One year has passed since I set my first goal of four posts per month for an entire year.  I did it!!  I published SEVENTY SEVEN posts in the past year.  What!  I did that.  Wow!  The Handy Homemaker has been visited over 21000 times.  These are actual clicks on my blog from searches on the web.  I love noticing days that I have only had thirty-five visitors but have had 200 views.  This means someone who visited stayed awhile and looked at more than what their initial search was for.  Unfortunately clicks to my blog from sites like Facebook don’t count so who knows how many actual visits there have been!! This blows my mind.  I’ve learned much about the blogging world, technology and myself this year.  I’ve gained an appreciation on just how much time and work a blog can consume.  It’s re-evaluation time and time to share the love!

Thank you to my husband who is always supportive of my creativity.  When it’s time for bed and I am still working on a project that has me clanking dishes in the kitchen, banging a hammer in the garage, the buzz of the sewing machine, or just clicking the keyboard on a post because my brain refuses to stop until the project is finished, he understands.  Thank you for being my biggest fan and endlessly bragging about my work on this blog.  I love you.

Thank you for my two precious children, Chelsea and Cameron who continue to use the site, and are patient when I don’t get the recipes you want posted quick enough.  Nothing makes me happier than when you ask for my recipe even though there are thousands out there at a click of a button.

Thank you to my extended family and friends who support me and keep coming back to visit my blog.  The numerous notes of encouragement and support of what I am doing has been significant, especially when I start second guessing a post.  I have a couple of number one fans, you know who your are… I am filled to the brim with gratitude.

To my new blog friends who have taken a chance and subscribed to my blog posts “THANK YOU”.  I get so excited when I get an email saying I have a new follower.  I’m going to assume your clicked follow because you actually like the content and that is so cool.

I have learned much about myself this year.

1. The perfectionist thing.. It’s annoying.. I am trying to move away from that and just do.  Sometimes, I don’t have time to take step by step pictures, and that’s ok.  My family doesn’t want a perfect anything.  They want to be nourished and loved, that’s it.  It’s not rocket science, making things too hard or too fancy is not necessary.  “Ain’t nobody got time for that”  I so wanted to insert that popular YouTube video. But you know what I am referring to 😉
2. I am human and criticism hurts.  Having a blog is opening yourself up to the world and there is mean people out there.  Never let the small minds of those people define you.  As my son said to me, “Mom, unfortunately people can be cruel”  But remember, you do this for us.  You’re the administrator to your blog not only on your computer, but in life, delete the comment, and move on”.   Ok wise nineteen year old, I will try to stop worrying about what others think or say.
3. Sometimes life gets busy and it’s ok not to post for ten days.  I don’t have a boss, nor am I getting paid for this blog.  So I need to stop beating myself up that I haven’t had time to edit my pictures and get a post up.  I realize nobody but Chelsea cares that I haven’t put up the banana bread recipe yet.
4. I wasn’t as technological as I thought I was.  I have spent hours, and I mean hours trying to figure out how to manipulate this blog, for ease of reading, searching, and posting.  I have learned a vast amount about WordPress and yet so little.  Thank you to my techie son Cameron, for never saying no, and not complaining when you get too many notifications from Facebook, when I added you as an administrator without asking you first.
5. That I truly am blessed with a great life.  Like everyone, life is not always perfect and there will always be challenges.  I deal with them and move on.  I do really feel that life is what you make of it, if I want to be happy, just do things and surround yourself with the people who make you happy.  By doing this I may not make everyone else happy, and that’s ok.  I know what brings me happiness outside of my family.  It’s creating, crafting, cooking, projects, nature, travelling, and giving, I will keep doing these things.

Top 10 most visited posts:

Check out some of this years most visited posts.

1. Rosette Cake with Buttercream Icing
2. Babies, Bow Ties, and Bubbly Onesie Bunting Banner
3. Wine Glass Etching
4. My famous Buttercream Icing
5. Upholstered Bedframe Part 1
6. Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits
7. Easy Broccoli Salad
8. Mardi Gras Masquerade Party
9. Easter Peep Cookies
10. Lady Ashburnham Pickles

The Handy Homemaker blog has changed mainly in style from my first post.  It is easier to read and navigate through the site but it still can be improved.   This year I am going to keep with the same goals I set last year and keep learning.  I love learning and try to learn something new everyday.  I remind myself things don’t need to be Pinterest worthy,  they only need to be useful or delicious to me or others.  Remind yourself that when you see something that interests you and just go for it.

I only post things that I am actually making that week or something I have made in the past and documented it.  Things I want to eat, be creative or need.  I too have a busy life and taking requests can be challenging.  Please keep sending your requests though, I will eventually share my recipe or DIY tip if I have one.  It just may not be on the day that you need it 😉 One of my biggest requests is to post easy things.  Meals that save time, but are delicious in our fast paced world.  I’ve always been a from scratch type of girl if I have time, but there are lots of easy and quick appetizers, meals, and ideas I do daily to make my life easier.  I will continue to post and show how I do these things with the step by step pictures.  Maybe this year I’ll get the courage to make a video post with me actually in it as a few have requested.

Once again Thank you for all of your support.  Cheers to another blog year filled with recipes, ideas, DIY projects, and more importantly health, happiness and love.

Mina