Year in Review {2017} and Future Plans…

2017 is over already!  I can hardly believe it!  You remember when you were growing up, all those older people who would tell you that the older you get the faster it goes?  Guess what?  They were right!!  🙂  I wanted to do a little year in review post for 2017 as this was a big year for A Wonderful Thought!  It was my first whole year of blogging and I have to say I really enjoyed it.

Favorite Mantel: Pretty in Pink & Gray Valentine’s Day Mantel

It was a bit of a challenge for me to start this blog as I do not deem myself the best writer, I am more of a crafty person.  In fact, writing is something I have absolutely hated for a long time!  In school, it was my worst subject!  While I still do not consider myself a poet with words, I am pretty proud of myself for overcoming something that has been hard for me.  🙂  Although, I still have to master putting one space at the end of a sentence instead of two.  My high school son keeps telling me I am doing it wrong.  Ha!  It just seems so wrong to me!!  LOL  I guess I am showing my age with confessing that, huh?

Favorite Project: DIY Dough Bowl Using Power Tools

Of course, I am not alone in this process.  Mr. Wonderful does a lot of the behind the scenes work and does not always get the credit he deserves.  Some of the projects would be impossible without him and this blog would certainly not look as good without the beautiful photos taken by Mr. Wonderful!  Thank you honey!!  🙂

Favorite Tablescape: Thanksgiving Tablescape with Traditional Fall Colors

I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite posts from 2017 and share some future plans/goals for 2018.  I have never been a big goal oriented person.  Although, I am at my core a planner, so in a way I guess you could call my “plans” goals.  So while I don’t have specific goals set and written down, there is always a plan churning in my head.  😉   I had big plans for 2017 for this blog and did not get them all done.  You know how life gets in the way and there is never enough time?  Yeah that happened!

I decided pretty early in this blogging journey that I was not going to stress over posting 2-3 times per week or sticking to a strict schedule.  I do this on the side and I try to post at least once a week but if that doesn’t happen, it is OK too, the blogging world is not going to end.

Favorite Upcycled Project: DIY Sea Glass Rope Lantern

As a result, some of those plans from 2017 have transferred to 2018.  In addition to lots more DIY crafts/projects and decorating posts, my “plans” for 2018 include doing a home improvement series.  We have done a lot of renovations on our home that I have wanted to share with you.  One of my most popular posts this year was our how to remove popcorn ceilings post.  Also, since we have lived with these DIY home renovations for a couple years already, I want to do an honest review of how they have held up over that time as well.

Favorite Home Renovation Post: Two Ways to Remove Popcorn Ceilings

One topic that was really lacking in 2017 was recipes!  I had originally planned to do 1 recipe per month.  Well that did not happen!  Ha!  We have so many recipes that we make and enjoy and I want to share those with you all.  I plan to do more of that in 2018.  🙂

Favorite Recipe: Restaurant Worthy Spicy Sausage Spaghetti

I started co-hosting the Merry Monday link party in 2017.  That was been a lot of fun!  It has been great to meet other bloggers and share their projects and recipes.  I am looking forward to continuing that for 2018.  It helps to keep my own creative juices flowing!  🙂

Favorite Merry Monday Post: 12 Beautiful Ways to Decorate with Succulents

We made a big change in 2017 with our Stateroom Mickey Ears.  We added some new ears but we also decided to start selling the ears instead of giving them away for free.  It was a hard decision to make but one we felt was needed.  It was hard to see others profiting from Mr. Wonderful’s designs when we were originally giving them away for free.  There will definitely be more ears to come in 2018!  🙂

Favorite New Stateroom Mickey Ears: Snorkel Gear

I also want to share more of our Disney experiences this year.   We have hardly scratched the surface there with the topics we can talk about.  😉

Favorite Disney Post: DIY Floral Minnie Ears

Finally, I started this blog as a way to hopefully inspire others as I have been inspired by other bloggers and to make a little income on the side.  It takes A LOT of work and is definitely not a get rich quick scheme but at the same time, it is also very rewarding.  Eventually (it may not be in 2018), I would like to share some of my blogging experiences/advice with you.  After doing this for a year, I feel like some of the information out there about blogging is a little misleading.

Favorite Wreath: DIY Magnolia Wreath

I want to thank everyone who has followed along with us on this blogging journey and I really appreciate all of your kind comments and words of encouragement!  Here’s to a happy, prosperous and meaningful 2018!