Every year I look back at the most popular content we created and shared and all the projects we checked off the to-do list. It’s always interesting to see which posts resonated with you most, which helps me plan new projects and content for the year ahead.
2023: The beginning of this year was a blur with Oscar’s accident in the beginning of February. The next several months were filled with too many hard milestones and birthdays without him here, but we quickly realized we had something – actually, SEVEN things – that were about to keep us very busy: Oscar’s dogs had puppies. We had just a few short weeks to learn everything we could about birthing and caring for puppies, and there were so many miracles and signs from Heaven during that time that I still look back on and smile.
Over the last few years, I’ve documented several projects Oscar and I worked on together, including the Armstrong House and most recently the Darby House. Darby was a nightmare that went from bad to worse, and we ended up tearing it all the way down to the foundation in order to fix all that needed repaired. One year ago on New Year’s Day he finally crossed the finish line on that project, and it wasn’t until after he passed away that I was able to share the final reveal.
Just a few weeks after his funeral, we had storm damage to the roof at my retail store, and rain literally poured in, soaking the majority of all my inventory. It took some time to go through all the damage, clean up everything, and re-open, but we eventually launched several collections for our online store as well and had the best year of sales to date.
The majority of this year was spent dealing with trauma and just simply surviving, but over the summer I found that working on projects around the house was a good way to keep my mind busy. I completed quite a few landscaping projects, repainted the living/dining room/entryway, and documented some really fun product reviews and home decor shopping trips (At Home + Pottery Barn).
Even with all the hard moments this year, I did get to experience some really incredible things too like being invited to Gary Vaynerchuk’s VeeCon business conference where I got to hear speakers like Eric Thomas, Daymond John, Tim Tebow, Drew Barrymore, and Gary Vee himself – AND we got to see Busta Rhymes perform! That conference was such a breath of fresh air after some really heavy months and got me excited again to pour into my businesses. I also recently got to tour the new RH Indianapolis showroom set inside this incredible mansion, and I cannot wait to go back there again.
It was a year I never, ever want to relive, but I stand here today stronger both mentally and physically, and I’m allowing myself to look forward to what 2024 might hold instead of fearing it. And if I haven’t said this lately, thank you for being here on this wild journey with me. It means more than you know!
TOP 10 MOST VIEWED OF POSTS OF 2023
FAVORITE WHITE PAINT COLOR
I put this project off for far too long, but we finally have a fresh coat of paint on every bit of our main living area. In this blog post I cover:
- the paint color I decided on
- why I chose this specific sheen
- what color and type of paint I used on the trim
- the special primer I purchased
- why I primed a room that was already white
5 WAYS TO CLEAN PAINT BRUSHES
After painting the entire living/dining/entryway this summer, I quickly remembered how much I dislike the process of cleaning up afterwards. I’ve always wondered if there’s a better/easier way to go about cleaning paint brushes, so I put the top recommended methods to the test – one easily cleaned drippy, messy, even crusty brushes!
EASY WAYS TO CREATE LARGE SCALE WALL ART ON A BUDGET
I needed a big piece of art to fill this blank wall space above the sofa and pulled out all my tricks for creating a large scale piece of art that doesn’t break the bank.
- find out my low-cost sources for finding digital art
- where to get it professionally printed
- and how to affordably create beautiful canvases like these
Seriously… go see how much I saved! 😱
Mexican Rice
For years while dating Oscar, I attended dozens of family gatherings and ate some of the most amazing authentic Mexican food I’ve ever tasted. No matter what was on the menu, this staple rice dish was always served and often made by Oscar’s mom, Juanita.
On numerous occasions, I tried to replicate her rice at home when I would cook for Oscar, but it was never the same. This summer I finally asked her what her secret is and shared the recipe on the blog.
PERFECT CREAMY MASHED POTATOES
Just before Thanksgiving, I shared my recipe for the creamiest mashed potatoes you could imagine – a dish so irresistibly velvety and delicious, it always has you coming back for seconds and thirds. I tested several different variations of this recipe, and these mashed potatoes were unanimously the winner. They have the perfect amount of seasoning, moisture, and richness – even if you need to make the potatoes ahead of time and heat them back up later.
TONE ON TONE WOVEN WALL ART DIY
My handmade diy projects have been fewer and farther between the last couple years as I’ve prioritized my time a lot more than I used to. However, when I came across a high-end piece of art I absolutely loved with a $400 price tag… I decided to bust out my craft supplies and figure out a way to make it myself.
This beautiful tone on tone woven wall art only cost me $36 to make, and I love the texture and detail it adds to our dining room where it now hangs.
SHOP WITH ME AT POTTERY BARN
This was my first time going to an actual Pottery Barn store vs. shopping online, and I thought it would be fun to see things in person and find out what’s worth the splurge vs. what I would shop elsewhere for.
I found the prettiest bedding and curtains that look laidback and intentionally wrinkled, which gives off such a cozy, casual, effortless vive. I sniffed tons of candles and gasped at many price tags, but also found some really beautiful, high quality pottery and vases in my budget and pillows that I can’t wait to curl up with.
THE DARBY HOUSE REVEAL – A TRIBUTE TO OSCAR
I’ve written a lot of blog posts over the last 11 years, but this was by far the hardest. In 2022, Oscar and I started renovating the Darby House, and I know many of you followed along as that project went from bad to worse. Darby was Oscar’s biggest challenge yet, but he found a way to get it finished… he always did.
In this post, I shared the bittersweet reveal of The Darby House and a tribute to Oscar. I’ll warn you, it’s hard to read and even harder to watch the video I shared. But I promise you’ll leave with a sense of hope and purpose from the devastation.
GRILLED TAJIN CHICKEN
I guarantee this will be your new favorite summer grilling recipe, and it happens to be the perfect pairing for the Mexican rice recipe above! Just a few simple ingredients + a quick marinade = the most flavorful grilled chicken with a zesty citrus kick.
6 STEPS TO SIMPLE, STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY DECOR
I love how full and warm our home feels around the holidays, but this year since Oscar’s passing, Christmas just felt different. In the midst of grieving, I simplified our holiday decorating a lot this year and shared some of my best tips to still enjoy this beautiful season, no matter what you’re struggling with – grief, divorce, finances, fertility, strained relationships, addiction, or any of life’s hardships. This post seemed to resonate with so many of you, and I hope you know whatever it is you’re currently going through… you’re not alone. 🤍
I enjoy reading your blogs. I think you’re a very gifted and talented individual. Your words really touch my heart! I’m reminded of the scripture that tells us that God won’t give us more than we can handle. I love how you share your grief and pain and joy in your writings. I will believe with you the 2024 will be a great year. I have two words for this year KEEP GOING!! You might be having a bad day or even a bad week but keep going. Blessings, Teresa. 😊