A Few of My Favorite Things
2018 is drawing to a close and I always enjoy looking back on the year that was. In the name of gratitude and nostalgia, I thought I’d take this opportunity to share a few of my favorite things from the past twelve months.
Favorite TV show:
New Amsterdam, NBC – Shows set in hospitals aren’t always my cup of tea, because they can be too tense and too heavy for my taste. Not this one! It makes me teary, but in the best possible way… in a way that warms my heart.
Victoria, PBS – Excellent! I love the history it details, the romance between Victoria and Albert, and the story lines of the people connected to the crown.
Favorite movies:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Netflix – I instantly liked this heroine and sympathized with her predicament! Though the ‘pretend boyfriend’ premise isn’t new, it was told in such a fresh and endearing way that it absolutely worked for me.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Netflix – Charming! A wonderful adaptation of a terrific book. I especially liked Michiel Huisman’s portrayal of Dawsey.
Crazy Rich Asians – Funny, romantic, and so entertaining I didn’t want it to end.
Favorite Food:
Hail Merry – In order to keep my digestive issues at bay, I eat a Paleo/LowFodmap diet. For months, I avoided sugar (even natural sugars) as much as a person can. When I was finally able to add them back in, my sweet tooth and I were incredibly grateful for Paleo desserts. These are sweetened with maple syrup and they’re DELICIOUS.
NutPods – I like my coffee creamy, and so I was thrilled to discover this unsweetened and dairy free creamer. I tuck one into my suitcase when I travel.
The desserts at PaleoRunningMomma.com – I’ve tried a lot of Paleo recipes that have fallen absolutely flat. But Michele’s desserts don’t disappoint. I visit this site numerous times each week because she does such a terrific job crafting Paleo recipes that taste great (which is no small feat).
Favorite Trip:
Anniversary trip to London and Paris – We took our kids on a 25th anniversary trip this past summer. It was a huge splurge, but I don’t regret a single dollar we spent. Each day of the trip was priceless. In my opinion, it’s sometimes worth it to mark a big occasion with an extra special exclamation point.
Favorite Gadget:
Tiles – His Highness frequently misplaces his keys, wallet, phone, and remote control. He’s often looking for them in a panic right when he needs to rush out the door. These Tiles have fixed that predicament. If he loses his keys, he taps “keys” on his Tiles app and the Tile attached to his key ring emits a beeping sound. If he loses his phone, he double clicks one of his other Tiles, and his phone emits a beeping sound. Problem solved!
Favorite Shopping Experience:
Stitch Fix – Twice in 2018, I ordered a Stitch Fix box. A stylist picked out and sent me items in my size. Both times, opening the box was like opening a surprise gift. Both times, I kept everything I received, but it was reassuring to know that I could send back (without cost) anything that didn’t work for me.
They include styling suggestions for each item, which is a nice perk for fashion-challenged people like me.
Favorite Accessory:
Earrings from Nickel & Suede – They’re big but they’re very, very lightweight because they’re made out of leather. I’ve enjoyed these immensely. They match everything and can be either super casual or dressy.
My earrings are somewhat camouflaged by my hair, but I’m wearing them in the below photo, taken the day I had lunch with readers Amy and Crissy in Nashville.
What were your favorite TV shows, movies, Paleo foods, trips, gadgets, shopping experiences, and/or accessories of 2018?
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I wanted to thank you for sending me the book The Christmas Heirloom which arrived after Christmas. Thanks so much. I plan to read it next.
You’re welcome!
Super fun list. I can’t wait to check out the movies. I also got two Stitch Fix boxes this year and LOVED them. So fun.
I’m happy to hear that you like them, too! 🙂
Loved the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – book and movie. We had a wonderful trip to southern California to visit our daughter and family who live in Long Beach. Took a gondola ride along the Canals, a ferry to Catalina, and drove down to Julian for the famous apple pie. Also wanted to take a picture of our grandson, Julian, in the town of Julian.
Have been wanting to try Stitch Fix and appreciate your recommendation.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Happy new year, Betty! I’m very familiar with southern California because I grew up in Riverside. Julian is such a cute town! And Catalina is fabulous.
My favorite movie(and soundtrack!) this year was The Greatest Showman. I know it came out at the end of December of 17 but didn’t make it to the theater to see it till Janurary…😊 I will say I am dying to read and watch Gurnsey…hopefully in 2019…🤷🏻♀️ My favorite trip this year was our 10 year wedding anniversary trip my hubby and I took to Waco, Texas-I LOVE Fixer Upper and was thrilled to see it all. One of my favorite experiences this year was meeting several of my favorite authors and hearing a panel discussion they did in Branson, Mo in April…including our own Becky Wade❤️❤️❤️
Yes! That Branson getaway — complete with the chance to meet you, Melissa — was a highlight of my year.
Thanks for the recommendations! Just ordered Tile for my husband’s birthday! Like your husband, he’s often in a panic searching for phone, keys, wallet, etc.
Also loved “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” And maybe now I’ll give “Crazy Rich Asians” a try!
Agree about splurging on a memorable trip! We did that for our honeymoon. Maybe we can make it happen for our 25th too – coming up in a few years.
I hope you and your husband enjoy Tiles as much as we do! Happy new year, Carolyn!
2018 was actually a pretty great year for television & movies! I am a huge fan of New Amsterdam, All The Boys, and The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (I watched and read this summer). I’m going to add the show Timeless, which wasn’t new, but was canceled very undeservedly, and resurrected again by the fans for an outstanding Christmas movie. It gives a voice to so much in history that has been overlooked or forgotten!(check it out on Hulu!)
I haven’t watched Timeless! Thanks for the recommendation, Teri.
Loved “Timeless” as well!
My favorite shows I watched this year would be Timeless….so sad to see it go. Stranger Things, I absolutely loved this show and I’m an Indiana native so extra special. Shadowhunters was great too. On Network TV it would have to be SWAT, Shemar Moore is a favorite. Yellowstone was good too. On books my favorite book of the year would be Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. I haven’t tried Paleo food but need to get my cholesterol down so it looks like a good source. I haven’t tried Stitch Fix either. Didn’t take any trips this year. I don’t get to many movies but I really enjoyed Jurassic World part 2 and Avengers Infinity Wars part 1.
I loved reading about your favorites, Naomi! I’ll definitely try some of those TV shows. We thoroughly enjoyed Stranger Things, too. 🙂
To All the Boys I Loved Before 😍😍😍
And I agree with the previous post—Timeless is fabulous!
My year was extremely boring no trips, my favorite movie was “Hacksaw Ridge” a true story made by Mel Gibson, TV show Poldark on PBS. I don’t do Paleo but do low carb. The only real shopping I do is for books and I lucked out with some of my favorite authors Lisa Harris” A Secret to Die For”,Lynette Eason “Oath of Honor”. Ronie Kendig “Thirst of Steel” and Irene Hannon “Hidden Peril” and that is just the highlights. MY new Year hopefully will be not quite so boring. Hope yours is Blessed with good health, happiness and any other blessing God would favor you and your family with! Happy New Year!
Happy new year to you, too, Pam! I’ll have to watch Hacksaw Ridge. I’m glad you reminded me of it — I’d heard from others that it’s good. 🙂
I haven’t watched New Amsterdam but love all BBC dramas – discovered Home Fires and A Place to Call Home this year. Shetland, Vera, and Endeavour are all series that we’ve watched in 2018. I also watched To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before with my college daughter and we both enjoyed it.
I’m glad I can eat anything that I want/like but then, it might not be bad to be limited – could lose weight that way. lol
We also took our kids to Europe for our 25th (only it was a year late – for our 26th in 2017 due to college and school schedules). BEST. TRIP.EVER. England (took in a football game – epic), France, Italy and Austria (concentration camp – forever in my memory). We’re planning another trip across the pond in 2019. Youngest will be doing an internship in Germany so we hope to go see her.
“BEST. TRIP.EVER.” Yes! That’s how I feel about our Europe trip. I love, love, loved it. I’d be thrilled to return, the way that you’re planning to!
In total agreement with you about favorite movies – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. THRILLED their doing a sequel To All the Boys, and can’t wait to see it as well.
Always love your “favorite things” posts, Becky! I’m probably going to copycat you in a few weeks and do my own! 🙂
Becky, thank you for sharing your favorite things. You’ve encouraged me to try Stitch Fix.