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}”
Of course I pre-ordered your book, can’t wait to get it.
So kind of you to do such a generous giveaway! I have been reading your blog since (almost) the start and you are one of the reasons I wanted to start my own food blog. Congrats on 8 years and cheers to many more!
(Oh, and I’d say one of the highlights for 2017 so far would have to be getting my puppy!)
My most memorable moment so far is the birth of our first child, Callan! I hope to teach him to cook just as you’ve had fun teaching Max!
My most memorable time was seeing Niagara Falls with my children!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was crossing California off my list after a family vacation in April
So excited for this milestone and your upcoming book! This is one of my favourite food blogs, and love your fun/quirky style. A memorable thing for me this year….started residency in Emergency Medicine!
What an exciting milestone and generous giveaway! My most memorable moment of this year has been leaving a job that wasn’t fulfilling and was overly stressful, and in that, figuring out what brings me happiness (spoiler alert: it’s not living to work).
Most memorable thing this year is my son moving out to attend school. How did that happen so quickly? Congrats on your blog birthday and another book!!!
Congrats on 8 years! My favorite blog, by far!!! Memorable for me this year was having a blast at the New Kids concert – Paula Abdul was fantastic!
I’ve been reading your blog for most of the 8 years! Most memorable moment was swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman with my family!
Most memorable was a full on complete family vaca to my parents place in Minnesota. Every single one of us was together for 48 magical hours. Happens once a year.
Congratulations on 8 amazing years Jess!
You’re my favorite 😍
Aaah congrats on 8 years, that’s amazing! I found you on 2010 when I googled “bagel chip recipe” because I was hungry and that’s the first thing that came to mind. And I was hooked! Your blog is my favourite and I look forward to visiting everyday :)
Obviously, i pre-ordered your book the second I could on Amazon.
My most memorable and significant moment in 2017 was the birth of my baby girl in early June. She is my world and my husband and I can’t imagine our lives without her.
Pre-ordered ✔
I wouldn’t miss it!!
My most memorable moment this year was when my employer allowed me to work from home a few days a week, so that I could spend more time with my family. Its amazing how having a few more hours a week can make your life so much better!
Taking my mom to Paris!
Congratulations!
My most memorable moment of 2017 (so far), is traveling to the East Coast to visit my favorite cousin. We sat outside on a beautiful summer evening, talking & watching fireflies chase one and other.
Becoming an aunt for the first time! Love your blog…Congrats on 8 years!
Pre-ordered!
Most memorable 2017 moment was our trip to the Dominican Republic for a friend’s wedding!
Unfortunately my memorable moments from 2017 have not been good ones, it’s been a rough year! I had my purse stolen and I also had salmonella which left me unemployed for five months. Not fun! However, I am finally salmonella free and heading to work as a travel nurse in the beautiful city of Denver! Thank you for sharing my FAV recipes. You’re always my go to gal when I’m feeling something yummy!
And I absolutely preordered your book the day it was available! Can’t wait!!
Most memorable moment of this year was the first time my son ran to give me a hug 😍
Most memorable moment of 2017…hubby and I agreeing that we are going to try and have a baby after 10 years of coupledom 😍
And I’m pre-ordering the book as soon as I get done with this post bc your first book was The. Best. Ever.
The most memorable moment for me so far this year was deciding this was the year I would pursue my passion of studying for a diploma in Nutritional Therapy, having thought about it for the last year and a half. I have just started this week and although overwhelming right now, I know this is the start of a new career and a new me.
Congratulations on your 8 year milestone! X
Most memorable moment of 2017 was being proposed to in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower with a secret photographer to capture the moment. Love your blog, can’t wait to get the book!
Running my first marathon!
Most memorable moment of 2017 is closing on our dream house with my fiance!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was going to Nashville for the first time, it was such a fun city!
My most memorable moment? Graduating college! And starting in the real world…
Congrats on 8 years! That’s amazing! I love your blog!
Can’t believe it’s been so long! Time flies. Speaking of the that, I guess the most memorable thing for me this year was that I turned 40. Eek!
Pre-ordered!
Congratulations on eight incredible years!! I’ve been a fan since the beginning, and I’ve loved seeing (reading) everything that you’ve posted! One of the things that has stood out to me over the years is how you left your job to follow your dreams of running this blog which has impacted so many people. The biggest moment of my 2017, is that I started my last semester of college. I spent the summer doing a little soul-searching and finally decided to follow the career path that will make me as happy as running the blog! So thanks for always being so inspiring!
My most memorable moment of 2017 – Getting married on the beach in March! 💍🌴🐬 Cheers to 8 years and many more!
I had a baby girl in June! ❤️❤️
I got to see Niagara Falls for the first time this year! It was amazing!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was seeing my baby learn to walk.
I’ve read your blog since the beginning and have loved every minute! My most memorable moment is moving in with with my first love since I was 5!
My new puppy Molly!
i actually started reading your blog when i was 17! (now 23 and still an avid follower)
most memorable part of 2017 so far was quitting my job to go travel southeast asia with my BFF and then moving to NYC
and congrats on 8 years! here’s to 8 more!
Absolutely love your blog and so excited for the book! Love watching Max grow up as well – he’s so adorable!
A memorable moment for me this year is moving across the country by myself to follow my heart on an adventure!
It’s incredible to me it’s been 8 years because I started reading your blog almost 7 years ago when I was 22 and SO much has changed in my life since then (married, bought a house, had three different jobs) but this blog has remained a constant. It’s kind of crazy to think about that. Thank you for your blog, it’s been the source of many delicious dishes in my house – my husband especially thanks you.
My most memorable moment of 2017 would have to be buying our house and getting closer to starting our family <3
My memorable moment was taking our grandson to the beach. He is 5 and I love building memories with him.
My most memorable moment of 2017 is that my son turned 2 and that we are trying for #2!
I think one of my most memorable moments would be getting to the halfway point in my residency! That or a wine country trip with my mom, which was a little more fun :)
My favorite thing over the years is when you “trash up” salads and pizza. I luuurve this.
Most memorable thing this year for me is buying my first house!
My wedding day! Congrats on the first eight years!😉
The most memorable part of my year was finding out after years of waiting, that I was able to leave my desk job and work full time doing what I love – teaching dance. 💕
I preordered a copy of your new cookbook. I am so excited for it!
Pre-order in the bag! You rock, I can’t wait for this to ship!!!
All the love to you and your fam.
Kate