Oprah has her list of favorite things, I have my list of every thing that’s brought me joy this year – from eating and dining to wellness and games.
Photo by Kimberly Graydon
I told you this would be a doozy of a post! From brainstorming to organizing and writing, it’s taken quite a bit of time. I considered doing gift guides this year but it felt more me to share a compiled list of (almost) every thing that’s sparked joy into my days during 2022.
Of course, it goes without saying that James, my family, Miss Riley, and my friends have brought me the MOST joy this year.
This list is one comprised of the little, tangible things that made me smile, gave me a boost when I needed it, and helped bring microdoses of fun and happiness to my every day life. So, without further ado, here is a list of every thing that’s brought me joy this year.
A List of Every Thing That’s Brought Me Joy This Year
Dining and Entertaining
Marin Low Bowls: James and I put Marin Low Bowls ($10) on our wedding registry after a co-worker raved about them. Turns out my coworker is a genius because James and I reach for these low bowls for nearly every single meal. They’re like a hybrid of a bowl and plate and work great for pastas, our favorite steak salads, you name it. I love how more fun and special Marin Low Bowls look when compared to dinner plates.
Tour Stemware: Upgrading our stemware was another wedding registry must for us. We chose the Tour stemware line from Crate and Barrel, we have glasses for water, white wine, red wine, martinis, and bourbon. Having good quality stemware has been one of those joys we didn’t realize we were missing out on until we upgraded.
Cordless Wine Opener: Speaking of wine…James (silently) judged me when this cordless wine opener arrived on our doorstep. But he has since seen the light and acknowledged how necessary this wine opener has been. We keep ours charging on the counter. For someone who cannot operate a wine key to save her life, this is a godsend.
Personalized Pet Cocktail Napkins: When James and I were planning our wedding, we knew we wanted Riley, our foxhound/beagle mix, to have some sort of presence. Initially, we thought of cocktail stirrers but I am so glad we ultimately chose the cocktail napkins with her sweet little face on them. We still have a bunch leftover from the wedding and use them when we have company over or just want to make our happy hour for two at home a little more special.
Pineapple Cocktail Picks: Every good cocktail needs a garnish, right? I love using our pineapple cocktail picks to jazz up my drink’s accessories. Our exact ones are not currently available on Williams and Sonoma but here is a cute lookalike.
Epicurean Cutting Board: One of our favorite times of day is when James and I are in the kitchen cooking our dinner and telling each other about our days. But cooking prep was getting a little less-streamlined with only one small cutting board. The Epicurean cutting board holds up perfectly for everyday use and I actually like how it looks on our countertop.
Clothing and Accessories
Summersalt Matching Set: You’ve likely already heard me rave about Summersalt’s Matching Set. If you haven’t, please go check out my review and read why they more than live up to their hype.
Lake Pajamas and Robe: Lake very generously gifted me a pair of their tartan flannel pajamas (I recommend going up one size) and their robe and OMG are they amazing. If I could live in those pajamas, I would (and have been since I’ve arrived in Arizona) and their robe makes me feel like I’m in the most luxurious hotel robe.
Tuckernuck Scarf: Tuckernuck scarves are sneakily amazing and are under $100. This is their current iteration and honestly, I think I need to add it to my collection.
Birdcage Earrings: Tuckernuck is also an amazing place for statement earrings. Their birdcage earrings are my #1 favorite holiday accessory. I do recommend using the Lobe Wonder for these as they can be a heavier earring (read my Lobe Wonder review here).
Fabric Fuzz Remover: As we’re pulling out those winter coats and sweaters, I love this handy fabric fuzz remover to revive my cold weather wardrobe. It’s one of those tasks that’s oddly satisfying.
Amazon Leggings/Bike Shorts: I wear these Amazon leggings all the time (in fact, I’m wearing them right now!) and I’ll switch to bike shorts during the warmer months. I love the side pockets, it’s perfect for stashing my keys and AirPod case when I’m at the gym. I would recommend sizing up, I’m normally a medium and I wear a large in these.
Monogram Market Tote: In the summer months, I use my monogram market tote at every possible chance. It’s great for farmer’s market trips, pool days, or just when you need a bag bigger than your purse.
Lululemon Belt Bag: I will be the first to admit it – I thought the belt bag was absurd and was firmly convinced this was a trend I’d sit out on. Until warm weather meant I didn’t always have a place to stash my phone, keys, etc. when I was out walking Riley. The belt bag solved this problem and ended up being the bag I reached for the most on weekends. Since it is white, it can get dirty after awhile but it’s so easy to hand wash and comes out looking good as new.
Health and Wellness
Melissa Wood Health Subscription: I consider the $10/month subscription to MWH to be an investment in my mental and physical health. Her low-impact workouts emphasize mindful, daily movement and most of them are under 20 minutes – perfect for squeezing in a workout even when I feel like I don’t have time. I’m also a big fan of her meditations, I do one (almost) every morning after I take Riley out for a walk.
12-3-30 Treadmill Workouts: I started seeing this workout all over TikTok and decided to give it a whirl. I walk 10k+ steps most days so I figured it would be an easy-ish challenge (oh man was I wrong) and a good way to add more cardio to my exercise routine. I love how tough of a workout it is, I always hop off the treadmill feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Mady Morrison Stretches on Youtube: I cannot say enough wonderful things about Mady’s stretch series. They’ve been enormously helpful with releasing stress and tension from my neck and shoulders and I highly recommend her 15 Minute Full Body Stretch. It’s my favorite thing to do before I hop into bed (I swear it’s better than melatonin). She doesn’t speak during these series but instead uses a timer to show how long to hold the stretch. Mady will also demonstrate in between stretches how to properly set up for the next pose so you don’t risk injuring yourself. I also love the gentle music she plays during the stretches.
Bala Bangles: I reach for my Bala Bangles whenever I want to add a little extra oomph to my workouts (although MWH arm workouts using your own body weight are no joke!). They’re great for cuffing around your ankles for adding extra resistance for lower-body workouts or holding in your hands for arms workouts.
Beauty and Skincare
Beauty Pie Membership: I’ve raved about Beauty Pie a few times over here (my initial impressions post and Youthbomb serum review) so I’ll spare you the longwinded version. Their Youthbomb serum has probably had the biggest impact on my skin’s texture of any product I’ve ever tried and their Super Retinol Hand Cream has made a noticeable difference on my hands, which tend to dry really quickly during the winter months.
Trader Joe’s Vitamin C Serum: Get to a TJ’s near you and pick up their Merry & Bright skincare trio (or maybe two). TJ’s Merry & Bright is only available during the holiday season and contains their Vitamin C Serum. It blows my more expensive Vitamin C Serum out of the water! Highly recommend stocking up while you can.
Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss: This $7 lip gloss was introduced to me by my wedding makeup artist. The color “Reef” is a wonderful every day soft pink lip gloss color. While it is a gloss, it’s not too glossy if you know what I mean. It won’t give you flashbacks to school dances in the early 2000s. I also love how it doesn’t dry out your lips.
Youth to the People Overnight Mask: My skin tends to dry out whenever I travel or if the temperatures fluctuates wildly. Whenever that happens, I reach for my Youth to the People Overnight Mask and it works wonders while I sleep. This mask also comes in a mini size, which is great to toss into your travel toiletries bag!
Cucumber Gel Undereye Masks: Keep these in your fridge for an extra cooling effect! My friend brought these cucumber gel undereye masks out while we were getting ready for her wedding and I immediately ordered them from Amazon. I reach for these undereye masks on mornings when I need to look a little more awake than I feel.
Mane and Tail Shampoo and Conditioner: DC water and my hair have been locked in an epic battle for awhile. Mane and Tail Shampoo and Conditioner have made a noticeable difference in my hair’s health, even my hair colorist asked what I’d been using. I no longer have to battle with my hair and dealing with post-shower tangles and knots.
Entertainment
Making Space with Hoda Kotb: I am a HUGE fan of Hoda and have been for such a long time. I found her podcast, Making Space, right when I needed it. In each episode, Hoda has a thoughtful, and thought-provoking, guest on to discuss the big picture of life, the minute details that make it worthwhile, and the strength of the human spirit. I love listening to this podcast on mornings with a cup of tea while sitting on the couch with Riley.
A Deck of Playing Cards: James came home one day with a deck of playing cards on a spur of the moment. I used to play Rummy with my grandma all the time and it’s been a fun activity for James and me to do post-dinner. No screens, just conversation and a little healthy competition!
Books
Joyful: This was a library book loan that I ended up purchasing because I needed it on my shelf as a reference book. In Joyful, author Ingrid Fetell Lee talks about how ordinary things have the power to create extraordinary joy. This year was a stressful one for me and this book was a helpful reminder to look for joy in the every day and to choose to do.
Rising Strong: Can you tell this was the year of self-help books for me? Rising Strong is the third book by Brené Brown I’ve read and arrived at the right moment. With all of life’s changes and transitions this year, this book was helpful in processing setbacks and rising from failings.
The Dude Diet Dinnertime: On a lighter note, The Dude Diet Dinnertime by Serena Wolf has been a game changer for our meals. 2022 was the year James and I both learned to cook for two and many of this cookbook’s recipes (that feel indulgent while being good for you!) have become staples in our kitchen.
