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}”
This past Sunday I was honored to be a bridesmaid in my sister in law’s wedding. My 3 oldest children and husband also had roles, and I held the baby on my hip for much of the ceremony. A beautiful day, and so much fun to do it together.
Just pre-ordered my copy! Can’t wait!
Congrats! I rarely ever comment so here goes…my most memorable moment this year so far was the birth of my niece on Monday!! She is adorb! I plan on making your lactation cookies for my SIL ASAP!
My most memorable moment was walking on a volcano in Iceland!
IT’s a rather silly memorable moment, but I went to NYC for the first time! My husband and I went for our 12th wedding anniversary. I was surprised the a city so big, so packed with people, could feel so small and have so much. I’m an art and food fiend, needless to say, I found it to be a paradise! And saw two Broadway shows while there. That alone was worth the trip!
Hi Jessica! Congrats on 8 years! I can’t actually remember when I started reading your blog (I think I really got hooked when you were doing your baby posts?) but you’re one of two bloggers that I follow regularly and I absolutely adore your writing and your food. (And your various beauty/lifestyle recs have definitely left my wallet a little bit lighter! haha!)
I have a 19 month old daughter so I feel like this entire year has been memorable but one of the moments that still stands out is the first time we took her to the beach as a toddler. We live in RI, so she had been last year as a baby, but this year was her first time running around and consciously aware of her surroundings. We went on a Saturday night right around golden hour time- the beach was mostly empty because it was still early in the season and she just ran everywhere, chasing after my husband and giggling the whole time. It was one of those magical moments that absolutely took my breath away. Thrilled to have captured some of it on camera in both picture and video (going to save those giggles forever!)
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.
Congratulations on this anniversary & your little one on the way!
One of my most memorable moments – visiting Austin TX for the first time. Totally fell in love and hope to move there in the next few years!
2017 has been a really hard year, but visiting NYC with my mother and sister has been amongst my best memories
And of course I preordered your book already- the first one is one of my favorite cookbooks!
This year my daughter turned 1! I love that you chose to blog about your son and you pregnancy in this space as well. I have enjoyed your food recipes for years and now enjoy reading about your son and soon to be second child! Thanks for sharing with us!
Congrats! My favorite memory this year was a mini vacation to the lake. I will be preordering your book. I have a copy of your 1st one and love it.
just preorderd my copy!! Can’t wait for March 20th!!!
Congratulations on 8 years!!!
One of my best memories this year was just this past month when I spent a week with my girlfriends from college in Colorado! The first time we have all been together since we graduated! Beautiful scenery, great food, lots of laughs.
Taking my son to see the US Navy Blue Angels at the Great State of Maine Air Show! It was awesome!
Jessica, thank you so much for being here as my internet best friend for 8 years! You have no idea how much fun and zest you’ve added to my life through this blog. Sometimes I forget that I don’t actually know you in real life :-D. You’ve been with me through graduating college, moving two states away, graduate school, my first two jobs, two more moves, a wedding, and finally buying a house and having a dream kitchen to use your cookbook in! Thank you, thank you, thank you. My most memorable moment this year was a spontaneous trip my husband and I took to the Grand Canyon on a work trip to Phoenix. We had a free day and realized how close we were, so we rented a car and spent the day in the desert feeling small. I’ll never forget it!
My favorite memory so far was driving to the redwoods with my boyfriend. <3
And I already pre ordered the book! So excited to get it!
Waiting for hurricane Irma to pass with my family. No electronics… just games, chatter and togetherness. Thank God we were spared! Congrats on your anniversary!!
My most memorable moment of this year was my visit back home to the States to visit my family. It had been four years since I’d been back, and it was great to see my family and for my children to spend time with their cousins.
Congrats!! I love your blog, and keep trashing up recipes! You know the trashier, the better, right?
It’s hard to pick the most memorable moment, but I can tell you they always involve my 11YO son, who is Level 1 Autistic, which is very high functioning. I love the way his brain works, because we get interesting inside jokes that last FOREVER. As an example, for a whole month this spring, we only talked like a Japanese anime character. (“Did you brush your teeth? HA HA!” and “I will have all the power in the universe to eat this broccoli… HA HA!”) Might be only funny to us, but this is the kind of thing that we enjoy on a regular basis. Lately, we’ve been on a kick of making fun of YouTube videos where dog owners try to get their dogs to talk. It’s a good thing I’m a single mom and it’s just the two of us, because we would annoy the living daylights out of anyone else!
I do try to enforce with my son that these little, small moments are the moments he’s going to remember later, when he’s grown and out on his own. I encourage him to try to make each moment in life fun, because you might as well enjoy it while you’re here, right?
One of my most memorable moments was standing at the edge of Bryce Canyon at sunset. It was so beautiful, I literally cried!
I went home in a February and my best friend isf 41 years met me st my parents and we have a slumber party and my mom and dads like we did when we were 10. It was so fun just to act like we were kids with no worries.
My most memorable thing of 2017 was a hot air balloon ride
Congrats on a tremendous year for you – your anticipated little one AND another stellar (I’m sure!) cookbook.
Without a doubt, the moment for me was finding out I was pregnant with #1, which probably will be rapidly shadowed by said baby’s birth in under 2 months time!
My most memorable moment in 2017 was volunteering at the Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival with some of my co-workers. We had a blast serving wine and all for a great cause!
pre-ordered my copy the day you could! i can not wait for it!!!
My most memorable moment from this year was traveling to Paris and London. By myself. I stood in front of Winged Victory and couldn’t believe my eyes.
favorite memory of 2017 has definitely been buying our first home. feels amazing to have something that is YOURS. plus I can hang whatever crazy crap i want on the walls without worrying about getting my security deposit back, ha!
I just pre-ordered your new cookbook. Can’t wait until March 2018. I LOVE your Seriously Delish cookbook!
I passed my entrance exam for nursing school yesterday! So that’s fresh in my mind as memorable!
*here’s* to juggling work, 3yo & 1yo & schooling to set a better example for my babes!
Congrats!!! I love reading your blog and your “trashed up recipes” are my favorite. I cant wait for the new book!! I love making your dips for our family gatherings, and just last month I watched a table of my male cousins devour your BBQ chicken dip. I don’t mean to get sappy, but my most memorable moment in 2017 has happened over the course of the last week. My parents lost their home in hurricane Harvey and seeing all our friends and family come together to help gut the house and provide meals after an exhausting day of ripping out everything has been the most heartwarming experience I’ve ever had. I truly cant put into words how amazing it is to watch everyone come together and volunteer to help loved ones and complete strangers.
My most memorable moment was my daughter turning two years old! We had a wonderful celebration for her with all of our family and friends.
My best has yet to come — I leave for Germany next week to run the Berlin marathon then we will visit Prague. I’m so excited! Love your blog. It’s the only one I read regularly!
My most memorable moment so far is probably blowing out a tire while driving 70 MPH this summer! 😳 Hoping for a more fun one this fall!
Cookbook preordered, so excited!!
Helping close friends with welcome their new, pleasantly unexpected babies!
YAY for 8 years!!
I finally started crafting as a side business this year and it has given me so much happiness!! I have something to lookblrwsrd to and also relax me after a long day at my “real job.”
And obviously pre-ordered the book already 😉
My most memorable moment this year was watching all of my best friend’s dreams come true! After waiting 5 years for her fiance to graduate with his PhD, he finally did, moved back to VA, they bought their first home and got married…ALL THIS SUMMER. They also welcomed an adorable fluffy little pup named Pearl into their hears.
Congrats on 8 years, I seriously looooove your blog and I have consistently followed it for at least 7 of those years! My favorite moment of 2017 was taking a trip to Dallas to celebrate my friend’s 30th birthday and see a game at my 16th Major league Baseball stadium (I’m on a mission to see all 30)! I also got to visit a church I have been a fan of and see the JFK Memorial museum. It was an awesome trip!
My younger son’s 1st birthday was a few weeks ago, so that was definitely one of the most memorable moments so far!
Congratulations on 8 years! I look forward to reading your blog every day.
My most memorable moment this year was finally meeting my step-family. My Dad and Step-Mom have been married for 25 years and we finally got it together enough to all be in the same place at the same time!
Now, to Amazon to pre-order your book that I am going to have a difficult time waiting for!
Oh, and I already pre-ordered your book!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was finding out that I was pregnant!
So far my favorite memory is going changing jobs, maybe not a real memory, but certainly a huge change in my life that I’m so glad I did. Book has been added to my Xmas list already!
Also, I totally remember reading this blog back in 2012, it was one of the first that I came across and started reading, I remember there was some cake or pie recipe I was looking for.
My husband and I bought a house and both took new jobs — all withing a 2 month span. Talk about stressful and amazing all at the same time! : )
Congratulations on 8 years!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was hiking in the Canadian Rockies. We started the hike in the fog, but we climbed above it to finally reveal all of the mountain peaks above, with the fog contained in the valley below. It was pretty epic.
My oldest started kindergarten…and is LOVING it! So much fun to watch these little people you created go out into the world and learn it all! I ADORE your website (and apparently I also love writing in all caps). It’s been such a fun, delicious, exciting place that I enjoy visiting on the internet. Thank you for sharing your passion with us all! I have previously pre-ordered your book and can’t WAIT to devour it
My most memorable moment is a family trip to Breckenridge CO in July!
I love your blog and have thoroughly enjoyed reading them and being a part of your world the past couple of years! Your recipes are amazing!! 2017 has been an interesting year so far. My husband and I became pregnant with our first together only to have him arrive too early due to an abnormality with me we were unaware of. I’ve recently had a surgery to fix the issue and we’re hoping to have a little one in 2018!
My memorable moment of 2017 would have to be during my annual visit to my folks in Oregon The memorable part would be when we got in evacuation order due to a wildfire. That’s a new one for me! (All is okay for them now.)
Thanks for this appreciation drawing and your hard work!