With a Side of Hope

Good Morning Everyone!  Happy August 4th!  Today is a very special day for me.  You might ask why.  One year ago today, I wrote my first post on With A Side Of Hope!  I can hardly believe that I have been blogging for a year already!  It doesn’t seem that long at all.  Creating a blog was one of the best things that I could have done for myself.  I kept playing with the idea of starting a blog but I always got too nervous to write.  It was Melissa who first introduced me to the world of blogging.  For her, I am thankful for that.  It truly changed my life.

When Mike and I first moved into together, that was when I first discovered my love for cooking and experimenting with recipes.  I would follow blogs and replicate recipes but I never commented.  After a year of living together and Melissa trying to convince me to start a blog.  I finally did it.  My blog is my outlet. It is my way of venting, getting different opinions, sharing new products, recipes, and restaurants.  Plus, it’s a way to meet people and go to events that I would have never heard about if it wasn’t for my blog. 

I may not have the best blog or a ton of readers like other blogs do but I have a loyal group of readers who keep coming back to see what is going on with my life. That makes me happy.  So thank you to everyone who has shared this year with me.  Thank you so much! 

Let’s take a look back at some of my most memorable posts:

We have to start off with my very first post.  I think I have come a long way since then.

I discussed one of the hardest moments of my life.  My car accident.

I talked about a run in with our former upstairs neighbor that required a police visit.

I cooked the Engagement Chicken without Mike having any clue!

Mike and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary.

We started off 2011 with our condo getting flooded.

I had the opportunity to attend the following events: Savor Borgata, The Cadillac Culinary Challenge, The Taste of Philadelphia, and the Turkey Hill Experience. 

I got engaged the night before my 27th birthday.

I attended my first bridal show with Melissa!

Those are just some memorable moments over the course of this year that I can think of.  I’m sure there have been a ton more but those are some that stick out in my mind.  I cannot wait to see where this next year of blogging takes me!  I love it so far!  What is something that you would like to see on my blog or see change on my blog? 

Last night, before we started dinner, Mike and I began hanging some pictures around our condo.  Yeah, we’ve lived there over a year and never hung anything up!  We are slowly putting some pictures up and will add more tonight.  I want our house to look more like a home.  I think the pictures will give the place that added touch.

We decided to keep it simple for dinner by having one of our Trader Joe’s favorites!  Sweet Potato Gnocchi!

One of our favorite Trader Joe's items!

My dinner plate

Best gnocchi!

I’m telling you, if you haven’t tried this gnocchi yet, you are missing out!  It’s really good.  I think it’s one of their best products they sell at Trader Joe’s.  I don’t really care for the packaging all that much but I love the product for sure. 

The rest of the night we spent watching some shows on the dvr and watching Big Brother.  I am getting annoyed by Daniele.  I think she is really fake.  I love nights with the live shows.  I cannot wait to watch tonight.  Oh, and Melissa and I are going to the Farmer’s Market tonight like we did a few weeks ago!   I’m excited!  I’m going through fresh string bean withdrawal!  The supermarket didn’t have any on Sunday so I need to load up at the market!  Yay!

What do you like most about blogging?  What is your favorite item to buy at the farmer’s market?

Time to get back to work!  Happy Blog Anniversary to my blog! 

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