One more time: favorite moments from 2015

Are you tired of looking back on last year yet? WELL TOO BAD! I already recapped my favorite reader features of 2015 this week (here and here), but today I thought we could revisit some of my own projects from throughout the year, mostly to remind myself that I actually sometimes accomplish things.

And THEN we’ll move on to 2016. We will. I’m 80% sure of it.

So here are some blasts from the past, starting with this little thrift store unicorn makeover that I’m still quite fond of.

Always remember what it taught us: “You should never not buy a unicorn when you have the chance.”

I did a quick mini-bathroom makeover in my master bathroom with nothing more than a few pretty accessories and a stencil.

And a thrift store chandelier that hasn’t killed me yet, despite the warnings I received about hanging it over the tub. DISCLAIMER: Don’t hang a chandelier over the tub, apparently that’s bad. So don’t do it. Definitely don’t do it and say that you saw it here.

Last year I also put together this handy guide to home decor catalogs you can get for freeee!

I have signed up for most of these, and it’s like a happy little present in my mailbox every time I get one. (There’s actually more than 13 now, the list just keeps growing).

This black, white, and gold tablescape was a fun project for HomeGoods.  I was so in love with the gold flatware that I had borrowed from my friend for the pictures, that I made an desperate plea to the universe to provide me with my own. Here is exactly what I wrote back then: “Unfortunately, this gorgeous gold flatware does not belong to me *sob!* I borrowed it from my most fabulous friend Denise, who ordered it from Horchow.  Please join with me in telling the universe to send a set my way. (((((((())))))))) <–universe vibes.”

Well homie, the universe vibes WORKED because a few months later I found a nearly identical set at a flea market for way way way less money than Horchow’s set, plus it was a huge service for 16, so I felt like I won the gold flatware lottery, as sponsored by the universe. Thanks universe!

Next, I painted this behemoth set of bookshelves for my office, and gave you the rundown on paint sprayers vs. spray paint.  The results might surprise you!

Thanks to Lumber Liquidators, I was able to install new floors and shared the pros and cons of laminate flooring.

Lumber Liquidators was then embroiled in a huge national scandal like literally the next day, so that was … awesome. Still loving the floors though! Read the whole saga here and here.

I joined with a few other bloggers to share what we love to collect. I shared my collection of white candles, obviously.

Just kidding. I obviously shared my collection of brass candlesticks, which is still growing.  I’m running out of places to put these things.

2015 was also the dawn of a new contest, The Mystery Thrift-Off! I had such a great response from you wonderful readers about participating.

It was really fun, but SO MUCH WORK though, so please send some enthusiastic feedback if you’d like to see it happen again.  Your feedback is my lifeblood. LIFEBLOOOOOOD!

Did you catch my gallery wall with a secret??

The secret was that it is magnetic. Yep, there are nothing but magnets holding all that junk up there! Get all the info here.

This next picture needs to come with a warning, because it is the 2015 winner of the Ugly Lamp Contest. So please be prepared for terror and usher small children from the room:

I keep thinking each year that we’ll never top the year before, and yet somehow we do. We really do.  Ok, but confession time:  After five solid years of ugly lamps, I am wondering if it’s time to move on to uglier pastures? Should we do something new? Ugly chairs? Ugly pillows? Or do you still have room in your hearts for ugly lamps? Please advise.

If you’ve ever wondered how to paint a polk-dot chair, wonder no more.

Ever wondered what the best part of my dining room makeover was? You probably haven’t. But in case you have, I’d say it’s this light fixture.  Or the black ceiling.

Or maybe the scarf that I used as a table runner until Christmas time, when it served as a tree skirt, until New Years, when I wore it as a scarf, until the flight home, when I used it as a blanket on the airplane. It’s key to look for versatility when choosing your decor, that’s what I say.

And one last time, my computer nook makeover. (The kids have yet to use this for homework. One of my boys just told me yesterday that he needed a desk in his room, and I was like “Hey, why don’t you use the COMPUTER NOOK?” and he was like “Oh. I thought that was just for decoration.” I have taught them well. Too well).

Well, that was Better After in 2015 in a nutshell! Thank you ever so much for choosing to hang out here. Truly. I’d give you all a sloppy kiss and a bag of candy if I could. Can’t wait to see what 2016 holds!