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}”
Watching my two little girls become friends and playmates this year has been the best thing ever!! (they are 2 1/2 and 10 months) A memorable moment for me this year was the first time they made each other laugh :) Thank you for hosting this generous giveaway!
My most memorable moment so far has been when we bought our dream house in our dream location! We are so, so happy! Thank you for hosting this wonderful giveaway!
It would be hard to nail down just one for me…watching my son develop from a 3 month old at the beginning of 2017 into an almost fully fledged toddler as we approach October has been nothing short of amazing.Â
Congrats on 8 years! My memorable moment is coming up next week when baby number 3 is born!
My 30 weeker turned one this June and I’m so grateful she chose me to be her momma every day.Â
Hanging out with my whole family at the beach. It is always so fun and memorable! I love it. And I love your blog too :)
Pre ordered the book this weekend!!!
2017 has been full of memorable moments but I think the #1 spot has to go to finding out we’re having a baby GIRL this past Sunday at our gender reveal party.
Looking forward to your new cookbook – we cook from your first one ALL the time.
My most memorable moment so far this year was spending the day at Boone Hall Plantation with my husband on our trip to Charleston in February. I’ll never forgot driving down the Avenue of Oaks. So much history.Â
We found out we were pregnant in February, due October 29th. And then I found out you’re due right around the same time!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Always will be one of my favorite blogs to keep up with. Best thing to happen in 2017 = my best friend got married. I cried like a baby
And pre-ordered the book on Amazon!!
my memorable moment this year is bringing home my sweet puppy. it’s been a totally new experience for me and SO fun. cheers to 8 years of your blog and here’s hoping for 8 more!
A memorable moment I had in 2017 was during a big rainstorm. I sat with my boys (6&3) in the patio door and we talked about how grateful we are to be warm and dry and safe. I think instilling gratitude is important.
My fave thus far, was my 5 year old tossing her hair back, straightening her shoulders and marching in to kindergarten. She was nervous, but super brave!
A memorable moment thus far, is working with my mom to help cater several local families’ parties and events!Â
My best friend had her first baby in August, and came straight from the hospital to my birthday lunch to celebrate. Cuddeling with a 3 days old munchkin is the best gift I’ve ever recieved.
I preordered The Pretty Dish the moment you announced it was available! I can’t wait to get it!
My entire family got a hour at Lake George in upstate NY for the week of the 4th, and decided to do a “formal dinner,” meaning we all wore camouflage and ate filets with lobster tails. Thank was hilarious and so fun. We want to make it a tradition.Â
Getting a promotion at work & ending up on a conference panel somehow.
finding out i was pregnant after a miscarriage earlier this year…going strong at 20 weeks
Congrats on 8 years!! Looking forward to many more! My most memorable moment of 2017 was watching my daughter play in the all star softball game that she was selected to be on!
Good Question, for me, my memorable moment was selling our house in another state! We had title issues and had to hold onto the house for 2 years longer than planned.
Wow! 8 years! It has been so fun following you along your journey to becoming a momma and cookbook author! I love being able to start every weekday morning with your musings and amazing pictures of food. THANK YOU for being awesome! My favorite memory this year was a family vacation with our 1 year old and 3 year old boys to Colorado. The time change was cruel to us but seeing my boys love the mountains and fresh air was magical. Happy happy 8 years Jessica!
As silly as it sounds, sitting out by the fire pit eating chili with my husband. it was just us, the fire and the food!
My most memorable moment of 2017 was seeing my baby girl take her first steps earlier this year. Now I’m just trying to keep up with her! Also, love your blog! Have been a long time reader even though I rarely comment.Â
2017’s been pretty great, but the most memorable is spending my 2nd anniversary with my husband in our new (to us) home! Congratulations on 8 years, I’ll obviously be around for many more! :)
Also totally pre-ordered the book the day it was available!
Picking one moment is hard!! Maybe seeing beautiful Utah for the first time with my family. The drive from Las Vegas to St George was just filled with awe!
I got married in May… definitely memorable!
Watching my kids grow up is always memorable. My baby girl turned three this year and my baby boy turned one. Where does the time go???
Having my daughter and son-in-law skype my husband and I on a Sunday morning to tell us they are expecting their second child. Â Live does not get any better than that!
Jess, this is so generous! I have been following you since 2011. Most memorable moment of 2017 – finding out I was pregnant a second time, when my son was only 10 months old! I spent the day crying in shock and amazement because it was NOT the plan, but we are so grateful. I’m 30 weeks now, so just behind you!
My memorable moment was finding out we’re expecting baby boy 3! Â
Visiting London and cruising to Norway for the first time earlier this year!
Oh and OBVI I ordered your second book the DAY it came out. Is that even a question!?
Pre-ordered your next book on Amazon!
One of my very favorite things so far this year was taking my two daughters on our first ever girls’ trip a few weekends ago. It was such special time with them and just plain fun!
My favourite memory so far this year was taking my dog camping for the first time! She did great, and my boyfriend and I had such a fun weekend :)
Also, preordered the book from indigo.ca (Canadian girl here!) and cannot wait for it to arrive!!
My husband had a sepsis scare late summer. 32 years of marriage dont know what I would do without him!
8 years! Amazing!
Perhaps not a totally life-changing event, but we had these overgrown bushes around the front door of our home that I’ve been wanting to be removed for years. It finally happened earlier this summer and I planted the most beautiful flower in its place. It’s brought me so much joy.
2017 has been amazing and memorable because I paid off my student loans and I am focusing more on myself and what I want out of life.
Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog from the very beginning and love everything about it. Â My most memorable event this year was the birth of my first grandchild! Â (And I’m not that old!)
Thanks for taking the time to curate this wonderful blog.Â
Congrats!! You are always a post I look forward to seeing each day! Â Best moment so far was the birth of our son 9 days ago! So awesome and overwhelming already :-)
My most memorable moment was one week ago, finding out that my husband and I are FINALLY pregnant :) I haven’t even told my family yet.
My most memorable moment in 2017 was getting to hold my brand spanking new niece in my arms! :)
I graduated college and got an awesome job :)
Congrats on 8 years of blogging. That’s a huge accomplishment. My most memorable experience of 2017 was going to Venice, Italy with my family and floating down the Grand Canal on a gondola with them.
Most memorable moment of 2017 for me is bringing home baby #3! At least I think it was memorable, I have slept in 7 months so my memory is a bit fuzzy. 😂