Casa Watkins Turns One and the Top 10 Posts of 2015!

Hola!
Happy New Year! It’s a beautiful day today. It’s Casa Watkins’s one year blogiversary! This year has flown by so fast. There were so many times where I thought I was in over my head or that I needed to quit writing. Boy, do blessings come when you least expect them.

I started my blog with the desire to use my extra time at home to share what I would probably be creating anyway. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I didn’t really do much research in terms of the behind the scenes work for a blog. I thought you just take some pictures, post it with directions, and Viola you’re done. Now, I know that you spend just as much time, if not more, publicizing and sharing your post on social media! Plus, all the blogs I used to read on my own, need to also be shared and commented on too. It’s just like having full time job! I shared more about my blogging experiences in the Behind The Blogger series I participated in, you should check that out.
To celebrate my one year blogiversary, I’d like to take a quick stroll down memory lane and share the top 10 popular posts of 2015. Before we get to the top 10 posts, here’s an inside look at what is to beginning January 2016.

January will be a time of a full awakening for Casa Watkins. I plan to share more projects that I previously felt were a bit too small to share. I realize now that a 5 minute project is just as good as a much longer one, right?! I’m sure you’d like those projects. Additionally, I’ll be sharing more Latin inspired dishes, special collaborations with super cool bloggers, more printables for your home, and much more!

Just this past week, I nearly fainted to find out that I had been selected as a new Wayfair Homemaker!

Whaaaaat, Wayfair!! Yes amigos, Wayfair.

Then, just two days ago, I was in the car with the family on our way to the kids’ doctor appointment when I found out I was selected as a new Better Homes and Garden Insider!

I mean, come on! Really?
I cried in the car.

I have been so blessed to be able to blog about my journey making our bland house into a fun, colorful home. To have wonderful readers that follow my journey and get inspired to take on their own decorating adventures is even better. I can’t thank you enough for the joy you all bring me.
Now, as I wipe away my tears of joy. I want to wish you all a wonderful New Year and that many blessings come your way this year.

A new year is a great time of rejuvenation and changes. That can also apply to your home. In just a week, I will be sharing how you can give rooms a great New Year, New Room Refresh! I’ve invited some great blogging friends to also share in the challenge. The New Year, New Room challenge will start the second week of January.

January will also be the start of so many other creative project challenges (Fab Furniture Flipping Contest), a review of some great rooms shared in the Fall One Room Challenge, a special Create and Share challenge featuring GraphicStock.com, and the beginning of my contributing year at Homemade By Carmona! More to share about all those great posts later.

Now, on to the top 10 Casa Watkins posts of 2015!

1. DIY Birch Tree Wall Art.
When we were challenged to recreate one of the DIY wall art ideas shared on a blog hop, I decided to go with a colorful canvas sized Birch Tree Art. This post was also featured at BlogHer!

2. Coastal Cottage Dining Room Makeover.
I really enjoyed finding my particular design style this year. Prior to settling on a global aesthetic, I did have a lot of coastal influences. You can see some of this when I completed my dining room makeover.

3. Indian Inlay Chair Makeover.
This year I found a new love……bone inlay. I haven’t won the lottery yet and can’t afford a full set of bone inlay furniture. So, I was ecstatic to find that there is a bone inlay stencil and went to work on a $8.00 thrift store chair.

4. Upcycled Cassette Tape Holder Paint Storage.
Speaking of thrift store, my repurposed cassette tape holder into paint storage was a hit! It was featured on numerous blogs and still remains a top view at HomeTalk. My craft room is still not done, but I’m hoping to have that checked off my 2016 list.

5. Global, Eclectic Living Room Makeover.
October was the first time I participated in the One Room Challenge and I decided to take on the living room. It was a big undertaking, I had headaches for 6 weeks, was overwhelmed every single day, and I would do it again! Watch out Spring One Room Challenge.

6. My Home Style: Cozy Global, Eclectic.
Just prior to my One Room Challenge participation, I decided to write about my home design style. I shared what inspires my home, how I apply it, and examples of how I incorporate my style into my home. Best of yet, I invited several blogger friends to do the same. I called it, My Home Style Blog Hop and it was a great way to discover a slew of design styles you can incorporate into your home.

7. Fall-ing In Love With Non-Traditional Fall Colors.
This fall, I aimed to showcase a nontraditional take on fall colors. I incorporated teal, gold, green, and blue to make my dining room ready for fall.

8. DIY Non-Traditional Painted Pumpkin Pillow.
I continued my non-traditional take on fall and made a teal pumpkin pillow using a stencil kit.

9. DIY Doily Medallion Wall Art
I love to use non-traditional items to form something great. Art work allows me to be a bit more creative. The medallion art made from a doily was another top post in 2015.

10. How To Make A Diaper Changing Station.
The last popular post of 2015, isn’t necessarily the least popular. In fact, it was the post that drove the most traffic to my blog. I partnered with BJ’s to make a super cute diaper changing sign perfect for the holiday season.