Happy New Year’s, friends!
I can hardly believe tomorrow we flip the calendar and a brandnew year begins. This past year has been so fun for my blog and once again I’m so glad for this little piece of blog-land where I get to document and share all that we do around our home! Thank you for following along; I know if it wasn’t for each of you reading these posts, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. So thank you!
I thought it would be fun to look back at my 10 most popular posts over the last year! The way these posts rated surprised me somewhat, but at the same time, it tells me what you enjoy reading on here. January is all about planning for this next year so I will definitely keep that in mind as we plan ahead! Now, shall we took a look back… the 10 most popular posts here on Joy In Our Home!
10. Feels Like Home Christmas Tour
I’m not surprised this post made it in to the top 10, even though it’s only been published for about a month. This was such a fun week as I joined a big group of talented bloggers in opening our homes for a tour. I love the simple, white farmhouse style we chose to decorate our home this year. It wasn’t filled with items that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, but rather décor that is meaningful to my heart. Items that our children or my husband bought me and that I wouldn’t trade for the top of the line décor from the most popular home décor stores. After all, that’s what my blog is all about. Repurposing items we that we love, decorating on a budget and showing how you can make your home beautiful without breaking the bank.
9. Simple Farmhouse Burlap and Lace Banner
Sometimes the simplest diys are the prettiest. My husband made this chalkboard for our Farmhouse Office and I needed something simple to add to it. When Carrie from Kenarry l Ideas for the Home approached me about using her burlap for a project I was excited to use it to create this simple banner.
8 .Best Lemon Bars {with a Shortbread Crust }
This is one of two recipes that made it into the top 10 and definitely one of our family’s favorites. We’re all about easy over here and I promise these are super quick to whip together, only dirties a couple of dishes and will be gobbled up quickly!
7. How To Make Open Shelves For Less Than $25 
Our kitchen saw some major changes this past year and I’m finally going to share them with you soon! One of the biggest changes was opting to go for open shelves instead of a cabinet. This post shows you how to make your own for less than $25!
6. Farmhouse Fireplace Makeover
I think this fireplace makeover is officially my favorite furniture flip of the year! You can see the before pictures here and we bought it when we were first married. It now looks so beautiful painted white and really brightens up the basement. I had the opportunity to work with FAT paint and loved how it turned out!
5. Fluffy Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars
This recipe is definitely a must to make with Valentines Day around the corner. We sent a platter to both of our kids’ classroom parties and lots of teachers raved and asked for the recipe!
4. Cozy Fall Home Tour
This is another home tour that I enjoyed so much… again, perhaps it’s because I love showing my readers how to decorate your home for less. I loved the simple fall touches to our home and while it’s never over the top and cluttered, it was just the right amount to add warmth and coziness for the coming colder season.
3. Mason Jar Herb Garden
This was such a fun little diy that Wayfair challenged me to do! It was all about creating planters for springtime but thinking “outside of the box” and using items you wouldn’t normally use as planters. I loved this mason jar caddy that I chose to plant some herbs in but now that those herbs are withered and gone, this is the handiest little caddy ever. We just hosted my family for Christmas and this sat on our island with all our cutlery and napkins in it and was so easy to grab and go. The one I have is currently out of stock but this is a similar one you might like.
2. Monthly DIY Challenge: Antique Milk Can Planter
Sometimes it’s the simplest posts that are the most popular ones! This antique milk planter has been read thousands and thousands of times and it’s such a simple diy! As much as I love winter and enjoy snow, seeing it now is making me yearn for spring and planting season!
and the post that you, my dear readers, loved the most… How to Build a Farmhouse Style Blanket Ladder
I have to say this sort of surprised me! But maybe like me, you’ve seen these ladders all over Pinterest and wish for one time and again! I kept my eye open at garage sales and at antique stores but they were all out of my price range. After showing my husband, he told me he could easily make one of me! And of course, I had to share it with you all! SO easy and affordable!!
And another post that was super popular (but doesn’t really fall into the DIY category) was The Best Farmhouse Kitchen Décor on Amazon
I guess it’s no surprise that many of you love farmhouse style. I’m always drawn to the downhome, chippy, and cozy décor that defines a farmhouse. I shared all kinds of beautiful décor in this post that you can find on Amazon. Make sure you check it out if you need a few new décor items.
And now I want to wish each of you, my readers, a very Happy New Year. Wishing you all joy and health and a year of progress, whether it’s getting more organized, getting those kitchen cupboards refinished, or creating those mudroom style lockers that you’ve been itching to build. Thank you for following along on my DIY journey and I’m so excited to share more on here, from our home to yours!
This cozy corner waits for me at the end of a long day and often the place our daughter or I curl up in. Our kids are busy practicing for their piano recital and this is where I sit and watch (and encourage them). The stool belonged to my precious Grandma who passed away earlier this year and means a lot to me. 
I couldn’t help but bring a few cozy touches to our bedrooms too! In our bedroom, our daughters and in the guest room, I strung a simple garland on our board and batten headboard my husband built for us. A cozy throw I picked up at Target a few weeks ago and some white pillows from Home Sense adds some extra coziness for the cold months ahead. 
A few months ago I hosted a Fall Festival Blog hop and it was so fun that I knew we had to do it again… only this time with a Christmas theme. Yesterday, we started out with Mantles and today it’s all about Christmas vignettes. 
The themes for the week are:
I remember when I was a little girl I’d go to town with my mom or auntie and we’d wander through the snowy streets, perusing our favorite stores. And I would always wish for a snowglobe. I feel like there’s something so calming and magical with the snow gently swirling everywhere. Now I have a few beautiful ones that I absolutely treasure. With my birthday falling in December, my husband and kids usually give me one and this year my sister gave me a beautiful one in a jar. 
This wire basket is one of my favorites to use on our coffee table. It’s perfect for setting my snowglobes inside. 
Old books are something else I love looking for at thrift stores or garage sales. This specific one pictured is an arithmetic book and I like thinking of the scholar who must’ve used it and what school was like for them.
Isn’t this green truck the cutest? I picked up two of these (red and green!) this summer when we were on holidays up the Sunshine coast of BC. Friends of ours took us to their favorite greenhouse and as soon as I saw them I knew they’d look perfect for my wintery décor. This table is another favorite of mine that fits just about any corner or hallway in our home so it gets moved around lots. 
This wood slice was one of my first DIYs and I still use it! Add a few bottlebrush trees and create a mini “forest” for a quick vignette. 
Joy In Our Home | anderson + grant | Kingsbury Brook Farm
Life Love Larson | Cali Girl In A Southern World | Crisp Collective
Making it in the Mountains | Elizabeth Joan Designs |Country Girl Home
Celebrate & Decorate | Noting Grace | 2 Bees in a Pod
