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Our Favorites, Thank Yous and Holiday Warm Fuzzies

As another year wraps up and we eagerly await spending the next week with our best buds and families, we couldn’t help but think back to all that has happened in the last year. Really, isn’t it sort of amazing to think about how much your life can evolve in just one year? Have you ever been asked where you think you’ll be in 5 years? 3? 1? Perhaps it’s just this time, holiday or season, but we love looking back and thinking forward, too.

In the last twelve months, we’ve met some amazing new friends, found a few moments for summer vacation, reached personal goals and accomplishments, celebrated our two year bloggie birthday (see our fun Q & As here and here), a four year home-iversary (more on that here, here, and here) and a three year wedding anniversary. But we’ve also lost some feline companions (the kiddo of our close pals, Sammie, and my family’s cat, Tyler), seen another basement flood and have been filled with confusion, frustration and yet fulfillment as we figure out this funny (but amazing) path I’ve chosen.

And all this time through the ups, downs and in-betweens, we’ve spent the last year continually turning this home into our favorite place to be – a place we want to fill with friends, games and an air mattress for the over-nighters. When we began looking back at the DIYs and ideas fulfilled, we thought it’d be fun to share our favorites again. A re-cap of sorts; a yearly wrap-up.

1. From Apples to Storage: Once housing apples, it’s now home to our cozy throws for movie watching. Casters make the world go ’round.

2. Chalkboard Backsplash: We played with the idea here, weighed the feedback, and in the end we went for it. While it mostly displays doodles of our furry kids, we’ve been having some holiday fun with it, too.

3. The Media Wall: A labor of love doesn’t even begin to describe this momma. It was all worth it though, as it (very proudly!) displays our pride and joys – and was even featured on Apartment Therapy and Young House Love. Holy cow.

4. DIY Laundry Suds: This is hands down our most popular and somewhat controversial post. We still use this exact recipe and can’t even fathom the day we go back to store bought brands. After a double-throw-up-kitty-incident just last week (ew, we know), this mix came through as expected. (See an update here.)

5. Dino Terrarium: Sure, it’s seen it’s fair share of ups and downs – including being re-built three times. But dammit, third times a charm. It’s still alive and kicking, thank you.

6. Hi and Bye Doormat: As we come and go, it makes us smile.

7. Rosemary Chicken Burgers: Before the now defunct ReadyMade magazine stopped filling our mailbox, we found this gem of a recipe. We lost count how many times we used it on the grill this summer. So good.

8. Those Hairy Situations: Probably our second most visited post, we discuss how we kick those fur tumbleweeds. We would like to thank our Dyson, the Furminator and the inventors of the lint roller and prickly office mats.

9. Ottoman’s Makeover: I mostly wanted to see if I could pull it off, and luckily, I have a stand-up man who puts up with my crazy (more on that here and here). From cube to sleek, we did it. It’s just too bad it’s missing two buttons now (just keepin’ it real). Luckily, the tufts remain, and we found the buttons. Now to just put them back in place.

10. Bedside Lights: We (literally) couldn’t have completed this one without Daniel from Manhattan Nest. And although we’ve been nutty busy since it’s completion and I’ve yet to read more than a chapter from a book, we’d like to think he still saved our marriage.

It’s probably best that we stop at 10, although we’d like to note that if we tried to rate them in a “Top 10 List” of sorts, well, it’d be like picking our favorite (four-legged) child. Not gonna happen. And don’t forget, you can always check out our growing list of projects right here.

To keep with the favorites theme, we’re also excited to say that next week we’ll have a post a day lined up from some of our favorite girls:

Melissa of The Fauxmartha
Gloria of A Little Paint
Kara of Kara Paslay Designs
Kathleen of Jeremy & Kathleen
Melissa of I Still Love You

They’ll be keeping our little nook of the web cozy and warm, sharing their own favorites from the past year. We like to call it our favorites’ favorites. The goal is to share other creative ideas, tutorials, and recipes that have inspired us, and we’re sure they’ll inspire you, too.

We’ll be back in the new year, and good gracious, we have so much up our sleeves. A whole lot of organization is on the agenda, and we’ve been bursting to announce that the office will be getting yet another makeover! This time, it’ll be pink (we think). And no, it will not be a nursery! (C’mon, now.)

Thank you for being perpetually awesome, encouraging, and all-around the best readers and friends, hands down. We wish you all a very merry holiday filled with warm fuzzies, your favorite folks, comfort foods and rum, wine, and hot chocolate.

What are you thinking about as this year draws to a close? And what’s your favorite project (home related or otherwise) that you’ve tackled in the last twelve months?

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  • Tina12.23.11 - 8:30 AM

    I can’t even begin to thank you guys for allowing us into your lives through this blog. I have enjoyed the laughs, the mishaps, and the inspiration to just go for it and see what happens. I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings for you guys as to me as well!ReplyCancel

  • Kim12.23.11 - 8:41 AM

    Thank you, Tina! How did the Pepsi challenge turn out?!ReplyCancel

  • Susan12.23.11 - 9:15 AM

    Just want to echo Tina’s words that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every post (seriously) and can hardly wait to continue following along with you two next year!

    Safety as you travel and hold off on the rum and wine until you arrive at your destination!

    Happy Christmas!ReplyCancel

  • Miranda Bouck (@boucksy)12.23.11 - 9:45 AM

    Have a very Merry Christmas, guys! I’ve loved following you guys on the blog – I’ve been a reader for just over a year now and have loved that you’ve allowed me to take a peak into your daily lives! Can’t wait to see what 2012 brings for you!ReplyCancel

  • Lauren L.12.23.11 - 11:14 AM

    Happy Holidays!!! I can’t wait to see what great things are to come in 2012! :)ReplyCancel

  • Two Grads12.23.11 - 11:23 AM

    I pine for that doormat!ReplyCancel

  • Kyley at Painting Pony12.23.11 - 12:22 PM

    Boy you were busy! I’m going to have to go back sometime and read some of your old posts.
    We’re in the midst of an office makeover ourselves. I’m dying to finish it, but the holidays have delayed a lot of things. We’re so close though…

    Hope you have a wonderful holiday!ReplyCancel

  • Two PItties in the City12.23.11 - 12:50 PM

    Looking back, I think it is so amazing that you’ve been able to do all this on top of everything else you do! And you have such great taste! Have a great holiday!ReplyCancel

  • Jen12.23.11 - 2:20 PM

    Hmmmmmm… Good question. I think as the year draws to an end I’m most looking forward to 2012. I love a fresh start and all the possibilities a new year holds. I think the thing we did in the casa that I’m most happy with was getting rid of the heavy, dark bedroom furniture and lightening things up. We still need a bed but that’s what 2012 is for!!
    Have a great holiday and I’m so happy to have found you guys this year. Great peeps, great pets, great blog.
    xoxoReplyCancel

  • Liliana12.25.11 - 4:25 PM

    Merry Christmas!!

    ~ L.ReplyCancel

  • Tina12.26.11 - 10:22 AM

    Kim,

    A.Skate won $50,000 in September for the Pepsi Challenge! They received half of that in October and have already produced several clinics in California, Alabama, and Florida.

    They are in the running for another $50k this month (ends the 31st) to help build the world’s first disability friendly skatepark in Alabama. It’ll have transitions that are easier for kids since they aren’t focused on doing tricks but rather just rolling around. If you want to see the design, check http://www.refresheverything.com/alskate to see their plans. I promise I didn’t mean to turn this into a promo post! LOL!

    Thanks for asking!ReplyCancel

    • Kim12.26.11 - 11:55 AM

      Tina, that is SO awesome! We couldn’t be happier for the organization and it’s amazing cause. Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday!ReplyCancel

  • Jane @ The Borrowed Abode12.27.11 - 7:12 PM

    Merry {belated} Christmas! I think your media wall is my favorite project of all time. Hooray, custom organization! Can’t wait to see what you have planned for the office in the new year!ReplyCancel

  • Amanda12.28.11 - 6:14 PM

    Woo! I’m so glad you did this post, I missed the first one (the box on casters) and I’m happy I get to go read it. Though that’s weird that I missed it, it must of slipped through while I read your whole blog earlier this year …

    I’m most excited about graduating in 2012, and finally (FINALLY) finishing my degree. That’s really it … haha I need a more exciting life.ReplyCancel

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We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

Join us as we renovate and nurture vintage homes across Chicago + SW Michigan!

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