Phew! Did 2013 fly right by, or what? We celebrated three years of blogging here at 11 Magnolia Lane, Amy and I both moved {yes, again!} this year, and Terry had baby boy #3 and was on hiatus from the blog for a few months. So, Terry and Amy are together again in Virginia (not fair!) and my family and I are in Savannah, which kind of makes up for it a bit.
Using our most conservative web analytics, we had between 1.1 and and 1.5 million page views here last year (and well over 2 million when you use our least conservative numbers)–that’s pretty cool! We grow every single month, and we thank each and every one of you for that.
We always like to end the year with a recap of what we did, although we’ve delayed that a bit because we were running the Operation: Organization series. {Here} are our most popular posts of 2012, and {here} they are for 2011. And there was even {this} tiny little post in 2010, when we were just a baby blog. A month or two ago, I wrote this post on our three-year anniversary, with our top ten posts of all time, but I thought for 2013’s end-of-year post, I’d just include our most popular posts that were written during this year. Make sense?
So, without further ado, here are our top ten blog posts, written in 2013. Click on the link to read the post; it will open in a separate window.
10. Tutorial: How to Make a No-Sew DIY Burlap Valance This is a great idea when you need inexpensive, temporary window treatments–no rods required!
9. How to Build a {DIY} Giant/ Huge/ Wall Chalkboard Amy’s awesome idea to fill up a large expanse of wall, and stay organized at the same time.
8. Open House at Christy’s–Updated Home Tour We moved away from this house this summer, but I managed to do a lot to it in just two years!
7. Salted Caramel Martini {Recipe} The perfect after-dinner drink!
6. Simple Strawberry Freezer Jam This easy recipe works well for fresh peaches, too. Yum!
5. {Amy’s} Updated House Tour Amy moved away from her gorgeous house this year, but she’ll do wonderful things with her next home, too!
4. Laundry Room Makeover Amy’s tutorial on how to build a laundry folding station was a huge hit on Pinterest.
3. My Dining Room Table & Chairs–Painted White There are still some of you out there who can’t quite believe I painted this set–but I promise you, it was SO dinged up that I had to!
2. Tutorial: How to Paint Upholstery Fabric and Completely Transform a Chair! One of my favorite projects *ever*! Who knew you could paint fabric?!
1. Painted Tile Backsplash in My Kitchen–A Year Later Lots of people wonder how projects hold up over time–apparently TONS of them want to know about painted tile backsplashes!
You never know what we’ll be up to in 2014, so be sure to follow us in 2014 on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, as well as with email updates. Just click on the links below, and thanks for stopping by!
I’ve read your posts before, but this makes me want to go back and check them out again. Ha! I have some tile that I have been thinking about painting, but it is like #1,346 on my list of TO DOs. I always have a list a mile long! Ha!
Don’t worry, Danelle–you are not alone in having a list that long! 🙂
Great picks! I absolutely loved the DIY chalkboard idea as well. My wife and I will definitely need that one soon as our little one is going into preschool soon and will be writing. It would be perfect.
Sounds like your first project for 2014!
I can’t believe painting the chair and fabrics didn’t get the number 1 slot!!!! Love this blog, just wished it could be an app. Oxoxox Tracey
Hmm, never thought of an app, Tracey. 🙂
Loved those posts and looking forward to them in 2014!
Thanks so much, Shirley!