Did you get a chance to check out my favorite Better Afters from the first half of 2013? Take a gander at those right here.

Today I present to you the rest of the year’s favorites, starting off with …

JULY!  July is always a hard month to narrow down my favorites. It must just be a good time of year for getting out and making projects happen.  But I think the winner is this luscious bathroom from Brit at House Updated. Still crushing hardcore on that penny-tiled wall.

More details on the original post Stinky Pink to Super Chic.

AUGUST brought us the 4th Annual Ugly Lamp Contest, complete with our grand-prize winner: Bacon Barf:

The night-terrors have yet to cease. Luckily, August also brought us one of my favorite little-girl spaces to date: this adorable bedroom from Lynda at Oh So Shabby.  A tad bit easier on the ol’ eyeballs, I’d say.

Original post here: Fit For a Queen.

SEPTEMBER had a stand-out nursery makeover, specifically this teen-room turned baby retreat by Melissa at Living Beautifully.  I’d move into this room myself if I could squeeze into that crib.  And if Melissa didn’t think that was totally weird.

See more on the original post Brassed and Present.

OCTOBER is around the time when the weather here in Phoenix becomes somewhat tolerable and we can venture outdoors again, which is probably why I was drawn to this sweet little poolside shed. Its stunning makeover comes courtesy of Stacey at One Crafty Mutha, who accomplished this look with little more than a circular saw and a stack of reclaimed fence wood.

More to see, including the tragic saga of how I personally came to own the ugliest shed in existence, on the original post Shedding the Shed.

NOVEMBER was not that long ago!  This might be deja vu for you, but it bears repeating: Rafterhouse was one of my favorite discoveries of 2013.  I just had to share some of my favorite interior and exterior makeovers of this local home-flipping company that totally deserves their own HGTV show.

Don’t miss the original post Before and Rafter, and the exterior post More Rafterhouse.

DECEMBER gifted us with the marriage of an unlikely pair: a Target tablecloth and an IKEA dresser.  And what a fine couple they made indeed!  Super inspiring makeover from Kris at Driven by Décor.

 Well, that’s it for 2013! Check out Part One if you missed it right here.

What an amazing year it has truly been.  Thanks so much for hanging out with me.  I appreciate it so much.  Thank you for your readership and support, and for sharing your creativity with me. I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings!

Remember, you can always send your makeover submissions to me at betterafter(at)live(dot)com, I love to see what you are up to!

Hey there!  Thanks so much for all your well-wishes and warm fuzzies and prayers as I slowly inch my way towards my due date.  (Jan 30th!) The baby is just fine, but my pregnancy has dealt me a nasty hernia that has slowed me down a bit. It pretty much feels like I’m being stabbed in the side all day, everyday.  Walking hurts, breathing hurts, it even hurts to put on a shirt. My doctor’s only solution was to press a bar of soap against my belly, then wrap it tight with an ace bandage.  I’m totally serious.  I think my doctor might not have actually graduated medical school.  Or if he did, it was in like, 1824.

But it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.  And I’m happy to take it easy at home. I’m starting to get THOSE comments in public anyway.  “You’re due WHEN?!  You look like you could blow any minute!”  Also, I got hugged by two complete strangers at the store today, so yeah. I’m good to hide out for a while.

Anyway! If you are still in the mood to reminisce about 2013, then join me for a quick look back at some of my very favorite posts of last year.

Starting with JANUARY!

I still love an all white kitchen, and mark my words: this one from Jessica at A Few of My Favorite Things is an instant classic. It’s like the Natalie Portman of kitchens.  Beautiful in any realm of time or space or geography.

See more on the original post I Want it White Now!

 

FEBRUARY found us exploring the 2013 color of the year: Emerald Green.  Verdict: I’m a fan. I love what Pam at Simple Details did here by turning basic IKEA handles on their side for some unexpected flair.  And I super love gold and green together, so chic!

More emerald makeovers to see on the original post Totally Oz-some.

MARCH: who knew home-schooling could be so downright magical? This super dreamy school room Amy of Playing Sublimely created almost makes me want to homeschool my kids too.  Almost.  Doesn’t it look like a candy shop? A candy shop of learnin’!

See more on the original post Your Home’s Cool.

APRIL was a hard month to choose just ONE from, so many great projects!  But I have a softy soft little spot in my heart for a really good makeunder, and this restoration job from Sarah at Trevi Vintage Design was a stunner.  Just look what she discovered underneath that crud-tastic paint job.

Four other fabulous MCM makeovers/makeunders to see on the original post Mid Century Modern Magic.

 

MAY is a hot and humid month, so what better time to share this steam-punk inspired laundry room makeover from some of my favorite people: Jen at Epbot and her husband John.  SO MANY cool details in this room, my favorite being the water heater disguised as an old-timey steam boiler.

Much more to see on the original post: Getting Steamy.

 

 

JUNE time is vacation time!  Hit this road with this beautiful RV makeover from Audra at The Wright Family. You very well could have, she fixed it up to sell, and likely had no problems finding an eager buyer.

Get a closer look on the original post, RV Rockstar.

 

That’s all for today!  Come back tomorrow for part two of the 2013 rundown. Do you have a favorite makeover that stands out in your mind?  Tell me, tell me!

Hey there!

Just dropping in to say hello, and that I’m still alive, and that I’m working on a “best of 2013” round-up for your eyeballs to enjoy.

However, I’m having some minor pregnancy-related health issues that are slowing me way down.  So I hope you will be patient with me!

Meanwhile, there are like ten billion “best of 2013” posts out in bloglandia at this very instant, so maybe by the time I roll mine out, it will totally NOT be overdone, and be like the hip new thing that no one else is doing.

So, Happy New Year!  And I will see you soon!  Until then, here is a picture of a kangaroo in pajamas: