Cassie Soma Studio
@risquevintner
Notes from the grooming table and the spaces in between. Writing and embodied art. A quieter way of being. Substack
Before the clothes, before the workday, before becoming whatever the world needs from us, there is this quieter version of ourselves. I photographed mine. Before the First Appointment — First Layer substack.com/@cassiesomas...
On my way home from Ulta. 😊 I finally broke down and let them cut a couple inches off my hair. I was a little worried at first… but I think it came out pretty good. 💕💇🏼♀️ And apparently, I’m officially blonde now. 😂💛
After several wrong parts, I finally got the right brake line installed. One ride around the block reminded me why I love this old Deluxe. Not for sale. 🤍🏍️
Some days the curls cooperate. Most days they negotiate. Tonight we reached an agreement.
Tonight’s piece is about getting older, surviving as a self-employed person, dreaming about harbors and motorcycles and Colorado mountain towns, and wondering whether there’s still time to build a meaningful second half of life. “The Kind of Rich I Think About” is up on Substack.
We provide boutique, time-efficient mobile grooming delivered privately to your door. Our studio operates on quiet shore power with solar assist, creating a calm, environmentally conscious experience for you and your dog.
I used to think attraction was immediate. Visual. Obvious. Now it feels quieter. It’s how someone notices things. How they move. What they pay attention to. Intelligence, yes— but more like awareness. Presence. Restraint. That’s what stays with me.
Notes from the Grooming Table: Bailey reminds me trust is earned. Today’s spring color was soft, subtle, and just right for him. ✨ #DogsOfBluesky
Rode my motorcycle to a tattoo shop this morning with a group before their ride. They went riding. I stayed behind and got a tattoo I’ve been thinking about for a long time. Two words: Let Them. #motorcyclelife #tattoo #letThem #womenwhoride #motorcyclecommunity #arizonariders
I usually don’t pay much attention to fuel prices. If there are multiple stations, I just pull into whichever one has the shortest line. Today though… this one definitely caught my attention. Very thankful my mobile grooming studio gets great mileage.
Demure is an interesting word. Quiet and reserved are often mistaken for weakness, but sometimes they’re actually a form of strength — the kind that doesn’t need to announce itself. #WordOfTheDay • #Language • #Vocabulary
Notes from the Grooming Table This morning I said, “Rory, where are you? It’s time to get groomed.” This is how I found her. Apparently if you lie very still with your belly in the air, the groomer might not notice you. 😂
Rory has officially promoted herself to Executive Assistant. She supervises all paperwork, insists on paw-approval for every decision, and takes her job very seriously…especially if snacks are involved. Honestly, I’ve never felt so micromanaged but she does look pretty cute running the office. 🐾📋💕
Nails matching my Vineyard Vines sandals — because I notice the details. 🐳💙
This is Rory 🥰 Yes, she’s a Bichon. And no, the pink isn’t a fresh design — it’s just the ghost of a previous one growing out. Even groomers let things fade naturally sometimes. Still cute. Still iconic. Still my dog.
If I can’t control the weather, at least I can control the nail art. Winter edition. 🏒❄️
Art. Body. Practice. Some of it stays here. Some of it lives elsewhere. Link in bio.
Clean nails. Bare feet. There’s something grounding about small rituals. 💅✨
Not every pleasure needs an occasion. Cabernet, bread, and a quiet night in. Ritual matters.
Integration looks boring from the outside. It feels powerful from the inside. Same woman. Different light.
I caught my shadow this evening and didn’t recognize her at first. It made me smile.
Okay, confession: I’m usually a red wine girl 🍷 But I had this last night and… wow. Dry, smooth finish, not sweet at all (thank god, because sweet wines are a hard no for me). Sharing in case any fellow red-wine loyalists are curious about crossing over. This one gets my stamp of approval. ✨