Six years ago I wrote the very first blog post to appear on The Lemon Bowl: Beets and Wheat Berries Make Me Happy. (Spoiler alert: beets and wheat berries still make me very happy!)
While my life looks completely different today than it did back then, one thing has remained the same: my drive and passion for encouraging others to get in the kitchen and cook healthy meals for their friends and family.
That said, if you told me back on June 11th, 2010 where I’d be today, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But I’m so grateful you didn’t.
Specifically, I’m so glad no one ever told me the following when I first started blogging six years ago:
- It will take you two years to earn your first $100 in ad revenue.
- Your first two clients will be paying you in the form of coupons and product. Those same two clients will soon pay you in cash and will remain clients for three years and counting.
- You will appear live on the TODAY Show to cook in front of millions of viewers.
- In two and a half years you’ll be able to quit your day job and blog full time.
- You’ll find out you’re pregnant with your second child less than 12 hours after quitting your day job.
- In your third year of blogging and first year of blogging full time, you will earn more than you did in your day job. You will continue to double your income year after year.
- Your recipes and food photography will appear in major online and print publications including Food Network, Cooking Channel, Redbook Magazine, Fitness Magazine and more.
- National food brands will pay you to develop recipes and photograph food using products you already know, love and cook with regularly.
- In your fourth year of blogging you’ll hire your first employee: a Social Media Manager.
- You will be invited to travel to Mexico, Bermuda, and almost every where in between.
- In your fifth year of blogging you’ll be able to hire your second employee, a Lifestyle and Food Photographer.
- The first magazine you ever subscribed to, Real Simple, will fly you out to New York City to appear in a national video and print ad campaign. This campaign will be seen by millions.
- Fellow bloggers will become some of your nearest and dearest friends. These friendships will be more valuable than any pay check.
- People around the world including India, Australia, Germany and Syria will regularly cook your recipes and recommend your website to their friends.
When I wrote my first blog post six years ago, I had absolutely no idea any of this would happen. In fact, I didn’t even know it was remotely a possibility. I started my blog for one reason and one reason only: my friends and family wanted to know what I was eating to maintain my 59 pound weight loss for now 9 years and counting.
And you know what? I am so truly grateful I didn’t know any of those incredible milestones were in my future. I can’t imagine starting a blog today surrounded by thousands of successful bloggers on social media traveling the globe, eating countless sponsored meals and making it all look effortless – one Instagram-husband photo at a time.
What you don’t see is the blood, sweat, tears and countless mistakes that it took to get there. You don’t see the recipe fails. You don’t see the late nights. You don’t see countless pitch emails never getting a response. And you certainly don’t see the months and months of working for free that it took to get here.
And I am so glad I didn’t. I am so glad that it has only ever been about the food, the healthy lifestyle and the people who have cheered me on along the way.
To all of you, my loyal readers, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here day in and day out, week after week, month after month. Without you, I would not be living my dream. Without you, none of my wildest fantasies would have ever come true. I am so truly grateful to be doing what I’m doing and it is all because of (and for) you. Thank you.
Carrie @ poet in the pantry
June 14, 2016 at 10:39 pmHappy 6 years! What an amazing journey! I’m so glad you embarked upon it because I wouldn’t have been able to meet you otherwise. <3
Liz DellaCroce
June 15, 2016 at 2:00 pmAwww thank you so much Carrie!! I’m so glad blogging brought you in my life – you are a riot!!
Lexi
June 14, 2016 at 10:49 amYou are amazing my friend!
Liz DellaCroce
June 14, 2016 at 2:05 pmAww I feel the same about you lady! Can’t wait to see you soon!
Jill P
June 14, 2016 at 9:25 amCongrats on your success! Thanks for sharing. :)
Liz DellaCroce
June 14, 2016 at 2:05 pmAww thank you so much Jill! Thanks for reading!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
June 13, 2016 at 1:57 pmYou’ve created something incredible Liz! I’m so glad you didn’t quit, even when things got tough! :)
Liz DellaCroce
June 14, 2016 at 2:06 pmYou are so sweet Karen! Thank you so much and congrats again to you!
Jessica
June 13, 2016 at 10:53 amCongrats Liz! Thanks so much for sharing and happy blog anniversary!! It’s so great to look back and see the path and that no matter what, you never strayed from your true focus, which I believe is the main reason that you’ve been SO successful!! Keep up the amazing work and congrats again!
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 1:14 pmThank you so much for reading Jessica! That truly means a lot to me. Thank you and keep on doing what you’re doing girl!
Kristen
June 13, 2016 at 8:23 amLiz, this is a crazy encouraging read for all bloggers. I have so much to learn, but I hope I can experience a tiny bit of the success you have achieved. But bottom line, I hope to still have my passion and be true to myself 4 years from now (6 years into blogging)
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 1:15 pmThank you so much for your sweet words Kristen. I really hope it inspires others to stay focused on doing what they love and that success will come! Thank you again for reading!
Jessica
June 13, 2016 at 2:14 amI love this, and I’m so happy for your continued success! For someone like myself who is just starting to test the waters of blogging, I appreciate the behind the scenes. I love that you said, “I am so glad that it has only ever been about the food, the healthy lifestyle and the people who have cheered me on along the way.” That right there is the goal, and I’m so glad that you are keeping it real, girl! :)
Cheers to you! I can’t wait to follow along for many more years to come! :)
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 8:09 amAww thank you so much for reading! Yes it’s all about staying focused on the reason you started blogging in the first place. It’s a lot like weight loss. If your only focus is buying expensive skinny jeans you probably won’t keep the weight off. ;-) GOOD LUCK and keep chasing your day dream!
Haley @ The Girly Girl Cooks
June 12, 2016 at 11:01 pmCongrats on 6 impressive years of blogging!
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 8:08 amThank you so much Haley!!! xoxo
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
June 12, 2016 at 10:02 pmCongratulations on reaching your 6 year milestone Liz! You are an incredible inspiration to so many and I love how you have stayed true to yourself all these years. I am looking forward to seeing you continue to grow in so many different ways! xo
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 8:10 amThank you so much for all of your support over the years Jeanette! It’s always great to look up to other busy blogging mamas like yourself who prioritize healthy eating!! xo Thank you!!
Liren Baker
June 12, 2016 at 9:37 pmHow quickly 6 years can go by – and how amazing it can! I love that my six years of food blogging has introduced me to you and that we had a chance to meet – here’s to many more. Congratulations, Liz!
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 8:11 amI am so glad blogging brought us together as well Liren!! It really is amazing how quickly it goes by!! Thank you so much for reading!!
Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It
June 12, 2016 at 8:58 pmThis is amazing Liz!! I am so happy to have been following your blog since 2014 and cannot wait to see where The Lemon Bowl goes next! Oh wait, I already know…onward and upward! :) Cheers to 6 years of success and passion!!!
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 8:11 amThank you so much for all of your continued support and sweet comments Marina! They truly mean the world to me!!
nancyabc
June 12, 2016 at 4:22 pmCongrats on your anniversary.
I just loved the instagram husband so funny.
Liz DellaCroce
June 13, 2016 at 8:11 amIsn’t the Instagram husband hilarious? haha Thank you so much!!
Susan
June 12, 2016 at 2:33 pmWhat you’ve been able to accomplish in 6 years is mind-boggling to me.I’m glad that blogging is working out so well for you – I know your successful blog has provided me with many interesting recipes. I’ll drink a toast to the continued success of your blog in the future.
Liz DellaCroce
June 12, 2016 at 2:59 pmThank you so much Susan – I truly appreciate all of your loyal readership and support! That means a lot!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
June 12, 2016 at 7:34 amI just love this! It’s incredible how transforming and impactful one little blog can have one your life and so many of these ring true for me as well.
Liz DellaCroce
June 12, 2016 at 2:57 pmIt really is so true. Thank you so much for reading it Megan – I wish you all the best of luck on your blogging journey!!