Starting New…but Looking Back! Hello 2012!

Seriously ya’ll, can you believe that another year has come and gone?!  How did that happen?  Where did 2011 go?  What on earth will 2012 bring?  I’m so excited to find out!

As I’ve been thinking back on this past year, I find a sense of accomplishment of doing something I’ve never been much good at doing…keeping a journal.  I mean, I still don’t do the whole “dear diary” sort of thing, but as I look back at this past year, I have this space to thank for a more detailed picture of my life.  Some hard moments, some fun projects, family hilarity, great recipes, travels, times with friends….and it’s all written down!  I really enjoy reading back over some of my old posts, and I was thinking that maybe you would too.  So here are a few of my favorite posts from 2011, and some that statistically speaking you guys must have liked too!

There have been a few times where I let the lesser woman in me hang out a little…

Like when I confessed that the way it sometimes seems like I can “do everything” is actually just because I have a giant junk drawer.  Or how about the time my temper really got the best of me and I threw an egg at the wall?!  Remember that? Awful!

And some of my most favorite recipes have definitely gotten some love across the globe this year thanks to a place to share them and friends to try them out (you all!)

Like these mouth-watering Shrimp and Grits….counted among my favorite easy and impressive dishes to fix for company.

And several of you seemed pleased to learn How to Properly Cut an Onion and how to make Homemade Chicken Stock.

A few others that garnered rave reviews in my home and yours were my most favorite Banana Bread, Fig and Sausage Pizza or Salad, the greatest Sugar Cookies ever, Moroccan-inspired Chicken Tagine with Lemon and Olives, summery-fresh Fish Tacos, and Fall-Off-The-Bone Baby Back Ribs.  I have to be honest though, as I looked back through the recipes I shared this year, I’m pretty psyched to go back through them all myself.  I’m not kidding when I say that I don’t share it if it’s not amazing….I posted quite a few culinary stunners this year if I do say so myself.

I enjoyed sharing my propensity for ridiculous things said and done as well…like when I TOTALLY embarrassed myself at Arbys or when I tried to drink through a glue stick.  And oh my words…the sunglasses incident?!  So embarrassing!  And still…the best pedicure I’ve had all year was THIS one.  Give it a shot…if you dare.

I appreciated how you all let me be real with you too…about things like losing babies, hard days when even mommies throw temper tantrums, about my faith in the One who qualifies us for great things, and even those times when we all need to eat a big fat slice of humble pie.  I love that I can be honest here…and I SO appreciate how many of you seem to actually appreciate that as well.

I loved sharing crafts and projects with you too.  Like the bench I made from an old headboard, how to make a hymnal wreath, and how to antique a table.

I was able to tell you about a few of my most favorite products and even give some of them away too…KEEN Footwear, Goody Goody Bon Bons, a fantastic Eureka Steam Mop, Lily Pottery jewelry, the Foster’s Market cookbook, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Gussy Sews ruffled awesomeness, and Red Letter Words artwork.

Having a place to share about fun parties and home decor was a blast this year!  My baby’s 1st birthday Very Hungry Caterpillar Party, the Easter Egg Hunt, the Rustic-Chic Wedding I styled, and finishing the year with a tour of my home and some super fun Christmas decorations.  Loved it ya’ll!

Truly….I have been amazed at the fun this has been, the friends I have made, the connections of old re-connected….it’s been phenomenal.  I am so beyond grateful for each one of you who spend your time here…with me.  I can’t tell you how my heart jumps with excitement each time I have a comment from one of you, how I’ve cried along with some of your stories shared, how blessed I’ve felt by your encouragement.  Really….thank you all.

Happy New Year friends!  Let’s take a big bite out of this coming year together….let’s savor it…and enjoy it…like the dessert that it is!