getty villa

Last week, my mom and I spent an afternoon at the Getty Villa in Malibu.

The venue and the weather were equally beautiful.

We had a wonderful time {and I got to check something off of my summer wishlist - woohoo!}

dream a dream

{via}

See that big beautiful ship? That's the Disney Dream. And I will be sailing to the Bahamas on her in a little over two weeks. My mommy is turning 50 and we are doing it right! 

I have never been on any cruise before so I am crazy excited.

We will be stopping at Disney's Castaway Cay twice, spending one full day at sea, and another docked in Nassau. There is so much on the cruise that I am looking forward to but am mostly excited for one last family vacation before I jet off to Hawaii. 

Have you ever cruised before? Any tips or suggestions?

picnic

When I grow up I want to be a sweet tea drinkin', rocking chair rockin', American flag wavin' Southern lady.

My BFF Lisa knows this about me and because she is so amazing {and is a legit Southern lady since she lives in Georgia} she surprised me and Alex by sending us a "Southern Starter Kit". 

Y'all...it was the CUTEST thing ever ;)

The kit had all the things we would need to go on an old-fashioned picnic. And that's what we did {six months after getting the kit...oops}

It was a beautiful day and I'm already looking forward to our next picnic -- eating your sandwiches and goldfish crackers is just more fun outside. 

Thanks Lisa!

christmas in july

Doesn't that sound wonderful?

My excellent wiki-skills taught me that the concept of Christmas in July came about for those in the Southern Hemisphere {Australia & New Zealand} who might want to celebrate the holiday during their cooler, winter months. From what I could tell though, most people still celebrate it on December 25 -- warm or cold!

ANYWAYS

If Christmas were happening this July that means that Christmas would be TODAY. I would currently be in my kitchen, making my favorite holiday french toast with holiday music playing in the background.

And if Christmas were today, you could find these things on my list:

{via}

this pretty ring with the initials of me and the husband of course :)

{via}

a pretty iphone cover like this would make me happy {ignore that fact that I am an android user}

{my own picture}

a date with that guy. i may even request the sunglasses.

{via}

a pretty hawaiian quilt.

what's on your christmas wish list?

adventure

{via}

I can't read that quote and not hear the voices from the movie Up but I'm ok with that because I like love that movie. {does anybody cry like a baby throughout the entire movie? or is it just me?}

Our move to Hawaii is sneaking up on us fast. As I'm packing up our apartment and deciding what stays and what goes, I can't help but start to feel a little nostalgic for what we are leaving behind. 

But when I start to think of all the amazing memories we have had here, I get so excited about all the adventures we are going to have on our island in the middle of the Pacific. 

Adventure is out there! It's just waiting for us to live it. 

the byrds are back in town

We're back!

We had an amazingly relaxing and fun-filled vacation. I could go on for days telling stories of the trip but instead I'll just leave you with the video I made to capture some of our time at the Pharm.

Enjoy!



Pharm 2012 from natashabyrd on Vimeo.

overnight

If you didn't already know, I work as a hospitality manager for a major hotel chain. As the manager, one of my responsibilities is to cover shifts for the front office staff as needed. For a little over a month we have been down a staff member so I have been working the Night Audit shifts twice a week.

Working overnight {the hours are 11pm- 7am} two nights a week, plus 3 other regular shifts is exhausting. I've never been a good napper so it's hard for me to get enough sleep during the day after being up all night. Even if we have no plans, I still wake up after about 3 or 4 hours and have this nagging feeling that I am wasting the day away. Alex is off on the weekends and I always want to be hanging out with him instead of hugging my pillows. Thankfully, my amazing husband closes the blinds tight, turns on a fan for white noise, and encourages me to sleep as long as I can.

The lack of sleep doesn't only effect my weekends but pours into the week -- I feel behind on chores around the house, I haven't been running as much as I want to, I haven't cooked enough meals for the two of us and I don't like any of it!

I'm really looking forward to a break from this schedule I've been on. I'm ready to get my energy back and get on track with my wifely duties :)

{via}

san pharmcisco dreamin'

The countdown is on.

In a little less than a week, the husband and I will be heading off on a much needed {for me anyway} summer vacation!

We are starting off in San Francisco. Alex has a conference and I am just tagging along for the ride. Hopefully we will be able to squeeze in dinner with his Nana and auntie! While Alex spends his day learning about computer stuff {over generalized because it's way over my head - sorry babe!} I plan on running, reading, and exploring the city. I've only been once before -- have any suggestions for things I shouldn't miss?

After the conference is over, we are flying to Minneapolis where we will pick up our rental car and make the drive to the pharm {aka my grandparent's house}.

The pharm consists of 80 acres of pure magic {for our family anyways} in the UP of Michigan. A large chunk of my family is going to be there this summer at the same time as us so I am really excited!



Of course, I have a list of things that I want to do while we are up there. Here are some of the highlights:

...have a bonfire, visit fortune lake, make bread with grandpa, shoot off fireworks, go to ishpeming for the fourth of july, walk around the property, tip the canoe in the pond, hang laundry on grandpa's clothes line, go to copper harbor, eat dinner at the drive in, help grandma make pasties, listen to grandpa's stories, go into the attic and look for treasures, go to the strawberry festival...

the list could pretty much go on forever. I'm so excited!

Where are you headed to this summer?

organize

Office supplies are my weakness. Send me to the store and I will drool more over the notebooks and calendars than the designer shoes and handbags.

I bought a new calendar about a month ago that starts in July and have been dying to start using it -- I'm almost there!

While I am excited to start using my new one, I cant help but wish that I was about to crack open an Erin Condren life planner. I have never owned one but based on reviews and website browsing I am convinced it is the holy grail of planners.

More times that I would like to admit I've found myself on the website, designing my dream planner and imagining the lists that I would fill each section with. It makes me happy.

Someday, this will be mine!

{via}

father's day

Happy Father's Day to the daddy who gives the best tickles :)

preview

If you haven't already heard, a big expansion is coming to Disney's California Adventure park. Tomorrow, Cars Land and a newly remodeled Buena Vista Street will be open to the public. This is a MUCH needed expansion and something that I have been looking forward to for a long time!

On Monday, I was lucky enough to attend a special preview for annual passholders. Both parts of the expansion blew me away. In true Disney fashion, the attention to detail was remarkable. I could gush about it for hours but instead I will just show you some of my pictures from the day {so happy they let me take in my camera!}

doesn't that look awesome?

this ride was absolutely hilarious.

mater and lightning mcqueen drove around cars land and then stopped to take pictures...adorable!

my new favorite outfit for mickey.

buena vista street

jesse, caitlin and myself - we had a great time!

thankful

that is all. 

xoxo,

natasha

because I can

So there is this really cool online platform for holding conferences called Function that I was recently turned onto by Joelle from A CharmingOccasion. She had recommended their Alt. Summit classes in one of her posts so I decided to check it out.

There were a few different course offerings that sounded pretty interesting so in the name of self-improvement, I took the plunge and signed up for one focused on branding your blog. The class was really interesting and I enjoyed the interactive format. The biggest idea that I took away from the class was that I needed to figure out what the purpose of my blog is and then come up with a brand statement centered around that purpose.

I've been spending some time thinking {and re-thinking} just what that purpose is. And as of tonight, I'm still not exactly sure but I am ok with that! Until I have it figured out, I might be trying different things out to see what fits. It may be a little all-over the place for a while and feel a little bit random or lost, but we all have to go through that phase right?

Not having a defined purpose just yet gives me complete freedom to post whatever I want tonight. So, I will leave you with a video of two little girls with an awesome talent that I have on repeat. Because I can ;)

xoxo,

Natasha

hello summer

Summertime is here!

Well, maybe not officially but here in Southern California it has felt like it as of late. Even though my years of three-month summer vacations are long gone {wah!}, I still look forward to welcoming summer back into my life each year. 

My summer is already off to a great start. A few weeks ago I went on a horseback ride up to the Hollywood Sign {thanks to Sunset Ranch}

and took a quick vacation with my cousin Addie to visit my brother at Disney World!

Since it will be my last summer in California for a while, my summer activity wish-list is pretty long already {and growing daily} and filled with California specifics. Here is a little preview:

1. Go to a night Dodger game. Preferably one with a firework show afterwards :)

2. Make good use of my Disneyland annual pass (am I the only one who wishes the sign still looked like this?!)

3. Eat lots and lots of mexican food! And definitely make a trip to Tito's Tacos at least once

4. Visit the Getty Villa in Malibu

What's number one on your summer wishlist?

{1/2/3/4}

birthdays and fun facts

This blog is coming up on it's second birthday already. {seriously, where does the time go?}

Since it's inception, the main goal of this blog was to share parts of my life with family and friends who lived in far away lands.

Although I haven't always the most consistent blogger {I've been known to take a few impromptu blog-cations}, I have always been a faithful blog reader. I enjoy reading all sorts of blogs simply because I love the stories that people have to tell. One of my favorite stories to read about is why a blogger decides to blog – there are as many answers to that as there are stars in the sky BUT there is one common theme that I see pop up in almost every blog that I read: community.

From the outside looking in, the blogging community is friendly, fun and powerful. It looks inviting, like a sparkly-blue pool on a hot summer day and I have decided that I want to jump in! I'll be stepping out of my comfort zone and transitioning from pro blog-lurker to contributing member of the blog society!

SO! If you have found yourself visiting me for the first time and are asking yourself “who is this girl?”, here are ten fun facts about yours truly...

1. I am seriously lacking in the “I have lots of cute solo pictures of myself” department, which is why I used a random pre-wedding picture above
2. I love both my parents dearly but one of my favorite things to play-pretend when I was little was orphanage (that and Harriet the Spy)
3. I really dislike homemade cookies, but love to make them for my husband
4. I love taking pictures of our dog, Rocco. He's just so dang cute!
5. I really like Disney and spent the spring of 2011 working in Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World {dreams come true people!}
6. When I grow up, I want to be a sweet southern lady
7. In September I am moving to Hawaii with my husband and Rocco!
8. The UP of Michigan is one of my favorite places on earth
9. I am the slowest beer drinker ever
10. I am obsessed with nail polish 
    
    
    

    Care to share a fun fact about you? 

    
    

    xoxo, 

    natasha

it's here

Instagram for Android has finally been released!

To say I'm excited is an understatement.

My very first instagram photo is of my handsome lunch date...

Isn't he a cutie?

xoxo,

Natasha

closet space

There is something magical about having a clean, organized closet.

I spent some quality time with my clothes this afternoon...re-folding, re-hanging, color coding and getting rid of the things I haven't worn in forever.

Boy, does it feel good.

I feel more at peace when I have an organized closet/dresser {tell me I'm not the only one}

Believe it or not, the organizing was not the highlight of my weekend.

Last night, our good friends the Berrys hosted a housewarming party. It was great to see old/new friends and enjoy some delicious food and wine.

I have been slacking on the picture taking lately but I did capture a quick shot of Alex and I pre-party.

xoxo,

natasha

mia

I've been missing in action.

Between trips to WDW...

...hiking Wildwood...

...spending time with my furry fella...

...hiking to the Hollywood sign...

...slaving away at my full time job...

...working on launching my business...

...catching some killer sunsets...

...eating delicious food...

...visiting my happy place...

...and enjoying my husband's company...

...I haven't had much extra time to put into this blog.

But I miss it.

Do I have tons of readers? No. {and if do, they are ever so quiet} But for those readers that do pop by from time to time, I want to keep this up. Plus, this blog is sort of like my diary and I know that I will love to look back on it later and re-live these years.

xoxo,

natasha

the counter

A few nights ago we went to dinner at The Counter.

YUM

The Counter is a fun burger place where you are given a clipboard and golf pencil when you sit down and then you create your personalized burger. There are so many options it is a little overwhelming at first. I almost always get the same thing. {boring, I know}

any fun restaurants in your area?

xoxo,

natasha

southern lady

When I grow up I want to be a southern lady.

{via}

I want to have tea parties in my garden.

{via}

I want to sit on my front porch...

{via}

...while drinking sweet tea out of mason jars.

{via}

I think it would be lovely y'all.

I guess California is pretty sweet too.

I could start saying "y'all" here...maybe it would catch on?

{don't think so? yea, me either.}

xoxo,

Natasha

the boy is back in town

Happy Sunday!

How was your weekend?

Alex was in San Luis Obispo for most of the weekend with some of our friends, he got home this afternoon and it sounds like they had a good time!

Friday night the cousins gathered at Nikita and Shauna's for some fun. We made gramma's meatballs and Spiroff fudge...our staples :)

Saturday morning I was in Santa Monica bright and early to help my mom run a garage sale. Despite a neighbor complaining to the police and turning the sprinklers on us (lovely yes?), we did pretty well and had fun doing it!

Tonight we ordered chinese from our favorite place (their pork fried rice is the best).

Now that dinner is over, I am preparing for a nice relaxing night.

I just ordered this book to my Kindle:

{I love Walt}

and I am going to start reading it in a nice, hot bubble bath.

To be followed by a glass {or 2} of wine.

ahhhhhhhh

xoxo,

Natasha

business time

I currently work as a hospitality manager for a large hotel chain. I really do love being in the hospitality industry, however, I definitely do not want to stop where I am at. I have two over-all career goals. I either...

1. want to go work for Disney {again}

or

2. want to work for myself

Lately, I have been taking steps towards option number 2 by slowly starting to build up an event consulting business and am excited to announce that I will be working my first wedding completely on my own next month!

It's crazy exciting.

I also have another wedding lined up in November {woohoo!}

Some may say I'm doing things a little backwards since I've booked two clients before "branding" myself. And while there is some truth to that, I want to see how things go and sort of let my brand develop itself. Through working my first event and meeting with new clients, I believe I will have a clearer vision of what I want my business to consist of. Until then, I will continue to enjoy the process and look forward to seeing what the future has in store!

xoxo,

Natasha

new look

I'm starting off 2012 with a new blog design.

What do you think?

Personally, like the color, it makes me happy.

It's very fitting since I plan on having a very happy year,

{via}

which wont hard because I have tons of good things going on in my life right now.

I'm feeling blessed today.

xoxo,

Natasha

welcome 2012

I know it's a little late but...

I worked on NYE but was home in time to ring in the new year with my husband, doggie and a glass of wine :)

2011 was wonderful and 2012 is off to a great start.

xoxo,

Natasha