*Disclaimer: If you don’t get the reference of the post title, you may not like what comes next.*
Friends. I have to admit something to you all and I’ll try to do it in less than 4.3 million words. I’m afraid I’ve been trying to fit a square peg (me) into a round hole (this blog).
You see, when I started back in June of 2016 I was looking for an outlet. A hobby. Something I could do that would provide the ever-elusive “me-time”. It was supposed to be something fun, something I would enjoy. However, in my true, can’t-do-anything-half-way-OCD fashion, somehow this “fun hobby” shifted into a borderline obsessive immersion in blog templates, SEO optimization, and every tutorial I could find on how to make this blog “successful”. Long story short, I derailed.
To get back on track, I had to remember what success means to me, and that is for this blog to actually be something that I enjoy, not another job. I was trying to model what I do after what successful (there’s that word again) bloggers in the design and home décor realm have done, and the truth of it is pretty simple. I’m not them. I’m me. Profound, right?
I cuss too much, I celebrate sarcasm on a very deep level, I thrive on being the center of attention, and I’m pretty damn good at fooling most people into thinking I’m not an absolute disaster. I love design and home décor stuff, but truth be told, I love telling a story so much more. I love giving unsolicited advice helping people solve a problem or not feel alone. I love making people laugh. I love writing, and I love taking pictures.
When I reflected on the last year of writing this blog, the posts that I enjoyed the most were the authentic, real, and sometimes uncomfortable posts, where I spilled my guts or went on a rant, and consequently got an outpouring of support and people saying, “thank you for writing this, I’m glad to know I’m not alone” or “I can’t wait to read your posts, they always make me laugh.” I mean honestly is there a greater compliment than that? For me there certainly isn’t.
When I thought about it, I realized that I’ve heard “you’re a great writer” far more than I heard “you’re a great designer”, in the last year and a half of writing this blog. How much more validation do I need to follow what I want to do anyway, and that is tell my story… whatever it may be. Yes, design and DIY and home décor stuff will stay, but only as it fits into my life, because if I’m being selfish honest, I’m just after the compliments connection with other humans. That’s what makes me the happiest, and really when you get right down to it, aren’t our connections with people really all we have in this life?
I’m getting unintentionally deep and profound here and I haven’t even been drinking, I swear. Maybe it’s the holiday hangover, maybe it’s the impending New Year, or maybe I just needed to give you all a warning shot that there will be more cuss words honesty here on the blog, but whatever the case, I hope that you’ll stick around so that we can have lots of genuine, awkward, and hilarious fun figuring this thing out together.
Cheers to enjoying the chaos!
Love this, Katie! I’m always saying how important it is to stay true to yourself. But I also find myself getting caught up in trying to figure out what it is what other people want to see/read rather than just sharing what I LOVE. What a perfect time to reflect and see just where it is I want my own blog to go in the new year. Thanks for the realness, Katie! I just admire you so much! ❤️❤️❤️
Cherie I absolutely adore you! Thank you for your support and encouragement every step of the way, you’re an amazing and talented human and I’m so happy to call you my friend! Let’s keep it real together in 2018! ❤️
Katie! I really like you! And my husband does too! Not in a weird way, but the other night at a family thing people were talking about instagram and I was saying how so many ppl insagram stories are the same and not inspiring and Vernon said yeah but that one lady you follow who over hurricane Irma was posting updates aND real life? Now she’s cool. See?! You are!!!! That’s why I follow you. Cause you are the real deal and I find that refreshing!! Keep it up!! Xoxo
Grace you absolutely made my day and I just cannot tell you how much your sweet words mean to me! I have admired you since the moment I stumbled upon your IG account and I said, “who is this goat farmin’ beauty with eucalyptus above her bed?!” I’m so glad to have “met” you (and Vernon!) through the magic of Instagramland! Thank you for your support and kindness, so very much appreciated. ❤️
I love this Katie! Please keep dishing up a big ‘ol helping of the authentic you. I love your stories because they’re real and no one in the decor community can deliver a punch line like you do. When you look into the camera like, Seriously?!? I die! 😂🤣 I know when I go to your page, I’m going to get the real deal and I love it. ❤️
Thank God especially since I’m the one telling you how well you write. You were speaking in complete sentences since you were 12 days old so it’s no surprise to me you can express your thoughts so well. I’m so proud of you (I’m required to say that by union rules) and always have been.
My daughter, I could not be MORE proud of you!!! You are definitely THE REAL DEAL.. thank you for being YOU! Love, Mom
Katie,
Not only do I LOVE you as a person, but I LOVE how you put 110% into everything you do, Friend, Mom, Wife, Employee and do it so well and flawlessly! I Love reading what you have to say because no one writes it and spells it out like you and that is yet another thing I Love about you! You tell it like it is, good, bad or ugly! Since we’ve met I have admired you! I am so happy that you have found what makes you happy in your life. You deserve all the happiness that’s out there! Keep on writing and being Katie! <3
You are definitely my favorite niece and in my top three funniest people I know (bet you can guess the other two). Your humor always comes thru in your writing and to me this is the most important thing….well, honesty is good too. Be true to yourself and say and do what makes you happy, even if people think you are crazy….
Screw them and come skydiving with me!!
Oh my god, Katie! This post just gave me chills because I am going through the very same thing right now in my blogging journey (like to a freakin’ T). We have to maintain the strength and courage to show up in the world as our imperfect, cursing selves. There are too many Martha Stewarts out there. Our mission is different. Sending you love!
We just can’t do it any other way but REAL! I’m right there with ya sister! I have always loved your honesty AND mad design skills. Thank you so much for the sweet message!