Year Eight. (& a Giveaway!) {CLOSED}
{Thank you all so much for entering the giveaway! The winner is commenter Beth Cook who said “I think the most memorable moment was my father moving into an assisted living home with hospice services. You just think your parents will be around for a long time to enjoy their retirement years and their grandchildren. It’s hard on my mom going back and forth despite him not really knowing when she’s been there or the last time she came. It’s hard emotionally and financially. This is NOT what they wanted to spend their retirement money on. My guilt is living three hours away. Close enough to visit, but far enough away to have to balance family life/plans.” Congrats Beth!}
This week marks my eighth year of blogging.
Which is totally insane. EIGHT YEARS?!
That’s almost ten years. Ten years is a decade. I still feel like I’m 17 so how on earth this has happened… I have no idea.
I wish that I had the words to tell you just how much I appreciate you being here and visiting the site. I know what it is like to read the same blog for eight years. You are only reading one voice. It gets repetitive and sometimes boring and it is a lot of the same thing, because it’s written by one person. I’ve come and gone and come back and re-fell in love with many of my favorite bloggers over the years. I can’t really offer you anything other than myself (okay and maybe a plethora of trashed up recipes) who might occasionally change or stay the same or repeat herself or still think that she’s 17 years old inside.
So it means the WORLD to me that you have stuck around, read these rambles, been so kind and wonderful and shared your own thoughts in our little community here. Means seriously everything to me. I actually think of you all as friends, my invisible but real BFFs.
I hope you can see that I (still!) do this because I 100% OMGloveitsomuch and even though it became my job a really long time ago, I do it as authentically as I can and because I love it and so I can share things with you in this wacky internet world.
To celebrate these eight years and frankly, to celebrate YOU who has given me the chance to do this for so long, I’m giving away a $1000 amazon gift card to one lucky reader. This giveaway is not sponsored and given by me to show my appreciation for you. Giveaway is open to everyone and anyone!
To ENTER:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me a memorable moment you’ve had so far in 2017.
- For an extra entry, I would love if you’d preorder a copy of The Pretty Dish and leave a second comment saying you did so. You can preorder the book on amazon, barnes and noble, indiebound or books a million! I cannot thank you guys enough for giving me the chance to write another book. If you’ve already preordered, THANK YOU SO MUCH and be sure to leave a comment telling me you did so. If you decide to preorder, this is just the first of many exciting things we’re giving away!
And who knows, maybe if the internet is around, I’ll be here in another eight years! xoxoxo
2,292 Comments on “Year Eight. (& a Giveaway!) {CLOSED}”
I preorderd the book from Amazon on the day you announced it, can’t wait to see it!
Memorable moment in 2017 – my youngest starting kindergarten. The image of watching her older sister take her hand and lead her into the school is burned into my memory. (It just happened last week, so I suppose it could fade with time. I hope not, though!)
And I preordered the book the first day it was available. I loved your last book and your blog is my favorite, so it was a no brainer!
My most memorable moment was going on safari in South Africa in March!
I think I have been following you as long as you’ve been blogging! In fact, you’re the first blog in my “food bloggers” list.
My most memorable moment of 2017 (so far) was our 25th anniversary trip to St. Martin. We’ve been many times before but because we were celebrating this anniversary it was extra special. St. Martin is the island that was just completely destroyed by hurricane Irma so I am ever so grateful for the 10 days we had there in June.
My memorable moment is having my first baby in May!
My 2.5 year old started a little preschool this year and it breaks my heart! I cannot handle how they grow up so quickly!!! I love you and your blog! Congrats and I cannot wait for the next 8 years!
I pre-ordered your book when you made the initial announcement! Thanks!
My entire 2017 was learning how to be a mama to my sweet baby boy!
My most memorable moment(s) of 2017 have been watching my baby girl turn into a toddler & become more & more of her own little person!
I would say my wedding was my most memorable moment of 2017 :)
Love your blog-definitely one of my favorites that I always check in on! Congrats on 8 years of doing something you really love. That’s awesome!!
Best of 2017 for me was my daughter being born in April, and watching my first baby (only 20 months old when his sister was born) become a big brother.
My most memorable moment in 2017 was the birth of my third child in May. Congrats to you on your second child, being a mom is the most wonderful and challenging job in the world!
my most memorable moment of 2017 was a whirlwind road trip from Indianapolis to Pensacola and back (1500 miles) in 84 hours. Just me, my husband and our 3 kids on the road. It was awesome!
So exciting for you! My memorable moment this year wasn’t over summer break, we took our kids on a boat and pulled them on a three person tube! It was a blast! My four kids are under six, so it was super exciting for them!
My most memorable moment is yet to come. It will be turning 40 on 9/22. EEEEEK!
Finding out I passed the NC Bar Exam and being offered a job in NC all in the same day !!! THIs meant I could reunite with my husband who was offered his dream job a few months before in NC !
I actually already preordered the book! thank you and good luck!
I’ve been a reader for almost five years and have loved getting to know you and your life. Thank you for sharing with us! This year has been pretty wonderful for me actually. Happy in my relationship, love my job, settling into the house I bought, family is happy and healthy. Just grateful for my life at the moment. Hope it stays this way!
Totally pre-ordered The Pretty Dish! Thank you for taking such care in it’s production.
Love your posts and your recipes! Most memorable moment – finding out our first child (around Max’s age!) is going to be a big sister :)
my wedding!
thank you for eight wonderful years, Jessica
What a generous giveaway–thank you! My most memorable moment of this year has been my son’s birth in June!
Girl, I love your blog and your rambles! I read them every day – please don’t ever stop. One of the most memorable moments of this year came during a trip to the East Coast for my grandma’s funeral. The funeral part wasn’t fun, but spending time with family who lives 2,000 miles from me … being close to them, sharing laughter and stories, it refreshed my soul. And… I know grandma was smiling down from Heaven, beaming that we were all together. It doesn’t happen that often, so it’s definitely a moment to cherish.
My most memorable moment was seeing the eclipse! Talk about a once in a lifetime event!
ps. I think this is my first time commenting on your blog though I’ve been reading since 2010!
My most memorable, or I should say significant, experience of this year was having back surgery in August- hoping for a positive outcome after recovery!
My daughter was born in November 2016, so 2017 has been full of her firsts…all memorable and special. Hopefully, she’ll say “mama” before 2018. :-)
My memorable moment for the year was traveling outside of the US for the first time (except for Canada). We went to Taiwan to visit my son!
I would say that this whole year has been eventful, but the most eventful was receiving the phone call that I got my new job!!!
Happy blogging anniversary! I love you site and your recipes – thank you so much for posting them all!
I just returned from celebrating my little sister’s beautiful wedding to her wife, and my 11 month old son was the ring bearer, so it was definitely a memorable weekend.
Can’t wait to get your cookbook!
Pre-ordered the new book! Loved the first, can’t wait for this one!!!
Hoping my most memorable is yet to come for 2017- have been trying for a baby. Thanks for such a great giveaway.
congrats jess! 8 years! AMAZING! cheers to 8+ years more!
xoxo
My most memorable moment of 2017 (so far!) was finding out I was pregnant with baby #2! Your mocktails have been a lifesaver this summer! :)
My memorable moment of 2017 was celebrating my grandfather’s 99th birthday with him and my family. The look on his face as he blew out his candles was just joyful.
Congrats on the blogging anniversary! I’ve been following you for a third of my life at this point which feels unreal!
I had my first baby on June 9th! It’s hard to top that. :)
preordered at the earliest time! so so excited for the new book!
A memorable moment for me was visiting my sweet baby niece in Texas this past spring break!! Thank you for doing this giveaway- that’s so generous. I really appreciate that you do not do many sponsored posts – I feel like you are so genuine!
I found out I’m expecting our first baby :) so I think that’s counts as pretty darn memorable and exciting!
So far my most memorable moment of 2017 was starting my new job in NYC that I absolutely love. Congrats on 8 years!!! Can’t wait for your new book. :)
2017 has brought a (almost-due 10/19)) second child into our family as well as new career opportunities and lots of personal growth for moi! I can’t wait for this next chapter of our lives as a family of 4. What fun and chaos it will bring!!! ;)
My most memorable moment was welcoming our new baby Q into the family <3
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far was when I found out I was pregnant in January. I think that will probably be overshadowed sometime in the next few weeks when my first baby makes her arrival!
Congratulations on 8 years and thank you for a chance to win such a thoughtful giveaway. I’ve followed your blog for years and have purchased your book as a gift. I bought so many of the baby items you suggested and so far your suggestions on those and beauty items have never let me down! My most memorable moment of the year was the first time my daughter told me she loved me, sweet music to any moms ears!
Some of the most memorable moments this year have been hosting dinners with great friends around my huge wood farm table! Great conversations and great food.
Eight years! I’ve been following diligently along, making and baking your recipes as often as possible, since the beginning! My most memorable moment of 2017 so far was a whirlwind trip to London and Barcelona where we took in the sights, explored new places and most importantly ate our way through both cities! Cheers to eight+ more years!
I have a feeling my most memorable moment is going to be my trip to Europe that I leave for tomorrow! Eeeek!
My most memorable moment in 2017 was on my 30th birthday and our first anniversary trip to England, Ireland and Scotland. We were driving the Ring of Kerry (and managed to stay married!) and saw the most incredibly vibrant rainbow I’ve ever seen. Of course my phone completely died at that moment and by the time we stopped and I got the camera out it had started to fade, but a picture wouldn’t have captured it better than our memories!
I specifically recall reading a post(ages ago!)about Mac Talent Pool eyeshadow…and sticking around ever since because we not had like makeup and Rebecca Minkoff and, um, a lot of chocolate. One of the blogs closest to my heart.
The most memorable thing that happened to me in 2017 was getting engaged two weeks ago! (I’m from north jersey so it made PERFECT sense that we got engaged on holiday in Asbury Park.) ❤️
The birth of my 2nd daughter.