Just Kacie Things

After writing about how ready I was for Fall , we decided it was time to really soak it in so Jordan took us over to  Willow River State Park in Wisconsin . The weather was that perfect mix of crisp and sunny, the kind that makes you want to grab a flannel, a warm drink, and just go .  We were a bit early for the colors, unfortunately, but we did have some gorgeous crisp weather that got a bit chilly when we got into the shade. It was even cold enough to see our breath! My favorite kind of morning! Once we hit the trails, could smell that earthy scents, hear leaves crunching, and felt the cool breeze, it was like my heart rate instantly slowed and the peaceful calm you only get from being in nature washed over me. The hike down to Willow Falls was absolutely worth it (even if our legs and lungs disagreed on the way back up 😅). The sound of the waterfall mixed with the rustling trees was precisely what my tumultuous brain needed. I honestly could have spent the entire day...

I’ve been waiting for what feels likes years for this. The air gets that tiny bite of chill, the sunlight goes all golden-hour all the time, and suddenly everything feels a little more cinematic and cozy. Fall doesn’t sneak up on me; I’m counting down for it. I want the crunchy leaves, the cozy sweaters, the candles that smell like “woodland wonder” and “pumpkin treats.” I want to romanticize my daily walk like it’s a pilgrimage through a Hallmark movie. (Ok... maybe not *that* but, you get the idea!) Everything just hits different this time of year. Coffee tastes better. Playlists sound moodier and hit deeper. Even errands feel like side quests in a fantastical land. I wish Fall lasted much longer than it does... but I will take what I can get! So yes, I am absolutely leaning in. I’ve lit candles, I’m breaking out the boots and the sweatshirts. I am planning a trip this weekend to go take pictures of the Fall colors before it gets too cold here in Minnesota and things freeze and di...

All my life, I've been drawn to journals, notebooks, blank paper of any kind! There’s something so invigorating to me about a blank page. Sometimes it feels like the most exciting thing in the world: wide open, full of potential, ready for me to pour every thought and dream into it. Other times, it feels like it’s staring back at me, daring me to be brilliant, to prove that I’m “good enough” to fill it. For a long time, I let that second feeling win. I’d buy pretty journals, open new Google Docs, even start projects with enthusiasm… only to stop when I felt like what I wrote wasn’t “good enough.” That blank page became less of an invitation and more of a test I thought I was failing. But lately, I’ve been trying to see it differently. That's kind of what this blog has become for me, in a way. A blank page is not a test. It’s a reset button. It’s proof that the past doesn’t get the final say and that every time I show up, I get a fresh start. When I remind myself of that, t...

So apparently I’m supposed to be “taking care of myself.” Drink water. Stretch. Meditate. Journal. Put cucumbers on my eyelids like I’m a salad. And don’t get me wrong — I want to be that person. The one who lights a candle, sinks into a bubble bath, and emerges glowing and renewed, like a soft-lit commercial for lavender. But in reality? Self-care feels less like relaxation and more like… homework. Homework that I don’t have the budget for. Because here’s the thing: I’m unemployed. Which means all those “treat yourself” versions of self-care — facials, fancy yoga classes, that $40 face mask that claims it’ll solve both rosacea  and my life problems — are not exactly happening. My current budget for wellness is whatever’s left after bills and minimal groceries. So when Instagram says “book a massage, you deserve it,” I’m like, okay, but can I pay for that massage in leftover rice and veggies? “Have you tried yoga?” Yes. On YouTube. In my living room. With a towel instead of...

I wanted to thank everyone for the love on my last post. I wanted to play around with varying formats for this blog and I had album makeups in my head when I was sitting there staring at the screen. I had such a wonderful reception here and on Bluesky and it made me happy to think others could relate. Thank you so very much. As I was sitting here today thinking about other ways I could write that weren't so "diary-entry," I came across a poem I wrote back in 2016. I have no idea what the premise was nor what mindset I was in. I just know I had left my five-year career with Disney and moved back home to Texas just two months before this was written. I don't remember writing any poetry outside of school, but I guess I did! Anyway, here's a silly little thing I wrote at age 28:  Fairy Stars She prances and glides along the leaves Her dust shimmering in the wake Placed carefully on their edges The leaves sparkle as they shake   Her smile lights up the forest A wonderf...

Illustration from Kevin McNamara Sometimes I think my brain missed its calling as a DJ because it insists on playing the same songs on repeat—except the “songs” are just all the ways I’ve been awkward, embarrassing, or catastrophic in the last 24 hours. Or the last 24 years. (Yes, I’m still haunted by middle and high school.) Anxiety really is the gift that keeps on giving. And giving. And giving. So today, I thought I’d share with you my personal Greatest Hits Album: Overthinking Edition. Maybe you’ll recognize a few of the tracks on your own playlist (because misery loves company, right?). Track 1: What Did They Really Mean By That Text? (Acoustic Version) 🎸 Ah yes, the timeless classic. Someone texts “k” and suddenly my brain is convinced I’ve ruined the friendship, disrespected their family, and possibly started an international incident. (All over one letter! Imagine the power I wield.) Clearly the only reasonable response is to analyze every possible tone behind that singl...