To Be Continued

Your favorite posts, memorable conversations, and a promise to return this fall.

We Had a Time 🥹

Wow, Substack friends. I started this page last September, after a rough 2025 that challenged me to the brink. I wasn’t feeling well, but I was doing ev-er-y-thing in my power to beat the depression that had sabotaged so much of my year. With the help of many, many doctors, I found my way out, and one day soon after, I sat down and couldn’t stop writing. I wrote about the truth behind the scenes, my heavy heart and the path that brought me back to feeling like a whole human being. Then I hit ‘publish’ on my very first Substack.

Over the last 9 months, I’ve really enjoyed writing here. It feels like a return to the old days of blogging, when we first started sharing home content in 2009! (Here’s our very first blog post if you’re interested!) There’s less worry about algorithms, what’s trending and numbers. Instead, I’ve found the more personal and less algorithm-y I get, the more you and I connect.

To Be Continued

Lucy’s last day of school is this week, and with that, I’m taking a short break from publishing here. The next few months will be spent enjoying Chicago summer (there’s nothing like it!), spending as much time as possible with Lucy, and — fret not! — creating the time and space to knock out some pretty exciting projects. The Red House kids room, living room built-in and entryway system are all rolling out this summer!

I’ll still be sharing on Instagram and the blog, but as a small business trying to balance All the Things, Substack is where I’ll be taking my pause during the summer months. Until then, I’m sharing the articles that resonated with you the most, below! We had some really great conversations, and I’m grateful for you. xx

Reader Favorites

This was my first article, and hitting ‘publish’ on it felt like the biggest wave of relief. One thing I’m learning to do more of is saying or writing how I feel — including uncomfy feelings! — because it really does make a difference holistically. I’m more at peace with my thoughts, and I’m no longer afraid to use words like ‘depression', giving me the power over words that once felt too scary to say out loud.

What you had to say: When my imbalance and unwellness became life-threatening, I wasn't messing around anymore. I had no choice but to prioritize it. I wish that more of us wouldn't have to be almost "forced" into doing this!

If there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s that the majority of you are in a similar stage of life: post-40 women facing the reality of perimenopause. Wow, has this been a record-scratching moment, and the community feedback on this one let me know I’m not alone.

What you had to say: All of these comments stir up so many emotions! Anger at the self-doubt (mostly my own) and hesitancy to trust that we know our bodies, familiarity in the stories, concern for those who don’t have the time or energy to advocate, and pride for everyone’s vulnerability. I know that's the point, so thank you Kim for leading by example.

I was shocked to stumble across a Reel this week about a British travel-vlogging couple who announced they were coming to Chicago for the first time. They were bombarded with DMs to ‘wear your bulletproof vest!’ and ‘only go there if you like war zones,’ and… WOW. Long story short, they visited my beeaaautiful city and said not only was that not true, but Chicago just may be their favorite city they have ever visited. I love Chicago with my whole heart and soul, and this is my love letter.

What you had to say: Flipping the narrative is a perfect way to turn that sorrow into, not just anger and frustration and despair, but into love and a path forward. Thank you!

Not sure how it took me more than 40 years to learn that two things can be true, but it was life changing. I navigated the tension between a world that felt heavy and uncertain while also finding my way back to joy and how I hold space for both realities at once, and y’all came through in the comments!

What you had to say: I chose ‘failure’. That needs a little explanation: better to try something new and fail than never trying in the first place. Failure means I tried something way out of my wheelhouse […] Failing is okay. Staying frozen is not.

The Bad Bunny Revolution got me through February, and it sounds like it resonated with you, too! May we never forget that joy is one of the greatest acts of resistance.

What you had to say: Resistance to power and injustice have always been the core of Christian teachings - the fact that Christians continue to ignore that is as old as the teachings themselves - hence all the prophets and letters and sermons on the mount, just trying to drive that home.

I really enjoyed having this conversation with you. It’s a conversation I’ve had many times with friends over the years, and I often pinch myself with how lucky I feel. Our path to one child was the greatest gift Scott and I have ever received.

What you had to say: We all have parental instinct in us and if we choose to use it to parent human children, then cool. But also, mad respect to those that choose not to parent humans. Raising kids does not give us more value in this world...we're all worthy of love and peace and kindness.

In Case You Missed It

In-between some heavy hitters, we covered a lot of ground together! We bonded over why we foster dogs, I shared how I hit my protein goals with a breakdown of all my meals and snacks in a day, the reality of living through a renovation, and the joys of Medium Friendships.

We also talked about why a haircut is way, way more than just a haircut, a look back at the first home that shaped us, where we shop vintage in Chicago, how scope creep is dictating some of our exterior renovation decisions, and the workout clothes that won’t break the bank (and believe me, I’ve done the research!).

There’s so much more, so you can always dig through our archives by clicking the link in the menu bar!

Enjoy Your Summer, Never Change!

Remember writing that in your friends’ yearbooks? (Just me?)

Thank you for reading, commenting, emailing, and spending part of your week with me. This newsletter has become one of the most rewarding parts of our work, and I’m grateful you’re here.

Find us on Instagram and the blog this summer, and I’ll see you back on Substack in the fall!