Hi, friends. Is it okay if I get a little "Dear Diary" here for a minute? Because I really want to be writing in this space but I don't quite have the time to color-adjust and design photos and craft stories around my Europe adventure (still to-be-continued), what I'm eating and what I'm wearing. But I have the desire to share what I've been up to these days.
These days I'm sleeping in a little later as the days get a little shorter. I'm being a little easier with myself. I've traded in my short high-intensity I-think-I-might-puke workouts with long yoga sessions. Sometimes they're more restorative and about connecting my breath to my body while stretching out connective tissues and finding balance in my mind. Other times it's more about shaking as I hold an inversion and feel my muscles wrap tightly around my bones while finding balance in my body. Sometimes I do yoga twice a day. I think I could probably do it all day, every day, if that were an option. We've also been hitting the climbing gym more lately and I've been feeling confident on the wall - stretching and gripping and pulling myself up and pushing myself off from hold to hold. I'm itching to learn how to tie knots and go climbing outdoors one day soon.
These days I'm still eating mostly paleo and more recently Jeremy and I attempted a juice cleanse. We only made it 24 hours in - the coffee withdrawals were no joke. Since then we've been slowly weening ourselves off coffee. I'm living life, happily, without grains but every once in a while I'm enjoying some dark chocolate and wine. Though, I've found the sugar and alcohol seems to weigh me down. My very favorite snack right now is mixing greek yogurt with almond butter and cubed mango.
These days I'm working hard. I'm working with a local dining group and even got to help name a new restaurant with my sister. And because we're all about saying what you mean we named it Kitchen. We're also working on branding other creative entrepreneurs including a yogi who specializes in juice cleanses, a photographer, a marketing consultant / project manager and a life coach from San Fransisco. These days I love my job. But damn... we're stretching and gripping and pulling ourselves up and pushing ourselves forward with each new client.
These days I write more than I design. I write ECourses, I write emails, I write letters and I write blog posts. I might not have the best grammar and I don't really understand the oxford comma. Sometimes I hit publish or send a little too fast. But I really enjoy writing - especially here. J&K is like home. I'll be back with a little more frequency as soon as I get through a few deadlines and find my breath.
What are you guys up to these days?
Image by Greer Inez. A light test for a shoot we were on together, recently.
These days I'm looking forward to the fast-approaching end of my full-time job to focus on writing, learning web design, and building up freelance work. It's a little bit scary and a little bit lonely, but mostly it's just really exciting.
ReplyDeletei love that you write without the best grammar and that you hit publish too quickly... i do it too, and it makes me feel human!
ReplyDeletesometimes doing it is more bare and transparent than edit, edit, edit.
these days i'm hustling to get a new brand identity for myself... and i have to say - it's exhausting! however, your freelance series is AMAZING.... so thank you for writing!!!
These days I love reading what you and your sister are up to. Ever since I discovered your corner of the web its like my dreaming cogs started going again. I'm working full-time as an in-house designer and I love it, but I itch to expand my scope, design for a NEW target audience, and somehow get myself connected in the design world. Someday...someday. Your sister was kind enough to give me some words and told me to "lean into it..." nothing has ever made more sense :D
ReplyDeleteI recently found your Freelance Matters series and Braid, and have thoroughly enjoyed both! I've been working on a ton of copy editing projects, visiting with family, and enjoying a beautiful beginning to fall. I'm also dreaming up some more creative projects to do just for me! :)
ReplyDeleteThese days I am all about the paleo and just started a sugar detox. These days I am loving teaching and researching cool archaeology projects for 6th graders. These days I am ready to move again, and happy it's Fall. Time for new things.
ReplyDeleteLisli - CONGRATS! It's a huge leap and adjustment going from full time 9-to-5 to freelance. Just know that the loneliness is normal. Feeling like you don't know what you're doing is normal. Making it up as you go is normal. Stay connected with "your people" and you'll do great.
ReplyDeleteJamie - YES. Transparent is my style. If I start to dig in to my grammar and get caught up on typos I'll start second-guessing my content altogether.
I'm so glad Freelance Matters is helping you! Be sure to check out the Brand exercises over at Braid too. They might help you focus on your identity too. Just remember - you're brand is so much more than just a logo!
Laura - Aw, what a compliment! I'm glad to hear it. I was starting to feel like all work and no play (in a good way) - so it's nice to hear people are noticing and getting value from it.
Erica - I've found that my "just for me" passion projects ALWAYS make their way, in an inspired way, into my professional work. I think my next "just for me" project is going to be to learn calligraphy. Also I totally just emailed you. I might need your help.
Olivia - So hold up!? Are you giving up fruit to sugar detox since you're already paleo? I'm curious! Cool archaeology projects for 6th graders sounds like a total dream job. XOXO!
These days I'm adjusting to my new life in Beijing. (I moved here at the end of August.) I'm trying to find a balance of fun/work/health which I think I'm making more complicated than it needs to be. These days, I'm happy and trying to stay that way!
ReplyDeleteI do believe balance is the hardest thing for women-we have such high demands from ourselves and others.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I don't know that I'd want it any other way:)
Keep kicking ass over there(and Tara too!), and as you reminded me, remember to breathe.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words! Figuring all this out is quite daunting, but I really appreciate all you've shared in your full-time to freelance to business journey! If anyone you know is looking for a Philly-based proofreader, editor, writer, or web assistant, I'm your girl!
ReplyDeletetake it as a compliment that i have to do my best not to compare my life to yours. ;]
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure coffee is proven to be beneficial health wise by science. What is your reasoning for giving it up?
ReplyDeleteAmanda - OOOhh, what are you doing in Beijing? Is it for work? Are you having culture shock?
ReplyDeleteRachel May Designs - You're so right. I think it's an interesting thing all women are kind of struggling with and figuring out together. For lots of us even our own moms didn't work. So it's hard to find good role models on how to juggle it all. Inhale. Exhale.
Lisli - You're welcome! Sharing this journey has not only kept me sane but it's helped me build my business. It's defined the way I work. And I'll absolutely keep you in mind!
FierySkullDiaries - Wow. Compliment taken. But just know that these are just tidbits. And even the hard stuff can be romanticized when crafted into stories and photos.
Kevin - I think it's when we had really intense withdrawals that we realized it's maybe not super healthy? But I'm not really planning on giving it up altogether. Maybe just cutting it back to one cup a morning instead of two.
Dude! I went to a yoga class taught by Bryce at M+ Yoga while I was in OKC, and if you're looking for restorative practice, you should definitely give his class a go. He has severe Scoliosis and his attitude is just incredible. Also he can do that one asana where the backs of your feet touch. Bananas.
ReplyDeleteAlso I love this photo.
Rory - SMALL WORLD. So I actually used to do lots of ashtanga yoga with a guy named Andrew in Norman who Bryce also practices with. And I'm currently doing brand work for Bryce's girlfriend, Claire, who does restorative yoga (and more). In fact, we all went climbing together recently too.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen. I'm interested in your personal branding course, and I was wondering if it will be streaming live. I know I wouldn't be able to participate if it were during the day, and I'm just wondering if it's the kind of thing I'd be able to view on my own time. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSarah - The Braid ECourse is comprised of written words (kind of like a long blog post), downloadable worksheets, and videos - it's all available to you within the "in-session" time frame. That way you can go through the lessons at your own pace. We do have comments available within the ECourse where Tara and I will answer any questions you have and you can get to know some of the other students too. We hope to see you then!
ReplyDeleteWeening yourself from coffee!?! I forgot my (french pressed) coffee on the counter yesterday and was internally raging on my 45 minute drive to work. Then my principal (I'm a k-8 art teacher) "suggested" I take down a Georgia O'Keeffe inspired painting done by an 8th grade boy of a cow skull because it "looks like a uterus." Which it does not. I think I may have outwardly raged that time even though it is kind of funny. Not to mention artist, graphic designer, architect, etc were not included on the career day survey (internal rage). These days I'm trying to contain my rage ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm teaching at a preschool! I'm here until the end of June/beginning of July and may come back next year. I don't think I've experienced culture shock (I probably would know if I had, eh?). When people ask me if it's very different from home, it's hard to explain. In some ways it is and in other ways, it isn't at all. I'm surprised by how quickly I've adjusted to the differences, though.
ReplyDeleteThese days I'm working on re-imagining myself and my life and my website. I'm all about finding space and slowness and digging deep down into my body and spirit.
ReplyDeleteLove the "Dear Diary"!
ReplyDeleteToday is the first day in 3 weeks I am actually sitting down and reading all the blogs I follow. Managing a restaurant is taking up most of my time. I love it though and see it going somewhere great and it is not just a job, it has become life. I am changing and growing and stretching and feeling free and more myself than ever before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nGLqXZ-f70
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nGLqXZ-f70
ReplyDeleteMollie - Ooohh, I hope you took that opportunity to congratulate that student. Creating a piece of work that riles people up usually takes a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteAmanda - That is so cool. And I know what you mean about culture shock. I've experienced that on my travels too. It's like we're all so different and all so very much the same.
Brandi - Space, slowness and digging deep down into body and spirit sounds like a dream.
Ramona - I'm so glad to hear from you! And so glad to hear the restaurant gig is going well. Growing, stretching and finding freedom is what it's all about! Right on!
Claire - Ah, love that song. Love Wes Anderson. Love the Tenenbaums. XO
Im forever working towards imoroving everything and becoming the ideal me! which is the best mom, wife, friend and person I can be! Im a simple girl and enjoy working on those ...
ReplyDeletesteph
weregettingsomefunoutoflife
oh ps
i have two kiddies under two so i know exactly what you mean about "not really understanding the oxford comma AND hitting the publish or send a little too fast."
for example - i am signed in under my hubbys acct leaving comments when i shouldve sign out and into my own -
publishing comment anyway