My word. This year is half over. I thought it would be fun for me to write a big long post all about Nesting Place, the blog -- kind of like a State of the Nest Address.
Best of the Nest {so far this year}
If you are new here, you might want to check out some of the most well read posts from the last six months:
10 Minutes to a Room You'll Love :: A series where we talked about super quick easy fixes for the family room, master bedroom, bathroom and the kitchen.
Staging Your Home for Sale :: Another series that Remodeling Guy and I did together all about home staging, a must read if you are putting your house on the market.
How to Tablescape With What You Already Have was one one of those posts that I need to go back and reread and follow. It's amazing how smart those real designers are!
And who could forget Lampapalooza?
One of my personal favorites :: 10 Ways to Avoid Having a Home You'll Love
And, if you didn't get your free ebook, click here.
Top 20 Referrers for the first 6 months of 2009:
Over 50% of Nesting Place visitors come from other blogs. Thank you all so much for taking the time to link to the Nest!
- Kimba
- Melissa
- Layla
- Emily
- Angie
- Kelly
- Shannon
- Sophie
- Rhoda
- Edie
- Melissa
- Meredith
- Tsh
- Chris
- Melanie {I'm currently listening to her music}
- ANNICOLE
- Tim
- Pretty Organizer
- Wendy
- Kristen
Still to Come
Want to know what you can look forward to for the rest of the year? I hardly am one to plan out blogging like some organized people but, I've got a vague idea.
I figure, why come up with my own ideas when I can just copy Problogger? We'll walk/fly? through 31 days of nest dressing ideas in August. Or some other month that has 31 days.
Price My Space coming July 13th start thinking of what stuff you want to tell us about.
Some other highlights:
- more mistreatments
- how to have a swap meet
- fresh new, amazing tassels
- vlogging
- giveaways
Like it here? You are in good company! Nesting Place is closing in on 2 million page views so far for 2009! Want your blog reading to be made easier? You can subscribe to Nesting Place and all your favorite blogs in a reader. Just click on the subscribe button up there in the top right sidebar or right under this paragraph.
Your Turn
Tell me, what do you want to read more about? What do you want to read less about? Is there a topic you wish we would cover? Feel free to repeat the same thing that someone else says that way I'll know that lots of people feel the same way.
And thank you, so much for reading. I just love hanging out here at the Nest with you. If you weren't here it would just be me, by myself talking way too much.
48 birds say {click here to leave a comment}:
I want to read more about you and your big self. Can you show us what's in your fridge? Under your bed? Behind your dressers?
kidding. But really...congrats on a fun year so far and I can't wait for 31 days of praise..I mean dressing my nest.
Emily's comment was a hoot! I just love popping over to see what you've thought of next!! I still want you to meet me at the fabric place on the way to She Speaks in a couple of weeks!! Seriously! I need fabric for my study and am just overwhelmed!
Hop over if you get a minute. I'm celebrating my 100th post with a give-away!!
Hugs,
susan
Congrats on 2 million page views! That's amazing!! :) I love reading about the ways you find to decorate using things you already have. I love the photos you post, particularly when you do a tutorial showing each step. Maybe some posts on holiday traditions as the time gets closer? (I hopped on board here after the holidays, so you may have already done some posts on these)
It amazes me that you have SO MUCH to share about. I sometimes have to DREAM UP stuff to blog about! I guess that's why YOU have 2 million reads so far and I've got twenty two or so!! :) I know I'll be back for more, regardless of what you are saying....ooooh, the 31 days to a better dressed nest sounds intriguing as does the price your nest, too! Keep up the fantastic work!
Suzanne
Congrats on the upcoming 2 mil! So exciting, I know! :)
I am decoratingly challenged ;) so I just love seeing all that you do...definitely very encouraging & inspiring...one of these days, my house just might get there!
Thanks! and have a great holiday!!
I stop by daily and I have loved all of your 'best' from the first half of the year and look forward to the rest. Keep being your genuine funny self and doing what you do and I'll be 'here'.
What a fun post! I love reading your blog. Looking forward to reading the next six months of posts.
2 million page views? Holy cow! That is impressive. I think my head would explode if I got half that many page views (note to self, be more interesting).
And I think Emily makes some wonderful suggestions! I'd LOVE to see what's under your bed. Are your drawers organized? If so, how do you do it? How do you keep them that way? How do you keep the clutter from bogging you down?
I'd like to see more how-to's. More thriftiness and more...well, everything.
Also, I'm terribly upset that I'm not one of your top 20 mentioners. Those other peeps must have mentioned you a ton because I mention you a lot.
I love your tutorials. Seeing what you can do with things is so inspiring, it gives me another point of view on what to do with my own things. I'm loving the tools series, and can't wait for the next installment.
It's Mary Jo's fabrics!! I had a senior moment!!Sorry!
Hugs!
I want another mistreatment party!
Other than that - I love everything you do. Keep it coming!
Wow - you have quite a plan here! I need to catch up and read those posts you pointed out. You always have such interesting posts and your pictures are great. Looking forward to your second half of the year! Happy 4th!
There's a reason you have 2 million views, and I sure hope you keep blogging for a loooong time. You're definitely an inspiration, and it looks like you've got some fun things in store for us! Can't wait!
I just read through "top ten ways to not have a home you love" and I have to say it was VERY moving, especially the lady who finally was able to hang pictures in her new home only after her husband had passed away.
I'm taking those lessons to heart, and I think I might actually have to print that one out and go over it every day!
Nester, you are just a lovely person!
Wow, such an amazing 2009 you're having :)!!! Congratulations!
I personally would love to see more of how you're using what you had in new ways in your new home. This may be a little bit selfish on part, since I'm moving in a couple of weeks ;), but I always get a little sad when I move and things that worked together perfectly in the old home just don't work in the new home. It can be totally fun to decorate a new place, especially for a OCD (Obsessively & Continually Decorating) person like myself but also a little frustrating figuring how to use things in new places and new ways.
All that to say :) that a tour of things in your new place & how you use the things you have in new ways would be very inspirational!!
Blessings,
Stacey
Wow, you've had quite a stellar year so far! Congrats on all of your success, and reaching 2-million views in only 6 months. Woo-hoo! You're really rockin' the Internet. It's always fun to see what creative thing you'll come up with next.
Hope you & fam have a fab 4th! :-)
Thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas...what an inspiration you are to so many of us out here in blog world! My friend at Adcock Circus told me about you and I have been hooked ever since. OK...when are you going to have the swap party? I will be there!
I want to read more about making what you have into what you want... like my faded couches that I can't replace. Should I buy slipcovers? Is it something I could make easily with my limited sewing know how? Should I paint it (lol)?
Also, more on having an eye for what looks 'right'- maybe a series on how to decide what stays and what goes in a room? I seem to either have things be too bare or too cluttered... so hard to hit the in between of decorated and not overdecorated!
Love your blog!
I have an almost irresistible urge to dance around while singing, "I'm number 1! I'm number 1!" But I won't, cause that would be very self-centered.
Instead, I'll dance around singing, "Melissa's number 2! Melissa's number 2!" {snort}
I adore you, girl! You could totally write about what's under you bed (and maybe you should!) and I would read it and love it.
Whenever people ask me how I've grown my blog, I give them two reasons...
#1 - The unintentionally brilliant move of starting my blog name with "A", which puts me at the top of most people's blogrolls.
#2 - The Nester!
That is all.
Kimba
P.S. - If someone starts a blog called AAA Soft Place to Land now, I'm going to hunt them down. ***mwah!***
I really love reading your ideas on decorating on a budget. Re-using the things you have. Love your window mistreatment ideas too!
I love easy, practical, affordable, and realistic ideas...which, you do a great job with!
I recently found your blog and love it! Can't wait for Price My Space!
Jane
Well, now I have a goal for the next six months. I WANT to be a Top 20 "nester mentioner." :)
I can't wait to hear about how your "feathering" your new house!
It's unbelievable the year is half gone. I had so much planned and yet....
I am new to your blog and I must say I am loving every bit of it! My goal for the next couple of weeks is to actually try the imperfect window treatments. Why not?! You make everything seem so simple and inspiring. Hopefully I'll link back to you in a few weeks with my own update to show you that I did it!
Kimba,
I'm going to start a new blog "A Big Soft Place to Land" LOL That'll get me at the top of the blogroll. ;-)
Nester,
2 million page views? GoodNESS girl! That's impressive. But we can totally see why. I know I'm back here looking every day. What would I love to see more of? I like the thrifty and free decorating advice. I'd love to see more posts on arranging furnitures, ways to get more use out of our rooms, ways to make rental houses seem homey when we can't add all the custom touches we wish we could, how to make pretty spots--tablescapes, etc. What to hang on my walls when I can't afford art. You know--that stuff you've been doing all along! I feel like the rest of this year is going to be tons of fun because you just got a fresh new house to set up your stuff in and I'd love to learn from that. We're moving in two weeks to our next rental and I'm looking for more inspiration.
You always have great ideas to share and you have a great sense of humor. I would love to see more window mistreatments and I am looking forward to the follow up on your fabric post that you did recently as well as the 31 days of dressing your nest.
I love every post you have done!! Always fun and informative, a great marriage!! We'll take whatever you throw at us!
I really like your ideas, and everything you post usually hits me right where I'm at. My favorite though was when you had the garland fall from the fireplace mantel...I thought to myself "man I like this girl!" Big smile. Seriously, it is so helpful when you show how to do a tablescape, small or large with things you have using visual height, or items you/we have just never thought of. Doing coffee tables, or tops of pianos, mantels...etc. We all have furniture it is just the extras that we need help with!
Thanks
Debbie
I found your blog a year ago and have been a loyal reader ever since! I love all you do!! You are always inspiring, informative, and encouraging. And you make me laugh. You have some great ideas for future posts -- I can't wait to see them! Blessings!!
Whew. I just got done reading the "staging" posts that you suggested. And well... Just like a lot of people, our family is moving, and we need to sell our home. It's been such a frustrating journey. And we don't even HAVE it on the market yet. LOL. (that happens today... or Monday) The prep is killing me! I'm lucky, that I'm an organized person, naturally, and HATE clutter, but it's still the nagging worry that "everyone" won't love my house, like I do! lol. I know it's silly, but I think it happens, more often than not. Is my house too dark? Is the decor okay? Should I repaint that wall, a different color?! lol
Reading these posts, really put me at ease. I am going to try to be SUPER positive about the whole experience, even though I know it's hard! Thanks for all the advice. It really has helped.
Shelley
I would love to see a "Bookcase Party" -- ways to decorate your bookcases with decorative items in addition to books! I always enjoy seeing those type articles in decorating magazines. We are getting ready to do a sunroom addition and I'd also love to see how others decorate their sunrooms. Love your blog and all that you do!
Well first off, I love your blog. LOVE. Your style and mine are almost 100% identical. When I first saw a picture of one of your living rooms, I gasped, because I thought I was looking at my own.
My suggestions are more before and after projects. I love seeing anything you do not only in your house(s), but even if it was done in another's house with your guidance. It could be your sister's house, a relative, etc. (I only suggest using someone elses's house because sooner or later, I am sure your house is done, ya know?)
Painting cabinets was a huge hit among my friends. The tutorials are excellent. Other before and after suggestions could be: The garage, the garage door, the patio or porch, the front door, holiday decorating, organizing in the home, closets and possibly kitchens and bathrooms. I assume your could be limited in your projects due to your own house possibly being very new and already perfectly nice and also renting, so that is also why I suggested possibly using a buddie's house for permanent before and afters (like painting cabinets or changing out old flooring).
Keep doing what you do. You have a keen eye for balance and an amazing sense of style. I am so humbled by your abilities to not only complete project after project, but also to home school 3 adorable boys!
I just love your blog. Whenever I am thinking about something you start blogging about it - it is like you have esp!
I have loved when you go to Emily's house and fix up stuff with her. It is a different house with differet needs and slightly different taste. So that is always interesting. I'd love to hear your opinion on projects - should we start one room and finish it or have multiple projects going on at one time?? Because I feel like EVERY room in my house is ALWAYS semi-under construction! Is that normal??
*Silly Side note* - sometimes I get really curious as to what your unique first name is. But then I think if I knew it... it would ruin it.... just so you know, Nester!
What a great half year so far!Jen
Love your humor, realness, spunkiness, and ALL THE POSTS. That's why we all love The Nester.
Love it ALL!
xo
Just keep doing what you're doing, being you and we will all be here...every single day! Congrats on 2 million views...that is amazing!
I am waiting on pins and needles to read what you have to say about having a swap meet. I have been talking it up to my friends that I am going to host one...but I don't know where to start. I need some Nesterization!
~Amanda
I want to see more of your new place and the process of it getting "nesterized". I like linky parties and I like to hear about "shopping your house". I like when you encourage us. Kelly
How about mistreating an upholstered piece of furniture? (recovering it)
Hey - thanks Nestergirl. I'm excited to see what new goodies you have to come. Have a great Fourth!
Oh...and I agree with Stacey that I never get tired of seeing how you reuse things in your own home. And really, I NEVER get tired of seeing your home. I'd also love to see more about demystifying the art of accessorizing. I loved your post on tablescapes...it really helped break things down for me.
#11?? Cuz I copy everything you do and link back? :)
Cannot wait for all of your future posts~look at you all planned out~you have it so together!
For me, I love seeing pictures of your completed rooms and tablescapes, and what you put over your kitchen sink... I just absorb what you put on the walls, how you accessorized, where you placed furniture, all of it! Like the picture of your kitchen/dining/family room of your beloved old home when you put the wood floors in? I have that in my inspiration binder because I love how you pulled it all together. I think you have a style that so many people can relate to because it's not too extreme of anything, and you're not scared to try to mix things up, and then you give us permission to do the same because we see how fab it turned out..oh goodness, why did I just write a novel when I could just say keep the pictures coming, but it's late and I ramble...Happy Independence Day!
We've been out of town and I've missed not having a computer.
You've been a busy gal!
I'm looking forward to the 31 days of Nester. woo hoo!
love ya!
I love reading your blog. We just moved into our first real home after jumping from apt to apt for years. I feel settled and have gotten so many ideas from this blog.
I want to know how to decorate with four busy little hands pulling everything down after you put it up. In other words how to make our house look great with a few kids under 4 yrs old who like to play with all my new treasures.
I love the window mistreatments and garage sale finds.
I can't imagine my 'online' life without you. You are inspiring and genuine and without a doubt, the best it gets in 'real' moms using their gifts to be a blessing to others. I am so thankful for you. SO glad I got to hug you and meet you in person.
And completely flabbergasted at how I made that list, with all those amazing mom bloggers.
I love ya and am praying for you. Wish I could hear you at She Speaks, but I'll be there in spirit!
love your blog-it is fabulous. Can you do a blog post on painting cabinets? i would love to see more about painting cabinets and also more about going outside of the typical black and white paint.
I just found your blog, and this post was such a helpful introduction! I love the staging your house series. There are some great tips for making a house more beautiful, even if you are not moving. I look forward to reading more!
it blows me away that you have 2 million readers! amazing what you have done in such a short time. you are an inspiration!
Oh I would love to see more window mistreatments! I'm a person who needs visuals. Maybe if you could choose some different shapes/styles of windows and show us how best to clothe and beautify them in the most imperfect way!
Melissa/chik, NOT 2 million READERS, 2 million hits or page views. STill lots but some people might look at 10 pages so, not quite as impressive...
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