It was worth it though!.

Here are the top 5 favorites from this year, according to our readers.. How to paint absolutely perfect wall stripes (from September).The no-brainer no math molding trick (from August).

Our favorite speedy deck staining trick (from July).How to paint old wall paneling (from September).How to change out a light fixture (from June).

Wow, I never noticed it before, but it looks like we really picked up speed with the DIY projects in the last half of the year.I hope you enjoyed looking back over some of the best posts of the last year with me.

More “best of” categories will be coming up later this week!As the big day gets closer and the pressure seems to be on to have the most perfect Christmas, sometimes a classic quote can be just the right medicine to put everything into perspective and really remind us of what’s important.

Plus, I just love a good quote or 20, don’t you?We’ll be sanding and staining again anyway.. And then we started ripping out walls.. Our master bedroom is an addition so behind the entrance wall is the original brick exterior wall.

Well, how cool would that be to expose it and get to see that everyday?.Answer: Pretty cool.. It’s going to take a lot of work.

They pretty much went crazy with the demolition of the wall for the doorway, so lots of insulation and thick moldings will be needed, but I think I’ll somehow manage.. On a completely different note, I’ve been doing some baking, as have a lot of us I’m sure.. Last year I found myself wanting a “signature” fall recipe that I could make for my family that would just feel like home.I think I found it this year in a recipe for apple spice cake from Martha..