happy belated blogiversary to me

Whoops. I missed my own blogiversary. Well I won't tell if you won't.

So that makes 2 years, 395 posts (this is 396), several thousand photos shared, and many bloggy friends made. Yep, I'm talking to you! Can I tell you how much I appreciate all of you who drop by, even if you don't comment (though I'd always love to hear from you!)? Well I appreciate you lots and lots. You keep me posting even when work is insane, life is crazy and I'm too exhausted to think. And you make it all worth the time and effort.

So with that reader-focused schmoopiness out of the way... A blogiversary is always a good time for a little stroll down memory lane, so consider this my "best of" reel from last year, kinda like the compilation video they show when contestants get voted off of reality TV competition shows. Except that I'm not getting booted off my own blog, and I'm not crying.

Over the past year, we...

RENOVATED

Creating a whole new look for our fireplace in LA
Updating the kitchen in our LA condo

Getting said kitchen featured on the Kitchn, part of Apartment Therapy
Getting our whole condo featured as a House Tour on Apartment Therapy, which about made my year

LEARNED TO SAVE MONEY, AND SPEND MORE WISELY

Going from a capricious spender to a crazy coupon lady, and then using those skills as a force for good
Buying our new mountain house with the proceeds from said money savings
Learning to love flea markets, to furnish our new home cheaply but in style (oh yeah, and Emily Henderson tweeted about and commented on my blog!!!)

KICKED OFF A NEW DESIGN ADVENTURE

Spending lots of time daydreaming about how to decorate our new mountain home family room, office and dining room

OPENED UP

Sharing a Day in the Life of yours truly
Writing a letter full of advice to my younger self

ENTERTAINED OUR BEST FRIENDS

Hosting a Thanksgiving to remember

Whipping together a dinner party with Coq au Vin in just a few hours
Making some carnitas tacos for our friends Edward and Toby

Sharing some recipes for easy entertaining like chicken puttanesca, strawberry jam inspired by the royal wedding, fresh summer salsas, and brunch-appropriate egg strata

Making some tasty but healthy falafel and tzatziki

Eating some ridiculously tasty lobster in Boston

EXPOUNDED ON ETIQUETTE

Writing a short treatise on "you're welcome"


TRIED TO MAKE TRAVEL A LITTLE MORE CIVIL

Sharing women's tips for air travel here and here


Whew! I've had a lot more to say this year than I thought! I've been feeling like the focus is shifting toward home design, and while I do love me some home design, I promise lots of recipes and entertaining tips will still be in the mix. Being a good hostess is about more than just having a pretty home, after all!

Any posts this year that you especially liked... or could do without? Anything you'd like to see more of in PoMoHo year 3?

Thanks so much for reading!

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xoxo,