They Say Blogging Is Dead. So Why Am I Blogging Now?

Hi! I’m Arleen Riviera, but my friends call me Arra. I used to hate my name because it sounded outdated, but now? I think I’m starting to like it. You can call me whichever you prefer.

If you’re curious where my parents got my second name, Riviera, it was actually my grandfather who named me. Before I was born, he dreamt of a river, and that’s how I got my name. Funnily enough, my parents can no longer remember this story...even though they’re the ones who told me!

Honestly, I don’t even know where to start. I haven’t blogged in so long, and I feel like my usual tone has changed ever since I started working in marketing. Looking back, I had more spunk, but now? If I’m being real, it feels a little…bland.

But hey! I’m trying to bring back that old charm and confidence.

A Libra sun, Leo rising, and Taurus moon—balancing charm, ambition, love for beauty

Is it really me if I don’t mention my big three in the zodiac? If you don’t know what the big three in astrology are, let me give you a quick breakdown. Your sun sign also known as your star sign is the one tied to your birth date and represents your core identity. Your rising sign or ascendant is determined by the exact time you were born. They say this shapes people’s first impression of you or the 'vibe' you give off. Basically, it’s how your friends see you. Lastly, your moon sign rules your emotions and inner world, influencing how you process feelings.

With Venus ruling both my star sign and moon sign, you could say I love 'love' and anything related to beauty and aesthetics. However, I feel like my Leo placement influences my style and public persona because, honestly? I can be a little cray-cray and the life of the party. No, seriously, I am the clown in my friend group lol, even if it’s not obvious when you first meet me.

So why am I telling you all this? Well, for the longest time, I’ve struggled with creating content and building my personal brand. I keep getting stuck between showing my true self (the one my friends know) and the version of me I want the public to see: someone reliable, creative, and a lover of all things beautiful. While I’m not quite ready to be to open or bold on social media, maybe I’ll start by showing my Leo rising's drive and hustle (because, let’s be real, we do have main character syndrome 😂).

Why I built a personal website

As the founder of Ideya Creatives, I run a one-woman show with occasional creative support from my sister who is based in the Philippines. Beyond the campaigns, content strategies, and branding work, there’s a lot more to me than just social media and marketing. By the way, the business name will expire in three years, so I’ll be ready to let go of the name then. After all, I spend most of the year solo-running Ideya and I realized I needed a space just for me — a home for my thoughts, projects, and ideas beyond client work. So, I built arleenjurado.com as a place to show not just what I do but 'who I am': the strategist, the creative, the problem solver, and the ever-social butterfly.

A space for self-expression

My website is an outlet where I could write, share projects, and express myself without worrying about the 'vanity' metrics of social media - the likes, the views, the shares. Unlike Instagram or TikTok, where posts can sometimes feel fleeting, a website is more intentional. It allows me to create something that truly reflects who I am, at my own pace.

Connecting with home, no matter where I am

Being away from home makes you realize how important to have something that keeps you connected to where you came from. It’s a space where I can document my experiences as an immigrant in Canada, celebrate my culture, and share stories that remind me of the Philippines. In a way, it’s like keeping a digital diary that keeps me rooted, no matter where life takes me.

Preserving memories beyond social media

I’ve always felt that social media is too temporary for the moments that really matter. Posts get lost in endless content, and algorithms change over time. My website, on the other hand, feels like a more permanent space to document my journey. It’s where I can revisit past projects, read old thoughts, and see how much I’ve grown. In a world where everything moves fast, having a personal archive feels grounding.

So, welcome to my world! Whether you’re here for marketing insights, creative direction, or just to see how my mind works, I’m happy to have you along for the ride.

Join me soon,

Arleen