With Love
From Kat

With Love
From Kat

Happy New Year!

Venice, CA

As I sit here writing this from my dining table in Venice Beach, California (with Charlie in my lap!)  I feel a ton of emotions – proud, happy, content, excited, shocked, and grateful, to name a few.  It’s amazing how much can change in just 1 year isn’t it?  This was my most transformative year by far.  I uprooted the entire life that I had created and thrived in NYC for 6 years to head west and start a new life in a small beach town in LA that I had never lived in before.  I essentially had 3 close friends in LA; my 2 aunts and a girlfriend from college.  I was of course scared and nervous to move to a whole new city, but I really listened to my gut and instinct.  I felt such a connection to Venice from the first time I visited it and my body and mind were craving the sunshine, the beach, and a slower pace of life that it offered.  Was moving to a new city halfway across the country with basically zero connections or friends easy?  No – but is anything worthwhile ever super easy?!  What this move did feel like was right.  I felt at ease in my new home off the bat, and started to make friends rather quickly through a new yoga studio I joined, bumping into the same neighbors on long walks, introducing myself to local shop owners on Abbot Kinney, reaching out to friends of friends, meeting new people at events, and reconnecting with different groups of girlfriends from college and high school that had recently relocated to LA as well.  Being semi-outgoing (although I am also an introvert) certainly helped and I promise I’ll be dedicating a full post to tips on making friends in a new city this year.  In this reflective New Years post, I wanted to provide a bit of insight into some of the ways I’ve grown, improved, and changed in hopes that perhaps you’ll find a few tidbits of wisdom or advice that you can use and implement in your life.  First though, I want to start by saying a big, warm thank you.  Thank you for supporting me during such a transformative time in my life.  Many of you have been following me for years and years – and were used to me constantly posting about NYC and my travels, and sharing my classic city style.  My content has changed for sure since my move and I really appreciate your continued support and kind words.  I am very, very happy and grateful for what all of these changes brought.  Without further ado…

  1.  I kissed city life goodbye and landed in a sleepy California beach town!
    I’m so glad I lived in NYC for most of my early 20’s –  I would never, ever take that time back, but I just didn’t want to be in the grind, hustle bustle, or intensity anymore.  It’s a lot more laid back on the west coast and people are SO friendly here.  I feel at ease and my shoulders are no longer scrunched to my ears anymore haha.  A lot of you have been reaching out saying you’re thinking about making the move to the west coast.  Here’s what I say – you only live once and if you don’t move and try it out, you will never know what it was like.  If you don’t like it, you can move back or go somewhere else!  Give it 1 year and see what happens – there is absolutely no harm in trying something new out or experimenting – you do not have to be stuck anywhere you don’t want to be.
  2. I stopped hating my body.
    I think I may have developed a bit of body dysmorphia over the years from looking at photos of myself basically everyday for the past decade.  A camera or a filter can make you look great one second or can make you look wide and washed out the next depending on the angle.  I have had moments of such insecurity and hatred for my body throughout the years.  After getting in a car accident earlier in the year that left me almost paralyzed and in a neck brace I knew I had to stop the negative inner voice and appreciate my body.  Being in physical therapy, doing yoga, and meditating this year helped me get that mind/body connection I had been reading about and wanting forever.  I started to value being strong and I started to wake up and feel grateful for every inch of my body from my legs, to my arms, neck, back (even my big feet haha!)  Do I still have areas that I want to improve and do I still get a little annoyed with myself when I overindulge in treats?  Of course – I am human!  But I’ve made a conscious effort to put positive thoughts over the negative ones and it’s worked.
  3. I stopped running away from the pain of my breakup and decided to sit with it and work through it (not around it.)
    Oh the trips, the parties, the events, the dinner dates, the projects, overall just being “busy” all the time!   That stuff worked really, really well to distract me and mask my broken heart for 2+ years.  And it was all honestly a lot of FUN!  But nevertheless I would come home and the sadness would creep back in until I figured out my next distraction or escape.  This lifestyle and this coping mechanism started to become exhausting, so a few months ago, I stopped and realized I really needed to face my pain and make a change.  I committed to seeing a therapist weekly, I decided to stop “dating just to date”, I cut back on traveling, I decided to stay in on most weeknights and weekends (friends started to worry and called me a hermit, but I told them to trust me!), I stopped going to frivolous events and parties, and I stopped taking on projects I wasn’t 10000% passionate in.  I started reading a TON, going on long walks, discovering new shops, playing with Charlie, and as cheesy as it sounds – I fell in love with (being by) MYSELF!
  4. And the coolest part about that was…I met someone and fell in LOVE!
    Over the years I had heard countless quotes from friends and even strangers that I once rolled my eyes at and kind of didn’t believe.  “You’ll meet someone when you least expect it!”  “Stop looking for love and let love find you!”  “Fall in love with yourself first and then you’ll find the one!”  Well, now I get it.  After months of working through the pain from my last relationship, learning more about myself, enjoying my alone time, and making time for the right things – I met someone really really special.  I was literally just walking Charlie around my neighborhood, and happened to pass this very tall, dark handsome guy 6 times in 1 week.  On the 6th time, I figured we had to be neighbors so I went up to him and just said “Hi, I’m Kat.  I think I’m your neighbor!”  He asked me to grab coffee with him, and then coffee turned into dinner, and dinner turned into several dates and a birthday trip to San Francisco later – and now here we are as boyfriend/girlfriend 3 months after first meeting!
  5. I re-prioritized my life and put my personal life before my work life.
    There is no such thing as a perfectly balanced life, but of course we can all aim for a semi balanced one!  For years, I have had a very imbalanced life.  I prioritized my work over friends, family, and my overall well being.  I feel SO fortunate to have found something that I am so deeply passionate about and that I have achieved success in.  I am grateful to have realized this year that work/career success isn’t everything and that you must first take care of yourself and deepen that mind/body connection before anything else.  I now, put my well being first, family second, and friends third.  I of course still put a tremendous amount of time and effort into my work which is deeply satisfying and important to me, but it has just been moved down a bit on the priority list ;)
  6. I re-evaluated all of the relationships in my life.
    We’ve all heard the saying, “Make new friends, but keep the old…”  This year, I realized that I wasn’t feeling fulfilled from many of my relationships.  I would often leave a coffee or lunch date and feel tired, uninspired, or in some cases kind of sad because I had back handedly been put down.  For a while, I thought it was something that I had said or something that I was doing wrong – until I started to see – maybe this person can’t be happy for me because they’re not happy with themselves.  Maybe they have to make these little digs or jabs at me and put me down to make themselves feel better?  Do I really want that kind of energy in my life even if they’re not aware of it/purposefully trying to make me feel bad?  No I did not.  So I started to think what kind of energy and what kind of friendships did I really want to have in my life?  I realized I wanted to be around genuine people.  People who were actively trying to better themselves and felt good about themselves and were not threatened by me/my success.  People who saw the glass half full, and were positive, vibrant, and inspiring.  I stopped looking for exterior qualities in friendships and started to see if I connected with someone on a deeper, internal level.  I stopped putting time and energy into acquaintances and weeded out anyone I was on the fence about.  I nourished just a few strong, select friendships I knew I would want in my life forever and that were nourishing back to me.  This was actually one of the hardest changes I made this year.  I felt extreme guilt pulling away from some friends I had for years, I had many moments of doubt and uncertainty, but I had to stay true to myself and look out for myself at the end of the day.  I now feel so much more free/light and know that just because a friend isn’t clicking with me right now at this point in my life, doesn’t mean we can’t reconnect in the future!  People can grow apart and come back together!
  7. I let my inner child come out and play.
    Think about how serious and consumed we can all get with taxes, paperwork, and just the everyday duties of being responsible adults.  It’s so easy to forget the little things and little joys in life that can bring us so much happiness!  Those little joys for me, are running around in my backyard with my puppy, gossiping on the phone with my childhood friend for hours, eating popcorn in bed with a face mask on while watching a movie, binge watching Stranger Things, belting out country music in my car, painting my nails, eating ice cream out of the container and buying useless arts and crafts projects at Target.  I reminded myself to not get consumed in playing this super adult/mature role and to let myself enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
  8. I hired the wrong people and as a result realized that I needed to learn more about running a business and how to be a good manager.
    When I moved, I had to completely build my team from scratch.  I didn’t have a photographer – an assistant – an intern – a videographer – anyone!  I dove right in, and reached out to a ton of people via instagram, plus I asked NYC friends in the creative community for their contacts.  I made the HUGE mistake of not interviewing enough people, and testing them out.  I hired way too fast, trusted that they would deliver and 95% of the time was left incredibly disappointed and empty handed.  This was a really good lesson for me, and a wake up call.  I realized I needed to create a clear vision of what qualities I actually wanted in the people working around me, set guidelines and standards and hold everyone to them (including myself!), and most importantly learn how to manage people.  As a creative who has only worked at small start ups, I have had zero experience in corporate life or managerial structuring.  I am now taking it upon myself to learn how to be a good manager because I genuinely want to cultivate a positive work environment for anyone – independent contractors, part time assistants, full time employees, and freelancers, who work with me.  A few of the books friends and family have recommended for me; Extreme Ownership, The Boss of You, and The New 10 Minute Manager.  I would love any books you recommend or have read and loved on this topic!
  9. I started to think about the effects of social media and started to live the majority of my life offline.
    Social media is an incredible tool and a huge part of my business and livelihood.  However, I think it is very easy to look at it and use it the wrong way – to compare ourselves to others highlight reel (no one’s life is as perfect as it seems trust me!), to not live in the moment, to be consumed by other’s thoughts and opinions…it can all get pretty intense and easy to get wrapped up in right?!  I made a conscious effort to cultivate a life and world for myself outside of social media and this blog.  I did a TON of stuff that was not shared, posted, or seemingly “instagrammable” and it felt GREAT.  This year, I would love to find a way to share more of my life, and real/behind the scenes moments with you.  I started my Wellness section for this very reason and I’m looking forward to expanding on that.
  10. I shopped less, focused on adding quality pieces to my wardrobe, and cleaned out/purged my entire closet after feeling deeply impacted from a documentary called Minimalism.
    I realized that having so much “stuff” was actually sub consciously stressing me out!  My closet/office space felt cluttered and I legit couldn’t think clearly.  This documentary opened my eyes to the fact that there is a link between over consumption, clutter, and mental happiness and clarity.  I’m not going to sell everything I have and live out of a suitcase with 2 pairs of jeans and 1 shirt LOL…BUT it did inspire me to get rid of a ton of things I hadn’t worn in a year, and made me stop buying more, more, more, and new this, or new that all the time.  This may seem ironic given that my career is built on sharing fashion and lifestyle products, but I think (or at least I I hope) that many of you can appreciate or relate to me investing in fewer, better pieces, and re-wearing and incorporating some of my favorite pieces into my posts over and over again!

I’m so happy that I made a change and moved to LA this year despite how foreign and scary it was at first.  I’m so happy that I took time for myself this year and made friends, family and fun a priority.  I’m so glad that I get to share all of this with you and that I’ve created a platform and community of such amazing like minded women!  Goodbye 2017, and hello 2018 – I am ready for ya!

Shop the Post
Rails shirt c/o (on sale here!)  |  L’Agence jeans

Lyon Herron Photography

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69 Comments

  • La Bijoux Bella | by mia says:

    So beautiful to read … I’m so happy you have found the happiness from within ♥️ It’s such an alive feeling isn’t
    I wish you much continued success, happiness and lots of laughter for the new 2018 year. 💗💗👍🏼

    🍂❄️🍃LA BIJOUX BELLA 🍂❄️🍃| by mia | A Creative Lifestyle Blog

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you sweet girl!

      January 1, 2018
  • YZ Chan says:

    This was such a lovely post to read! It can be scary to move to a new place and it’s great that it worked out for you. It’s true about how you find love when you least expect it. That’s how I met my current boyfriend as well. Happy New Year and I hope your 2018 is even better!

    http://www.yzwears.com

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you!! Awww I love that’s how you met your bf too!!!! ;)

      January 1, 2018
  • Dana says:

    This was such an inspiring post, Kat! I’ve been following you for years, and while your content has changed, you’ve still made this space a place I’ve wanted to come to daily! Cheers to 2018!

    The Champagne Edit

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you!

      January 1, 2018
  • Ewa Macherowska says:

    Beautiful post! x

    http://www.evdaily.blogspot.com

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you :)

      January 1, 2018
  • Rach says:

    This post is so inspiring and thank you for opening up and sharing Kat! You have been through a lot, had challenges, took risk, and yet you still came out on top! So happy for you!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you as always for your sweet comments Rach!!

      January 1, 2018
  • Maggie Zemanek says:

    I loved reading this, Kat!! It sounds like 2017 was a big year of growth for you – it definitely was for me!! So happy you were able to love yourself and then find love… And I hope you can teach some of your newfound lessons on running a business! :)

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you Maggie <3

      January 1, 2018
  • Natali says:

    Oh wow, such an inspiring and eye opening post! Thank you for sharing! I wish you all the best in 2018 and I’m so happy for you and for falling in love again! :)

    https://lartoffashion.com/new-years-resolutions/

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you my love!!

      January 1, 2018
  • Em says:

    You inspire me so much Kat! I love seeing and reading your content and I appreciate the more laid-back approach you implemented this year. Best of the best for you!
    With love,
    Em @ bloomingmagnoliasblog.com

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you so much Em!!

      January 1, 2018
  • Mackenzie says:

    Ohhh Kat, I love this post so much. I just had to comment! I’ve been following and reading for a while now (since your NYC days) and I can truthfully say that you I can tell from seeing your images and reading your posts that you just radiate happiness! It sounds like 2017 was such a huge year of growth for you. So happy for you! XO

    Mackenzie || https://www.brunchonsunday.com

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Aw thank you Mackenzie!!! So sweet of you to say! Lots of love to you! xo

      January 1, 2018
  • Nosha Vega says:

    This was a beautifully written article. I related so much to the friendship area! Thanks so much for sharing ☺️

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you Nosha!!

      January 1, 2018
  • Olivia Austin says:

    Hi Kat,
    I loved your happy new year post, I truly feel like I can relate to everything you learnt in 2017. Surrounding yourself with genuine people, being grateful for your health and living in the moment have certainly been my biggest learnings this year. I have been reading your blog since the beginning and have loved seeing your decor style evolve from the east to west coast, I always draw inspiration when styling my own home here in Melbourne Australia. I am looking forward to following this next phase of your journey! All the best for 2018! Olivia

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you Olivia! So glad you can relate and I can’t wait to visit Melbourne someday ;) XO

      January 1, 2018
  • Mary says:

    Very inspiring!! I’ve been following your blog posts for a while and you’re one of my favorite fashion blogger because of your classic style..wishing you continued success and inner happiness!

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you Mary!!

      January 1, 2018
  • Sandhya says:

    Absolutely loved this!you were so right about friendships and having fewer classier pieces.I love your blogs n posts….you always seem effortless in how you put together your outfit…elegant and simple …my favourite way to dress up …

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you so much Sandhya!

      January 1, 2018
  • Liz says:

    This was such a great post! I just wanted to let you know how much of this resonated with me — so much of your blog content does!— even though we’re in different stages of our lives. I struggle with accepting (maybe trying to love?) my body when I’m pregnant with a second baby. I’m still learning how to focus on myself and my own happiness, with my marriage and family and cultivating only the friendships that I think are worth it! Anyway, wishing you a very happy 2018 full of love and happiness and thank you for sharing all of the great content on your blog and Instagram!

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Aw thank you so much for sharing this Liz! I am so glad it resonated! Sending you lots of love in 2018 ;) XOXO

      January 1, 2018
  • Katie says:

    Thank you so much for sharing! Everything I read here was spot on to how I feel about a possible upcoming move, relationships in my life and how I view my self care for 2018. This was very inspiring, thank you for sharing!

    January 1, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you Katie! Good luck with your move!!!! :)

      January 2, 2018
  • LindaC says:

    This made me so happy to read and insight on some things I’m also working on for myself. 2017 was a great year for reflections. Thanks, Kat. Happy New Years! So happy to hear you love California. I can’t imagine anywhere as wonderful as here.

    January 2, 2018
  • Winnie says:

    You’re such an inspiration! I liked your nyc content but I’m loving the LA kat more! Thank you for sharing, this resonated with me so much! Happy new year!

    January 2, 2018
  • Aubry says:

    Thank you for this! I decided to read this blog first thing at work this morning and it spoke to my heart! Not sure what exactly it was, but I definitely needed this! Thank you for being so honest and open, as a 20 something year old single girl, I’m pretty harsh on myself at times and could relate so much to this. Thanks for always being open and honest.
    Xoxo Aubry

    January 2, 2018
  • Debbie Saulnier says:

    Such an inspiring post! Can’t wait to read your tips for making friends in a new city. Your realization that some of your friends were a negative force in your life really resonated with me. Happy 2018!

    January 2, 2018
  • Katie says:

    Kat, Happy new year! Thank you so much for sharing these open-hearted reflections. So happy to hear you’ve created such a vibrant and inventive life in California. Best wishes for 2018!

    January 2, 2018
  • Katie says:

    I loved this blog post about your personal growth this year. So many blogs show us the fun and beautiful side of life, but I think we sometimes forget that there is an actual person on the other end who has hopes and dreams and sometimes disappointments just like everyone else. I look forward to seeing how incorporate these new changes into your life, especially the minimalism aspect. Thank you for the beautiful inspiration.

    January 2, 2018
  • Lisa K says:

    Definitely my fav blog post of all time so far! I have lived on the West coast, always thought I wanted to leave and get away from here. But two half years ago, I began a similar journey and can relate to almost every single thing you wrote. I even went to a flip phone and still have not gone back to a smart phone lol thank you for sharing your wonderful year with all the inspriring changes. Looking forward to hearing more about it. And watching that documentary. You had me at minimalism xo

    January 2, 2018
  • Nati Fung says:

    This is so beautiful❤️ It went straight to my heart. I feel like sometimes we need to be reminded to do the things you mention in the post. Taking time for ourselves, having more fun, doing things that will help us grow and more importantly and that I never even considered is reviewing your relationships and see if they are helping you more than bringing you down. Thank you for sharing! Loved this

    January 2, 2018
  • Todra Payne says:

    Please erase my earlier “comment”. I mistakenly put an address in the comment box instead of my comment. What I wanted to say was how much I really enjoyed your post. It spoke to so many of the same things that I’ve done in the past couple of years – including moving to Cali from the East Coast. I love your blog. It one of the few that I read. Thank you for being honest and about your struggles and the things that honestly matter. Blessings and prosperity to you in 2018.

    January 2, 2018
  • Kay says:

    Luuuuurve this post oh my

    January 2, 2018
  • Kate says:

    Thank you for being so open and genuine — it’s really easy to forget that people have feelings and lives behind their seemingly ‘perfect’ photos. Love this post <3

    xx

    bombshell-to-be.blogspot.com

    January 2, 2018
  • Gloriana Vives says:

    I absolutely love love love this post! I’ve been following for about a year, maybe more… Sine of the things you went through last year are struggles I eant to put an end on my life this year, your tips are so inspiring!

    Thanks so much for sharing, and I can’t wait to see what you share with us this year!!

    Blessing for your 2018, you really are one of the few bloggers I follow that is transparent and honest about social media and life in general.

    Xoxo…

    Gloriana

    January 2, 2018
  • Anna says:

    Kat,
    This was such an amazing, inspiring and honest post! I have been following your instagram for years! Thank you for sharing and delighted happiness has found you. XOXO

    January 2, 2018
  • Michelle Johnson says:

    I am so happy for you! This post was wonderful to read and thank you so much for sharing personal things about your life! Can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store for you!!

    January 2, 2018
  • Lucy says:

    Amazing post! Sounds like you did a lot of soul searching last year but it looks like it really paid off! Can’t wait to see what beautiful things you get up to in 2018!

    Want to know where to find designer pieces for less? Check out my newest post now! Blush & Bordeaux

    January 2, 2018
  • MK says:

    Beautiful post Kat, really wise words and reminders for what’s really important in life. For number 8, since I work in corporate finance, I would say read anything by John Maxwell. It’s all on leadership, and if you’re able to master and understand the value in this, you won’t have to manage people! I think there’s too many mangers trying to manage people and if we can have more leaders in any work environment, it will be a game changer. Of course, I still believe in having a structure and clear expectations for your team, but it’s all about influencing and getting your vision across to the people that work for you.

    All the best for you Kat!

    January 2, 2018
  • Angela Bridge says:

    Similar to other comments, I have been following you for almost 4 years. This is my first time posting a comment but wanted to say your New Years post was inspiring and heartfelt. I visited Venice Beach last April and loved it there too! Have a great year!

    January 2, 2018
  • Brooke says:

    Kat, I’ve followed your blog for at least 5 years and your LA content is my absolute favorite! I can’t wait to see what you create in 2018!

    Brooke du jour
    http://www.brookedujour.com

    January 3, 2018
  • Taffie says:

    You are an inspiration to all women both personally and fashionably. Thank you for sharing your great style and your personal journey. Congrats to your new relationship wishing your all the best:))

    January 3, 2018
  • Kamarra says:

    Hey Kat! A year ago, I relocated to ATL from NYC and found peace. I was on a rat wheel in NYC going through the motions. I have to say, my life experiences are very similar and you hit all the nails on the head! With that said…I’m soooo proud of you and I’m glad your journey is shaping out to be a beautiful one.

    January 4, 2018
  • With Love From Kat // January Neutrals says:

    […] all week.  I first want to start this post by saying thank you SO much for your comments on my New Years post.  I read each and every one and teared up while doing so!   It was so nice to hear that so many […]

    January 5, 2018
  • Yaiza says:

    Hola Kat, mi nombre es Yaiza te sigo desde hace muy poco pero me alegro mucho de haberte encontrado. Me identifico muchísimo contigo y te admiro por lo valiente y luchadora que eres. te deseo de corazón que este 2018 venga cargado de buenísimas experiencias. Ojala yo también pueda desarrollar esa parte creativa que me invade siempre.
    Un beso enorme.

    January 5, 2018
  • Linda says:

    So very happy for you. I love reading your posts and this one was inspiring.

    January 5, 2018
  • Paula Russell says:

    I love your posts but I have to say that this is my favourite by far ❤️ Honest and inspiring x

    January 5, 2018
  • MP Allegaert says:

    Love this post and how personal you dared to be. As a newbie blogger, I also really your professional insights. Glad you are so happy!

    January 5, 2018
  • Meghan says:

    Love this post of yours! So lovely to hear how much life has changed for you since your move and proud of you for doing it! We miss you here in NYC but I love seeing your happiness as life has evolved with your West Coast mindset! Sending you big hugs and love for 2018!

    January 5, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you my darling! Can’t believe it’s been over a year since I lost saw you! We must have a date next time I am in the city! BIG HUGS! XO

      January 7, 2018
  • Stefanie says:

    Such a well-written post. It was a pleasure to read your thoughts on what has touched your heart this year. Plus, any post with photos of sweet Charlie will always bring a smile!

    January 5, 2018
  • Weekend Reading. - The Stripe says:

    […] look back on 2017 was so real and honest – I loved her post and am so happy for […]

    January 6, 2018
  • E says:

    This post really spoke to me. Thanks for sharing it. Been following you for a long time and never commented, but was inspired by this post to do so. I’m going through something very similar. I’d love to see more content on how you’re living with minimalism

    January 7, 2018
  • Patty says:

    Wow, this post really really resonated with me. I’m looking forward to your friendship post as I am going through something similar having just moved to NYC. One thing that’s particularly challenging is balancing only spending time with genuine friends that nourish you vs. some of the trial and error that comes with making new friends. I would love to get your perspective on how you gauge which acquaintances have potential to become close friends and how much work you put in to get there since relationships do build over time. Not to mention wanting to go out less, but also needing to be ‘out there’ as it’s (unfortunately, ha!) not possible to meet someone at home on the couch :) Super happy to read how well everything is going in LA and absolutely loving your reflective posts and wellness content. Cheers to 2018!

    January 7, 2018
  • Jessica M. says:

    Sooo, I hate to admit this, but for the sake of being honest… I stopped following you a while back as I felt that I found myself feeling bad because your life always looked SO PERFECT. I know, I know, no one’s life is perfect, but with bloggers sometimes I can feel a disconnect when I look at their thousands of expensive handbags and their perfect hair and their stunning (always clean) house. Reading this helped to remind me that everyone is going through their own stuff and that this is your career and just because your pictures may present as “perfect”, you are still human and sharing the words above were so meaningful and honest. So thank you, and now I’m avid follower who won’t be straying any time soon. Congrats on getting through a rough year and finding love along the way, you deserve it!

    January 7, 2018
    • kat@withlovefromkat.com replied:

      Thank you for sharing and for supporting me Jessica! I am so glad that this resonated with you. It is true – it’s hard to tell what is really going on in someone’s life behind a set of curated photos! Looking forward to sharing more with you this coming year :)

      January 7, 2018
  • Vilma Padilla says:

    I LOVE the idea of you incorporating and re-wearing pieces. Love your blog!

    January 8, 2018
  • Emily Piskulick says:

    great post—happy new year! xo

    https://www.dearserendipity.com/

    January 13, 2018
  • Teri says:

    What an inspiring from the heart post. Love your blog and style Kat :) So happy to hear you have found love, it took me a LOOONG time myself but, it’s so worth it. I wish you continued success, health and happiness beautiful lady!

    January 15, 2018
  • Reflections From This Week (January 20th, 2018) says:

    […] known Kat for 6 years, and it’s been wonderful to see how happy she is in LA. This post was so reflective, honest, and […]

    January 20, 2018
  • Atiqa says:

    Hi Kat. I have been following you for years and years. You even did an interview for me years ago about my favorite bloggers. Anyway, I’m just catching up on posts as I have just gone through a breakup – one that that has shaken me to my core. I rarely comment on posts, but this post was inspiring! Literally so much can change in a year, is right! Last year on NYE, I fell in love and this year (few days short of NYE), I was left heartbroken. This is inspiring me to take care of myself and really face challenges head on and even make some changes myself! Anyway, you’ve always inspired me style/design wise, glad that it’s now more than that. Thanks and may this be your best year yet!

    February 7, 2018
  • PXM says:

    Very good article.

    I have been following you for a long time and I am really
    liking every single article I read here.

    I found that sometimes I forget to check your blog for a while, BUT I have subscribed now so I never miss a new post.

    December 14, 2018