I’ve been thinking, and so of course you get to hear about it. :)

Maybe it’s just the Libra in me, but I’ve realized I need a place for both sides of myself online.

I’m an American expat living in Barcelona, an empty nester, and a freelance creative who has worked online and for myself for over 15 years, so naturally there are a lot of different parts of me all living under one roof.

Photo by caffeine

One side wants the freedom to write and create whatever it is I want. The other side of me is a professional freelance creative who needs to stay relevant, visible, and in tune with what is happening, while constantly learning and adapting. This space is personal. I’m not here to monetize it.

This is my Capricho.

Capricho means whim, and that is exactly what this space is. There is no content plan, no strategy, no cadence. It is simply my place to write, create, share, and put things into the world when I feel like it.

I spend so much of my working life being strategic, organized, thoughtful, and intentional for clients and for my business. This space is different. This is nothing more than the life and times of Andrea, my little personal shout-out to mostly people who know me, or have somehow stumbled upon me (welcome!). It is just a personal creative journal and a corner of the internet where I can follow a thought, tell a story, overshare a bit, or go on about whatever has been in my head lately.

I share it publicly because, for whatever reason, it feels good to put things into the world. And I like sharing things with my friends and seeing who else happens to wander in here.

At the same time, I am building a separate home for the other part of my life that is tied more directly to my work and how I actually make a living. That world includes creativity, small business, marketing, social media, tech, platforms, AI, clients, and all the other moving pieces that come with trying to exist in a rapidly changing online space.

And honestly, I know some of you have zero interest in the strategic work side of me, which is completely fair. You are here for my personal ramblings, life and family updates, my adventures, travels, and maybe a smile and a quick giggle.

So I created a Move It Along Substack, which is where the business, strategy, creativity, clients, marketing, and building side of me will live. It will stay light and friendly here. More brand strategy, online business, and all that stuff over there.

This space will stay random, personal, curious, and a little all over the place in the best way. And if one day you find yourself needing that other side of me, or know someone who does, please reach out.

Anyway, I just wanted to make the distinction for myself, really, but also anyone who cares or was wondering.

It is all moving along.

Love ya,
Andrea

My first post: Move It Along Manifesto
What this space is, who it is for, and why I started it.

I first did the Artist’s Way years ago, waaaay back in LA. I had the first original cover/copy and all the right intentions. But life was very full then. Busy, exciting, moving fast. I was younger, out in the world, doing a lot, and I do not think I needed it in the same way that I might benefit from it now.

Years later, here in Barcelona, I bought another copy and started again. And honestly, same kind of thing. Life was full here, too. Different chapter, different energy, still a lot happening. I was already experiencing new things, building things, and living very much in motion.

If you know about The Artist’s Way, then you already know. A biggest part of it is the morning pages, which are notorious. They are the first thing you do before anything else. Three pages. Before anything. It sounds easy, but if you have not done it, try it. Then try doing it consistently for 12 weeks. The other half of the practice is taking yourself on an Artist Date once a week. This must be done alone.

I have never felt disconnected from my creativity. If anything, I have always had ideas, usually too many. But you do not need to be an artist or even think of yourself as creative to do The Artist’s Way (but pssst... we are all creative in some way). It’s not really about creativity but more about self-discovery. About listening a little better. About seeing what is actually going on in my own head before I race off into the next thing.

I spend so much time moving, doing, reacting, and answering that writing three pages by hand feels like a way back to myself.

And there is a reason so many people talk about it, and then keep going with their morning pages long after the 12 weeks are over. They become a non-negotiable part of some people’s lives, like brushing their teeth.

So how did I get here, again?

First, I saw the clip of Eileen Gu (Olympic freestyle skier) being asked by journalist Charlotte Harpur, “Can you take us into your brain?” and I loved her response: “I think overall, I’m just a pensive person… I spend a lot of time in my head, and it’s not a bad place to be. I journal a lot. I break down all of my thought processes.” Then she goes on to talk about this idea that you can control what you think, how you think, and therefore who you are. Which is next-level stuff that I will not get into right now, and well, that girl is just exceptional, jeez.

Then I saw a book club doing The Artist’s Way together, which reminded me of the book again. After that, I kept coming back to the idea of picking up The Isolation Journals, and when I saw both in my local bookshop, they made me pause.

And then, what do ya know… I was working at my desk and happened to glance over at my bookshelf, and do you know what was just sitting there politely waiting for me!? I totally forgot I had it. So I took that as my sign and started reading it again, and got myself a new notebook.

I have always journaled over the years, but I go in sprints. Sometimes I really need it, and sometimes I convince myself I do not. But much like therapy or running, when you get a little lazy and think you do not need something, that is usually when you probably need to get back at it.

I am 10 days in, and I can already say I LOVE writing things out with my Sharpie on a piece of paper. There is something that happens in the brain and, honestly, in the heart too, that I do not think can be replaced. I think a little more before I write. I stay with my thoughts longer. Sometimes it is totally random stuff. Sometimes surprising stuff. Sometimes it is just clearing out the mind. But when I finish the three pages, it feels complete.

Not gonna lie, that last page can feel like a slog sometimes. But I suppose that’s exactly the point.

Do you know about The Artist’s Way? Have you ever done it?

Some of this will be very basic for those of you who have been building and creating in the online space for a while. But if you’re new to building an online business or brand, you won’t get very far without a domain name and a hosting provider. Unsexy, but necessary.

1) Register your domain name

First: you need a URL.

I use Namecheap for all my domains.

And please, do yourself a favor: buy some version of your brand name as a domain you own. I understand there are third-party platforms and you can park your content in other places, but it’s best to own your name (or a variation of it).

You’ll probably have to get a little creative, because most clean URLs are already taken (or they’ll cost you thousands of dollars). So find a smart variation: add “studio”, add a word that fits your brand, tweak the spelling, or grab a different extension that still feels on-brand.

For me, moveitalongstudio.com was available, and so was moveitalong.studio, which I actually love. It feels modern, creative, and totally acceptable today. I bought both.

For context, I already own:

• andreafellman.com

• buildyourbrand45.com

• byb45.com

Those last two are tied to my main product: Build Your Brand in 45 Days. I came up with it a while ago, I’ve essentially been doing it (and sort of beta testing it with a few people), but I haven’t marketed it the way I want to yet. It’s going to be the core product under Move It Along Studio. More on that later.

One more note on domains: I’ll be redirecting andreafellman.com to moveitalong.studio.

My business is a mix of studio + personal brand, and I want everything living under the same umbrella. That way, whether someone finds me through my name or through Move It Along Studio, they end up in the same place. Clean, simple, and easy to manage.

And in today’s world, with the work I do, like it or not… I have to be infused into the brand. People want to know who they’re hiring, and in a world full of automation and noise, I want this to feel unmistakably human.

2) Hosting: where your website “lives”

After you buy a domain, you’ll need hosting. This is the part that makes your site actually exist on the internet.

I host with Cloudways.

I’m building this on WordPress (hosted on Cloudways). I’ll share more about the website setup and page structure in the next post.

And while buying the domain and setting up hosting is pretty straightforward, you don’t have to become the person who knows how to connect all the things. I have a technical team member who is the geeky backend to my operation: connecting the hook-ups, making sure everything is live, and that it’s all doing what it’s supposed to do.

Because if you also want custom emails like andrea@moveitalong.studio or hello@moveitalong.studio, there’s usually a bit of setup behind the scenes (DNS records and verification, the less glamorous part) to make sure your email works correctly.

More on that later, because honestly, every creative needs a person like this. (Or your favorite AI partner can help you through it.)

3) The Coming Soon page

A lot of people throw up a Coming Soon page as a placeholder, but it’s actually more than that. It helps you:

• make it real

• build a little momentum

• collect emails

• create a home base while you’re still building

Your Coming Soon page should be on brand (even if you’re still figuring the brand out).

Don’t overthink it. You really only need:

• logo or wordmark (or just the name in a strong font)

• one line about what you’re building

• optional: launch date or maybe a fancy countdown

• an email signup (if you want to collect emails, which, yes… you do)

But please, If adding a signup form is going to make this harder than it needs to be, skip it for now and come back to it later.

MINE IS LIVE » Move It Along is Coming Soon!

*Do me a favor and go sign up - so you can tell me if all looks okay!;) Testing everything is part of the process, guys.

4) Email provider (because capturing emails is smart)

If you’re going to collect emails on your Coming Soon page, you’ll need to pick an email platform.

Nothing fancy, but you do want two things set up from day one:

• your signup form actually sends people somewhere (into a list)

• a simple welcome email so when someone signs up, they get a nice confirmation and a note from you

It doesn’t have to be a whole “newsletter strategy” yet. This is just the basics: a quick hello, letting them know they’re on the list, and maybe a thank you.

For Move It Along Studio, I’m using Brevo.

I’ll go deeper into email platforms later, after my site is launched, because email marketing is a whole beast in itself, and I don’t want to derail this series.

But stay with me here. We’re just getting the foundation in place.

This is a screenshot of my current digital whiteboard for Move It Along, created in Canva.

5) The homepage (why I start there)

I like to play with my messaging and copy the way it actually lives on a page. I need to see it in context: headline, subhead, buttons, spacing, the whole thing. That’s how I know what’s working and what’s not.

At first, I was going to go live with a simple one-page site. Basically a giant brochure: who I am, what I do, how to work with me. Done.

But the more I started building, the more I realized… no. I need this to be the destination for everything. Everything feels like platforms on platforms lately, and I want a home base that doesn’t disappear when an algorithm gets moody. And if the future is AI-everything, I’m just over here planting a flag that says “real person, real work.”

Also, I’m visual. I mock up fast because I need to see what I’m making. I can’t work on brand and website copy inside a Word doc. Words aren’t separate from design for me. Fonts, spacing, color, and copy all work together. They’re one thing.

So the site needs room to expand. I want:

• a real Services page (so people can actually understand what I offer)

• a My Work / Case Studies page (so people can see the work, not just read about it)

• a dedicated page for Build Your Brand in 45 Days

• landing pages for the two key digital products I’m going to offer

• and a blog, because I’ve been quietly freelancing and keeping up for many years, and the time has come where I feel compelled to speak and share again

When you’re building a website, you have to decide what pages you want. Not just for design, but so you can start thinking about what content you’ll need for those pages. Once you know your page list, you can map out the copy, visuals, and calls-to-action for each page, instead of trying to wing it as you go.

And that’s what I’m working on next: drilling down on who my customer is. Because that’s the part that really matters. It’s how you write the copy, how you explain what you do, and how you make sure the right people instantly understand, “Oh. This is for me.”

I already know it in my head, but I want to sharpen it even more.

Be back with another update soon!

I’d say I make them monthly, but it’s really more like every other month, or seasonally, or whenever I get the itch to look at something new and inspiring. In January and February, my screensaver was my 2026 vision board. But I was craving more color to brighten things up. I’m anxiously awaiting spring. It’s been such a rainy winter here in Barcelona. So much rain. It’s literally raining right now.

I actually put my March screensaver up at the end of February because I couldn’t wait. I need spring to get here. Is March even spring? It’s sort of a weird in-between month, isn’t it?

Anyways, my March screensaver is up. It’s full of muted orange, yellows, and gold. Usually, the whole look and feel starts with one image, and this time it was an illustration I found on Pinterest. She’s what kicked it all off. From there, I just grabbed whatever it was I felt pulled to.

The illustrator is Soliel, and I asked permission to include her work in this little post. I love her work, especially all of her illustrations and where this girl is included here.

I’m a month-to-month person, and March feels exciting to me. I’m working on my new Move It Along Studio and feeling really energized and motivated by that.

February was a lot. I traveled twice to go skiing and ran the Barcelona half-marathon, and when I wasn’t traveling or running, I was sick. So while I loved my two ski trips and the half-marathon, I think my body was done with me. I’m really looking forward to a more regular programming for March.

I felt a little silly sharing these, and I hesitated, but in an effort to create and share more, here they are. And if any of you want to grab one for your desktop or mobile, you can download them right here: March Screensavers.

It genuinely makes me happy to sit down at my desk, log in to my desktop, and look at something refreshing and new. And if they brighten someone else’s day too, then great. Or hey, make your own screensavers based on whatever feels personally inspiring or motivating to you. Consider it your tiny monthly mood board.

I’ve never even been part of a book club. And this is a fiction book club. And fiction has never been my thing.

I’m more of a James Clear – Atomic Habits, Jay Shetty – Think Like a Monk, Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday kind of girl. I read business, marketing, and self-improvement. I’m a junkie for the “teach me, help me, hold me” shelf.

But last year, my daughter (who is an avid reader) inspired me, and I started forcing myself to read fiction. And honestly, I’ve been growing a bit tired of the “how to improve myself and do more” genre. You know what? I’m good. I don’t need much more improvement ;)

So when my friend Abbie, who owns Backstory Bookshop (the English bookstore around the corner from me here in Barcelona), asked if I would co-host a fiction book club with her for women of a certain age (ahem), I was like: ummm, why are you asking me? I am the last thing from a literary expert, and also, and why’d you think of me? Is this for midlife perimenopausal women who are a bit nutty and need some relief? Ha ha ha. I got you. I can lead this.

This is a casual book club, no pressure and no real commitment. We’re reading light, fun books. Just show up, talk about the book, and we get to stay as late as we want because Abbie can lock up. We’ve officially named ourselves the Loose Ends Book Club, but unofficially, we’re the “After Hours” book club.

Also, selfishly, this helps me stick to my goal of reading at least one fiction book a month. Reading slows me down. It forces me to sit and actually focus on one thing without getting distracted.

Our first book was The Correspondent, and I LOVED it. I read it in three days, which never happens for me. Ever. So it was the perfect book to kick this off because I genuinely loved it, and I knew it would be easy (and fun) to talk about.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans follows Sybil Van Antwerp, and you get the story of her life entirely through the letters she writes. As she navigates aging and the slow loss of her vision, she writes to the people who have shaped her world: her daughter, her best friend, her brother, a boy she takes in, a neighbor who is quite fond of her, and someone from her past who starts to write her some nasty letters. It’s a story about regret and forgiveness, second chances, and the versions of ourselves we reveal to different people.

I even made a little cheat sheet for the night, because… well, I’m me. But also I needed it. There are a lot of characters, and I had to sort them out again, so I figured it might actually be helpful for everyone.

Also, the book mentions 40 books within the book, so I made a list of those, too, in case anyone wanted to add any of them to their reading list. No surprise, I’ve hardly read any of them.

Obviously, I highly recommend this book if you have not read it! It’s unique in the way it’s written only in letters between the characters. I loved Sybil. She is a bit of a spitfire: super smart and unapologetic, but she’s had to carry the weight of grief and guilt all her life. Her personality and the dynamics of all her relationships are genuine, smart, honest, and real.

The next book we’re reading for March is The Names.

The Names is about a woman named Cora trying to name her newborn son while living with an abusive husband. She has three name options, and the book follows three parallel versions of their lives depending on which name she chooses.

If any of you reading this want to read along from afar, go for it! I’d love to have you virtually join the book club :) I would also love to hear if you have read either of these two books, or tell me any great books you are reading, as I am now looking for more to add to my fiction list!

Annnnd, real quick before I go…

I just found out about something called The Sunday Letter Project, and I’m obsessed. It’s basically a worldwide pen-pal network run through independent bookshops and stationery shops. You send an intro letter to one of the shops in the network, someone picks it up, reads it, and decides if they want to be your pen pal. And the shop holds the letters, so you’re not handing out your home address, so it’s safe and secure.

The Sunday Letter Project » Instagram and Website

Tell me that isn’t the most perfect follow-up to reading The Correspondent, a whole book told through letters. I’m now considering convincing the Backstory girls to join the Sunday Letter network… because I want a pen pal.

The world is tired of being online.

I’m sharing the creative process in real time.

Step one is always the same: I collect inspiration. So I start on Pinterest.
I pin colors, typography, layouts, textures, food, fashion, quotes, graphics, and words. Anything that makes me say, yes. Anything that feels like what I want this to say (or scream).

Move It Along Studio is about movement and momentum. Bold. Punchy. Clear.
Because I don’t sit on ideas and I don’t let my clients sit on them either.

Tell me what you want to create, build, or launch.
I’ll help you move it forward and get it done.
Execution is the brand.

After years of freelancing for small business owners, I’ve seen the same problem show up again and again. People either don’t know where to start, or they start and never finish. Or they’re drowning in everything they need to do, get frustrated, and put it off again.

These are smart, capable people. Some are running successful businesses. And still, they get into the weeds. Not because they aren’t good, but because there’s only so much one person can do, FFS.

They don’t need more ideas. They need help moving the ideas they already have into the real world.

I know this problem. And honestly, more times than I can count, I’ve been the solution, sometimes short-term, sometimes long-term.

This comes from lived experience. From watching what actually happens behind the scenes, over and over again. For the stuck, the spinning, the overwhelmed.

And yes, speed matters too. Not frantic speed. Not burnout speed. Forward-motion speed. In today’s world, you can’t sit on something for too long. Things move quickly. The tools are everywhere. The difference is who actually uses them and does the work.

Now, let’s talk about my color choices.

I’m a color-loving person. I love all different styles of branding and design. But my choices for Move It Along Studio are intentional. They’re meant to feel bold and energetic. A little in your face.

Because imagine if I built this brand around a soft sage-green palette. Minimal, neutral, slow-living beiges. Pretty, quiet, calm. I could have also made it look “luxury” too. Call it something like LUX Creative Studio, go heavy on serif fonts, make everything polished, elegant, elevated.

But branding needs a voice, an attitude, and a language.
And my language is: let’s not sit around. Let’s get it done. Now.

You have to practice what you preach.
Your brand should match your energy.

Whether your energy is elevated luxury or soft and peaceful, it should feel true the second someone lands on your site.

I work across very different industries. Right now that includes modern home maintenance, international video production, midlife seasonal living, and luxury fashion. I have to switch brain, switch style, switch visual language depending on the client.

My clients are diverse, and I’m not here to attract one narrow niche. I’ll be showing my range through the work. But Move It Along Studio gets to have its own voice. Mine.

So here we go.
Mood board first.

Next, I’m mocking up the homepage layout and putting up a “coming soon” landing page.

If you want to follow the build, stick around.

I estimate it should take me about 45 days.
Clock’s ticking…

It’s anything but serene.

Usually, I start a thought, realize the dog needs to go out or be fed, or I suddenly have to go for a run, and then half-formed ideas get abandoned and sit there cluttering up my Notes app like I’m some kind of digital hoarder. Which I most definitely am.

I also know I should write by hand. And sometimes I do — I love a Sharpie and a fresh notebook, believe me. But typing into my Notes app feels more like writing to a friend. It takes the pressure off. It’s like, Oh hey, so… blah blah blah, and it doesn’t have to be perfect or even make sense. It’s just my Notes. Not a big deal.

I like talking to myself in there. It feels safe. Light. Easy.

Mornings are the only time I might sit and write something. My mornings are when I spend an hour or two on myself, because it’s important to do the most important things first. I am my most important thing.

Lately, I’ve spent my mornings thinking about and dveloping a new possible creative idea/thing/project/business, something that feels like who I am now. Because for me to put my heart and soul, tone, and energy into something, it has to resonate with who I’m becoming. Some of my older projects no longer truly resonate with me. And that’s okay.

I’ve been sitting in this new place, trying to accept parts of my life as they are right now. I’m a big believer in momentum — planning, moving forward, looking ahead — but I was reminded recently about the importance of being where you are now.

This came from a podcast where Mark Nepo was being interviewed. I realized pretty quickly that I wasn’t fully listening and this was tooo good, so I decided I’d go back and listen again when I could actually be present and let it truly sink in. Also… I had never even heard of Mark Nepo before this. Have you? Where have I been?

Later that night I was in bed and ended up Googling Mark Nepo. A YouTube video of the Podcast episode with Mel Robbins and Mark Nepo was right there. Oh, well, maybe I should actually watch this.

I’ve never in all my years of listening to podcasts watched one on YouTube. Ever.

But I thought it might be nice to actually see Mel, her husband Chris (his first time on the show, because the guest was Mark Nepo), and their emotional interactions.

I had never heard of his book The Book of Awakening, and well, now I need to get my hands on it immediately. The guy has written like 24 books, and his new book is The Fifth Season, Creativity in the Second Half of Life. I’m already obsessed with the idea of it.

As I watched, I started jotting things down in my Notes app, obviously. Just trying to grab the nuggets that hit me in the stomach, heart, or throat.

Here are my notes:

We mistake intensity for meaning.
Ask yourself: Is what’s in front of me heartening and life-giving? Or is it disheartening and life-draining?
And if it’s disheartening and life-draining… then what are you doing there?
Caught in fear and pain.
What is it like to be you?
What do you care about?
What brought him alive shifted.
*How do we stay a verb, not a noun?
We need people alive.
And if we’re truly alive, we’ll be good at what we do.
Our horizons shift.
There are more years behind us than ahead.
The purpose of looking forward or back is to brighten the light we’re carrying now. Can I revisit something from then… not to go back, but to see what it feels like to recover it now?
Resting the heart in what is true.
Faith as an act of ultimate concern.

This episode was truly wonderful.

So many things resonated with me.

Maybe because I’m in a moment of shifting — creatively, personally, emotionally and professionally. I’m sorting through what’s life-giving and what’s life-draining. What’s still mine and what I’ve outgrown. What parts of myself I need to revisit, not to go back, but to recover in a new way.

Becoming.
Creating.
Not labeling.
Just living.
Not a noun, but a verb.

And now I’m very proud of myself.

I didn’t jump up to go run away while writing this. I didn’t get distracted and wander off to tackle something else. I stayed. I sat with myself and actually wrote through it. I didn’t ignore my thoughts. I didn’t abandon them in my Notes app.

I stayed with me.

And really, all this was to say that I reccommend this Podcast very much and wanted to just tell you about it.

Sooooo I’m going to hit publish now before I talk myself out of it.

Then I’m off to go do yoga and start my day because I’ve got boxes to check off my to-do list in my Notes app!

Lately, three women from my past life in California have found their way back to me — all with their own creative projects in motion.

As some of you know, I’ve been pretty vocal about needing to find work, and how my own creative projects have been keeping me busy (and sane) while waiting for the “real work” to arrive.

Well, I actually have some good news to report on that front. After a very slow summer, the last few weeks have finally shown some traction.

Being honest, transparent, and literally going on camera saying, “Hi guys, I need help. I need work.” (gah) in one way or another, it has helped. I’ve received messages from people who might have something for me, others who wanted to reconnect or brainstorm together, and it’s been so nice to know that people have thought of me, that my name has come up, and that they’ve wanted to help.

Since then, I’ve sent out a few proposals, had a few great calls, and generally just feel things are moving in the right direction again.

And what’s even better — the people reaching out aren’t random. They’re women I’ve known before, from one of the most creatively charged chapters of my life: California.

Stefanie — a writer and creator, I now collaborate with each month on her newsletters and other special content like e-guides and digital products. I like getting on calls with her; she is extremely calm in her process and gentle in her approach. She believes in living life seasonally and enjoying all the small things. It’s nice bringing her world and words to life through what I can only describe as calm content (if there even is such a thing).

Melissa — a small-business owner and new client, I’m helping sort out her branding and content strategy, and giving her current website (which is in development) some structure. She already runs a business, but this is an extension of it — something she wants to build and grow to establish her authority in the space and share educational information through her website, YouTube, and potentially a podcast.

Lee — my soul sister in LA, who’s moved from the dream phase to the let’s do this phase. She’s building a badass community space in Los Angeles — a place for real connections and real conversations. A “check your tech at the door” kind of vibe. Exactly what the world needs right now. The space has been found, the vision is clear, and now she needs the branding to reflect how she wants people to feel.

All three women are creating, building, and reinventing, and I love that I get to help each of them bring their next chapter to life. I appreciate them so much — their creativity, their trust, their belief in me. Collaborating with women like this reminds me why I do what I do.

“Some people have told me they could refer me to local people here, but we’ve worked together before. I know how creative and talented you are, and I’d rather work with a real soul sister.”

That made me feel very warm inside because it reminded me how much real relationships outlast everything else.

It’s not about algorithms, visibility, or chasing followers.
It’s about the work you do, the energy you bring, and the trust you leave behind.

Your name carries.
Your energy carries.
People remember how you show up.

I’ve told my kids for years that your reputation will take you further than any title or degree. Whatever you’re asked to do, do it well. And be the person who gets shit done.

Reconnecting and talking to all three of these women got me thinking about California.

Not just the place, but the energy of that time.

Back then, I had a tribe of women who were doing things and building, creating, dreaming, and hustling. Everyone had something in motion — ideas, projects, plans — and the energy was contagious.

That’s where I learned what it felt like to be surrounded by women who make things happen.

Maybe I didn’t just attract them back.
Maybe I called them back.

I woke up in the middle of the night and was struck by this insane pull and urge to go back — that creative pulse that’s equal parts magic, momentum, and, maybe right now as I write this, a little too much caffeine. ;)

To reconnect with these women.
To maybe meet myself again.
To find the spark.

I wrote it down: California 2026.

I’m dreaming of one big wild-woman road trip — just me, old friends, and the open road.

Although there is one small hiccup, I need to get a valid driver’s license again… so we’ll see how that part goes. Worst case, I’ll hike my way up and down the coast. Details can be sorted later. I’ll get myself around.

I’m a big believer in writing it down, saying it out loud, putting things on the calendar, and making them happen.

And if not now, when?

For the Love of the General Store

When I was in New York last fall, I took the train upstate to Cold Spring to hike and try to catch the last of the fall colors. After my hike, I was excited to wander through the small town, and by that I mean the one Main Street that was probably only five blocks long. love little main streets and seeing what sorts of small-town shops there are — and of course, the quintessential general store!

I LOVE a general store. They make me instantly happy from the second you walk in and the door closes behind you, and you hear the jingling of the bells or whatever decoration is hanging on the door letting the shop owners know someone has come inside, because their head is probably down in some box, filling shelves in a corner of the store.

I adore all the perfectly merchandised, curated books, mugs, socks, soaps, dishes, and journals. Every little display sort of tells the story of where you are. Most of the things inside are usually made by small businesses or local makers — the stuff you might never come across again. Maybe that’s why it all feels so precious and special.

Some days I dream about working in a little general store and getting the F off the internet.

And I deeply regret not buying the Upstate of Mind bag or sweatshirt.

There’s something about the fall that always makes my heart ache a little — in the best way. The chill in the air, the pumpkins on porches, the explosion of color in the trees. And how Americans really go all in on celebrating the season, visiting pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and decking out every front porch with Halloween decor. It’s unapologetically festive, and I love it.

Halloween is my absolute favorite

Being in New York City last year at this time, I LOVED scouting out all the incredible Halloween decorations that covered the steps and doorways of the brownstones. All of them were wildly creative, over-the-top, and jaw-droppingly good!

I remember one year my parents bought hay bales, tall corn stalks, and a bunch of pumpkins to make the cutest display in our front yard. My mom made us take a family photo sitting on the haystacks (naturally). It wasn’t extravagant, but it was seasonally festive and classy. My mom always kept things classy.

Years later, after my parents divorced, my dad really started going all out for Halloween at his house. Because I am pretty sure my mom would have never allowed that sort of over-the-top tackiness. He loved scaring all the kids and being the house in the neighborhood that all the kids were a little hesitant to come up the driveway to. He was even on the local news once.

Favorite Halloween costume as a kid: Pippi Longstocking! My mom and dad cut hangers and used the wire to make my braided pigtails curl up. I won the best girl costume for my grade.✨

Central Park

Running in Central Park was pure magic. The fall colors were unreal — every shade of orange, red, and gold you could imagine. Honestly, it was perfection. I was staying just a couple of blocks from the park, near the Met, so I’d run past the hotdog stands setting up out front, past the museum steps, and straight into the park to do the reservoir loop.

It’s hard to describe how incredible it was. The morning light, the trees, the dog walkers — so many dog walkers with packs of dogs, all so organized and well-behaved, all walking in a synchronized stride. Then the city skyline from every angle as you go around the reservoir, with all the runners, cyclists, and walkers. It was just heavenly.

I had no idea how massive the park really was until I got lost on purpose and discovered hidden paths, quiet corners, and even a few of the waterfalls. I’ve run in a lot of places, but nothing compares to Central Park. I’m so grateful for that experience.

Harmony of Color

I’ve also been creating some fall content for a client, which has been making me vicariously happy! Is that even a thing?

I love color, imagery, and design — creating things that feel joyful, calm, and in tune with the season. Autumn has such a satisfying palette to work with; it’s like nature’s own mood board.

Living in Barcelona but still having to be tuned in to what’s happening in the U.S. can be funny sometimes. I live here and should be celebrating what’s going on around me, but I usually get more excited about what’s happening there (seasonally, I mean). Maybe it’s the American blood that runs through my veins, or how I used to keep those little traditions alive while raising my kids here. Or maybe it’s just that I’ve been gone so long that these small things make me miss home. I guess you can still get homesick, even at 48.

That’s all, just a little love letter to fall. 🍂🍁

I have literally started and restarted this post seven times now. SEVEN.

From the outside, I must look like I’m just all over the place. Well, be glad you can’t see the inside, it’s even worse. 😂

The truth is, I’m doing a lot of shit right now. It’s like throwing spaghetti at the wall, watching it all slowly slide down, and waiting for that one little noodle to stick!

The Creative Chaos of It All

All of my creative chaos includes this Substack.

I don’t know what I’m doing here or what I even want this to be. Writing here gives me anxiety, honestly — like it all has to be so smart, deep, emotional, and thought-provoking. But at my core? I’m just not that deep. I’m fun. I like ideas, stories, projects, design, travel, running, and making things look and feel good.

I don’t EVER call myself a writer. I don’t even think of myself as a writer. And when someone tells me I’m a good writer, I get weirdly annoyed. Almost mad, actually. I feel like if I were one, this wouldn’t take me seven tries.

So I’m changing this up a bit. Making it more me. Less tortured-writer energy, more creative playground. A place where I can ramble, recommend, and share what’s been giving me life lately.

Because truthfully? I’m really good at absorbing a ton of stuff, editing out the crap, and sharing what’s actually good. And I enjoy doing that.

The Barcelona Edit

I recently redesigned and relaunched The Barcelona Edit, because… well, honestly, I’m not even sure why.

Okay, well, I sort of know why — I just don’t fully know what to do with it yet. But I do know this: it deserved to be brought back to life and given a little upgrade. After living in Barcelona for nine years, I’ve gathered so many great experiences, wonderful discoveries, and bits of knowledge about this city that it just feels like it all needs a place to live (outside the photo gallery on my phone). If nothing else, it’ll be a little time capsule for me.

I feel the website needs video content. The stories I want to tell about the city, the people, the hidden corners — would just be so much better in video. I recently met with someone about this. I left feeling very excited, but then later overwhelmed. LOL

Also, if I’m honest, I do know why I put it back together. I love to design, strategize, and lay things out. I had time on my hands, and instead of sitting around, I worked on something for myself. I wanted it to be another small example of my work. I love branding and design, and I can literally help people build something very nice and really fucking quick!

Run Happy Barcelona

This one’s been a little spark of life lately. On my birthday, I ran with my very first Run Happy Barcelona client! She wanted to see the sunrise (on my birthday!), so I picked her up at her hotel at 7 am and we ran down to the beach. It was so fun. I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw the sunrise!

This is something that blends everything I love — movement, adventure, connection, and even marketing. Everyone loves the idea. I do too. One friend even said, “That has legs,” pun very much intended. ;)

Running keeps teaching me about pace, not just in kilometers, but in life. You can’t sprint your way into clarity. You just keep moving, and things start to fall into place.

Travel Notes: Colmar, France 🇫🇷

I finally made it to Colmar, France, for the half-marathon I signed up for last year and never got to run. I wasn’t officially registered this time, so yes, I basically broke into the race, but it was fine! It felt like closing a loop, something I just needed to finish.

Colmar is literally something straight out of a storybook — almost unsettlingly so. It’s like someone ripped it right from Beauty and the Beast. Oh, wait, Disney did, there’s even a statue in one of the squares. But don’t let that stop you from visiting — it’s the quintessential charming French village. So pretty. The buildings look like cake, flowers everywhere, bakeries and beautiful shops, and all sorts of other feel-good magic. The running course went through the vineyards outside the town (not inside, because, well… cobblestones), and the route was just as lovely.

Colmar borders Germany and Switzerland, and was actually German at one point — so the entire town is basically themed around pretzels and croissants. I mean, that's reason enough to go.

I love combining travel and running; it’s my favorite kind of adventure!

🧠 What’s Been Blowing My Mind

Creative Online Businesses: Been down a rabbit hole learning more about Creator Shops, the growing trend of digital communities, and creating online courses. I’ve been thinking about all the tools and systems that are now available for small brands/businesses to get started - there is SO MUCH. All of it has me thinking, and re-thinking about what I can offer people through Build Your Brand in 45 Days - it’s essentially a product for my freelance business, but I can’t get into that right now.

The DIY Economy: Everyone can do it themselves now — and honestly, they can. With all the tools, platforms, design apps, and AI at their fingertips, it’s never been easier to launch, create, or build something on your own. Until it isn’t. That’s what fascinates me — because at some point, it all becomes too much. It’s overwhelming AF. Too many tools, too many options, too many things to juggle. And that’s when people realize they need someone to help them pull it all together…hmmmm!

Travel & Wellness: Niche adventures like runcations, running retreats, journaling festivals, and coworking/coliving stays — all the ways people are mixing purpose and play. I’m fascinated by how many businesses are being built around niche communities and simply bringing people together. There are even reading retreats, guys! It all fascinates me and makes my head swell. And now “longevity” has become the new buzzword in wellness, which I’m equally intrigued by.

What I’ve Been Reading & Listening To

📚 Books:

AWAKE by Jen Hatmaker — I could not put this down. I read it in just a few days.

“For the women suddenly left in the middle of their story; for the women who are numb or sitting among the rubble of a life they thought was well lived; for the women who are asking themselves how they got here and if there’s anywhere for them to go. Awake is a reminder that there is. That they can open their eyes. They can choose to live.”

I’ve known a tiny bit about Jen because she goes way back to the mom-blogging days, but truth be told, I hadn’t read much of her work and didn’t know the full extent of her story — or what she had walked through. When I saw this book come out and heard her talking about it on social media (along with a few others I follow), I knew I had to read it. And I’m so glad I did.

It’s fantastic — truly. It’s the story of a woman rebuilding herself from the ground up, with honesty, humor, and zero pretense. I laughed out loud so many times, and some parts hit me straight in the gut. Jen is a brilliant writer. She is sharp, funny, and brutally honest.

The part about creating Night Jen and Morning Jen — and how Night Jen has to be super sweet to Morning Jen because Day Jen wears everyone out — is literally me.

And this section from her therapist was highlighted (along with so many other parts):

“Jen, there is how you feel, and then there is your resistance to how you feel. The first is hard. The second is catastrophic. You are afraid right now, which is appropriate, because you are a human who experienced trauma. This is a normal response. But your refusal to face your fears will delay your healing more than any other factor. Your fear isn’t the problem. Your resistance to fear is.”

Also, I loved when she mentioned being an Enneagram Three and wanting to win therapy. LOL. Relatable.

Just finished: You Are Here by David Nicholls (author of One Day)
Just started: Broken Country, by Clare Leslie Hall

🎧 Podcasts:

I have been taking a break from Podcasts a bit because I have been trying to read more books, but here are two I recommend.

Jay Shetty: Jay Shetty’s interview with Emma Watson. (I cried)

Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People: What Jane Goodall’s Life Teaches About Courage, Curiosity, and Care

✉️ Substacks:

1. Shop Rat: Fall’s Hottest Trend: Sleep Mode < OMG! Love.
2. Internet People: If you are a creative working online, you MUST read Internet People < my favorite Substack, so funny.
3. Audacious Women. Creative Lives. - Creativity: The most important relationship we have with ourselves. < Loved listening to this.
4. Landon’s Letters: What people actually want isn’t paid newsletters. < The man is beyond brilliant.
5. Feeling! Magazine: Turning my kitchen into my favorite restaurant. < The girl branded her kitchen, and I find it so wildly creative and amazing.


So in the midst of all this midlife creative chaos, I’m mostly keeping it together and trusting I’ll figure all this shit out and find my way. A noodle will stick. Maybe three.

It may be messy, but it’s mine.

Then, as I was crossing the crosswalk, something instantly stopped me, and I looked back at the woman. She was still there, and I could tell she was either confused about where the hell she was or she was nervous to cross the street on her own. A wave of sadness hit me. I looked around her, scanning the street to see if anyone was with her, like you would if you saw a toddler just standing around on their own, hoping to see some worried parent close behind. But there was no one.

I walked back, took off my headphones, and asked, “Do you need help?” and I put out my one arm while pointing across the street with the other. She took my arm and was speaking/mumbling something in what I think was Italian, and we started across the crosswalk together.

While walking with her, I noticed her cute navy-blue shoes, which looked a bit more like slippers as we shuffled slowly across the street, and Rex of course, pulling on the other side of me.

Once we crossed the street, she let go of my arm and said “Grazie,” as well as something else I could barely hear or understand. She seemed steady and pretty confident in the direction she was headed, so I just watched her as she made her way. I just hoped she made it safely.

Then I stumbled on the most wonderful community garden. The gate was open, so I wandered in. There were plants everywhere, and tucked all around the garden were little signs that said Jardin de Silenci. Older women were sitting in a circle, and one was reading a book aloud to the rest of them. A man sat under a tree at a table, writing in a blue notebook. Down a little path, I heard a voice, and it was a woman teaching yoga to a small group.

I had just wandered into this little magical pocket of the city. I spun around in a circle to take it all in, and I don’t know why, but I was so impressed. Real people, doing simple, real things, out in the world.

I got home, and it felt like my walk was a dream and almost an out-of-body experience. I kept wondering why it had left such an impression on me. I think it’s because lately I’ve been getting increasingly agitated from spending most of the day at my computer: keeping up with technology, searching for work, juggling a few personal projects, and just trying to stay on top of all-the-things!

After 15 years of working online and remotely, this isn’t new to me, but lately, it’s started to make me feel like a caged animal. The pressure to keep up with everything to stay relevant with trends, news, and tech is overwhelming. Sometimes paralyzing.

Maybe that’s why this particular walk, full of real-world moments, felt like such a pleasant shock to the system.

Because AI couldn’t have given that woman an arm.
And no prompt could have written last night.

Last week’s post might have leaned a little heavy (but hey, honesty is kind of the point, right?). That said, please know I’m okay. Actually, more than okay. I’ve been out in the world, moving, sweating, talking, writing, and doing all the things. Because sitting still isn’t really my thing. (If you know me, you know.)

I so appreciate everyone who commented, reached out, and followed me here on Substack! So nice to see all your little faces and kind words, it means more than you know. And it reminds me why I need to keep showing up to write, even when it’s a struggle. Like any muscle, it takes repetition. So here I am, again :)

Lately, I’ve been on a mission to widen my circle and meet more people, to rebuild some of the community I feel like I’ve lost here. I’ve been seeking out things that push me outside my usual rhythm: Last week I went to a Barcelona Entrepreneurs meet-up/workshop (because I’m craving more of a network of people who are thinkers, doers, builders, creatives etc…, had a coffee date with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while who’s tapped into more of the fashion scene in Barcelona, (which I wanted to get her take on) and I even tried an Orange Theory workout class, which I loved! Sweating is truly a passion of mine.

But the thing that surprised me the most (and ended up being my favorite) was a running blind date!

Running Blind Date

There’s a small women’s running WhatsApp group here in Barcelona that’s pretty dormant. It’s lost a lot of its original members, and now it’s more ghost town than active thread. But I dropped in and asked if anyone ever ran the trails up in Collserola and if they’d be willing to share a route with me, or better yet, let me tag along next time. I’ve been stuck on my usual loop along Carrer de les Aigües and just need to change it up a bit and get off the main trail.

A woman named Nikki replied and said she runs up there all the time and could show me her route — and that she was going Saturday morning if I wanted to come. I was like, Umm, shit yeah — I’ve got nothing — let’s do it. And proof: you just have to put it out there and ask!

The funny thing about running with someone you don’t know is that you’re secretly just hoping you’re not the one who can’t keep up. Thankfully, we both admitted upfront that we weren’t in our best shape. Also, it was July, and hot as hell. We agreed to meet at 9 a.m. at the Monastery of Pedralbes. She couldn’t leave any earlier, so I just thought - whatever, I’m sure I’ll survive.

There was talk of two other women joining, but they couldn’t make it in the end. So it was just me and Nikki. We said a quick hello and then immediately started up a brutally steep incline just to get us up on the trail!

We got to talking pretty quickly. Nikki told me she and her husband are U.S. diplomats and have lived in 9 or 10 countries (I can’t remember which). They have two kids who go to ASB, and they’re hoping to stay in Barcelona, if they can make it happen. Naturally, I asked where she was originally from, as you do.

She said Minnesota.

I stopped walking.

I said, “Stop it. I’m from Minnesota.”

Not only that, we grew up like four towns apart.

The next 12 kilometers we ran (and walked some parts), and became fast friends. Probably shared more than most people do in a handful of months. But that’s the thing about living abroad, you don’t really know how long the friendship will last, so you just grab it while you can. You get past the small talk pretty fast.

Somewhere between uphill climbs, swapping stories, and talking about life’s tricky transitions. She asked some questions that eventually led to the part about how Barcelona feels different from when I first arrived. So many people I grew close to have moved away. And yeah, life in Barcelona is just different now.

And she said, “Yeah… the people make the place.”

Which I know is so true.

And coming from someone who’s lived in 10 countries? She knows. And gets it.

I think lately I’ve been trying to find the people, and maybe in doing so, it will help me find my place too.

I’ve also been reaching out to my wider network and community back home, people I’ve known for years but haven’t talked to in a while. I caught up with a very good friend just yesterday, and we slipped right back into conversation like literally no time had passed. She told me she’d gotten together with a few people we both know over the past few months, and it felt good.

She said something that stuck with me: “It’s good to be known.”

And honestly, it is.

Even if it’s on a trail run with someone you just met.

It’s July in Spain, and there’s a heat wave, so I’m just sweating it out at home with the dogs. I feel like all I do is walk dogs. I just walked them, in what probably looked to most like a nightgown. Yep. I’m that lady now. Not a cat lady, but the one who walks her dogs in the morning wearing what is technically a maxi dress slash beach cover-up, but looks like a nightgown. It’s pink. At least it’s not silk or see-through. Small wins.

Anyway… I figured it was time to update you all on what life looks like now that I’m back in Barcelona.

Last time I checked in, I was moving to New York for work. I had big plans to document the whole thing, but obviously, I didn’t. It was a three-month stint, and yes, I was toying with the idea of moving back to the U.S. Was I serious? I don’t really know. But it was on the table. After 12 years living abroad, I started to wonder if maybe I’d “done” Barcelona. Raised the kids, built a life, traveled a ton… maybe it was time for something new.

New York was wild, spontaneous, and completely needed. My body, soul, and heart craved it. And I loved it. The English language, the energy, working alongside real people again, seeing my best friend and her family, running in Central Park, meeting new people, the craziness of it all - it filled me up! It was short, but unforgettable.

But let me also be very real and honest. I had some dark days in NYC too. I had to really sit with myself. Like really sit with myself. Self-reflection, and that feeling of having lost even the simplest control over your life and the fear of, well, everything, isn’t pretty. Even from a gorgeous penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side.

I felt like life had just come apart at the seams. I felt detached from everything. And that juxtaposition of being given this wonderful opportunity, of having moments of real joy and aliveness, while also feeling like nothing made sense anymore. That contrast was disorienting. I kept thinking, How can things look so good from the outside and feel so uncertain on the inside?

I wasn’t even sure who I was outside of work, outside of motherhood, outside of the relationship I had left behind. It was like the scaffolding of my life had been taken down, and I was standing there exposed, wondering what parts were still me.

And now, I’m back. Been back since January.

My work contract ended in June, and I’m officially in that in-between phase again. Back to freelance, back to brainstorming new ideas, back to figuring out what’s next. The “Now what!?” phase.

It’s a weird place to be. On one hand, I love aspects of the slow Mediterranean life. On the other, it’s just not entirely me. I have more go-go energy than I sometimes admit. I also feel disconnected lately. From what, exactly? People. Friends. A creative network. Women who are doing things.

The longer you live abroad, the more your connections fade. People leave. Life moves on. And now that I’m 48, divorced, and the kids are gone, I’m no longer plugged into the school scene or those natural social circles. It’s a strange new chapter. The social aspect of life at this age is just… different.

So, I’m experimenting. I’m going to try some clubs, maybe some sports or creative meetups. But mostly, I’m in the slog of trying to find work while also wanting to make something of my own. That tension between building something and finding something is real and exhausting.

Anyway, that’s where I am right now. Sweating in Spain. Walking dogs. Dreaming up new things. Wondering what's next.

What Now!?

It’s a Sunday morning, and all the Fellman’s are in place, for now. The home on Gran Via, where we raised our two kids, is empty now—gone. It was the longest place Harris had ever lived in his entire life, eight years. He struggled to let it go in the final month, more than I did. I had already moved out a year earlier, and though saying goodbye was bittersweet, I had already processed those emotions, (and then some) when I settled into my own apartment.

Still, sharing the dogs and our son meant over the past year I had to keep returning to Gran Via, which was harder than I expected. Each visit felt like a quiet reminder: I don’t live here anymore. Over time, the visits became less frequent and I opted to meet for dog handovers outside. But then, these final weeks of August, we had to clear everything out. I was there almost daily, but by then, it felt more like just an annoying task that needed to be done quickly.

Watching our things go wasn’t too upsetting— it’s just furniture, until it came to my hanging light fixtures. I’d picked some of them out during our travels, large Moroccan lamps, crystal chandeliers from France, and my amazing honeycomb-shaped one from Germany. But when my friend Maria decided to buy most of them, I felt a bit better knowing they’d still be close by, in a home just up the street.

I’ve kept special things and brought them to my apartment. I hung our nine family photos from our travels here, and just doing that brought a sense of comfort. It made this space feel like it still holds pieces of our home, at least for a little while. I’d like to keep this apartment so the kids have a place to return to, a home base in Barcelona. But I know, eventually, I’ll leave this place too. It was always meant to be temporary—a stopover between where I was and where I’m going.

Capricho. It simply means whim. The word has stuck with me ever since I visited Gaudí’s El Capricho in Comillas, in Cantabria (Northern Spain). I think I’ll call my new Substack Capricho because, like the name suggests, I’m starting it on a bit of a whim. I’m not sure where this will go or what direction I’ll take, but maybe that’s the beauty of it. I have some things to share, things to unleash into the world, and whether anyone else reads them or not, I don’t really care. All I know is that I need to get some things out of me.

The last few years, I’ve had to keep parts of my life quiet, and that’s okay, but now that I’m starting over, I want to write about some of it.

I’ve been living abroad for 11 years, raised two kids who are now off at university, and I’m seriously considering moving back to the United States—something I’ll get into more later. It’s pretty crazy, but also kind of exciting. I’ve lived the abroad life, and I’ve lived it well. I love Barcelona, but I feel that perhaps this chapter is over, and I’m coming to peace with that.

So, this Substack will be a place for me to document the next phase of my life, unleash my creativity, and get back to writing and sharing freely.

Reacclimating to the US will be its own adventure. Having kids in two different countries and preparing to return home after 11 years abroad feels a bit like starting over. It reminds me of when I first moved to California at 20—full of uncertainty but also excitement. Now, as a 47-year-old woman, I’m taking on a new chapter with that same sense of uncertainty, curiosity, and excitement, for whatever comes next!

I used to write a lot, but over the years my writing shifted toward more marketing copy for the creative work I do. As a creative marketer, I’ve found ways to blend storytelling and strategy, and I love that. But there’s also a side of me that’s been craving a return to more personal writing—stories and reflections that go beyond a brand. So here I am, feeling a bit out of practice, like a fourth grader struggling to write a one-page essay about what I did over the summer. What have I been doing for 11 years living abroad? Well, I’m going to get into some of that, as well as what happens when you decide to pack up and return home.

I’d love for you to follow along, subscribe, and join me in this next chapter. Who knows what stories will unfold, but I promise it’ll be a wild, unpredictable ride!

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