As you may have noticed, Classically Dunn is now The Kate Dunn Collective. I couldn’t be more excited to bring you on this new endeavor with me!

A lot has changed in my life over the last two years. I gave birth to a beautiful daughter, completing our family of four. We lost a fur baby. We finished some home renovations, I decided to go alcohol free, and I went on my first ever solo trip (still grateful to Casey for coming up with the idea and watching our babes while I was gone). I also started a daily meditation practice which has been incredibly life changing.

The last year in particular has been quite the journey of self discovery – of getting to know the real me, who I am, what I value, what lights me up. I’ve had a general idea of those things – but I think for so much of my life I have been working on checking boxes, and making sure I’m doing all of the things that I’m “supposed to be doing” to be successful in life that I neglected parts of myself. Important parts that make me who I am.

This time of traveling inward, and getting to know and love the real me has been powerful. It’s been beautiful, yet painful and difficult at times too.

I’m realizing now, in my late 30s, that a lot of the choices I’ve made throughout life weren’t necessarily for myself, but rather were made to please others or to create some sort of perfect image. A standard that is just not sustainable or even possible. For years, I have made myself small, never wanting to shine my light too bright. I’ve gone along with things that don’t interest me just to please someone else, or because maybe it would make me more well liked. Personal boundaries? I didn’t know the definition. I was a “yes girl.”

I recently started working with a therapist (highly recommend by the way). It’s something I had been considering for a few years, but haven’t felt ready until recently. One of the things I’m working on is not worrying so much about what others think of me. It’s been a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I’m getting better at it.

One of the biggest take aways of this introspection, has been learning to love myself and to show myself grace. I now make my self care a priority and I recognize that self care isn’t at all selfish. It’s the best thing I can do in order to be the best version of me, not only for myself, but for my children, my husband, and everyone in my life.

I have felt a deep yearning to start sharing and creating again. Creating in a way that is more true to the essence of me, who I am and who I’m becoming. Enter: The Kate Dunn Collective. I have so much more to share with you, from things that are inspiring me, to soul nourishing self care rituals that have been life changing for me, to simple, classic style and yes – interiors are here to stay as well.

I don’t know what the future holds for me over in the IG world, but I do know that I’ll be spending a lot more time here in this traditional blog format. This journal is where I can be unapologetically me without worry of algorithms and metrics. Make sure you’re signed up for the newsletter here!

I do know that I’ve been craving this new era where the future is bright. An era of slow living, intentionality, simple style, & soul nourishing self care rituals. An era where living in the moment leads to an inspired life you love. A life created, curated & cultivated.

Xx,

Katie

Images are a collection of special moments over the last year <3