‘Tis the time for reminiscing about 2011…
Last year, I shared some of my favorite posts from this blog. This year, I’ve decided to stop the navel gazing (until the Pet Blogger Challenge later this month, of course) and highlight some of my favorite posts from other bloggers. (Thanks to Mel from the No Dog About It blog for the inspiration.)
It’s a tough task, actually. There is a ton of great content out there in the pet blogging community.
The posts below all have one thing in common – they make me laugh or smile (one of those really big smiles). There are many beautiful, touching, and thought-provoking posts that touched my heart this year. However, today I felt like aiming for tears of laughter or joy rather than the other kind. Hope you don’t mind.
It was a long year. I’m sure there are some others I adored that slipped my mind when writing this post. (Perhaps one of my 2012 resolutions should be to do a better job of keeping track of my favorite posts. You may notice that this list skews toward the more recent entries.) In no particular order, here are 22 posts I loved this year…
- My Most Embarrassing Dog Moment from My Brown Newfies – I have no words. Just go read it.
- The Puppiness Project – Everything’s Better with Puppies from Something Wagging This Way Comes – With a title like that, how could this post not make my list?
- 10 Pictures of Dogs Reading Books from Doggie Stylish- I love dogs. I love books. I love this post.
- Favorite Video Friday – Stella’s Shasta Adventure from No Dog About It – I don’t know how Mel finds so many great videos. However, I still watch this one when I just need a moment of Zen.
- (Viewing this may cause extreme joy) More Happy Pets! Part I from The Chronicles of Cardigan – It really did cause extreme joy. Extreme.
- Adopting Beelzebub: A Beast of a Bird? from This One Wild Life – An adoption story that warmed the cockles of my heart.
- 17 Things Bella Has Stolen from Bringing up Bella – I’m kind of glad my Bella only hoards socks.
- Spam Saturday: Amazing Products, Thrilling Occasions, Thanks-a-Mundo! from Will My Dog Hate Me – This post is masterwork. Go put the lime in the coconut and drink it up, okay?
- 32 Simple Things You Do That Matter To Dogs from Peggy’s Pet Place- More warming for those cockles.
- Dog a Day Project – Why I Don’t Have Kids from Doggie Stylish – I’m just going to start replying to everyone who asks me when I’m going to have children by emailing them a link to this post. (Don’t get me wrong – I don’t know what the future holds. However, I tend to think people should mind their own beeswax and stop asking.)
- 5 Reasons Puppies are Easier Than Kids from Smart Dog – A perfect companion to the Doggie Stylish post.
- She Who Cannot Be Trusted from Postpartum Paradise – A toddler, a dog, and adventures in unconventional (and unsanctioned) grooming. See? I can appreciate posts involving kids!
- Senior Dogs: Appreciate, Don’t Discriminate from Grouchy Puppy – This one is actually a guest post that Sharon from Grouchy Puppy contributed to this blog. I just love the message.
- The Mystery of Burt’s Bees from Tales and Tails – Or, as I like to think of it, “how to collect puppy kisses in one easy step.”
- Dogs in International Costumes: Bone Voyage! from Will My Dog Hate Me – Just because.
- Drunken Master IV: Canine Fu from Rescued Insanity – A funny tale of DWWI (Dog Walking While Intoxicated).
- For Woofing Out Loud from Kol’s Notes – In case you’ve ever wondered if your dog thinks you’re as funny as you think you are… the answer is apparently no.
- 15 Ways to Tell if You’re Dog Crazy from Something Wagging This Way Comes – Just a genius post, and, well… it’s funny ’cause it’s true. This post inspired me to start that whole dog song parody series of posts.
- Pinterest Tuesday – Dogs Making Messes from Two Little Cavaliers – The cutest kind of mess is the kind that I don’t have to clean up.
- Chinese Takeout = Bad Dog Parenting from Life With Desmond – Speaking of messes… wondering if something is trash or treasure? Just ask the dog.
- Dressing Up Dogs at Holidays from Grouchy Puppy – I just love this creative take on the antler photo.
- From the DDY Digs Desk from Daley’s Dog Years – I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m including this post partly because of the Ryan Gosling photo.
Why 22? I have no idea. I feel like this list could have gone on forever (for example, I wanted to include a post from BZ Training, but I just couldn’t pick a favorite photo shoot, so I’m cheating and linking to the whole blog here). Finally, I just held an intervention for myself, cut myself off, and sent myself to list-making rehab.
That was good!!! I was wondering about why 22, but ya done splained it! Happy New Year and I hope 2012 brings you all the furry best!
Great post, Happy New Year to you, and hope 2012 brings all you wish for
Love and Hugs George and Tess xxx
My Brown Newfies is one of my absolute faves and I remember the one that you highlighted, great choice!
There is no way that I could ever pick my favorite 22 posts of other bloggers…first of all I follow over 300 blogs…2nd, each and every one of them has posted something that I have loved (or I wouldn't be following them to begin with)
3rd…it would tear me apart to feel that I inadvertently omitted someone! Would hate to do that
Brian – I could have easily kept going, but then I realized the post would never end!
George the Lad – I wish the same to you. 🙂
Caren – That post from My Brown Newfies had me laughing like a crazy woman! And I know what you mean… I just started listing posts and realized that the list kept getting longer and longer. It's definitely not an exhaustive list of things that make me smile – I love all the blogs I follow (including yours)! 🙂
BOL! Thanks for sharing!
Holy cow! Thanks for including us in your amazing list! I believe that post is one that I will not forget anytime soon!
I have read so many amazing posts in 2011 from bloggers, you included, that this year I would like to start off making a list of the ones that make a lasting a impression, which I'm sure will be a very, very long list.
Happy New Year to you!
ooh! I made the list TWICE! Thank-you very much 😀 But Jen's post about Leroy pulling her pants down was the best one by far!!
Happy New Year to you & Bella 😀
I'm a cat person, and I truly loved each and every one of those posts! Thanks everso for this wonderful adventure!
Hey there! What a great way to end the year (well, for me, it would be more like start the year).
You picked some wonderful posts and I had fun reviewing several I'd not seen in a while. Even found one new blog!
Thank you for including my Happy post. 🙂 I've definitely got to bring that series back sometime soon, so catch Bella being happy on camera, okay?
Hope you and your dearest have a wonderful 2012!
Pup Fan, you are a cultural curator extraordinaire!
I went back to the familiar posts on your recommendation and finally glimpsed Edie's dog's in international costumes after resolving to be a contrarian and ignore her most popular post ever (I'm glad I did; her intros to the pics were fabulous).
A great list and I feel honored to be on it twice! Thank you.
By the way, another fitting title would have been "Squeeeeeeee!"
I have seen some of these posts and you are so right! The others, well I will check them out.
I tried to think of something like this for year end but my tired brain just wouldn't work. :O
Great job.
K9 Katastrophie – You're welcome!
Jen – That post of yours will be the stuff of legend, I think. 😉
Karen – Thank you for your dog a day posts! They are always the perfect palate cleanser after a long day.
Teri – Thanks! 🙂 Cat people are welcome here too. Hehe.
Elizabeth – I'll see what I can do. Your whole happy series just made me smile!
Pamela – I couldn't help it. The way Edie presented those pictures was just too funny. 🙂 (Also, I'm such a Puppiness Project groupie… I could have included all of them!)
jodistone – I know what you mean. My brain was kind of a mess, hence the random number!
I will have to make sure to come back and read all of them- great post btw!
Wow. I can't even begin to thank you for including us in a list as this never mind among such esteemed company! Wow. (This doesn't happen often, but I think I'm speechless. :O )
I'm kind of glad you slant to some more recent posts because I've read, and loved, many in your list. (Which means I won't get too far sidetracked today by reading those I haven't yet. 😉
i am truly flattered to have our blog included on such an awesome list. Many of these posts have been my favourites of the year – Pamela's Puppiness Project, Kristine's Drunken Walk, anything involving Jen & Leroy. I can't wait to check out the posts from blogs I don't recognize and discover some great new stuff. Happy New Year!!
New Year's Resolution #1 – engage more with beloved bloggers like you. Thank you for including me in your list. I look forward to another week coming up in Richmond so my iPad and I can spend quality time! Your blog always makes me smile. 🙂
I've read lots of those posts, but not all! So thanks for compiling your list! And thanks for putting Smart Dog U on there, too. I wrote that post because of the blog challenge — it was almost a "throwaway" post, but I'm so glad I did it!
I'm looking forward to reading your blog in 2012, too!
I SO know what you mean about needing an intervention for yourself to be able to stop listing your favorite posts. I had the same issue. I save my favorite ones, and then whittle the list down only to remember one I forgot to save or a new one comes in at the last minute.
I love your focus on the joyful and the ones that made you laugh. I have read a good majority of the ones on your list and LOVE them! How did I miss so many good ones? I'm so glad you didn't!
BTW – I also go watch Stella's Shasta Adventure when I need a pick me up. I love that one.
Now I am off to read the ones I didn't see before. Thanks AJ!
Wow — I must have been an asshat (insider joke): How did I miss this fab list and the fact that I had two entries in it! Thanks so much for including me and thanks to contrarian Pamela for finally taking a peek.
LOL…figures I'd be commenting after Edie…
Ridiculously great choices – and you've got me laughing over list rehab!
What a great list! Some I've read (and I agree with you about their greatness) and others I'm off to explore and enjoy. Thanks!
Luna – Thanks so much!
Leslie – No need to thank me. The Bellas have to stick together, after all. 🙂
Kolchak – You consistently make me smile with your blog! I am always cracking up when I read your posts.
Kim – Thanks so much. I just hope we get a chance to hang out again in 2012 like we did in 2011. You make a great movie date/wingwoman. 🙂
Laurie – So glad we connected this year – meeting you at BlogPaws was a real highlight of 2011! 🙂
Mel – It is tough to limit the list, isn't it? 🙂 I do adore that Shasta video – glad to hear I'm not the only one who uses is as a pick-me-up!
Edie – You're totally not an asshat, although I do look forward to the day one of us receives spam incorporating the term. 😉
Kim – I seriously need a list intervention. I think half the posts on here are lists!
Talking Dogs – Enjoy! 🙂
this is freakin excellent!
Happy New Year to all at I Still Want More Puppies! Thanks for including DDY in your great list. You have no idea how jazzed I was to find an excuse to put Gosling on my senior dog blog!
-Chandra at Daley's Dog Years
Lauren – Thanks!
chandra – Any excuse to include Gosling sounds good to me! 🙂