Hi friends! I thought we could do a recap of 2022 with my top posts. After that, I’m going to share some of the project plans I have for 2023. I’ve been on break and spent some of my down time brainstorming my next projects. There’s some exciting plans that I’m excited to share with you!
Between Christmas and New Year I always like to take off of blogging and refresh myself and think about my goals for the year. I’m a resolution setter and love re-focusing my goals. I’ve changed my life with New Year’s resolutions in the past so I deeply believe in them for myself and how my brain works.
For one of my goals this year, I want to publish a blog post and a YouTube video once a week- Friday morning. This will be a consistent schedule that you can watch out for content on those platforms if you like my longer content.
Sometimes I get so busy on social media, I don’t take time to document my projects. But having them on here where they can best help people is important to me. I’m trying to focus more on my purpose than on being popular on Instagram.
I’m sooooo close to being able to monetize my YouTube and just need a few more watch hours. If you happen to have time to watch any of the videos in this post or on my YouTube, I’d sure appreciate the support and extra push I need to reach that goal!
This year, right after Christmas we set off for a road trip for California. It was really nice to unwind. This year I struggled on Christmas Day with depression and had lots of stress and burn-out beforehand. So being able to get lots of rest, a little sun, and just sit was really nice. I feel re-focused and refreshed and am so grateful I had the luxury to take some days off.
We drove first to St. George, Utah which was nice and sunny. Then we spent a few days in San Francisco. It was rainy, but we had a great time exploring the city, visiting with friends, and eating good food. Then we headed up to Souther California stopping to tour Hearst Castle on the way.
We rented an Air BNB with my sister and her family and spent a few days in a big house with a pool. The reason for that end of the trip was to see the Rose Bowl and Parade since the Utes were playing in it. Don and I didn’t go to the football game, but had fun at the zoo. After that, we headed home.
At each stop, I went vintage shopping. I’ve been sharing that with my subscribers on Instagram if you want to see my finds.
2022
2022 started with me selling my Florida house and being deeply sad about that and the passing of my dad. So I eased into projects and am so proud of what I came up with in 2022 despite the rough start.
I had such low hopes for the year, but I was able to create some beautiful things that I’m really proud of. Today, I thought I’d break down my top posts down by platform. Each one had different posts that did best (it’s always interesting to me to see what does best where). Except the Billy Bookcase Ikea hack- that did well across the board!
Here’s a video with a recap from this post
If the video doesn’t work here, you can watch it on YouTube here. Like I mentioned, any love you can give my YouTube channel with a subscribing and/or a view is greatly appreciated!
I like looking at what does well where. That way I can continue to create content that helps people and resonates with them. Mostly I make what I’m interested in or feel called to. When I look at numbers and stats it helps me come up with new projects that hopefully work for both my house and my community.
Best of 2022- The Blog
Here are my top blog posts of 2022-
Best Blog Posts of 2022
Evidentaly sewing tutorials do really well on Pinterest. I got lots of traffic from there for this post. Sewing is something I really do for the love of it so if I can help someone else make something, that makes me really happy!
I did this project at my sister's house. It was so fun to spend more time with her, create something lovely for her home, and then it has done really well. That's a win win situation for me!
I was obsessing about finding tiles for my bedroom fireplace. I had the idea to paint my own and was so excited to execute it after ironing out the details! I LOVE these and am thrilled they did well on here and my YouTube.
I've been wanting one of the Atoll mirrors, but they're SO expensive! They were on my mood boards for years. Finally I became determined to make my own. It was really fun figuring out how to create it on Instagram stories! And now I have my own version for less than $100.
The main project I did in 2022 was my bedroom and redoing the layout, closet, and linen hall. These spaces didn't preform wall with the exception of this post. BUT they have made it so my house is SO much more liveable and modernized the layout. That's good enough in my book!
Best of 2022- YouTube
Post number 1- Billy Bookcase Hack. This did well both in the long form video and YouTube shorts. It’s so gorgeous in person! I wish I could show you all.
Post number 2- DIY hand painted tiles. I love that this did so well even though I didn’t show the finished tiles on the fireplace! Which I think looks really nice! That view is in today’s video.
Post number 3- How to clean a wool rug. I created this video after going antique shopping and buying a few affordable wool rugs that were super dirty. The cleaning is lots of work, but I love anything that gives new life to an old item!
Post number 4- Cross Stitch Art. Micheal’s craft stores paid me to create an Instagram post on this project. They wanted something that showed off their yarn selection. I’ve always wanted to make giant cross stitch art, so I put it on my blog and YouTube. It did so well even if it did take me forever to create it.
Post number 5- Mini Macrame Rainbow Wall Hanging. I created this for my son’s closet to hang off of. I’ve made a few of these and it’s fun when they resonate with people.
After making this, I did get some hate that I put a rainbow in my son’s room. I always get pushback for how “girly” I decorate, especially with my son and husband’s spaces. Am I sick of it? Yes. Does my family care that they live in a pink, rainbow house? No- it’s a happy place and they are used to my decorating. Maybe one day people won’t be so old fashioned about colors.
Best of 2022- Instagram
My first community I found with my blogging was Instagram. It used to be so fun! Honestly, I’ve grown tired of it recently. It just feels like there’s so much on there and not enough depth. I don’t know if it’s reels or it’s gotten really political or it’s just lived it’s life cycle. How are you feeling about Instagram? Is it dying?
1 Instagram post- Dollhouse nightstand. My fun project for Don’s room has recently gone viral! Evidently people love dollhouse shaped items!
View this post on Instagram
2 Instagram post- Little Library. This is a post where I complain about people abusing my little library. I was ticked about it and quickly put up a video. Hopefully the person who dumped books on my porch saw it- lol.
View this post on Instagram
3 Instagram post- Ikea Bookcase Billy. I told you this one did well everywhere!
View this post on Instagram
4 Instagram post- You’ve Got Mail trim. I’m really into the movie You’ve Got Mail. I watched it before working on my bedroom and finally implemented the trim from the set in my room!
View this post on Instagram
5 Instagram post- Rainbow tree skirt. I’ve been wanting to make this since at least 2019. This year I went for it and am thrilled with how it turned out! It’s a great look for less and rainbow project.
View this post on Instagram
Best of 2022- TikTok
I love TikTok. Personally, I find it fun, low stress, and more casual. If you’re on TikTok I loved if you’d follow me! I post every business day and it’s usually different content than anywhere else.
1 TikTok Post- The Billy Bookcase post. I put this up quickly and didn’t think much of it. I think that’s the key with TikTok? I’m still trying to figure it out- lol. This is the most viewed video I’ve ever made at 2.7 million views! Along with it comes lots of hate for organizing books by color (insert eye roll).
@athomewithashley Sneak peek to an Ikea hack we just finished building 🙌🏻💗 #ikeahack #ikeabillyhack #ikeabilly #ikeabillybookcase #ikeahackdiy #homelibrary #livingroommakeover #fyp #fypシ #fy #home ♬ Rocky: Eye of the Tiger – Best Movie Soundtracks
2 TikTok Post- Florida Kitchen tour. Right before we sold the Florida house I took video of each space to share it better. Also, to remember it by. I think this is the cutest kitchen I’ve ever designed.
@athomewithashley The termites made me do it 💁🏻♀️ #roomtour #fypage #kitchentour #kitchentok #beforeandafter #home #roommakeover #fyp ♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) – Danilo Stankovic
3 TikTok Post- Rainbow Pumpkins. Sometimes I think TikTok just wants to watch me put things in rainbow order? Like I said, still figuring it out!
@athomewithashley How I got my workout in today 🌈🎃😅 #rainbowpumpkin #rainbowpumpkins #rainbowstairs #halloweendecor #halloweendecorations #halloweendecoratingideas #halloweendecorating #rainbowhouse #rainbowhome ♬ Fall October Halloween horror classic(177261) – rareNote
4 TikTok Post- Cross stitch art. I tend to overdo things, but I think the scale is why this was so popular.
@athomewithashley This cross stitch art was a labor of love 😅🖼🧶 #crossstitch #pegboardideas #crossstitchlover #home #fyp #colorfulhome #cottagecore #fypage #diyart ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show
5 TikTok Post- Nutcracker stairs. Just more of putting rainbow colored things on my stairs. I did two big Christmas projects this was one and the tree skirt was the other. So it was fun to see it being appreciated.
@athomewithashley Had to decorate the rainbow stairs for Christmas! I went with an army of nutcrackers. What do you think? 🌈🌲#rainbowstairs #rainbowchristmas #nutcracker #nutcrackerseason #holidaydecor #christmasdiy ♬ Tchaikovsky: Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy (From The Nutcracker Suite) – Dreamscape Cinema Orchestra
Thanks for indulging me while I look back on 2022 and analyze my projects. What was your favorite space or project I did? I’d honestly love to hear in the comments.
PROJECT PLANS 2023
OK! So let’s talk about plans for 2023. I’ve been brainstorming and I’m excited to tell you what I’m thinking.
big project 1- Don’s room
This is a VERY clean picture of my son’s room. It’s a big space and is always a mess. There isn’t enough storage or structure. I’m thinking of building in bookcases, a fireplace, and a nook bed with storage underneath.
Don is no longer into dinosaurs so I’ll be changing the mural to some cat wallpaper. I have some sketches I’ll share of what I’m thinking so you can get an idea.
Two views of the bed nook with drapes (that would be gingham and less girly).
A view of what I’m thinking for the bookcase flanking a fireplace.
big project 2- the bathroom
My bathroom is very cute, but it’s the only space on the first floor that hasn’t been fully renovated. The peel and stick tiles are starting to show their age. The drywall has some issues and we need to investigate a leak.
So what do I want to do? I’m thinking of new tile on the floor- a fun pink pattern. Here’s some quick sketches I made to help illustrate what I’m thinking.
On the walls I want to tile with a unique rainbow moment. Up top I want to wallpaper.
The tub will stay. I’m thinking about making the vanity bigger and then getting rid of the pink cabinet. But what do I put there? a chair? Still deciding. The tricky thing is that the tub needs to stay in the room while we renovate since it doesn’t fit out the door.
big project 3- living room ceiling
We worked a little on the living room this year. I put up wallpaper and the panels. It looks so nice!
But then, of course, it made my ceiling look all the more bare. For years I’ve been wanting to redo the ceiling. To do that, my husband says we need to remove the drywall. So it’ll be messy in the room I like to work in the day and unwind at night.
I’m thinking shiplap, beams, and fancy crown molding will be really pretty! I’m also thinking of doing a new light and ceiling medallion.
Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll get new floors in here too! That’s a really big project. All the furniture needs to come out, the old floors need to be removed (since they’re too slanted to put new floors over them), then a new sub floor needs to go in. But it’d look really good!
smaller projects
Here’s a list of smaller projects I have on my to do list for 2023-
- Wallpaper the craft room in rainbow paper
- Make a quilt dress
- Sew a rainbow quilt
- Create a planter out of a file (with tile)
- Pantry redo
- Build a big chicken coop
- Full house tour with sources
- Storage for the craft room
- Brick the front porch
- Mural on the shed
- Pyramid trellis rose
- Concrete outdoor decor
- Rainbow Diamond Dots on vintage items
Now that you know my project plans for 2023, do you have any ideas on what you want to see me do? I would love any suggestions as I have more space on my schedule and want to create things that are helpful to my community.
Are you excited for seeing how 2023 comes together?! I’m cautiously optimistic. I hope you’re have a good New Year. Thanks for being here!
Oh my gosh! Can we talk about Don no longer being into Dinos!
Right?! It’s kind of sad! It’s not that he doesn’t like them, he just isn’t obsessed anymore. Sigh!