I left my heart in San Francisco

Chatting about the most pivotal year and a half in my life and finding my new CLB Chateau back in the city by the Bay

Mar 27, 2025

To be honest, this has been the most difficult Substack post for me to write. Maybe it’s the wave of emotions coming over me as I reflect back on my time in LA or the way that I can already taste the feelings of nostalgia. I have so much to say that I don’t even know where to begin. I keep telling myself to just write, so that’s what I’m going to do. From the heart, to my supportive community. There may even be some tears.

Okay Caitlin, inhale and exhale…you got this!

How it started

Let’s go back to July 2023. I packed up my suitcases and moved to LA without even signing a lease believe it or not. My mom and I drove my car down together and Dominic trailed behind us. On July 14th we checked into the Charlie Hotel in West Hollywood where Dom and I stayed for two weeks. We had a quaint little cottage stay with a kitchenette, living room, dining room, office space and bedroom. I remember the overwhelming feelings of excitement and nerves like yesterday. Those night before the first day of school emotions. Who was I going to hang out with? What route would I take to get to the office? What if I failed? Little did I know I was about to embark on the most rewarding yet challenging adventure of my life so far both personally and professionally. Buckle up CLB!

My living situation for the next two months was quite unconventional and I should also note that I did all of this while starting a new job. Stressful to say the least! After two weeks at the Charlie Hotel Dom and I moved our bags into the guest room of one of our best friend’s apartments in Venice. We cozied up on the couch with them and got to make a few dinners together. It was special. Then I went to sleeping on an air mattress in my brother’s apartment in Ocean Park. He was also in the process of a move, so there was no furniture…like at all. Made for some good sibling bonding lol (like when I woke him up at 2:00am to kill a spider in my room). He looooved that one haha. In the midst of my air mattress days I was shlepping a large sleepover bag to Dom’s apartment in Venice (which at the time was a construction site). Unpacking, to packing, to unpacking, to packing. At this point I was shooting myself in the foot just thinking “and you’re sure you want to live alone?” But I was sure. I knew I needed it, and I’m so fucking glad that I did it.

I should also mention that through all of the moving I was still finding the time to film my outfits, delusional and all, acting like I had 1 million followers, propping my phone up in whichever corner that I could air mattress and all. Did. That.

Then came the CLB Chateau

I think this is probably the part where I start to cry? Oh boy. When Dom and I made the decision to move to LA I knew that I wanted to live alone first before moving in together. This was mostly because I wanted to stand on my own two feet for the first time in my life, without the access of help from him, my family, or close friends. So what did I do? I chose to live 45 minutes (on a good day) away from Dom and put us in an LA long distance relationship. That was shitty lol. But like we do, we made it work and our relationship has never been stronger. Six years together, 3 years of long distance, and so much love. We are VERY ready to move in together.

In September 2023 I moved into what we all know and love, the CLB Chateau. It was my first time living alone and it felt so surreal that I got to do it in the city that I always dreamed of living in. In all seriousness, my apartment became my closest friend over the past year and a half. We spent a lot of time together. I learned more about myself than I could have ever imagined and I leaned on myself more than I thought was humanly possible. Like I said, I chose to live about 45 minutes to an hour away from Dom and my friends. This made for a lot of time spent alone in my apartment. Don’t get me wrong I love being alone, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t lonely. There were hard days. A good reminder that social media is a highlight reel, you don’t see everything!

The CLB Chateau was loyal as hell. She was always there, she listened to me cry, giggle, Facetime Dom and my mom multiple times a day, belt my heart out to Taylor Swift, talk to myself on camera for hours, and listen to my daily doom scroll on Tik Tok all while telling me to keep going. Her beauty is unmatched, revealing special moments and details to me every day, like the way the sun hits perfectly in the living room around 4:00pm and around 8:00am in the kitchen. She welcomed many faces, old and new. Friends from high school, college, my family, Dom, and many many new friends. She hosted events, witnessed me signing with my manager, landing dream partnerships, opening countless boxes of PR and absolutely crushing it in my career in real estate.

The CLB Chateau encouraged me to get outside of my comfort zone and follow my dreams in one of the most cut throat and intimidating cities that there is. She was always forgiving, never held a grudge, and was effortlessly chic. The ultimate cool girl.

Thank you for giving me everything and more. I’ll cherish our time together for the rest of my life. To whomever moves in next, take good care of her for me!

The best of both worlds

I said this one time in my channel on Instagram, but my life in LA felt sort of parallel to Hannah Montana’s. I was an Executive Assistant by day to one of the top luxury real estate agents in the city (my Miley) and I was for the most part (still am lol) an aspiring content creator by morning and night (my Hannah). The truth is, I loved doing both, still do! I got to lean into two career paths that truly inspire me. On one end I leaned into my analytical, curious, and social side. Being out in the world, shadowing and learning from one of the most badass woman that I know. On the other end I got to lean into my creative side, building an online presence and a brand for myself, connecting with like minded women, and talking about fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle. It truly is the best of both worlds.

My days were spent waking up at 6:00am, getting ready and then filming. I knew that I had to post before I headed out the door at 9:00am to make it to the office by 9:30am. So that’s what I did. I would pick out my outfit the night before, strategize on a concept and get to filming when I woke up. Post and then say a prayer. LOL. Then, I headed out the door and typically wouldn’t return until around 7:00pm - 8:00pm. I got right back to work, jumped on my computer or phone and started editing any content and getting posts ready to go live the next day. It was a grind, but the best kind.

When I moved to LA I didn’t have much of a presence on social media at all. I was posting for fun but nothing had ever really taken off. I am so god damn proud of myself for what I was able to accomplish all while killing it as an Executive Assistant.

The grass isn’t always greener..literally

My whole entire life I wanted to live in Southern California. I used to dream of the day that I would get to call LA home and then the day where Dom and I would settle down and buy our first home in Laguna Beach. I think growing up in Northern California I just always thought that Southern California was better. The warm beach days, the access to the industry, the fashion…the lifestyle. To my surprise, I quickly realized how special my home is and it took me leaving to realize that. When Dom and I left San Francisco in July of 2023 we couldn’t wait to get out. We were bored and we were pissed off from the fog lol. I can confidently say that I have never once thought about the fog and I have missed every god damn thing about the city. The walkability, the access to the best food in the country (I’m bias I know), the architecture, the history, the views, the GREEN, the hiking, the day trips, some of my best friends on every corner, and of course my family. I will literally never leave my family again, like ever.

The CLB 10

During my time in LA I frequented most of the same places every weekend, finding spots that made me feel at home in a city that’s so vast. I am already missing these, but I know that I will see them again soon!

Shop RLT - Where the CLB Uniform all started. RLT was actually the first store that I visited when I moved in July, like literally on day one. I didn’t waste any time. If you have been in the store before then you know that it is a vibe. I took a liking to the interiors, the curation of vintage pieces, and of course the wonderful team. A few months later they had launched the RLT Ribbed Baby Tee. I shared it on Tik Tok and the rest followed. Will forever be a fav.

Courage Bagels - Best bagels in LA. I switch between the Run It Thru the Garden and a classic sesame with a whole lot of butter.

All Time - My favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. I’ll miss walking over on summer nights and listening to the groovy playlist. All Time felt like home.

Marvin - A cutie french bistro on Beverly Blvd. Made for a great landing spot to grab a glass of wine with girlfriends.

Silver Springs - Silver Springs became my go-to studio at the beginning of this year. I’m sad that I didn’t get started sooner. I’m a sucker for interiors in a workout studio. Make sure to take Chelle’s classes!

Beverly Hills Juice - Best smoothie in LA. Better than Erewhon hands down. Banana Mana foreverrrrrr.

Dudley Market - Dom and I’s spot when I was a West side gal for the weekend. Perfect date nights. Will miss grabbing a glass of wine and sitting on the sidewalk as we waited hours for a table. Probably discussing our move back to San Francisco.

Gjusta - Another West side favorite. Best golden milk latte in LA. Cutie for a gals lunch. Also loved popping into Gjusta goods next door. Some of my best vintage platter finds are from there.

Erewhon - Can’t forget it. Definitely get the membership if you frequent it a lot. I’ve heard rumors about an Erewhon going into Marin…not sure if I believe it, we shall see.

Goop Kitchen - Somewhere I will genuinely miss a ton. The chicken caesar wrap has my heart lol

So, where do we go from here?

Lucky you, you’re coming with me! The beauty of content creation is that I can do it from anywhere. We are going back to Marin, moving in with my parents and Miss Penny Lane and we are actively looking for another CLB Chateau in the city. Expect to see some new corners for filming, a whole lot of visits to the country mart, walks with Penny Lane, city nights, and everything in between. I can’t wait to show you my version of Marin and San Francisco, the CLB way.

The best part of all of this is that we are going to find the new place together. Most of you probably came along after I had already moved into the CLB Chateau in LA so you weren’t really here for the decorating or process of getting settled. I can’t wait to share it all with you! Manifesting the CLB Chateau with original tile, crown molding, and bay windows.

I will be popping in and out of LA and Marin/SF over the next few months. I am not parting ways with the Chateau until we find a place in the city. This way I will be able to come back and forth to take meetings etc. and have a place to land. Once we find a place in SF we will pack up the Chateau and do the big move together!

I truly am so excited and I feel so ready. Moving in with the love of my life, creating the life of our dreams together and taking my experiences of LA with me. I have grown up more than I could have ever imagined here in LA and I can’t thank my lucky stars enough.

I want to thank you all for being here with me, for your constant support and for encouraging me to keep going. I love you and let’s do the damn thing!!!!