Cassie Bustamante

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Cassie Bustamante: A Year in Review

December 30, 2016 by Cassie 26 Comments

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It’s that time of the year… as the hours, minutes, and seconds start counting down, it’s time to take a moment to reflect on the past year.  This blog and my life went through some big changes this past year, and I am excited to once again have more time for projects in 2017!  I didn’t accomplish as much as I would have liked this past year, but I still managed to get some things done. 😉 In no particular order, I am going to highlight some of the projects and major moments we’ve had here at Cassie Bustamante: A Year in Review.  (Also, you might recall that this blog started out 2016 as Primitive & Proper!)

Projects

Our master bedroom became a neutral white and wood modern boho bedroom and remains mostly this way today, minus some bedding tweaks.PinIn the Spring, I shared our guest room with office reveal.Pin

And just months later, this room did a complete 180 as we reinvented it into Emmy’s new Mexican boho bedroom.  If you look closely, you’ll actually notice some of the same pieces.

Mexican Boho Girls RoomPinSawyer’s room was full of potential, but we just failed at finishing… we did, however, update ceiling fans in our bedrooms, including his!PinMy favorite project, and one of yours as well this year, was our DIY chicken coop.  The delicious eggs have been worth the hours it took us to build.Pin

I didn’t do as much furniture as I typically have in the past, but a lot of that was due to how busy work kept me.  There were often projects I completed in the nick of time for the shop, but never got to properly photograph. These are a few that I did manage to shoot that I loved.

This mint dresser was so sweet and went home to a couple with an adorable little baby girl.PinAnd this coastal blue midcentury dresser was my personal favorite from the year.  I loved the lines, and those long legs!PinThis book case with DIY sliding dry erase doors is in Emmy’s room and she loves to draw on it.  Santa brought her some new dry erase markers, so she’s been going to town!

Happy EmmyPinAnd lastly, this Serena & Lily inspired wood slice table is a favorite to date… rustic modern simplicity.DIY Dipped Wood StoolPin

My littlest big project this year was Dollhouse Therapy, which I ran with a few other bloggers.  Emmy and I designed and recreated this vintage dollhouse and had a great time together in the process.

Pin

Life

Aaaah, the life section… well, life surely has a way of taking its unexpected twists and turns.  I began 2016 with a fresh start for Sweet Clover, the store I owned.  We were in great need of a fresh start after going through some hard times.

PinBy early Summer, things were still going well, but I can honestly tell you that Sarah (my partner) and I were still not 100 percent feeling it.  I shared a tour of the whole shebang here.PinFinally, this past fall, it was time to admit that although we loved what we had created at Sweet Clover, we didn’t see it as part of our 10 year plan… not even our 5 year plan.  And we made the big decision to sell our store.  (PS- happy to report Sarah remains one of my very best friends… I am sure when any female-led business ends, there’s speculation, so just wanted you to know there was no drama in our case!)  You can read all about that decision here, but as I write this post a few months later, I have had no regrets.  I am so happy with that decision and excited about more time with my family, and more time to work on home projects.  I don’t miss it at all, so I know it was the right choice for me.  Ironically, a few of my blog friends have made the same decision this year and for the same reasons…. store ownership is all consuming, and it’s just not the life I wanted for my family.

 

Miscellaneous

I began the year strong with my book reviews, but fell off the wagon!  I have still been reading, just not sharing as much.  What do you think?  Shall I bring back the reviews for 2017?  My favorite books of the year were In Falling Snow (full review here) and The Winter People (full review here).

(Click on the image to be taken to the book on Amazon- affiliate links)

Pin
PinYou guys always love hearing from this guy, for some reason…

Chris and kidsPin

In a survey, you guys let me know you don’t really like having recipes posted here.  However, this clean eating pumpkin pie smoothie bowl is one of my most shared links, and I still eat it often, so it’s worth including in this post!

Clean Eating Pumpkin Pie Smoothie BowlPinYou guys really enjoyed this post sharing my bohemian style fall porch and brunch setting as well.

Bohemian Porch EntryPinAnd I always love ending each year with the Christmas tours…. Filling the house with magic and natural beauty…. nothing like it!Wreath with DreamcatcherPin

Well how was that for a hodge podge of a review?  Can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2017!  Any big celebratory plans this weekend?  I have big HUGE plans.  And by that I mean wearing my flannel pj pants, a hoodie, no bra, and eating sushi on my couch, while watching Dick Clark’s Rockin’ NYE with the family.  Party animal over here!

Sharing at TDC Best of 2016.

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Comments

  1. Regina says

    December 30, 2016 at 10:28 am

    Yes, please continue with book reviews. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 30, 2016 at 12:13 pm

      good to know! thank you!

      Reply
  2. Calypso in the Country says

    December 30, 2016 at 10:49 am

    Great year, Cassie! I always love your creativity and use of color. I was the same way with book reviews this year. I started out strong and then I began reading Gone with the Wind in the fall…and I am still reading it! It’s over 900 pages but I am loving it more than I expected. It’s just so big to lug around that the only time I end up reading is at bed time. Our New Year’s Eve is the typical low-key annual event – hang out with the neighbors and kids. It’s been years since we headed into the city to celebrate – and I am totally fine wth that!
    Cheers!
    Shelley

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 30, 2016 at 12:12 pm

      ooooh that is good to know! i have THOUGHT about revisiting GWTW… one day. 😉 happy new year!

      Reply
  3. Emy says

    December 30, 2016 at 11:00 am

    Sounds like a great way to end the year! Mine will be spent in a similar fashion if I have not succumbed to the plague by then. 😉 Happy New year! Can’t wait to see what this year brings!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 30, 2016 at 12:11 pm

      oh no! i hope you stay healthy so you can eat all the bad things before it’s too late!

      Reply
  4. Brenda Kula-Pruitt says

    December 30, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    I have so enjoyed getting to know you this past year! I love your style and your voice. I also happen to love book reviews because I love reading. I never do anything on New Year’s Eve, so I’ll be doing what I always do. Nothing much! Here’s to blogging and blogging friendships and a whole new year!
    Brenda

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:14 am

      same to you, brenda! i am so glad we’ve met and appreciate your friendship and support and your realism.

      Reply
  5. Julia@Cuckoo4Design says

    December 30, 2016 at 10:12 pm

    Ob my gosh the dollhouse was one of my favorites so fun! And Lilly still wants to make her own too.
    You had an amazing year too my friend and I’m so glad you freed up some time now because you aren’t a store owner anymore.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:13 am

      i know! it was a blast!!! we have a few still to work on but right now i just need to clean out some stuff! 😉 you had an amazing year- i am always in awe of your creative mind.

      Reply
  6. JaneEllen says

    December 31, 2016 at 1:40 am

    Glad you decided to spend more time at home. Your kids are only young once, in formative years, altho they might not have complained about not having enuf of their Mom, they’re most likely happy with having more of their Mom and your Hubs with more of his wife.
    Love your blog and getting to know you, really enjoy online friendships, learn so much about other women, how they think, deal with life, new generation. Our youngest daughter, 46, shows me a lot of what generation is about, not making mistakes or sacrifices my generation were made to feel we had to and keep quiet about. I was always made to feel guilty about anything I did for me. My generation has been called sandwich generation as we’re smack in middle of parents ideas and new ideas from generation after mine.
    Am so lucky to have sons who noticed things, what kind of Mother I tried to be regardless of strictures posed by parents generation. My oldest son and I talk a great deal about kids growing up, how I was. 3 oldest kids (from 1st. marriage) are 52, 54, and 56. Youngest daughter from 2nd. husband. Two in middle are sons, oldest and youngest are girls/women.
    The older you get, longer you’re married, the more you learn about being wife, Mom, friend, human being etc. Will go thru several stages of your life which are meant to teach you things about being what kind of a human you want to be. Enjoy your wonderful family, only get one chance. Happy New Year.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:12 am

      thank you so much, jane ellen! i always appreciate your kindness and support! happy new year to you and your family!

      Reply
  7. Kirby says

    December 31, 2016 at 6:35 am

    My plans are similar for this evening. Great roundup!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:11 am

      i fell asleep around 9:40 pm… ha! i woke up and it was 10:30 so i just marched my rear up to bed and said good night, happy new year! chris and emmy also fell asleep and sawyer made it past midnight. he’s pretty much the teenager around here.

      Reply
  8. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    December 31, 2016 at 9:24 am

    That is my kind of New Years Eve celebration! Another awesome year, Cassie! I’m always blown away by how much you manage to get done. Happy New Year and I can’t wait to see what all you have in store for us this year!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:10 am

      woohoo! i think if we were neighbors we would be best of friends. i really do.

      Reply
  9. Tania says

    December 31, 2016 at 10:21 am

    Great wrap up to a great year Cassie. I loved all the posts and projects you posted and actually saw a couple that I had missed! Your new years eve plans sound about like mine! This has been a rather difficult year for me so I’m hoping that 2017 will be much better!

    Tania

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:05 am

      thank you so much, tania! i am so sorry that you had a hard year… i hope 2017 is much better!

      Reply
  10. Gretchen@BoxyColonial says

    January 1, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    I’ve been out of town and mostly off the computer, but it occurred to me tonight that it was time to pop on and start reading all the end of the year round up type posts. and this was a great one to start with! looks like you had a great year; so glad you’re still feeling great about the Sweet Clover decision!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:05 am

      well i feel honored that mine is the one you came back to! i think i will be purging a bit and having an insta flash sale or something, too, so if you are interested in the bison tapestry, let me know! random thought i know but i was thinking of it this morning then came to reply to your comment. 😉

      Reply
  11. Lisa | Shine Your Light says

    January 4, 2017 at 9:23 am

    You’ve had a fantastic year Cassie! To have built that business and be able to sell it is pretty awesome in and of itself, plus you’ve done a million awesome family-centered projects and adventures! You are a rockstar mama/entrepreneur and I couldn’t love your kind and genuine self and blog more!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 4, 2017 at 2:13 pm

      aaaw, coming from you, that means a lot, lisa! thank you SO much! cheers to the best year yet!

      Reply
  12. ashley@biggerthanthethreeofus says

    January 4, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    I think you accomplished a ton! My favorites are some of your favorites too! I ADORE that little stool, still crushing hard on your bedroom and really WANT that midcentury dresser. So amazing.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 4, 2017 at 2:10 pm

      thank you so much, ashley!

      Reply
  13. Kim says

    January 4, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    What a year! You may think you didn’t accomplish as much as you hoped – but I think you have rocked it all. Looking forward to following along in 2017.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 5, 2017 at 8:55 am

      aaaw, thank you! i appreciate that!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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