I try not to live in the past, but I do like to reflect at the end of every year to get a feel for what worked and what didn’t.  You know, figure out what I did well and need to keep doing {for instance, working out regularly}…AND also what I let get away from me and need to improve upon {for instance, living in the moment and not in fear}.  If you’da told me last year that I would write 200 posts, try some HTML coding and land a house tour on Apartment Therapy in 2010, I wouldn’t have believed you.  To say I’m over the moon about House*Tweaking is an understatement.  I’m so happy I’ve found a way to free many of the creative {or crazy} ideas that have been whirling around in my brain for years.  In fact, that’s the reason this whole blog got started…I needed an outlet for the paint colors, furniture, DIY projects, pillows and kitchens floating around in my head.  Just ask Handy Hubby.  Then to learn that other people are actually interested in those ideas has been even more fulfilling.  This may be sappy or lame to admit, but knowing I have some readers who want to see how project ‘X’ {X = anything I want to change in our house} turns out really gives me the motivation to actually get it done.  In return, I hope I’ve inspired you to paint something white or gray, scour your local thrift store for budget-friendly home accessories, save wisely for those new countertops you’re ogling, give IKEA a chance, find an organized place for all the stuff in your house, or just try something different.  For kicks and giggles, let’s have a look at the top 10 H*T posts of 2010.  If you’re new to H*T, they’ll give you a taste of what this is all about.  If you’ve been following for a while {thank you!}, maybe they’ll be some of your favorites.

10 – You Asked For It: Paint Colors where I revealed most of the paint colors used in my home.

9 – How NOT To Hang Wallpaper where I demonstrated that one non-thoroughly informed person + wallpaper + bookcase = an ‘eh’ wallpapered bookcase.

8 – DIY Painted Circles Border where I showed how to use empty toilet paper tubes as paint brushes.

7 – We Painted The Kitchen Cabinets White! where I went against everything my Dad and Grandpa ever taught me and painted over perfectly good {albeit orange} wood.

6 – Master Bedroom Sneak Peek where I teased you with a snippet of my bedroom makeover progress then let it simmer for over a month.  {I’m working on it, I promise.}

5 – My Kids’ Bedroom where I toured my sons’ newly made over shared bedroom.

4 – My Mini Mudroom where I let you in on the hardest working room in our house.  Surprise!…it used to be a closet.

3 – You Make Me Happy When Skies Are Gray where I painted a drop cloth on purpose and hung it in our foyer.  For real.

2 – Tips For Decorating An Open Floor Plan where I devoted an entire week to making wide open spaces feel cohesive, comfy and stylish.

1??!! – My Kitchen where I proved that builder grade kitchens can be upgraded on a budget.  {Imagine confetti falling and horns blowing.  Now kiss someone.}

Rest assured there’s more to come in 2011.  Happy New Year!

A side note: If one of your favorite 2010 H*T posts wasn’t on the list, feel free to share it in the comments section.

images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

In blogging years, I’m considered a rookie.  {I’ve only been blogging for a little over a year now.} But I enjoy it and have so many ideas to implement and share that I can see myself doing this for years to come.  That’s why, every once in a while, I like to survey you readers and make sure I’m staying true to what House*Tweaking is all about…tweaking houses into homes with a lot of creativity and a little bit of money…with small doses of mom humor thrown in to keep it real. With a new year upon us, what better time to take inventory and figure out what you guys are thinking of H*T?

{I don’t know that woman.}

So, if you don’t mind, please take a few minutes over the next couple of days to answer some questions about H*T.  Even if you’ve never spoken up before, make this your first time!  Let your ideas and opinions fly.  I won’t be offended.  I see it as constructive criticism. Believe me when I say that I read every comment made here. My hope is to use your feedback to make this a better place for you…and me.

2010 H*T Survey

1. Who are you? {gender, age, location, career field, marital status, family, pets}
2. How often do you read H*T?
3. What type of post do you like best? {tutorials, mood boards, giveaways, etsy finds, family life, DIY, etc}
4. What type of post do you like least?
5. What’s been your favorite H*T post{s} to date? {Feel free to peruse the archives!}
6. What other blogs do you enjoy reading? {not necessarily home decor blogs}
7. Anything new you’d like to see from H*T over the next year? {certain topics, an area of my life you’d like to know more about, design services}

Thank ya in advance!

image: Super Stock