HAPPY NEW YEAR!
If you’re on the 5D5W Facebook page, then you probably saw that Shaun and I welcomed 2012 in high style.
Okay, so if you’re really on our Facebook page, then you know the truth: we didn’t ring in the New Year at all.
In fact, not only was there no ringing, but there was also zero whooping, hollering, toasting, or even kissing involved.
Zilch.
And it wasn’t because we were asleep either.
Nope.
We were both wide awake (well, I don’t know about the wide part, but we were awake…haven’t put #2 of my resolutions into effect yet), and we were both so engrossed in our separate pursuits (me: blogging, him: playing Wii fishing) that we didn’t notice a new year had started until I glanced up at the clock to make sure we hadn’t missed it and discovered that we had. Indeed. Missed it.
Lame to the max, I know.
So, today, in honor of the advent of the New Year that went entirely unnoticed around here, I thought I’d do a round-up of my 10 favorite/most popular posts (or themes) from 2011.
Besides, if I don’t do it, I’m pretty sure I’ll be disowned by the blogging community.
Apparently, I’m much more of a lemming than I thought.
#1
I’ve only been blogging since June, but one of my first ever Try-It Tuesdays—in which I showed you how I turned an old Craigslist coffee table into a tufted ottoman—was hands, feet, and elbows-down the.most.popular.project I’ve done to date.
Of course, my ottoman was almost upstaged by that orange Pottery Barn Moorish Tile Rug, which readers loved sooooo much that I got a flurry of emails begging me to reveal my source…followed by many groans of disappointment when I informed folks that it was sold-out everywhere.
(If you feel like you truly can’t live without it, here’s an alternative that, while different, might be close enough to soothe your broken heart).
#2
You squealed right along with me when I transformed my master closet from a sad, sad place full of underutilized potential:
…into my dream closet full of personalized touches and fun, happy colors:
#3
One of my personal favorites were these simple egg carton sparkle flowers.
The glitter versions are still on display in my guest bathroom:
#4
Then came Thrifted or Grifted…
…the fashion guessing game where you scour two similar outfits for signs of thriftedness and decide which one is:
A) 100% Thrifted: (adj.)—previously loved and therefore ridiculously cheap…aka Secondhand
OR
B) 100% Grifted: (adj.)—swindled or cheated…aka Retail
I can’t even adequately express how much fun I’ve had reading all of your overly analytical, spot-on, waffling, completely confident, so-wrong-you’re-right guesses.
Makes my day every time we do it!
#5
All of my blogger-friends were super-excited when my brilliant programmer husband figured out how to keep the GFC follower’s box from disappearing with one super-simple line of code.
#6
I had a blast making Princess Ladybug’s (AKA my daughter, Adelaide) invitations for her first birthday.
#7
Thanks to you guys, I finished up some projects and kept everything clean long enough to take pics and do some room reveals from our house, including my colorful kitchen (one of my favorite rooms and surprisingly affordable, thanks to a great bartering deal on our cabinets):
#8
I had some fun sharing my take on “the art of retail haggling,” which scored me that gorgeous Pottery Barn capiz shell chandy for an incredible $35 (I also learned some pretty great tips from you thrifty geniuses too!).
#9
Most of you were as surprised as I was by my Shiny Redneck Christmas Wreath.
After all, who knew that duct tape could be…dare I say it…pretty?
#10
Last, but certainly not least, I introduced you to Collette, the Quite Coral dresser (make sure you click to see the grimy “before”). She’s easily my favorite furniture revamp to date.
It’s been an amazing year, and I feel so blessed that I’ve gotten the chance to share so much of it with you all.
Thanks for reading, commenting, encouraging, and laughing with me!
I can’t wait to see what 2012 holds in store!
P.S. The winner of this lovely Shabby Apple Jewelry Key to My Heart Necklace:
is #6 (chosen by random.org)—Becca!
Congrats, girl!
Shoot me an email, and I’ll get you hooked up with your beautiful necklace!
Linking up with:
Monday ~ The DIY Showoff Project Parade ~ Made by You Mondays ~ Embellishing Life Everyday ~ Just Something I whipped up Monday ~ The CSI project ~ Menu Plan Monday ~ C.R.A.F.T. ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ Dittle Dattle ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon ~ ModMix Monday ~ Sew Stylish ~ Coastal Charm ~ Under the Table and Dreaming
Tuesday ~ Sew Crafty Tuesday Get Your Craft ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncojmmon Slice of Suberbia ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse
Wednesday ~ It’s Overflowing Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Midweek Fiesta ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims
Thursday ~ Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ The Frugal Girls ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue
Friday ~ The Shabby nest ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can’t Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Shabby Art ~ Answer is Chocolate
Saturday ~ I heart nap time- Sundae Scoop ~ Tatertots and Jello ~ Be different Act Normal ~ Funky Junk ~ 2805 ~ Making Lemonade Blog ~I am Along for the Ride ~ Lolly Jane
You’ve had a great year! Congrats on such a successful first 6 months of blogging!
I LOVE rejoice the hands, i hit up their etsy page every other day. Want all those rings!
silver snowflake earrings |snowflake bracelet | Snowflake Earrings
You’ve had a great year! Congrats on such a successful first 6 months of blogging!
What a wonderful year you’ve had!!! Thanks for sharing at the Tuesday To Do Party!
Smiles!
Jami
http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com
You seriously had some great 2011 projects you busy little beaver you. I really do like all of them, but i love the egg carton sparkle flowers, very creative. Wishing you the best for 2012, and Thanks so much for sharing over at Sunday’s Best.
Thank you so much for joining my linky party! This post rocks!
So fun! I am sorry I missed out on last year. I will have to catch up. I am a new follower!
Ginger
Love the story of the New Year Eve. It has me lol. The year that guitar hero came out my nusband were kid free for the evening. We have 4 kids so this do not happen often. We were playing guitar hero until 2 am. We did the same thing, looked up and saw it was a New Year.
Great stuff thanks for sharing
Love them all! I’m your newest follower.
Love all the COLOR! I am a fan(and a new follower). Did you know you are a no-reply blogger? I tried to replay to your comment on my blog and could not…I was bummed as I like to respond to nice commenters. Anyway, Happy New Year!!! Looking forward to getting to know you.
Ha!
You are sooooo right about the blogger obsession with white, and I do love me some color!
Of course, there are the days when I wish I could have an alternate house where everything was neutral and soothing because that’s fun too!
I sure wouldn’t want to clean it, though! ; )
Thanks for your sweet words!
Just love how you embrace and celebrate color in your home and your life! Such inspiration in a sea of bloggers and their love of all things white ….
First of all, can we be friends? I adore your home and projects:) Your kitchen is so fun! Love those cabinets! We’re currently making over our closet so I had to read allll about your beautiful space. You should be proud of all your creativity this year:)
Great work this year! I will definitely keep your retail haggling tips in mind next time I fall in love with something way too expensive that I don’t need…
Such a cute idea, and love your blog! I would love it if you would link this up at my linky party as well! Here is the link https://www.thesouthernproductqueen.com/one-stop-shoppe-linky-party Happy New Year!
Thanks for following me. Love the ottoman table makeover. Unfortunately I saw that project just as a was finishing up a project with the perfect table. I had to hand it over to my grandchildren, but now I am on the look out for another perfect table as I would love to try that. Love your blog and I am your newest follower.
Wow! 2011 was a great year for you! I think the ottoman is my favorite too!
So glad you checked out our blog and I am excited to be your newest follow! Thanks, Savannah
I stumbled onto your blog because of your closet makeover and I’ve been hooked ever since. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your life Abbie. It has totally changed mine.
Happy New Year!!
Visiting from Sunday’s Best! Loving your blog! Looking forward to the 2012 events!!
Oh I LOVE it all…. It was fun to be able to see some projects that I missed… Being I was a Late arrival to your LOVELY blog…. But how fun I get a WHOLE year this time around.. 🙂 Congratulations to Becca on her win!!!
Major closet and kitchen envy here 😉 Such great projects on here! I have totally been on the hunt for a similar dresser to revamp….
Your closet is AMAZING! 🙂 Wow….I want one just like it one day!
Wow, amazing projects! I’m new to your blog, and lovin it! Looking forward to following in 2012.
Happy New Year!
-m-