Oh, 2013, how many different ways could we review you? Top 10 lists are flying around the web and here will be no exception.
First, I want to mention how far we’ve come here. Did you know at this time last year, this site was still named Permission to Peruse? Yowza! We’ve settled into the new name and theme and it’s by far the best change on the blog for quite some time. We started over with a new Facebook page too and I’m happy to see many of you made the switch.
Now, let’s take a look at the year. I thought I’d break it down a few ways. If I was a bit of a better planner, I would have stretched this out to a few posts, but let’s cram it all in today, why don’t we?
- Most popular posts by month
- My favorite books of the year
- My favorite family/personal moments of the year
Popular Posts by Month
January: January’s highlight included a guest post on Money Saving Mom on how I only shop once a week without a meal plan.
February: Many of you fellow writers could relate to the Five Minute Friday “Bare” prompt.
March: I enjoyed documenting my friend Linda’s 50 Random Acts of Kindness for her 50th and we can’t forget 9 Rules My Daughters Taught Me About Modesty.
April: We knocked out half a wall between our dining room and kitchen and made a bar. It was one of my favorite things we did all year around the house.
May: I had so much fun comparing bloggers to Disney princesses but by far Katrina’s guest post If You Don’t Give Me Cheetos was a reader favorite.
June: Many of you working moms could relate in Working Mom Neurosis as we headed into Summer.
July: God healed a tender spot from my past during our trip to Palm Beach. I recapped it in Where Was Jesus?
August: One of the most popular posts ever on this blog was my compilation of the Internet’s Best Blogging Couples. I also shared the Treehouse Bed Scott made Lexi for her new room.
September: Hosting a baby shower for my great nephew was one of my favorite moments of the year and it wonderful sharing how God worked in so many hearts to make it happen.
October: Seeing what God did at Allume was just outstanding.
November: After watching Catching Fire at the movies, it set my soul on fire about materialism in America. I funneled it all into the post A Girl on Fire.
December: On the heel of November’s post, I wrote on Fair Trade Tuesday about our buying habits. This one resonated with many of you and is still messing with me.
Favorite Books of 2013
Jesus > Religion / The Language of Flowers/ Eleanor & Park/The Fault in Our Stars/ Beautiful Outlaw / Bread & Wine / Blue Like Jazz / A Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd / On Writing / On Becoming a Writer
Some of these weren’t even published in 2013, but these books either meant the most to me or brought me a lot of joy.
Favorite Family/Personal Moments
These posts may or may not have been the most popular but they document some of my favorite moments of the year. If I ever get around to doing a family yearbook, these moments will be in there.
I got to hear Maureen from The Mercy House speak here in town.
I loved following my friend Linda for a day of her 50 RAOK for her birthday.
We did lots of traveling and those are always special: Great Wolf Lodge, visiting Scott’s cousin Carla, visiting friends in Charleston and our summer vacation in Palm Beach to name a few.
We welcomed our Havanese Bella to the family this year.
Emma got braces.
Redoing the bar was one of my favorite changes ever around our house. Having the water leak I thought would be the worst of the year but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Both the girls love their new rooms and we really did need to overhaul those two rooms. The treehouse bed was definitely a favorite!
Hosting a baby shower for my great nephew was wonderful as I watched friends and family gather together to be Jesus for that family.
I loved the P90X program Scott and I did together at the beginning of 2013 and then getting back on track with AdvoCare in October.
Watching what God did at Allume was one of my personal favorites of the year.
Hosting a Sole Hope Shoe Cutting party was a great way to gather friends and get some good work done too.
Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I love sharing special moments from life, what I’m learning and how God is moving. I wrote this year about having fun and I’ve since realized writing for you and hearing back IS my fun. Thanks for being here and here’s to a great 2014.
Happy New Year, friends!
Linked up with Musings of a Housewife
I love your recap! I’ve been looking back at the “best of 2013” on my blog too, but it’s pretty heavy on the end of the year because that’s what I remember best. It sounds like you had a really great year! I didn’t realize you’d changed your blog name so recently.
Sarah @ Beauty School Dropout recently posted…The Bobsleddies, Part 2
Thank you! It was a ton of work combing through all the posts! You should do it though if for nothing else but to see how far you’ve come in a year.
It seems like forever since I changed the name here and it’s only been like 9 months. Crazy!
Okay I am really ashamed to say this, I am such a bad bloggy friend, but I haven’t been here since you changed your name, I don’t think! WHEN WAS THAT? I shouldn’t really admit that, huh?
Anyway. I LOVE IT. And I have been struggling with wanting to rename my site, using my name somehow, and couldn’t come up with anything, and you’re inspiring me. Why not JUST my name? DUH. I might have to do that now. I really like it. So simple. And really, that is what our blogs are . . . US!
Next year I really hope to make it to Allume and meet you in person. xo
Jo-Lynne Shane {Musings of a Housewife} recently posted…2013 in Pictures Linky Party
Oh, I’m just so glad you stopped by today, Jo-Lynne! I did the redesign I think in March after working with Holley Gerth. It really was the best thing ever. I feel so at home now. You should totally do it!
I haven’t bought a ticket yet to Allume but it’s been on my favorite list for the past 2 years. Are you going to any other conferences next year?
I have a ticket to Mom 2.0. When is Allume? (And I adore Holley!!)
Jo-Lynne Shane {Musings of a Housewife} recently posted…2013 in Pictures Linky Party
The last weekend in October I believe.
Oh, nice! That is plenty of time between the 2. It is hard for me to justify the cost of conferences these days, but I think Allume would be a nice one to attend. It sounds much more relaxed, and so many lovely ladies that I miss seeing now that blissdom is done.
Jo-Lynne Shane {Musings of a Housewife} recently posted…2013 in Pictures Linky Party
Amy, I’m so glad we got to meet at Allume this year and sit next to each other for dinner one night. You’re as delightful in person as you are online.
Thank you also for sharing my e-book here. You’re so very kind.
Happy New Year!
Denise J. Hughes recently posted…A New Design: Writing in Three-Part Harmony
I’m so glad we got to meet too! Are you going next year?
Great posts and a fantastic year for you! I really enjoyed your blogging princess post!
Brandi recently posted…Looking Back at 2013
Thanks, that one was so much fun!
I love this recap!! I wish I would’ve written mine like this! And I wish I’d read all those books! 🙂 Just bought the blogging/writing one to add to Bread & Wine and The Fault in Our Stars, which are both still waiting to be read on my Kindle. Perhaps in between late-night feedings and washing burp cloths and blankets, I’ll catch up on some reading this month! 🙂
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect recently posted…Rewriting Resolutions with One Word
Thanks, Mary! So exciting your due date is getting close!
Beautiful Outlaw was wonderful and his book, Walking with God, was one of my favorites this year! I added On Writing & On becoming a writer to my list for this coming year; don’t you just love exploring the art of it?
Becca recently posted…My Favorite Books of 2013
Yes! I never realized I liked writing until a few years ago. I feel like I’m always catching up on the art of it. Turns out I love writing and reading about writing!
This is such a beautiful representation! I wish I had your graphic skills. 🙂
Love the books you chose as your faves. So many good ones here (new AND old), and the few I’m unfamiliar with I expect I would like, based on how our tastes are pretty similar.
Happy New Year!
Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy recently posted…Unpacking Quarterly’s unapologetically nerdy Book Riot #BKR01 box
Thanks! My super secret weapon right now is Canva.com. It’s in beta right now but I have a few more invites if you want me to send you one!
Yes please! I’ve heard good things but haven’t tried it. YET. 🙂
Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy recently posted…I’ve never been a “joiner.”
Sent!