It’s been an extraordinary year here at An Extraordinary Day!
- It’s been a year where I’ve been forced to dig deep and get creative.
- It’s been a year of discovery as my eyes have undergone a sort of training to see life and things in a whole new way.
- It’s been a year where I’ve learned that we really can have beautiful homes and decorate with a zero dollar budget.
- It’s been a year of discovering the most amazing elements in nature for decorating our homes.
- And…It’s been fun. Truly.
But most of all, I’ve discovered that An Extraordinary Day! has the most encouraging and supportive readers. I try to keep an upbeat attitude and perspective as I walk through the mud and muck of life and you bless me in return with your sweet kind words. You are the best!!!
The blog has grown a lot this year….
Those of you who have been with me since the beginning….thank you for your faithfulness. Many of you are new to the An Extraordinary Day! family…welcome!! I hope you really do find this your place of joy and inspiration. How I wish I could meet you in person and enjoy a nice chat over a cup of cocoa. But, since that isn’t a real possibility…I can’t tell you how much I enjoy reading your comments and getting to know YOU, here. This is truly a community of extraordinary people. I’m so blessed to have you here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
As we celebrate the close of an extraordinary year…
let’s pretend that we will be awarding Oscars or Tonys to the most popular posts of 2013.
Following are the categories with the 2013 winners….
Top Post ~ Paper Crafting:
Paper Pennant Banner ~ A Tutorial
Top Post ~ Holiday Craft:
DIY Home Decor | Easy Grapevine and Burlap Easter Egg Wreath Tutorial
Top Post ~ Recipes:
Sink your teeth into a refreshing Crunchy Grape Salad :: Fall…It’s Extraordinary!
Top Post ~ Gardening:
How to Plant a Window Box Garden :: Tutorial & Planting Tips
Top Post ~ Home Decor:
Quick & Easy Transformation : Christmas to Valentine’s Day
Top Post ~ Tablescape:
Tablescape :: Vintage Mason Jars & Book Pages
Top Post ~ Inspiration:
Top Post ~ Joy Day!
How to receive God’s blessing… :: Joy Day!
Top Post ~ Free Printable
Celebrate :: Free Subway Art Easter Printable
Top Post ~ Home Makeover
Laundry Room Makeover :: The Reveal!
Twenty Thirteen. Wow!
You were one fast year.
You also delivered a full spectrum of surprises. You didn’t even wait. Nope.
On January the second, my husband walked into the office excited about a new year on the job and in a few minutes discovered that he didn’t have a job any longer. Twenty Thirteen, you may have meant to play mean and dirty…but we have a God who fights for us. Sure…there is no ‘real’ job. Yet. Actually none at all as I type this. But, God’s got us covered and he has something pretty exciting waiting for us. I can’t wait to see his amazing plans for us in Twenty Fourteen.
And just in case you think this is all about me….God’s got some extraordinary plans for YOU, too! 🙂
Wishing you an Extraordinary 2014!
Diane
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Sharing with these Extraordinary Spots:
Between Naps on the Porch + By Stephanie Lynn + Rain on a Tin Roof + Mod Vintage Life + A Stroll Through Life + Cozy Little House + Coastal Charm + UnSkinny Boppy + Yesterday on Tuesday + Savvy Southern Style + Our Home Away From Home + Stone Gable-The Scoop + Southern Hospitality + Kathe with an E + Cupcakes & Crinoline + My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia + A Bowl Full of Lemons + Carolyn’s Homework + Memories by the Mile + No Minimalist Here + Someday Crafts + All Things with Purpose + Live Laugh Rowe + Katherine’s Corner + Living Well Spending Less + Bloom Designs + Embracing Change + A Glimpse Inside + The Self Sufficient Home Acre + Jennifer Rizzo + Common Ground + The Charm of Home + Rooted in Thyme + French Country Cottage + The Trifty Groove + Redoux Interiors + Shabby Art Boutique + A Delightsome Life + Craft Dictator + Imparting Grace + My Romantic Home + The Girl Creative + Tidy Mom + Liz Marie + Faith Filled Fridays + Tater Tots & Jello + Funky Junk Interiors + Little Miss Celebration + Patriotic Pam Twigg Studios + Nifty Thrifty Things + The Tablescaper + Life on Lakeshore Drive + Suburbs Mama + Flamingo Toes + DIY Showoff + Dream a Little Bigger + I Should be Mopping the Floor + A Pinch of JOY + Boogieboard Cottage + Craft o Maniac + Uncommon Designs + Dwellings + Frugal Foodie Mama + Carrie This Home
I love your amazing uplifting attitude, Diane! I always picture you with a smile on your face ready for whatever comes your way as I’m reading your posts! I wish and your hubby all the best for the new year! XO
My vote would be the Pennant Banner or the Easter Subway Art, does that mean that I’m totally ready for spring already? I think so! 🙂
I am certainly going to try your grape salad. That looks amazing.
Wishes for blessings beyond belief in the coming year.
Happy New Year
Becky
Great ideas! Thanks so much for the inspiration – I’ll be using your Valentine’s ideas shortly!
I just love your blog! Love your positive attitude and sweet inspiration. 🙂
I never knew who I was inspired by last year when My hubby did not feel well enough to take our tree down(5 feet in a white urn) but the urn and chair needed to trade spaces back to where they belonged!! And you posted this post. I drug out a red leather desk chair that has dark brown legs where yours is white. I flipped a pottery barn pillow around, used red ribbon from new pj’s to tie it to the chair and used the knot in the front to dangle a clearanced silver heart scrolled looks like a giant locket!!! I used red hearts and a few heart ornaments. The tree looked so pretty I had friends think it was my intent to do this!!! Without your post, I’d have missed out on this extra enjoyment of the lights. It made my hubby so happy. I even have new ideas. Ill leave my spray painted fake bendy white sticks. I will hand tear and write in red: Love Is
I want to write the words on hearts from I Cor 13 and see if more words can be found using lots of translations!! And turn over the families’ PB initial paper and glitter ornaments and write their names and add a bit of glitter and hearts. I’m excited even if I don’t do it this year but someday!!!
Just know that last year, a droopy woman, feeling sorry for herself and embarrassed by her naked tree still in the corner, changed her attitude just because you posted this post!!
Gwen’s reply made MY heart happy…and you made her heart happy, so it’s all good! LOL. See how that works?! Seriously, that’s one of the many gifts of this community. And I reap those rewards on a regular basis….thanks to your efforts to keep this bit of cyberspace a safe and warm place…and a place for introspection. (Everyone knows I need that! LOL) I’m glad I didn’t have to decide on the best of the best….I’da waffled a LOT. 😉
I remember the book page placements, still so adorable!
Diane – You know I love your printables and have shared many with my readers. You are so generous in sharing your talents with us. The burlap easter wreath is so cute but I glean so much from your encouraging words. May God bless you and your family in 2014.
Hugs,
Debbie
Looks like you digging deep paid off! I cannot wait to see what you have in 2014! Thanks for joining us in the blog hop…your site looks like a real blessing and I will return for more ideas!!
I enjoyed your look back. Smiled through it all because I remember so many of these terrific posts. Hugs and happy new year!
P.S. thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop xo
So many great projects – looks like you had a fantastic year! Your positive attitude is inspiring, as are your projects. Wishing you a great 2014!
It’s amazing when we look back on a year and see what we have accomplished. It’s a great feeling isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by with your kind words. 🙂
This is my first time visiting, and happy to have stopped over from Faith Filled Friday. Happy 2014!
Laura, I am blessed to have you pop over. Thanks for taking the time to say “hello” too!
Hope your New Year is Extraordinary!
It’s always fun to look back and see what we did in the past year. Your blog has been an inspiration for sure. Wishing you better news soon! Thanks for sharing at TTF!
Thank you Linda for those encouraging words. I’m expecting good things…thanks for joining me in that too!
Best wishes for an Extraordinary week!
Great project !!
I would love you to come and share @ Craft, Create & Inspire linky party !!!
Look forward to seeing you there 🙂
http://livel0vecreate.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/craft-create-inspire-linky-party.html
Claire x
Thanks for the kind words and the invitation, Claire!
Best wishes for an Extraordinary week!
The grape salad caught my eye…gotta give that a try.
Have a wonderful year….
Here from Tablescaper.
We love the grape salad….it makes a terrific dessert too!
You’ve got to give it a try BJ! We enjoy it as a dessert as well as a salad. 🙂
A year of cuteness. Loved seeing your projects.
Happy Met Monday…
XO,
Sheila
Great list! Thanks so much for sharing your post on The HomeAcre Hop! I hope you have time to stop by and share more today!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2014/01/the-homeacre-hop-51.html
Thanks Lisa Lynn!! Isn’t it amazing to look back on a year and see what we really did accomplish?
Hope your week has been Extraordinary! 🙂