I am so happy you are here. My full name is Jessica Garcia Padua, but you can call me Jesse! I’m a 26-year-old Mexican-American girl from the suburbs of Chicago, trying to make my dream of becoming a singer and songwriter a reality—while also juggling a full-time job (cause a girl gotta pay the bills, baby), being a mom, a wife, and everything in between.
If you’re here, I’m guessing you can relate. Maybe you’re also a creative with big dreams, working a job that has nothing to do with what you really want to do. Maybe you’ve been searching for someone who truly understands what it’s like to balance art, work, and life. I know I was. For years, I looked for a space that spoke directly to Latina creatives like me—women chasing their passions while still handling their responsibilities. And when I couldn’t find it, I realized: If I’m looking for this, I can’t be the only one. So why not create it myself?
That’s why I’m launching this blog now—right at the start of a new year. Not because I believe in the whole “new year, new me” mindset (we both know real change happens through consistent action, not just flipping a calendar page), but because a new year naturally makes us pause, reflect, and reset. It’s a chance to ask ourselves: Where do I want to be?
For me, the answer was clear—I want to build something that helps all of us get there. This blog is my way of committing to that, of showing up, improving 1% every day, and proving that by December, we can be unrecognizable in the best way. So let’s take this fresh start and turn it into something real.
Bienvenida, amiga. We’ve got work to do.
Reflecting on the Past Year – Lessons Learned
Looking back at 2024, I realized how much I grew creatively and how much clearer my vision for my music journey became. I spent a few months in the first half of the year in a music program (shoutout to CCE Global!) that taught me so much about the music business. I also performed at my first festival, Mole de Mayo in Pilsen, Chicago—something I was incredibly proud of because it was on my goals list.
The last half of the year looked a little different. I was adjusting to a promotion at work, finding out I was pregnant with my second child, and finishing up songs to release this year. Honestly, 2024 felt like a prep year—one that set me up to take on 2025 with more confidence, ready to tackle challenges and celebrate wins.
But while I accomplished a lot, I also recognize that I didn’t push myself as much as I could have. I lacked consistency on social media, and I felt disorganized and overwhelmed when it came to releasing music and promoting myself.
Still, I refuse to feel bad about it. And if you didn’t reach all your goals or become the person you envisioned by the end of the year, you shouldn’t feel bad either. That’s the whole point of reflecting—to understand where we struggled so we can make sure those same obstacles don’t hold us back this year.
Setting Creative Goals for 2025
So how do we actually set creative (or any) goals that work for us?
I like to break my goals into categories that make sense for my life, then set three goals for each one. My categories are personal (self, family, routines, home, etc.), creative (music, blog/podcast, writing, social media, etc.), financial (anything money-related), and wellness (fitness, eating, physical and mental health, etc.).
Some of my goals are quantitative (things I can measure), while others are more subjective—ones I’ll evaluate at the end of the year based on how I feel about my progress. This balance helps me stay realistic while still pushing myself to improve.
But here’s the key: your way is the best way. Don’t let the pressure of elaborate vision boards and 400-item goal lists get to you. This is about you and your life. Dream big, but remember, it’s about getting 1% better every day.
One of my biggest goals for this blog is to build a community of creativas who support each other. So if you’re up for it, share one of your goals in the comments! You never know—someone might have already achieved it and can offer advice, or maybe they’re on the same path and can be your accountability partner.
Here’s my quickly thrown together vision board I made on Pinterest because I like having a visual to motivate me when I am making excuses 🙂
The Power of Community in Achieving Creative Goals
I’m creating this space because I need it. And if you’re here, I have a feeling you need it, too.
I know how exhausting it can be to chase a dream while juggling everything else life throws at you. The burnout, the uncertainty, the where do I even start? moments. That’s why having a community matters. Imagine having a podcast or blog full of like-minded people you can turn to—on your commute, while cooking, even while working out—people who get it. That’s what I want Querida Creativa to be for you. And I hope you’ll be that for me, too.
Staying Consistent Amid Life’s Chaos
A community helps with accountability, but consistency is something we have to cultivate within ourselves.
Last year was a year of learning, but it was also a year of inconsistency for me. In 2025, I want to focus on taking actionable steps with what I’ve learned and being intentional with my habits.
That brings me to this morning. I woke up, walked downstairs, and immediately wanted to spiral into rage. The dog had peed, Christmas presents still needed to be put away, baby stuff was piled up waiting to go into storage, our cream-colored couch looked gray, and worst of all—I was hungry.
I took a deep breath and had to remind myself: Jesse, this isn’t anyone else’s fault. If you wanted to wake up to a clean home so you could eat breakfast and write in peace, you could have. You just didn’t want to do it last night. Be honest about that.
That moment of reflection reminded me that I do have control over my environment. So instead of getting mad, I realized I needed to shift my nightly habits to set myself up for success in the morning. That’s a form of self-care—one we don’t talk about enough. Because self-care isn’t just about skincare routines and ASMR TikToks; it’s about doing what you need to feel good and function at your best.
So if there’s one thing I want you to take from this first blog post, it’s this: this year is about YOU and YOUR life.
We are constantly surrounded by noise—social media, outside opinions, endless distractions. But it’s time to take back control. Stop letting other people, platforms, and routines that don’t serve you dictate your life. You have more control than you think. Even the smallest actions—like making your bed in the morning—are steps toward being 1% better every day.
Querida Creativa is back next Monday with a new post on How to Make Time for Your Creativity While Working a 9-5! Follow us on Instagram and Spotify so you don’t miss it and sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive monthly content!
See you soon, amigas and don’t forget to create today! <3
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