Candid Keepers #401

Introducing:

Natalie D. of Chester Springs, PA

Most Valued Form of Character:

Kindness

Q:  Please tell us a bit about yourself.  Where are you from and where are you now?

A:  I was born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia with my mom and dad, and two younger brothers who were and still are my best friends. I went to college in Virginia and returned home to Pennsylvania only to meet my husband (well I should say re-connect with my husband!) and we began our moves to Connecticut, Arkansas, New Mexico, and now, after 8 years, we made it back home again to Pennsylvania! I have two little darlings, 5 and 3, with another one on the way in April!

Q:  How did you meet and fall in love with your husband?

A:  Jason and I knew each other in high school. We went to different schools but our town is pretty small. After I graduated from college, a mutual friend called me to see if I would be interested in going on a date with him. I remembered him being cute and funny so I said “Sure!” but then a few weeks went by. Turns out he had called my house 3 different times leaving messages with my brothers who didn’t bother to give them to me! Luckily, Jason is a confident guy and didn’t take that as getting turned down and he called again and we finally set the date. It a good lesson in being persistent!

Q:  What about those gorgeous babies???  Give us an idea of who they are.

A:  Oh my sweet boy is five. He is the kindest soul and is the best, most caring brother to his sassy sister. He loves sports and superheroes. He is an amazing artist that will draw for hours with a creativity like no other.  My girly-girl is three and full of sassy spirit. She dances on the table and tumbles on the couches. She loves babies and is going to be the most amazing helper with the new baby coming. She is sweet and loves to read and cuddle and do silly skits with her brother.

Q:  What did you do in your previous life?  Pre-Matilda Jane?

A:  I taught high school art before having kiddos and I love being creative.  I still am creative through the jewelry I make and transforming flea market finds into fun house treasures. I also make girly’s hair bows and love decorating.  And my number one job is mom to my little dears. I still get to do all that!

Q:  What is your Matilda Jane story?  What made you become a Trunk Keeper?

A:  I fell in love with MJ when I lived in Northwest Arkansas. The little girls in my neighborhood were dressed to the nines in MJ. I only had my son at the time but when my girly was born I started my MJ collection!

Q:  What is something that you are still learning? 

A:  A lifetime journey, if you will.  How to be a great mom. Isn’t it something that is always evolving?!? You think you got it down and then another stage hits and you are learning again.

Q:  What is your greatest fear?

A:  Ugh, who wants to talk about that? I’ll tell you things I don’t like.  Well, things I don’t like are lines, forgetting to put earrings on, scary movies, fibbing (my mom hated the word LYING growing up so it rubbed off), the word BORED (another mom-ism that I totally get). 

Q:  What is your wildest dream?

A:  To own a shop of my own one day.  My house is pretty much a shop already between my MJ display, my jewelry and all my flea market finds but I’d love to try out a store when the time is right.

Q:  If you could spend the day with anyone famous (deceased or alive), who would that be?  Why?

A:  Celine Dion and I’d take my best friend, Kelly., and have Celine critique our rendition of “That’s the Way It is”   We love her. 

Q:  What do you value more?  Possessions or travel?

A:  I’ve gotten to live some great places and travel a bit too, but at this point with three little ones, I’m not traveling as much as I’d like. One day, maybe the pendulum will swing back to travel but right now, not so much. I’ll take a new couch for my master bedroom, thank you. J

Q:  What is something you are saving up for?

A:  A finished basement to put all my art stuff and be able to leave my crazy, mess of projects in one place!

Q:  What are your favorite blogs or websites?

A:  I love Pinterest for all kinds of ideas! That is my go-to when I need a classroom party theme or haircut or quick dinner. LOVE it!

Q:  If you weren’t a Trunk Keeper, what you would you like to be doing?

A:  Being a mom and creating things. I still get to do that!

Q:  Who inspires you in all things LIFE?

A:  My family. There is no where else I’d like to be then in a room filled with my husband, kids, mom and dad, brothers and cousins. I never laugh more and feel more myself then when I’m with them. 

Q:  If given the opportunity to have the day to yourself, how would you spend it? 

A:  Shopping with a Vanilla Latte in my hand. Perfect.

Q:  What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?

A:  I’d share it with family and then buy a house right, smack dab on the beach or bay at the shore. I go back and forth on whether I’d like the convenience of the beach or the calmness of the bay. Big decisions!

Q:  What talent would you most like to have?

A:  God gave me wonderful talents so I would like to continue to ask Him how to continue to best use them. A quote I just wrote down (from Pinterest no less!) was “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I hope that I would not have a single talent left and I could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”  I love that.

Q:  Lastly, in the spirit of Heart~Soul~Pride, what in your opinion is the most important form of character?

A:  Kindness.  A compassion for others is something I want to instill in my children and I hope to be a good example.