Natalie Sweeney is one of those women you like the moment you meet her. Her petite frame is no match for her giant personality, which is evident the moment she greets you with her warm dimpley smile and big brown eyes. This afternoon, I met Natalie for the first time when I went to her new boutique- a splash of style and color nestled between two other storefronts in the 200 block of Dryden Rd. in Collegetown. Her upscale city-style boutique is much like Natalie herself--- small, engaging, cheerful and chic. 

As I snap pictures of sequined dresses, colorful scarves, leggings, hats and shoes, Natalie chats. I don't mind her chatting; in fact, I like it. What I like most is that, mid-sentence, she pauses to half-apologize for talking while I am working and then proceeds to tell me that she doesn't care and is going to keep talking anyway. This makes me laugh and reinforces my first impression of her--- I like her; she is the kind of person I would like as a friend.

The clothing at Natalia's is a mix of bohemian and city chic. Does this make sense? While I am there, Natalie welcomes a small group of twenty-somethings

who are on a break from work, a couple of college students. I can see my own college-age daughters shopping here. In fact, as I type this, my daughter Melanie is asking me about the shoes she sees in one of the pictures.... I like that Natalie has chosen a selection of clothing that ranges from sophisticated casual to simple glam and I love that her prices are reasonable.

There are short pauses in her chatting as she turns all of her attention to customers;  she is natural, friendly and not pushy which only reinforces my first impression of her. When I photograph Natalie, she is as vibrant as the clothing surrounding her. Yep, big surprise, the camera loves her. She is fun in front of the camera and tells me twice that she is super-excited to have me here. 

As we finish, I've enjoyed my time with her so much that I tell her I will be back with my daughters (and I mean it). As we say goodbye, she spreads out her arms and tells me to give her a hug and, by this time, I would've expected nothing less from her.