October 2025

On losing momentum, the choice to keep trying, and the hope of October.

It’s Wednesday, October 1, and I’m forcing myself to write this blog. This is not the one-month update I imagined. I thought I would be riding high, still full of momentum and proud of the progress I’d made. That is absolutely not the case. My first month of sharing content did not go as planned, or more accurately, I did not stick to my plan. I made it through the first half of September posting pretty regularly, and then stopped altogether. I think, as usual, perfectionism got in the way. I realized I would need to post several times a day on TikTok to gain traction. Trying to create content that was of high quality, on-brand, and not embarrassing (in case anyone from my real life saw it) felt crippling, and I buckled under the pressure I put on myself. Now I feel disappointed, bleak, and constantly worrying about what this means for me. If I want to build a creative life, I know I need to start slowly breaking away from the 9–5 path. Flora Studios is supposed to be the beginning of that journey, but it only took two weeks for me to start questioning everything.

All of that heaviness aside, I did manage to have some fun in September. I spent a day at the Puyallup Fair (technically, the Washington State Fair, but no real Washingtonian calls it that), which is always fun. I have grown more cautious about safety as I get older, so I am no longer a rides person. And, with some big financial goals ahead (more on that later!) I skipped the games this year, too. Instead, we enjoyed looking at the exhibits and saw the animals.

One farmer even let me pet their baby cow, which was just a few weeks old! My birthday also fell in mid-September, and my family celebrated by taking me to Palisade, a beautiful restaurant on the water in Seattle. I had surf and turf, champagne, and stunning views to welcome in my next year.

Another September highlight was a trip to Vegas with my sister! We are both on a budget and not big partiers, so we spent our time walking the strip, lounging by the pool, and visiting Fremont Street in the evening. I know it may seem odd to go to Vegas if you are not into partying or gambling, but I really enjoy getting some sun, sitting by the pool, and taking it easy, even though my large Piña Colada was nearly fifty dollars after leaving a good tip.

Finally, I always make time for my Fryguy. In September, he had his last “beach” day until the water warms up again in late spring. I took him to Dash Point State Park, where he got to play in the water, which is one of his favorites. As for me, my goal for this month is simpler: to find my spark again. I am still working through a lot of self-doubt, and I am reminded how easily pressure and perfectionism get in the way.

I feel like, in a way, I am starting at square one again, but I am hoping that by taking baby steps, I can remind myself why I started and that no dream is too big.

Rooted and Rising,

Katie