2023 Favorites

Surprise! It’s a bonus blog post. I couldn’t let 2023 slip by without sharing some of my favorites of this year.

Instead of going into tons of detail, I decided to continue with the tradition of creating lists (hi, I’m Type A). I chose my top 5 for each category except for highlights, in which I chose 16. Because, why not?

2023 Favorites

COFFEE & TEA ORDERS

1. Dunkin: Iced caramel coffee with cream and sugar

2. Starbucks: Caramel macchiato with almond milk

3. At home: Hazelnut coffee with caramel creamer

4. At home: Constant Comment tea with a little honey

5. When feeling under the weather: Starbucks’ medicine ball

BOOKS

1. The Violin Conspiracy — Brendan Slocumb (5/5 stars)

2. A Flicker in the Dark — Stacy Willingham (5/5 stars)

3. The Family Across the Street — Nicole Trope (5/5 stars)

4. Then She Was Gone — Lisa Jewell (4.5/5 stars)

5. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir — Matthew Perry (4/5 stars)

PODCASTS & APPS

1. Nara Baby

2. 1-Second Every Day

3. Libby

4. The Lazy Genius podcast

5. Books, Beach, and Beyond podcast

FILM & TV

1. The Chosen

2. Hunger Games: The Battle of Songbirds and Snakes

3. Depp v. Heard documentary

4. Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets

5. Watching NFL game during fall 2023

BABY FAVORITES

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar book and all board books in general

2. Baby Brezza

3. Activity table

4. A foam mat for the playroom

5. Montessori toys

HIGHLIGHTS

1. I had a maternity leave that went by way too quickly!

2. I turned 30.

3. I began to figure out this whole “working/stay-at-home mom” balance thing.

4. I learned to embrace motherhood and all the highs and lows of this journey.

5. I met Elin Hilderbrand and reunited with my college BFF.

6. Vienna completed her cranial helmet journey (Not a highlight but a very big part of 2023.)

7. I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and underwent a thyroidectomy surgery. (Also not a highlight but a very memorable part of 2023).

8. We went on our first family vacation to the beach.

9. My brother Zach got married and I gained another sister, Jenna!

10. We celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.

11. Vienna dressed up as Dorothy for her first Halloween.

12. We cheered Vienna on as she met milestones like crawling, laughing, smiling, walking, talking — and more!

13. Vienna experienced the magic of Christmas lights.

14. Vienna turned one and we threw a winter ONE-derland-themed party.

15. We experienced Christmas through Vienna’s eyes.

16. I read 50+ books.