Top 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2023 on Southern Home & Hospitality
Inside: The best decorating, recipe, and craft/DIY posts of 2023 on Southern Home and Hospitality according to you!

It’s a shiny brand new year!🎉
Which for me means reflecting on the past year to help set new goals to make the coming one even better.
Your time spent here means the world to me. It makes this little passion project and business of mine possible. To make the blog better for you, I end each year by digging into my Google Analytics data to see what new posts you really liked over the past 12 months. So here’s a quick recap of what I found—just in case you missed one, or are just curious like me about what was popular.
In 2023, you most loved new content about sprucing up the home and yummy, easy recipes. So drumroll, please… here’s a peek at the top 10 decorating, DIY, entertaining, and recipe posts that I published in 2023 that you visited most often!
10. Easy Espresso Martini Cold Brew Recipe (No Espresso Required!)

We were in the mood for a delicious, decadent after-dinner drink. This espresso martini recipe is fast with the shortcut of cold brew. No more waiting to brew the espresso!
9. How to Make Your House Smell Incredible: Real Estate Expert Secrets

These smell good tricks of the real estate trade are not only perfect for showing your home and for open houses, but for parties, gatherings, or any time you simply want your haven to smell ahh-mazing.
8. The Best Chuy’s Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Copycat Recipe

What makes this dip stand out in the sea of salsa? Well, we Texans love us some ranch on pretty much anything. So when you combine the creamy tang of buttermilk ranch flavor and the perfect little kick of heat, this spicy dip is utterly addictive.
7. 90’s to Timeless Master Bathroom Remodel: Before and After

This is the story of how we transformed our outdated 90’s primary bathroom into my soaking sanctuary while keeping on budget. See the big difference in the before and after of this timeless design with its cosmetic-only changes.
6. Best Mexican Cornbread Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef

This warm and hearty Mexican cornbread casserole has a little bit of spice, a little bit of sweet, and a whole lotta taco flavor. Add in some corn and gooey cheese to that fluffy cornbread and deliciously seasoned beef, and this one is sure to become a regular comfort food request from your whole family!
5. 60 Creative Graduation Cap Ideas That Stand Out From the Crowd

This post was the outlier from the list of home decor and entertaining posts, but so many of you enjoyed it! Help your special grad stand out on their big day with one of these fun graduation cap decoration ideas. Includes creative examples for different themes like grad majors, activities, school colors, funny caps, movie quotes, and more!
4. 15 Southern Porch and Patio Decorating Ideas and Tour

Kick back, grab an iced tea, and take a look around at the different outdoor spaces at our home. And the iconic elements that make them so very southern. Maybe you’ll even find a few ideas to bring the timeless, laid-back charm of a Southern porch to your own home!
3. Easy Marinated Shoepeg Corn Vegetable Salad Recipe

If you’re a collector of good ol’ southern cooking Junior League or church recipe cookbooks, there’s a good chance a version of this vegetable salad recipe is sitting in your kitchen.
This old school side dish is a pretty and colorful blend of white shoepeg corn, green peas and beans, and red pimentoes. And it’s just as pleasing to taste with a mix of onions, celery, and bell pepper for a little crunch. But marinating it overnight in a sweet oil and vinegar dressing is what really makes this a crowd favorite.
2. Area Rug Rules: Easy Guide to the Perfect Size and Placement (+Printable)

Take some of the guesswork out of buying the right area rug with these guidelines for the best size by room and where to position it. I’ve also made it easy to visualize with simple graphics to help understand rug placement.
1. 30 Best Boozy Pudding Shot Dessert Recipe Ideas

And number one was a surefire way to get guests to eat the dessert at a party! How? Make it small and cute. Easy to eat. Make it just the small taste or two of dessert that everyone really wants. And the final kicker? Put alcohol in it. All of these pudding shot recipes can be prepped in just minutes with a few ingredients!
See your favorite posts published in 2022 here.
Taking this quick walk down 2023 memory lane was just a small peek into all the things I shared during the year. And I’m excited to serve up more of what you love in 2024. I’d love your input, so let me know in the comments or shoot me an email. What do you want more of on the blog? Or share your favorite post from the past year with us.
Sending you heartfelt wishes for a truly fabulous year ahead. I can’t wait for us to savor each season together—whether we’re decorating, entertaining, or just laughing and taking in the little joys of life.

Cheers to making the upcoming year the best one yet! 🥂

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One of my favorites was your tip-off about the everyday white porcelain dinnerware you like. I ended up returning the packaged place settings I ordered because the quality was off (uneven glazing and conspicuous pitting — I think they must have been seconds). But I absolutely LOVE the matching pasta bowls that I ordered separately and use them all the time — for soups, stews, taco salad, pasta dishes, Indian and Chinese food, desserts — anything that’s sauced, gravied or just awkward to corral and scoop from a flat plate or conventional bowl. I ordered a dozen and they go beautifully with all other dinnerware I use. They also hold up to metal utensils and stacked storage without scratching and losing their looks. Thanks for sharing your find — I ADORE these pasta bowls.
I’m so glad you like them Cyndel. The pasta bowls get used as much as the dinner plates at my house!