Year Three.
I’ve done a lot of things in 365 days.
I’ve done even more things in 1,095 days. Wait – scratch that… 1,096 days. #whatisthisleapyearstuff
These things include writing you pathetic poems and becoming extra greedy with a bowl of dip and blue corn tortilla chips and telling you all about it. They include saying the word “like” more times than I can count and probably writing it even more. They include clocking hours behind a computer and in front of a sink… but rarely doing dishes. They include burning cupcakes and catching my oven on fire and cracking eggs directly over the spinning mixer only to be all loosey goosey and drop the shells right into the dough… even though Mother Lovett made me swear I’d always crack them in a bowl first.
These things don’t include further educating myself on adulthood or learning to like any raw vegetable… ever. They don’t include successfully making pie crust at all or even really caring, which totally sucks but is the truth. They don’t include getting over my Lisa Frank trapper keeper obsession or even attempting in the foreseeable future. They don’t include effectively disconnecting for even one day, but that’s alright with me because my invisible internet friends are sort of my best friends.
You gave me courage to make freaking CROISSANTS. I mean… hello best friends! You taught me how to eat brussels sprouts. This is love. You’ve told me it is okay (well, sorta) to watch Dawson’s Creek at the age of OMGalmost30 and to not make my bed and to consider cheese, crackers and wine a balanced dinner and to still be afraid of the dark and need to sleep with 41 blankets so the monsters don’t catch me and constantly reminisce and whine about my tween years so much that it hurts. Like hurts us all.
Words can’t even express how much I seriously adore and appreciate YOU for chatting with me and reading this complete and utter nonsense for three whole years. Words can’t express how much every comment and every eyeball on this site means to me. And even though words can’t express it, I just wrote nearly 400 of them.
What I’m really trying to say is:
I.love.your.guts. Like oh so much. Like so much I can barely stand it. THANK YOU.
239 Comments on “Year Three.”
I am a new follower (not stalker, just follower) and I have to say…I don’t know much about your TV watching, bedtime rituals, or tween whining, but I do know I LOVE your recipes! Every one I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a handful) have been a huge hit at the table.
Looking forward to following you for the next three years of delicious recipes and getting to know all your little not-so-secret secrets.
Thanks for writing—and, keep cooking!
I have been a reader of your blog since almost the beginning and WOW what an amazing 3 years it has been for you!! Yours, amongst a few other food blogs I read daily, have inspired me to redo my blog and start up again. I love to cook and bake so I decided it was time to blog again. So I have a couple questions for you ( and if they were already answered here I apologize but for some reason I couldn’t see any of the other comments on this post – either a server error or my issue with my browser) anywhoo, your photography is AH-mah-zing now. I was looking back to your beginning photos and how far you have progressed s is impressive. Did you take any food photography classes, get a new camera, what is your lighting set up like? I would love to see a picture of your photography in action – like someone taking a pic of you while you photo one of your dishes. Or a photo of what a typical setup looks like as you’re about to take pics.
Another – I know you get a lot of questions on how you make a living as blogger – I saw a year ago you were making a good living already with your advertiser foodbuzz. I am assuming you are doing even better now – do you have other advertisers as sources of income through your blog now or still just foodbuzz?
Thanks for letting me ask questions. I truly love your blog, one of my faves. I make many many recipes and can’t WAIT for you to come out with a cookbook (hint hint)
much love from Vegas
Shanna
Thank you Shanna!
I haven’t taken any photography courses – though I’m sure I could benefit from them. I just don’t like photography enough. It just comes from practice and looking at others’ pics that I admire. I have such a long way to go though. My setup is exactly the same as it’s always been – in my dining room and natural light. I have no tripod or equipment or anything. Occasionally I use a white board as a bounce, but I just hold it there. Nothing fancy.
As for blog income, Foodbuzz has become Federated Media and I still work with them exclusively for advertising – so I can’t have other advertisers. That is still my main source of income though I do a few freelance things each month that bring in some income as well. Hope this helps!
Ok. I’m even more impressed now. That’s crazy you have never taken a class. Your pics are amazing. Natural talent girl!! Interesting about the ad income – I have been researching it, who doesn’t want to be able to make money with their blog! And so many are really different with how they generate an income. I think it’s awesome one can make a good living blogging. And my phone wanted to autocorrect good living to food living. How ironic. Lol. Love your blog girl, all of it look forward to reading it daily . One of my top 5 faves always. Ps. my husband is from Pittsburgh, if we ever go back to visit his family I’m coming over uninvited to eat. Hopefully you’re making s’mores that day!!! Ha ha
congratulations on year 3..been following you for a little over a year and you are seriously amazing and so talented and creative. i wish i had that noggin of yours!
I only discovered your blog this year, but it’s quickly become one of my favorites. Looking forward to keeping up for many more years to come!
Hey Jessica,
I’ve never commented here, but I’ve definitely been following you for at least 2.5 years (and had to catch up on the very beginning ones). I’ve made several of your recipes and have loved them all (after making my own changes to them, of course–as a baker, I’m never fully happy until I’ve changed something :). But, I really want to congratulate you on your blog’s birthday–as a perfectionist, over committed college student, sometimes your blog is the brightest part of my day, and I always save it for right before bed. Thank you so much for your hard work, humor, recipes, beautiful pictures and please keep it up!
Thank you bunches and thanks for commenting!
Soooo you say you love bacon right? How about curing your own? If you haven’t then that is something for you to conquer during this next year. I did…and there is NO going back. I’m with you on pie crusts…I can make them but don’t feel I have to. Bacon is a whole different story!
I always refer to your blog as “my favorite food blog” not just because every recipe I’ve tried is DELICIOUS, but also because I love your candid way of speaking, er, typing. I also love that I’ve been encouraged to try new foods because, well, if it’s on howsweeteats.com, it’s got to be amazing! Thank you!
Just wanted to let you know that I love your blog! Read it every day right when I get home from school. I love baking and literally your living my dream life <3 keep baking!!!
Happy 3 years! You’re amazing!
Congrats on year 3! And that feeling of love is mutual :)
Your recipes and your wit are very much loved! Happy anniversary!!
Your blog is the only one that I actually read every day! Don’t freak out, but you’re like my role model or something. Never stop being awesome.
Congratulations Jess! Yours is the only blog I read, and I am officially addicted.
I just love waking up to your fantastic recipes and photos, but mostly love the way you share your life. You are beautiful, bright, amazingly talented, and I get to feel like I’m friends with a rock star!!! May God Bless you with His richest blessings…good health, much love, family and friends around you, and all the deepest desires of your heart.
Thank you!
Congratulations on 3 years. Love your blog, stories, pics, recipes. Keep up the great job, can’t wait to see what is next. Especially love that you talk about and share about some of the great places in the state of MI. Heading up to the UP in a few weeks and I love all those little towns and hidden gems.
Have so much fun!
You have the best food blog on the net. Period. I follow many of them and I am a foodie. Thank you so much for the amazing recipes and my daily laugh!
I so enjoy your voice, Jessica. Keep it coming — I love reading blogs that make me laugh.
Here is the thing. I get close to a billion emails everyday and I never ever delete yours. You know why? Because there is something truly inspirational about what you do. Not only do you create amazing food that have knocked me and my guests on their socks every time but you are so much fun! You are the solid reason I have kicked my entreprenual self into high gear. I will be leaving my job at the end of this year (after 13 years because I must be 106) largely because everyday you let us see you living your life, following your dreams and all the amazing things that come with that.
The next time you are in Michigan (my home) you should let me know. I have been really wanting to show up on Mario Batali’s doorstep when he is at his summer home in the Traverse City area and see what happens because can you imagine if he actually let us in and instead of calling the police he actually fed us??!! I think we have the skills to make this happen!
Thank you for sharing your world with us.
Truly Grateful!
Jodie
You are the best… THANKS!
PS that sounds like a plan.
Happy 3 years!! I just recently discovered your blog and am so happy that I did. Although I live gluten and dairy free because if food allergies, and can’t eat many of your recipes (super sad face), they look amazing and provide me with inspiration all the time! Keep up the awesome work and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings :)
Congrats! I wish you lived closer so we could be friends. I would totally watch Dawson’s Creek (funny, I was just talking about it yesterday) and we could trade Lisa Frank stickers
We love your words dear J. And the way you are playing with them.
Keep going, it keeps us smiling!
Happy 3!
Jessica, we love you back like, a million times! Thank YOU for being the best ever!!
It seems we all agree…you are, by far, one of the best out there! Your blog is a labor of love, and it shows! Your recipes ROCK (seriously, I made 4 of my 5 recipes for our tailgate today, from your blog!), your commentary is HI-larious and your faithfulness to produce something for us EVERYDAY is unmatched!
AND, there is no other blogger who responds as much as you do…we know you can’t respond to every comment, but the fact that you try…just love you!
THANK YOU for sharing the best of you with all of us…I love every tween comment, every husband lament, every Mother Lovett memory…I hang on your words…truly!!
SO, know that your invisible internet friends love their invisible internet blog queen too!!! Congrats on 3 years!!!!
Thank you so much for reading and always commenting Megan!
I love how I have Dawson’s Creek on right now haha. Obviously I was meant to read this post at this moment and eat one of your pancake recipes this morning. Happy 3 years to you!!
I hope that I reach half of your success in my year three. Let’s just make it through year one first. I.Love.You.Too. You have been very supportive and inspirational for me. Keep doing what your doing!
And we love.your.guts.too. I read blogs daily, but hardly ever to I read the same blog more than once a week or so. Yours (this word confuses me – should it be yours’, your’s, yours???) is the absolutely-, positively-, I promise you to the moon and back-only blog that I read every.single.day. Even though you’re like 20 years younger than me (because I’m OMGalmost50helpmeGod!!!) I can absolutely relate to everything you write about. Keep it coming, girlfriend! Hugs from Texas :)
Happy 3 years! I love your blog (LOVE) and your recipes! Keep it comin’, gurl!
Congratulations on 3 years! Looking forward to following you for many more.
Um, congratulations on year three! That’s totally incredible and inspiring. You never fail to make me laugh–and, okay, drool–every morning when I look for your new posts. And Lisa Frank rocks forevah. Never give up on those rainbow animals.
My friend and I “stumbled” on your website when we were looking for cookie dough recipes (oh, my…that Cookie Dough Dip just blew us away) and I have been following your blog ever since. It is the only blog I take the time to read every. single. day.
I can’t tell you how many times my friend e-mails me…”Did you see Jessica’s post today??? I think you two are twins.” We must have the same taste buds or something because everything you make is everything I love. I am food obsessed, photography obsessed and exercise obsessed…so needless to say, I love everything about your site!
You really, really do an outstanding job with your recipes and photography and I love to read your thoughts…you crack me up. Thanks for three years of great recipes and entertainment! Keep up the great work!
P.S. Thank you for recommending the “Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook”. Oh, my. It is my goal in life to make every recipe in that book. This is why I have to torture myself with Jillian Michaels every day. It’s all about balance, right?
Thank you so so so much.
Jess,
I’ve been following you for over 2 years now, and I friggin’ LOVE you. If you lived in Chicago, I would hang out outside your house waiting for you to ask me to be your friend. But not in a creepy way, of course. Any time I make one of your recipes, people rave about them and I always tell them to check out your blog. I love how amazing your food is and how funny and candid you are. Tell Mr. HowSweets how lucky he is to have such a bitchin’ awesome wife! Keep up the cooking! Oh, and if you haven’t already, you have to check out Don’t Trust the B in Apt 23. James VanDerBeek plays himself and he is hilarious.
Sending you love and good vibes right back. Love your humor, your recipes and your blog !
I love your blog, seriously, highlight of my morning email routine. Keep writing!!!
Congratulations on three wacky, wild, awesome years! You are one of my morning highlights and daily food guru. Keep up the positive energy, spunk and creativity. From one creative hobbiest chef/baker to another…let’s find life through our knives, kitchen aids and ovens. Cheers to three years and many more!
I love all of your recipes :)
i absolutely love your blog! i enjoy your commentary just as much as the recipes :) the pictures for this post? amazing!
Congrats on your great success! I have been following you for close to three years, I’ve tried your recipes and your excercise routines! I’ve had my husband stare at me with blank eyes as I laugh at loud, but to myself, at most of your writings! I’ve also turned my college aged daughters onto your blog, who enjoy your recipes as much as I do! Please keep it coming, it’s a big part of my daily routine!
Thank you for sticking with me for so long!
I can only imagine how much effort, energy, and time you put into How Sweet to be able to produce such high-caliber posts every day. You’re (obviously!) doing a wonderful job.
Happy third!
And I love and appreciate you for three years filled with food porn to get my day going at 7 AM :)
What an achievement, congratulations! I love your blog, it is just beautiful and very inspiring!
Best.Blog.Ever.
Congrats on 3 years! your blog is fantastic :) i really enjoy making your recipes and am looking forward to the next 3 years :)
I love your guts too. You are my daily fix, and I look forward to it every AM while I get my caffeine ingested. Keep it up- I think you bring a lot of happiness to people, which a is a wonderful gift to share. XO, HC
I’ve been reading your blog every single day for the past year, and let me tell you something. It is one of the first things I do every morning, and even if I’m too busy, I have to at least quickly glance to see one picture of some crazy delicious looking thing, so I can look forward to something that day. You are the greatest (and so is your amaaaazinng food).
Congratulations !! Im kinda new to your blog but have loved every minute of discovering it! Your recipes are awesome and your writing is very funny and relatable. i wil be a continued fan and i hope you have many more years of awesomeness to come!!
So unlike the woman below me, I am a stalker of this site, and I am so not ashamed of it. My boyfriend laughs at me when I check my emails to make sure I got the latest post. But seriously thank you! Thank you for putting yourself out there with all your mazing recipes, as well as your failures and successes. You rock my socks, which also happen to be neon pink with little bunnies on them. I have used several of the recipes on this site with alot of success, knock on wood, and can’t wait to keep reading them everyday you post them.
Warmest Regards,
Neon bunny socked site stalker
Twin?
It took me 3 years to find you!!!!! So, I can’t claim any part of the “love-your-freaking-guts” e-friendishnesss….I plan to hang in here and gather up some sweetness. Thanks for being you!
Yayyy! I loooove your blog. So entertaining, beautiful photos. Keep up the good work!
Your entries constantly have me giggling as well as craving every recipe you write about. Thank you so much :)
congratulations on your third year!
I just began reading your blog a few weeks ago, and I have to say you are absolutely wonderful! I love all of your hilarious posts, and find myself checking your page if not every day, close to it. Congrats on the three years! I look forward to being able to read your posts for many many more to come! :D