my baby (Creative Girl Check-In) turns 1! 😭💐💖

bihhh, i'm a *creative* mutha!

on 2/22/2022, I created this newsletter, Creative Girl Check-In with the hopes to have a safe space to drop my gems + gentle reminders through long-form, consistent, and intimate content.

what started off as an Instagram series that was a way to casually “check-in” with my online peeps, soon birthed into a bi-weekly (then monthly lol) dose of chicken soup for the creative soul; delivered directly to your inbox.

as I reflect, (cause that’s what I do lol) my newsletter reminds me of the importance of starting something & figuring the rest out along the way.

not every topic I’ve discussed was planned weeks in advance, sometimes life took the priority over dishing out a new post, and I’ve kept the same logo I created on Canva the whole time without trying to make it this “perfect” thing.

if you can’t tell, there’s a theme here: my newsletter is proof that it doesn’t have to be perfect before you start. you just have to allow yourself the space to create and the rest will come.

when I look at my newsletter, it’s my own gentle reminder to not allow perfection to get in the way of creating something I know the world needs, even if said world is made up of 10, 50, or 1000 beautiful people.

the point is: it’s your world, boo!

so here’s to one year of being creative, curating conversation, and keeping in touch with the girlsss (and boysss — I see y’all lol)! 🎉

thank you so much for showing up, reading through, sharing, commenting, and being a part of the crew. i’m so glad you’re here.

happy birthday to this space, our space, Creative Girl Check-In!

please enjoy this quick list of tidbits that I’ve learned along the journey.

p.s. i’ve got something *very* special that I’ll be sharing soon as an extension of this space. stay tuned, can’t wait to share!

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1.) just start: it doesn't have to be perfect before you put "it" out into the world, you produce excellence through the process of creating. so create, love!

2.) set your own pace: when you first start, you might overshoot your capacity — but it's okay to adjust along the way & create at the tempo that fits your lifestyle and flow of inspiration.

3.) make space for play: play with different ideas, concepts, and draw from your own experiences. things don't always have to be serious — a touch of humor & playfulness goes a long way.

4.) personalize it: the best way to make a lasting connection with your community is to bring them into your world & make it personal. ensure that this is content they can't anywhere else.

5.) it’s your world: every creative needs a space where they can be themselves without the Frills & filters. Create the space you wish existed & invite people to dwell there.

be well,

ya girl, Aley

ig: @yagirlaley | twitter: @yagirlaley