Top Ten...of the Past 6 of 12.

Strange title, yes? I thought I'd recap the lovely year that was 2011 in a Top 10 of your favorite Naptime Decorator posts. But then I realized, I've only been doing this bloggin' thing since June. So it's more of a top ten of the past 6 months, make sense now? ;) Starting with Number 10...here we go!

10. Girls Night #2 - Berry Letters

Not sure what you liked more: the idea of getting the girls together and doing a little craftin' (and eating...and drinking...;), or the actual Berry Letter, but this post was a popular one. I have to say, the Girls Craft Night is SO much fun, and I'm so glad a couple of my girlfriends suggested it. Major props, Amy and Mary Pat!

9. t-h-a-n-k-s Letters

Got a lot of feedback on this one - I was really happy with these little guys too. Glasses from the Dollar Store with a little paint - so simple, and they were perfect for my height-challenged mantel!

8. The Story of the Three Stools

I've learned that it's often the non-decorating posts that are favorites with you guys! I tend to get a little mushy on you all from time to time, and I'm glad that (I'm assuming!), you don't mind;)

7. Babies Don't Keep

Again, one of the most popular posts, that had nothing to do with decorating! I had a friend tell me she was having a really rough day and needed to read something like this the very day I posted it, and that is the kind of stuff that inspires me to write this blog. Whether it be a decorating idea, or a sentimental want-to-freeze-time post, or a way to help you get organized, when I hear from one of you that it's helped you in one form or another...you have no idea how that makes my day week month. So I thank you, from the very bottom of my heart.

6. DIY Desk

Who doesn't love a free desk?! My daughter is up in her room working there as I type this (it's naptime in this house, of course! But the kindergartener is off for winter vacation and has her 'quiet time' while the other 2 sleep).  It was a big hit with her, as it was with you, from what I gather on Pinterest;) SO much fun to see little ol' Naptime Decorator getting pinned! Doesn't take much....lol.

5. Getting Organized...

Organization and thriftiness are always a good combo, so this fit the bill! Using coffee cans and waffle boxes, I was able to organize the kids' craft table.

4. Book Nook Update

Oh IKEA spice racks...I love you so. I LOVE this little section of our playroom - and it cost SO VERY LITTLE! Used old book covers and framed them with a combination of dollar store and yard sale frames, and covered with a little spray paint. Picked up some letters from JoAnn's and the $4 spice racks and it was complete. Just goes to show you really do NOT have to spend a lot on decor!

3. Ruler Growth Chart

Pottery Barn and $10 rarely go together, right?! They did in this post! I made a knockoff PB ruler growth chart and the ND readers appreciated the savings! Since I now have the stain, if I were to make this again (which I plan on doing in a couple months as a gift when one of my best friends has her FIFTH child! ;), it will cost me a whopping $7. Rock on.

2. Budget Bathroom Makeover

This was definitely the post that got the Naptime Decorator on the map. This was the first one that other bloggers shared on their blogs (SO exciting when that happens!!), and it also received the most comments from you. Thought you might like to know that the painted tile floor is holding up perfectly. It stands up to cleaners just fine (in case there are any of you out there fortunate enough to have a gold/yellow tile floor like we were;). I still get happy when I go in there, thinking how different it looks and I spent a whopping $72.

1. Family Handprint Tree

Holy moly I did not see this one coming!! Since I posted this in November, this post alone has had almost 60,000 pageviews. Wha??! That may not be a big number for the big time bloggers out there, but for someone like me, I'm shocked! I had a reader comment that she and her family did this right before her husband got deployed, and that it was a great memory they made as a family. And I have heard that readers made these at Christmas and Thanksgiving with their ENTIRE families, since everyone was in town and together. Again, that's the stuff that makes me want to blog for the rest of my life. If I contribute even in the slightest bit to people and families coming together, creating lifelong happy memories, are you kidding me? What more could a person ask for?

So there's the Top Ten of the past 6 of 12. Was your favorite on here? If not, I'd love to hear what it was! I love and appreciate every single comment from you. I am SO grateful you've welcomed me into your life this year, and I hope that I can inspire you in 2012. I don't know about you, but I'm excited!

Thank you again,

Liz 


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P.S. I linked this up at Thrifty Decor Chick and Today's Creative Blog!