These are the 10 most popular posts on Everything Pretty in 2019.   This includes 9 DIYs for a natural home.

You guys.  It's almost 2020!!

I'm showing my age here, but I remember everyone freaking the freak out for Y2K.  Shelves were bare.  You couldn't find water, bread, or beer on any shelves.

My oldest son was born in 2002, so I had to explain the Y2K scare to them.  They didn't get what all the fuss was about. To be honest, I didn't either.  I figured if there was a problem, it would sort itself out in a day or two.

At the end of the year, I take some time off.  This year, I took off two wonderful weeks.  I caught up on my Netflix queue, played a lot of games with the kids, saw Frozen 2 with my daughter, and even caught a few naps with Nacho.

I also use this time to reflect up on the year.  What worked, what didn't, and what do I need to do next year to improve.

Everything Pretty Top 10 Posts of 2019

If you're a regular reader, you've probably already seen these posts.  If you're new, maybe you'll find a great post that you missed.

I use my top 10 of the year posts to see what you all like and what's working.  Clearly, DIY recipes are working very well.

These were all posted in 2019.  If I did my top 10 of all time, it would likely never change.

2019 was a good year both personally and professionally.  We got to go back to Great Wolf this year.  The kids always love that trip each year!

Thanks to Mediavine (my ad network for my non-blogger friends), I was able to be choosy on which brands I partnered with.  I enjoy the challenge of sponsored posts, but it was nice to have some freedom to say no if it wasn't a good fit.

My family is happy and healthy.  Nacho gave us a few scares with the seizures, but he is doing great since the last set a few weeks ago.

My oldest, David, has been accepted to two colleges and we are waiting on the final acceptance in January.  He rocked his interview, so I think he will be accepted and be a contender for their highest scholarship award.

My other two kids are loving traditional homeschooling because they have more freedom and control over their education.  Both are becoming more independent and really growing in all subjects.

I also want to take a moment to thank you, my readers.  This blog allows me to stay home with my kids and teach them while still supporting my family.  I thank you for reading, commenting, sharing, and pinning to help me grow.

10. How to Make Unicorn Soap With Melt and Pour Soap

This unicorn soap is my favorite soap of any that I've made in the last 15 years.  I love the colors, the glitter, and the unicorns.  And it smells amazing too!

9. Bug Repellent Solid Lotion 

Succulents were very popular last year!  I used my mold to make solid lotions with a bug repellent essential oil blend.

8. Homemade Window and Mirror Cleaner 

I got frustrated with natural glass cleaners that didn't work, so I started experimenting and made my own natural glass cleaner recipe.  This has arrowroot powder in it, and it works great to cut grease and little spots on mirrors or glass.

7. Dandelion Oil Benefits and Uses 

Dandelions have so many benefits for your skin.  Learn about dandelion oil benefits and how to use it in DIY beauty recipes.

6. 23 Advanced Melt and Pour Soap Techniques 

I looked all over Pinterest to find the best melt and pour techniques for more advanced users.

5. Gardener's Hand Soap Recipe 

My hands get so dirty when I'm gardening, so I made this loofah gardener's soap to scrub and really get the dirt and grime off of my hands.

4. Eczema Body Butter 

My eczema is finally under control thanks to some DIYs like this eczema body butter with aloe.  This is also great for dry skin even if you don't have eczema.

3. How to Make Whipped Soap From Melt and Pour 

If the unicorn soap was my favorite soap, this mermaid soap was a close second.  I tested and finally got the perfect recipe to make whipped soap from melt and pour soap.

2. Cold and Flu Sinus Relief Shower Steamers

I love these cold and flu shower steamers so much, I always have them on hand.  These turn your shower into a huge aromatherapy spa.

1. Orby TV 

Sometimes when brands approach me, I worry that they might be too off topic.  I posted my Orby TV review because it was relevant to my life living in a rural area with limited options for TV and having slow Internet.  At the time, I was frustrated with DirecTV (and frustrated is an understatement!), so I was happy to try it.  This post was my most popular post by thousands and thousands of page views, so I'm happy that even though it was off topic, it still helped people make an informed decision.

I wish all of you a happy and healthy new year!

Mocha Mint Solid Sugar Scrub Bar Recipe

These adorable doughnuts are a solid sugar scrub bar recipe.  I used a natural mocha mint fragrance oil and drizzled soap on top for a cute soap that exfoliates while it cleanses.

I love the smell of mint chocolate.  It has the deep chocolate scent mixed with the sharp mint.  It's perfect for minter....I mean winter.

Winter is when my skin gets crazy dry.  I have to exfoliate it often or the dead skin cells build up and I can use a fingernail to draw pictures on my arms.

I switch to a solid sugar scrub bar recipe in the winter.  I needed some for this year, so I made these cute mocha mint doughnuts with soap icing on top.

You can make them in a regular soap mold, but I think the doughnut shape is just fun.  It makes a smaller bar of soap, but I like it because I like to switch scents often.

Low Sugar Christmas Punch Recipe (Alcoholic or Not)

This is an easy and low sugar Christmas punch recipe that you can make to serve at your holiday parties.  The delicious cranberry and orange flavor works well for New Year's Eve or any other party where you want a drink for a crowd.  Make it with or without alcohol.

This year, we have a few Christmas parties, so I'll be taking this low sugar Christmas Punch recipe.  I love this recipe because it's easy to put together, so I usually just take the chilled bottles and make it wherever we will be.

It's also easy to make alcoholic or not.  One party will have a lot of kids, so I'll make it non-alcoholic.  But we have a few parties where mine will be the only kids there, so I'll add some vodka and they can have something else.

I'm calling this sugar free since it doesn't have added sugar or sugar in any soda like most punch recipes do, but it still has sugar in the fruit juice and the fruit.  If you are diabetic or will be serving this to diabetics, be aware and warn them.

Lemon Lavender Bath Salts in a Jar Gift Idea

These lemon lavender bath salts in a jar are a great gift idea.  They smell wonderful, and they are very easy to make with only a few ingredients.  Even if you are new to making DIY bath and body recipes, this is a great recipe for beginners.

You guys, Christmas is in less than two weeks!  I am so not ready.  I started my shopping back in August, but I'm not close to being done.

If you're like me and time is moving too fast, I have a really easy lemon lavender bath salts in a jar gift idea.  These are so easy to make, it's perfect for the beginner.

Even if you have never made a DIY bath and body recipe before, I promise you can make these.  Even though it's simple, it looks adorable with these cute mason jar ornaments.

I made these as part of a gift set for my son's therapists.  He has three again this year, and they will each get several of my handmade bath and body gifts.

When my kids were in public school, we had up to 20 teachers and support staff to thank at Christmas.  As much as I'd have loved to given each one a big gift certificate, it just wasn't possible.

These are inexpensive, so you can make several of them without hurting your budget.

DIY Essential Oil Gifts From Simply Earth

Learn how to make several DIY essential oil gifts from the December 2019 Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box.  This box includes oils and supplies to make 6 different recipes that are perfect for gift giving.

Have you started your DIY gifts for Christmas yet?  I'm about half done with mine.  I'm giving a small collection of DIY essential oils gifts, including solid lotion, lip balm, and air fresheners.

The December Simply Earth Recipe Box has a gift giving theme.  It has 6 DIY recipes that you can make and keep for yourself or give as a gift.

You'll have plenty of essential oils in your bottles, so you can double or triple these for gifts.  You can make several of the coffee scrub, but you'll probably need to buy more coconut oil for that one.

How to Make Loofah Soap at Home Mint Chocolate

This adorable mint chocolate soap tutorial teaches you how to make loofah soap at home.  This is an easy DIY soap making idea that's perfect for beginners.  The mint chocolate scent smells amazing and is made with a natural fragrance oil blend.

If you are still looking for last minute DIY Christmas gifts, learn how to make loofah soap at home with this easy mint chocolate soap recipe.

This adorable soap looks and smells like boutique soap, and they'll never guess how easy it was at make at home.  It will be our little secret, ok?

This also makes a great soap for yourself.  I've been using this soap for a few weeks since I made it, and I absolutely love it.

The loofah exfoliates, and my skin definitely needs it in the winter.  It smells absolutely amazing, too.  I used a natural fragrance oil blend from Right Note called Mocha Mint.  It is a blend of a natural chocolate fragrance oil and peppermint essential oil.

It smells heavenly.  I use it a lot for soaps, wax melts, and in my diffuser.

Glitter Snowflake Soap for Kids

How to make a fun and easy glitter snowflake soap for kids.  This easy melt and pour recipe is perfect for beginners.  It makes a great stocking stuffer, especially for the Frozen fans.

Have you seen Frozen 2 yet?  We have not.  Yet.

I can't wait to take Dakota to see it.  She's 12 now, so she's kind of on the older end of the Frozen craze.  She wasn't very excited for it, but I reminded her that I'm in my 30s and I really want to see it.

I'm a big Disney fan, and I loved Frozen.  My daughter loves the princesses, and I agree that they are pretty fun.  I'm trying to raise her to be a strong woman, so I love how Frozen shifts from the prince saving the princess to sister saving sister.

The soundtrack was amazing too.  Dakota and I sing along and know all of the words to the songs (and the entire movie if I'm being honest here).  We listened to the songs in the car for years after the movie came out.

Frozen 2 inspired me to make these cute glitter snowflake soap for kids.  Since Christmas is coming, I wanted a really easy recipe that you can make even if you've never made melt and pour soap before.

This is a very basic recipe, but it's really cute with the fun mold and glitter.  The glitter is optional, but it makes this soap more fun.