It has been five years since my very first post on Making it Lovely. I started this blog on a bit of a whim when my husband and I were been looking for our first home. I had big plans and I had always loved decorating our apartment, so I knew there would be a lot to write about…
Brandon and I are buying our first house. Tonight we met with our realtor and signed a contract. We’ll find out soon (tomorrow night?) if it’s been accepted. We may soon be official home owners! How grown up of us.
Oh, and hi. I’m Nicole Balch, although I’m better known as the owner of Pink Loves Brown.
(Spoiler alert: We got the house.)
My stationery shop, Pink Loves Brown, had been buzzing along for two years already at that point, and I had built up a decent following. I mentioned the blog in my shop’s newsletter and I was off to a good start with a couple hundred people reading everyday. I was also familiar to a couple of bloggers too, through the shop and through Flickr. I was looking through my archives and reminiscing a bit, and I was curious about what my first bit of press was. A mere eight days after I started this blog, it was written about by Victoria of SF Girl by Bay, and I see that Holly, Kim, and Becky commented on it! All ladies who are still doing incredible things and whom I have deep admiration for.
That’s something that has really amazed me about blogging; There are so many personal connections forged. Three and a half years after being mentioned on Victoria’s home on the web, I was staying in her home in San Francisco. How else but through blogging could that have happened?
And it isn’t just other bloggers that I’ve connected with. I have some of the smartest, most thoughtful readers. Thank you all for sharing in this blog with me, whether you’ve been here from the beginning or have just found me today. Thank you for being here. Thank you. Here’s to the next five years.
You’ve been on maternity leave since February? You go girl! ha
Yeah… I should probably clarify that as more of an extended leave of absence at this point. The baby is coming up on his first birthday!
I’ve read many many blogs over the last five years, and your’s is one that I have keep on my list. Thanks for all of the great content!
A lot of my friends who don’t write or read blogs seem baffled at the idea that I’m “reading about strangers’ lives.” Some of them even say that blogging is a waste of time. I try to explain the community that has been created and all of the wonders that can be discovered.
I found your blog this summer and I have your “will we have rainbows?” print hanging on my wall! I really needed that this summer and it makes me smile every day.
I’m looking forward to the next 5 years!
That makes me so happy!
Happy Blog-a-versary! I’ve been reading for about four years and I love it! I can’t wait to see you’re new design. Thank you for giving my day a dose of loveliness!
High 5 to you on 5 years! I love being one of your blogless readers/commenters. Making it Lovely is absolutely one of my very favorite blogs. You should be so proud of what you’ve made so lovely–it’s a tremendous accomplishment. And how nice to hear about your quick “ascent” in the bloggy world. It’s like it was meant to be.
xo
jbhat
Well done! But what I find hard to believe is that 2007 was 5 years ago already!!! Time flies. It really does!
Well, I’m glad that you’re still blogging! You always bring a bit of color and femininity into my day :-) Congrats!
You’ve been on my daily read list for a couple of years now (think I linked from Chez Larsson) and I have thoroughly enjoyed your take on the visual world. Congratulations on a great four years.
Celeste in SoCal
Aw, congrats! Loved meeting you at TechWeek in July BTW… Loved your panel & all the girls on it!
Thanks!
I’ve been reading your blog since 2007!
I had just gotten my very own apartment (without any roommates, finally) and was looking for decorating ideas. When I decided upon a theme of pink and brown, I came across your shop while browsing the internet… which linked me to your blog. I’ve been hooked every since!
Congrats, I look forward to the many more years!
That’s awesome. Thanks for sticking around from the beginning!
Bravo and thanks, take a few minutes off then proceed to the next five years. Congratulations.
Wow the big 5! I found your blog about a year ago and I love coming back every day to see what’s new at the Balch household. Congrats and thank you for all of your inspiring creativity!
Happy Blog Anniversay! I’m celebrating mine this month too! It’s amazing how fast time goes by, isn’t it?
Oh it is my pleasure to read your blog! Congrats on all of your successes over the past few years, you are one busy girl. I really love reading your posts, you are definitely one of my biggest “blogger idols”.
Congratulations on year 5, Nicole, and best wishes for many more!
I’ve been reading since the beginning. You have made me smile and I recommend your blog to people regularly. Thanks for being so great and inspiring me many time over the years.
-Katie
I discovered Pink Loves Brown at Renegade a few years ago and was ecstatic to learn you had a blog. Love following along with you – thanks for sharing with us!
Congrats on your 5 years! I look forward to many more :-)
Cheers to 5 great years and hopefully many more to come!
Congrats on five years! That is awesone!! So thrilled for what the next five years hold for you and your lovely family! Thanks for all you do and for all the sacrifices you make. I love your blog and I stalk it everyday. :)
Random question: Where did you get the round coffee table in your living room with the white top?
The table was from Thomas O’Brien’s line for Target, years ago.
Awesome, thanks. I saw one like yours at a boutique and was trying to figure out where it was from. :)
Congratulations on 5 years here on the blog! That’s an incredible accomplishment! I’ve been following your blog for a few years now, and yours is still one of my favourites. :)