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’ve had a very memorable 2017! But by far, my favorite moment has been finding out I am pregnant with my first after having some health struggles this year. Certainly feeling blessed and loving your pregnancy posts even more this time around!
Of course I preorded! I can’t wait for the sequel!
Memorable moment of 2017-probably my daughter, Charlotte, saying “mama” for the first time. Never was there ever a more precious sound. She will be two in November. Please stop time!
Jess-it is a pleasure reading your blog! Thank you for being you, for providing a place of inspiration, relaxation, and frankly therapy at times :)
I YOLO’d and quit my job with an NFL team, moved from Maryland to Oklahoma to be closer to the cowboy of my dreams, and started a new job in healthcare. Best decision of my life.
My most memorable moment this year was going to Hawaii with my boyfriend :) we are in a long-distance relationship so I always cherish getting to spend an extended period of time with him. Also the food was AMAZING
My most memorable moment this year was when I was having high tea at The Orangery in Kensington Gardens in London with my daughter and husband. That was one of the best trips of my life.
I also pre-ordered your cookbook and I can’t wait to receive it!!! So excited to read and cook from it. Thank you!
Wow! Such a generous giveaway! Happy to keep reading your spunky and delicious blog posts! And all your pregnancy posts, so great! My most memorable moment so far has been moving out into my first apartment with my boyfriend!
A highlight of my 2017 so far was traveling to Boston with my husband as he ran his first Boston Marathon.
My most memorable moment was I finally found my “one” (I’m 34) and got married in June. We up and moved across the country and are figuring out our new lives together and in a new place. Love having him with me!
My most memorable moment of 2017 is all the traveling I’ve gotten to do this year. I guess that’s more than one moment, but I’ve gotten to take some amazing trips through both work and personal, and it’s been so fun to explore.
The most memorable moment of 2017 is our trip to Disneyland!! Can’t wait to go back and do it again!
A highlight of my year so far was taking my boys to Disney World for the first time! I did not expect to have as much fun as I did, as a parent. Seeing everything through their eyes was magical, and we cannot wait to go back!
Jess, congrats on 8 years! I love reading your blog and LOVE your recipes!!! Srsly, I make something from your first cookbook at least once a week.
2017… I joined the PTA board at my daughter’s school. It’s a huge commitment, but I love feeling like a part of the school community.
Please keep going for another 8 years!!!!!!! <3 You're a ray of sunshine!!
Preordered the book on Amazon last week! Very excited to get it next year and see you on the book tour again!
Also, I preordered your book from Amazon and CAN’T WAIT for it to arrive!!!!! Are you coming to California for a book signing??
Most memorable moment: getting a new kitten and welcoming her into our home & lives! <3
2017 was the year I learned how to make CHEESE! Lookout world!
Also I pre-ordered your book and can’t wait to drool over all the pages
My most memorable moment was standing on a beach in Denmark and looking at the coast of Sweden with one of my friends!
I just moved! While the move is only from Boston to NYC it has been a big adjustment. This amazon gift card would be a huge lifesaver helping my fiance and I get settled into our new place.
p.s. I pre-ordered your book! Can’t wait!
This August I started my dream job teaching art history as an assistant professor at a university. The moment that I got the call that I received the position was EASILY the highlight of my 2017. Eight years of graduate school paid off! I had taken refuge in the recipes from your blog through all the ups and downs of the job market, so thank you!!
One current highlight is that I just got to host an open house celebrating my dad’s 90th birthday and my mom’s 85th.
Congratulations on eight years!! That’s such an incredible milestone, and I hope you’re celebrating it accordingly (with cake, obviously) ;)
A big moment that happened for me (and my family) this year was taking a family cruise to Europe! Two of my cousins are adopted from Russia, and a stop in St. Petersburg was part of the itinerary for the cruise, making it the first time since they were babies that they would be back in the country. It was a little nerve wracking when it came time to get into the country from the cruise ship (and out of it back onto the cruise ship!) but once the scary part was over we all had an incredible, exhausting day taking in as much of St. Petersburg as possible. Our last stop of the day? The Vodka Museum for dinner and a tour of the museum complete with shots! I was lucky enough to have had the chance to visit Russia years before while studying abroad, so going back and being able to see the sights again, plus some new ones, all with my family was truly special and something none of us will forget.
Although I was fortunate enough to take some amazing trips this year, my most memorable moment of 2017 was celebrating my daughter’s first birthday. It was a joy to see her surrounded by so many people who love her.
After being a stay at home mom for 10 years my youngest started kindergarten this year so I am working again. Very memorable! Also…trying not to say “potty.”
Wow eight years! I remember when I first came across your blog in college, it was one of the first blogs I started following consistently. Thanks for sharing all that you do! My most memorable moment in 2017 has been all of the traveling I have been able to do through my job, it’s amazing to see so many cities and how diverse we are despite everything that is going on.
Happy 8 years!! My big memorable moment of this year was learning I was pregnant with mine and my husband’s first child-and everything that’s happened as a result!!
♥
So 2017 has been all about work for me. I’ve settled a bunch of big cases, and am getting ready for a trial rigt now. The big moment has been taking over another person’s practice. Hopefully I get some time off soon
Congrats Jessica!!
The highlight of my year has been the birth of my brother’s baby. Congratulations on your new book! Thank you for all the great recipes over the years.
Oh and I just pre-ordered your book! I’m so excited to receive it!
Most memorable moment was my wedding day. Also the day 3 weeks later we found out we were pregnant! Love your blog so much, cook from it weekly!
Preordered on amazon a few days ago!
Congratulations on your book, it looks and sounds fabulous. I have enjoyed quite a few of your recipes from this blog so I’m certain I’ll enjoy the book as well. My most memorable moment so far this year has been the purchasing of our first home together.
Love your blog – hope it’s around for many, many more years! Going to the State Fair with my teen children in the rain – we had a blast. :)
A memorable moment for me this year was being stupid enough to get a puppy! Yikes.
The birth of my son was my most memorable moment. He’s almost 6 months old now and we went to storytime together at the library for the first time today 💜. I was pregnant with my first when you had Max and I ate up all your baby updates. Can’t wait for more!
My memorable moment I’ve had so far in 2017 is a tie between seeing my husband finish his first half marathon where he raised over $5k for charity and finding out we are expecting baby #2!! Congrats on your blog-anniversary!
I graduated from vet school!
Falling in love with an old friend when I was about to give up on ever finding someone.
The internet should stick around just for you and How Sweet Eats alone.
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far was finishing my first year of medical school! :)
Most memorable moment – becoming an aunt for the second time – yay for nephews!!
I travelled to Australia in 2017. Its been a bucket list travel destination for me for years.
I applied to Postgrad programs this past July and the moment I got an acceptance to my top choice was probably the greatest of 2017. : )
My highlight of 2017 so far was celebrating my first baby’s 1st birthday!
Congrats on eight years! I’ve been following for at least six, and I love your creative recipes and fearlessness to try new things. My most memorable moment of 2017 has been moving to Chicago on my own to start grad school!
My most memorable moment was getting an offer for a summer internship!
Vacation! Most memorable moment for sure, it was a lovely time with friends.
Well last year I gave birth to my first, and every moment has been special! She just turned one this last week and it has been so amazing to see how she has grown throughout this whole first year! Congratulations on eight years for you! That is so incredible, I know I couldn’t keep with a blog for a year let alone EIGHT!!!
Wow, how generous of you! I look forward to your posts every day! My most memorable moment this year has been getting engaged!
2017 will always be a big year for us, not only was our fourth child born, but our oldest started first grade last week. So much exciting change!