Happy new year! I am finally back home after being away for two weeks and am feeling quite refreshed. I spent most of yesterday settling into my apartment and was so excited to get back to posting. I’ve really missed you all. Taking time away from my creative endeavors always feels really important so I can STAY creative, but it’s nice to return.
This Worth Noting post will look a bit different than the first couple I’ve sent. I thought it’d be nice to add some cliché banter regarding new year things, give a bit of a reintroduction (as there are new faces here), and talk about paid subscriptions (eeee!).
So, hello 2024. I tend to always stay offline at the end/beginning of the year due to the incessant round-ups from hundreds of people about how successful or amazing or life-changing their year was. It’s not that I’m not happy for others, it’s simply that the comparison game grows strong this time of year. And I can’t help but feel a bit less-than. And then after the barrage of accomplishments and visual clips, comes the chatter of resolutions, goals, or big plans.
If I’m being honest, I’m simply not feeling it this year. I’ve had my fair share of goal-setting and vision-boarding and pledging to be a better, healthier, more successful version of myself. And what’s with giving ourselves one night to turn ourselves over? January 1 is just another day. I really just wanted to enter 2024 feeling fresh. Besides, winter is a time of rest, is it not? Seems every living thing besides humans takes the time to hibernate and settle until spring. I’ve found myself feeling more like that transition from winter to spring is the best time to “start over.”
So alas, I won’t be taking up energy to share any grand plans. I’ve committed myself simply to continuing slower living, growing this community, staying creatively fulfilled, building on my work success, and hopefully gaining more laugh lines and good people to add to my circle. There’s so much happening in the world right now, we all deserve to give ourselves a break. And I hope this helps anyone else feel a little less alone, if you’re thinking the same thing. What I do want to talk about is this space.
When I first moved my content to Substack, I had mentioned my intentions for adding paid subscriptions in January. And now that we’re here, I’m feeling so intimidated by this conversation! I’ve been blogging since 2013, and am so grateful for the community of readers and followers I’ve gained since then. I know many of you have been here for years and I love the online (and real life) friendships gained! And yet, I still feel so nervous to ask you all to support me in this way.
But if not now, when? I will always find an excuse to minimize my work and the amount of effort and hours that go into creating graphics and content. So, I’m trying to have faith in myself. For years now, I’ve been very intentional about what I share. I like to think that I have a unique eye and that I stand a part from the usual influencer world where everything is just kind of the same. I love pulling together product round-ups with emphasis on small businesses or going online antiquing for you, sharing people I love to follow, movies and playlists, my apartment… the list goes on. I love connecting on a deeper level through personal musings and stories, which I plan to add much more of this year. And staying ad and sponsor-free has made my creative work fully my own to have fun with and share whatever I want (and this won’t change).
Of course, I have to say thank you for subscribing and following! I know how valuable personal time is, and knowing that many of you choose to be here makes me so happy. I realize that social media and blogs have so often made us think we deserve access to free and quick content/info from creators of all types (I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve received messages with a “link please” as if I’m a google search bar and not a human being). But I am indeed a real person, with real feelings, a real job, and a real life, which I spend many many hours of creating for you. With that said…
Starting Monday, January 15, I’ll be adding a paid subscription option! For $5.00 a month or $50.00 for the year, you’ll have access to my full post archive and more weekly content. I know many of us are being careful about where we put our money, and if I could’ve set the price lower I would have! But for those who can swing it and for those who have found my work valuable and enjoy following along, this is a way that you can further support me.
Free subscribers are not to worry! I’ll still be sharing content with you, but will be saving at least half of my posts for paid. For those who have pledged a paid subscription, thank you!!!! I was shocked to see anyone do this. It means so much to me. Here’s a little heads up that you’ll be charged once I turn them. Some more details below.
About Worth Noting by Natalie Catalina
Worth Noting is a weekly newsletter that offers a quiet approach to sharing beautiful things worth noting. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a cultivated fondness for interior and sartorial design, I offer a fresh perspective to those simply seeking inspiring content. I believe in making every moment beautiful. I value the notion that we can create a charming life through simple pleasures, effortless acquisitions, and the frivolity of slower living. I’m endlessly inspired by the ease of fresh neutrals, printed ephemera, antique finds, and small noteworthy moments. If you relate, this is a place for you.
What does a free subscription include?
Free subscribers will receive around 3 newsletters a month to read in full. You will be able to upgrade to paid at any time and gain access to entire archive of past posts you may have missed!
What does a paid subscription include?
For $5.00 a month (just one coffee!), you’ll have access to my entire archive and double the content as free subscribers, including more personal posts, monthly antique round-ups, certain interior/style posts, and full access to my monthly Worth Noting series - with my latest recommendations and bookmarks section only available to you.
How do newsletters get distributed?
I’ll be aiming to keep to my Sunday/Wednesday schedule! Once subscribed, you’ll receive newsletters straight to your inbox for easy reading. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by emails, you can always download the Substack app and change settings to get smart notifications. This will help eliminate emails and just send newsletters to your “inbox” on Substack. And of course, there’s my favorite way of viewing content, going to nataliecatalina.substack.com to catch up on desktop.
Ahhhhhhh! Ok, I’m going to go crawl into a dark hole and wish for the best here. If you’re able to switch to or sign up for paid subscriptions, I seriously thank you! For everyone else, your free subscription also means so much! And the best way you can support me is to read my newsletters, “like” them, comment, and share and recommend them to others.
I know we are all subscribed to so many people and brands, and my aim is to remain intentional and make sure this space is consistent in offering an enjoyable escape from the noise and easily digestible newsletters filled with inspiring beautiful things worth noting. Thank you for your support! And wishing you the best year yet!
Thank you so very much for responding...It sounds great...Will be sticking around! Thanks again.
Hi! I have se to follow you a long time ago, and somehow you got lost on n out he shuffle. So, I have a few questions...Am I understanding correctly that you don’t push merchandise from
sponsors, and you don’t continually tell us how wonderful your life is? ( Though judging from your apartment, things are good :).
I just unfollowed so many accounts...I want to make my own decisions, without someone trying to influence me. if I sound crazy, I’m not...just fed up! Thanks for your time 🤍