A Look Back at our Best 15 Posts of 2016

I have so many plans for 2017 that I’ve had to put on the brakes for a moment to sit down and reflect on 2016! Do you ever feel so excited about something that you have a hard time slowing down and making sure you hit all the necessary steps along the way?

That’s how I feel about my brand New Home Binder… I’m still working on the very first steps but it’s so exciting to be working on another product! It’s going to be a mix of my wedding binder and the matching life planner… I can’t wait to share it with y’all!

Of course, every single time I feel like I’m moving suuuuuper slow I tell myself to look back at where I was this time last year.

This time last year I was struggling to build my page-views… I had a goal of 30,000 views a month and after 3 months at 25,700ish I was beginning to think it would never happen! On the flip side today is only the eighth day of the month and I already have 29,407 views… and the day isn’t even over yet! It’s amazing what a little hard work and time will bring!

I hit so many of my goals in the last year. I finally sat down and wrote my first eBook… I’ve been talking about doing this for years but I never actually did anything! This year I put my money where my mouth was and spent 3 months writing and promoting Inside the Paint Can… it’s my answer to all of your painting questions!

Of course, writing an eBook all about paint is bittersweet because December 1st marks my two-year anniversary with Sherwin-Williams! I’ve been a painting fool since I was little but I’ve learned so much more than I ever wanted to know about paint since becoming the paint lady. It’s an interesting job to say the least!

On top of esentially writing a book launching my eBook gave me the opportunity to guest post on a few blogs that I absolutely adore. I mean something I wrote was over at Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body! I read her blog y’all… how cool is that?

2016 also brought about not one but THREE fantastic blog conferences! It all started with the BP Blog Retreat in North Carolina… these girls literally inspired me to get off my arse and finally write Inside the Paint Can. I had been dragging my heels for 3 years and after 2 days with these gals I had the entire outline finished and was soooo excited to finish the entire product. I really hope they have another retreat this year because it was fantastic for rejuvenating the soul and revving up my creativity.

My second blog conference was the Share-a-Sale Think Tank in Chicago and this weekend was so much fun. I learned a bunch about affiliate sales and working with brand which was crucial for my business but more importantly I spend the weekend with my sweet Mama. Since it was Mother’s Day and she is the keeper of the frequent flyer miles Mom and I left the hubby at home with the dogs and had a little girls weekend!

Of course, the biggest, bestest, most exciting conference I was able to attend was HAVEN! I have been hoping to go to Haven since before the blog was even born… yep it’s that exciting.

I would stalk bloggers recaps and look at the pictures and think “those are my people, I need to go there!” It was an amazing weekend filled with amazing classes and fun people. I met so many sweet bloggers and learned so many amazing tips. I am definitely going next year to Haven 2017 and this year should be even more amazing!

Especially because my blogging bestie Lisa from Five Kids, a Dog, and a Blog should be coming with me! Eek!

I could keep going on and on forever but honestly this post would never end… let’s just say 2016 was very good for the blog! I didn’t have too much change in my personal life but I suppose that’s a good thing. With a full time job and working on the blog full time my family time this last year was mainly spent relaxing.

The hubs and I had a lot of sweetheart nights sitting on the couch watching movies together… which is right up my ally!

I can’t wait to see where 2017 takes us… I’m planning on at least four blog conferences I can think of as well as two family vacations and three big product launches!

It’s going to be a busy year!