This week is all about reflection and…… trying still fit into my pants. 2016 was pretty full. Elastic waistbands and all. There were ups and downs. Highs and lows. Ebbs and flows.
I’m ready for 2017, what about you?
I poked around my google analytics and figured out what the top 25 posts on Shutterbean were this year. Also, YOU GUYS!! In March I will be working on this blog for 10 years! We have to do something special, right? So, here we have it.
Here are the Most Popular Posts of 2016 on Shutterbean:
Whole 30 Meal Ideas
I did the Whole 30 from the end of September to October. It was challenging but I made it through. This post has been circulating around the internet a lot since! I’m already figuring out what month in 2017 I’ll do my next one. Yes…I totally could use another round. I need another reset.
Someone asked if I could write about the AFTER period.
All I have to say is that I have been eating too much bread.
My body doesn’t like bread even though my mind wants it.
I am trying to work that out. It’s taking me longer to break that habit than I thought.
Whole 30 Snack Ideas
Another popular post. Although, “snacking” isn’t really allowed on Whole 30. My purpose of this post was to show some ideas of stuff I snacked on as a meal instead of making myself a whole labor intensive meal. We have snack dinners all the time at my house. Life is busy, yo.
Winter Capsule Wardrobe
Out of all of the capsules I did this year during capsule wardrobe project (by Fall I ended up blending winter & spring) this one was one of my favorites. I found a lot of my basic outfits in this capsule. It really helped me fine tune what my style is.
This week, I am going through my closet to pair down my wardrobe even more. There are too many things taking up room in my closet that I will probably never wear again. This time of year makes me want to purge everything! I love it.
Turmeric Latte
One of my most popular beverage posts this year. This turmeric latte is a great afternoon pick-me-up. Turmeric is good for inflammation— which is something I realized that happens to me (as well as bloating) when I eat too many carbs. Getting older is really fun.
Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Who doesn’t love a quick easy baked spaghetti recipe? It’s all about that crispy/gooey mozzarella cheese. You know what’s up.
2016 Spring Capsule
This capsule made me realize that I have to have purple/blues in my wardrobe. I love a pop of green too. It’s a color scheme that makes me happy and people compliment me when I wear those particular colors. So, that’s cool!
I learned that I can’t trust that I will like trending season color story, so it’s best for me to collect the things I like- in the colors I want and make up my own wardrobe. Trendsetter, I’m not. I just want to be comfortable. I don’t want to waste time figuring out what I’m wearing because I know whatever I have in my closet works well together for me. That’s my style now.
Grain Free Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal
Something I loved to eat for breakfast/snack while on the Whole30.
Spinach Egg Breakfast Sandwich
For healthy breakfast on the go…or not on the go! Behold! The spinach egg breakfast sandwich.
Pecan Topped Sweet Potatoes
After 10 years of holding out on you, I finally shared what I make on every one of our Thanksgivings– this pecan topped sweet potato situation. My Aunt & Uncle used to make it when I was young and I’ve carried on the tradition. I’m working on my Thanksgiving menu here on Shutterbean slooooowly. It took me 7 years to give you my Creamed Spinach. Maybe next year I’ll show you how I make my turkey?
The Best Writing Pens – and part 2!
2016 was the year that I showed the internet what a huge pen nerd I am. In the process, I found so many other people like me so THANK YOU. Thank you for being proud of loving pens. You are awesome. In 2017, I am going to try to put something magical together…hopefully with pens. I’ll keep you posted.
Closet Organization
In 2016, I brought back some of my High Straightenance posts (thanks to my partnership with Seventh Generation!). I also did my laundry room and linen closet. I’m happy to say that I’ve kept up with all of these spaces. I have some closet cleaning to do this January, but other than that we’re good to go. Anything you wanna see in 2017? Let me know!
Tex-Mex Breakfast Casserole
Anything breakfast-y with HASH BROWNS and the internet loves it.
I love you, the internet.
Meal Prep in action!
This year was a little weird as far as meal prep goes. I spent most of the year shooting & styling the recipes for One Potato, so my weekly grocery routine was thrown way off. Most of our meals involved leftovers of some of the meals I made or something pieced together with leftover ingredients. On a shoot day, I would be making 3-4 recipes, so I always had ingredients overflowing in my fridge. My fridge was in flux most of the year, but the process made me think A LOT about what makes a really good simple weeknight dinner. It was such a good learning experience.
The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich
Hash browns instead of bread. Internet = broken
Tie Dye with Bleach
This post ignited my love for making art. I felt like a scientist in my bathroom and it was soooooo nice to step away from the kitchen a bit. Some of you tried tie-dying with bleach and sent me pictures of your results. Let’s do more art in 2017, K??
Kitchen Spring Cleaning
One of my goals is to teach Home Ec. Did you know that? This post was a good reminder of all I already know and some of what I’d like to teach. Taking care of your kitchen/appliances is super important!
Turkey White Bean Chili
Oh yes. I am totally putting this one into our rotation this Winter.
Chopped Salad with Spiced Chickpeas
Such a pretty salad. So good for all the vegetarians out there too! The spiced chickpeas are hearty. They make the salad.
Easy Chilaquiles
This recipe should be in your back pocket if it isn’t already.
Pigs in Blankets
Because we’re grown-ups who love to eat kid food.
No-Knead Cloverleaf Rolls
Game changer recipe. I loved how many of you tagged me in photos on Instagram (@shutterbean #shutterbeanrecipes) of these rolls. These rolls were on the tables of a lot of your holiday dinners and that made me so dang happy.
Habit Forming
Habits! I talked about habits. I created a lot of good habits this year and got rid of quite a few. In 2017, I want to work on mapping out my daily routine in a healthier/more productive way. Let’s figure that out together!
Grapefruit Yogurt Cake
2016 was the year that I embraced grapefruit. You like it too. Yay grapefruit.
Toast 12 Ways
I worked on this post with my favorite bread company- Dave’s Killer Bread. I first had their bread when I was up in Oregon for college and when I was approached to work with them I was like SHUT UP! NO WAY.
Now I am just hoping that I can find a Sin Dawg somewhere in CA soon…..
Egg Pesto Pizza
Such a fun/quick recipe for a weeknight meal or a quick breakfast.
Citrus Smoothie Bowls
One of the prettiest smoothie bowls I’ve made! Perfect for winter when it’s citrus season.
Cold Sesame Noodles
This is a weeknight staple for a lot of you. YAAAAAAAAAAY!
Kitchen Makeover
Transforming my kitchen was one my favorite highlights this year. It made SUCH a difference. Mostly, I just feel more comfortable working in a space that makes me sooooo happy. We’re currently working on our bedroom now. I’ll share some photos soon.
Hash Brown Omelet
This one came from the Whole 30 time period. I told you, HASH BROWNS.
I’m starting to think that 2016 was the year of the hash brown, house stuff & Whole 30.
2015 was all about simple weeknight dinners, traveling & kombucha.
2014 was the year of Meal Prep & lemon chicken.
In 2013, all of my recipes had horizontal images because Pinterest didn’t dominate the internet yet!
What will 2017 bring??
