Slowing Down, Scaling Back, and Living Real Life

A June Reset : From the Inside Out

Hi Cookies,

We’re officially in June, which is a month that always feels like a threshold. The start of summer, the halfway point of the year, and for me this time around, a very clear moment to recalibrate.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about access. To myself, my energy, my body, and the life I’m building. And the Canyon Ranch experience in Massachusetts cracked something open for me. It wasn’t just a wellness trip, it was the start of a reset.

During one of the guided meditation sessions, we practiced a format where you lightly tap your fingers while repeating calming phrases. It’s a technique rooted in EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). It was such a simple act, but it showed me something big: meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting still, chasing serene thoughts while your monkey brain throws confetti. This method gave me focus, a rhythm, a pathway to calm instead of a battle to get there. It reminded me that I don’t have to fight for peace, I just can practice it. For your FYI, the phrase we repeated during the mediation while tapping through the pointer and pinky fingers “Right, Here, Right, Now”….. very soothing and grounding to say the least.

Another thing I had to sit with: how deeply my body is asking for support. Between stress, pressure, and how much I internalize before even realizing it; I’ve been moving through life carrying more than I should. Massage therapy at the retreat made me realize how disconnected I’ve been from what my body’s actually been holding. My back, my skin, my nervous system…they’re all keeping receipts. LONG RECEIPTS! like the kind you get printed with coupons from CVS LONG!

Speaking of skin, I’ve been dealing with a severe breakout lately. And honestly? It’s not a mystery. I haven’t been able to see Sean for my regular facials for two months, and it shows. What doesn’t help are the unsolicited comments I’ve gotten from folks trying to diagnose me through a screen or throwing around words like “perimenopause” like they know anything about my body clock or medical history. Just a reminder: someone’s skin is not your invitation to speculate. Everyone’s journey is different. Respect that.

However I did get a chance to do a facial with Sean and already the acne, scarring, and overall dustiness are all clearing up! Thank goodness and Thank You Sean Garrette!

This does brings me back to the idea of access. I’ve given too much of it.

I had a conversation with a good friend recently that really grounded me. We talked about what it means to live in the real. Not a performance for clicks or constant validation, but a full, rich, secure life that feels good even when no one’s watching. That conversation unlocked something for me. I want to live a life of more ease and be able to create with love and intention. Not urgency or stress. I’m not pretending to have it all figured out. I’m just not broadcasting the parts I’m still working on. That’s not secrecy. That’s sovereignty.

The 2% of my life I do choose to share is because I find joy in it. I love documenting and offering windows into what I’m building which can be fun, insightful, even inspiring for some. But it’s just that: a window, not the whole house. I’m not naming family members. I’m not airing out arguments. I’m not detailing every single low ( just a few here and there LOL but that’s my story and business to air to out if I please). And even with lighthearted moments like joking about living with a man which is supposed to be relatable and FUNNY! Some people still find a way to pick it apart or chastise me for talking about MY SO (not theirs, but mine). Truthfully, anything I say out loud on the internet about someone is something I’ve already said directly to them first; and they’ve either agreed or received it with humility depending the topic.

This has made me pause and shift. I’m scaling back on what I share publicly, especially on YouTube. Not out of fear, but out of protection. I don’t need to give people the opportunity to build a whole narrative about me from a snippet. I used to think not responding to comments was enough. But really? I need to stop feeding the invitation.

Privacy is not a wall, it’s a filter. I want to live more in the moment, enjoy the mystique of it all. And if that means coming off a little unapproachable to keep the weird energy away? So be it. I’m not mean. I’m just respected. And if that makes someone uncomfortable, they were probably too comfortable to begin with.

I’ve been more mindful lately about my spending habits too. Not out of restriction, but out of redirection. I want to invest in making our home space feel inspiring, creative, and comfortable. I want filming at home to feel like me again. I want my space to reflect my evolution.

And while I’m here: I’m tired of people diminishing what it means to be a content creator. The “soft life” some influencers are selling feels like smoke and mirrors. But let’s be clear: Content Creation is a Real-Ass BUSINESS. And I don’t just mean posting pretty photos. I mean strategy, production, marketing, negotiation, and community-building. Before any of this content industry work! I’m a business owner and of multiple businesses, including CONTENT CREATOR. So when other creators try to minimize or glamorize it without acknowledging the work? Miss me with that. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again : Life is ROUGH, it’s TEXTURED!

That’s why this next chapter for me is about alignment and ownership. I’m stepping away from my agency and stepping into being an independent creator again and under my own company CBMG inc. I want to rebuild relationships in my business that feel mutual and clear.

Restock of the cropped trench is happening VERY SOON

I’m also turning more of my attention toward pouring into the next generation, but on my own terms. Through projects like A Second Chance and Kinspire, I’m helping develop a program designed to help youth not just dream about being in the fashion industry, but actually thrive in it. I want to equip them with real-world tools: how to position themselves, advocate for their worth, move with strategy, and show up with confidence. That’s what mentorship looks like to me.

And if I’m being honest, part of my evolution means redefining what mentorship looks like for myself too. I’ve offered a lot of time, insight, and energy over the years and I don’t regret it. But moving forward, I’m being more intentional. Mentorship can’t be a free-for-all. It has to feel reciprocal. If you want access to my tools, my mind, my energy; it has to come with respect, with commitment, and yes, with investment.

To be clear: this doesn’t apply to my Cookies who show up, pour back in, and never come with expectation! You already know the love is mutual. But for anyone who might be unclear: being close to me, learning from me, or being in my orbit isn’t just a perk. It’s a privilege. One that I’m happy to offer when it’s met with respect, curiosity, and care.

So here’s what June means for me:

Scaling back with purpose.
Not disappearing, but shifting. I’m rethinking how much of my personal life I share, and how I tell my story. The narrative is evolving, and so is the lens. Not everything needs an audience and not everything deserves commentary.

Showing up with intention.
I’m no longer leaving room for unwarranted opinions. If I share something, it’s because it serves me, reflects where I’m headed, or sparks joy. The era of being “available for any opinion offered” is over. This next chapter is curated, not performative.

Arriving fully, boldly, and in alignment.
When I walk into a room (virtual or not) I want my presence, style, and approach to feel like a reflection of who I actually am and not diminish myself or question myself mentally for others to be comfortable. I’m slowing down to speed up, making sure every look, every post, every yes or no honors where I am and where I’m going. Trust this doesn’t add more pressure or the need for perfection, this actually means slowing down and allowing time to ensure I am showing up confidently and whole.

Living in the real.
Not rushing through it and instead breathing it in. Feeling my body, taking care of it. Feeling joy. Feeling quiet. Feeling connected. Choosing presence over performance. Massages, Facials, Quiet Time Meditating, and Delegating work to others that can handle it so I can maintain calm and clarity.

Rebuilding my home, my systems, and my sense of peace.
I’m pouring into the space I live in and the people who truly know me. My chosen family. The ones who’ve seen every version of me and still make room for the next one. That’s who I’m building with. That’s who I’m anchoring into.

And building an empire that I own (online and off).
The price is going up. The strategy is locked in. And everything I’m building now is designed to scale, sustain, and evolve. I’m not playing small and I’m not waiting for permission.

If any of this resonates with where you are right now, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect too. What are you ready to release? What boundaries are asking to be reinforced? What kind of life do you want to live, even when no one’s watching?

This month, I’m not sprinting. I’m re-centering.
And I’m so glad to have you here with me on that path.

With love and deep breath energy,
Carolyn