It is finally here! The first ever issue of The Graceful Guide! Y’all, this has been a dream of mine for a while. Over a year ago after I wrote The Graceful Guide to Alaska, I started dreaming about this project. I can remember completing that guide and thinking, “man this would be a cool idea for a fancy newsletter…” And so it began. I have dreamt up ideas of how it would work, how often I would create new issues, what they would include…you name it, I thought about it. But it was there that this idea came to a halt: in my thoughts. While I had these big dreams and big plans, I also had a voice in the back of my head telling me it was a dumb idea. That no one cared. No one would read it. I was not good at graphic design. I am not “big enough” for that yet. So per the usual…I let the voices win.
Until about three months ago. I mentioned this idea to my intern over coffee and, to my surprise, she loved it. (One of the many reasons I love her is that she is not scared of ANYTHING.) Without hesitation, she started calling out ideas of what to put in it so naturally I asked when she thought a reasonable launch time would be. Her response: Christmas. (Told you, not scared.) It was then that I started letting all of the little voices come back to me. (Christmas?!?! How would you finish by Christmas? You wouldn’t have content. This is a terrible idea. Wait a little bit longer.) But I took control and pushed them out thank goodness because WE DID IT!!
It is here and I love it. I could not be more pleased with out this turned out and I CANNOT wait to create the next issue! This has been such a fun project, but I will tell you it would have been impossible without Pryce (the intern). I was good at visualizing it and creating content, but she was the mastermind behind actually designing it and physically putting it together. Together we poured our hearts (and maybe some tears) into this little guide and now I can finally share it with you. And moving forward, the plan with The Graceful Guide is to launch quarterly with a holiday issue at the end: Winter (January), Spring (April), Summer (July), Fall (October), Holiday (December). Each issue will feature fashion trends, travel and even personal stories from me or women that inspire me. I pray that we can continue to build this little guy into something that you come to know and love. So without further ado, enjoy the first ever issue of The Graceful Guide!
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