Happy New Year!

I know I'm a little late, but...

Happy New Year!!!

I hope your new year celebration (whatever you did to celebrate) was fantastic!  I don't know if you noticed... but my blog tabs got an update!  

Hop up top to see some dorky pictures of us...

Some of the projects I've completed...

And some of the yummy things I've baked...

This is just the first organizing project I've tackled this year...  And since it's the old blog that inspired me, I thought it should get the love first =)  Check back tomorrow to see how I tackled the *shudder* hall closet! Are those things just programmed to explode and send the ironing board (which doesn't even belong there) crashing into your head or what? Can't wait to share, and have a happy Tuesday friends!

Top Projects of 2011

Wow, looking back on 2011, I'm pretty pleased!  We completed a TON of household projects, so just in case you're new around here or you missed anything, I'll take you back down memory lane in chronological order...

Looking back, I've grown so much into blogging in the past year.  I didn't really do anything original until March (must fix this for this for 2012) when I reorganized my jewelry with things I already had...

Then I finally showed you my kitchen makeover from summer 2010...

We purchased a new couch after 1.5 YEARS of Craigslist hunting!

I made my first attempt at a gallery wall in our reading nook...

We removed half of our popcorn ceilings - the other half will happen hopefully before January is over - hooray!!

I made over a little something from Goodwill in true "White Elephant" style...

I updated 2 Goodwill lamps for our family room...

I made over these pillows, and also these ones, and even did a knock off of some West Elm pillows...

I re-organized out laundry room with some help from IKEA...

I completed my most popular project ever - the IKEA hack known as my chevron lazy susan...

I tore our pantry apart and re-organized it...

Then I tore everything out again to paint the pantry...

I made some yummy things here, here, and here  (see the recipes tab at the top for a full list - even I was surprised at how many there were!!).

I painted a side table for our family room...

I FINALLY learned how to use a few different photo editing softwares...

I took you on a family room tour and showed off my hemmed curtains...

I completed perhaps my favorite project of the year - my Fall Wreath!

I made my most-pinned project - a mod-podge canvass for my friend's baby...

I took you on a tour of our master bathroom, and then promptly ripped out the tub...

And I finally did a little post about what Christmastime looks like at our house...

Wow, what a full year it has been!  I'm setting some goals, tying up loose ends, and hopefully when I'm through I can share where I'm hoping 2012 will take us.  And while I'm at it... a HUGE "Thank you!" to EVERY SINGLE person who reads here.  I never dreamed how much I would love blogging, and while I think I would still do it even if no one read, the fact that you take time out of your day to spend here makes me beyond grateful.  Your comments and love throughout the year gave me the push to do a lot of the things I've shown you here today and over the last year.  Thanks for an amazing 2011, and happy last Wednesday of the year, friends!

I'm 1/4 of a century today

Yep - I'm getting old!  Today is my 25th birthday - I'm so thankful for all this year has brought and can't wait to see what the next year holds!

Have a happy Sunday, friends!! =)

New things (and my 200th post!)

Along with the new computer (yay!!), I've come to the conclusion that I need a heftier bag to carry it.  I've actually gone through 5 bags since I started toting my computer daily - the junk I lug around every day is so heavy that the handles are literally ripping off!  I've had NO luck with the laptop carry all bags from Target and elsewhere that have the faux leather handles.  I even tried upgrading to a very nice faux leather bag, only to have the handles start to rip after just a few months =(  I've done quite a bit of research, and aside from a backpack (absolutely will not do this - I am an adult), and a canvas bag (I really want my bag to look polished and professional), the only real solution I've come across is 100% leather from these guys...

The handles won't rip unless I'm toting bricks, and most reputable bag makers guarantee their stitching for some amount of time.  I've spent a while searching, and I think I've found something, but the investment (I won't say "price" because at this point it's really a long term investment), is making me nervous.  Here are my two options...

Vintage Re-issue Satchel by Fossil - $188

Vintage Re-issue Weekender by Fossil - $288

I know which one I like better, and which one wil function better for me (the weekender), but I feel like I could make the satchel work (it is quite a bit smaller, though), and for $100 dollars less, it's tempting.  But when I really think about it, the investment in the weekender seems like it would be better for the long term.  It's everything I wanted: cognac-colored leather, looks like a purse, warrantied for 5 years, big enough to hold all the crap I tote around, and it will wear well with age.  But I'm still afraid to jump just yet.

What do y'all think?  What would you do if you had to choose between less expensive/almost what you want, and more expensive/exactly what you want?  What would you do??  I'd love your input!

I hope you're having a fantastic Monday, and if you're looking for a little something else to do, pop over to House of Hepworths to see her feature on my fall wreath and a few more gorgeous wreaths from around the blog-o-shpere....

  Have a great day, friends!!

P.S. - If you missed it in my title, this my 200th post!  Blogging has brought such joy to me for the last year or so since I started, and the people I've met through this are nothing short of wonderful.  Thank you to each and every one of you followers and readers who make this experience so rich and rewarding.  Here's to the next 200!!