Best of Serenity Now from 2012

It only seems right to end 2012 by looking back at this blog and sharing some of the top posts and projects from the year. My accomplishments pale in comparison to most bloggers, but I'm proud of staying on top projects and consistently having a post up at the same time each morning. Some of these made the list because they received the most traffic, and some are posts that I liked enough to want to share again. I'd love to know which ones you enjoyed!

Thrifty Home Decor and Organizing Posts of 2012

Thrift Store Furniture Makeover

Home Organizing Ideas from IKEA

American Girl Doll and Toy Storage

How to Clean and Paint Vintage Patio Furniture

How to Get a Hydrangea Plant to Bloom

What's In My Camera Bag

"You Are Beautiful" Stenciled Mirror

Top Craft Projects of 2012

Glitter Snowflake Wreath {Leftover Ornaments}

DIY Minnie Mouse T-Shirts

Teacher Survival Kit {Teacher Gift Idea}

Personalized Disney Water Bottles

DIY Hair Accessories in 5 Minutes or Less

How to Make a Free Wreath Form

Embellished Christmas Tree Shirts

Top Recipe Posts of 2012

Homemade Panini Recipe (No Panini Maker Needed!)

Slow Cooker Barbecue Recipe

Soft Ginger Cookies

Nutella Peanut Butter Chocolate Croissants

Party Ideas from 2012

Hello Kitty Birthday Party

Ballet Birthday Party on a Budget

DIY Cupcake Toppers

Blogging Posts

Why Bloggers Need Community
The Perfect Blog (Comparison)


So, those were some of the most popular in 2012. I had a great year and had a chance to work with some amazing brands and bloggers. Hoping for more of the same in 2013!

Did you have a favorite post in 2012?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.

Linking to Tatertots and Jello, Southern Hospitality, Positively Splendid

More Highlighted Links-Share Your Best Post!

If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.

On Saturdays and Sundays, I like to share fabulous projects from the link party with my readers. I add many of these Features to my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to link back in your post!

Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye.

~New Year's Wreath via create craft love

~Annie Sloan Chalk Paint FAQs via Shabby Sweet Tea

~Bacon Praline Crackers via Flair for Home

Highlighted Weekend Links--Share Your Best Post!

Happy Saturday! Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Today's the best day to link up because I'm busy rounding up more Features for tomorrow!

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, tips and tricks, home decor, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

With the holiday this week, the link party has really low numbers so far. I tend to get a lot of people linking up on Sundays, after I've posted the last Features post for the party. Today's the day to link up and catch my eye as I gather projects to share for tomorrow!

I decided that today I'll share the most popular project (so far) from the party. Hopefully there will be some more projects linked up today that I can choose features from for tomorrow's post! I like to share a nice variety with you guys.

Here's the the link with the most clicks so far:

~2012 Home Goals Update via How to Nest for Less

Remember, I'll have a whole new list of Features in the works to share tomorrow! If you haven't linked up yet, hop on over! Be sure to browse some of the amazing projects that have been shared.

So, what did you have up your sleeve this week? Come by and share it with us here! Be sure to check out some of the other bloggers' work too. Here's the button in case you'd rather use that than a text link back.

<a href=" http://www.serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/ " target="_blank"><img src="http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/Amanda_SerenityNow/Blog%20Party%20Buttons/WeekendBloggyReading.png" border="0" alt="Weekend Bloggy Reading"></a>

More Features coming tomorrow!

* If you are a Pinterest user, Pin from the original source so that each blogger gets credit for his/her work.*

If I've featured you, feel free to snag a button for your blog here.

Weekend Bloggy Reading-Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~DIY Confetti Champagne Glasses via Pizzazzerie

~15 Ways to Organize for the New Year via I Heart Naptime

~How to Make an App Button for Your Blog via Creative Kristi

~Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle via something swanky

~And Me? This week featured:

• Christmas Series Wrap-Up
• Christmas Card
• The Aftermath
• Our Christmas in Pictures

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Our Christmas in Pictures, 2012

As much as I anticipate and wait all year long for Christmas to arrive, it's always so disappointing how quickly it goes by! I always share photos from our family Christmas, and today's the day. We start with church and a family Christmas Eve dessert party, followed by a Christmas morning in our home before heading out to my mom's and T's parents' homes. A very very long day (one I've often wished we could spend in our own cozy home), but it was a day filled with treats and time spent with favorite cousins. Here's a look at our Christmas....

New Christmas pajamas with matching ones for their American Girl dolls...

Santa came sometime in the night, bringing toys and filling stockings...even one for the dog!

Loved this mouths-open shot when they spotted what Santa left under the tree (and on the side of the living room) for them:

My favorite gift of the day was a Kindle Paperwhite, a surprise from T. I'm new to the world of ebooks...I still love my "real" books, but I think this will be awesome to use while we're on the go!

Of course, every holiday has its hitches, and ours included staying up into the wee hours of the morning on the 26th with a barfy kid who ate way too many sugary treats the day before. But all in all, it was a fantastic Christmas.

Hope your Christmas was merry and bright! What was your favorite gift?

Bring your best post of the week for tomorrow...the weekly link party is scheduled to go live at 8 am (ET), Friday. Home Decor, Crafts, DIY, Recipes, Tips & Tricks, Party Ideas, Organizing...it's all welcome. I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve. Features will be up on Saturday and Sunday, so link up early!

Here's the code for the button in case you'd prefer to use that instead of a text link back:

<a href=" http://www.serenitynowblog.com/ " target="_blank"><img src="http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/Amanda_SerenityNow/Blog%20Party%20Buttons/WeekendBloggyReading.png" border="0" alt="Weekend Bloggy Reading"></a>


If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.