Happy November to you all!
This month, I am celebrating Dine & Dish being 5 years old! It’s hard to believe 5 years ago I started this baby blog of mine. What’s even harder to believe is how much joy it has brought me over the past 5 years. I have come to connect with so many treasured friends, have had the chance to work with some pretty amazing magazines and brands, and have cultivated a love for photography, cooking, and creative writing in the process. Most importantly, I’ve tossed aside the idea that I will ever be a scrapbooker and have given in to letting my blog be where I store my memories for myself and my family.
With 5 years of blogging under my belt (which is ever tight, thanks to food blogging) I’ve spent some time reflecting on where I’ve been and what I want to accomplish moving forward. With that reflection, I’ve decided there are going to be a few changes around Dine & Dish.
Last month I had a random glitch when I was doing my iPhone update onto my MacBook Pro and I, unfortunately, lost the thousands of photos stored on my hard drive from January through last week. Needless to say, I was devastated. Sure, I still had some pictures from my Photo Journey blog and Instagram, which is much better than nothing, but all the priceless moments and everyday captures, I lost. Guess what I did have though? I had all of my food pictures because that is what I blog about. Do you think in the end I really cared that I still had all of my food photos? Yeah… not so much.
With that being said, I wanted to give you fair warning that Dine & Dish is going to expand some. I’m going to share more than just food with you… I’m going to share family life, things that make me happy, product reviews, books that I’ve read, travel experiences, recipes, photography, etc. Everything that is important to me in my life is now going to be part of Dine & Dish. And, I’m not going to do it on a separate blog… it’s obvious by how many dead websites I have out there how that’s worked out for me in the past 🙂
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The month of November is going to be a great one…my blog is getting a big makeover (going back to basics with a simple blog design) and I have lots of amazing giveaways to show appreciation to you all for sticking by me through the years. Dine & Dish has never been the biggest blog out there, and that’s ok. Traffic isn’t what drives me. What drives me is the connection with each of you, and I truly appreciate you sharing in my journey.
If you choose to shut the door on Dine & Dish with it’s new direction, I completely understand. If you plan on sticking around, I am grateful to have you here. Feel free to subscribe via email for updates or follow me on Twitter and Facebook so you can determine what’s worth clicking through for you.
Thanks again for an amazing 5 years. I hope to enjoy many, many more!
Congratulations on 5 years of awesome blogging! Wish you the very best with newer ventures on your amazing blog and heres to countless more happy years of food blogging!!
Looking forward to seeing your new direction Kristen! Congratulations on five years! Not evening being at 1 year myself I admire all you’ve done.
I’m looking forward to it! Happy Birthday to Dine & Dish, and congratulations on all the beautiful things you’ve accomplished in the last five years, my friend!
Congratulations on 5 years, Kristen! When I first started almost 2 years ago, you’re one of the first bloggers I started following. You are always so nice on your blog, on twitter and elsewhere. I love that you’re so genuine and I know others appreciate that too! I love that you’re adding more to your site and am looking forward to following you on this journey! I think that you’re adding more to the “Dish” part of Dine & Dish…so fun!
Woohoo! I love seeing your kids. Mine run screaming now from the camera, so I can live vicariously through your cuties. ; ) And what would dining and dishing be without people and other stuff to talk about besides the food? Can’t wait.
Kristen, I couldn’t agree more with the direction you’re going! I for one am sticking around. I love reading your posts, looking at your photos and reading the books you suggest (I read the Happiness Project thanks to you!). Happy 5 years and here’s to many more!!!
Congrats on 5 years? Shut the door? Are you kidding??? Never 🙂 Love you and your blog too!
has it really been 5 years already? it went so fast…congratulations on all your accomplishments and connections. much love to you, girlie. xoxo
Congratulations on 5 years–what a milestone! And I just got here, so I ain’t goin’ anywhere! Looking forward to reading your posts in the future, no matter what they’re about! 🙂
FIVE YEARS! Congratulations! 😀 Here’s to the next five!
Congrats Kristen! I love your blog! There are times that I stop and comment and there are those times that I just do a quick read. Love that you are so real and that you share from the heart! Excited that you will be sharing more than just food with us! You should have your blog printed into 5 books, I keep meaning to do that with mine! Need to find the site that does that cause I know it’s out there. If you or anyone else has a great recommendation I would love to hear! -hugs from Conroe, Texas my sweet friend!
Shut the door?!?! Girl, you crazy!
Happy Anniversary, dear! Looking forward to seeing more of those adorable kiddos up here.
Congrats on your milestone! Now my stalking will seem creepy. Before I stalked food, guess I better comment more often or you will think I’m stalking family stuff too!
Happy birthday, Dine and Dish! Congratulations! Five years is a phenomenal accomplishment. I think that blogging about family, travels, and more is a great idea. Your readers will love it just the same if not more!
Happy Blog Birthday to you! I think your changes sound organic and wonderful and perfect for you and your family. Why divorce what makes you who you are from your blog life? Can’t wait to read many more future entries. 🙂
Lovely post and straight from the heart as always. I think the new direction sounds just perfect for you. I ‘ll be reading. xox
Congrats on 5 years, Kristen! I’m looking forward to seeing what you have planned for the future. You are inspiring and I look up to you as a blogger!
Shut the door on Dine & Dish, are you kidding?!
Congrats on 5 years – I’m looking forward to many, many more!
I’ve always enjoyed your blog. Happy anniversary and continue to write the way you want!!
I’ll still be here! 🙂 I think that you have just found your sweet spot. Congrats on 5 years!!
Congrats on 5 years! Looking forward to seeing the new blog and everything you have in store for us. I love this “letting my blog be where I store my memories for myself and my family” I think that’s a wonderful idea and a treasure that your kids and family members will cherish for a long time to come.
Congratulations, Kristen!! Can’t wait to read all the new things you share, I know I will love it all!
Hi Kristen,
Congratulations on 5 years!! And with all the changes you are making? I am still with you, and look forward to seeing more about your life and what makes you happy! Keep it coming!
Robin
FIVE years!!! That is just so cool, Kristen! I can’t wait to see all of the changes…and to see more of your life than “just” the food! 😉
Yay!
Oh all your photos! I’m always scared that’ll happen so I try to do a backup to ext hard drive every 3 months but u don’t wanna hear that! Happy 5th birthday and the future sounds fabulous cam’t wait to see and read all about it!
Congratulations! You were one of the first food blogs I ever read so I’ll definitely be sticking around. This food blogging thing is a constantly changing journey and I’m excited to be on it!
Congratulations on 5 years of awesome blogging! Wish you the very best with newer ventures on your amazing blog. love susan and abraham
Congratulations on five years! What an amazing accomplishment! A newbie myself, I love looking at such an established blog and find inspiration from it! Wishing you the best in your big changes here on the horizon! Good for you!
Congratulations on this blogging milestone. Five years is definitely noteworthy. Your new direction sounds wonderful. Follow your heart and your follows will follow you 🙂
congrats Kristen!! and i cannot imagine anyone not wanting to keep up with what you hope to do starting in January – i think it’s FABULOUS and i cannot wait to follow along!!
Congratulations, Kristen! I think the new direction is fabulous!!! I can’t wait for even more fabulousness!
Congratulations on five years of blogging! It’s not easy to maintain a blog for that long, and it’s only natural to change direction from time to time. May the blog continue to bring you joy as you have brought joy to your readers.
Love it. Love your blog. Love you… love the changes!! Bring it on girl!
Yeah to 5 years! (I’ve got 2 years, and you to be thankful for so much guidance!) I can’t WAIT to see more on your blog! It always brings a smile to me over coffee 🙂 Hope to see you again sometime soon too! Congrats!! xo
Why would I EVER leave you????
You’re stuck with me, friend. Whether we’ve met or not. (maybe 2012 will be our year to finally embrace each other in person)
Congrats times five!
I’ll still be here! Happy 5th Blogiversary!
Congratulations on 5 years! One of the things that I love about you is that you are YOU, always true to who you are in every aspect of your life. I will absolutely stick around and cannot wait to read more about your sweet family.
Happy 5th anniversary to Dine@Dish. Such a wonderful and heart felt post.
I’m a new follower but that won’t stop me from reading your blog with the new changes. Already excited.
Awesome on five years! I can’t wait to see the changes!
Congratulations on 5 years Kristen!! I can totally relate to the evolving theme and the former blogs. Good for you for combining it all into one. The way I see it, we live one life, so why not have one blog (though I do keep my biz & personal blogs separate – LOL – “do as I say & not as I do” right? ).
Wow! Congratulations on 5 years and here’s wishing for continued success and happiness!
I love that you care more about the connections with people than with traffic. So do I. That’s probably why you’re one of the first bloggers I ever followed (almost 5 years ago for me) and still follow. You’re genuine, and people can sense that. I look forward to your changes in the future and wish you all the best, Kristen.
BRING ON THE CHANGES! I’m stickin around 😉 Congrats!!!
Where has the time gone? 5…wow! Congrats. And, I am with the others…close the door? Are you kidding? I am too set in my ways. 🙂
Kristen, I am *so* excited about your blog’s expansion! You have been one of the people I have always felt so grateful for meeting when I first started blogging almost 3 years ago. I can’t wait to see your new changes and I will most definitely be sticking around to read your posts. Love, Flavia
Kristen, AMAZING work, my friend.
I’m sticking around. 🙂
Five years? Really? I honestly don’t know where the days go anymore! Congrats on your blogiversary. I’m excited about your new “look” and will definitely stick around to see more pictures of your beautiful family. Here’s to another five years of great food and friendship. Cheers!
Looking forward to your new direction, you have such a wonderful site 🙂
Kristen, Did you check with a computer tech to see if they could get your photos restored. I think there is away, but I don’t know how. Just a thought. I’m sure you all ready did everything. Sorry to hear you lost a lot of photos.
Amy
Kristen, what an awesome post…
“I’m going to share more than just food with you… I’m going to share family life, things that make me happy, product reviews, books that I’ve read, travel experiences, recipes, photography, etc.” <– GREAT!!!
So, very, very, very sorry about the photo losses. Ugh!!!! That is just not fair. This is so true "Do you think in the end I really cared that I still had all of my food photos? Yeah… not so much." — 100% agreed.
Congrats on 5 years…WOW! And congrats on your upcoming bloggie re-design. Can't wait to see it!
YAY for 5 years- that is quite an accomplishment!!! (what’s even harder to believe- we have known each other nearly that entire time- where has the time gone?) I am so happy for you & the new direction you are taking the blog. I can’t wait to see more from you- although I do just about die from the food posts 🙂 They are SO GOOD! I am looking for product reviewers right now- if you are interested- pop me a message. Hugs Kristen!!
Kristen,
Congratulations on 5 years of blogging and sharing. Wishing you happiness and success as you open up new doors, you never know who or what may be knocking.
Enjoy every minute.
Many congrats on 5 fantastic years, Kristen! I’ve enjoyed every minute and look forward to seeing what more you have in store. 🙂
congrats on five years – I like it around here, so I’m staying! 😉
I look forward to the additions and the makeover, and many more great years!
Happy Anniversary! I know your blog will be better than ever!
Kristen-can’t wait to see what you have in store!
You realize that five years in blogging years, is like 50 years in the real world, right?
Most blogs don’t last five months, let alone five years.
Super excited to see your new direction and even more excited to be with you on the journey. Can’t wait to see what the next five years hold, my friend.
Congratulations! I’ll still be here reading along and looking forward to the new look!
I’m a new follower but I look forward to the changes! After all, we cook for the ones we love so it seems a natural progression for the blog, right?
Cheers for doing what makes you happy!
Amy
Kristen, congratulations on what are obviously five great blogging years – I haven’t been with you that long but have thoroughly enjoyed my short time with you and definitely want to continue. I am looking forward to what you have in mind to share with us. All the best. And last but not least, your children look wonderful!
Kristen, your blog was one of the first I came across and it is one I will always come back to. Why? Because of you and your willingness to share a piece of yourself in every post. I enjoy every post I read and can’t wait to see what’s coming.
Congrats on 5 years of blogging – wow! Looking forward to the new direction of your blog, despite being 18 and a college student with no children, I always find all of your posts to be insightful and a good read. Can’t wait for what’s next, and wishing you the best of luck, and no more Iphone/Macbook glitches! 🙂
I LOVE the idea of the new blog! I am kind of in a blog funk and not sure if I will continue blogging or what it looks like….just don’t have any answers at this point.
All the best as you move forward into the new! I’ll be sticking around!
We can always compare ‘dead’ blogs. lol. There’s moneyfunk.net (I sold it and paid off my car ;)), christine.biz (which I haven’t updated in over 30 days), raw-food-list & diythesisgallery & voodoosixmedia (they all sit around almost forgotten) and a few others that were started but now finished. LOL. I’m a bit of a serial blogger. But now I have oatmeal in my bowl (which I love and can share all the other great things in my life).
So, I say kudos to you. Because the difference is, you are able to keep all things you love pretty much under one blog/site. It’s growth. And after a celebratory 5 years, its totally expected and exciting. I think its great the move you are taking.
I am sorry to hear you lost your photos. That’s a real bum. It always makes me scared to update or sync my iphone.
I can’t wait to read more about you Kristen. So much to look forward to! You will do great I know 🙂
Congratulations on 5 years, Kristen! I think the greatest thing about blogging is our thoughts, recipes, vacation and family photos are preserved forever. And then there are the friends we have made! Wonderful.
Can’t wait to read more about your journey through life!
Congrats on 5 years, wow! I’m loving the direction you’re planning on going, can’t wait!
Let me begin by congratulating you on reaching such a major milestone with your blog. Five years! That’s something to celebrate!
As for your decision to expand Dine & Dish to include thoughts about things unrelated to food, I’m 100% behind it. I’ve been toying with the idea of expanding Taste As You Go, too. Especially since writing about food has inspired me to write about other things offline. And why shouldn’t we share those thoughts? I’ve found that pigeon-holing myself into the food niche has stifled my motivation, and I’ve started resenting having to only write about food. Time to change the rules!
I can’t wait to keep reading, Kristen. All my best to you as you begin this next chapter! XO
Kristen, I remember when I just started blogging nearly three years ago and yours was one of the first blogs I followed. I’ve always enjoyed your writing and look forward to reading each new post. Can’t wait to see what you’re going to be doing next! Best wishes and congratulations on five fantastic years!
Happy Blog birthday Kristen. Glad this bloggining world brought us together! Love this space and look forward to so much more! Huge hugs! xoxo
I don’t often comment now that you have upwards of 100s of comments on your posts, BUT I do want to say that I am SOOOO happy you are doing this! ’bout time, friend!
Can’t wait for the exciting changes. 🙂 Also, congrats on 5 years…that’s awesome, and I hope to keep my blog up for at least 5 years (I’m approaching ONE!) 😉 These bread images are just to die for…now I want to bread and jam!
Congratulations on blogging for 5 years, I can’t even imagine what that’s like! I look forward to seeing and hearing more about you life 🙂
Sorry to hear about losing your photos…a reminder that I should back mine up right now! Can’t wait to see your expanding blog and new design.
Happy anniversary! I’m so looking forward to your site updates. Should be fun!
yikes. that is my nightmare – losing all my pics. thanks for the reminder that I need to find a back up solution for my back ups!
Looking forward to seeing more of your family! 🙂
Congrats Kristen! This is a huge accomplishment. You have been such a lovely and cheerful presence in the blog world and I look forward to many more posts. Your children are so beautiful!
Congratulations on 5 years! It doesn’t seem like it could possibly have been that long! I love reading your posts – about food, happiness, your kids -I enjoy all of it! I wish you much continued success and look forward to many more posts to come!
Wow! Congratulations. You truly are an inspiration to us blogging-newbies. Your success is clearly deserved.
Congrats on 5 years blogging! A huge milestone! I love that you’ve adopted your blog as your virtual scrapbook. Blogging is much more fun anyhow – we get to share it with so many more people. 🙂
It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And with every turn along the pathway, there are new discoveries, realizations, hopes. It’s great to have those as travel companions!
Congratulations on 5 years of blogging. Wow! I look forward to the new you!
Dineanddish is a member of our family. You care for it like a mother cares for a child: you take care of it when it is sick, you share you highest highs and your lowest lows, and it brings you to tears ( joy and sadness). Your readers get ideas and love your pictures and stories. You get have a platform to make friends, share your thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams. I get the best wife in the world who is creative, determined, independent, beautiful, talented, smart…
I am so proud of you. For staying with it, learning something new, finding something you love but mostly for being you. I love you.
Congratulations on 5 years! I love your blog and I can’t wait to see the new changes as they are made 🙂
I’m sticking! And look forward to what you’ll ‘dish’ out.
So sorry you lost all of those pictures. I am looking forward though to more of Dine and Dish.
Congrats on 5 years! I know personally I keep all my photos on my external hard drive, and I try to be diligent about updating, but that’s only ONE hard drive. I worry if I should have a second backup, like perhaps an online company? Oh, how I long for the days of my parents when my mom put pictures in an album, or in a shoebox. THE.END! haha
Happy blog birthday, Kristen! Yours is one of the first blogs I started reading, and one of the few that I still read regularly today! I love the direction that your blog is going – I always love seeing and hearing about your kiddos, and I’m excited to hear more about your life. I’m so excited for this next chapter!!
Can’t wait to get to know you better! Looking forward to it 🙂
Congrats on five years, and of course I’ll keep reading as you pull more of your life into the scope of the blog. Also? Those are some fierce boots your daughter has on in that picture. Dang.
You (and Dine&Dish) are such an inspiration. I look forward to seeing your new blog design in November and especially to following along for the NEXT five years!
Congratulations on 5 years! While I’ve only been a recent follower, I’ve really enjoyed browsing through your archives. In particular I’ve loved reading the little tips here and there on how to be a better blogger and your support of other bloggers. Wishing you another 5 years (and many more) of blogging!
I love this post. Mostly because you hit on a key point that I don’t see enough of – you blog for the impact you can have on others, not the traffic stats you can earn. I feel the same way about my blog and oftentimes I find that is the exception, not the norm. I’m so excited to see the new changes ahead 🙂
Congratulations on five years! Amazing, isn’t it?
I came to a similar point when I hit five years. I think it blogs are to continue to be relevant to those who write them, they must evolve and change—as our lives do.
I’m looking forward to seeing your new directions.
Wow, 5 years! Congrats. And I don’t think a soul can blame you for taking your blog in a new direction. It’s your blog and you have come this far, you should enjoy it! I love hearing about people’s families, quite honestly. ANd your comment about scrapbooking made me laugh…I have so many scrapbooking supplies upstairs, which have not been relegated to blogging props, for the most part. I don’t know if I will ever get back into it!
I was just wondering… do you have the recipe here for the bread that you’ve posted those mouthwatering pics of? 🙂
Congratulations on 5 years! I too have thought about all the food pictures I’ve taken versus pictures of my family. I usually just reserve the good camera for food. lol I’ll look forward to your new posts. Food blogging hasn’t been good for my waistline either. I’m thinking in January I’ll start doing less baking and more veggies.
So sorry about your photos. That’s just devastating. I’m excited to see how you change and where you go from here. Totally sticking around. 🙂
Happy Friday!
Heather
Congratulations on five years! That is such a feat:) I am embracing all the changes you are envisioning and looking forward to learning another thing or two from you and about you.
Because of my blog I have been unofficially elected to be the main archivist of the extended family and have spent hours scanning thousands of old photos while in Serbia. So I greet your new approach wholeheartedly!
So sorry you lost so many photos! It happened to my sister and she was heartbroken for weeks:(
My blog is an extension of a ‘recipe website’ I started almost 17 years ago and it has constantly evolved. If not for an injury that robbed me of both the ease of walking but in that difficulty I’ve lost so much time…or I would have done something similar. I”m not on the family track so much because my girls are grown but the gardening track. It’s a passion of mine as well as food and I hope to share more of ‘how my garden grows’ in coming years.
I applaud your expanding to what you love and I’m sure your readers will be delighted to stick around. Happy anniversary!
I think that is a great idea. I love all the personal things too so I will enjoy reading it all.
I feel for you losing your photos. It seems so cruel and arbitrary, though it’s a surprise to learn just how tedious and counterintuitive syncing photos from an iphone can be. Almost makes me miss my Palm device.