I’ve been running Freebies2Deals.com for 5 1/2 years. Can you believe it??! I can’t. It’s amazing how much Freebies2Deals has grown and successful it has become because of all of you.
Before I go any further, let me just say NOTHING is changing on Freebies2Deals. No, I’m not leaving. No, I’m not selling. I’m not going anywhere. 🙂
With the growth of Freebies2Deals, it’s turned into more of a business. I don’t know how to explain that in any other way other than I spend WAY more time dealing with emails from companies wanting to do exclusive discounts, giveaways or announcing special deals than I do actually doing the fun stuff— posting and finding deals! The growth and success of Freebies2Deals has also been a huge blessing for our family financially and has been able to financially benefit Freebies2Deals readers helping them save on everything from Christmas presents to everyday household essentials. The whole thing is quite remarkable to me! Who would have thought??!
However…. the one thing I miss (a lot!) is being able to post about whatever I want, whenever I want. The more people who started reading Freebies2Deals, the more pressure I felt to make sure I found a certain number of things to post that would work for the majority of you, find the best deals and keep everything on a strict posting schedule. It’s burned me out.
I feel pressure to do my absolute best for you guys, respond to your comments, answer your questions on social media and I try REALLY hard to answer every email I see. I wake up in the morning at 7am–not because my kids are awake but because I don’t want to let you guys down. And I know you guys are counting on me to post awesome deals and be there for you. Be there for you on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, every Holiday and for every amazing deal that pops up. The thing is about this stress…. it comes with the territory! And I totally understand that! I LOVE that so many families out there use Freebies2Deals to help them save money!
If you have been a reader for awhile and know a little about me, you know that I love fashion, I love beauty, I love makeup and I love to travel. I mean, all of the money I save from deal hunting, price matching and couponing goes towards vacations, clothing or makeup. After we got out of debt, had savings and were in a stable financial situation, my goal has always been to continuously live a fabulous life for less. So as I was thinking about how to make my life fun again, the thought occurred to me…. maybe I should just start a new blog that focuses on those things that I just LOVE??
There is no way I could just completely change Freebies2Deals and start adding in How-To’s, Fashion Posts, Beauty Posts or Travel Posts… I think there would probably be an uproar. (Haha, wouldn’t that be fun to watch?! ) I know what kinds of things you guys are looking for, what deals you guys are searching for and with so many people expecting that one thing, I knew it wasn’t something I could easily incorporate into Freebies2Deals.
So I am announcing today that I have launched a brand new blog with my sister, Alexi. It’s called OurFashionMAP. Our goal is not to post a billion pictures of high-fashion and expensive items that are out of your price range… Our Goal is to post about EVERYDAY Fashion and Beauty Finds. And occasionally, we might share items we splurge on. We both follow some amazing fashion bloggers out there. We drool over their gorgeous pictures and their amazing style. But we know it’s not realistic to look like a supermodel everyday (not that we will ever claim to look like models in the first place, lol). And as much as we would love to own 20 Pairs of Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo or Valentino heels, it’s just not realistic for most women and moms out there. So that’s why we really want to focus on the Everyday and share some of our favorites!
Some of you might be thinking, “If you are burnt out, how can you do another blog?” With this blog, I only have to post 3 times a week—not 50 billion like I do on Freebies2Deals. And the most amazing part of this new blog is that nothing is time-sensitive! That means that I can post whenever I want and schedule them to post at a certain time. I’m positive it will give me that breath of fresh air I have been looking for and give me a chance to share more about me with all of you! I will be able to finally post about what I want to post about without having to worry about it being a good enough deal, or being related to a deal at all. (Something that I continually worry about.)
I also think that by giving me something fresh, it will re-excite my love for Freebies2Deals! Some of you know that with the growth of Freebies2Deals and keeping up with demand, that I actually have hired a few stay-at-home Moms (who are also F2D Readers) to help me run the website. There are so many details and things that go into posts, social media and all of those ridiculously long Grocery Deal posts. Without them, I would have crashed a long time ago not being able to keep up. I’ve already felt that excitement about more deal-related things to share and post for you guys as I have been building OurFashionMAP. Just like a graphic designer or artist, sometimes you just need a little inspiration to give you that jolt you need to be fabulous again!!
With that said, I know not all of you care about Fashion, Beauty, Makeup or Travel. And that’s totally ok! This is what I am passionate about and what I want (and need) to share. I get asked by you guys all of the time where I purchase clothing, how I get my hair to curl like it does, what my favorite makeup brands are… and after doing those Fashion Fridays as a test to see how many of you loved that kind of stuff too, I knew that it would be a fun blog for a lot of Freebies2Deals readers. So if that is you, head on over to OurFashionMAP.com and take a look! We only have 6 posts up so far. But you will get a new post from me or Alexi every day from here on out!
Thanks to all of you for reading Freebies2Deals and being so supportive and just awesome! Like I said at the beginning of the post, absolutely nothing will change here on Freebies2Deals. I actually think it will get even better now that I have a creative outlet to share all of that suppressed information I haven’t been able to share before!
Here’s a little more information about OurFashionMAP, who we are and an intro to my sister, Alexi! Join us on the new blog, on the Our Fashion MAP Facebook Page and Our Fashion MAP on Instagram! And because I will always love Giveaways (no matter what kind of blog I am running) you can bet you will see a pretty amazing giveaway this next week on OurFashionMAP. Get excited!!
Love you all,
kate
can’t wait to follow!!
http://www.studentswife.com
http://www.studentswife.com
Debbie
I think this is a great idea! You have amazing fashion and beauty sense and I would love to read more about it. I was a little worried when I started to read I am glad you something before I continued on. I think this is a wonderful idea for you and look forward to reading all about it 🙂
Melea Johnson
Thanks Debbie! Hope you like it!
Jessica
Good for you! I can totally see how you could burn out and that’s the last thing you need since kids should be your top priority. A sane happy mommy is the best thing you can do for your kids, so follow your passion and be happy!
Melea Johnson
Thanks so much Jessica!
Nancy
I wish you good luck on your new adventure and I will follow you there too. I think a lot of us can benefit from a fashion blog for “busy moms” I’m raising 4 kids (ages 7, 4, 2 and 9 months) yes! I don’t have a LV purse and I don’t think I ever will but I love my kids and I would love to look good again. I don’t know the definition of “mom’s pants” or anything else…the only thing I know is how NOT to look naked LOL seriously ðŸ™
So I think I’m as excited as you are with the blog.
Melea Johnson
Haha, Thanks Nancy!!
Erin
What a wonderful idea! I will definitely be following. In the midst of raising three kids, my looks sometimes (okay most of the time) fall to the wayside, which isn’t awesome. I would welcome budget-friendly tips. Wishing you both luck in your new endeavor!
Melea Johnson
I totally hear you! Being a Mom is definitely not glamorous…. Hopefully the new blog gives us all a little motivation. 🙂
Jourdan
How do I follow along your new blog by email?! I looked for a way, but couldn’t find a subscribe box! The blog lovin link didn’t work either..
Thanks!
Melea Johnson
Hey Jourdan, We are working on an email option. I’m hoping we should have something set up within a week! Stay tuned. 🙂
Kira
I love this idea! I also must say that in regards to Freebies2Deals, it is YOUR site, and you should be able to post whatever you want here too. If it isn’t what someone is looking for, than they can look elsewhere. You shouldn’t feel that kind of pressure. I love this site and check it daily. I started couponing about a year and a half ago and always check your site for the Walmart deals. Sometimes they are different up where I live in Davis county, so if you ever need someone up this way, I would be happy to help out. I’m excited to check out your new blog, and am following on FB and IG now!
Melea Johnson
Yeah, I agree with you Kira! But after doing it a certain way for so many years, I think readers would have a hard time with me changing everything. 😉 So glad you are excited about the new blog. Hope you like it!! I will keep you in mind if I need more helpers!
Allyson
I love this!
Cami R.
I’ve been following your blog for 5 years now! 🙂 You’re my go-to gal for so many reasons! With everything you do for the page and how many different types of posts you make, I’m always amazed at how you keep up. But I am glad you get an outlet now too. Congratulations and good luck!
Melea Johnson
Thanks Cami! I really appreciate it!
Lana
Good for you Melea! I am so happy for your success and I’m totally psyched about the new website. Thank you for Freebies2Deals, I love it. 🙂
Melea Johnson
Thanks Lana!!!
*LyndiLou*
I’m happy to see that you’ve decided to do something that you love! That always makes me happy. 🙂 I love and appreciate your hard work on Freebies 2 Deals so I’m glad to see that you’re balancing out the things you love AND ways to help each of us. THANK YOU!
Melea Johnson
Thanks LyndiLou!! 🙂
Kelly
Ok I definitely think you are crazy for starting a new blog. I work from home a couple hours a week and no way could I do anymore than that! However, you are so much like me. The reason I work so hard to save money in other areas of my life are to splurge on fashion, make-up, and especially TRAVEL!!!