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}”
Most memorable was taking on a 17 hour road trip car ride to see my parents. Good thing for books on CD
We celebrated our one year anniversary in May. In all honesty, I never thought that I would get married, but then he just appeared when I least expected it and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. I wouldn’t change this rollercoaster of love for anything!
We had a trip of a life time this past summer to celebrate my mother in-law’s 70th birthday. We spent 2 days in Barcelona, a 10 day cruise through Spain, France and Italy and then 4 days in Rome. All 14 of us. It’s a trip we’ll never forget!
My husband turned 40 this year and we spent 5 glorious days in Punta Cana just the two of us. We were able to recharge and come back as better parents. It was much needed and we are so lucky to have parents who watched the kiddos for us.
And yes I preordered off of Amazon! Can’t wait!
The Pretty Dish has been pre-ordered. I only have a slight perhaps small, obsession with cookbooks! They are the best kind of picture books.
My boyfriend and I built a house that we moved into in February. It’s so dreamy and we still constantly say to each other “I can’t believe we live here!”. We feel very fortunate.
Yearly beach trip with best friends…always fun and s great time to catch up and relax
2017 has been full of memorable moments: my little nephew turned 1 and he is cuter and cuter by the day! He’s such a fun-loving, always-smiling and belly-laughing little guy, love him! Then we also moved with my Boyfriend to our new home: it has a terrace, a garden, plenty of sunlight and a bigger kitchen, just love it! And 2017 is the year I realized I would like to call Boyfriend my Husband ;-) Hope he’ll make a similar realization soon and will pop the question because we would like to start a family next year! ;-p
Congrats on EIGHT years! (wow, it’s really almost a decade!!!) Here’s to many more years and rambly posts and trashed up recipes! <3
And thanks for the fantabulous giveaway! :-D
my little girl was born on 04/20! (hoping she’s not going to grow up into a stoner)
Wow, great!
My great moment was that I got more loved than before. And I loved more than in 2016 :)
I preordered your book on Amazon the day you posted the link
Best moment of the last two weeks was first day back to school. My kids are growing quickly, but first day is still special. Thanks for giveaway. I actually just bought Seriously Delish. Better late than never!!
My Husband and I celebrated our 35th Wedding Anniversary in July! Every year no matter the number, is cause for celebration. Happy 8 years of blogging to you!
We spent our fourth wedding anniversary in Raleigh, NC (oh my the biscuits!!) and it was a so lovely to spend a weekend relaxing and Walking around. We got lucky and there happened to be an art festival too!
My most memorable moment in 2017 was when my daughter gave birth to my sweet grandson. They both are AMAZING and so loved. I am truly blessed!
Found we are expecting Baby #1 this year! Congrats on such a successful blog!
Preordered your book! Can’t wait!
I was finally able to take my first vacation in 3 years with my husband. It was so relaxing and fun to meander through the Midwest and see Billy Joel in concert. Congrats on Year Eight!
In February of this year my husband and I traveled to the Netherlands! It was our first international trip together and his first trip to Europe, so experiencing it together was a wonderful memory. Congratulations on 8 years and your book. It looks beautiful.
I spent a fun long weekend in Cancun for a friend’s wedding in March!
Our surprise girl was born this year. I am almost 37 and was blown away when I found out I was pregnant. I was also the fittest I’ve ever been before becoming pregnant, and that fitness became another part of my story because I carried it through my pregnancy and recovery! Your blog helped me find healthy options that are actually delicious……like always…..like not a one hit wonder kind of blog!!! Thank you for all you do, and I look forward to another decade!
I’ve read your blog from the beginning!
I think my most memorable moment of 2017 was getting into grad school. I jumped up and down and then laughed and then cried. 🙈 It was a whirlwind of emotions.
So happy for you and this awesome blog!
Spending a week at the beach with my husband!
Memorable moment from 2017: I crossed an item off my travel bucket list. I saw the sunrise on the east coast and the sunset on the west coast in the same day (Boston, MA to Long Beach, WA)
My most memorable moment of 2017 happened just this past weekend when my little dog got hit by a car. Fortunately it was just a glancing blow and she escaped relatively unharmed! We got extremely lucky!
I am actually terrible at commenting but I have been reading your blog for 7 years! I had just gotten married and I was learning to cook and I thought your recipes were creative and inspired and they were the first I made that my husband raved over. Congratulations on 8 years, 2 books and 2 babies- you deserve every joy:)
A memory for 2017? I am loving watching my 4 year old daughter, Zoe, grow into a fearless badass. Last week she turned a cartwheel, chased a chicken, climbed a tree and went down a massive water slide (that she shouldn’t have been able to do but she’s super tall) She’s my mini me, but far kinder and braver.
Woah that’super generous! Love your blog! My husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary on 5/27/17. Memorable for sure!
My boyfriend and I went on a much-needed trip to Nashville earlier this year and we had a blast – so much so, we will probably make it an annual trip. I’ve been a follower/reader of your site pretty close to when you first started and it remains one of my favorites! xo
My niece was born in January and it made me an aunite again!
I’m not sure if it’s my most memorable moment, but finally signing up for tap-dancing lessons has been pretty memorable! It’s been a dream of mine for a long time.
And I absolutely pre-ordered my own copy of The Pretty Dish!!
I went on my first (but not last) medical missions trip in January. It rocked my world. It gave me perspective and motivated me to make life simpler. I can’t wait to go back to a people who are so appreciative of everything.
Swimming with manatees in Cozumel with my husband and 19-year-old son. It was so amazing. The expressions on all of our faces were priceless — there was wonder and love. It was such a great moment and truly a profound one to be actually swimming with these beautiful creatures.
Been a loyal reader since the beginning! Congratulations on 8 years! I think a memorable experience for me in 2017 was getting a better (and higher paying!) job =)
My sons high school graduation and dealing with an 18 year old as a single mama who thinks he is 24.
My husband and I took our 4 kids skiing for Soring break and taught them to ski, he had taken me to ski 16 years ago and taught never to ski and proposed on the mountain- it was awesome sharing the sport with our kiddos ❤️
I preordered your book on Amazon and should have it by March 20, 2018. I cannot wait to read it!
My first niece was born on August 1st and it’s been so fun watching her grow over the last 6 weeks! I’m so in love already! 😍
We moved to our dream house in June! It’s been amazing watching my (almost) 2-year old run around and enjoy the new place as much as we do. She even “helped” us paint! Honestly, every day is amazing with this kiddo. Congrats on 8 years and the new book! Can’t wait to crack it open!!
Planning our trip to Europe for our 20th anniversary!
My son turned 1
Love your blog. We celebrated our 10 year anniversary and I still can’t believe it. Our oldest started Kindergarten this year as well. Time sure does fly!
Congratulations on your 8th year! I have been following for over half of that time! I love seeing photos of Max he is so precious! My most memorable moment was at the beach with family my son, (22months) stands up and announces ‘ Going to the water be right back’ and turns around and starts off to the water by himself! Of course I jump up to follow him, but it was a surprising and hilarious statement from someone not even two!
Sending my firstborn off to kindergarten was a big event for us in 2017! You realize how fast time goes – one minutes he’s so tiny and in your arms and the next he’s off under the care of someone else.
Congrats on 8 years and a beautiful blog and family!
We just found out we are pregnant after trying for 4 years. I was waiting on Aunt Flo to arrive so we could start IVF, and she never showed up. I’m so thankful for so many different reasons. I am LOVING your pregnancy/Max/baby posts as I prepare for the crazy world of parenting myself. Thanks for all you do!
Just one memory?!? Painting my new house with my friends & creating a home. My nephew being born. My sister being baptized. Celebrating 2 years sober. So many little moments along the way.
I had my second baby girl in December 2016, so I feel like 2017 has just been a constant stream of brand new experiences and memories as a new family of 4. And we just closed on our second house and are selling our first one — so bittersweet!
After 15 years, we finally updated our kitchen! Gone are the 1990’s orange oak cabinets and awful fake counters. Hello gorgeous white kitchen with granite counters that look like marble!
My most memorable moment from 2017 so far was spending almost a week exploring San Diego with my mom. We had so much fun!
Congrats on 8 years, so exciting! I love love love reading each of your posts. And I feel like you are also an invisible, but real, Internet bff! Thanks for all the great posts and recipes!!!
Most memorable moment of 2017 is: finding out I’m pregnant and having a girl!