Best of 2012 (Miscellaneous Edition)

Last year I started my first annual “best of” round-up, but I only focused on DIY and home decor related posts.  This past year I opened up a bit, deviating from my townhouse themed content every now and then, and because I added more variety to the mix, first I’m sharing my favorite miscellaneous posts from 2012.  I have random reasons for liking each of these posts.  Sometimes it’s
the photos, the connection with you, the writing, the topic . . .

1.  The Three-legged Dog Headbutt

You know I love a good laugh.  If I ever want a good giggle, this post (and the ensuing comments) do it
for me.  Dharma, you still crack me up and our exchange in the comments
has to win some kind of blog award for hilarity and randomness.

2.  The Negative Comments

I have been pretty lucky in blogland.  I’ve made some great friends. 
I’ve been inspired.  I’ve made someone’s day.  I’ve been featured on so
many blogs – even magazines! – that I can hardly believe my luck.  Most
importantly, I’ve had fun.  It
wasn’t until my Huffington Post feature that I encountered super strangely
harsh comments.  Some of them were so mean, my face flushed with anger
when I read them.  I was even embarrassed for a few minutes.  Fortunately, I quickly saw the funny in them and was going to
brush them off, but then I thought I had to say something because
people who tweet, blog, facebook, etc., can all experience that kind of
crap.  I didn’t want my silence to be mistaken for approval, or
continued embarrassment, or anything other than being disappointed in some
people (tsk, tsk negative Nellies).  Thanks again for chiming in, commiserating and sharing your stories, although I’m sorry so many of you had similar stories to share!

3.  The Etsy Shop Launch!

After so much encouragement from readers (eager to get their
hands on goodies from this treasure hunting report and this one and this one and this one) I opened an Etsy shop!!  My Mom and I teamed
up for a Thunder Bay-Ottawa based shop filled with vintage goodies. 
After so much success pairing sweet vintage finds with new owners (and refraining from keeping all the finds for ourselves), we’ll
re-open shortly, with fresh new vintage finds.  Next up in the shop: more handmade goodies and perhaps even some original art.

4.  The Second Try of My Monthly Round-up

I’ve never thought to ask if this irritates you or not, but I don’t like regularly scheduled programming on Dans le Townhouse.  I’ve tried some series, like the Art Attack posts and my Treasure Hunting Reports, but they pop up (or fizzle out) when I least expect them to.  I like to keep things random, because that reflects my life a little better.  But I like the idea of a monthly round-up because I know life is short, the internet is deep, and we don’t have time to check out every post of every
blog we love!  I think by the second month I got into the swing of
things (highlighting my favorite posts, but not every single one) and
I’ve kept it up – almost always around the same time-ish of the month.  Look at me being all blog-tastic.

Etsy: Stella Girl

5.  The Reader Q About My Research

I was more than happy to oblige readers interested in my PhD research with this post.  So many of you are still interested, I’m going to share more soon.  I only shared a bit about where I was doing research in Budapest (here and here), plus I whined a bit about being stressed (just keepin’ it real).  I promise a proper follow up soon, possibly devoid of typos and everything!

6.  The Bad Wife

I love this annual anniversary homage to my wonderful Hubby.  I enjoy the chance to poke fun of me and remind myself how fabulous he is.  He crafts with me.  He laughs at my jokes.  And he learned some of the words to Little Talks.  How could I have not married the guy?  On the subject, I loved our posts about 3+ months without the other too.  Maybe because snoopy me loves a peek into other people’s relationships, I feel it’s only fair to share a glimpse into ours as well.

7.  The Drinks Dans le Townhouse

Speaking of series . . . I meant to start three new series of recipes: Drinks, Dinner and Dessert
Dans le Townhouse last year.  But after a few, my enthusiasm fizzled.  Kitchen time this year always seemed harried (food now!), or it happened at night when photo taking is
dismal.  But I loved this Drinks Dans le Townhouse post so much (plus the cookies one was fun to photograph), I’m
going to try harder in the new year to keep up with the series, in a random sort of way.

8.  The Excessive Number of Photos of Budapest

Sometimes I felt really super duper lucky to have spent four months in Budapest, but hated the idea of being really braggy about it (Oh, you’re stuck at work in a cublice? I work in a former castle).  Plus, truthfully, sometimes it was also really stressful and tiring to be there (the bureaucracy! the congestion! the copious amount of dog poo on the sidewalks!).  So I focused on finding a balance when talking about the experience, being sure to share good with bad.  But in this post I just shared a bevy of gorgeous photos of Budapest in honor of an important
day for Hungary, and my family.  I loved giving myself the freedom to just revel in the beauty of the city.

9.  The Happy to Have a Home Moment

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in new stuff and projects (like displaying my rock collection or pondering furniture options), I forget how awesome it is just to have a space.  It’s such a
privilege and a luxury that I needed a chance to talk about that; to
take a moment to think about people who don’t have a home to call their
own.  Thanks for listening and chiming in.  This year, instead of just
thinking about it I want to do something about it.

10.  The Turquoise Lust

Every now and then I like to do a round-up of inspiration, like neon accessories, minty inspiration, Mother’s Day handmade gifts ideas, bedrooms I’d like to curl up in or, my favorite, everything turquoise!

11.  The Green Skin

I just had such a hilarious time editing a photo of me for Halloween, this post had to be included.  Would anyone notice if I added a hat and dead bird to all photos of me???  I also made good on a promise in this post and showed you all the Marimekko dress on me!  What a good little blogger.

12.  The Framing Question

It is such a neat experience when readers write in with questions.  Sometimes it’s something really specific (“Why do you like white walls?”), sometimes it’s random (“What nail polish colour are you wearing?”), and sometimes it’s a request for advice.  That tickles me.  I really enjoy knowing people love their spaces and feel good in their homes, so if there’s anything can do to facilitate that (like spend six hours hunting down photos to demonstrate things to think about when picking a frame), I do.  Plus, I’m not going to lie, I get flattered a bit too.  That’s partly why reader projects (like this expedit hack and DIY painting) also make me beam.  It’s a total “Awww, shucks” moment.

There are twelve of my favorite post from the past year.  Check back tomorrow for the DIY round-up.

P.S. I started late in the year, but here’s a list of all my monthly round ups to date, for the Cole’s Notes version of Dans le Townhouse: June, July, August, September, October, November, December.