I am twenty five years old today!

There were some exciting milestones along the way this year. I created and launched my new Gourmet Gab brand, started the Gourmet Gab shop, and on-boareded my first (rockstar!) intern. Social videos have been a big part of growth: I celebrated a year of Food Network Snapchat Discover videos and got to film two Facebook Lives with Nourish by Tastemade (here and here). I got to be a guest chef at my cousin’s restaurant at the lake.

One of my favorite parts of the last three years since college has been all the traveling. This year, I got to bring friends to Phoenix, visit Tampa, go to a conference in Chicago, hang out in Bloomington, Indiana, go to New York City, plus go to Connecticut and Ohio for the first time. In New York I got to meet Nikki Dinki from Food Network and got snowed in for my first blizzard!

Some of my favorite posts in the last year of have been My Curly Hair Story, How to Get an Internship at the Food Network. I also won a Year of Free Cupcakes! My favorite recipes have been the Green Veggie Bowl and the Spicy Avocado Tuna Melt.

I have always been known for my smiley, bubbly disposition and am generally incredibly happy. I want to be honest with you all, the last six months have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I think the only positive part of my Grandpa passing away in January was that it helped me open up feelings about losing my mom. It is so difficult to put into words, but it actually felt good to grieve. So good to have something to cry about.

When I read Shauna Niquest’s book Bittersweet, it really resonated with me. To make things extra sweet in life, we have to endure the bitter parts. Those tragic, exhausting, emotional or challenging things build character and give perspective that furthers the joy that comes with the happy things.

Today I am taking all that the year has given me and pushing it forward into an incredible momentum. I am saying, “Cheers!” to the prospect of 25 being my best year yet. I believe in you, 25!

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela