Balancing Life: My New Living Situation + Being Real

Today I feel extremely compelled to get something off my chest. Things are about to get real right now. Extra real. So prepare yourselves. I had originally planned for this post to be one of the usuals, but some conversations with close friends recently have changed my heart. And inspired me again. 
I have built my career on being real and authentic in an ironically materialistic and fake industry, and I think part of me has forgotten that in the past few months. It’s crazy that I have held back from what I’m about to tell you for the reasons that I did. But I think you’ll understand once I explain myself.

A lot of you have been asking what my living situation is like since I got married. To tell you the complete and honest truth, I have been holding back announcing this.
I wanted to come up with this awesome post, complete with awesome photos and an awesome, pretty Devon Rachel stamp of… bla bla bla bla bla bla bla. I sound like a stupid broken record! Well, life has gotten in the way. And you want to know the funny part? My complicated situation at the moment is the reason I haven’t been able to put this awesome, fabulous shoot together. How ironic. Okay, I’ll explain more now. Chandler and I wanted to wait to live together until we were married, so we had to decide what we wanted to do about this whole he’s in TX and I’m in LA thing. Chandler’s career is really taking off for him in Texas — fortunately and unfortunately mine is taking off in a completely different place, LA. So as completely crazy as it sounds, we have made the decision to keep my apartment in LA and move in together in our apartment in Texas. We don’t know how long this will last and you know what? We are playing it by ear: something that has been extremely hard for me to do in the past until I took this crazy leap of faith to move to LA. Basically, my life in the last 2.5 years has been a crazy whirlwind of faith, trust and playing it by ear. I spend most of my time with my husband (yay- finally!) but I have been traveling nearly every week-two weeks back in forth from Texas to LA. It’s definitely a new thing. And it has not been the easiest!
In fact, all of these crazy changes: getting married, moving to Texas, but also living in LA, taking on an exciting but challenging work life have totally taken a toll on me over the past few months. The changes and balancing all of it, that’s why I have been a little less present on here. Before I got married, things were so nuts and then after I got married they became more nuts, just in a different way. So I’m sitting here reflecting on the past few months and realizing that things are always going to be nuts. Just different kinds. And life is always a balancing act as we know. I have felt this weird pit in my stomach the past few months — and I thought it was because I felt bad for taking some time to live my life a little. That’s not entirely the case. I’m a perfectionist, so I’m bad about being hard on myself for taking a break, but I felt this pit in my stomach because I wasn’t being 100% authentic and myself with you.
And I think that relates to all of us. No matter what your life story. For me, I had to just stop worrying about how pretty the photo shoot was or what time the post went live or how many hits it gets. I have to be myself. Because what fun is life if we all just post these fake perfect scenarios? I’m not hating on beautifully styled content or anything like that — because I absolutely live to create and style these kinds of things. But I feel so much better knowing that I am honest, real, and positive in this extremely negative world. I hope you know that I am back, baby. And you can count on this blabbing, realness every day of the week. 
I hope you enjoy it!

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  1. Good for you, Devon! I don't know how you balance it all, but you do it so well! Can't wait to see what's to come for you and keep up the amazing work! I'll be cheering you on 🙂

    xx
    Natalie
    TheFashionablyBroke.com

  2. Glad to have you back! & always down for your realness – whether it's once a week or once a month. Keep kicking ass, gf xx

    xx Meaghan
    districtsparkle.com

  3. Seriously- good for you girl, and thank you for putting this out there! I think sometimes we forget that behind these perfect little blogs, there are REAL women!! It makes you SO much more relatable! Life is complicated and it's not always tied up with a perfect little bow, but that is what makes it interesting!! Good for you guys for doing what's best (although not always easiest), and good luck with everything! You are an amazing woman. xo

  4. I’ve been a fan of your blog for quite a while Ind i’ve always love how sincere and yourself you’ve always been. Thank you for taking the time to write this post! Many, many blessings!

    A big hug,
    Nydia

  5. Girl, I can totally relate and I love how honest you're being about this! My husband and I did long distance for years while he was in Toronto and I was in Florida or North Carolina working and then waiting for my visa once we finally decided I would move north. Life is not perfect and it is SO stressful when things aren't how we picture them to be in our heads (or how we would want to portray them to others in real life) so thank you for this! It's nice to know I am not the only one 🙂

    Keep your head up! xo

  6. Hey Devon,

    Thanks for opening up about this…blogging and truly LIVING in each moment can sometimes fight forces, but glad to hear you're in an awesome place and finally able to enjoy your hubby! Don't sweat the small stuff – we all love your content, whether it's every day or once a week. Keep up the great work!

    Xo, Julien
    http://www.itsjulien.com

  7. Love, love love this post. I would really love to know how you really were able to have your career take off with your blog. I know you worked alongside with Taylor Jacobson, but for the blog, how did you do it? How did you generate traffic? When did you decide to join an ad network and how did you choose? What were the key steps/decisions you made in making your blog what it is today?

    Stephanie
    http://ishowedupinboots.com

  8. Thanks for your post Devon and I respect the fact that you keep it real. You are a gorgeous gal and having a blog myself I totally understand how you can get caught up in how many hits it receives and if the pictures and you are perfect etc. I love what you do and look forward to seeing more. Take care & enjoy being with your hubby xx

  9. Devon,

    I've watched your blog grow a develop since you first joined the old "chain gang" two years ago and I think you've done an amazing job, both in growing your business and your own sense of personal style. A little tidbit for you, I work in LA, and for the last four years my husband and I have had a commuting marriage. First, LA to Atlanta, then LA to Detroit, and now LA to Santa Barbara because my career is in film/TV is here and his is in academia. And you know what? It's a pain. A huge pain. But two careerists will always find a way to make it work. Someday you guys might make a decision to stay in one place but know that for the moment, you're not alone. Big hug!

    Noa B
    Sunsetand5th.blogspot.com

  10. So glad to read such a down to earth post! Long distance sure is tough! I don't know how you do it! But ultimately, this is a creative outlet for YOU. I think it's easy for people to forget that, but it seems like you haven't and that really sets you apart from everyone else! Looking forward to more posts!! You go girl! 🙂

    Patti
    dailyxdaydream.blogspot.com

  11. It's not easy what you're doing right now, but it will all work out in the end. My husband lived in DC for a year while our children and I lived in TX. After about a year, we decided to make VA our home. It was a difficult decision to live apart and not see each other but maybe once a month, but it was worth it. It's been four years, and our only regret is not living near family.
    Before you know it, you'll have your routine down, and it will seem like second nature. Until then, it will be crazy. My biggest piece of advice is to lean and depend on each other and COMMUNICATE because you definitely can't do it alone.

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