Happy New Year! In looking back on this last year, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

I started this blog to give me a creative outlet. I wanted to share the little projects I was doing in my home, a few recipes I was perfecting, and little adventures in my life. When I started the blog I really didn’t expect to have readers. I thought of it as my creative diary to express my love for paint swatches, Pinterest and champagne. I would often write as if it was just for me to look back on later. As I started getting “follows” on WordPress, Bloglovin’, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram I realized people were listening. I knew I’d be giving a peek into my personal life to my dearest friends and family, people who I barely know and likely some strangers too. Still, I considered this my little blog home. I didn’t realize how many people were reading my blog, following on social media and finding it on Pinterest. Funny things started to happen… I was stopped by an old friend at the farmers’ market who wanted to know more about the Ikea Lack shelves in my kitchen and if I thought she could anchor them into a brick accent wall in her kitchen. A family friend approached me about O’s glasses and told me how she had the same thing when she was little. My sister’s friends flocked to see the baby shower we threw for Kait and baby Landon. A popular Nanny industry blog asked me to contribute content to their site monthly. I was being asked to choose colors for kitchens, decorate kids’ rooms and paint monograms as gifts. I suddenly find myself busy and it doesn’t even feel like work. How lucky am I? I’ve enjoyed creating this place and helping it blossom. It’s (one of) my babies. So, my Gotrocks readers, I just want to say “Thank you” for listening, reading, participating and believing in the things I do here in my little corner of the great big Internet. It really means the world to me.

I’ve compiled this year’s top stats (according to WordPress stats).

Most popular post:

Getting My Thrift On – The Official YHL Completely Unofficial Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge with 2725 views thanks to a little link-up party over at the Young House Love Blog.

A VERY close second (without the publicity of YHL) was Little Man – Mustache Themed Baby Shower with 2134 views.

Top search terms (what people Googled to find the Hilda Gotrocks blog):

Little Man Baby Shower

Hilda Gotrocks (woah… people are Googling me!)

Cupcakes for Dummies

Outgrowing Accommodative Esotropia

How to Make a Monogram Canvas

Most Commented Blog Post:

The Better to See You With – My post about O getting glasses and all the questions that come with it.

Subscriptions:

Hilda has 338 social media subscribers (people who follow the blog through Facebook, Twitter and Bloglovin’) in addition to 38 email and WordPress subscribers.

Who in the world is reading this?

Well, all kinds of people from all over! The blog received views from the following countries this year.

Country	Views
United States	7,579
Canada	378
United Kingdom	104
Australia	84
Germany	33
India	21
Netherlands	19
France	17
Norway	15
Singapore	15
Malaysia	11
Turkey	11
Spain	10
Colombia	10
Belgium	9
South Africa	9
Italy	8
New Zealand	8
Mexico	8
Chile	8
Israel	7
Ireland	7
Hungary	7
Poland	7
Sweden	6
Russian Federation	6
Philippines	6
Switzerland	6
Qatar	6
Greece	5
Brazil	5
Egypt	4
Portugal	4
Iceland	4
Pakistan	4
Austria	4
Czech Republic	3
Argentina	3
Republic of Korea	3
Romania	3
Japan	3
Thailand	2
Hong Kong	2
Taiwan	2
Trinidad and Tobago	2
Isle of Man	2
Panama	2
Serbia	2
Indonesia	2
Antigua and Barbuda	2
Maldives	1
Jordan	1
Denmark	1
Macao	1
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic	1
Kuwait	1
Uganda	1
Luxembourg	1
French Guiana	1
Georgia	1
Puerto Rico	1
Slovakia	1
Dominican Republic	1
Mongolia	1
Saudi Arabia	1
Slovenia	1
Peru	1
Croatia	1
Bulgaria	1

And of course I have a few superlatives myself.

My favorite post: Ok, I have 3. But they are all related! I posted in segments to save my sanity (and yours). I truly loved creating new bedrooms for Jack, Josie and Sam. I especially had fun coming up with everything from scratch and just going with it. Looking back I realize now how much trust Susie and Heather had in Hilda.

My least favorite post: Whomp, Whomp. My Wall Art Fail It isn’t very fun to admit failure. Especially when the only way it could have gone worse is if it had actually burst into flames. And man, it really could have gone better.

My favorite Baby O moment: Better Than Hallmark because I love that her little personality is blossoming and this is a post in the blog where it started to show. Obviously, I’m delighted that she seems to have a budding artistic talent and interest in creative activities.

My least favorite project post: Corner Office … because, well. Blah. Its actually not even there anymore! I got a new computer and needed room for more of O’s toys so I now have a corner in the family room near a window and overlooking the foyer. And it looks a lot better too.

My favorite recipe post: Homemade Poptarts Also my favorite treat. Yum!

Best “rescue”: Without a doubt this one is may fave. I almost want to knock on the door of the house whose curb I rescued it from and be like “What up. I made this bad boy gorgeous.”

Post that made me sweat: Foyer Progress And I do mean sweat… literally and figuratively. It took a lot of work: cutting templates, mapping out placement, up and down on the ladder, moving the ladder, nailing etc. But I was also nervous… what a big project, big impact, big opportunity to fail. I also hate ladders and was actually injured by the ladder (I encourage you not to walk under those things) while doing this project.

Best before/after post: Dew it Right I can’t believe I lived so long with a kitchen I really hated. Amazing what some paint and elbow grease can do!

In the new year I hope to keep everything Hilda does glamorous. I plan on posting more food and restaurant stuff (because who doesn’t like food!?!) and maybe even some workout stuff (did you know I’m a Pilates and Yoga addict?). If I’m feeling really awesome I think I could dabble in some shopping and fashion posts as well. But who knows! I’d like to concentrate more on green living. In my own life I’m trying to lower my electricity bill, stop letting the water run while I load the dishwasher and use less/ reuse more… and I want to share it all with you. And yes, my etsy is empty. I know. I’m working on it! Don’t worry- there will still be paint, décor, thrifty finds, organization and lots more of O too!

What about you? Any favorites? Least favorites? What would you like to see more of from Hilda?