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 got engaged to the love of my life! Who also loves to cook! Happy 8 years!
Congratulations, I can’t remember exactly when I began reading but it was pretty early :) My most memorable moment of 2017 was completing my first year of nursing school!
What an amazing thing to celebrate 8 years! I can say I honesty never tire of reading your blog and feel like you’re talking right to me (ha invisible friends and all).
My most memorable moment is FINALLY getting to go on my honeymoon with my husband. Two years after our wedding, but better late than never!
Also just preordered your book!
Gorgeous cover, I can’t wait to fall in love with it like I did with the first!
One of my most memorable moments of 2017 was during a winter visit to my daughter’s house, where I woke to my car buried under snow. I could see none of it! Yes, we had to dig it out and since I am a Louisiana native, I had NO experience with snow of any sort. We laughed and got to it and I had to be towed out up to the highway. Very memorable!
Congrats and best wishes for your continued success!
One of my most memorable moments was getting a new job in June. Finally! So exciting!!
My favorite memory of 2017 so far was our family beach vacation to Edisto Island, SC. It was our youngest first time seeing the ocean!
I preordered your book on a previous post you did – can’t wait to get it! Have your first too and love it as well. I’ve been an avid follower for at least 7 of your 8 years and can’t wait to see what you cook up next! Congrats!
Congrats! Some of my favorite memories so far this year involve our home renovations! My husband and I are slowly but surely renovating our 100 year old house and it’s so rewarding to finally see it coming together.
My most memorable moment was feeding my 14-month old daughter her first homemade chocolate chip cookie. It’s so simple, and it’s – No offense!!! – the Nestle Tollhouse recipe. It’s the same flavors and smell rom my childhood, and I wanted to share that with her. It was everything I wanted it to be. :)
I also preordered your book, and can’t wait to get it!
I’m a speech pathologist at a children’s hospital. One of my favorite memories of 2017 is when one of my patients with apraxia of speech said “happy” for the first time.
Still waiting for a good one to replace the bad one of having to move after 7 years because the landlord got greedy and upped the rent after doing nothing to the place in 7 years (then trying to come after me to cover paying for his failings). Sooooo, maybe I’ll win the gift card and have a good memory to end 2017 with! ;)
Also, pre-ordered your book! Something to look forward to in 2018! ;)
I graduated with my masters degree! Wahoo, full time work and full time school is done, now its time to cook!
AHH! Congratulations, Jess! I feel like we’re friends too. I’ve been reading for 6 years, every day. You’re my absolute favorite! My most memorable moment of 2017 so far has been picking out wedding dresses with my best friend, who is getting married this November to my husband’s cousin! So my best friend is becoming family, and it’s just extra special. XOXO!
I also preordered your book DUH!!
2017 is the year my son started his last year of preschool, and I turned 40. A pretty good 2017 all things considered.
I can’t believe it’s already been 8 years! Congratulations! My favorite memory in 2017 actually doesn’t happen until Monday but my son turns 1 which means I’ll be a blubbering mess all weekend.
My most memorable moment of 2017 was probably starting law school! I definitely underestimated how hard it is to go back to school after working.
Congrats on eight fabulous years!
Congratulations! It’s been fun to see the evolution of your work over the last few years. While I originally came for the recipes (and some are still my go-to meals and snacks!), now I mostly read your writing for your stories and the “crumbs.” I love your authentic voice, your humor. Basically, I think we would actually be friends in real life.
My most exciting thing this year? Definitely giving birth to the most incredible baby in the world. My sweet girl lights up the world. Thanks for the fun question and giveaway!
Congratulations on 8 beautiful years! I love reading your blog all the way from Singapore. The most exciting moment of 2017 so far for me was finally having the courage to leave a toxic work environment and joining a new workplace where I can do meaningful work with people who are so good to me!
Congratulations on your new book! After losing my 15 year old Golden Retriever to cancer I’ve adopted another rescue Golden. She’s settled in quickly and we’re having some much fun together. I’m not sure who rescued who!
I finally moved to NYC to start my career in teaching! And my tiny apartment has major counter space. Amazing.
Congratulations!!! MY favorite moment was the birth of my second son 😍
We had a belated honeymoon in the BVI and it was so amazing, can’t wait to go back
Got to see some redwoods. Really looking forward to your new book. Congratulations!!!
I pre-ordered on Amazon and I am SOOOO excited!! long time fan of yours :)
A memorable moment for me in 2017 was starting my first full time job (in my dream career) as a food scientist. I graduated from college in May and I have been loving my job since!
oh, my copy was preordered way before this give-away post.
Biking around in San Francisco through Golden Gate Park and to Ocean Beach was a real highlight!
visiting france and holland was quite a memory for 2017
The best moment of 2017 was hearing that my brother in law’s cancer is in remission. I pre-ordered your book as soon as I heard that I could!
Our trip to Maine, specifically Acadia
I had my first baby!
Wow!! Time flies. Congratulations! My favorite memory so far this year is picking out my wedding dress with my two beloved aunts. My mom passed away last year, so it meant the world to have her sisters with me for such an emotional moment.
I finally had the money to apply to Culinary School! All my life I have wanted to be a chef and finally I am on my way. I got accepted a few months ago and I start in two weeks :)
Quitting my job and moving to Utah for my husband’s job! Yay for stay at home wives!
Most memorable moment in 2017 for me has been taking our 4 year old to disney in May for his 4th bday :) Also i am TOTALLY OBSESSED with the cover of your book, like it makes me swoon. its so pretty.
PRE ORDERED!!!! :D
I had a summer internship in DC this year!
Isn’t it amazing how time flies….my most memorable moment of 2017 was seeing my “baby boy” graduate from college. I love your blog and cannot believe it’s been that many years of following 😊
This year I got a new job that has given me a fresh perspective and renewed energy for teaching!
My most memorable moment thus far has been having both kids in school; what a life-changer watching them grow into little people!
Sold our home in another state to a couple that we have never met…BUT…thru phone conversations and emails we couldn’t have sold it to a better family. they could be long distance best friends.
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far is taking our camper to the beach with our 2 year old and having it rain the entire week. So frustrating but we made so many memories in our little camper!
Congrats on 8 years!! I love your blog, recipes and Max updates!
My favorite moment this year was visiting my daughter and staying on lake Havasu
Best thing so far this year is starting a job I adore going to every day! You’re right when you say OMGIloveitsomuch! And thanks for being my inspiration to finally move from baking to cooking ❤️
My most memorable moment was recently moving into a new house with my family!
I started a new job that I love early in the year. Already been promoted too!
My most memorable moment of the year is the birth of my son just three days ago 💙💙