I am pretty sure we are all feeling the same way.

Is it really December 31st?

Sorry, Bailey had to take a moment and wish you, on our behalf, a very Happy 2012!

Where did it really go?

For me and my blog, 2011 was the year to decide - “I’m in!”. I started blogging at the end of 2010 , as many of us do – not exactly sure what I was getting my self into. So, the first half of 2011 was spent sorting out how to fit it all in. June was completely lost to some eye issues, then summer vacations and getting my kids back to school. Honestly, I really don’t think I started getting the hang of things until this fall.

So, now we begin 2012 and all that may hold.

But first, I wanted to take the time to thank you all for allowing me this opportunity. The blog community is so kind and generous, inspiring and motivating and a place where I often most feel like myself.

Thank you for visiting me, commenting and encouraging.

Thank you for being inspiring and pushing me along to try to do better each time.

I have been decorating and doing craft projects most of my life, so that side of things was not surprising to me. What has been most surprising has been how much I have enjoyed the actual “writing” of Finding Home. That is, of course, after I worked through many, many (did I say many?) technical challenges I have faced in this process. The technical side of things did not come easy to me.

I would also like to thank my top referring sites for 2010.

Pinterest

Facebook

Thrifty Decor Chick

The Shabby Nest

Amanda Carol at Home (previously The Eck Life)

The Inspired Room

The Lettered Cottage

Funky Junk Interiors

Miss Mustard Seed

Remodelaholic

All of these blogs are inspiring and great places to visit. And if you are still trying to figure out what Pinterest is all about, the Nester has a great post here you may want to visit.

I also finding that Facebook is more and more becoming my go-to for what is happening with blogs, especially when I am short on time. I guess, based on the traffic coming from there, that is that case for a lot of other people as well.

I shared the other day a review of 2011 projects. I wrote that post, in my car, parked outside a book store in Bellows Falls, VT at 5:30 in the morning. At the time, it did not occur to me to share what YOU guys visited this year, so here are the top 10 visits you all made.

How to Make New Ornaments Look Vintage

(This post is actually from 2010 and got a lot of traffic through Pinterest. However, the numbers on one day are such a huge spike, I am not entirely sure it is accurate)

Our Home

Kitchen Makeover Before and After

Christmas in Our Kitchen

Summer Mantel

Christmas Mantel

A Room for My Tween Girl

Summer Wreath How-to

Client Work Series – Linda’s Living Room

Client Work Series – Linda’s Family Room

Many of you have only joined Finding Home in the last few weeks, so if you are interested, these posts will help you get all caught up!

I am not really one for making resolutions, but more about setting goals.

I know one of my first projects of 2012 will be to get our office into a usable space. We have a great space, which you have never seen because it is currently being used as the Island of Misfit Furniture. I want it to become a place where all family members have a place to work, create and be together. It is a very oddly shaped room so it will be a challenge, but I am looking forward to it very much.

I want to continue to develop my business which includes the blog of course, but is also the product and client sides of things. After my experiences of 2011, I think I am in a much better position to decide how to approach 2012.

I want to continue to work on my photography skills.

And of course, I am going to continue to try to reach that ever unreachable state of “Balance”!

We just got back from a visit from NH with my husband’s family. 20 people in an old farmhouse, 1 computer with 9 grandkids, no wireless connection – made it challenging for me to do much blogging or email follow up (I am hoping to get to emails soon!).

The next day or two will be spent just the four of us, there will be hikes with Bailey, puzzles, Bananagrams, and Boggle. Maybe we will even get Christmas put away before everyone heads back to school and work and I have to do it by myself? Oh how great that would be!

So I wish you all rest, fun and relaxation for the next few days.

And I wish you renewal for 2012 to reach all of your own goals.

Do you have any big ones?

Truly, truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for coming and reading and following along on our journey.

December 31, 2011 — Laura Putnam