Top 10 Posts of 2016

Happy 2017!  Can I just say that I am so glad 2016 is over?  I know people say that you can always start fresh at the beginning of each day but there is just something that feels so tangible about a new year and what it represents. 

With that being said, I had a lot of great things that happened in 2016.  One of my favorites was my blog re-launch back in October.  Sunshine & Munchkins got a whole new look thanks to my friend Audrey from Miss Audrey Sue Designs.  Seriously, she is incredible.  I also celebrated my one year blogiversary, which was pretty exciting.  I'm looking forward to another year of blogging and hopefully providing you with some fun content that is useful and uplifting.  At the end of this post, you'll find a link to my 2017 reader survey where you can share your thoughts and give me some feedback.  I would be so grateful if you took it!

And now, I get to share with you the top 10 posts of 2016! (You can read the original post by clicking on the title.)

#10: Fall Home Tour 

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the changing leaves and the cooler weather.  I had the opportunity to work with At Home stores and do a blog hop with some amazingly talented ladies.  I like to decorate my home, but I definitely wouldn't call myself a professional, so I was thrilled with the feedback I got and all the kind comments.  You can see how I decorated my home (specifically the front porch and living room) by clicking HERE or on the title above.

#9: 9 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Going to Disneyland

It's been over a year since my family and I first visited Disneyland and we are all itching to go back again.  (Fingers crossed we get to go this fall!)  I'd been to Disneyland before but this was the first time I was the one planning the trip.  As much research as I did, there were still some things I wish I'd known and will definitely be applying the next time we go.  (As a side note, Disneyland On Any Budget by Jessica Sanders from The Happiest Blog on Earth is a great resource that I wish I'd known about but only recently found.)

#8: Beautiful, Affordable Special Occasion Dresses 

You know how there are times when you happen upon a company that you didn't know about at the time but just love the more you learn about them and buy their products?  That's exactly how I feel about NeeSee's Dresses.  Being tall, I have a hard time finding dresses that are long enough, but that is never a problem with NeeSee's.  They carry the most beautiful dresses, as well as other clothing and accessories.

#7: Mod Podge Notebook

This is such a fun and simple project!  I first used mod podge about 8 years ago and have been hooked ever since.  These notebooks are so inexpensive to make and can be used for so many different things: to-do lists, goal tracking, notes, passing notes/letters between parent and child, gifts, etc.  And they are so easy to personalize because the options for scrapbook paper are endless!

#6: Keeping Kids Busy While Waiting In Line at Disneyland

Another great Disneyland post that was popular last year.  No matter who you are, waiting in a long line can be frustrating, especially at a place like Disneyland!  I share some simple but easy and effective ways to keep your kids busy while waiting in line at Disneyland or any other theme park you visit.

#5: The Worst Marriage Advice I Ever Received

I was thinking back one night on my wedding and the different advice I received.  I remembered one bit of advice given lovingly by an older relative and in my head I thought: That is the worst advice I've ever heard!  And that is how this post was born.  Find out what it was and what I tell couples instead.

#4: Crock Pot Pork Roast

I love my crock pot.  In fact, I have three of them and I use all of them, sometimes all at once!  My favorite meals are those that taste like they took forever to make but are easy.  This crock pot pork roast is perfect for both weeknight and weekend dinners, plus it's less expensive than beef roasts.

#3: Parmesan Chicken

This recipe is actually my second most pinned post from my blog!  It is easy, flavorful and so moist.  I love making it any night of the week and my family literally devours it.  Any leftovers are quickly eaten the next day heated up or sliced cold and eaten on top of a salad.  Trust me, you need this recipe in your life.

#2: How to Use Flocked Heat Transfer Vinyl  

I've mentioned before how much I love my Silhouette Cameo machine.  I use it all the time for craft projects, home decor, scrapbooking, card making, etc.  It's so versatile!  Earlier this year, I purchased a starter kit for heat transfer vinyl and decided to try making a shirt for myself.  This post is for those who are new to heat transfer vinyl and want a very thorough step-by-step tutorial on how to use flocked heat transfer vinyl.  (I also did a tutorial on how to use smooth heat transfer vinyl, which you can find HERE.)  Also, this is the most pinned post from my blog and was even picked up and repinned by the official Silhouette Pinterest page!

And the #1 post from 2016....

#1: 23 Thanksgiving Coloring and Activity Pages  

I'll be totally honest, I was shocked when I was running my numbers for this post and this is the one that came out on top.  It was included in at least one round up that I know of, which is partially why I think it picked up so much traction.  But also, it's an awesome post!  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year, but it can be a little tiring, especially for little people who need to be distracted while the food is being prepared.  This post originally went up in November 2015 and for the last couple of years, I've just printed off a bunch of these pictures and taken them with me wherever we were going with some crayons and colored pencils.  Some of the adults, myself included, even grabbed a copy and got in touch with their inner child. *wink*  It's been fun to see how my kids coloring has improved over the last couple of years and I always keep one or two from the year in my Book of Thanks to look back on.

So there you have it: 10 posts from 2016 that were the most popular to you--my readers!  And I just want to stay thank you again for your support of me and my blog.  I enjoy writing and sharing my posts but it makes it so much more meaningful to me knowing that you read it and (hopefully) get something out of it. *wink*

And here is the link to the reader survey I mentioned at the beginning of this post.  Your responses are valuable to me and I would be so grateful if you took it.  Thank you so much and I wish you the best in this new year!