The things that made me happy in 2023… maybe something here will make you happy too!
Best Books and Movies and TV of 2023
Music
Kelsea Ballerini - I’m obsessed with the above song and her Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP.
Old Dominion - the new album is great, but their whole discography makes me happy.
Taylor Swift’s Midnights isn’t my favorite album from her but some of the songs on it are my favorites, if that makes sense. Love Anti-Hero, High Infidelity and Mastermind because I feel like a lot of my heroines could relate to the lyrics.
Books
These are the books that I kept thinking about all year long, as a human, a reader and an author. Click a title to get the Amazon link.
The Blonde Identity - Ally Carter [fast paced rom-com-spy-adventure]
Finlay Donovan is Killing It - Elle Cosimano [first in a series about a harried single mom and people thinking she’s a killer for hire]
The Second Ending - Michelle Hoffman [quirky story about ambition and mistakes and second chances]
A Little Ray of Sunshine - Kristan Higgins [a tear jerker about motherhood, family and community]
The Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros [international fantasy bestseller. I call it Top Gun with Dragons]
A Traitor in Whitehall - Julia Kelly [debut historical mystery set in Churchill’s war rooms]
The Last Daughter of York - Nicola Cornick [English cozy paranormal time slip murder mystery]
PodcastS
Say More with Dr? Sheila - an improvised podcast featuring a faux therapist played by Amy Poehler
Strike Force Five - a limited series hosted by five late night show hosts during the writers’ strike (Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Seth Meyer, Jimmy Kimmel and the other Jimmy.)
I listen to Conan Needs a Friend off and on, but this episode featuring Steve Martin and Martin Short is comedy GOLD. I think I wiped away tears of joy.
Wilder - I’ve recommended this to everyone this year. It’s about the true story behind Little House on the Prairie and the Ingalls family and a reexamination of their stories in the 21st century.
Television/ MovieS
Daisy Jones & the Six - I’m such a huge fan of the book (here) and I loved that the movie captured the spirit and was also its own thing.
Shrinking - on Apple TV. I’ve watched this series twice now and laughed and cried and felt more human. The cast is perfection. Each actor holds their space and feels vital. I may even rewatch again.
Barbie - she changed the world this year. And Ken was fine.
#Kenough
Taylor Swift Eras (tour and movie) - I have so many deep thoughts about her and Beyonce’s tours but for now, let’s just include Taylor in all of my lists.
Succession - The last season was awe inspiring. Still amazing writing and acting that makes you simultaneously hate and feel sorry for each one of these awful characters. That last scene of Shiv and Tom in the car is my Roman Empire.
Oh Cousin Greg.
Flaming Hot - I have recommended this to everyone. Great, fun movie about the invention of Flaming Hot Cheetos - watch it during the holidays with your extended family.
And… one more suggestion… you could pre-order your favorite book of 2024 now… The Mystery in Moonshine is coming out in February… read more about it here!
My Favorite Things of 2021
My Favorite Things of 2020
My 2020 Favorite Things
All year long I’ve been trying to look at the bright sides of things. I’ve done a lot of “counting blessings.” My kids have heard it at least a hundred times now. Some days I’m giving thanks for the internet, even. Or for clean water, fresh air, sunlight.
2020 has definitely made me appreciate the essentials in life; health, food, safety, loved ones. I hope I never forget the lessons I’ve learned.
But let’s be real. I also acknowledge the privilege of all this. Of having the safety and security that leads me to be able to count my blessings.
As of the date of this post, only one member of my family has been stricken with SARS-COV-2. In no way do I ever want to minimize this year to something trivial or petty when there have been such hardships for so many.
But I also can’t deny that some things have made my life better this year. So, know that I make this list from the very best place of my heart. These are some of the things that brought me joy, peace or sanity this year and maybe you’ll find something that brightens your day too…
Music
Folklore – Taylor Swift. This probably won’t even end up being my “favorite” Taylor Swift album but it has rocked my world. The fact that she created such a beautiful, haunting album in the middle of a pandemic. The audacity of her creativity was like an arrow to my heart and deeply inspiring to this author.
Gaslighter - The Chicks – I’ve always been a fan of The Chicks, and their unapologetic return to music in a new divided political era was also inspiring on so many levels. I think MARCH MARCH will be a time capsule of 2020 and TEXAS MAN… well. It immediately went onto a writing playlist for me.
Chris Tomlin & Friends - On a different note (and going back to the counting my blessings thing), this album was what I put on when I needed to reset and remember how to do that. In some of the most stressful times this year, the song Tin Roof brought me back to a place of peace. (And Thank You Lord is another great track for Thanksgiving.)
Books
I’m going to do a longer post on my reading in 2020, which wasn’t normal in any way. But just as a quick note, these are the books that I kept thinking about all year long, as a human, a reader and an author.
Atomic Habits – James Clear
Her Last Flight – Beatriz Williams
The Splendid and the Vile – Erik Larson
A Most Extraordinary Pursuit – Juliana Gray
Who Rescued Who - Victoria Schade
Where the Lost Wander – Amy Harmon
Your Body is Not an Apology – Sonya Renee Taylor
Podcast
Because it’s 2020, my podcast listening changed A LOT but this one I gobbled down and still haven’t stopped thinking about it: Winds of Change. It’s about the CIA, the Cold War, and rock and roll.
Television/ Movie
I was pretty strict with myself about shows I would watch this year. But again, these are the ones that inspired me, got my creative juices running or just made me HAPPY.
Schitts Creek - a story about love and loving others, despite their flaws. At least, that’s my take.
Ted Lasso - a positive story about living a joyful life that’s not naive or shallow. So much to love here I blogged about it separately here.
Sweet Magnolias - a cozy series about family, friends and a perfect small town was a tonic for my soul in 2020.
#Relatable
Songland - a show about creativity and the creative process. LOVE.
My imaginary best friend Shane.
Enola Holmes - I love a good intrepid heroine and historical mystery. Add Henry Cavill in period clothes? Damn right I’ll be thinking about it.
Succession - amazing writing that makes you simultaneously hate and feel sorry for each one of these awful characters.
Oh Cousin Greg.
The Great - great performances and writing and a historical political satire. Something unique and smart that didn’t get enough love.
Knives Out - honestly a perfect film.
Miss Americana - a Taylor Swift documentary. Y’all know I’m inspired by her process.
Personal Items
The things I couldn’t have lived without.
Peppermint oil – became part of my soothing nighttime ritual. Just worked for me.
Silicone straws + Yeti cup + True Lemon – to help me drink ALLLL the water
This Boots Mascara – it’s a tubing mascara so it really holds up to crying jags/ late night doomscrolling and all the makeup I need while wearing a mask
Airpods / good headphones. For walks, zoom calls and drowning out all the people in my home.
Breville coffee maker – this was a Christmas present last year and it seemed over the top but little did we know that my husband and I wouldn’t go to a coffee shop for 8 months and would enjoy this hardy machine multiple times a day. Plus, there was something so soothing about the ritual of making an Americano ourselves everyday.
And that is my list of things that helped me get through this trying year.
I hope we’ve all survived 2020 the best way we can and that 2021 will bring us joy, peace and security.
Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!
The 2019 All Purpose Gift Guide
The 2019 All Purpose Gift Guide
Stocking Stuffers/ White Elephant/ For Everyone, Young and Old!
It’s baaaa-ack!
Here’s this year’s version of the super-convenient, pretty-affordable, Prime-ready, one-stop shopping list. Almost everything on this list has been tested/ approved by me or someone close to me. Enjoy!
For the person in your life who’s almost ready to bite the Botox bullet but also wants to try all the miracle products first:
For the brilliant coworker who spaces out in meetings but somehow pulls it all together in the end:
For the neighbor who had their Christmas lights turned on November 1:
For the uber organized traveler who shows up three hours before flights and still prints out travel documents:
For new parents who are too busy to finish a cup of coffee before it cools off:
The picture is of this nice copper but that seems to be going in and out of stock, so the link below is for a black one. FYI.
For the proto-hipster who insists on sleeping with their phone outside their bedroom because of electro-magnetic-whatevers but spends the other 18 hours a day scrolling…:
For the nieces/ nephews when you forget how old they are/ don’t know what they like :
For the prepper/ parent/ crafter that needs to corral their stuff but also make it look good on Instagram:
For everyone, seriously:
For the freelancer who spends 10 hours a day at their desk:
For the teenager who thinks she likes Bob Ross because it’s ironic but secretly loves feeling comforted in a world of strife and turmoil:
For the person who would rather cook at home than put their nice bag on the bathroom/ restaurant floor:
For the hyperactive child/adult who always needs to move:
And if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, check out some of my other lists!
If I don’t get a chance to see you in person, I hope with all of my heart that you are able to celebrate whatever holiday makes your heart happy with whoever makes you laugh and brings you peace.
See you in 2020!
Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!