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}”
My most memorable moment has to be seeing my baby boy take his first steps.
My most memorable event was getting to go to Ohio for the first time to visit my daughter and sweet grandchildren!
I’ve been such a huge fan of your for years. I pre-ordered your second book to set next to your first on my shelf. 😁
Already preordered! :)
My most memorable moment this year is vacationing with my husband on the Chesapeake bay. :)
A trip to Canada for my 30th birthday this year was full of wonderful memories.
Pre-ordered!
First of all, I’ve been reading your blog since high school and I just graduated from college – you’ve never once become boring, and always offer contagious enthusiasm when I need it the most!
A memorable moment from 2017 has been getting my first post-college JOB just last week! #adulting
I am hoping I haven’t had THE moment yet, however, being able to spend time with my parents (who are in their 90’s) was a great thing! Oh, and I had my front yard in an article in Houzz!
It was a memorable summer visiting my granddaughter in Sweden. Next was a girls road trip in Northern France to see the white cliffs, beautiful arches and enjoy delicious food! Oh and I must not forget a visit to Monet’s jardin : )
My most memorable moment was celebrating 20 years of marriage!
My most memorable moment was having fun my firstborn child, a baby girl we named Quinn! My water broke right before my husband’s 40th birthday party I had planned at our house that evening. She didn’t take all of her father’s birthday thunder & was born the following morning. :)
Unfortunately, 2017 was a difficult one for my family, so memorable moments from the year are mostly stressful, but we did just send our oldest off to all-day kindergarten and she loved it. That same day, she wanted the training wheels taken off her bike and she just zoomed off afterward like the amazing child she is!
Celebrating my 7th anniversary would have to be my most memorable moment in 2017. Congrats on the 8 year anniversary! <3
Undoubtedly, celebrating 24 years of marriage with my wonderful husband. Congratulations on YOUR anniversary!
Its been an incredibly tragic year for me but the highlight would be the birth of my one and only nephew Wyatt in May. Cutest little peanut ever.
My most memorable moment this year was going to Mach Picchu with my husband
Congrats on 8 years!
The most memorable moment (more of a time) so far was our trip back to Mongolia with my 1 year old son. It was amazing to see my son playing with his Mongolian cousins.
P.S. Congrats on 8th year anniversary!!! It’s crazy to look back! Your passion shines through your work! Thank you for always being an authentic you!
Most memorable moment: my brother getting married!!
And of course I already pre-ordered your book :)
My most memorable moment of this year started with a positive pregnancy test in New Years Day and meeting my baby for the first time a week ago!
I preordered your book! I own your first book and can’t wait to add another to my cookbook collection!
I had my first baby!!
“Licking” the Liberty Bell, walking on the same floor that Benjamin Franklin did everyday, tripping up George Washington’s steps, and running my hand on the banister that George Washington used.
Most memorable moment of 2017 so far- spending the weekend with my parents, my brother and sister and all of our families (kids, spouses etc). It was the first time our family had been all together in 5 years. <3
And I pre-ordered your book! Can’t wait!
My most memorable time of this year was going on a family road trip with my wife, 5-yr old, 3-yr old and 1-yr old. We took two weeks and went to Asheville, Charleston, saw family in Ft. Myers, Baton Rouge and back to Wisconsin. It was awesome. Especially the food in Baton Rouge.
My most favorite moment this year was when my daughter who is going to be 3 in November told me she loved me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. She is my heart and a foodie and loves to helping mommy cook.
My best 2017 moment was when my almost 3 year old told me she loved me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Just because. She is my heart and a little foodie; she loves helping Mommy cook.
Most memorable moment of 2017- Introducing my 2 year old daughter to her new baby sister. Cue all the happy tears :)
My most memorable moment was when my 6-year old daughter read a book to her newborn baby brother in my hospital bed
Thank you so much for being here every day for us! And for putting out phenomenal content! I pre-ordered right away!
May sound cliche, but my most memorable moment has been getting engaged! :D
Just returned from Paris where my 22 year old son who is a senior at Ohio State and an Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler, won the World championship when he beat the Russian wrestler. What a great moment for this wonderful boy and for us!
getting my dream job after being un/underemployed almost a year!
For me it was seeing my daughter graduate from SDSU on Mother’s Day and having all my family there with me. Very proud and very grateful!
My most memorable moments last year was visiting my daughter in Colorado.
My most memorable moment this year was when my husband and I could buy our forever home for our two girls. Our 4 year old and rainbow baby(just turned one!) get to live in a wonderful, quiet neighborhood with neighbors and kids to grow up with. <3
My most memorable moment was quitting my job, selling my condo, and moving halfway across the country!
I pre-ordered The Pretty Dish! Can’t wait!
Buying a new house! And watching our baby learn to walk :)
Most memorable: seeing my daughter start kindergarten <3
My most memorable moment of 2017 was sharing family stories of my recently passed father and his siblings with first cousins who I have never met because of distance. And visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks with my husband and new baby on that same trip!
My first job after graduating college starts in a couple of weeks! A memorable moment of this year was accepting that job offer after months and months of applying.
Most memorable moment of 2017 was our family vacation to Charleston, SC. :)
Ooohhh, there were a lot since my baby turned one in 2017, but a particular memorable moment was when we got him to really crack up giggling for the first time. (blowing bubbles from some dishes soaking in the sink, who knew it was hilarious?!). How kind of you to host this and congrats on 8 years!
My most memorable moment was finding out in early March that I was pregnant with our first child! My husband was more excited than I was at the time, and he continues to carry the torch in optimism and positivity – but I will definitely never forget the feeling of seeing those positive tests!
Congratulations on 8 years – here’s to 8 more! :)
Just preordered your book! I LOVE all the recipes in your first one – they are among some of our favorites (just like plenty of your blog’s recipes). Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got in store for us, and it’s just an extra bonus for me that you have the beauty recipes! Very exciting :)
my most memorable moment so far is getting married a week and a half ago! cheers! xo
Congrats on 8 years!!! I have followed you from the beginning, and just adore your blog, your recipes and you! (hope that is not creepy!!) Anyway… memorable moment in 2017? a million things with my kiddos…but this is is a fun one: My husband and I attended the Diner en Blanc in Pittsburgh last week…and our table was photographed by TABLE magazine and shared on their FB page. WHAT?! I felt super famous. haha!