Dear First name / friend!,
As I sit down to write this, I'm reminded of the day, 13 years ago, when I started Poor Little It Girl. It's been an incredible journey, one filled with growth, learning, and so much joy. But today, I want to share something a bit more personal – a shift that's been taking place in my heart and mind.
I want to clarify right at the outset: I'm not ending
the blog or stepping away from
Instagram or any of my shared platforms. Rather, I'm redefining how I engage with them, doing things in my way and on my own time.
Lately, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the constant demands of blogging in the way the industry expects us to. The truth is, while I adore writing blog posts that spark excitement in me, the pressure to keep up with an unending cycle of content creation and consumption – videos, daily newsletters, shopping collages, try on hauls and more – has become too much.
It's not just about the inability to keep up; it's about not wanting to. I'm running this show solo, without a team to offload tasks to, and I've realized that I need to step back from trying to fit into a mold that doesn't align with who I am or what I want.
I'm not the same 25-year-old city girl living in New York who started this blog. At 38, my life has changed, and so have I. My priorities now include spending time with my kids, engaging in volunteer work, and simply being present for myself and my family. This, I believe, is a natural progression after more than a decade in this industry.
Financially, this decision is not without its challenges. While I'm fortunate to have my husband's support, I still need to contribute to our family's needs with my blog income in order to pay bills. Balancing the need to provide for my family while pursuing blogging in a way that feels true to me is something I'm still figuring out.
You might have noticed some changes on the blog and across my platforms in recent months. This has been my way of transitioning to a more authentic, less pressured way of sharing. And now, I'm ready to discuss this transition more officially.
Going forward, my approach to Poor Little It Girl will be different. I want to share content organically, without the confines of a strict schedule or editorial calendar or trending audio/Reel. Whether it's about an outfit I love, a product that has made my life easier, or just everyday moments with Bowie, I want to share it because it brings me joy, not because it adheres to a certain formula or trend.
This means you might see less of the usual influencer content – and that's okay. My focus is on authenticity, on sharing parts of my life and insights that truly matter to me in a way that works for my life now, not what the industry says I have to do in order to earn affiliate commission, secure a brand partnership or gain more followers on Instagram to please someone at a brand or agency to deem me worthy.
I understand that this might be a significant change for those of you who have been following me for years. I hope you'll stay with me on this journey. Your support has been a cornerstone of Poor Little It Girl, and I'm grateful for every one of you who has been part of this incredible journey.
I hope this newsletter explains the changes you've seen and reassures you that while the approach may be different, my love for blogging and connecting with you remains as strong as ever. I'm excited to continue sharing my journey with you, in a way that's true to both of us.
I don't have all the answers, and that's a part of this new chapter. But what I do know is that my heart is in
this blog, in every word I write and every story I share. And I hope to continue sharing this journey with you, in a way that's true to both of us.
Thank you for being here, for your support, and for understanding this new chapter in my life. Here's to continuing our journey together into the New Year and beyond. Happy Holidays!
Warmly,
Cathy, your Poor Little It Girl
