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}”
Congratulations! Biggest event of the year, finding out I’m having a baby in December!
Most memorable moment of 2017 so far has definitely been seeing my 1 and 2 yos hug and kiss each other on their own accord. I can’t wait for you to experience sibling love :)
Congratulations on year eight!
My memorable moment was skiing in a historic snowstorm.
Also, I preordered the book, can’t wait.
My most memorable moment of 2017 thus far has been a family reunion trip I had the joy of attending in Miami in January (kicked the year off right!) . My thoughts are with Florida at this time, however, as a Canadian I will thrilled to go to beautiful South Florida in January. What a beautiful place.
My most memorable moment of the year (so far!) is finding out I am expecting my second child. It’s been fun to follow along with your pregnancy at the same time as mine!
This is such a generous offer from you! Thanks for sharing such great content everyday!
My favorite moment of 2017 so far was finally buying a place in Brooklyn, NY!
My most memorable moment in 2017 was getting married to the love of my life!!!!
I pre-ordered the book. Can’t wait to get it!!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was an amazing family vacation at Mount Rainier National Park.
My most memorable moment in 2017…my first trip to Europe! Went to Paris, Florence and Amalfi!
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far was taking a short vacation at a lake this summer and making memories with my little family. Watching the sunset and going out for ice cream with my 3 year old. And putting my baby in a swimsuit with her chubby thighs showing. So good! Lots of delicious food and no housework for a couple days!
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far is my trip to Charleston, SC just a couple weeks ago. Thanks for your generosity!
I had a baby! Totally rocked my world :)
I also pre-ordered the book! Can’t wait!!
Wow, what a generous giveaway! I first encountered you via a Whirl magazine feature (I think?) and I’ve been reading since the beginning :)
My most memorable moment this year was my daughter’s first trip to the beach. There are no words to explain how it feels to watch your child take in the ocean.
I started my grad school program this year! It was a bit intimidating, but I’m so glad I made the decision and I couldn’t be happier with my choice. 2017 has turned out to be a great one!
My most memorable moment of 2017, was marrying the love of my life and celebrating with all our family and friends! It was truly one of the best days of my life :)
By far my most memorable moment this year was getting engaged in Scotland this summer!
And I preordered your book, can’t wait!
Wow! This is a great giveaway. I love reading your blog and so many of your recipes are our favorites.
I have 18 month old twins so there have been SO many memorable moments this year. They’ve recently started talking more and I think that has been the most fun – they love learning new words and it’s fun to see them try to figure it out.
Love your blog! I have been following along for most of those 8 years!
My most memorable moments of 2017 have been watching my 2 and 6 year old play together and love each. You are going to love having two!
I also pre-ordered your book!
My memorable moment was the end of 2016/into 2017 but my boyfriend got a new heart! He was on the transplant list. He just started back at work in August and we moved in together. Happy days!
We became home owners in 2017! Pretty exciting, scary and stressful; but worth it!
Congratulations- I love your blog. Some of my favorite memories from this year have been learning how to ski- can’t wait for the return of cold weather!
A memorable moment of 2017 for me was visiting the Oregon coast with my nephews! It was fun exploring the tidepools, racing away from the waves, making fish tacos for everyone with my sister, and even the sunburn was worth it. :)
I pre-ordered and CAN’T WAIT for your second cookbook! My most memorable moment in 2017 has been celebrating 10 years of marriage with my sweetie! :)
Wow, congrats! My favorite moment was celebrating a friend’s 40th with a disco party. Good times. Also loved seeing my youngest learn how to walk. Always one of my favorite baby milestones!
As a native new yorker, showing my 3 year old son the statue of liberty and having him say “I love Lady Liberty”
Even though it’s the same person writing your blogs, you have evolved as a person, and I’ve truly enjoyed reading along all these years. I’m happy for all the success you’ve worked hard for. :) My most memorable moment in 2017 was spending my nephew’s first year birthday with him. I never knew I could love a baby/toddler so much. He makes me smile every day and has brought so much joy to my whole family.
If i had to pick just one, My most memorable moment of 2017 is taking a trip to Vegas to celebrate my step daughters 21st birthday!!! But I am lucky to say my year is full of memorable moments that are not that exciting, but so special to me.
Love your blog, and thanks for sharing all your beautiful milestones with us.
Eating baked ziti while waiting for hurricane Irma to hit. All the while my roommate’s parents’ dog barks at me every time I glance in her general direction.
My most memorable moment of 2017 was when my dietitian declared me free of anorexia that I had been battling with for 6 years! Feels so good
Congratulations! I’ve been following your blog since the beginning and so many of your recipes are staples in our household! I have a 10 month old so I’ve had a lot of special moments so far this year, but I think getting my baby to laugh for the first time was the best. It was such a cool motherhood moment, I’ll never forget it. Cheers to more years of recipes!
A recent memorable moment for me was being accepted to a dance training program after auditioning, which was a huge test of my confidence in itself!
Memorable… hmmm, not a great memory but STUCK in my brain and nose cause it wasn’t very long ago but my dog got skunked! First time ever and its been 3 weeks and there’s still PEE YEWW when he’s wet.
2nd entry, I already pre-ordered your book last week!
Holy crap! My recent memorable moment was loading a really heavy stone over bar, which flabbergasted even myself!
In 2017, I had my son – two kids has been a lot busier – but my new little one is such a love.
My most memorable moment of 2017 was exactly 6 months ago when I gave birth to my baby boy, Eli.
My most memorable moment this year was getting our dog, Rosie! <3
I have loooved reading your blog over all these years, and I’m so happy for you! Thank you for sharing your life with us all. <3 My most memorable moment of 2017 so far has been getting a matching tattoo with my best friend to celebrate TEN years of friendship. We met in high school at a very awkward stage in both of our lives, and bonded over our love for everything Disney and Disneyland. Our tattoo is the outline of Minnie Mouse on our ankles. While for me this is mostly a tattoo about our friendship, for my friend it also commemorates her grandmother who passed away from cancer when we were in college. Her grandmother was like a second mother to her, and my friend's love for Disney stems from childhood trips to Disneyland with her whole family. I was so touched that she let me share this super meaningful piece of her life with her.
Taking our three girls to Disneyland for their first time! Magical!
Thank you for taking us on this wonderful ride with you over the last eight years! My most memorable moment in 2017 was the women’s march in January, which was also on my birthday. It could have been a dark day, but instead was such a beautiful time being surrounded by my best friends and eating glitter sprinkle cake and remembering that we get out of life what we put into it. It helped set the tone for the rest of this year!
Positive memorable moment: Vacationing in Vail. It convinced me we need to move to CO!
Related, negative memorable moment: Our first big storm since we moved to FL. Thanks, Irma, for re-affirming the above resolution to move to CO.
Taking a cruise to Alaska and seeing glaciers and sled dogs for the first time!
My most memorable moment so far this year was going on a (belated) honeymoon with my husband!
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My most memorable moment was planning my wedding! woo!