Can you believe we’ve been blogging for five years? It feels surreal.
It seems like yesterday we put up a simple page with a bold blue background so friends and family could follow our first kitchen makeover in our very first home.
For our fifth anniversary we imagined a parade of homeowners waving hammers and paint rollers, but since that idea felt a little hazardous we opted for a week of blogiversary celebrations and behind-the-scenes fun instead. Over the years we’ve done similar festivities, and this year we’re keeping the tradition alive with a full week of posts and surprises. Expect some nostalgia, a few laughs, and plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses. Here’s what we have lined up for the week:
- A concise timeline of how we met, fell in love, started blogging, and arrived here—right in this post.
- An exciting giveaway celebrating five years, with multiple $500 prizes to mark The Big 5.
- A “day in the life” post with photos and details about an average day for our family.
- A numbers-driven look at our blog stats, growth, and other metrics, plus seven blog facts that surprised us.
- An unfiltered Q&A video answering the personal questions you sent us via social media.
- Our goals for the coming year and a report on last year’s progress.
- A roundup of our favorite, least favorite, most challenging, and most memorable posts from the past five years.
- A getting-to-know-you post where we learn about you—who you are, where you live, and what you love.
Now, here’s a timeline we created that stretches back to 2004. Looking back, some moments stand out as turning points in our personal lives and in the life of this blog. Seeing it all laid out is unexpectedly emotional. We’re still amazed at how far we’ve come, and it’s all thanks to you—our readers. Your support has made this journey possible for our family, and honestly, thinking about it makes us a little teary. You’re the reason this blog exists.
Time really does fly when you’re busy—meeting people, moving, marrying, launching a blog, having a baby, writing a book, and adapting to all the unexpected turns of life. Are you in a place today you wouldn’t have imagined five years ago? We feel incredibly grateful that this little project turned into a meaningful part of our lives, and we’re humbled that you’ve joined us along the way. We truly appreciate you.
Curious about blogging as a business? We’re still learning, but we’ve shared a large collection of posts about how the blog grew, how we earn income, how we manage our time, and behind-the-scenes topics like working with sponsors, paying quarterly taxes, forming an LLC, and handling health insurance.