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}”
We bought a house, had our five year wedding anniversary, and are expecting our 2nd in January! 2017 has been pretty sweet. :)
Planning a huge 40th birthday celebration for a friend. Lots of work but she and the guests enjoyed it.
Oh my gosh, so generous!!
2017 has been insane in the best way! I got married at the beginning of the year and we are now expecting our first baby at Christmas! To say we are excited is the understatement of the year. :)
My most memorable moment was traveling to Seattle with my husband for my 30th birthday!
The most memorable moment of 2017 was the birth of my daughter, Eleanor, in April. My husband and I just love her to pieces and has truly made our lives complete. :-)
Congrats on 8 years! I’ve been following you since 2011.
My most memorable moment of 2017 happened on the Fourth of July. My spouse and I hosted a casual get together with friends, and although it ended very early, it was so nice to have my house full of people I love.
Most memorable moment of 2017 was by far giving birth to my first baby in February — a spunky gorgeous girl named Isla Pearl <3. And to say I constantly referred to your pregnancy posts is an understatement, so thank you for those posts (and keep them coming please, so helpful! ) :)
I was just offered the opportunity to go back to teaching after being away from two years!
Also, I sure did pre-order my copy of your new book the first day we could! Best of luck!
My most memorable moment this year was the birth of my nephew!! He’s seriously the best and I can’t get enough of him!
Also, I pre-ordered your book the first day it was available. :)
In March 2017, my husband and I (married November 2016) took our honeymoon in South America and hiked the Short Incan Trail to Machu Picchu! It was the most challenging and rewarding thing I’ve ever done! Thank you for eight great years!
My most-memorable moment of 2017 so far was a whole week at the beach for a nice, relaxing family vacation :)
I pre-ordered the book!
Congratulations! I hope the blog is around in 8 more years, love your recipes and ramblings!!
My most memorable moment of 2017 is the birth of my son (awww!) after a year and a half of trying we were so blessed to find out we were expecting and love our little leprechaun so much!!
The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has definitely been the most memorable thing I’ve experienced this year. I was so blessed to not have flooded, so I have been able to volunteer my time to help others clean out their flooded homes. It has been truly humbling to see so many people who have lost so much, but who are pressing forward to rebuild their lives. I’m truly grateful I have been able to have some small part in getting them back on their feet again.
I had my first baby in June 2017! He turned my life upside down in the best way possible. I loved reading all your pregnancy and baby posts when I first found out I was pregnant!
2017 has been made up of so many memorable moments (my daughter’s first birthday, watching my daughter walk for the first time, hearing all of her new words), but for some reason a randomly perfect beach day with her and my husband sticks out in my mind as being the most memorable moment of this year.
My most memorable moment of 2017 was dancing the night away under the stars at my sister’s August wedding!
My most memorable moment was finding out I’m pregnant with baby #2! Gearing up for December!
What an incredibly generous giveaway, Jessica. xoxox
My most memorable experience from 2017 so far… a Mexican-themed party I threw for friends and family. We actually made your trashed-up guac, your juicy peach margaritas (gah so good) and your lightened up beef enchiladas. They are my husband’s fave. So technically you kind of attended? lol.
Thanks for all the recipes over the years.
A very memorable moment this year was making it through my husband’s first deployment! Your blog helped because I was able to keep cooking yummy things to eat!
Conrats to you- what an accomplishment! I own my own business & my notable moment this year is when I looked up one weekend and realized everything was going well all the same time. As a small business owner sometimes it seems as if everything needs to be updated/improved/trashed up (haha) and when everything is working well all at once it’s important to celebrate that.
My most memorable moment of 2017 was my daughter Alexandra Lynne’s arrival in February. As a first-time mom, I loved reading your posts on pregnancy and all things baby!
In 2017, I became a mom to a little boy :) I re-read all your pregnancy and mom posts – thank you! Congrats on 8 years.
Memorable for 2017: tie for going to Hawaii and getting pregnant? I’m not giving birth until 2018 or obviously that would win. $1000 Amazon gift card would certainly help with baby expenses. :)
I got engaged and we bought our first house — 2017 has been a big year so far! Congrats on the blog anniversary! Cheers!
2017 has been a pretty calm year… a highlight would be a weekend getaway to a waterpark and watching my little munchkin get crazy.
Congratulations on your big anniversary! :) 2017 has been a big year – I’m getting married in just a few weeks!
Ohhhh my goodness EIGHT years?! That is amazing! 2017 has been a crazy year, but I started my own business so I think that takes the cake!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was when the last of my 5 kids graduated from college. End of a long, exciting road
I turned 40 this year, my family made sure it was very memorable!
Congrats on eight great years! I remember when I first read the blog and loved how you referred to your husband as Mr. How Sweet (although it’s great to know his real name too). My most memorable moment of 2017 so far has been moving from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, CA. Completing a cross-country drive with my sister, assembling a new apartment and exploring a different city that I now get to call home were all incredible aspects of such a big transition. Although, I have yet to find cupcakes that rival Baked & Wired.
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far was going to Seattle with my boyfriend for Valentine’s Day. We had never been before & exploring the city together was so much fun.
Congrats on the anniversary! My most memorable moment was finding out that I was (am) pregnant- likely come December I will have a new most memorable moment! Love reading your blog and look forward to all the great recipes to come!
I know this is silly, but you replied to a comment I made when you asked about lash extensions. I was inordinately excited :)
Wow, 10 years! My most memorable moment was traveling with a group of 6 of my girlfriends to Las Vegas for a weekend!
whoops, 8!! ;)
Eeek! Happy Anniversary! A memorable moment for me thus far in 2017 is turning 40…and surviving!
My most memorable time of this year was our trip to Scotland; so beautiful!
Congrats on your 8 years! 2017 has been crazy so far for me. I had my first baby in February (I really appreciated reading through your pregnancy posts, btw) and I’m now settling in to being a mom, which is much MUCH harder than I thought it would be, but also quite wonderful! Thanks for all the recipes through the years (and for SweetPeasMeals!).
Congrats on 8 years! I have been reading your blog for much of that time and love your creative, “trashed up” recipes :) in 2017, I moved to Austin and started my dream job, so it’s been a great year!
I think the most memorable moments of this year happened this summer when we took our 3 kids (4,5&6) on a 9 day cruise with both sets of Grandparents. SO many moments of family bonding, drama, hugs and tears :)
Congratulations on 8 years of blogging! I’ve been reading since year 1!
My 2017 has been wildly memorable, most recently including a spontaneous trip to the Appalachian Trail!
Yes! I preordered the book back on August 30. I love your first book and can’t wait for the release of the second!
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far was buying my first house with my husband! It’s been an adventure, but we love it so much and are so grateful to be homeowners!
Pretty much every moment this year has been memorable because of our first child, who was born December 16th!
I have already told you so many times how much I enjoy this space, i don’t need to wax poetically again. Thank you for continuing to share with us everyday!
Most memorable of 2017? Sharing a luscious seafood dinner on a dock over the gulf in Mexico with my dream girl for my dirty thirty! I will never forget the meal, or the way the sun set the sky on fire as it set over the gulf. It was magic.
My most memorable moment so far was a fun trip to Virginia Beach with friends!
The most exciting moment of 2017 so far was finding out that I’m pregnant with baby #2!
My most memorable moment from 2017 was visiting my almost 98-year-old Grandfather this summer. At 97, he still lives at home, alone, and is still mentally completely there. I treasure every time I get to visit with him. This summer I was able to bring him his favorite dessert (banana cream pie!), which I’d never made before but enjoyed testing out. We chatted about life in general and different experiences he’s had. It’s amazing to think about everything he’s seen since he was born in 1919 — from growing up with no electricity, leaving his family in Denmark, the ‘party line’ for the local gossip / phone calls, and more! We ended our most recent visit with showing him the voice changer videos on Snapchat, which was pretty funny to see.