Hello!

Welcome to Chez Inspire, a lifestyle journal. Pronounced “shay”, the French word means “in the house of”. It calls to mind worldliness, inclusion, mystery, ownership, inspiration, and more than a touch of sexiness, like all good things worthy of getting up in the morning for.

About me … I lived the first few years of my life in southern California before my family moved to Oregon, where I grew up and earned my Anthropology degree from the University of Oregon. My family roots and a love for blue skies and high altitudes led me back to California, where I lived and worked in the field of archaeology in the summer, and waited tables in the off-season.

As a believer in traveling the world before “getting serious” in life, I did just that — South Pacific, Asia, Europe, Africa, then back home broke to work on my future.

With a new Dental Hygiene degree from Oregon Health & Science University (and a small debt in today’s university world) in hand, I traveled south to Arizona where I worked in public health on the Navajo Nation and then in private practice dentistry.

*Is it ironic – or maybe not?- that in both anthropology and dental hygiene, there are pieces of an unknown to put together to reveal a story, one a mouth and the other a past or present people. Both bring to life a past of fascinating detail and I love that there are stories all around us that are awaiting to be seen and heard.*

My story continues with my (future) husband, Tim, and I meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona, after both of us had already lived in this small town for 10 years. Our meeting was truly serendipitous. Within a few months of meeting, we a) fell in love, b) got married, c) started a family. My fourth decade was kind of an awakening with getting married and becoming a mom @ 42, and again @ 45.

I deeply believe that when we are true to ourselves, we become open to the gift of inspiration and leading a beautiful life.

Thanks for stopping by!

I’d love to hear from you anytime.

Kate