Hi, I’m Rachael.
I'm a writer, woman, creative, and a lover of all things beautiful and true.
I’m here to heal out loud,
and make myself, and my life, a beautiful
work of art.
Being a cancer survivor since age 17 has taught me that life is such a short and magical miracle - and I’m always running out of time.
Through this Substack, I hope to inspire you to live in the same light: cherishing the beauty inside you and all around you, and honoring your responsibility to make your life whatever you dream it can be.
Each week, I’ll share posts like:
Honest, raw personal stories: (for all subscribers) vulnerable personal essays on my own growth journey, struggles, and lessons learned from starting womanhood over from scratch, and living in a way that honors how brief and miraculous life is.
PS, short for Pretty Smart: (exclusively for paid subscribers) where I share practical, realistic tips to help you and your whole life look and feel their best, and celebrating the deep connection between soul and style.
Pep talks & love letters to you: (exclusively for paid subscribers) inspired by the messages of love I often need myself, with resources, insights, and journal prompts to help you break patterns, see your worth, and become your fullest, brightest self.
My goal is for this space to be your refuge, your mirror, and your powerful catalyst into whatever’s next in your life.
Why Subscribe?
Free subscribers enjoy limited free content in every post, a great place to explore and dip your toe to see if going deeper is right for you.
Your $7/month paid subscription supports this mission, lets me devote more time to creating rich, insightful content, and unlocks:
Subscriber-only posts: Extra stories, guides, and lessons you won’t find elsewhere.
Practical journaling prompts: Tools to help you reflect, heal, and grow alongside me.
Implementable tips and advice: to make yourself and your own life a work of art, too.
Behind-the-scenes: A more intimate view into my process — the struggles and triumphs — not just the highlights.
Your support directly makes it possible for me to pursue this full time — turning my healing journey into service for all of us.
My story:
At 17, I was diagnosed with stage IVB Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. At the time, my family lived on a lake in a tiny rural town, where I felt I didn’t belong and didn’t fit in. I went through years of bullying, and spent much of my time dreaming of living in the big city and being a writer.
My diagnosis woke me up to realize: this precious life is only mine. And I wanted to make an impact before my time ran out. It instilled in me a deep awareness of life’s fragility and brevity, a realization far beyond my years at the time but I am so grateful for it.
After chemo I studied abroad in London where I first got to introduce myself as the person I wanted to be. No longer the sick girl, or the girl with no friends at school, but the soon-to-be city savvy woman I had envisioned for myself.
I then went on to live in Seattle, where I wrote designer fashion coverage for The Seattle Times, New York, and Los Angeles.
I've survived heartbreak, healing, eating disorders, and my own fears and insecurities — and I've found that the most beautiful things often grow from broken places.
Today, I live with my beautiful husband - who was also my childhood best friend. After 25 years, he finally convinced me to marry him, and he was right. Our love is everything I dreamed it would be. He’s a mountain man, so our lives are a beautiful mix of his untamable, adventurous wildness and my polished, metropolitan tastes.
So are you ready? Join me on this journey.
My advice? Go all in with me. After all, there’s no time but now. Use your full subscription to discover the soul, style, and clarity you’ve been craving, and when you outgrow me and look around at the incredible life you’ve started…cancel your subscription. I’ll take it as the highest compliment.
Let’s make your life a work of art, too.
Share your story and the life you envision in your comments below. After all, our time here on earth together is so short, and so precious. Share the love and let me get to know you, too!
