was like, we gotta, we gotta, get yeah, we gotta to go in theme. So they've had like, we had little fairy wings on the table and like, I mean, just like making a little more fun. Um, I think too, what we've talked about a lot is when there's a theme that requires like
00:25:20
Speaker
you thinking well beforehand, what am I going wear to this? It just builds excitement, which then is what you want when people arrive of like, I've been waiting for this party. I've prepared for it. I've thought about it. and I think when that energy enters the room, you're set up for success for a good time. Cause people are like, well, we can't like, you know, we can't leave early. We've been thinking about this party for a long time. And so it's this,
00:25:47
Speaker
Kind of a build no will be a lot of extra. It looks really extra, but there is kind of a science behind it too. No, I feel like I'm just now getting to that space where I can care about that kind of stuff. Like I have three-year-old son and then my daughter is one. So it's like, I'm, I'm there.
00:26:05
Speaker
I'm like, I'm ready to like bust out and do this stuff again. Yeah. i cant out Well, I hosted a sip and and we themed it sip and see like um like kind of like a fortune teller, you know, like you're seeing it to the future. And so I had like a woman at my house reading cards.
00:26:26
Speaker
Oh, cool. It's just like you're going to do it anyway, right? Like you're going to have a birthday dinner anyway or you're going to have a shower whatever. Like throw in a little like something and it just makes it more memorable um And I'd like to think like down the line, you know when like my nieces are older, like they're going to be like, what would you guys do again?
00:26:46
Speaker
like What was that thing you all did? That's true. um And then the it just makes for like good pictures. like but we love the room We love to romanticize the 50s, 60s era, um but then while also putting in the groundwork to be like,
00:27:01
Speaker
we're going to be like the 20-whatever era. And they're going like, oh, those people were crazy. They threw the wildest part. I feel like you lean 70s. I do. i'm like I think I'm in between 60, 70. That's my – right in here.
00:27:14
Speaker
um But i could I can do it all. I mean, my one of our best friends had a – like a medieval theme party last week. And so I had to dress a dragon. That's so funny. you shot I was able to shop my closet.
00:27:26
Speaker
The crazy part is for a lot of these, I can just shop my closet, which I'm like, that's a little, I'm divulging too much about me and my issues. Yeah. Well, you said a word just now that is like kind of what the whole time you were talking about these parties and just like making it fun or whatever.
Enhancing Happiness with Everyday Creativity
00:27:42
Speaker
It's like this theme of like romanticizing your life as a mom. And sometimes if you go the extra mile to kind of like just, you know, zhuzh it up, like add a theme, like – put a little bit more effort into like your outfit or planning your outfit or the tablescape or whatever. it really does just overall make you like more proud and happy about your life. yeah And I think that that is honestly like a major key to happiness as a mom.
00:28:09
Speaker
It's like, if you can yeah be intentional and like romanticize your life, even if it's like messy and wild and like not always perfect If you can find pockets to romanticize, like you will be overall like a happier mom and a happier person.
00:28:26
Speaker
wholeheartedly agree. And then um I'm working on this hypothesis that we really can't test out until my kids are adults. And so I might, if it goes the other way, like... I've ruined them. But I also love the thought of like my kids, I want them to look back on their childhood because I do that with that same effort and gusto I put into like our adult parties.
00:28:47
Speaker
I really try to do the same for my kids party or like any holiday. So like on Valentine's day, I want them to wake up and I want the breakfast table just be covered with balloons and, you know,
00:28:57
Speaker
um And I want them to just look back and be like, that was really fun. Like mom made it fun. I want them if they end up in Houston or even if they don't to like drive by their childhood house and be like, remember, like we did all our pictures outside for like Halloween and remember when mom did that or whatever. Um,
00:29:15
Speaker
And I think it's working so far. But because my six-year-old, you know, before any holiday will be like, when we wake up, is it going to be? I'm like, I don't know. We're going to see. I don't know. Don't count on it. Because, you know, my husband will walk out be what are you doing? Like, what have you done? Like, this is all intentional. I want them all to end up in Houston.
00:29:33
Speaker
I want them to end up where we are. Okay. And so I want them to associate this city with happiness and like very good memories. And I want them to say, you know, like any holiday, like mom does it.
00:29:45
Speaker
mom does a really good, you know, mom does it better. or good like Let's go over to moms. i know so yes you have to You have to think that with boys. I'm like, I'm testing this out. I'm like, let's see if this works.
00:29:56
Speaker
You always have to think that with boys sometimes. Cause you're like, they're going to go with their wife. They're going to leave me. come step constant yeah How do I get too bad? I know. Right.
00:30:08
Speaker
Well, I have two girls and i ah my husband is always like, we want a boy. We want a boy, which we might, we'll see. I don't know. Down the line. But I'm always like, yeah, but the girls, the girls stick around.
00:30:19
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. Don't even have to think twice about it. At least we have that. know. I look at my – I mean, just because of the ages, like, for, you know, most of her life, she just turned two. My daughter, I'm like, oh.
00:30:32
Speaker
Like, no, either, like, it's either tagging along or we're going to leave her behind. Like, whatever. But I just look at you and I got a lot of stuff down the road. Yeah, yeah. You and I are going to wake up for this time plus, like, times 10. Like, don't worry about it.
00:30:45
Speaker
I think about that, too. I'm like, we're going to have a solo New York trip, baby. Like, me and you. You know, we're to go to the plaza and have a Yeah, totally. I know. When I saw the moms who's like taking their girls to the Taylor Swift concert, I'm like, oh my God, just give me some more years. You just wait. Yeah, you just wait.
00:31:08
Speaker
That's definitely going to be Candice for sure. I know. I'm a big, big Swifty over here. and um want to know how you find inspiration for your weekly Nat Notes and even these parties you're talking about. like is it Do you still look through magazines now in this day and age? like do you Is there anywhere specifically that you look for inspiration?
00:31:30
Speaker
I love magazines. I love – I mean, Instagram too. like You just like – watching the like the oscars last night like there's like things that you can pick up from and be like oh that'd be fun like how do we um incorporate like this kind of element into a party if we wanted to and um i like my sister-in-law and i are like best friends and she keeps like a running notes on her kind of phone because i will call be like what do we come up like what should we do this year we've had a galentine's party um
00:32:03
Speaker
And this year, since I celebrated my 35th in a big way, were like, let's kind of put a pause on that. But then we were like, wait, I mean, we can't not do something. yeah no So this year we're going to have a bad bunny in April party. We do like a spring table skate, but kind of like playboy, old school playboy.
00:32:24
Speaker
dress code. Not like in a launch. I went like the rapper Bad Bunny and I thought you were going to do it. Well, that too. As a Miami girl, I'm like, but we're playing St. Andrew, right?
00:32:35
Speaker
like i play And the new album is so fire. i'm I live in Tampa, Florida, and I'm half Cuban. been listening to it all morning. so i'm like But also Bad Bunny.
00:32:45
Speaker
Also so bad money. That's funny. Because, you know, it's like we love Valentine's Day. I mean, but we also like what if we haven't done like an Easter one. i don't know. look and see you look around and see what you know is out there and what people are doing. i still love to follow like wedding planner accounts. I love to see what they do for tables. Like Augusta Hoffman went to UVA with me and she is creating like the most beautiful worlds with her weddings.
00:33:17
Speaker
And like those give me inspiration. i just keep it on Instagram, you know, that little flag where I'm like, hold on, let me pull this up. Like, yeah, yeah. you know, inspo for anything from like rooms to an invitation to makeup, to like dress to whatever.
00:33:32
Speaker
and And so I think just like keeping that mental Rolodex Is what I just, there's a big mental Rolodex. It's kind of scary. and sure. But yeah, I just, well, we actually, Candace and I both recently moved and right now the Kips Bay show house.
00:33:51
Speaker
Exactly. Oh my gosh. It's like, you're taking me. don't know what that is. What is that? It's in Palm beach right now. They just had one in Dallas as well. where they a lot of interior designers come and they each get a room and they'll like just go freaking out it's so fun because it's like it's for the charity and so like there's it's not like a cohesive house it's like each room is kind of a reflection of the interior designer and they get to kind of like and be like this is how i would do it and so without like a client you know like
00:34:25
Speaker
Mm-hmm. mean yeah Like, don't know if my husband likes pink. Like, oh. Too bad. Yeah. Yeah. They get to kind of go above the wall, and it's so fun to see what they create.
00:34:37
Speaker
So Okay. That was in New York once I saw it. And when I was in New York, I was like, let's go to this. And we know I forgot something happened there. I think maybe the tickets were sold out or something, but I've seen that before.
00:34:48
Speaker
yeah It comes up. yeah I mean, they pop up all over the place, but oh my God, the inspo from that. And I am just obsessed. And now I'm like, I'm going bohemian in my house because and a Palm beach theme, because I've seen it everywhere. Now I need it.
00:35:04
Speaker
i know. It's so fun though. Like I think, Instagram as a mom is scary and you like, we can go on and on about like how dangerous it is and how bad it is for our mental health.
00:35:16
Speaker
But on the flip side, there are some positives to it. And just like the treasure trove of inspiration that's out there for me, at least I'm like, I can't quit it. We just talked about that.
00:35:28
Speaker
Yeah. i was going to say, we just had an episode on social media and that was kind of it. Like we understand there are two sides of the coin, but there's also like so much positive things about social media too. Like I've, I mean, even with the show, we've connected with so many moms who have like made us feel so seen and heard and like inspired us in different ways.
00:35:46
Speaker
And so, yeah, like can it be toxic and dangerous? Of course, just like a lot of things can be, yeah but I feel like there's also so much inspiration and beauty and like,
00:35:56
Speaker
happiness and social media also. So and is nice to like, just feel inspired from time to time. If I didn't, if I wasn't able to like see that inspiration every day, feel like my life would be more sad. So I would just stay on Pinterest. I think I'd be like, what you got for me, even though yeah I do that anyway, too. Yeah. i do right. I want to pivot here to talk a little bit more about your personal style and fashion
Fashion Inspiration and Maximalist Style
00:36:23
Speaker
here. So if you had to describe your personal style in a couple of words, how would you describe it?
00:36:30
Speaker
That's another one I struggle with. I'm like, ah um, I'm definitely a maximalist. I know this. color and love color and and love prints and I love, um, I guess embellishments.
00:36:45
Speaker
I love, you know, like and tassels, feathers, sequins. Um, I'm just drawn to all that. Um, but then ah kind of laugh with the, uh,
00:36:58
Speaker
people who work at my younger twos Montessori school. Cause I'm like, you all see me in the most extreme circumstances. It's like, I drop off and I look like a bat out of hell. I feel like pajamas You know, or like, you know, some kind of workout exercise.
00:37:17
Speaker
And then I will come to pick up sometimes and they're like, I know, I know. And it's a school where they have you park the car and enter the school to do pick up. So like, it's almost like a walk of shame both ways.
00:37:33
Speaker
Like I am embarrassed to look like this when y dropping off and I'm even more embarrassed that like, I didn't have time to take off the heels after this event or whatever. And now I'm at pickup in heels.
00:37:44
Speaker
Um, so funny. So I would say like my personal style really ranges. Um, I love, um, I guess I've had to really think about it recently because I, um,
00:37:58
Speaker
did a collab with Dillard's and we have another one in the line for holiday and they, when engaging in that kind of creative exercise, they're really like, what is it about this like style that you like? What is it about this? oh cool um And so having to articulate that I find is really difficult, but it For me, a lot of it comes down to like details in the cuts of things.
00:38:25
Speaker
but i'm like I like how it like this folds here or like this strap is here. i i guess like little details um done the right way really excite me. um That I think is why I'm naturally drawn to a lot of like vintage things. Because the details there, um you know they...
00:38:49
Speaker
Obviously, like a long time ago, they just paid more attention to- say they don't make them like that anymore. And cut corners. And so like seeing things like that, like look at the way they like put the print inside the coat and outside the coat, like just details that I'm like, oh, that makes it interesting.
00:39:07
Speaker
That makes it cool. That makes it different than everything else I've seen there. And I guess I'm always in the search of those three things. Like, is it interesting? Is different? Is it cool? Yeah.
00:39:18
Speaker
Have I seen something like that before? or is it like really gets me excited? So do you thrift a lot? I love to thrift. I try to keep myself from physically going, although Houston has some really wonderful places.
00:39:34
Speaker
And I, but I do follow a lot of thrifting accounts on Instagram and will follow their websites as well. And I've scored some really um cool things. My vintage closet is like,
00:39:45
Speaker
all my closets really, we live in older house and my sister-in-law says, she's like, your closets, like if you open it, all you hear is like, like from the close, like it is like, you will be full sweat. Like it is not, see, we're like, we would love to see your closet. Like that's, we still, I'm like, you don't, it is a sad sight.
00:40:07
Speaker
And the clothes can't breathe. Like I'm the, I've had Rod snap. That's happened. I just love how say closets. Because there's a lot of little ones.
00:40:19
Speaker
You know, big one. They're like, it's an old house that has like, this was for like coats or like mops or something. I'm nope, this is going to be all the party dresses. Like this is going to be all of this.
00:40:31
Speaker
um Like our guest room has these three little closets. And when, you're a guest in my house, I'm like, sorry. Sorry, there's no room for you to hang up anything. I live in an old house now. well are well Well, like Whitney said, we just moved and both houses were super old and our closets are super small.
00:40:50
Speaker
It's like, I just don't know if I will ever know the like, Carrie Bradshaw closet life, it's just not going to happen for me. So like, for example, I'm in my office right now, like half my clothes are in here.
00:41:01
Speaker
Some are in the master. Some are going to be hanging in my daughter's room, which has a little bit bigger of a closet. It's like everything's everywhere. We're things everywhere. like But know my husband was like, okay, if we were to move, like what would he's like, actually, I don't even know I'm asking you. like The only thing you need is a closet. and like That's the only thing you care about. He's like, I personally would like like you know the playroom to be like not on the first floor. like He's like, I actually have a list. You just care about closet space. Yeah. Well, yeah, naturally I do.
00:41:28
Speaker
yeah oh yeah. That's like the one thing. I always tried to turn a room into a closet. And Chris was like, that's insane. Like, can we not? And I'm like, well, this was before kids. And we actually did do it. I lived in Rhode Island for a little bit. And we had like an upstairs situation. And i we did that. And it was the coolest thing I'll probably ever do in a house.
00:41:48
Speaker
And I'll never get it again. But it's fine. I think this moment right now, we're all manifesting for ourselves. One day, we're all going to have... big go I'm going to have a shoe display. Big old closet for all three of us.
00:42:02
Speaker
And i'm going to I'm going to hold all of my clothes for all of my theme parties. I'm manifesting this right now for sure. that's right That's right. Especially with girls. like Once I had the girls, was like, oh forget it. Now you wear the way you justify holding on to things and purchasing things. I'm like, well, they'll be happy one day that I got this.
00:42:22
Speaker
Answer, yes. Okay. Well, that's that. ah yes That is so true. Do you see yourself like shopping more for your kids now that you've had them? Or do you still shop a lot for yourself?
00:42:32
Speaker
I, um, I find like, if I'm honest, I'll be real honest
Sustainable Fashion and Creative Expression
00:42:37
Speaker
right now. if I'm shopping for myself, I'm either on the real wheel or I'm like going vintage. Okay, cool. I think as part of this job, it's a blessing that a lot of brands, you know, will send stuff.
00:42:48
Speaker
True. And so i feel like I have plenty. And if, but if I'm like really getting excited for an event that I'm like, Ooh, like, do we go vintage or like, let's find something, which is a different kind of vintage on the ri real, real.
00:43:01
Speaker
I just love the real, real. I'm addicted to it. I just check it like twice a day. I'm one of those, one of those one when they drop the new drops. Cause I've just found so many treasures on there. And I think,
00:43:12
Speaker
in my heart of what time I'm a treasure hunter. That's what I like to do. Um, for my kids, I also like, I think shopping for them is really fun because ah obviously the price tag is like different. And so you're like, Oh, and then you have a girl and you're like, oh my God, this is bad. This is a problem.
00:43:35
Speaker
But shop i mean, little clothes is so cute. and i'm like wow i know And I love to like, you know, dress them up when they're when we're like going places or like over the summer, like when we're in Miami, I'm like, well, we got to have a Miami. I've got to do this.
00:43:51
Speaker
But no, I find that like shockingly, I think it's, you know, a therapist would have a field day. It'd be like, I shop way more for myself before I started doing this because I do think in the action of sharing, you know, like there's something in that of like, I didn't have to wear it because I shared it on the net. And it was almost like wearing it in a way. Yeah. Right.
00:44:19
Speaker
So it's like, it scratches the itch of like purchasing it and showing it off. I really love it. I want people to see it, but it doesn't have to be on me. And like, I mean, realistically you're like, what am I going to wear that? You know, you're like, what are you going to wear I say that, but then, you know, I see something like thrifted. I'm like, I don't know what I'm going to wear this to, but this is too good to pass that. Yeah.
00:44:43
Speaker
Have you ever planned a whole party around like an outfit first? Like you found something. Yeah, my 35th birthday. day do that said Yeah, that is exactly how the 35th birthday happened.
00:44:54
Speaker
So there is, um, this company in based in Austin called Fort Lonesome and they do this like chain stitch embroidery. They think make works of art. They do a lot of it for, country music stars where on stage, um,
00:45:11
Speaker
And I remember I reached out to them, you know, maybe like two years ago. And I was like, I love what y'all do. Like, I just am a lover of clothes and, you know, unique clothes.
00:45:22
Speaker
um You know, would love to make something with you. And they were like, well, we'll put you on a wait list because that's how it works. um And so we'll be in touch. And I was like, okay, like forgot about it.
00:45:33
Speaker
And then June of last year, they were like, you're up. I was like, well, for what? You're up on the wait list. Like, do what do you want to make? And I was like, oh. um And so the whole, I really enjoy any kind of process of like working with someone like that, who's just like, they're so creative, they're so talented, um you know, and you kind of get in there and you get to pick colors, you get to pick themes, you create a mood board. Like that is my love language.
00:46:01
Speaker
And um so we made this Western suit that, you know, has like a big disco ball in the back. It has palm trees on the front. It was just like everything I love on a suit.
00:46:12
Speaker
But I was like, I don't really have anything to wear this too. I remember calling my sister. I was like, mate, like, what do I do? Like, do I have like a vow or no? She's like, are do you think you're on Bravo or something? Yeah. you're a bravo housewife like you cannot have a vow renewal natalie i was like okay fine was like that's a kiss of death so in in housewives world it it's like yeah if anyone's like you can't do that you are not a a bravo housewife and be like you that's not a good look if you were on a bra if you were a bravo housewife that'd be a real bad look for you
00:46:45
Speaker
So was like, okay, fine. So then i was turning, I turned 35 in December and it was going to be ready in December. And so i was like, I guess I gotta have a birthday party. And I guess the theme has to be, we called it Tropy Tex discotheque because you could be tropical, you could be Texas or you could be disco because it was a Western suit that had those elements on it.
00:47:06
Speaker
So I was very like, cause my friends, even though, as I said, they're very fun and they can engage and indulge in any kind of, you know, invitation They were like, so which way do I go? I'm like,
00:47:19
Speaker
Choose your own adventure. I don't know. i want to have this party because I have to wear this suit. that is a perfect example of when the cart came before the horse.
00:47:30
Speaker
Wow. I love that so much. Oh my gosh. That suit was good. And you forgot to say the little NS on the cotter. Okay. And that, I was like, we named him our daughter Nell. That was, you know, family name. But I'm like, girlfriend, one day this will be for you too. oh my gosh. You're inspiring me now to like um be more intentional about the things I It's very altruistic.
00:47:54
Speaker
so selfless of me, really. Yeah. Wow. okay Honestly, you thought ahead. You thought ahead. You know? Oh my gosh. Too funny. Well, to end, I thought we could do ah few little rapid fire questions where you can just like one answer or you can embellish a little if
Quick Fire Fashion and Lifestyle Preferences
00:48:12
Speaker
you want.
00:48:12
Speaker
Since embellishments is life. I will say I'm not good at these and then it haunts me because I'll come up with like the ideal answer at 3 a.m. tonight. Why did I say that? free to DM us. yeah play i yeah Like ble that out just put Yeah.
00:48:27
Speaker
Okay. If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be?
00:48:34
Speaker
Green. I love green. I'm a green gal. I love a green. Okay. Favorite place to vacation? Miami. Hometown. Love that.
00:48:45
Speaker
Your favorite accessory?
00:48:51
Speaker
Oh, I don't know, y'all. I really don't know. like If I had to pick, I'd probably say earring. That's just like the easiest thing to say. i do love up a big statement earring.
00:49:04
Speaker
Yeah. But I also love like a really funky literal purse too. Oh yeah. You have some good ones. I have like too many kind of kitschy novelty bags. Cool.
00:49:16
Speaker
I love But they're fun. They're They're conversation starters. Oh, for sure. and Okay. And last heels or sneakers. Heels. Heels. I knew that was going to be the answer. Heels.
00:49:30
Speaker
Like a Barbie shoe, like foot, you know? like Yeah. yeah like When will I get back into those? I don't know. Miami girl learns how to wear heels, I feel like, at a very inappropriately young age. I'll say that.
00:49:42
Speaker
Just like now being here. ah baby heels I wore in college, why? why Oh, I lived abroad in Florence in college. And my one of my best friends in college will tell you every night she would hear my ankles on the cobblestones of Paris because platforms I insisted on wearing would like eventually just turn in and I'd be like walking home.
00:50:05
Speaker
one I wake up in the next morning, I'm like, ow. She's like, four ankles on the cobble stills, like just wear flats. I'm like, no one wears heels here. And certainly not like the five inchers you insist on. I'm like, no, I got to wear my heels.
00:50:19
Speaker
And you couldn't take them off, right? Like, wow. yeah so No. Like, hipsy foot. You can't get that. i'm Like, you know. Hipsy foot. We all know what that is. I mean, that was also very real. When you do take them off and you like look at the bar and you're like, oh, it's black. Yeah.
00:50:35
Speaker
She's giving Elsmerelda like you can't. I wish. mean, that'd be good. That's not... That's a party I want to go to. going to be hunchback. That's actually good one. I'm going to write that one down. That would be good. Although you have to be careful these days because everything is very PC, you know?
00:50:51
Speaker
That's true. I'd be the goat with the one earring. like That's like the...
00:50:57
Speaker
That would be and really good.
00:51:03
Speaker
I that. With like a piece of straw, like a barley straw out of it hanging out your mouth. Just gnawing on it. Yeah. yeah that's buddy oh That's you. That's you with the heels. Clip clop.
00:51:17
Speaker
That is me. but too fine well this was so fun oh my gosh this has been so so fun have inspired us so much and continue to inspire us i'm like you all i'm always sending your newsletter to people who like don't know about it yet i'm like you you don't you're not subscribed to this like what are you doing so old sam same same dude But we really appreciate it And I hope you guys all listen.
Follow Natalie Steen on Instagram
00:51:45
Speaker
And can you tell everybody where to find you on your Instagram handle? um And then take a follow.
00:51:53
Speaker
Yep. So on Instagram, I'm at the Nat note. And then i always tell people the easiest way is to just go www.thenatnote.com. And the first thing you'll see is a little box that says subscribe here because the collages visually um are a lot on Instagram.
00:52:12
Speaker
And I love, I don't love getting the feedback from like you know, someone new being like, just so you know, those are very difficult to look at. I'm like, well, thank you. But just so you know, if you yeah get it on an email or go to the website, all the products are live underneath the collage.
00:52:32
Speaker
And so you can see them better. Yes. um Find the right platform, girl. That's what it is. Yeah. We'll also link everything in the show notes of this episode. So if you go to the show notes of this episode, you can find where to follow Natalie. We can even link directly to your site and all of that.
00:52:51
Speaker
So if you're not following her already, that's where you can find her. All right. Awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday. And don't forget, the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there.
00:53:11
Speaker
All right. Gotta to go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.