Goodbye 2024
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Time to get ready to head into the year 2025, and I have a feeling it will be another busy and crazy year. Like I said before, I am turning 50, and both of my kids are graduating, one from college and the other from high school.
My last full personal update was in August (read it here if you missed it), where I talked about my blogging struggles in 2024 with Artificial Intelligence on Google now and the Pinterest changes that have had a devastating impact on my blog. I haven’t given up, though, because I love my blog and being able to create things at home. That is where my heart is. I just don’t know where this is heading and if I will be able to financially keep doing it.
Since that last personal update, I got to go to NYC again for the annual Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker event with my blog friends, and it was a wonderful time. I wonder if this event will continue the way we’ve been used to in 2025 since the editor-in-chief, Stephen Orr has left BHG. He is such a wonderful and inspiring person.
My daughter had a horrible case of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease during the end of her soccer season, but she thankfully recovered again in time to participate in the last playoff games.
Her high school soccer team won districts for the first time in school history, which was a big deal for sure and a great ending to her soccer career since she won’t be playing in college. She got excepted to her two top picks which are the University of Pittsburg and (just like our son) Temple University. She wants to be in the city too. I seriously don’t know if I can handle another kid in Philly but I also like having them closer. The drive to Pittsburg is way too long and boring.
Before Christmas, I also wrote a blog post about my favorite things I bought in 2024 (find it here if you missed it). After writing that blog post, I treated myself to a new mirror for our living room because I was just over the boho raffia mirror. It’s still pretty but I wanted something more traditional. Look at the beauty I found and I got it for a great price! It has a wooden gold antique finish with floral carving. Find it HERE.
In that blog post, I also wrote an update about our kitties, which are doing great! So you can catch up about them by clicking here.
I also got to go home to visit my family for ten days right before Thanksgiving which was great but over way too fast, and I didn’t really take a lot of photos. Plus, my brother doesn’t like photos of his kids on the internet and social media.
Some of my favorite things I made and wrote about this past year…
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My most popular blog post in 2024 was “13 ideas for updating a kitchen without replacing cabinets” which makes me think that I should maybe have some more kitchen content. I know I have to repaint some kitchen cabinet doors again in January but that’s so boring.
This was closely followed by…
Entering a new year is always a good time to ask if there is anything specific that you would like me to write about or make. I love getting ideas!
Tschüß,
I always enjoy reading about your sweet family-can’t believe how the kids have grown up!! Wishing you all a happy, healthy 2025!!
Thank you and to you too, Jen!
Wishing you and your family a joyous 2025 filled with love and good health. I enjoy reading your blogs, although things are getting tougher for me to keep up with reading blogs and email since most of time is spend caring for my Mom, who has dementia
I’m so sorry Tammara, caring for someone with dementia is so difficult. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025 as well and so good to hear from you.
I always enjoy all your postings. I think to be a mega $ucce$$ful content creator you need to be an over the top Type A personality…working 24/7. ( is that who you are or what you want?). Personally I’d love more macrame..intermediate level.
Yes, you are right, Carol. The super successful content creators are going none stop on social media with a Type A personality, and I’m definitely not. I am an introvert who likes to make things. I’ll see if I can find some good new macrame projects. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025.
I hope you never stop blogging! I’ve been following you for a long time now, but this might be my first comment. You are so inspiring!
Thank you so much for your first comment, Kate! I really appreicate it. Wishing you a wonderful 2025!
I’ve been around here for a long time and enjoy your blog and all the travel ones when you visit your family. I’ve always loved your daughter’s Halloween costumes and your decorating style. I’m kind of over the boho too and more into traditional. I’m on instagram and TikTok but still read your blog, feel like we’re old friends, lol. Happy New Year!
Yes Mary! So good to hear from you and I feel like we are old friends too. I do still like the boho look for my yard so I can feel like I’m on vaction but it is slowly exiting my home. Thanks so much for sticking around. At this point I feel like I’m a blog dinosaur. Happy New Year!
I very much enjoy your blog. There is something calming about reading your posts. Wishing you continued success for 2025!!
Thanks Sylvia. I’m glad to hear that the posts are calming because to me the process of making it is calming to me. Happy New Year.
Here’s to a great 2025 for everyone. I enjoy that you combine both DIY and personal stuff on your blog.
Thanks Susan, I will try to continue doing that. Happy new year!
I always enjoy your blog, it is fresh, stunning, & encouraging!
Thank you for reading Marian. Wishing you a happy new year!
Thanks for doing this blog! I enjoy seeing how you make your house a home and all your DIY and crafty ideas. My kids and I made your paper bag snowflakes this year.
I love hearing that you made the snowflakes! I still make them every year. Happy new year to you and your family Rachel!