Happy one year.
June 8th 2016 Thrifty Haute Mom was born. It first started as a deal blog but then I realized that wasn’t the direction I wanted it to go. I love deals don’t get me wrong but I’m more of a fashion/ sales deal hunter. Fashion has always been something I was passionate about one way or another. Even if I didn’t make a career out of it.
Some may get the misconception of this blog and my name. This isn’t a coupon blog hence the first word of my brand Thrifty. Thrifty for more of the budget aspect. Budget style, beauty and travel. Keeping it in style during motherhood and beyond even if you are on a budget.
Haute for the meaning Haute Couture. In my meaning living a more sustainable lifestyle. Splurging where it’s needed. You can look, live and travel and not being a couponer or a thrift shopper. I’m more of a sale shopper. I still shop at Target , TJ MAXX and recently discovered the online sales of Nordstrom thanks to the blogging community. My two ultimate faves are still Jane and Groopdealz. If you love small brands and boutiques they are your ultimate go to’s. They have the best sales on the best trends. Plus I want this blog to mold into more of a lifestyle site.
When I first started this blog I was a working mom. I chose to become a stay at home mom when my son was starting part time pre-k as I was working nights at the time. Being a stay at home mom is a completely different ball game than being a working mom. I should know. I’ve done both. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. Being stuck at a job I hated was the worst and I literally brought it home.
After I started the whole stay at home routine I realized I had no time for anything prior when I was working. For someone who had a child, not shaming anyone at all but that really stinks. That is something I wanted to change.
When you can only work a specific schedule because the cost of living and day care is over 1k a month your stuck working an evening job that makes no sense.
From then on I have been determined to make this small hub of a blog of mine part time – full time gig. I know it will take time but I’ll get there. ????I’m going into my second year. I want others to take something from visiting this blog.
Style, trends, reviews, shopping guides, travel go to’s and reviews, places to shop, live & eat not just in Massachusetts but even around the country or world if it may and just MOM STYLE. I will try as much as I can to provide the best sales. From time to time I will though may include expensive items. Not because of price but because over time it will benefit myself and you guys as my reader.
One thing I noticed myself steering away from was fashion / sale seeking related items. This past Winter I started to feel a bit self conscious about myself being in front of the camera because of my weight so I put a lot of the fashion content on hold from being on a weight gain rut due to my PCOS aside from any guides. I wanted this blog to be about my fashion sense after having a baby and how it has changed for the better and my parenting.
With a little guidance I feel so much better and I’m losing the weight. I’m out of that rut. I can get back to my old me. Yay for me.
I just figured I wasn’t giving my full 100 at the time. I have officially overcome that battle and one thing that I will be adding more to this blog will be frugal and budget fashion hence Thrifty Haute Mom.
This is one of the sole purposes of the blog so this is definitely what I will be adding to the blog. If you have been following me since the start I have been featuring myself more in front of the camera instead of behind the scenes less than normal.
It’s only been a year and I’ve already worked a few brands I’ve never thought I would work with. I know it takes years for bloggers to consistently earn a full time income but I do feel a small success. I know it will take time as I am a woman game. One thing I will admit is I will from now on not post any blog, social media, Instagram story etc if I feel it does not fit my very own brand.
A few things I will say I would have changed during my first year would have been.
- Actually launched my blog instead of doing it on a whim
- Built up at least one social media platform. I did not and am building up my social media now.
- Honed on into a specific niche. Yes lifestyle and even a mom blog can have different content but they still have their own niche.
- Been more consistent with content.
- Plan my content.
- Stop comparing myself to other bloggers. When I started looking at other seasoned bloggers’ I couldn’t help how self conscious I would be about how they were getting accepted to campaigns, how their pictures looked, how glam their own blogs looked or their social numbers were. I do follow a few bloggers that I compare myself into the same niche like Style Grace Lace , A Slice Of Style , That Chic Mom , Logan Can
A few things I will do on my second year
- Work better on my photography
- Attend more events
- Work with more brands
- Be more in front of the camera and use my sale finding skills for other moms to find fashion, beauty, parenting and travel trends
- Write about what I want to write about
- Not accept any sponsorship’s that aren’t geared towards my own brand. If it doesn’t fit my niche I won’t accept not matter how much I am offered.
- Keep on a schedule
- Keep up with a newsletter
Now to see what’s in store for the coming year
Robin Rue
Congrats on your blogaversary! It sounds like you have some really attainable goals for your second year!
workoutwithdi
hahaha I think I’ve had those goals every year of blogging. Def relate to a lot of your goals for sure. I upped my photography game, I invested in a canon DSLR and a pop up light tent.
dayniaa
Happy one Year!!!
Jalisa
dayniaaThank you ?
The Belly Rules The Mind
congratulations. I am sure you have worked hard to get here. It’s not an easy journey but you are doing a great job. Keep going.
Jalisa
The Belly Rules The MindI did. One thing I will say is consistency is what l’ll definitely be working at.
Cassie
Congratulations! A year is an impressive feat and I wish you nothing but good luck for the rest of your blogging journey! 🙂
theclutterboxblog
Congrats on one year! That is so exciting! Cheers to another year and a year of learning to striving towards your goals!
Terri Steffes
Congratulations! You are finding your focus and that is a great thing!
theresasreviews
Congrats! I’m about to reach 4 years, and I can’t believe it’s been that long. One year is a big milestone!
Jalisa
theresasreviewsThanks. Oh wow. I would’ve thought you were blogging for longer.
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh
Happy blogiversary!! I started out years ago when mommy blogging was huge, and stopped after a few years, because it’s just not what I felt like was me. Lucky for me, I started a new blog, doing what I love!
mamaonmainstreet
Congratulations!! You have created a beautiful blog. Wishing you the best of luck in year #2!
rhianwestbury
Happy blog anniversary you’ve done so much in just one year so you should be very proud x
Amanda Love
It’s awesome to see how much you’ve improved your work throughout the years! I look back at how it all started and I can’t believe how much has changed! I think it’s awesome to find your focus and just enjoy what you do.
priti
Awesome feeling, congratulations on your first blog anniversary. So cool ! keep it up.
Shoshana Sue
Congrats on your one year anniversary! Blogging is not an easy job and you have done an incredible job so far. I am clapping for you and hope you smash your goals for the second year. They are solid goals!
Jalisa
Shoshana SueThanks so much. I can say I know it’s not for everyone. Even my own family still doesn’t understand that I use it as a second income.
Kristina
Congratulations!! That’s awesome! I love your list of goals for the next year and how they are very attainable. Good luck in the next year and I’m sure great things will come!!
Rachel
Your doing really well. You have achieved so much, so keep it going xx Thanks for sharing!!
Jalisa
RachelThank you so much for reading.
Cindy Ingalls
Congrats on your blog anniversary. It sounds like you’ve had quite a journey are ready for year 2.
Jalisa
Cindy IngallsThank you. I can’t wait.
Krystal // The Krystal Diaries
Happy blogiversary! Such an accomplishment.
Jeanine
Congrats to you! Happy blogiversary. Such a wonderful accomplishment to cherish. I know I look forward to mine every year, it brings such joy!
yasmina
Congrats!!! That’s so great! I’m so far from my own year, I’m glad to see you flourished!
Louise x (@withlovefromlou)
Congrats on your first year of blogging 🙂 I always say I’m going to try harder to be more consistent with content and have a better schedule for sitting and writing etc. But I always fail! It’s definitely something I need to work on!
Louise x
Jalisa
Louise x (@withlovefromlou)This past Winter I fell down as I got flu after flu. Now I’m back up and am hoping to get my blog back up where it was.
Renée ♥
Congratulations on your first year of blogging! It is so interesting how we evolve over time. After almost five years, my blog hardly looks anything like it did when I started, in terms of both style and content.
Jalisa
Renée ♥Definitely. I’m a huge deal finder and thought that’s what I wanted as a blog but realized with a toddler I couldn’t keep it up. Plus over the last year I realized styling, motherhood and travel are what I love writing about the most.
Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest
Congrats on making it to your first year as a blogger! it sounds like you really know what you want to do and where you want to go in the second year.
Jalisa
Cassie @ Southeast by MidwestThanks so much.
Amber Nelson
Congrats to you! Time really flies when you are having fun and blogging! Here’s to many more!
Jalisa
Amber NelsonThank you
Heather McMechan
The same thing happened to me! Glad you found your niche. Keep doing it!!
Jalisa
Heather McMechanThank you so much. BTW I love your blog.
Crystal Green
Congrats on your blog anniversary. I just celebrated my one year with my NEW blog. These all sound like wonderful ideas for the coming year. I wish you nothing but the best.
Jalisa
Crystal GreenThanks so much.
chaoswithsugar
I think you have some very amazing goals for your second year. Deff something I will be reading more into. Congratulations on your first year!
Jalisa
chaoswithsugarThanks so much.