Top 10 posts seem to be the thing to do when the end of the year rolls around. To tell you the truth, I almost never look at my site statistics, and I usually feel a bit surprised when I do—the posts that get the most traffic are almost never the ones I have the most fun writing.
So instead of the traditional top 10 showcasing which posts got the biggest numbers and most attention, here instead are some of my favorite posts of the year—the projects and recipes and day-to-day thoughts that I most enjoyed creating and sharing. They may not have been the most popular, but these are some of the posts I enjoyed the most.
Crochet
I didn’t post about crochet nearly as much in 2014 as I have in the past, which probably has a lot to do with having a new baby in the house this year. Of the crochet projects and tutorials I did share, some of my favorites are Darcy’s Vintage Shell Shrug (totally customizable to fit any size):
Other crochet favorites are my 3-part Granny Stripe Baby Blanket tutorial (<—that link will take you to the final post in the series, with links to the other two tutorials), Double Pom Pom hat pattern, Chunky Scalloped Cowl pattern, and the blanket I made for my sister’s wedding.
See more of my crochet projects/tutorials on my crochet Pinterest board.
Recipes
Eat to live? Reverse that, and now we’re talking. One of my favorite recipes from the year (as well as one of my favorite recipes, period) is my mom’s Sausage and Veggie Calzones:
Other favorite recipes from 2014 are my Aunt Emily’s Sour Cream Apple Squares, Asian Sesame + Cilantro Meatballs, Apple Carrot Bran Muffins, and Raspberry Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake.
See the rest of my recipes on my recipe Pinterest board.
Everything Else
I don’t know whether or not you guys noticed, but my blog underwent a bit of a shift in 2014. When I started blogging (quite a few years ago now!), I almost exclusively shared DIY projects and tutorials. And while those projects are still a part of my life, I’m not interested anymore in having them be my sole focus here. While I keep up with a small handful of DIY blogs, it’s mostly as a source of inspiration—the blogs I read faithfully and look forward to and interact with most are the ones that I feel a more personal connection with. So it felt natural to me to move mine in a more personal direction, too. I hope no one minds.
I loved sharing my monthly reading recap posts and favorite books of 2014 (you can find the links to each of my monthly book posts at the end of the favorite books post):
image via The Faithpal
Other favorite posts were Deep Thoughts with Forrest (any and all), What Worked in 2014, A Sweet Stage with Forrest, and 9 Months In, 9 Months Out.
And just a sappy moment here, if you don’t mind. Thank you so much for reading this blog, for commenting and emailing and making it such a joy for me to share bits of our little life. I appreciate every one of you, and it means a lot to me that you would take time out of your day to read what I have to say.
Thanks for being here.
Love your blog! Thanks for sharing your life and heart. I first came across your blog about a year and a half ago when I was trying to grow out my pixie haircut. I printed the photo you had posted with all of your various stages and that was my inspiration, LOL! I am now nearly at should-length, yay! Haha! I enjoy your recipes, book reviews, and family stories. I'm not a crocheter but do a little knitting on my KniftyKnitter looms. Love your DIYs too. I wish I had more time for projects/crafts...but for now I work full time, go to school full time, have a side baking business, and am raising a family...so I enjoy seeing what you do and if I can squeeze in a new project or recipe, I do. Keep up the great work...I enjoy reading. :)
ReplyDeletePlease keep your Deep Thought with Forrest posts in 2015...they are my favorite posts on the internet! Forrest is so funny and sweet! Love him!
ReplyDeleteYou are one busy lady! Thanks for your support. I've loved getting to know you, and I always look forward to your comments!
ReplyDeleteWill do :-)
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for your amazing blog! Not only do I love reading what you write, but I so look to your blog and style for what my blog one day [may] be!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure if you check your stats that you'd see spike in hits to your granny stripe tutorials. I'm embarrassed to even THINK about how many times I hit up those pages as I worked on my first one. I just finished it and am so pleased with how it came out! Neither finishing it or being happy with it would've been possible without your posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you so, so much. :)
I love reading your blog. I, too, came across it when starting to grow my hair out awhile ago-my process has taken FAR too long because evidently my stylist and I have different definitions of "trim". I'm also originally from Iowa and saw that you are never moving back after experiencing winter there. :) Anyway, love your posts-deep thoughts with forest are my fave. I always read them out loud to my hubs. We laugh and cry (I can neither confirm or deny some snorting may also be involved).
ReplyDeleteMy oldest son was a Forrest and my youngest son a Darcy. It is still that way today and they are in their 40's. I always thought God gave me Ben because he gave me Pat. They are always who they are and they are each wonderful in the way they are. Enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteLove all your favorites - i need to try those calzones. Your recipes never steer me wrong.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so glad you blog about your life and family. The Forrest says posts are definitely some of my favorites.
I'm so glad I could help you find a crochet passion! And reading my sponsored posts feels like a huge compliment :-) Thanks so much for reading, Melisa!
ReplyDeleteHahaha!! They really know how to embarrass their parents. We were helped by a cashier at the store the other day who had a prosthetic hand--I can't even talk about it. Forrest had a lot of questions. *facepalm*
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Jackie :-)
Such a compliment! Thank you Holly!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'm glad they could be helpful! Thanks for bumping my stats ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou SO need to try them. Not that I have a clue what you will love or not, but they are one of my favorite dinners ever.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful way to look at it!
ReplyDeleteI'm just not cut out for Midwestern winters :-P Thank you so much for your kind words!
ReplyDeleteJust a guess but I bet he didn't mind. My dad actually only has 1 arm and he gets comments/questions all the time. Most of the time they are from kids and he usually gets a kick out of what they say. But I know he would much rather someone just flat out ask him about it rather than stare or pretend not to notice. When my oldest was 2 his favorite thing to do was put his arm up in his shirt so you couldn't see it and pretend to be grandpa
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