You guys! This post is so daunting for me to write! 2013 was an incredible year! There are so many things that happened, so here's a list of my personal and professional (and completely random) highlights.
I enjoyed reading Emma's favorites and the reader favorites, so when it came time to make my own roundup I felt like maybe I'd just be repeating the same list of post… but nope! We blog a lot. So much that when I look back at it in a post like this, I'm with all of you who are like, "how the heck??"
First of all, I loved getting to share my first few room tours this year! (Above: Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, Laundry Room). But I also got to work on so many fun projects in 2013. Here are my favorite posts that I wrote or worked on in the past year. These projects were fun to create, and I've enjoyed them daily ever since! 
The corner gallery wall. I had so much fun creating this black and white corner in our upstairs living room. I had a lot of fun collecting and creating that art as well as choosing black and white photos to print.
DIY Instax Wall Paper. This was a crazy idea. It worked and we have enjoyed it for just about a full year now. Its days are now numbered though, because I have a new vision for that little room. Nothing lasts forever in my house! But I do love it a whole bunch, so it's bittersweet. I'll always have the pictures. 🙂
The Clementine Wall. I love when people ask us where we found this wallpaper, because it's hand stamped. It was one of the more risky projects we tried because it's so large scale, and I honestly didn't know if it would turn out or we'd have to restart with a new idea. So happy with the result! It gave our kitchen that little somethin' I didn't even know it needed!
Guest Room Cart. This project is the gift that keeps on giving because I LOVE filling it with treats every time we have guests, which has been often. I love that it makes people feel special and at home when they come for the weekend.
Mudroom Organization. Not many spaces look the same season after season around here, but this little nook is going strong. It was the perfect storage solution for a few of our things and a space that would have likely been left bare otherwise.
Skull String Art. My favorite DIY art this year was this skull string art. I stored it very carefully and can't wait to pull it out again next October.
I made a lot of cocktails this year. Choosing two is nearly impossible. I had a lot of fun with the Cinnamon Mai Thai. It's like a beach vacation in a glass. My favorite savory cocktail is the Wasabi Bloody Mary. Runners up are the Apple Flower and the Moscow Mule, since it was our most frequently made party drink.
We traveled all over this year. It was fun, exhausting and beautiful all in one. We felt lucky and it was fun to meet so many of you along the way!
Our App! It's a crazy story, really. What started out as a, "Hey, I wish there was an easy way to put arrows on my Instagram photos" turned into one of the craziest and most exciting adventures our small biz has ever taken. I'm so thankful we took the leap.
Our app made #1 paid app the first week of it's release, and we just found out it made the list of the iTunes top paid apps of 2013! We'll always remember this as "the year of the app".
Oh yea- we wrote a book too. ((Totally kidding, of course!)) Starting a publishing career has been a long term goal of ours. We were so thrilled to release our first book together this past August.
Crazy as it may sound, during the same month we were promoting and celebrating this book's release we were also turning in our second manuscript.
We'll sleep when we're dead.
On a random personal note: My favorite television shows this year were The Mindy Project and Scandal, and I guess it goes without saying that my biggest girl crushes were on Mindy Kaling and Kerry Washington (LOVE!!!). My favorite album this year was Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's Fly by Wire (and my favorite song was Harrison Ford). My favorite food was brussels sprouts with bacon and my favorite cocktail (to order out) was an Old Fashioned. ♥
Thank you SO MUCH for reading A Beautiful Mess this year. It was so intense and went by so fast, but at the same time it feels like we lived two years in one! Love you guys… Elsie
41 Comments
It is hard to believe what can fit in a year – and even more so for you two. Congrats!
It’s been a joy reading your blog this year! I’ve been inspired by so many of your projects and am really excited to see what you have in store for 2014!
I loved spent the year with you! I wait your books and I hope 2014 will be so inspirating for us !
http://evaetsandra.com/bonne-annee-2014/
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Love your blog… Congrats on a greatly successful year!
You guys are just so awesome!
-Miranda
http://www.missmirandawritesblog.blogspot.com
How lovely! What a great list of memories and ideas! Have a marvelous NYE! 🙂
http://sometimesgracefully.com
Your home is amazing! I recall seeing some of these pictures via pintrest! I also love that DIY string skull art. Amazing!
My name is María and I follow your blog every Day although it is the first time that I write you.
I really love your blog. You are so creative and combine a lot of things. Fashion, design, cooking, photography. Really good!
I wish you all the best in this New Year 2014. I hope that you can be with us really long time.
By the way, I love your new app.
Kind Regards and Congrats!
love it! my favorites too.. 🙂 http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com
Love all these snaps. It makes me so enthusiastic about doing things around the house
X. pixelhazard | Bright Green Laces |
i discovered your blog this year and im so thankful that i did!
before the first site i would check was perez and ever since i found you guys i have changed my ways.
ive also discovered a lot of new blogs through you ladies!
thanks for everything!
have an amazing new year!!!
<3
SO great! Thanks for an exciting year of posts in 2013 – looking forward to seeing what you come up with in 2014!
aaaaaa! love your black and white room! >.<
Wow! What a year! How fun to summarize the highlights in one big blog post. It really shows how much you’ve accomplished this past year. Happy New Year!
You really make a perfect jkob with the blog. xa. And you had really perfect year.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
I have your book and your app and love them both to bits.
A huge and inspiring year, congrats.
Love your blog, it gives me so many good ideas. Do you have any tutorials or plans to make tutorials about DIY garlands? I know Christmas is over but fairy lights can be pricy and I’m trying to find cheap ways to spruce up my flat with colourful hangings.
Happy New Year!
Oh yes, another year went by and so many things happened.
I want to wish you girls, and everyone else at abm, a Happy New Year and hope that it becomes a good one for all of you.
I love your blog and your work and will definitely stay by your side this year as well. 😉
This blog has been a source of inspiration for me this year, I can’t wait to see what you’ve got planned for 2014! x
Che belle che siete!! Auguri di Buon Anni.
Inco
I have loved reading your blog every year, it’s impressive to watch it grow considering how much you have both already achieved. All the best for 2014! x
Thank you both for so many inspirational post this past year! You never cease to amaze me with your ideas, energy and dedication! Wishing you all the best for the next year!
You rock!
Happy new beginnings!
Emma, where did you get this amazing beige sweater?
love the clementine wall but love the poster even more. a little kitchen makes a big house. LOVE
Love being reminded of the year, and can’t believe I didn’t pay more attention to how beautiful your kitchen wall is now (and hand stamped) haaha! Mindy Project and just Mindy Kaling in general was definitely one of my favourites for the year, and through that finding more amazing US comedies (30 rock and Parks and recreation, if you haven’t seen them I recommend). Happy 2014!
thank you so much Maria!!
xx- Elsie
I agree! Thank so much Allyson!!
xx- Elsie
you have such an incredible house! Thanks for good ideas and pls keep on working with creative ideas
Great pics Elsie!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/best-of-beauty-sales.html
you two are so creative and i love all of these posts! cannot wait to start implementing some of your diys in 2014!
Thank you for being so inspiring what makes me come back again and again to read your posts are that you obviously put a lot of love and care into what you do. Very much look forward to more for 2014
Wow. Found your blog today. I’m hooked already!
You galls have great taste!
Keep on doing what your doing in 2014
you guys are amazing!!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
What an incredible year! You both are so inspiring and hardworking! I look up to you & Emma and all that you do.
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
Oh My God, Elsie and Emma you both are such of inspirations..
I love ABM since I read about 1year ago,
I wish in the next 2014 year, would be more shining for everyone,
Thank you for every inspiring post in the past years.. 🙂
https://avintagecovered.blogspot.com
What your have achieved this year is truely an inspiration! You ladies are great! I’m going to be working on my 2013 round up soon, it’s always nice to look back on what you have achieved x
OMG I have been so in love with The Mindy Project this year! My boyfriend hates it, but I can’t get enough!
Congratulations on all of your 2013 successes–a very busy year for you, and inspiring for those of us who follow along. I love that your favorite food this year was brussels sprouts. One of my favorites, too. :]
I love reading these recaps. It’s fun to actually see what you would consider highlights of your insane blogging year!
So, two things. I love the corner gallery! Also, I just went to add your book to my Amazon wish list and discovered it was already on my wish list. You gals – 1, my sanity – 0.