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}”
My milestone moment for 2017 has been watching my little guy start Kindergarten and LIKE it. I can’t believe he’s this old already, and he’s funny and smart and loving and I can’t imagine life without him.
Congrats on 8 years, Jessica!
my best moment was seeing my dear aunt and uncle who live in England after 4 years!
Love all your recipes and gorgeous photos! My highlight this year was a milestone birthday – 50 – eeek.
Memorable moment: seeing the sun rise over Machu Picchu after completing the Inca Trail! Love your blog; congrats on 8 years!
Finding out our rainbow baby was alive and kicking at the 8 week ultrasound!
I’m so excited for your book! This is my favorite recipe website and I love to come here for inspiration. My most memorable moment so far of 2017 was watching the solar eclipse on the beach on my birthday!!!
My most memorable moment this year was being declared cancer free!
Love it, congrats! A lot has happened in 2017 but had wonderful vacations in Italy and Alaska!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was the birth of my daughter, Eliana. I love, love, love your blog. I discovered it a few years ago and I checking it is part of my dialy routine!
How very sweet of you to offer this to your readers! My most memorable moment of 2017 so far is my youngest child starting kindergarten – the beginning of the end! :-(
Happy 8 years! Wow! I have been reading your blog for almost that long. It seems like a blink of an eye. I love your recipes and commentary. It’s refreshing! My most memorable moment so far would be spending my birthday at a Royals/Red Sox game with my sister and nephew. They flew to Boston from the Midwest to celebrate the weekend. It was so great to have them here and be with my family!
Congrats again on the anniversary and i hope you are around for at least another 8 years!
I got engaged this year! Pretty memorable so far.
Most memorable moments was having baby Hannah (yesterday), and seeing how much her 3 siblings love her. But, many of the moments that stick out to me vividly are kind of mundane this year. Small things that really nail something important just the same.
Congratulations on 8 years. Your blog is one of the few where I actually make recipes! ;-)
I preordered your gorgeous book. Congratulations on eight years of blogging!
I have an almost 2 year old soooo every day is a new adventure with that lil love nugget. Couldn’t pick just one :)
Our trip to Italy this summer was the most memorable!
Memorable moment of 2017 – On August 28, after years of hard work, I earned my PhD in public health! This was also a memorable food and family moment for me because after my defense, my parents threw me a traditional Chinese banquet. Growing up that sort of honor was reserved for elders and other family bigwigs. I’m still feeling humbled and joyful about it – an example of how food is so much more than just food. :) Congratulations and thank you for 8 years of recipes!
My best moment in 2017 was 1:36 a.m. on February 5, when my first baby was born – a boy :) I read your baby posts over and over and over when I was pregnant, absorbing every detail! Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes and life with us.
I went on an amazing backpacking trip in the Adirondacks during 4th of July weekend. We camped on a peninsula, surrounded by water, with no other people in sight. It was glorious.
It has been a whirlwind doozy of a year but my most memorable item of 2017 is telling my husband that he ruined my fun summer by getting me pregnant. Just kidding…kind of. Our first is due in late November! All of your swooning over Max has helped me to ease into the idea that life not revolving around me will be an awesome adventure and I’m looking forward to having a helper in the kitchen. Good luck with baby #2 for you too!
My most memorable moment was the birth of my first child, my son, Elias! The last 11 weeks have been a roller coaster, but well worth every second. I haven’t kept up with your blog as much as usual, but I have revisited your lactation cookie recipe multiple times, so huge thanks for that! Congrats on 8 years well spent, I love your blog!
This year my daughter start talking and didn’t stop yet ;) Congrats on your book and thanks for this giveaway.
My entire summer has been memorable! Congrats on the second book – cannot wait to have it in my hands!
My most memorable memory was moving into a different state, new jobs, church, schools and the whole nine yards! Lots of fun 💕
I preordered! Woop!
Most memorable moment of 2017 was volunteering with a non-profit organization in Cape Town, South Africa. I learnt so much from the experience there, and am now working with them for the launch of their US branch in Philadelphia later in the year! :)
Most memorable moment of this year was marrying my husband
Also, I pre-ordered a copy of The Pretty Dish as soon as I could! So excited for it!
My favorite moment of 2017 so far is when my brother and sister-in-law told me I’m going to be an aunt :)
Congrats on eight fabulous years! I simply adore your blog.
2017 brought me my second baby boy! My oldest is the exact same age as Max, so believe me when I say you’re in for a super fun ride.
It’s funny how when you look back, either the bad or the great is what your remember. This year has been pretty stressful for me, but I did get to visit Japan on a work trip (Mount Fuji can put your problems in perspective). More amazing than that was spending time exploring the national parks in Arizona and Utah. It is truly magnificent.
After 40 years in the same house my parents moved across the country so they could be closer to my brother and I.
My most memorable moment so far in 2017 is giving birth to my daughter! I definitely used your “Baby Favorites” as a guide! Congrats on 8 years!
A trip I took up to Northern Michigan with my husband and daughter, just the 3 of us! :)
Congratulations on 8 years. I’ll preorder today; I keep meaning to, so might as well do it now! Love your blog
I have pre-ordered The Pretty Dish and I am looking forward to its spring release!
The most memorable moment was finding out on Mother’s Day that I am expecting my second child in January!
Hi Jess! This year I turned 30 and celebrated with my friends and family. It was an amazing day that I will never forget.
I hope you know that your blog is so beautiful to the eye. I love reading your recipes and viewing your photos! and your commentary doesn’t hurt either ;-). I’ve followed you for close to 5 years now and it’s been wonderful to see you and your family grow. Looking forward to many more recipes!
Jesse
Congrats! My most memorable event from 2017 was a surprise 30th birthday- really overwhelming.
Most memorable moment of 2017 was spending 5 days on a Disney cruise celebrating my parents 50th anniversary. It was wonderful to be there with my sister and all our kids celebrating the love that brought us all into existence.
I have to say my most memorable moment is realizing how this world isn’t what I thought it was. Not to get into politics but I have to say, I will do everything I can to change how this world treats women, immigrants, African Americans and LGBTQ people. I have been woken up! Maybe not quite what you were looking for but truthful, all the same. My daughters deserve better than this.
I have pre-ordered your book. Excited for its release!
My favorite memory this year so far is hiking in the white mountains in New Hampshire with my family.
My most memorable moment was finding out I am pregnant with baby #2 just one week ago! So excited :)
I feel like that moment will be happening next month, we’re going on a much needed vacation to VT and I can’t wait!
My most memorable moment was moving back to Washington, DC with my husband and puppy! Would make a good book tour location :)
Also, I preordered your book and can’t wait til March!
Congrats on eight years! Memorable moment: lying on a blanket in a shady part of my backyard this summer watching my husband and baby goof around together and thinking about how happy I am with my little life.
I think the most memorable moment I had this year was going to my first ever wedding (of someone I know – I had catered a bunch) and seeing the absolute love and emotion the bride and groom felt! So incredible!
The most memorable moment of my 2017 was moving to San Francisco – and loving it so far!
Thanks for keeping up this blog, it is my go to for all recipes and so fun to read! :)
My favorite memory from this year has been a spontaneous trip to spend a long weekend with my grandparents. Lots of card games and reminiscing about old times!