Last year I rang in the new year and said goodbye to 2012 with a recap of my year via Instagram. It was such a hit that I decided to do it again (why recreate the wheel, right?). We all love pictures and, let’s be real, creeping on other people’s lives is pretty much what us social media addicts live for.
To be honest, I rang in 2013 in a not-so-great place. But oh, how quickly things can turn around. In the course of the past year, I have worked 5 different jobs (some simultaneously), started dating and moved in with a man who I could not imagine loving more, watched this blog truck along and grow every day, and ended the year with a full-time job offer (more details on that later). How grateful I am to you, my readers, for sticking with me through the ups and downs, and helping me to work things out the best way I know how – in my kitchen.
January: We started a little sourdough adventure together. (Like I said before, the first of the year wasn’t too great…so delicious sourdough bread really was the highlight for January!)
February: I finally left one awful job situation, and started another job…
March: …which I promptly quit 6 minutes (ok, weeks) later to start tutoring. This ranks up there with one of the scariest yet best decisions I have ever made.
April: I taught you how to make a killer pie crust.
May: Thanks to a last-minute reservation and some incredibly kind and generous friends, I had one of the best meals of my life.
June: I started dating this grillin’ stud muffin. (Barf, gag, sorry, I know.)
July: I seriously upgraded my kitchen situation…
…and toured the Wilton headquarters…
…and attended my first blogging conference!
August: We visited some dear friends in Wisconsin, had our first wine tasting, and discovered that cranberry wine is just stupidly delicious.
September: Stephie, Steph, and Stef sat down and had lunch. (A real-life thing, not just the start of a bad joke.)
October: I nerded out and crashed luncheons at my alma mater’s homecoming…
…and watched my dear friend run the Chicago marathon in just over 3 1/2 hours. Um…what?!?!
November: I attended the coolest baking demo at the Nielsen-Massey Vanillas headquarters.
December: We dressed the cats up like little elves, because that’s how normal 25-year-olds celebrate the season…
…I spent the month crocheting Christmas gifts like a crazy person…
…we visited both of our families for the holidays, during which we got to snuggle 6 different dogs, 2 cats, and 2 babies…
…and I ended the year where I always find myself: back in my kitchen. It may look the same, but oh, how things have changed.
For those interested, the top 10 recipes posted on EYHO in 2013 (as determined by y’all) were:
- Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Black Beans
- Copycat Velveeta Shells and Cheese
- Coconut Rice Pudding
- Caramel Macchiato Doughnut Muffins
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Maple Walnut Blondies
- Thai Chicken Pizza
- Coconut Mango Cupcakes
- Roasted Tomato Soup
And the top 10 overall posts (not necessarily posted in 2013):
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Cream Cheese Ranch Roll-ups
- Kathleen’s Banana Oatmeal Muffins
- Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Black Beans
- Buttermilk Roast Chicken
- Momma’s Baked Rice Pudding
- Copycat Velveeta Shells and Cheese
- Pie Crust Tutorial
- Lemony Greek Yogurt Cheesecake
Welp, it was quite the year for sure. Sheila and I were just talking about March, and it’s props to her for thinking about tutoring. Once again, she comes through for us. I think it’s funny that SOURdough was January. Also, I think it’s interesting that two of our family go-to meals are your top two posts. Guess good old home cooking wins out on occasion. I love you and I’m eager to see what 2014 brings for our little family.
And your rice pudding! And you thought people would think it was too weird…
I guess I don’t have much more confidence in my food than I do in myself. Better go eat a piece of pie to get over that one. Preferably, chicken pot pie. 😉 (And, let’s admit…that rice pudding is yummy. I need to make some for Daddy and me).
So so fun Stephie! Loved it. Wishing you a warm, wonderful 2014!!!!
You, too! Cannot wait to see what it holds.
Just so you know, meeting you and Stef in person was one of the highlights of my year, too. 🙂 You’re great. I hope 2014 brings you even more joy and opportunities, friend. And cookies.
And I’m just glad that the baby-making germs passed on to you as opposed to Stephie. That whole Steph(f)anie/food blogger/baby thing was scary. I had to eat cookies, too. 🙂
I agree with Stephanie! Love you girls!
Love you, girl! I am excited for your 2014, little mama!
I love that you did your end of year highlights this way! What a wonderful year and love that picture you 3 Stef(ph)s!
Gorgeous post Stephie!!! Aw, yay! Meeting your love is probably the highlight of these photos for me… I am a hopeless romantic and I am so glad that your year turned from being dismal into beautiful! Hopefully, fingers crossed and lots of prayers invested, 2014 will be your absolute best year yet. I’m pretty sure it will be, as you’re amazing and very worthy of good things. So blessed to be traveling alongside you in blogland! Hugs and love xoxo
I love this recap! Especially since I came in late. And hey, now that I’m finally on Instagram, I can do one for 2014. I can’t believe you have two friends named Stef and Steph. What are the odds? And also, my shortest job ever was 5 weeks. And so began my 20-year stint of self-employment!
yayyyy!!! What an amazing year this turned out to be!
and THANK YOU for my Christmas card. I adore you. (Michael got it while I was in Disney World and he was like “It says Stephie who I think is one of your blog friends but I don’t know who Alex is” and I was like “That’s her boyyyyfriend! Yayy Stephie Christmas card!!” XD)
I think our 2014’s are going to be pretttttttty great, too! 🙂
And I’m glad you got it! Michael is funny 😛