I’ve shared my monthly favorites in my newsletter for over a year. I decided to pull all my favorites from the last year into one post — some of these you may have seen on my monthly newsletters, while some are brand new! A fun way to celebrate a new year!
standing desk | this has seriously changed how I work.
Palo Santo essential oil | I use essential oils daily, and this one has turned into my daily wear (I don’t wear perfume, and this is the perfect swap!
Apple Watch | it may be a hand-me-down, but I absolutely love it. It makes it easier for me to put my phone down, not feel like I’m missing important calls, but don’t end up mindlessly scrolling because I picked my phone up to check something.
Get to Work Book | this planner is my all-time favorite, and I’m really sad there isn’t going to be another year!
Divine Rivals | I inhaled this book — easily one of my favorite reads of the year. It gives me You’ve Got Mail vibes, WWII vibes, and all the feels.
Scrivner | my number one program for all my writing projects
homemade pottery coffee mugs | there’s just something about drinking from a handmade mug.
Minnetonka slippers | I’ve been a long-time lover of Minnetonka moccasins, but this is my first pair of slippers, and they are my favorite (finding them on sale for only $7 was a bonus too!)
giant whiteboard | whiteboards have always been my favorite, but this one my brother-in-law made is perfect.
Double Shots | my office away from home. Will forever be my favorite coffee shop.
Pilot G2 Pens | my all-time favorite pens, always in black ink — fine or ultra-fine.
Rooster Sauce | If you’ve known me for any amount of time, you know “Rooster Sauce” (Sriracha) is my absolute number one favorite condiment. There was a bit where I couldn’t find it in stores, but this summer found it stocked at our local grocery store!
Stanley | I wouldn’t call myself a Stanley girl, but then my sister got me one for my birthday last year, and then one of my clients gifted me one. I can say that I drink a ton more water with a Stanley than without (although there is nothing special about a Stanely — it has more to do with a straw and the fact that I fill it up three times a day and have my daily amount of needed water.)
record keeping | I’ve always wanted to be a journaler, yet, I’ve never really been a journaler. But then I discovered a new way to journal — which honestly looking at it now is probably a mix-up between a bullet journal and a goal tracker. It just works for me.
bin shopping | My dad and sister introduced me to bin shopping this year and I have to admit, it’s pretty fun.
The Fall Guy | this movie. Oh, how I loved it. They just don’t make rom-coms like they used to, and this gave us that old-school rom-com feel (and other than a bit of strong language, it was fairly clean!)
beach blanket | I got one of these blankets last Christmas while we were at the beach, and it’s the perfect light blanket for tossing into my bag on road trips (or just curling up on the couch.)
Realm Makers | I can’t say enough about this conference. If you write speculative fiction, I highly recommend this conference.
plants in the shower | I feel like I leveled up my shower game. There’s a ledge in our shower, and I randomly added a plant and it makes me so happy every time I see it.
Dr. Bronner’s Lip Balm | the only chapstick I can use that doesn’t make my lips drier.
garden | there is just something so satisfying about watching plants grow, and eating something that came from something you grew.
coffee roasting | I dove into roasting coffee this year, and have loved it. I haven’t been able to do it much this summer since it tends to put out some heat, but I’m looking forward to roasting more as the temps cool off.
Free People Dupe Jumper | still living in this.
Connections | Love playing this daily (I’m terrible at it, but still, love playing.)
Case 63 Podcast | I flew through the first season of this in a day. Also, can I just say that Oscar Isaac has the best voice? I think if it were up to me, we’d go back to dramatized radio programs.
Hu Chocolate | my favorite thing about these chocolate bars are they have less sugar than your regular candy bars, and they are amazing.
Disco Ball Diffuser | it’s bright. It’s happy. And it makes rainbows on my walls. Perfection.
eggs for breakfast | Andy makes me eggs, peppers, onions, and potatoes every morning for breakfast, and it is my favorite breakfast ever.
kong-sleeved jumpsuit | I’m a sucker for a good v-neck and this jumper takes the cake. The perfect road trip fit, and it’s just so comfy. I have worn it a couple times this summer, but I’m looking forward to the cooler temps so I can wear it more!
Albanese Gummy Bears | my editing snack of choice.
cupping device | Working, writing, and traveling a lot, my back was pretty done. My sister suggested this cupping device, and it really helps. I love this one because I can activate one handed.
Essentialism | this book helped me put some things in perspective and I found myself thinking, “Oh my goodness! I do that!” While reading. If you are something who is always saying yes and then feeling overwhelmed, you should probably add this one to your list!
Wick and Sarcasm | Writer and literary candles? Yes, please. The best smells — and these make perfect gifts!
hammocks | it’s just about hammock season, and I can’t wait.
Benson Boone | I first heard Benson’s Beautiful Things on TikTok, and I was hooked. His music pretty much plays on repeat and is the go-to when I can’t think of what else to listen to.
Ninjas are Butterflies Podcast | Andy and I discovered this podcast while on a road trip this past year and then fell into listening to every single past episode. It’s completely random and the best kind of delightful.
tiny Jesuses | I’m not really one for April Fools pranks, and I can’t tell you when the last time someone pranked me, however, this year . . .This year takes the cake. One of my co-workers conspired with Andy and there were 50 tiny Jesuses hidden all over my house (and car). Five months later and I’m still finding them!
To Kill a Mockingbird (the play) | To Kill a Mockingbird has always been one of my favorite books (I have a kid loosely named after Scout). I was able to go to the Broadway production at the TPAC this spring and it was so perfect.
Here’s to year 39. I’m excited.
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