Best of Beauty, Books & Bottles
Cliché or not, there’s just something irreplaceably satisfying about a ‘best of list’ to wrap-up the year and usher in a new one. When I think of my favorite things, the 3 B’s immediately come to mind: Beauty, Books (and podcasts) and Bottles (wine of course). With that in mind, I present to you my top picks from 2024…
Beauty: Listen, I may or may not have a problem buying waaay too many potions and lotions. But in fairness, I was born a ‘product girl.’ In fact, I’m pretty sure I was the only six year old requesting a spa day for my birthday (at the time anyway) and riding around on my Big Wheel with makeup in my purse (true story). And while I’ve been working to tighten up the reins on my little addiction (there are worse things, right?!), I do have a few favorites to share…
RMS Beauty Oil: dry skin is a fairly recent phenomenon for me and as such, I’ve become a teensy bit obsessed with facial oils. This one is hydrating, yet absorbs quickly, and is rich in Vitamin C helping to even out skin tone and dark spots.
Osea Undaria Algae Body Wash: rich in naturally occurring skin nourishing minerals with a hydrating aloe base, I not only love how it makes my skin feel, but it lathers just right. Oh, and did I mention it smells fantastic?!
Vegamour Revitalizing Shampoo + Conditioner: anyone who knows me knows I’m SUPER fussy about my hair. And lately I’ve realized just how important the right product is for achieving results, but struggled to find a shampoo I love. That is until my fabulous stylist (hi, Ava) recommended this one. It tames fly-aways, adds shine, and smells absolutely incredible (like really REALLY great).
Books: I’ve always been an avid reader (and writer) and bookstores (when you can still find them) are one of my favorite places on earth. Speaking of which, if you happen to find yourself in Southwest Michigan, be sure to check out Flourish (the cutest little book and plant shop). Along those lines, I’m putting my money where my mouth is this year and committing to buying my books from indie bookstores (or Bookshop.org) whenever possible. I cannot imagine a world void of the creativity and magic small business provides, so I’m actively making choices that support those values. Here are my favorite reads from 2024…
Be Ready When the Luck Happens: a Memoir (Ina Garten) - if you think you know Ina (aka The Barefoot Contessa) think again. There’s some unexpected reveals in this memoir from her traumatic childhood, to the confession her iconic marriage almost ended, to why she vowed never to do TV again.
Finding Freedom: a Cook’s Story; Remaking a Life From Scratch (Erin French) - I only recently discovered Erin and now I can’t stop wondering how it took me this long to find her?! Not only is her style of cooking and presentation right up my alley, but her story of perpetual resiliency is beyond inspirational.
Wine Girl: the Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America’s Youngest Sommelier (Victoria James) - there are so many awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping and heartbreaking moments in Victoria’s journey it’s almost hard to believe this is her real life. Her fortitude and ingenuity is unmatched and you’ll be hard-pressed not to fall completely in love with her.
Podcasts: Did you know I used to have a podcast? I loved it so much, but sometimes a project just runs its course (though you never know, I just might bring it back someday). In the meantime, podcasts remain a mainstay in my everyday life. Whether I’m cooking, cleaning, running errands, seeking motivation or any number of things, it’s pretty much guaranteed I’ve got a podcast running in the background. I listened to so many great shows, series and episodes last year, narrowing it down was tough, but here are my top picks from my 2024 listens…
To Die For (series): there’s something a little ‘Life of Pi’ about this series because it begins by asking you to decide if subject Aliia Roza (trained in sexpionage) is telling the truth. Inside the dark world of Russian intelligence, Aliia’s story (and survival) is something truly out of this world.
Inconceivable Truth (series): as someone who went through IVF, the sperm donor selection process, and also happens to be a product of the 1970’s early fertility trials, I’m grateful host (and subject) Matt Katz is blowing the lid off the unethical practices in this industry. What he discovers is so shocking it will leave you questioning the things we are told.
Wiser Than Me (show): I’ve never really been a huge Julia Louis-Dreyfus fan… that is until I started listening to this show. She is hands down the best interviewer and host I have ever encountered. Add to that her iconic roster of female guests like Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, and Gloria Steinem and this self-proclaimed ‘girls girl’ has gone totally gaga for this show.
Bottles: Soooo…. there’s no way I could choose just a few, right?! 2024 became the year I got more serious about my wine journey. I completed formal wine education, worked for a wine distributor, and explored new categories like natural and orange wine. It’s been so fun to find something again that hooked me enough to dive deeper. So without further ado, here are my Top 10 favorite bottles I opened in 2024….
Do you love to reflect on your year? I love the way I always stumble upon favorite memories, moments, and things I almost forgot until I do that last mental run through. As we embark on a new year, I can’t help but be transformed by that sense of wonder. What will I discover this year? What will spark my interest? What will become my new favorites? What will… Here’s to wishing you a year filled with wonder and discovery and abundance. May your year end with a robust list of things you love and a lifetime of memories from the process to hold onto and share.