Weekly Recs | Best of 2024
All of my gold star picks from 2024.
Another year over! I probably bought and recommended a bazillion things here, but as always, some stand out more than others. Here’s a look at all the goodies I took home that deserved a gold star for excellent service this year.
Beauty
I’m a sucker for all the balm-dot-coms, but this biscotti and espresso combo that came out right before Christmas was a winner. Tasty and moisturizing!
The Better Than Sex Foreplay mascara primer became my go-to. Great on it’s own - that’s how I usually wear it - but paired with Better Than Sex and it’ll last until next week. Non clumpy, long lasting, and ZERO fallout.
Nobody does lip liner better than Charlotte Tilbury, although I found that the famed Pillow Talk is not my shade. A little trial and error, and I landed on Iconic Nude and baby girl, she lasts.
I have no idea why this isn’t a viral hyped never in stock product, but here we are. The Flamingo body lotion is top tier. Smells great, absorbs nicely, and is a cool $10 on Amazon.
I’m a missionary for the Glossier You rollerball. Stick with the original, the scents Glossier launched this fall suck, but this one is tried-and-true.
No press on works harder than the Olive & June Instant Mani. Do your prep diligently and these suckers will stay on for 2+ weeks.
Another basic that I can’t believe isn’t more hyped - the Ordinary Advanced Moisturizing Factors + HA is the best in the business and a total bargain.
Blue nail polish became my entire personality this year, and this Sally Hansen bottle of Tidal Wave was my go-to. I invested in a gel version from Beetles a months or so later because I knew I loved it long enough to commit to longer term wear.
Style
I’m a simple gal, driven by comfort, a good price point, and apparently, blue.
If the kids say no-show socks are out, fine. I like my ankles covered anyway, and this set from ADIDAS is all I’ve been wearing lately.
A pop of red that alerts the world to my preferred beverage? Perfect.
My trusty-dusty slippers were in need of a refresh at least 2 years ago. Enter the perfect shade slip ons from Lands End. If I learned anything, it’s this: don’t sleep on Lands End.
These $5 beaded bracelets found their way to my ankles early in the summer and didn’t come off until October. A weird tan line ensued, but it’s worth it.
You see a pattern here right? I was persuaded by anything in varying shades of blue this year, but we gotta wear shoes and these fit the bill nicely.
Oh man, I fell so hard for the bubble initial necklace trend. I have a few, but these sparkly mini letters from Baublebar are my favorite.
The Mukluks birk style sandals were my go-to all summer long. Soft enough for daily wear. Rubber that doesn’t mind a little beach water. Cute. What more do you ask for from a shoe?
Raising hell. Never, but I like to think I’m a little pistol.
Books
I love a family of rich people that are so fucked up by their wealth that they make terrible decisions. Astor is great if you prefer that in non-fiction, and Long Island Compromise gets the job done if you like a car accident that you cannot look away from.
Big year for food. A chef I am not, but I love to page through a fancy cookbook that doubles as a coffee table read. Salad Freak is my favorite and I actually do put together some of those recipes. I was delighted by the idea of romanticizing the Friday evening meal, and the simple effectiveness of tinned fish spoke to me in Tin to Table.
If battling sisters is your vibe, Yolk provided some of the most authentic sibling dialogue I’ve ever read. Two estranged sisters come together when one of them becomes sick (and steals her sister’s identity!!!). And The Other Boleyn Girl is an oldie but a goodie, especially if you like a historical bodice ripper. Mary and Anne Boleyn battle each other for the love of a king.
Finally, the king: David Sedaris. I read a handful of his books this year and I’ll read anything else he writes.
Misc.
Drift air fresheners are the best in the business. For $12, you get an aesthetically pleasing air freshener that makes your car smell like a rich person drives it. I get the teak scent and it has influenced four people in my real life because it smells that good.
Everything overstimulates me. My kids endless chatter. The TV on in the other room. The sound of my coworkers typing. I invested in the Loop earplugs that quiet things, but don’t totally mute them and they’re perfect. I can respond if I have to, but I can tune everything out too.
In snack wizardry, I enjoyed quite a few Built Bars and Shameless Snacks gummy treats for their low calorie and/or high protein. Both probably feature a chemical ingredient list that only a food scientist can read, but they scratch the itch, you know?
Camp Snap Cameras is officially my favorite fun find of the year! A digital camera without a screen. I toss it in my purse and can ignore my phone for a while since I don’t need it to be a camera all the time.
Onward to a new year!
PS -
The best of 2024 // a personal look at my year.
Recently Enjoyed Things on Substack // for a weekly digest of my coming and goings.
Everything I Read in 2024 // two sentence reviews and synopsis.