I can’t believe its been four years since the first food blog was ever created – ha! At least that’s what I wrote on one of my first posts. You think that nothing really changes in your life day to day, but looking back on four years, we’ve been through a lot!
- You’ve read the story of how Hannahcame into the world
- You’ve read about how I met and married my amazing husband
- You supported us when Tony was in the hospital
- You cheered us when he came homefrom the hospital
- You watched the video of Hannah getting her car
- You watched Hannah graduatefrom high school!
- You watched my step-son Joe turn 20– in a few weeks he’ll be 23!
- You watched my family reunionin Hilton Head when my Aunt turned 80!
- You saw Tony turn 50!
- You read that My step-son Joe got engaged to his fiance Lizz!
- You supported us through Tony’s colon cancer – he’s now cancer free!
- we challenged each other in the second 101 days of summer challenge
- my mom turned 70!
- Tony’s hernia surgery. And his subsequent battle with c-diff that he had to suffer with for weeks on end.
- My brother Charlie, getting sick with Bob Hoskins Lymphoma – he’s done with chemo – woop!
- Hannah moved out and is now enjoying her junior year at a real university after community college!
- We both both got new cars this summer!
And lots and lots of recipes and good food in between. I have loved having this blog these past years – it is the perfect creative outlet for me and I have “met” some of the most amazing women that I otherwise never would have known they existed without this blog.
I remember being so excited that I got my 500th comment! And when I hit 40,000 page views after 7 months I thought “wow, people really like to read about me!” Tony actually did his first guest post on that milestone.
Now my stats tell me I’ve had 2001 posts, 39,941 comments and 950,020 page views. Wowza!
And while this started out as a weight loss/food blog, um, pretty sure I am back where I started from. I had the craziest notion when I started this blog that if I put myself out there, showed the number on the scale, that it somehow would magically guilt me into making better choices.
In fact, I emailed back and forth with Rachel yesterday, and even though she said she would keep my secret, you know what I made for lunch yesterday? A francheezie – an all beef hot dog sliced in half, put on a jimmy john’s day old bread, with really good American cheese and bacon and made a panini out of it. Um, pretty sure its time to make better choices!
So let’s start over, shall we?
The best news though? I haven’t coughed since Sunday!! Woop! My gym bag is packed and I plan on hitting the gym at lunch today. Again, thanks to all of my August challengers for your kind comments and emails about me being sick and not finishing my goals. Maybe I’ll make 100 miles in September?
So how was your long weekend? Ours was a perfect mix of lazy and productivity – loved it! I have some recipes to share later this week – parmesan focaccia – so easy this could be made on a week night, homemade corn tortillas, a marinated shrimp dish with creamy polenta, and a pork ragu that is amazeballs. And Tony made me his killer eggs! (He’s actually really sick of me mentioning every time he makes eggs that I tell him they are the best ever!)
My Mom, SIL and nephew came over for a bbq yesterday – I made ribs and my Mom brought this delicious grilled corn salad – I’ll have to get the recipe from her because it was amazeballs! And so was dessert. About 45 minutes before everyone came over I realized I never fixed a dessert! So I made an apple/blueberry crumble that was delicious – I’ll post that recipe later on this week too. And let’s just say that served with vanilla bean ice cream, this was most definitely insulin worthy!
So to thank all my loyal readers, just leave me a comment and tell me either:
- How long have you been reading My Bizzy Kitchen (formerly Biggest Diabetic Loser) or
- Which recipe have you made from this blog?
The winner will get . . . what ever blogger wants especially now that fall is upon us:
A portable, folding light box! Comes with four backdrops, two lights and a tripod. And the winner will receive a years subscription to Cooking Light, still my favorite food magazine.
I’ll pick a random winner this Friday, September 7. Good luck and thanks for reading! Off to put my food together for the day – make it a great day!
Can you delete that last comment I made?? Obviously not the right website address..thanks!
Happy blogiversary!!! Congrats on your milestone!! I have been reading you for about 2 years I think..and I LOVE your bread recipes…I have them bookmarked on my computer… Tony’s fried rice is on the menu tonight…
Done! I fixed it 😀
Happy blogiversary!!! I think I started reading you shortly after you began blogging, but who can remember that far back?!?
I’ve been reading you shenanigans for a year-ish I think. Love the blog Biz! :0)
I love reading your blog. Keep it going! 🙂
Hmmm, I have no idea how long I’ve been reading your blog, definitely quite a while! I’ve made your spicy pumpkin ravioli, so good!
Wow….I’ve “known” you for nearly 3 years! Since November of 2009! I can’t find the post, but you had made a soup recipe and posted that it was thousands of calories. I commented on that and you corrected it to hundreds of calories. 🙂 I’ve been a daily reader ever since!
I think you’re the blog that I go to the most for recipe inspiration because everything here looks so amazing! I’ve made your zucchini lasagna, best ever shrimp cocktail, rice cooker red beans and rice, chicken tikka masala, copycat portillo cake, breakfast pizza…and those are just what I can remember off the top of my head.
I’m so glad that you still love blogging and will continue to do so!!! Not sure what I’d do with my mornings if you stopped! 🙂
Happy blogging birthday! I hope the next four years are carefree ones. Glad you are feeling better.
Best,
Bonnie
Oh gosh, I’ve been reading for at least 2 years now! Always love your food and your rants and raves:) I’ve made your salsas and your breads – and I’m sure others but I can’t remember!
4 years – I swear I have no clue how you do it!
I started reading your blog last Spring when I started reading blogs & created my own. I can’t remember where I found your blog, but I fell in love immediately – your personality shined through & you were real! I felt I could relate to you, which made me a loyal reader!
Recipes – geez – I think all of your quiche recipes have been a big constant hit in my family – especially with my IL’s.
There are still so many in my special “Biz’s Recipes” folder that I’m dying to make.
Congrats on 4 years, Biz!
John was commenting to me a little while ago that he was glad I had my blog because it was a nice recording of the things we did – not just weight loss. I think blogs that incorporate a bit of life are more interesting to read. So glad you hear your brother is done with chemo. Hope he is in the clear.
ahhhhhh! Happy blog birthday!!!!!!!!! I feel like I’ve been reading forever. I know I’ve been commenting AT LEAST since November 2008. I love your blog- I look forward to your posts. Here is one of your recipes I made:http://www.itzyskitchen.com/2011/03/e-squash-spinach-noodle-less-lasagna.html
Want that corn salad!
I’m a late comer…I started reading your blog about a year ago. Look forward to your posts everyday, plus my sister lives very close to you. Everything you make looks amazing.
I just started reading your blog this summer! I am really enjoying it–thanks for all the great recipe ideas and fun posts. 🙂
Congratulations! That’s a lot of your life to put out there, and it seems like it has been a great experience!
On to the raffle! I’ve been reading for about a year, and I’d love the Cooking Light subscription : )
Congrats to you – that’s quite an accomplishment! I don’t remember when I started reading but I know it didn’t take long for me to realize that you live in my hometown and I went to the same high school as Hannah. Best of luck in the future!
Doing A 180 is a year behind you. We turned three on the 2nd. I have to say though you’ve been off track you sound like you’ve enjoyed the food you’ve been eating lol!
I’m going to go with two years – that’s when I created my blog and you were one of the very first I found. And I’ve made those twice-baked potatoes that you do on the grill with the goat cheese – I don’t know what they are called but they are delicious! And the artisan bread is fantastic too! Congrats on 4 years, and being so popular 😉
Hi Biz – I’ve been reading for about a year. I really appreciate how honest you are, especially in your shortcomings. I have to confess that we don’t have similar “tastes” – I don’t really eat red meat and cheese and try to limit carbohydrates, but I’ve made your Chicken Tikka Masala – and it’s fabulous!
Congrats! Even though I have only been reading less than a year, I always enjoy hearing what is going on in your life! Congrats on 4 years!
Good Morning,
I have been reading your blog for about a year. I really enjoy your recipes and my favorites are the soups. Looking forward to trying some more with fall right around the corner.