July Musings :: Back To Business (and A Life Update!)

Hello dear friends, happy summer! ! I realize it's been almost two months since I posted a blog post here, and when I decided to take a break in April, this was certainly not my intention. The last few months have passed, and when I realized it was July and I hadn't signed up here, I thought it was time to give everyone a life update (yay!) Before resuming our regular content. After our last pop-up store in April, I really need to reset it. My energy to immerse myself in the post-quarantine world is obviously unsustainable. I vastly underestimated the amount of daily work, commitment, socialization, and activity that my body and brain can now handle. After a year of rebalancing and prioritizing, it should be clearer, but old habits are hard to change, right? Especially when you are excited about the new project, as I am about the store. Thinking of me, or any of us, as I press the recovery button on life, I find myself exhausted. This fatigue seems real to many of us. On the one hand, we are willing to stop living in our bubbles, leave our screens and return to tangible reality. For me, it's this feeling that makes my time online less satisfying, and it's not where I really want to go, so I'm absent here. On the other hand, the expectation of returning to a busier schedule, meeting friends and family, and working as we used to is not realistic. So, last month, I found myself setting new limits. Say no to hang out. Refuse some jobs. Give me more time to figure out what this new beat looks like. I came to some conclusions. Any entrepreneur knows the fun (sarcasm) of playing the roles of CEO, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, marketing director, email reply clerk, and book balancer...everything includes running errands. I have been running this blog and this business for 14 years (our anniversary is in May!), and during that time, I explored more than just creating content here. I have worked as a market editor, trader and interior designer. I worked in nightclubs, operated co-working spaces (I still do!), and designed products for companies such as Amazon and Starbucks. I threw too many incidents that made me lose my way, and accomplished all of them while running this beautiful online space. Looking at this comprehensive list, I am proud and exhausted at the same time! I am very happy to take advantage of the opportunities they bring to me while exploring various creative careers. Each of them helped me clear the road and made me who I am today. Also, in the last year, I have finally provided the necessary space to step back and refocus on this blog and the future of this business. If you are also planning to start a family business, check out this article, Explaining how to best develop the hustle and bustle on my business side. Although I know that changes must happen for some time, I have finally started to take steps in the direction of these changes, and you will see many of these changes this fall! So what is the future? This is a quick look and there is more content ... New brand and website: The most important news I want to share is that I have started to create a new look for the blog and the entire brand. this website Combine it with the store and my service to create a more cohesive experience that is easier to explore and navigate. I'm very excited about this on all levels, and I hope it thrills you too! The new website will be more in line with my personal and aesthetic position. Store : Store will pay more attention to you, because that's the space that has brought me the most joy lately. This is a refreshing addition to my repertoire - I really enjoy the thrill of treasure hunting, searching for vintage items, picking up items from my favorite artisans, and having fun at Seattle themed pop-up stores. My past experience in marketing tells me how much I like creating experiences for people while supporting the community, this is how I approach this new space. Will we also open a physical store soon? ? stay tuned! Blog: I will continue to publish blog posts, but it will take a back seat because the posts may only be published once a week. I want to bring more intentional and inspiring posts to this space, most of which are original content, focusing on the same topics that we have always liked to share with you: interior style, family travel, local highlights, recipes, travel, and personal posts . We will add more content from the store, and we will also share our favorite articles, events, etc. Styling Service-Although I enjoy my time with interior design clients, I understand that my enthusiasm and strength lies in the details, not the overall situation. Chapter A fact that shouldn't be surprising! Therefore, although I will work with some designer colleagues in Seattle to undertake larger projects here and there, the only service I will directly provide to clients is interior design. I like this element in the design process because it is where we tell the owner's story. Add personality through retro discoveries, artwork, and finishing touches. Of course, you have to solve problems like huge built-in bookshelves or awkward corners. I will add more information on this soon, more packaging and products to come in the fall! We will also provide