Best of 2023: My Favorite Posts

As we approach the end of 2023, I thought it would be fun to compile some of the "Best of" things from the year. 

Today we are looking at My Favorite Posts. 

WGJ is a labor of love and I am so happy to publish posts each week and I am even happier to know when you stop by my slice of the internet. THANK YOU! 

My Favorite Posts are as follows:

2022 Family Photos
Thoughts on Thirty Five
Twelve Year Blogger
Penelope's Birthday
Show & Tell: Backgrounds
Lucky Girl Syndrome
Happy 5th Birthday Eleanor
Chase Rice at Starland Ballroom
Shutterbug: Landscape Photography
Notes on Life
Prayer Journal
Screen Free Activity: Word Search Books
Well Timed Break
Hot Takes
Wake Up Call

and because I love to see what my readers LOVE, here are the top viewed posts YOU read the most:

1.    Thoughts on Thirty Five                           98 Views
2.    WGJ Travels: What's In My Suitcase       77 Views
3.    2022 Family Photos                                  72 Views
4.    Random # 15                                             54 Views
5.    Wild & THREE                                         53 Views
6.    Weekend Rewind                                       51 Views
7.    Random #17*                                            50 Views
       A Well Timed Break*
8.    12 in 12: March                                         47 Views
9.    January Work #OOTD*                             46 Views
       Diary #41*                                                    
       Summer Wishlist*                                        
10.  12 in 12: February*                                   43 Views
       May Work #OOTD*
11.  Random #12                                              42 Views
12.  Happy 5th Birthday Eleanor*                   40 Views
       WGJ Travels: YAY!*
       March Work #OOTD *   

*A Tie

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I love how some of my favorite posts were reader favorite posts too! I love how nosey all my readers are and one of the top 5 posts is WGJ Travels: What's In my suitcase; which totally made me laugh. My three of my Random posts having high views made me laugh too. These posts have no rhyme or reason, but Y'all are nosey and I wouldn't have it any other way!  

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THANK YOU so much for reading along. I know I've said this multiple times at this point but I truly do appreciate it! ❤️

[[

Dear June

JUNE, you were interesting. I was happy to see the warm weather and sunshine BUT all the messy parts I could have done without. Let's check in to see what happened this month:

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Here are some words that were prominent during my month:  

Hot/// Woof! June, you were sooo hot! Summer has definitely arrived. I love all the sunshine but I can do without the heat. 

Green/// Nature was showing off- so many pretty things in nature. 

Vacation/// YAY! Florida.

Routine/// I finally settled into a new routine that I had been yearning for. I was happy, I was settled but it took all month to get there. 

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Emoji of the month:

😆

Conveys excitement/hearty laughter

I spent most of the month excited about something- vacation, the Red Bank Classic, Mets Games,  Chase Rice, etc. 

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Flashback

In 2022, I spent a lot of time outside, took a reading break and I was excited about NC vacation; in 2021, I had a dating fail, TWO surprise flower deliveries, I was house hunting and started going to the gym regularly; in 2020, there was a lot of unrest in the US, spent a lot of time outside and quarantine rules were kinda lifted; in 2016, I was full on blogger with link parties; in 2014, I reflected on myself and finally in 2011, I did a life recap.

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Gym Update

I did not go to the gym this month BUT I did go for walks and runs 5 times this month. 

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Looking Forward

Fireworks, traveling, baseball games and all the sunshine I can find. 

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Posts

Did you miss any of my posts from this month? Find them below:

WGJ Travels: YAY! | What's in My Suitcase | Okaloosa Island Recap

Random #17 | May Work #OOTD | Screen Free Activity: Word Search Books | Flag Day | Happy Father's Day | Summer Wishlist | 12 in 12: June | Happy Summer | WGJ vol. 42 | Diary #42

Friday's Joy 1 | 2 | 3

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[[This summer put your phone away for a few days; make some memories that no one knows about; make some memories that are just yours]] 

WGJ Travels: Okaloosa Island Recap

Okaloosa Island was absolutely beautiful. I think having an Airbnb right on the beach made all the difference. This trip confirmed how much I love the Panhandle and 30A. I have stayed at the Eastern end of 30A and now staying at the Western end of 30A, I am ready to stay smack dab in the middle of 30A. Below is a compilation of my favorite photos from this trip. I will also link where we stayed and the most delicious taco place at the bottom. 

On our way to the Airport

Bridge to Philadelphia

Girlfriend was READY

Food and Drinks before the flight

Yes you are Penelope!

Bloggers dream- empty flight information area

Bloggers dream- empty flight information area

Love this!

Pre-flight drinks

Girlfriend stole mine

Penelope wanted her own seat

Enroute

In flight entertainment

Caffeine and flamingos

Sleeping flamingo

Ready for Florida

In Flight games

First view of Okaloosa Island Beach

In Love

Magical first night sunset

Dipping my toes into the gulf

LOVE how your are showing off Okaloosa Island!

Long travel days are worth it for this view

Heart eyes 

Good night moon

Perfect evening

Day 2:

Morning Views

I swear there is no filter on this

I can get used to this view

Beach Ready

Here we come, sand and sun!

Rainy afternoon

Dinner views at Rockin' Taco

Pier view (and a wedding!)

Pier-ing into the Gulf

Tide pools and sunshine

Shadows dancing

Look at that water!

Sunglass selfie

Directing him where I am going

Seashells

So many seashells

Can you believe this is 7:30 PM?!

Love the summer and late nights

Obsessed with sitting on a balcony and enjoying the views

Day 3:

Hidden Flowers

Ice Cream Man

Beachy views

Strawberry Moon

Day 4:

Magical early morning views

Favorite photo 

I could sit at the shore line for hours

Pelicans!

More Shells

I'm 3 for 3 with Waffle Houses in the South

Small Town Cinema

Rockin' Tacos

Those margaritas were AMAZING

Another magical beach golden hour walk

Saw this from the balcony, had to zoom in!

Love this view!

These people almost lit the dunes on fire!

Day 5:

A perk of getting up early

The sky was unreal today

Daily morning beach walk

Still obsessed with palm tress

The boys bounty from their fishing trip

An Osprey

Wahoo and Bonita

Waiting for Diner

C. wanted to join in

View from dinner 

Natural light will always be a favorite

Blue eyes

Buckets of Margaritas

Obsessed with the sunset

I will forever get excited about the sunset

Reflection

It keeps getting better

We had to take advantage of the sky

can you blame me for all these sky photos?!

Last night on the balcony

Dance party we took advantage of...... from the balcony

Last night....

waiting for the fireworks and hermit crab hunting

Picture perfect way to end the week

Day 6:

Last morning walk

Penelope joined me

Saying good bye

Picture perfect

Can I take this balcony with me?

Till next time pretty beach

Bye blue waters

Will forever dream about this living room

LOVED reading the entries

Penelope made a friend

Afternoon beach walk

Walk on the pier

I want to bottle this water up

LUNCH!

I will forever search for this color

Sweet women took this for us

Penelope wanted a photo too

TURTLE

I couldn't resist

We had to.... KW's shirt was JAWS

I couldn't resist

It truly lives up to its name

Forever a firefighters daughter

You were lovely Waterscape

I will miss your morning margaritas, Fudpuckers

Good bye pool, until next time

Airport posing

Flight #1 home

Not the worst cup of coffee I've had

Ready to fly

ready to gooo

Almost home

That is a wrap on my photo recap of my Okaloosa Island Trip!

We stayed at the Waterscape Rentals and ate at Rockin' Tacos three times.

I highly recommend a beach trip where the pool area is steps away. 

[[I'm happiest with wind in my hand, salt on my lips and a shell in my pocket]]