My Favorite Stories and Posts of 2014

I really can’t believe another year has come and gone. It flew by. This year has been unlike any other, with more life changes crammed into one year than I’ve ever experienced. Ever. I’ve tried to blog all about those changes and the fun year we’ve had, and I’m really grateful you came along for the ride.

Because this year has been so busy, when sitting down to pick out posts from 2014 that stuck out to me, it was really hard to narrow the list down. But I managed to get it narrowed down to a few of my favorites. I hope, as you’ve followed along this year, you’ve gained a little insight, learned a thing or two, or at least were entertained! Here’s hoping 2015 will match 2014 in awesomeness!

Not Looking Back, Not Even for a Second:

The decision to move and leave behind our garden, home and neighbors was HUGE. But I knew it was the right decision for us. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities {and projects!}, and, while there are so many aspects we’ll miss, we’re still as excited about it as we were the day we signed the papers. Bigger and better is not always best. Home really is where the heart is, and our hearts are taking root at our new house.

Mormons, Walmart, Monsanto and Shiny New Cupboards:

This was a funny post for me. It began with a crazy mean/strange/absurd rant of an email I received in my inbox, and ended with so many comments of support I was overwhelmed. While that was not my intention at all, it sure does make a girl feel appreciated when her amazing readers rally! Thank you for caring enough to comment, and for validating what I do. You guys are the best.

The Remodel:

I couldn’t pick just one post here, because looking back on all the progress we’ve made remodeling the new house in such a short amount of time, I’m blown away. We lived without a kitchen for far too long, and put so much blood sweat and tears into the remodel, I’m listing the entire category here.

Rare Sighting: Husband in Garden. Please alert the Authorities. Something is Amiss:

Sometimes you make strawberry shortcake that is so delicious, it makes a man is willing to pick for his dinner dessert.

Making 26 Freezer Meals in 3 Hours:

This is seriously one of my favorite things to do. It screams efficiency and that’s what I’m all about. Freezer meals save time, money and many nights, my sanity. So being able to bust 26 out in just a few hours was awesome. And surprisingly fun!

Remember That Time I Let You Run Down the Freeway?

Sometimes it’s 12 minutes before high school graduation is suppose to start and the graduate and I are sitting on the freeway in bumper to bumper traffic  about a 1/4 mile from our exit {along with a ton of other kids and families} freaking out. So one kid piles out of their parent’s car and starts running down the freeway ramp towards the building where graduation is suppose to take place, and then another and another, and then before you know it there are about 30 kids running down the freeway ramp. Crazy train.

Mavis Breaks Up w/ Mr. Produce guy:

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when it’s with Mr. Produce Guy, even if it’s for all the right reasons.

12 Goals for the New Year:

I’ve had so much fun with this. Setting these goals, many of which were totally out there, helped keep me focused and driven this entire year. There were weeks I felt like I might not even get half my list accomplished, but instead of throwing in the towel, it made me work harder to chase what I wanted. I totally suggest setting goals, whether as public as I have, or even just mentally. It’s a proven fact it helps you succeed!

Fred Meyer: Home of the 20th Anniversary Gift. Who Knew?

The HH pretty much takes the cake when it comes to being World’s Most Romantic Husband, if you can snag that title by purchasing your lady’s 20th (yes TWENTIETH) Anniversary gift at Fred Meyer and if said gift includes English Muffins. Yep. That happened.

Doing Arts and Crafts in a Best Western Bathroom and Other RAD Stuff I Did This Weekend:

Sometimes life throws you curve balls. Our move didn’t go as smoothly as we had hoped, but this post was a great reminder that sometimes you just have to roll with it, because everything always seems to work out in the end!

How Much Does the Average Family Throw Away in One Year?

Seeing a visual of the average amount of food wasted in a year was shocking. I’m still blown away. So. Much. Waste.

Canning 101 – How to Can Jalapeno Pepper Jelly Recipe:

I have made a lot of recipes this year, but this has been the one I’ve been craving lately. Jalapeno jelly…Mmmm! Seriously don’t be afraid because of the ingredients. You can tone this way down and still get the yummy flavor. I pour it over some cream cheese, spread it on a cracker and enjoy!

What Am I Supposed to Do With all This Zucchini?

One of the reasons I absolutely love having this here blog, is because when I’m in a jam and have tons and tons of zucchini and I reach out to my lovely readers for help coming up with recipes, you always pull though. You did this time too in a big way. So many new, good recipes. That zucchini was put to good use with your help!

Amazing Puggle Dog Eats Blackberries, The Blind Cross Stitcher, and The Case of the Missing Stuffed Animals:

Remember that one time I tried my hand at cross-stitching for a hot second, almost went blind and then gave it up. Yeah. That was fun.

So there you have some of my favorite posts from 2014.

Did I miss your favorite?

~Mavis