Favorite Posts in 2011 + a Link-Up Party

This herb trellis wall provided a shady spot on our deck all summer long, as well as provided ingredients for some mighty tasty dinners.  As an update, the herbs did really well on the wall.  It was the rainiest year, like, EVER here in Pennsylvania which means I did very little watering.  Had it been left up to me, they might not have fared so well.  I’m already looking forward to the spring when I can get my yummy fresh herbs growing again.

My bedazzled pumpkins project started as a question from my friend asking how to recreate the look of a version in a high-end catalog for less than their $158 price tag.  Thanks to her inquiry, this became one of my most visited links this year.  Celebrations.com also listed it as a top project in 2011, which was icing on the cake.

One of the most revealing and scariest posts for which I’ve ever hit the “publish” button.  It’s a post that had to be written, even if it was through sobs and tears.

Over 50 of you fabulous people voted on her new room color, and you chose the bright and cheery Misty Aqua.  We said “Bye Bye Birdie“, painted the room and added some sassy accessories.  Now Noodle has a whole new room, and I’m happy to report she actually sleeps in there!  She used to sleep in our guest room {it’s a long, long story} but once we kicked out the birds and bad memories she loved sleeping in her room.  This project went beyond a room makeover to a life makeover, thanks to your input into our very own ‘color therapy.’  Since that post, I’ve added butterfly wall art and no-sew curtains if you want to peek at the updates.

This project also received quite a bit of traffic, perhaps because it was so very simple and cheap to make.  I’ve since mounted them on these plate hangers, making them look cleaner with no visible hooks.

What makes me giggle about this post is the number of emails and comments asking how the Vera Bradley bag fared.  I’m happy to report it’s {almost} as good as new!  In other news, the above photo is from my Pottery Barn Knock-Off Book Rack post.  I’m pretty sure you’ll thank me for not including an actual photo from our Library Misadventure. 😉

I hopped aboard the chevron trend (just once, pinky swear) and guest posted on The CSI Project with a tutorial on how to make an interchangable doormat.  Ya’ll, this one took forever to make but it’s happy colors and message make me super excited for summer again!

This was another tutorial I wrote for The CSI Project.  I’m including it because my blog friend Jen made them and by her own admission they bombed.  The problem?  She had the audacity to use real ingredients– fresh pumpkin she pureed, homemade cream cheese frosting– and they turned out hard as rocks.  I know, healthy ingredients?  What was she thinking?!  So I’m including it in my Top 10 with a warning to go for the fake processed stuff and not use your good stuff to make them… and to Jen, I owe you a batch!  Maybe for Valentine’s Day?

We had his birthday party in OBX, where 20 of us gathered for a long overdue family reunion.  Despite the fact this party fell at the beginning of a difficult week for my family (my uncle had been diagnosed with terminal cancer just a few days before), looking back I’m so very thankful for that blessed time together.  Seeing the handmade touches, good food, and smiles reminds me to be so thankful for all we do have, instead of the things we don’t.  When I wrote the post this summer, I tried my best to make it about my son turning one and not about the sorrow I felt.  When I reread it just now it filled me with happiness and love, and fond memories of my uncle and how healing such a special place can be for those who need it most.

My personal favorite, because we had the perfect weekend and I miss those gals so darn much.

Now it’s your turn.  Link up a few of your favorite posts from 2011.  Visit a few as well.  Feel free to add my button at the bottom so others can play along, though it’s not mandatory.  If you are a blogger and rarely comment or link, I hope you’ll take a minute and do it today so I can stop by for a visit.  Most of all, Happy New Year everybody!