Let me start by saying, HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

Wow! What a year! When I started this little blog, I had no idea the places it would take me. It launched my career as a Content Creator and even furthered it into Content Management.

This past year had so many hidden blessings that I never saw in the moment but when I reflect back, I think to myself, God knows exactly what He’s doing.

When I tell people that for 11 years, I was a dental assistant, I almost don’t believe it myself. That seems like a lifetime ago.

I am so glad and blessed to have found my passion and a way for me to work from home, be with my family and still do what I love. The good Lord certainly is great.

I thought it would be nice to completely say goodbye to 2017 but before I do, I would like to take a look back at some of the fan favorite posts and share some highlights from throughout the year.

2017 started out so well for me! Early in the year, we started our house hunt to purchase our very first home and was blessed to find one right before the market really started to boom!

We got our home for $4,000 under asking which was very rare for what was going on in the market at that time!

This was probably the greatest highlight of the year!

I also learned that support is a very valuable thing to have in the world, as I managed, with the help of all my fans, followers, friends and family to be chosen as a Ryobi North Brand Ambassador for Canada.

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Being able to work with this amazing company has been a dream and I can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store for me in this role.

We expanded our family by one furry four-legged friend.

Zoey.

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This little rambunctious bundle of joy has been a source of laughter, joy and I’m not even going to lie, a little bit of headache and stress — but the good times and loving cuddles she shares, not to mention the smiles she has put on my kid’s faces makes it all worth it.

In October, I was presented with an opportunity to leave my job at Diply and work from home for a company in California. This is was a magnificent opportunity and one that I feel has completely changed my life — for the better.

Not only do I get to continue to do what I love, I am in a management role that allows me more freedom and time to spend with my family all while still earning a paycheck.

As I am settling into this new position and life, I am hoping that this will allow me more time to dedicate to my blog and get to a point where I am posting more frequently and making By The Stand a place where my fans and followers can’t wait to come and see what I am up to!

Speaking of By The Stand! Let’s see what this past year looked like here!

I have gone through stats, comments and pulled out 10 posts from the past year that were fan favorites!

Take a look and I have included the links here in this post if you want to relive the magic and check them out again!

#10 – Makeup Vanity Makeover with Country Chic Paint

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#9 – Dollar Store Terra Cotta Pots to Chic Farmhouse Style Decor

#8 – DIY Bow Tie From Grandpa’s Neck Tie

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#7 – My Fireplace Makeover That Cost Me Next To Nothing

#6 – My Piano Makeover

#5 – From Door Trim To Shelves

#4 – DIY Flower Fabric Pillow

#3 – We Added A New Member To Our Crazy Fam! (aka – Zoey’s DIY pet bed)

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#2 – DIY Stoplight Nightlight

And without further ado … The post that was the most popular this year, coming in at #1 is my table makeover!

This was a huge makeover and I am so glad that so many people loved this post. We took 10 inches out of the middle of our table so that it would fit in our space, put it back together and then gave it a fresh new look!