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}”
Best part of 2017 was starting my new job!
My favorite part of 2017 so far was spending the summer with my Immediate family – don’t get to see them as often as I like so that was amazing.
My most memorable moment of 2017 so far was graduating with my Masters degree!
My most memorable moment so far was my daughter entering high school-and doing alright! I was so worried, but she’s doing fine.
Going to my first medical school interview and realizing all my hard work is so close to paying off was definitely my most memorable moment this year!
Best moment was the birth of my son on August 8. He joins s big brother (who happens to be just a few weeks older than Max!).
My husband getting a job after an almost 2 yrs of unemployment
Getting a personal trainer!
Our Spring Trip Up North in May. Did day tripping to Traverse City, Alden Mill House on Torch Lake (Great spice shop), Lunch at Pearl’s (OMG), shopping at Charlevoix. Next Day went from Petoskey up to Mackinaw, then back the tunnel of trees. Forgot how narrow it was. Too early for Legs to be open for the season. Then spent time around Lake Charlevoix and Mushroom Festival in Boyne City. Went to many old favorite places.
Best moment of 2017 was hanging out at the waterfall on the Wahclella Falls Trail in Portland with my boyfriend. It was an 80+ degree day but the temperature dropped by 10 degrees as soon as you hit the waterfall, plus you are able to get really close to the water!
Best moment of 2017 was watching my beagle who had a ruptured disc finally be able to get outside and walk normaly again and run and play!
So far, my most memorable moment has been hearing my nephew’s very first real laugh! He was born late last year, so he’s done a lot of growing this 2017, and I’m soooo beyond lucky he lives nearby!
My baby boy turned one!
Getting to spend the summer traveling with my husband!
The best part of 2017 was welcoming our second baby girl in June.
Two memorable moments because I can’t choose- I graduated college and got into my dream graduate program! So thankful and excited to see what the rest of the year holds!
I attended an afternoon karaoke session in a park in Berlin, and it was a beautiful, magical summer day with excellent friends by my side. It’s a memory I’ll carry for a very long time.
The best thing about 2017 has been getting my health back!
Traveling through Italy- Rome, Florence and Tuscany- with my boyfriend and family this summer!
Best part of 2017, so far, is moving to a new city, starting a new job and moving in with the fiance…all in the same weekend!
the birth of our daughter, Olivia!
A memorable event so far this year was the road trip I took with a friend as we went to BC to visit a former colleague. I’m expecting more memorable moments this year as I’m off to Mexico with my husband next month.
Book ordered (from Amazon). But because I’m in Canada, it won’t get here until at least March 29, 2018!
My favorite moment this year was watching our little guy take his first steps!
Preordered on Amazon. I’ll likely forget so it will be an awesome surprise come March.
Giving birth to my baby girl in July!
Best moments of 2017- times spent with family back home (NY/CT) and times spent with family visiting me in my new home (TN). Looking forward to spending time with the people I love, sharing good converstaions, over delicious meals in 2018!
There’s a lot of memorable moments that happen with our four kids, but watching our baby girl learn to walk has been the best!
So many memorable moments, almost all of them revolving around food – making a “bucket list” recipe for the first time, planting an avocado I grew from a seed for the first time, helping my mother cook something she was intimidated by but I was familiar with, etc.
Congratulations on eight years and for all of the success you’ve had! Reading the same blog for years and feeling “bored” by only one voice writing is something that would never cross my mind – oftentimes, I won’t visit a blog more than a handful of times if I don’t love the writer’s voice; the way they tell the story of a recipe.
Congrats on eight years! That’s quite an accomplishment. Memorable moments….going for a run and falling and then breaking my finger pops into mind. Not quite how I wanted my summer to start out but it taught me patience for sure!
My son got his driver’s license! What? When did he turn 16? I thought he was still saying “I love you Mommy” every time I sang out of tune! Not any more! Ah well, it’s all good, and he is a safe driver. I have done something right. ;0)
My favorite part of 2017 by far was the birth of my 2nd daughter ❤️
Congratulations on 8 years!! I’ve been a reader for many of those years and I always turn to your blog for recipe ideas. I haven’t had a single recipe let me down. :) My most memorable moment would have to be holding my best friend’s baby girl the day she was born. What an incredible experience!
My best moment was having my 2nd baby :)
My knee-jerk reaction was to post that my most memorable moment was my daughter being born, but the truth of it was that her birth was traumatic and I was on oxygen slipping in and out of awareness surrounded by doctors and nurses and a crash team and a husband who had literally ripped out his own hair and that’s just not it. So my actual memorable moment was the first time she fell asleep on me, her squishy cheek against my chest and her perfect rosebud mouth mashed into a tiny cave by her little fist. I just breathed with her and hoped I would never feel like I needed anything more.
One of my most memorable moments this summer was hiking in Denali national park with my family and close friends. Four days without internet, thought I would be “lost” without my connections … enjoyed every minute.
I preordered and can’t wait until March!
The arrival of my first great nephew…soooo freaking adorable!
Wow, 8 years is a long time. Congrats for that!
One of my memorable moments this year was when I harvested the first heirloom tomato I grew! I was overjoyed.
My most memorable moment this year was passing my last test in a series of three tests!
I Love it all! Your photos, travels, posts about my hometown PGH, the instagram and your son. Thank you for sharing, go Steelers!
Woah eight years! Thanks for keeping it up, this is my go-to food blog. The highlight of 2017 for me so far has been meeting my nephew. I’ve never been around a baby before and it’s been the best!
I had an amazing summer living in northern Michigan!
3 great things in 2017….. had my sweet baby boy, we bought a house and I got a new job! It’s been a wonderful year!!
My most memorable moment from this year is meeting my cat for the first time and bringing him home!
My best moment…taking our two year old to the beach. The giggles, the squeals, her little blond hair blowing in the breeze…nothing but pure joy! Why can’t we freeze moments like this??
Surpass our fundrdraising goal for a local hospital in Rochester NY, see two beautiful children go off to school happily and now on this journey of a quiet house and what’s next for me.
Happily preordered your book the day celebrating your pre-order!!! Thank you!!
All the best in this upcoming addition and edition!!!
Seeing my daughter grow,11 m old now. Every milestone is the best.
The best part of 2017 was our family vacation on the west coast!
Oh and I just pre-ordered your book! On a whim!
Congrats, you got me :)