Year in Review: 2013
Gotta tell ya, I liked 2013. Not for the politics or the movies (were there movies?) or the nice weather, but because it’s been a good year for us, personally, in Knuckle-Salad-land. Of course, 2013 has also been a little light on new projects, partly because there’s been so much going on—and because part of those goings-on involved over six months without a working kitchen in our new home. But I can’t complain, I don’t want to complain, and I’m looking forward to ringing in an equally busy, exciting 2014 (but with more new projects)!
This being the last day of the year forever, it seems like a good time to take a look back and see what we’ve made together.
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This year, we tried a bunch of recipes, big and small…
Recipes
- Le Dense French Muffin
- Southern Comfcakes (with honey cream cheese frosting)
- Baked Quinoa with Shrimp and Veggies
- Doesn’t matter, had salad
- Grilled Mac ‘n Cheese
- Thought You Should Know (TYSK): No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Grilled Avocados with Surimi Salad
- Vodka Speculoos: The Cocktail that Tastes Like Biscoff
- Grilled Apples with Cinnamon Sugar
- Butternut Squash Stuffing
- Postre de Gingersnaps
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We made some new stuff (mostly for our homes, since SOME OF US moved to a new place this year)…
Crafts & Decor Projects
- Falcons points! A shrink plastic text necklace tutorial
- A vintage end table restored
- Illumination Challenge // This project is one of my very favorite moments of the year, not only because I adore the way it looks in our little dining room, but because some of you sent in photos of your own beautiful results after following this tutorial, and it made my heart and our home that much warmer. You guys are awesome.
- Bottle Tops: Our quick bar makeover, with printable liquor bottle labels
- Stool Legit
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We played some games, tried some vintage recipes, and admired a lot of other people’s handiwork…
Features, Roundups & Other Fun Stuff
- Munch Madness 2013
- Your Share 1943: Stretching Meat
- Yankee Doodle Do or Die: A Vast Independence Day Roundup
- To the Nines: Fine, summer is ending, FINE
- To the Nines: The day of thanks looms heavy
- To the Nines: On a Stick
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And of course we have this year’s splendid guest bloggers to thank for many of the fun times we had whilst between kitchens. Kate, Monica, Jason and Miellyn, thanks for sharing these great projects!
Amazing Guest Posts
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Plus, as long as we’re looking wistfully over our shoulders as 2013 grows smaller in the distance, here are the top ten things I tweeted this year, according to mytoptweet.com:
The other day I realized for the first time that spoken w an English accent, "Eeyore" sounds like the noise a donkey makes. Changed my life.
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) September 21, 2013
HOW TO CONFUSE YOURSELF USING YOUR LAPTOP: Forego external mouse. Place phone beside laptop. Leave; return; slide phone around desk. Repeat.
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) September 17, 2013
It's fun that the NY Times staff sniffs out and publishes the paper's best accidental haikus. http://t.co/ylmbH5EVlz
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) April 12, 2013
Oops, I just emailed "Roger that" to a colleague in England without thinking. Should I be embarrassed?
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) March 4, 2013
Pacific Rim, basically, right? No? http://t.co/7w4gJhNb5q
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) July 27, 2013
Aw man, nobody told me today was National Be a Dork Day! I mean, sure, I pretty much observed it, but I could've observed it ON PURPOSE.
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) July 16, 2013
Do deaf people sign songs around the campfire? Because I'm pretty sure dyslexic people do.
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) October 3, 2013
The Final Four is on and all I can see is Ketchup vs. Mustard.
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) April 7, 2013
Just discovered that line in Dylan's Mr.Tambourine Man is not "my weeness amazes me" or even "my wenis" but "my weariness." So disappointed.
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) November 18, 2013
Got stuck on the last clue of the crossword because I couldn't think of a desert in Spain. But the paper was wrinkled. The answer was flan.
— Kristina Ackerman (@knuckle_salad) November 15, 2013
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So! Thanks for spending 2013 with Knuckle Salad. A lot has changed this year, and even more will change in the year to come. I’m looking forward to sharing it with all of you through pictures and projects, and I wish you all a very happy new year!
