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}”
The day I decided to run a booth at a flea market and then promptly realized that I wasn’t cutout for running a booth at a flea market. While the booth didn’t work out I did come up with a great name for a new nonprofit related endeavor.
Extended family vacation to Mexico!
We are celebrating our ten year wedding anniversary this month by traveling to a bunch of festivals and hanging out in a Vermont farmhouse learning how to make Scandinavian holiday bread! (My idea of paradise!). Then we will go to Mystic Seaport and do ocean-y things (his idea of paradise). Soooo excited!
Happy happy How Sweet Eats!!
Preeeeeeee-ordered!
My 2017 memorable moment is a sad one – receiving a devastating phone call to find out about the loss of a loved one. There were many small good moments as well but looking back at 2017 that’s what overshadows everything else.
In better news I have been reading your blog for years and LOVE it so much. Your passion and work ethic is inspiring and it’s so refreshing to read a blog by someone so genuine. Please please please keep doing what you’re doing!!!
My personal highlight of the year was cheering on my Zags in person at the Final Four in Phoenix with my college BFF.
Family highlight was a trip to Disneyland this past summer with my Star Wars and princess loving girls.
Happy Blog Birthday to you!
Three weeks ago, I stepped into a Kindergarten/First Grade combo class for my first day of student teaching. I’m in the home stretch of making a huge career change from commercial banking to teaching special education. It was exciting, terrifying, induced anxiety and wiggles in both the little ones and myself. It’s been a crazy year going to school and working full time, but this memory stands out as it feels like the end goal is in sight. Being in the classroom with these new little friends is an adventure every day and I finally feel like a real teacher.
With all the madness of school and work, one thing has always been a constant is this blog! Congratulations on 8 years of How Sweet Eats! Before I stumbled upon this blog, I ate toast, horribly scrambled eggs, pasta, and Kraft Mac and Cheese (at the age of 22). Thank you for being an inspiration in and out of the kitchen and helping me change my life with a balance of delicious, healthy, and totally trashed up recipes. Here’s to many more years of How Sweet Eats excellence!
Pretty Dish Preordered! :)
Find your blog during a google search for enchiladas. I love your humor. Congrats on your staying power!
Personal highlight for me happened pretty recently and that was making my own ricotta and mozzarella cheese. It’s been on my bucket list for forever and I finally did it! Let me tell you there’s no way I will ever buy ricotta from the store ever again. It’s so easy and it tastes sooooo good!
Happy 8 years to you! :)
My memorable moment is going on my first trip to South America. Congrats on 8 years!
Unfortunately this year has been insanely rough so I don’t have really have any positive memorable moments. Keeping my chin up and hoping the tides will turn
pre-ordering the book right now :)
I would say our wedding was most memorable but in all honesty it was actually my honeymoon in Italy just a few weeks ago. Not only did my husband and I get to spend 2 weeks of uninterrupted time together but I came home feeling like we’ve grown as individuals and as a duo, even after 5 years of being together. Having a soulmate is really quite something special!
My second baby turned one!
Pre-ordered, of course! I just know don’t know how I’m going to wait until March!
One of the most memorable moments this year, is definitely moving back home a month ago, after traveling for my job the past few years. Nothing beats seeing your family on a regular basis and creating everyday memories again :)
Congratulations on 8 years of blogging. I’ve really enjoyed reading and trying your recipes. My most memorable moment would be finishing my side yard landscaping.
Being successful at losing weight!
Congrats!!! My memorable moment of 2017 was getting engaged to the love of my life. ❤
Happy Anniversary!! I would say I’ve been following you for a little over 5 years, maybe more.
My most memorable moment might be a little cliched but it didn’t feel like that to me – it was the birth of my son in January. I have a daughter slightly older then Max so I was already apprehensive about introducing her to her brand new brother and the impact it would have on her life and our little family. After labouring at home for as long as I could I just made it to the hospital in time to push! My daughter came to visit in hospital that night (my first ever night away from her) and I noticed she was a bit flushed and sweaty. On the way out of the hospital with her dad and nana she did a huge vomit in the corridor. It was gastro! I was discharged with my son the next day and it was so hard to go home and listen to my daughter vomit and start crying and not be able to immediately run and comfort her because I was feeding the baby and didn’t want to infect him/ myself. Luckily my mum was able to step in along with my husband and nobody else got sick! Such a crazy time, I don’t think I’ll ever forget it!
2017 has been a great year. Passing my Professional Engineers exam was definitely a highlight thus far. Still 3.5 more months to go, who knows what that will bring!
My 2017 memory would be finally after being a nurse for 20 years actually taking the step and starting my bachelor degree so I can go on and get my masters. It’s been a tough year working full-time going to school full-time and being a mom and wife but I would never take back this opportunity. I’m excited to see where this leads me
Book pre-ordered! Super excited!!
Yay! This is the only food blog that I read regularly and I hope you’re still killin it in another 8 years. Best memory of 2017 was going on a trip to Scotland with my parents and hiking in the highlands.
Never thinking about it happening again, my husband has told me he wants kids with me (I have 2 of my own before he came along)….I’m 40 and my oldest just turned 18, and my youngest will be 13 soon. So, thinking of starting over is scary but oh so exciting at the same time!
Memorable moment? Moving my daughter out of our house and into her dorm- which is weird because I also still feel 17!
I had my (first!) baby son. Nothing like love itself to break your heart wide open <3
A belated honeymoon/first international trip with my husband to France and Belgium! It was awesome and made me enthusiatic about traveling again soon (at the moment Maine is on my docket after seeing all your photos!). Cheers!
Congratulations Maxie’s mama for 8 years of blogging!
And many more to come
My most memorable moment for 2017 was May 12, 2017 . My daughter graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine We love all your creative delicious recipes and ideas
It is so wonderful to see all your posts especially when Max is in them! Now soon we will be seeing a new cute addition to your blog
My daughter absolutely LOVES 💕 little Max and we hope to meet all of you on your book tour
Thanks for bringing smiles !
My most memorable moment of 2017 has been relocating our little family back to my hometown area. Nothing beats being back near family and seeing my sons get to be a part of everything extended “family”. Congrats on 8!!
Happy blog birthday! My 2017 highlight was becoming an aunt.
Yay!! Happy blog-iversary!!! My favorite 2017 memory was celebrating our one-year wedding anniversary!!
I helped open a new physical therapy clinic this year! It’s been so much work but totally worth it!
Congrats on 8 years! My sweet baby boy turns 8 this year. How is that possible? Also, my honey and I took our first real vacation (without children!) to Europe this summer, and it was beyond-words-amazing.
A trip to Seattle for a dear friend’s wedding :)
Happy Anniversary!
Hiking in the rocky mountains, or setting sam hunt at red rocks.
Congrats on 8 years! Your recipes are a staple in our household – the summertime chickpea salad is still one of my favorite recipes of all time.
We moved to London from NJ in March – celebrating my first mother’s day in Paris was definitely my memorable moment for the year!
My Grandparents, who raised me, moved into an old peoples home last week. I still cannot believe ist. :-(
Congrats on eight years! That’s amazing! My most memorable moment so far this year was sending my last baby to kindergarten. They grow up too fast!
2017 has been a year of change – especially excited for my new job.
A perfect sunrise on our anniversary. Hands around a mug of warm tea and a family snoozing in the tent. Perfect wekend.
My memorable moment was getting my first “real” job! It’s been an adjustment and I suddenly have a new appreciation for Dilbert comics (and 30 minute meal recipes) but I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work hard and improve my skills.
I pre-ordered your book! Can’t wait.
My most memorable moment in 2017 was that I started my own blog. So exciting and scary all st the same time.
My daughter turned five and started Kindergarten. Happy blog-overs art!
My daughter’s first bday party 😍😍
My most memorable moment in 2017 was watching my son graduate from the school of education and seeing him off on his first day of teaching.
Happy 8 years and here’s to many more of your spreading sunshine to so many. Thank you.
My highlight is about to happen – I’m moving from California to Ireland for a 9-month work assignment!! So excited!!
Jessica, I love your blog from your recipes to your ramblings and beauty faves! Adds so much to my life. This years amazing moment has been my wedding and honeymoon. It’s been a whirlwind of a year in all the best ways!