The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

6 Years

The Budget Babe celebrates 6 years!

This week my blog turns 6 years old. It's hard to believe I've been blogging for so long! It seems like only yesterday I was working for Oprah.com in Chicago and blogging about my latest Target clearance finds in the evenings.

So much has changed in these last 6 years. When I started blogging, hardly anyone knew what a blog even was. Now, young ambitious entrepreneurs create blogs overnight with business plans, sponsors and investors. Oh, how things have changed.

Despite all the changes I've witnessed around me, many things have stayed the same. My focus is still affordable fashion and beauty, mostly priced under $100. My inspiration is still my readers - and my fellow bloggers - who challenge and motivate me every single day.

This blog has afforded me some incredible experiences, and while I think I still have a long way to go, it's important to stop, reflect and count your blessings:

The Budget Babe went to Spain with JCP and Mango. We made it to New York Fashion Week. We've been on national TV and satellite radio; we've seen our name printed in best-selling books and publications like The New York Times. We've been styled by Stacy London, invited to posh parties hosted by Target, and received sponsorship from H&M. It's been an amazing ride.

In my personal life, I moved halfway across the country, leaving friends and family behind to be with the love of my life, who was my boyfriend when I started this blog and is now my husband. We're expecting our first child in June. C is my better half and my soul mate and I'm so grateful to have him in my life and to have his full support in all my daily endeavors, big and small.

When I began my blog, I had two simple goals: I wanted to "make a living with my blog," which meant pay my monthly bills, and I wanted a better work/life balance. I'm blessed to say that I have achieved both goals - and surpassed what I thought was possible. Now the sky's the limit. It's time to set new goals, work towards them, and enjoy the journey.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has supported me - some for a long time, some for a short while - stopping by each day, leaving thoughtful comments, sending me positive energy, believing in me, working with me, and humbling me with your questions, critiques and praise. Here's to many more years of The Budget Babe life!

Love and thanks,
Dianna, editor/founder of TheBudgetBabe.com
Comments
I'm so proud of you... so amazing! I read your blog religiously long before I even had a blog... kinda cool! Congratulations on six amazing years! xo
#1 Grace - Stripes & Sequins (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 10:30 (Reply)
Congratulations! As a former business blogger (and now getting back into it on a more personal level), I know what a accomplishment this is! I have loved watching the blogging platform grow over the years, and love how it is enabling so many people to follow their dreams of self-employment. Also, I love how you have stayed true to yourself all these years - I know I've appreciated your voice for a long time.
#2 Carrie S. (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 10:43 (Reply)
Congratulations on 6 years of blogging!! I only found you a short time ago and LOVE following all of your updates. Even if I can't comment on everything, I always look forward to your posts. Cheers (with a mocktail) on all your success and many more fabulous fashion adventures ahead!!

Tracy
www.TracysNotebookofStyle.com
#3 Tracy (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 11:33 (Reply)
Congratulations on all the successes! It couldn't have been easy all the time and definitely required lots of hard work!!!! Congrats, Dianna!
#4 lisacng @ expandng.com (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 11:53 (Reply)
Congrats Dianna - you are an inspiration to all of us "newbies" and I love how humble & grateful you have remained through the growth & success of your site. So glad to have met you!!

www.pennypincherfashion.com
#5 Kimberly (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 11:54 (Reply)
Big congrats!
#6 Marie (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 11:55 (Reply)
I discovered BB by accident of sort. I was googling a catalog I use to get in the mail and was wondering the business' whereabouts at the time. That was when I came across a post on BB about the now defunct catalog. I was bummed to read it was gone but was happy to have found a fun and addictive blog.

Many blogs have come and gone in my blog tab on my browser. Yeah, I tend to blog hop. But BB has been a constant along with my book/nerdy blogs I read.

So here's to 6 years and many, many more! Keep up the great work. BB is a wonderful blog!
#7 Roxanne on 2013-03-18 12:21 (Reply)
Congratulations! Finding this blog when I started as a "working gal" was fun, as well as invaluable. I hope to acheive the happiness and balance you have as my career progresses. Who knows, maybe I'll branch out from just blogging my little weekly observances.

Whenever I see a good deal (Target or otherwise), I always think "Diana would approve." :-)
#8 jen_cam (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 12:23 (Reply)
Congratulations! I can't even remember how I discovered BB or when, but from the get-go, I enjoyed your fun (and realistic) approach to affordable fashion. Your blog is always well-written and it's one that I routinely read on a daily basis!
#9 Justyna (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 13:18 (Reply)
Congratulations, keep up the great job!
You are a true inspiration and a helpful 'tool' :-).
Wish you many more years of excellent job!
#10 Njomza on 2013-03-18 13:36 (Reply)
Congratulations on 6 great years! So happy to hear how everything has worked out for you. :-)
#11 Heather, Clearance Couture (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 13:47 (Reply)
wow, congrats Dianna! You've accomplished so much and I'm inspired by your posts every day (well and also motivated to shop, which maybe is not as good. haha). I've been honored to meet you this year and only hope our paths cross more often. xo
#12 alyson (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 14:17 (Reply)
Your blog is one I read on a daily basis. Congratulations on all your blog success to date and wishing you and your blog much success in the future. I will definitely be reading along the way.
#13 Brenda on 2013-03-18 16:24 (Reply)
Congratulations!! I've been reading your blog forever and it's probably one of the only blogs that I've read consistently for more than a year. Your content is always fresh and relevant, and you are such a nice person - so many "popular" bloggers claim to never have time to respond to commenters, but you always take the time to send a quick message to your readers and that's something that I really appreciate and which keeps me coming back :-)
#14 MizzJ (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 21:59 (Reply)
Congrats! Can't wait for the next 6 years. Long live the Budget Babe!
#15 Sydne (Homepage) on 2013-03-18 22:46 (Reply)
Congrats!! I have been a reader forever. Your blog has helped me through my transition era in college when I was getting out of dark clothes and trying to find my actual style. I am super jealous about being styled by Stacy London, btw. I remember that post. It's sad to see that What Not to Wear is going off the air this year!
#16 Elizabeth on 2013-03-19 09:16 (Reply)
Congratulations, Dianna!!! :-) I'm so proud of how far you've come and I knew from the very beginning that you'd be a big success. How could you not be with your intelligence, wit, and impeccable taste, of course! ;-) You're an inspiration and I'm so glad I met you back in the day at oprah.com. Here's to many many more years of The Budget Babe! XO!
#17 cathy (Homepage) on 2013-03-19 09:20 (Reply)
Congratulations! I've been a fan of your blog since 2011. Love reading your posts! Keep it up :-)
xx
#18 SouthernBelle83 (Homepage) on 2013-03-20 10:57 (Reply)
Congratulations...so happy for you. I'm glad we got to meet, you truly are such a sweet person. I wish you all the best on your new journey as a mommy. You're going to be amazing.
#19 Carmen (Homepage) on 2013-03-20 13:09 (Reply)
Congrats :-)!! I've been a huge fan of this blog for a while and I hope your success continues and even grows!
#20 MAC (Homepage) on 2013-03-21 15:47 (Reply)
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