Emma’s 2015 Favorites

Oh man, you guys, 2015 was just NUTS! I didn’t entirely understand it right up until I started trying to figure out what I wanted to incorporate in this publish. To be truthful, for me 2015 was a pretty emotional year. My sister (and Laura!) moved. Boo! (But of program, I assistance them.) Trey and I moved. I traveled way much more than I’ve ever traveled in one 12 months before. We started a number of Massive tasks. I worked, a good deal. Plenty of items altered at work, most excellent but a few that had been difficult. Am I making it sound bittersweet? Idk. I’m almost certainly just feeling a bit nostalgic. Do you do that at the end of the year, or is it just me? 🙂

Bottom line: 2015 was way rad and I can not wait to see what 2016 holds for us. Here’s some of my preferred posts / factors that happened this past yr. 

This past yr ABM bought and manufactured above a little residence in our hometown, Springfield, MO. We then donated the property to Habitat for Humanity. You can read all about the project in our archives here. The venture was a great deal of enjoyable and it felt actually good to give back. ABM is planning to do some other type of undertaking this yr, even though I am not sure what however. We will very likely spouse with another charity or not-for-revenue merely to spread the really like and also highlight other excellent triggers by means of our web site. 

As I described, I received to travel a lot more than typical this yr. I LOVED each minute of it! I received to see Charleston, Nashville (numerous occasions), New York (mainly for work, but it really is often fun irrespective), Tulum (Mexico), Amsterdam, Iceland and New Orleans. I won’t even pretend to pick a favored due to the fact why limit oneself. But, I did specially really like my trip to New Orleans since it was an early anniversary journey for Trey and me. Plus, I would been wanting to visit NOLA for virtually 10 many years and I was SO content to lastly make the time. 

I have way too many favorite recipes from this year, but 1 of my favorites are these eggplant parm meatballs. I in no way considered I would get into eggplant—it’s just so foamy! But I am commencing to come around I guess due to the fact this is significantly a single of my favorites from the year. 

If you read Elsie’s favorites from this year, you heard her mention that some of her favored posts from the year happen to have also been sponsored posts. And you know what, I agree with her. Some of my favorites from the year are sponsored also (like this homemade scorching cereal mix—I’m obsessed!), and I believe it’s a good signal. We’re usually doing work to preserve our site and brand genuine to our vision while working with businesses from time to time and also considering about what our readers (that’s you!) may well enjoy as well. It truly is a juggle and I don’t know that we usually nail it, but we usually attempt. 🙂 And so I am taking this as a excellent sign from the year. 🙂 

I will not compose hair posts frequently (probably since I fairly much do two types all the time), but this was a genuinely enjoyable post for me this year. I’m nonetheless doing my hair this way all the time, so I guess it is transferred from becoming my favorite summer hair to getting a favourite winter hairstyle as well. Hmmm…

Elsie and I wrote a tiny organization e-Program this yr known as Begin Tiny / Dream Big. This was a lot of fun to compose simply because I critically could talk about modest company permanently! Also we created video lessons to go along with all the text/picture lessons and which is one thing we’ve never ever done ahead of. It was really exciting to develop a a lot more candid edition of the info, and so far college students seem to be to be loving it. 🙂

And speaking of little organizations, Trey and I, along with our partners (and buddies), Josh and Rogan, obtained a developing this 12 months and we will be filling it with a rum bar! We’re gonna be open SOOOO quickly now that it is feeling crazy (in a good way). I can’t wait to give you guys a virtual tour of all the function we have accomplished within the building and then share a lot more about the undertaking in excess of the coming years. 🙂

I publish about foods much more often than residence decor and crafts, but I Enjoy generating tasks and sharing them from time to time. One particular of my favorites this yr was this super easy DIY coffee table. It really is sitting in our new residing room as I sort this. I love making basic tasks for my area, it just tends to make it feel all the more specific. 

On that note, I’ve received to say, the other authors of this weblog have entirely KILLED it this 12 months. I am usually so inspired by what Elsie, Laura, Mandi, Rachel, LaTonya and Katie dream up. We also have a handful of new contributing writers that you may see a lot more from in 2016, and I could not be a lot more fired up. We’ve had a wonderful team in 2015, and I can’t wait to see it broaden a small in 2016!

Loved sharing the products I use for underwater photography. I used my gear in both Tulum and Iceland this year and it tends to make water pursuits even more enjoyable for me considering that I rather considerably just want to be taking photos the whole time I’m on a trip. 🙂

Also, if you’ve by no means checked out our photography archives ahead of, you entirely need to have to. Janae contributed a bunch of beneficial articles this 12 months. 

We moved this yr. So of program I had to share a rambling video residence tour of our house just before we moved in. So much has modified already! I cannot wait to share some area tours with you guys in 2016. 

We also have a super thrilling NEW property decor variety undertaking that we’re gonna share with you all quickly. I feel you happen to be gonna like it, so I cannot wait right up until we can spill the beans on that one particular. 🙂

2015 was the 12 months I got way more into sewing than ever ahead of. I blame having assisted edit the Sew With Us e-Program (which entirely rocks, btw). I sewed my very first dress from scratch, amongst some other straightforward and entertaining tasks. I am planning to make 2016 the year I tackle my very first quilt. Quite enthusiastic for that!

It truly is difficult to say what my favored minute of 2015 was…but it Might be the day I located out we received a cookbook deal. 

WAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem, excuse me.

Guys, it is been a dream of mine for years to create a cookbook. We’re presently previous our initial deadline and the task is genuinely starting to get form and really feel like it has a clear direction. I think you are really gonna adore the idea, or at least I hope you do. I really like it. 🙂 The only disadvantage is sadly I will not be bugging you to preorder until 2017. So we have got some time prior to then. 

Thank you so, so a lot! Like from the bottom of my heart thank you, guys! Why? Since ABM would not exist with out our wonderful and kindhearted readers. I think this is one of the very ideal corners of the Net because you guys make it so, and it genuinely inspires me every day. Thank you for a superb 2015—I hope you’re gonna stick all around for up coming year since we have lots of exciting issues in shop just for you! xo. Emma