I’m a big believer in healing through art and the power of sharing our stories…
So, I started creating personalized art, lettering, and monograms to help you celebrate your own journey.
Through my art, I’ve been able to help uplift, empower, and connect other people through simple words, color, and symbolism- and it’s been absolutely incredible.
I’m so excited to re-introduce Miss– the Mindful in Style shop I started working on exactly two years ago!
As I’ve been settled at home in quarantine, staying busy has been crucial to my mental health and well-being. Painting has not only re-connected me with my inner child, but it’s helped me spread my light with others, too.
You can check out my collection now on Redbubble or email me to request a special project!
When I started my personal style blog “K on the Bay” in 2012, I snapped shots of my hometown, sunsets, and my shoes.
If I could tie in a few local brands or thrifty finds, great! As a simple Tumblr site, my vision was to show how classic style and nature go hand-in-hand. As the years went on, I became more conscious of my content. I began taking photos to get the post out quickly, ignoring my initial creative vision and love for the process.
When it was authentic for me to put on an outfit, head into work, and snap shots along Grand Traverse Bay, great! Yet once I moved to New York City, it became a chore. I started to shift my focus from creative endeavors to relationships, which also served a good purpose- for the time.
Not only did I never wear heels unless absolutely necessary, I barely wore color, either.
Then, I realized I was wearing clothes to make other people happy: not me.
The brands, the designers, the ad agencies- I was leaving behind my own vision to adapt to someone else’s.
I had to take a step back and think- what clothes do I feel good in no matter what?
What do I grab first out of my closet?
Although it wasn’t organic or natural for me to snap daily outfit shots in a busy city like New York- especially when I was single with a self-timer- I still had a lot of thoughts. I started writing for my friend Ashley’s website, Kinda Kind, two months after I mysteriously hit “delete” on my blog New Year’s Eve 2016. Leaving behind four years of photos, collaborations, and memories may have been hard, but I was ready to leave behind my materialistic past and figure out what truly made me happy.
My last few months in NYC were challenging- it was pure survival mode. Trump was running for President, the #MeToo movement was a year and a half away, and my own mental health needed a serious break.
I found peace in the park and spent hours writing by the reservoir. I pondered the meaning of life, wondering if I would ever find any sort of fulfillment.
I spent the next few years writing about my journey, what makes me happy, and learned who I am as a woman- without any distractions. Being conscious of what brings me joy- not what commercials, “influencers,” or Cosmopolitan Magazine tells me- was the first step in finding inner peace.
Instead of spending Saturday morning in bed, I would get up and take a walk across the Charles River Esplanade. I began noticing the patterns in nature, the animals at the park, and the familiar faces at my Cambridge Starbucks.
As I documented my path in Boston, I realized how tied I still was to fashion- at least, the creative process.
I had a different style than the other fashion bloggers- simple photos with little to no written content- no ads or frills, and no promises of a brighter tomorrow if you buy a new lipstick shade. This didn’t make me popular. That wasn’t the point- the point was authenticity.
As I shot a photo of my new bracelet alongside my notes for the day and coffee cup, I realized how fashion, technology, AND mindfulness can merge- but not in the way you may think.
I’ve been creating my own style for some time now, a style that hasn’t changed much since I was a high school junior in a black turtleneck and gray Express mini skirt. It’s always been basic, classic, and chic- with a few added surprises.
Fashion doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful, and neither do our lives. My time spent away from working in fashion made me realize how what I’ve learned can add to the industry once again- and never to change the style that is mine.
When I used to work or consult for others, my soul would be crushed when they didn’t like my content. After spending hours coming up with ideas, it could be a challenge to integrate my vision with someone else’s.
As an independent person, this also made me realize- stop working with people who don’t share your vision.
Although some women on the outside may judge me for choosing a bike over a Lexus, renting a townhouse instead of having a mortgage, and choosing a cat over a husband and kids- I chose this lifestyle for a reason.
I’m free.
I am free from obsession with “things,” the need for more, and the warped view that I’m not enough.
Now, I can simply enjoy the creative process- mindfully.
We’re not just embarking on any new decade, though. It’s about to be 2020- which feels symbolic of seeing clearly, following the light, and having a solid vision for the year ahead.
Life is always a work in progress for me- instead of a traditional “New Year Resolution,” I reflect every month on what I want to change, manifest, and learn.
Cleansing my aura and getting into alignment with what I TRULY want (not the media, my family, or society) sets the stage for creating a life that is authentic to me. As I journal and reflect with each month, moon cycle, and moment, it’s interesting to go back to see when old patterns were broken and new ideas started to form.
Letting go of who we once were- or who the story inside our head thought we were- is a major step in healing, happiness, and living with peace.
See you soon, 2020!
PS- You can cleanse your aura too with white sage! The smudge stick, crystals, and Moonology journal can all be found at Higher Self bookstore downtown TC. I highly recommend starting off your decade on the right foot. 🌕
My life has been a colorful compilation of cities, jobs, career changes, haircuts, boyfriends, and even a fiancé in the suburbs.
I’ve never been one to label myself- in fact, the only consistent label I’ve had is “writer.” When people ask what I write about, I tell them a variety of things, as I don’t limit myself to one specific topic, either. As we grow, we evolve- and so do our interests, passions, and gifts to offer the world.
At 34 years old, I’ve lived in seven different states, the most recent being my two and a half year Boston experience. Many people ask me if I plan on staying, in which I answer, “yes.”
The truth is, I don’t know what my future holds- but what I do know is that I’m making the most of each and every moment.
Every day is simply a stop on my journey of life- and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In an effort to add some excitement to my morning walk to work, I took an unusual turn. Instead of walking down the same street, looking at the same storefronts and sights, a little voice in my head told me to do something different today.
As I strolled down the tree lined street, I noticed something shiny on the ground. I walked toward it, noticed it was a notebook, and picked it up- wet and all. Wiping off the morning dew, I opened it, expecting it to be filled out; left on the sidewalk as trash.
It was brand new.
Not only were the pages blank, but it matched my aesthetic: blank and rose gold, complete with a heart.
I thought about the feminine design, symbolizing my own willingness to open my heart- and to open to a new page.
We may hold onto the past or regret decisions we have made, but every twist, turn, and detour has a deeper purpose. These turns may have an unexpected outcome or a beautiful surprise, but when we live in the present moment, we will discover an important lesson:
Our true purpose is to live in the joy of our everyday journey.
Sometimes we just have to start our day off a little differently and be open to what comes our way.
German philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
On this 12/12, I have been thinking about everyday magic and living in infinite possibilities.
Keeping my eye out for synchronicities and signs, I have made a conscious effort to stay connected, grateful, and in my own truth.
12/12 is a magical gateway to transformation, helping to guide you closer to your soul purpose and passions. This gateway assists in feeling confident, empowered, and loved; the old will begin to slip away and make room for a newness that will be better aligned with your heart.
You can find magic each and every day- you just need to be open to what life brings you. As we stop listening to what others on the outside say and begin to listen to what’s inside, a new peace is found and unexpected doors will open.
All you need is to believe in yourself- then others will, too.
The Public Garden is such a magical place in Boston. I spent my last evening of the long weekend strolling the park and taking in the beautiful city lights glistening on the pond. With my journal in hand, I sat on a bench and wrote out my intentions for the week.
Preparing for the days ahead by centering myself has been so helpful in staying grounded through stressful times.
Whenever I’m feeling uneasy, I just go back to my intentions and remember all the beauty around me.
Living with intention is key to a purposeful life- so don’t forget to take in those mindful moments of sitting in the park or enjoying the city lights. ✨
The other day I picked up the book “Quiet” at the library. It was a timely find, as I’ve been reflecting on my own self care needs, causes of anxiety, and everyday interactions with those around me.
As I read the first few pages of Susan Cain’s book, one paragraph struck me:
“Now that you’re an adult, you might still feel a pang if guilt when you decline a dinner invitation in favor of a good book. Or maybe you like to eat alone in restaurants and could do without the pitying looks from fellow diners. Or you’re told that you’re “in your head too much,” a phrase that’s often deployed against the quiet and cerebral.
Of course, there’s another word for such people: thinkers.”
Oh, how I relate.
Lately I’ve been exhausted; not due to a lack of rest, but with the amount of social interaction I have had. This has been a month of healing, but it has also been a month full of groups, social activities, and sharing my story, thoughts, and innermost challenges. In a community setting it can be difficult to find the space and time to sit and reflect; there’s always someone talking, somewhere to go, or someone critiquing what I say. Sure, I have no problem speaking up, but I am easily drained when I don’t have time to just be.
Over the past decade I’ve been extremely outgoing, which served its purpose when moving to new cities, recreating myself, making friends, and succeeding in the workplace. Alcohol helped with that, too. However, alcohol no longer serves, either.
It’s time to embrace who I truly am- on my own.
As I’ve written numerous times before, I grew up as a shy only child, spending my days drawing, reading, and writing. “Boredom” is not in my vocabulary- I’ve always known how to entertain myself through creating. However, somewhere along my path I became a social butterfly, only to find myself lashing out when my batteries weren’t charged. I never considered that my mood swings were partially due to a lack of energy.
Someone explained the definition of “introvert” to me years ago: someone who gains energy from alone time. An introvert is a very misunderstand type of person; they’re not necessarily timid or weak- an introvert holds a modest strength that doesn’t need to be proven through loud words, social interactions, or attention-seeking.
As I dig deeper into the person I once was, who I’m becoming, and the person I want to be, I have realized the power in quiet. Truth be told, extroverts tend to annoy me. How can these people be so loud? How can they be so needy? Can’t they just learn to sit still and create something instead of constantly consuming?
Of course, it’s not my place to judge people who gain energy from activities and social interactions; diverse personalities make the world go ’round. However, I have always gotten along best with fellow introverts- those who are introspective, creative, independent, and calm. I prefer one-on-one interactions to groups, deep conversations to small talk.
I’ve also learned that I don’t have to pick up a drink and be the life of the party; I can find my tribe by being myself. I can develop meaningful relationships, a purposeful career, and live a happy life by embracing my introvert characteristics.
Susan Cain describes people who pretend to be extroverts just like I have; it’s a breath of fresh air to leave that facade aside and own my introversion. I may not be loud and aggressive today, but when I do speak up, I do have something meaningful to say.
I’ve found solace and strength in my writing, and for that, I am grateful. I’m no longer afraid to speak my truth- my whole truth- and admit my struggles. More on that later. As for now, I’m enjoying my Saturday afternoon curled up with my book, writing in my journal, and soaking in the sunshine from my window.
