Happy 4-Year Blogiversary to Fashion Schlub!
Oh gosh! Every Year something is happening and I barely notice the passing of my blogiversary. Maybe it was a mistake to do my first blog post in the middle of February right around Presidents Week! My first anniversary I was stranded in Maine snow on a work trip, the second I was away in California, the third I had just moved and was feeling a bit overwhelmed and this year I was back in CA!
Anyway…I’ve been writing this blog for four years, woot woot. It began out of a love for fashion and photography and writing and “online socializing.”
If you haven’t been visiting long, you might want to take a look at the very first blog post. And this post (the third one!) talks about a thing I did that really led me to starting this particular blog.
I’ve had other blogs before this one…Once I Saw a Dragonfly (which started as a way to share my vintage clothing shop) and 365 Days in Islip, which morphed into 365 Days in Brooklyn when I moved, The Mother and the Girl, and 365 Days in My House – which became A Year in a Brooklyn Apartment when I moved, phew! The ebay blog/Once I Saw a Dragonfly was the first one, started in 2009. So while this blog is only four years old, I’ve been blogging one place or another for 11 years.
When I first started Fashion Schlub, it was more as a creative outlet than anything else. I had sort of a vague sense of blogs being able to make money, but I had no idea how that happened. I thought maybe by the time I retired (which was years and years down the road at that point) it could bring in a small supplemental income for me. I’ve learned more about how all that works, though I still haven’t really pushed myself to reach out to brands for paid collaborations. In the third year I said I want to make something. And I did. It wasn’t much at all, but it was something. This year I have an amount I want to make, but it’s low.
In the beginning, accepting paid work is weird. You’re so excited that someone’s actually offering you money to do something you already love to do…that you might make a couple mistakes along the way, when deciding what jobs to accept and which to pass on. So bear with me if some of the first things are like, “wait, what? why is she talking about that?” Hopefully as I go along I’ll get more relevant collaborations.
Looking back, the Top 5 Posts (i.e,. most viewed) of all time were.
- Product Review: Fudge Violet Toning Shampoo & Conditioner – This post from 2016 always shocks me as STILL being my most viewed post EVER.
- Angry at Asos – The One Where Asos Breaks Up With Me
- Farewell My Love – The One Where I Break Up With Sugar
- Influencer is Not a Bad Word <- That
- Let Me Tell Ya ‘Bout My Best Friend – The One Where I Lost My Dear Boy Caleb 🙁
So…four years in and I’m still loving the blog. I love the people I’ve met, the people who follow along from post to post. I love how it continually pushes me to do more, to do better, to improve my photography, my outfits. And on the topic of photography, I want to thank all the people who have taken my pictures over the years – you guys are the best!
As a little thank you anniversary gift, I’m going to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card – to enter, just comment on this post before 11:59pm Saturday, Feb 29. All those names will go into a drawing generator and I’ll announce the winner in this coming Monday’s (March 2) Week in Review. Fun!
So, Happy Anniversary to Fashion Schlub…and to all of you who have given it life for the past four years!
xoxo
Shirley Horst
Thanks for the beautiful blog you do! I always look forward to your posts!
bettyewp
Thank you, Shirley. I love doing it and am constantly surprised that people keep coming back to read!
Barb Standridge
I look forward to each and every post you have! Whether it is for the gorgeous photography, the great outfits and ideas or just your funny observations! Thank you for sharing!
bettyewp
I’m grateful that wonderful people like you keep visiting!
Chris Jargowsky
Happy Anniversary. I LOVE reading your blog posts and I still utterly adore the photo of you in the pink tutu. While most of us could not wear that in everyday business life it is a fun piece that you look fantastic in. You are also teaching me about what can work together and going outside my box. Thanks for writing.
bettyewp
Thanks, Chrissy <3 xoxo
Liz
I look forward to everyone of your posts & one day I hope to bump into you when I’m visiting Long Island as my daughter & son in law are buying a house there & I hope they will invite us to stay 😜. Carry on the good work xxx
bettyewp
Ooh, that would be fun! Where are they going to be living?
Bobbie
Thank you for writing! I enjoy reading your blog.
bettyewp
Thanks so much, Bobbie!
Pamela Gray
Happy Blogaversary! And many more to come. 💚
bettyewp
Thanks, Pamela!
Marian
Happy Blogiversary! What an accomplishment! Your blog is so rich. Clothing, photography, honesty, enthusiasm, trying new things, delving into a topic to learn more, lifestyle musings, all the regular features you developed and so much more!
You’ve got a real talent for turning a reader a friend, even if you’ve never met.
PS. And a big thank you for helping me get off sugar.
bettyewp
Aww, thanks, Marian! And yeah, sugar! That’s great that you’ve done so well! me, not as well – but I’m still doing better than I was BEFORE. In fact, I actually sorta feel like the McD’s sweet tea habit might be broken! Not that I NEVER have it…but it’s closer to once a week than once a day!
Debbie from Illinois
Thanks for all the time and effort that you put into your blog!!! Congratulations on your blogging anniversary. 🥳🥳🥳
bettyewp
Thanks, Debbie!
Darlene
Bettye, I so love the story of your blogging journey. I followed your link to the first post and enjoyed is to much. My first post was just dumb!! Lol! But I was off and running. My goal was to not get frumpy in my semi-retirement and the blog has really helped with that. Plus, as you say, I’ve met some great people–like you!
xx Darlene
bettyewp
Ha ha, Darlene, I’m sure your first post wasn’t dumb!!! Non-frumpy retirement an excellent goal!
Marceline Miller
as a fairly recent subscriber, really enjoyed the retrospective!
Cheryl
Your blog is so interesting to read and your photos are wonderful. Congratulations and thank you Bettye.
Carol Ahuja
Happy 4 Year Blogiversary 🎈🎊🎉!!!
bettyewp
Thanks, Carol!
Ruth Josey
Congratulations on your blogging anniversary! I know I always enjoy reading your posts and I loved going back and reading some of the others from over the years (teared up on the one about Caleb). I’m so glad you’ve stuck with blogging over the years, even if it’s been with different blogs, but this time I think you’ve finally got it and I’ll look forward to following you for many more!
Ruth
https://voguefauxreal.com/2020/02/23
bettyewp
Thanks, Ruth!