I can hardly believe that the presents are unwrapped, Christmas dinner is over, and we are just days away from the start of 2018. Hopefully you had plenty of time to spend time with friends and family, watch a few (or many) Hallmark movies, and indulge in all the fantastic tastes and flavors of the holiday.
While I'm still kicking back and enjoying things today, I also wanted to take a look back over some favorite posts from 2017. I know many of you have become new subscribers this year and may have missed some things. And those of you who are my loyal followers may enjoy being reminded of posts that you learned something from or were inspired by. Putting this together has actually been eye opening and really makes me confident in the direction I'm going to take us all in during 2018.
One of the biggest things that I worked on this year was creating a morning routine and it has done wonders for my mood and sense of being prepared for the day. I'd love to say that every day starts off perfectly now, but that isn't always the case. The benefits far outweigh the effort, though, and it is really worth thinking about adding to your own schedule. Read my seven tips for creating a life-changing morning routine and download a printable quote to remind you to start your day off right.
It feels good to be successful when making a recipe. That is oftentimes why we return to the same tried and true dishes that we've been making for years. One of the most important ways to get the results you're looking for every time has little to do with your actually ability, though, and more to do with knowing how to understand the way that recipes are written. There is a secret language that acts as your road map in the kitchen and discovering it can have positive results.
In addition to explaining how to understand recipes, I also shared some of my favorites this year and had the honor of participating in Tastes of the Season hosted by Ella Claire this fall and winter. Here is what was made on anderson + grant.....
How to Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs including a secret ingredient
Easy Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup done in a crock pot
Bacon Green Beans
Rustic Apple Cranberry Pie
Soft + Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies seriously the easiest cookies EVER
Pumpkin Ginger Molasses Cookies
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
Chocolate Covered Cherries
And I also did a little research on knowing how to choose some of the best fruits and vegetables at the market....
Choosing the best cucumbers
How to find a perfectly ripe watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew
Organizing and cleaning are two of my favorite activities. And I realize you are either reading that sentence nodding your head up and down in agreement OR you think I'm crazy. Either way, here are a few posts to get your home sparkling and your space tidy......
download free printable spice jar labels to organize in the kitchen
learn how to correctly fold your shirts just like they do in your favorite stores
print a perpetual birthday calendar so that you never forget a loved one's special day again (If you printed this off at the beginning of last year, it has now been updated with the holidays for 2018.)
add unique storage to your kitchen using repurposed glass jars
make your own natural cleaner for glass, mirrors, and windows
prepare to tackle any cleaning project with a fully stocked cleaning caddy
I'll be honest that I really don't have much of a green thumb. But I do like to see beautiful plants growing and enjoy spending some time outside tending to what is in the ground, so I continue to try.
My curb appeal was greatly improved this year with this tip for growing shrubs in containers. It was by far one of the most popular posts in 2017 and definitely something I'll be doing again in the spring.
And when spring comes, one of the first things you should do to prepare is to sharpen your garden tools. The simple step is really one of the keys to a healthy, thriving garden and the tool I found make the task fail-proof.
Some of my most popular posts for inside the house also included flowers.....
Learn the basics of creating interesting arrangements using faux flowers.
The one secret you need to arrange any flowers like a pro.
Choosing the correct type of paint for each room in your home.
For those of you who love a good DIY and creating your own home decor.....
Painted Farmhouse Bench
10 Ways to Update Thrift Store Finds
Adding Style to a Thrift Store Bowl
Create Your Own Wood Bead Garland with thrift store jewelery
And finally we celebrated Fall and Christmas with decorating ideas for your home and table, including some free printables you could use yourself. It was fun to join in with friends that I've made across the blogging world, as well as partner with a few great companies.
Fall Front Porch
Fall Mantel
Simple Fall/Thanksgiving Centerpiece
Thanksgiving Tablescape
Printable Fall Sign
Printable Santa Gift Tag Ornament
Rustic Christmas Mantel and Tree
Holiday Housewalk with Balsam Hill
Creating an Easy Christmas Vignette
I really hope that you enjoyed this look back over what happened here on anderson + grant in 2017. I enjoyed being able to reflect on the things I did here online and behind the scenes and think about all the things to come.
It would be really nice to know what you most enjoyed these past twelve months, what you'd like to see more of, or even what you did in your own home because of what you learned here. Thank you so much for being a part of this blog and making it a success!
Social Icons