Welcome to Just Being Kara!

Hey there! I’m Kara (pronounced car-ruh, not care-ruh!), and I’m so excited you’re here. If you’re looking for a place where real life, faith, and homemaking all come together, you’ve found it! I wanted my first post to be a little introduction so you can get to know the person behind the screen. Maybe this is the first time we’ve met, or maybe you’ve been following me for some time now. Either way, it’s so nice to meet you!

Fun fact: I started this blog back in 2022. In late 2024, after making some great traction in the blogging world, I decided to give my blog a fresh new look! I purchased a new layout and, without hesitation (and without any training, gulp!) I installed a beautiful new upgrade and sent it off to the interwebs. I very quickly found out that I hadn’t actually taken the time to back up ANY of my content, and I LOST IT ALL!

Lesson learned! So this post. The one you are reading right now is my fresh start. Thanks for being here. I truly appreciate it!

A Little About Me

I’m a wife, a mom to my 15-year-old son, and a homemaker living in beautiful Vermont. Life is busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! I love cooking from scratch (I enjoy using fresh or canned items from our garden along with venison we harvest ourselves!), keeping my home cozy, and finding simple ways to make everyday life a little easier. Budget food shopping is my God-given talent, and I love to share it with everyone!

When I’m not caring for my two-legged family members, you can find me chasing after our pitbull mix, Wanda, and our German Shepherd, Vader. But that wouldn’t make our home complete…we also have a Maine Coon cat, Thor, a Persian cat, Gidget, and seven chickens. My home and my heart are pretty full!

My Work & Passions

I’ve been a Color Street stylist since 2020, and I love sharing beautiful, easy-to-apply nail polish and clean beauty products with my customers. You can find out more about that here.

Outside of the home, I work in non-profit communications. It’s my dream job! I get to spend my time helping make a difference in the lives of my neighbors in the community I love.

We are so blessed in Vermont to have all four true seasons. This gives us the flexibility to enjoy each season and the opportunities it presents. In the winter, we love snowmobiling as a family, snowshoeing, watching our dogs play in the snow, and curling up in front of the pellet stove with a family movie. In the spring, we work on getting ready for the summer. Spring in Vermont is NOT my favorite. We can expect snow, mud, or rain on any given day or even on the same day! I like to stay inside to start seeds for my garden and get my home completely organized before the busyness of summer. Summer is wonderful in Vermont. We plant and tend to a huge garden, care for our chickens, fish, swim, and boat in nearby Lake Champlain, and just enjoy the sunshine! The fall is all about harvesting the garden, preserving food, getting ready for winter, preparing for hunting seasons, and hunting turkey and white-tailed deer.

My Faith & Values

My Christian faith is a big part of my life, and I believe in keeping things real and relatable. Even though I’ve been a Christian for many years, I recently got baptized (along with my son!), and it was such a special moment on my journey. I want this blog to be a place where I can share encouragement, lessons I’m learning, the grace I’ve received, and the ups and downs of everyday life.

What You Can Expect from This Blog

Just Being Kara is exactly that—a space where I can be myself and share what I love. You’ll find posts about:

• Homemaking tips and organization hacks
• Faith and encouragement for everyday life
• Beauty and self-care (because we all need a little pampering!)
• Budget grocery shopping magic
• Family life, fun projects, and whatever else comes up!

Let’s Connect!

I’d love to get to know you! Leave a comment below and introduce yourself, or follow me on social media so we can keep in touch. If you want updates straight to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my email list—I promise to only send the good stuff!

Thanks for stopping by, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you!