Admiring April :: Natalie Borton
If you haven't been following along, we have spent the whole month of April admiring other female entrepreneurs who are near and dear to our hearts!
Today's admiree, Natalie Borton, says this about herself, "My deepest desire is to help women live healthy, confident lives of true beauty and worth. A self-proclaimed minimalist, I am constantly striving to simplify and optimize my life." In just two sentences you can see why we love her, but lets learn more about what makes her so NEAT …
NM :: We absolutely admire the fun things you are up to. Can you give our readers a brief overview of how you got your start and what excites you the most about bringing the latest lifestyle, motherhood, styling and wellness tips to your admirers?
Natalie :: Well, I started blogging right after I graduated from college in 2008. The blog I had back then was nothing like the one I have today, but rather more of a reflective diary of sorts, the way a lot of blogs were back then! It wasn’t until several years later that I decided I wanted to be more serious and intentional about blogging and created something new, which has evolved into the blog you see today. I love blogging because I love to tell people about things I’ve learned or discovered. I’ve probably always been like that, but it’s a quality that especially started to come out in my early 20s. I also really delight in the way the Internet and social media can connect people from all over the world—that piece has become even more significant to me since becoming a mother, too.
NM :: We love that you are a self-proclaimed minimalist. Can you give us a few NEAT tips that you find help you achieve minimalism in your life?
Natalie :: Yes, minimalism all the way!! A few tips…
1. Get rid of something every day— This sounds crazy but you’d be surprised how much stuff you have lying around the house that you don’t want or need! We keep a donation bin in our garage so we can easily keep track of things we want to donate. My new motto is, When in doubt, throw it out!
2. Baskets, baskets, baskets—With a toddler in the house, we have a lot of toys that can easily make the house feel cluttered and crazy. Since the toys aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, we rely on pretty baskets and bins to toss everything into at the end of the day. It makes the whole house feel so tidy with minimal effort.
3. Streamline your getting ready process—I’ve created a super quick, minimal makeup routine that I can do in 2 minutes, and also over time curated a wardrobe that consists of around 50 pieces (not including shoes, accessories, pajamas & fitness gear) that all sort of mix and match. That makes getting ready very easy and quick, so I can focus on other things like my little guy or a work project.
NM :: We love those tips and getting rid of something every day definitely does NOT sound crazy to us!
On another note, you also have some really exciting news to share about some beautiful items that have recently found their place on your shop page. Do tell!!!
Natalie :: I started a jewelry line in October of last year and it has just been so much fun. It was actually my husband’s idea and we are co-owners of the company. Brian handles operations, strategy and all things numbers. I handle design, marketing and jewelry-making. Though of course it’s nice to have the added income, the most satisfying thing about it is knowing that someone wants to wear a piece that I made. Every time we get an order I feel so loved, encouraged and supported! You can shop the line at natalieborton.com.
NM :: You really are talented in so many ways! Since jewelry is clearly something you have an eye for, can you share your thoughts on organizing your treasured jewels?
Natalie :: I think jewelry should be displayed, not hidden in a drawer! I love to hang mine on the wall near my full-length mirror to make it easy to pick a final touch before I head out the door. I also think creating a space in your closet could be a good idea if you have room.
NM :: Is there any other NEAT news or tips that you would like to share with our readers?
Natalie :: I suppose one tip I have for any fellow mamas, or entrepreneurs out there, is that you can’t do it all so learn to delegate the things you don’t love to do or that don’t matter too much. For example, I really hate cleaning (which is so, so different than tidying!). So once a month I have this sweet lady named Esther come over and clean my house while I take Jack to the park and enjoy a morning out. It seemed indulgent at first, but it’s truly been the best thing! Figure out what those things are in your life and don’t be afraid to find someone to help you out.
We love that advice. Natalie, thanks so much for chatting with us today. This has been so great!
Don't forget to follow Natalie's blog, FB and Instagram for more NEAT tips. You also must also check out her Mompreneur series featuring our very own Katie Koentje!
xx
the NEAT girls
We are Ashley and Molly, the founders of Neat Method.
Lets face it – we obviously love to organize and are a little…or maybe we should say a lot type-A. This perfect storm created The Neat Life. Welcome! We’ve seen it all, heard it all, organized it all, and are always obsessed with seeing a perfectly NEAT space. Even if a clutter free space doesn’t tickle your fancy as much as ours, we guarantee you will be entertained by our antics and drive to make the world a NEAT-er place!