As we approach 2013 Elsie and I thought it might be fun to look back at some of our favorite posts from 2012. This past year was full of amazing changes for A Beautiful Mess! We feel so lucky and can't wait to see what next year holds. Here are my top ten favorite posts from this year.
1. Loved learning how to make chalkboard paint! It's so fun to be able to make it in any color.
2. I loved this lace top DIY. I've worn it so much this year. Probably too much. I should buy more clothes. I guess.
3. I got a saw and drill this year, and I've been making up excuses to use them ever since. This was the first project I created using my saw and I love it! It's currenlty my dinning room table. 
4. I loved this easy stamped journal that Elsie created. I used this DIY to make a journal for Trey's sister for Christmas this year.
5. This is probably the project that I am the most proud of from the past year. I just feel like it turned out even better than I had imagined during the planning stages. That's always exciting. If you recreate it be sure to check out the safety tips in the post.
6. I am a big brussels sprout fan. Huge. This is my favorite way to prepare them as a snack. Super easy, healthy and delicious.
7. I also learned how to make ice cream this year. And now I'm addicted! Along with these basic recipes I've also made cookie dough and lavender ice cream. Looking forward to more fun flavors for 2013.
8. I got really into making soups this autumn. Me love soup. If I had to pick a favorite I'd have to say it was this spicy sweet potato soup. Mmmmmmm.
9. Homemade pickles are awesome. Duh. This is the easiest pickling method ever, and you can make so many different things. 
10. And this was my favorite sister style of the year because we got to meet all the lovely folks from Ruche too! It was such a fun time filled with pretty clothes, treats and lots of laughs.
So that's my top 10 from ABM… boy that was hard. Too hard. Here's a few honorabel mentions of things we did that I can't help but still include: Molly's Makeover Story, this Mixology, favorite trip this year, proud moment, favorite photo tip, love these so much, loved working on this with Katie, and had a lot of fun sharing this.
And on my personal blog a few highlights from this year include this coffee table restyle project and when I posted about how Trey and I had completed our goal of cooking 25 dinners together.
Feeling happy and excited about the New Year! xo. Emma
49 Comments
I love seeing your top ten! It’d be hard to pick just ten of your recipes.
Also, I eeked in my last post of 4 Simple Goals here (made it before the end of 2012, whew!): http://www.catherinedenton.com/2012/12/4-simple-goals-part-4-bedtime.html
Perfect job and I really like all that posts. Great inspiration. I wish only the best in 2013 and so many new inspirations. Have a great day and weekend.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
I would love to try Lavender ice cream. Hey! How about rose? Ooh so many ideas, so little time…
Love your blog!
http://gravityandshe.blogspot.co.uk
I`m a little bit late to wish u guys a merry christmas!
I had so much going on this week,I didn`t even have time to stop by!
So I wish you two a delayed merry christmas and a happy new year!
PS:I also want to make my own chalkboard paint!
xoxo
The Brussels sprout snack has been loved from my friends it’s awesome. And the lace/denim top is something I made too ( with a 100% of success) and don’t worry it’s a piece that fits perfectly with everything. I am wearing it… quite always.
Thanks for sharing, I hope that 2013 will be awesome for all of you. 🙂
tsiou, from http://inwhirlofinspiration.blogspot.com
It’s been about a year since I started following ABM, and I am so grateful to have found you! My joy of creating beautiful things, decor and cooking has been refreshed so thank you! So excited for 2013 – and congrats Emma on your sweet engagement! Looking forward to “wedding planning posts” eh? eh? xo
Eek! I love that little house stamp. I wanted to make my own stamps this year for my 365 project, which I’ve been blogging about at http://makingmade.com, but never got around to it this year. Perhaps in 2013 I’ll make a stamp and then use it as the subject of a group of several paintings. That would be fun.
Awesome top ten! I can’t wait what to see what you guys have in store for 2013!
http://thehonestfox.blogspot.com/
Eek, I love that little house stamp. I wanted to make my own stamps this year as part of my 365 blog, but I’ve never got around to it. Perhaps in 2013 I can make a stamp and then create several paintings using the stamp as the subject. Would be fun!
http://makingmade.com
Loved your cooking this year Emma. Also big congrats, Trey is very lucky 🙂
Cathy
Turquoise Flamingo
http://www.turquoiseflamingo.com/
Hard to pick just ten! I love that lace shirt, I’d wear it all the time too 🙂
http://whiskeybreakfast.blogspot.com
http://365sleepydays.blogspot.com
I love love love this blog, its brilliant!
Great posts and a great year!! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.blogspot.com
I love looking back on all your projects this year! I finally had a chance to visit Red Velvet as well! Such a great year. Thank you, lovelies.
My favorite is the DIY lace top! It’s made so well, and it looks like its straight from a fancy clothing shop.
I wish I had an ice cream maker so I could try out some of your yummy ice cream recipes!
M.
That table is incredible! Makes me want to chop down the nearest tree, in the most ecological fashion of course!
Happy new year
xxx
many of these are my favorites too! I still have to try the chalkboard paint diy, and the diy lace denim top has inspired me to get my own sewing machine 🙂 I also loved the pumpkin risotto recipe; I think it deserves an honorable mention. I made it several times and it was always a hit. I look forward to having leftovers to bring to work the next day, but there never was any!
theses were lovely! i can’t wait for more dies, recipes and much more!
happy almost new years everyone!
So many great things I still need to make!!
neha
http://nehamade.blogspot.com/
lovely post! love the chalkboard paint! and the headboard!
http://iamturquoise.wordpress.com
Loved these posts as well!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Love this! Now that the sales are on i’m definitely grabbing a denim shirt and adding lace to it. Looks so classy.
I hope to be able to spend some time making ice cream. It likes delicious!
Great recap- I don’t remember that lace back top- glad you reposted it, I might have to steal that idea. Great post 🙂
http://slidingdrawersblog.blogspot.com/
You two are way cute … love the sister style!
Gorgeous pics !!
Check out my new post: http://www.thestilettoholic.com/
You ladies have the BEST DIY ideas!! You’re so productive and creative. I LOVE the headboard. It’s one of my favorite DIYs you’ve done.
http://www.alavendersea.com/
I was looking for the chalkboard post only yesterday! I’m thinking of painting our fridge, we can only afford a super cheap one, so thought some chalkboard paint would make me much happier about it. 🙂
I really liked your post about your trip to Hawaii. As a young person living on a budget, it would be cool to see more from you guys about traveling costs – I know that can be a bit of a personal thing – but if you’d be willing to share about budgets, how you chose the hotel/location/etc, that would be great. Thanks!
so much amazing
That lace top is fabulous! I think I need to make one myself 🙂
Nice!
XO Nat
http://www.natinlove.com?cm=1
A Beautiful Mess,
I absolutely adore your blog. My cousin, Annie, and I got inspired to create our own blogs and eventually combined them into one blog. We think this blog has gotten to be very creative. Thanks for all of the awesome projects/ recipes! (I cannot wait to make ice cream!)
Awesome posts! Thanks for sharing 🙂
x missdottidee.blogspot.com
Love these!! Especially the lace top- I can’t get enough of lace 🙂 I can’t wait to see what creative ideas you guys come up with next! Thanks for sharing!
http://long-road-to-somewhere.blogspot.com/
Wonderful top ten! I really love them and especially the table you made. It’s nostalgic and I feel so warm when seeing it. You did a good job!
I love the DIY chalkboard and the different recipes! Good stuff.
Carlee
http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/
i appear to have missed the ice cream post. thanks for giving the link. ill be trying some of those recipes out!!
love this post! 🙂http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/
That sleepover sign above the bed really is absolutely gorgeous! I loved the chalk paint tutorial too! I want to make myself some too! It would make a good ‘to do’ board for the studio my boyfriend and I live in! 😀
love, Saar
This post has some of my favourite projects of yours from the year too… can’t stop thinking about these “Sleepover” lights! And the lace shirt is gorgeous, I shall be pinteresting things for later project plans this year!!
Ps. The table is potentially my fav of all 😀
DYO chalkboard paint made almost my year. I had so much fun doing it. And I made some awesome gifts for my friends too!
http://www.theironyou.com
I LOOOOOOVED the chalkboard paint! I made it and it worked great and looks amazing! thank you for this awesome tutorial! <33
http://birdiewearsatie.blogspot.com/
I’m definitely going to be following your home made ice cream recipe as one of my fund raising projects… take a look http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CharlotteEamonson
Big fan of the lavender 🙂
love the top ten list – in particular the pickles and chalkboard paint. great DIYs!
http://www.momcounsel.com – law and design
Love that lace back post 🙂 SO CUTE!
X
http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing your top ten, I’ve only just discovered your blog so it’s great to see what you consider your top ten posts are – they seem to be a good place to start! The ice cream and journal ones look fantastic – I’ll definitely be giving them a whirl. And I wish I had the time, space and need to do the headboard – it’s absolutely brilliant.
cute!
def wanna try the chalkboard paint!
xx
jen
http://www.jennyscribbles.com
I tried your recipe for Spicy Sweet Potato Soup the other night, and was so pleased with the result. Also, I added half a diced green apple before blending, perhaps it could be something to consider for next time? Thank you for all the wonderful ideas, and congratulations on your engagement!