Stream of Consciousness life update
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First of all, just want to start off by apologizing for missing a few days of posts here! When Justin and I planned our trip up to Wisconsin, we talked about planning for me to have a couple work days while we were there so I wouldn’t fall behind.
He ended up coming back to Raleigh for a work thing for a few days, and we both found ourselves busier than we anticipated! We were much more focused on relaxation, time with family, and helping out before the wedding, which was absolutely wonderful, but that meant I fell behind here!
Thanks for your patience while I get back on track!
Regular content will resume tomorrow, but in the meantime I thought I would just type up a quick blog post like the good old days. I used to write posts in the morning and then hit publish. Nowadays with the lack of free time, I prefer staying days or sometimes weeks ahead of schedule! That allows me to really get a good picture of what content is going out and where I can fill in the holes. I’ve always struggled with the balance of sharing personal stuff along with information/tutorials, and the longer I do this the harder it is!
So I’m pushing myself a bit today to just write like I’m writing to a friend!
I miss being here! I wasn’t posting on Instagram nearly as much as usual, and was “checked out” from blog posts for a bit during the wedding time. While it felt very strange to not be checking my phone, it felt really great too. I didn’t even have my phone near me the entire day of the wedding. In fact, I didn’t get a single photo with my sister other than the ones that Jordan shot with her professional camera! So I can’t WAIT to see those!
I’ll write a full post about her wedding soon, when I have photos to go with it, but I just have to mention that it was the perfect day. The weather was perfect, the setting was incredible, and she + mike were happier than ever. It was so sweet to stand by her and witness her marrying Mike! And Justin performed the ceremony, did I ever mention that? That was a really sweet thing to see too. Anyway, I’m gushing already so I’ll wrap this up and wait for the wedding recap blog post to share more!
Our time in Wisconsin and Illinois was just wonderful. It was so great to be up there for that long and settle into a little life for a few weeks. We started in Wisconsin at the lake house, and then at the end of that first week Justin, the boys and I headed back to Illinois to stay at my parent’s home (also my childhood home). We wanted to give them some uninterrupted time to get the lake house ready for the wedding.
We only had about 3 days in Illinois but they were jammed packed. I visited my sister in Chicago one day, had a bit of train drama that made for a great story on Instagram (which, by the way, a followers husband joked me about at my sister’s wedding and that absolutely cracked me up), and ate at all my favorite restaurants. It was bittersweet, though, because my parents have sold that house! They are moving out of that home in the end of August, so that was my very last time ever being there! I was more emotional than I thought I would be, and Justin was very sensitive and patient when I randomly broke down in tears upon leaving.
I’m happy though, because it’s an exciting move for my parents. They bought a home in South Carolina, and will live between that house and the lake house. They will only be 4.5 hours from us when they are down south, and I’m thrilled about that. My brother lives in my hometown still, but we will get to see him easily when we visit the lake house in Wisconsin.
My sister and her husband are moving to Virginia later this summer too! They will actually be 4.5 hours north of us! I have a feeling my house will be the meeting place for both my parents and Lauren and Mike!
It seems like everyone is going through big changes this year, and while they are all good things, it’s requiring a lot of adjustment for all parties involved.
It was strange to return home and still feel like we have the entire summer left. I can’t wait to get back in our pool and catch up with friends. The cats were happy for us to return, and the only casualties from our time away were my plants.
The boys will be going to preschool on the same days this fall, so this is the first season since having children that I won’t need to hire a regular babysitter. I’m curious to see how Luke will do going 2 days. Last year he went 1 day a week for a short time as sort of an introduction to preschool. David was in 2 days last year, so he’ll be experiencing the same schedule this fall.
If you missed it, Justin started his own business and left his previous job. He hasn’t had a ton of time to really dive into his business with all this travel, but I know he’s ready to pour more time into it now that we are home!
Speaking of home, Justin and I both agreed that we have WAY too much STUFF. We both lived with so little in Wisconsin and realized that there is so.much.junk that we simply don’t need in our home. While he is more of a hoarder than I am, I have learned that I hang onto things from guilt quite a bit. I feel like, “oh I paid $$ for this so I can’t bear to part with it” even if it was like $15 and is 4 years old. I’m much better about purging clothes than home stuff. I’m bought Marie Kondo’s book on tiding like everyone else did earlier this year but just never read it. I feel like I got the general idea just from listening to people talk about it!
I’m also feeling tempted to redecorate our bedroom and freshen it up a bit. I’m looking for painters to paint my office a brighter color, and actually looking for local interior designer/decorators to help me think through a layout that will work up there.
The biggest and most special event of the summer, my sister’s wedding, is now over but I still feel like we have a lot going on. I like it this way though, and always enjoy having multiple things to work on!
So that’s kind of it, sort of a life update about things going on behind the scenes. Thanks, as always, for reading!
comments
I loved this update! Thank you for sharing. It’s so nice to read your blog and see that your life is as busy as mine. Loved it!
hank you!
Love you! And all of your posts. You deserve a social media break and vaca just like the rest of us. I do stalk insta stories daily to see you. You remind me so much of a friend of mine. And you’re so relatable. Keep up the great work that you do. BTW, you did inspire me to do a lash lift. Loved it!!
it’s life changing isn’t it? makes makeup so much easier! Thanks for the comment!
I love your blog. I like the tutorials and all the good info you put out but I LOVE reading these posts. Good luck to Justin (and you) on his new business venture!
thanks!
I was wondering why you weren’t posting! Glad you took a break from the blog all the way. Always put yourself first! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Love this!
Also..my SIL just moved to Raleigh and is an interior painter who can also help with decor/design etc.
she’s very talented. Her name is Audrey Fischbein. Her company is called Audjobs. Maybe you could find her on Facebook if interested! Or feel free to email me and I can get you two in touch!
Happy summer!
That is the cutest company name!! Love that!
Hey Kate! Long time reader!! I’d LOVE to help you re-design your master bedroom with a facelift! Check out my blog
http://Www.kbdesigninterior.com
Love the life update!
Love reading these life update posts 😊
Thanks for sharing!! Can’t wait to see pics from the wedding.
I enjoy hearing about your life and I LOVE your instastories!! You keep it real!!
Interesting to hear Justin performed the wedding, I didn’t realize he is a minister. I’m sure that made the ceremony so special for your sister.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, it’s passing by so fast!
He just got ordained online for the wedding 😉
I loved this “chit chat” post! I’ve been an avid reader since you started your blog and feel like you’re a “friend.” Lauren’s wedding looked like a dream! I got married before Pinterest, so I have a bit of envy!
I too got inspired by your lashes post and am going all-in with lash extensions today! I have some travel coming up and thought it’d be fun to get. Can’t wait!
I would really encourage you to take the time to read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I know you can get the general gist of the book from what others say about it, but it’s a book everyone needs to read.
Change is always emotional, even it is for great reasons, you lose your stride for a short time, then, you step right back in. I love the fact that you think your parents being only 4.5 hours away is fairly ‘local’. In the UK, 4.5 hours away would be seen as an epic trip to be endured through gritted teeth, working out where bathrooms breaks are en route, where ‘to find a cup of tea’………………… Looking forward to the photos xx
It’s so wonderful to read anything you post. I find myself laughing out loud at your antics on Instagram and becoming lost in your YouTube videos (how does time tick away that quickly while watching them?)
I’m glad you were truly able to relax, put the phone down and just simply be.
Thank you for all you do. You are appreciated 🙂
I loved this update! It seems like this time away was a refreshing time for you! So much change happening in your family! It can be tough but good. It’s so exciting that the majority of your family will be closer to you. I can tell how close you all are.
I can’t wait to hear from you and Lauren about her wedding. It looked gorgeous! Can’t wait to see what content you have planned coming up. You’re one of my favorite bloggers!
That’s a lot going on. It’s good to step away from being connected for a while. I will be interested in reading if share about getting rid of stuff. Our bungalow is getting tight with just the three of us.
Love these life updates!
Ps, check out Allie Casazza, she is AMAZING when it comes to minimizing and simplifying your way to an abundant life. You’ll love her!
These are my favorite type of blog posts! They always give me a lot of ideas and thoughts about my own life! I hope y’all settle back into the day to day stuff with ease.
This is, and always will be, my very favorite kind of blog post. Glad your vacation was so great and how exciting that your family will be moving closer! Wish mine would 🙁
These are my favorite type of posts – I so miss when blogging was just like this! Where in VA is your sister moving? I’m in northern Virginia! 🙂
Justin didnthe wedding?!? Super sweet! Wow! What a season of changes for you. I’m happy everyone is moving closer to you. Enjoy the summer nights. 😘
A friend of mine is an interior designer/decorator in the Raleigh area if you need any recommendations! http://designsbykatherinenc.com/
Don’t apologize for soaking up some family time!! I’m glad you were able to step away and truly enjoy the moments. I can’t wait to read your wedding blog post–it all looked like a dream come true!! Selfishly glad you’re back, but so happy you enjoyed a social media vacation, too! 😊
I would really love to see more posts about redecorating your bedroom/hiring an interior designer! I’ve always wanted to do that but never knew if I could afford it or how to start the find people or begin the process so I would love to see posts about that!!!!
Glad y’all had a fun few weeks! It’s so great you were able to get away for that long and enjoy family time.
It’s nice to take some time away from the blogging/social media world for bit! I am in one myself currently.
We recently moved to South Carolina in January fro Florida and I threw so much stuff out prior to our move just I didn’t have to pack it! It was the best way for us to purge all of our crap.
Kate, have you heard of Kathi Lipp’s book Clutter Free!? I think you’d appreciate it, also!
I love reading and catching up with you but please realize I for one, as a fan totally get that life happens, and it should. Those cute little boys of yours won’t be boys forever and you and husband will only be this age ONCE in your life. And let’s be honest it isn’t everyday that your sisters throws an amazing wedding. And she’s your only sister – these are ONCE in a lifetime and 2017 ONLY memories am I right? Thanks for bringing us up to speed but know that we love you and your blog and we’ll be here even if you have to pause from time to time to enjoy yourself!!! oxox
So, when you’re ready to get inspired with getting rid of the “stuff” in your house, watch ‘Minimalism: A Documentary.’ It’s on Netflix, and definitely gave me the push I needed to figure out how to live more simply! I used to work as a professional organizer, and while Marie Kondo is great, not everyone has the time or patience to read her book! Plus, the documentary focused more on the idea that less stuff = more time to spend with people you love. Anyway, thanks for sharing!
I was just thinking the other day that if I could choose one “famous” person’s home to organize, it would totally be yours! 😊
Definitely give Marie Kondo’s book a read- it’s one of my favorites and SO inspirational!
Where did your sister get the dress pictured in this post? I’m looking for one just like that.
I feel like I’m at my most focused in life when I’m busy. Thanks for the update and where you guys are at. Change is always REAL hard for me (I internalize a lot of stress about change) so I’m sure it feels good to be back home and settled in.
This was perfect. I’d love more causal posts like this in the future!
I love these type of blog posts! So fun getting to hear about your regular life and behind the scenes things.
Take the time to read the book. It is very nice. It will help you part with STUFF.
KonMari is fabulous!!! I listened to the audio book! Give that a try for sure if you don’t have time to read her book. I bet you’ll pick up key things that others forgot to mention. Some of the “pray to your house” bit was kind of kooky for me as a Christian but it occurred to me that I could pray to God every time I walk through the door of my wonderful home and the act of that makes me more thankful and more thoughtful. Both are really big keys to what I got out of the book and don’t at first glance have to do with tidying but that kind of attitude about your things is what I thought her main point was. Can’t wait to hear more about your journey!!!
Really excited to see those wedding photos!
Me too
Check out kbdesigninterior.com
She helped us with our home!
Hi K8. I am a pretty new blog, IG, YouTube follower. I am enjoying the fashion and make up tips. It’s definitely an area of weakness for me. This post, with it’s deeper perspective of your inner thoughts, is a nice compliment to the rest of your posts. Thanks for sharing.
There’s a big difference between getting the idea of the book and experiencing the joy of Marie Kondo’s message and her lovely writing while reading it 😉 It’s not long and I suggest you do read it before decluttering as it gives you a very clear method to do it that works (having just reread the book myself before packing up my house and putting it in storage before going travelling). Enjoy when you do!
I’m glad to see you are back! I’ve missed your posts while you were gone but totally understand being busy. I would love if you would keep us as readers updated on the progress you make purging your home and redecorating. Blog posts or IG stories of the progress would be awesome! Hope you have a lovely rest of your week settling back into life at home!
I love these kind of posts, especially from you! Thanks for keeping us in the loop!
Loved reading your update!
So happy for your sister, your parents and their upcoming move, and Justin starting a new direction in his career path. And of course always happy to read about you! Sounds like all good things coming your way.
We miss you when you’re away so glad you’re back!!
I love both your and Lauren’s dresses in the above photo. Where are they from!?
It’s so fun to read a simple update post like the good ole days! Can’t wait to hear more about the wedding. I can imagine how dreamy it was! And how specia for your parents to be close by part of the year!
I would absolutely love to help with the design dilemmas in your home! Facebook.com/cateholcombeinteriors/reviews
I was just thinking to myself; I haven’t been notified for a new video from the small things blog in a while. I know we don’t know each other personally but I’m used to seeing you every week. Lol I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog and watching your videos. So I thought to myself what’s going on with Kate!
Glad to hear you had some much needed time off and you’re refreshed. What an exciting time! Weddings are so much fun! I almost started crying when I read you were upset about your parents moving out of their house. We would have cried together! Happy Summer Girl!! ❤
I like the “good old day post” they come from the heart 🙂
So happy for your family. Change is good, hard to adjust to, but in the long run…good!
So happy that you were able to take time for yourself! That’s so important! I, too, had to take time off from building up my blog 2 years on and off. I had too many life changes that took up all of my energy. After allowing myself time to get mentally healthy, I am not able to pour my heart and soul into my blog! Happy to hear that your wedding went just as you had wanted!
I’m so afraid to tidy up — I’ve been trying instead to use it up! I’m a hoarder of candles, tea, makeup, and books. Clothes not so much.
P.S. I used to be a silent reader of your content sans commenting. Working on being more active! <3
tinyteathings.blogspot.com
I meant now…. not not… 🙂
Welcome home! Loved this post! I’ve always leaned more towards lifestyle blogs in general because I just love reading and seeing glimpses of someone else’s everyday life. Pretty please more posts like this!
Thanks for the update!! Good for you, leaving your phone behind to enjoy the day(s)!! That is hard to do but SO WORTH IT!!! Can I just say: take the time to read the book!! I know you get the gist of it but just read it. It’s life changing and such an easy read.
If you’re looking for a great custom interior designer… check out Walker’s Draperies out of Durham, NC!
Thanks for this post. I started reading your blog several years ago when I stumbled upon a hair tutorial back in 2012. I had sort of quit following the blog and only catching you on Instagram stories because I like how it feels a bit more personal. Thanks for an old throwback.
Good for you to take a little time away! I think that is great to focus on family and enjoy such a special time and special event together.
Enjoyed the life update! Love reading about you and your family.
You are so beautiful!
Have a lovely day!
xx Kris
https://dreamingofpink.wordpress.com
Definitely take the time to read (or listen) to Marie Kondo’s book.. there is a lot of guidance to assist with the clean out, and stick to her order of cleaning out your home. It will help. Good luck with your life adjusting!!
So many good things happening!
Would love to follow-along if you hire help to redecorate your office! I feel like sometimes bloggers (not you, just to be clear!) just purchase a bunch of trendy items (“Here’s a swinging chair layered with a sheepskin and a fiddle leaf fig tree in it!”) to decorate a space without really considering the uniqueness of the space, underlying design principles, and whether or not putting a tree in a chair is let say, practical. You’re pretty down to earth and have great taste so it would be really interesting to hear your perspective on working with a professional and see how it helped you!
I love all of your posts, Kate! Thanks for sharing a piece of your life with all of us!
I truly love this stream of consciousness update!
Tomorrow is my 9 year blog-a-versary and I now rarely post simply because I miss this kind of blogging. Where I would just sit down and write. Maybe I should resume since i love reading it so much!
(this is me catching up on 3 weeks away from reading blogs – feedly was a bit full)
I love this post, your boys are so cute! I can see your oldest son has the same scrapes and bumps on his knee that my son has (he’s 16 months). Your blog is the ONLY blog I ever look forward to checking in on to see what posts I’ve missed.
I miss these types of posts from you. Ever since the website redesign, a lot of the posts have had such a different writing “voice” I’ve wondered if you have someone ghost writing. Your content really shines when you stay true to yourself. That’s what I love to read, and honestly, I’ve stopped checking the blog for the most part because of this. I know you are probably really busy, but I just hope you don’t lose your unique voice in trying to fit into a specific “box”.