2023 Favorites

I always love to look back on everything I purchased over the last year and think about the things that were really worth the purchase. Below are all my favorites from 2023.

Fashion & Style

Flare Jeans I actually bought these jeans back in either 2015 or 2016 but never got around to getting them hemmed until late last year. I absolutely love them. They are by far my most flattering jeans and probably my most comfortable jeans.

Sweater This was the year I fell in love with Sezane. If you are unfamiliar with Sezane, it is a French brand that strives for good quality clothing and sustainability. I now have several pieces from the brand and I’m always so impressed by the attention to detail and quality. The brand style overall also aligns with my personal style. It was hard to pick a favorite piece but this sweater is my current favorite Sezane piece.

Converse I bought these shoes for a trip to NYC in August. I love these converse shoes because they are comfortable and the canvas material makes them breathable so they’re confrontable to wear even in hot muggy weather.

Dior Scarf I’ve spoken so much about how much I love thin silk scarves like this and how I style them, so I’ll spare you this time. I absolutely love the colorway on this one.

Makeup & Skincare

Dior Foundation I love this foundation because it has a natural finish and light to medium coverage. It’s comfortable to wear all day.

Laneige Lip Mask This lip mask reminds me a lot of the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask I used to love but this is more confutable to wear. It looks like a clear lip gloss so I love to wear it during the day. It’s the most hydrating lip treatment I’ve ever tried. My husband hates anything that is moisturizing but even he likes to use this occasionally in the winter.

La Roche-Posay Moisturizer Colorado has an extremely dry climate so having a good moisturizer is a necessity. I love this one because my skin absorbs it easily and it wears under makeup and/or tinted sunscreen well.

Chanel Blush This blush is the perfect shade for me. It’s also really easy to blend in and little goes a long way.

Glow Getter Body Wash I never knew I could love a body wash this much…it’s so luxurious feeling, gentle, and hydrating. I won’t use any other body wash if I’m dealing with eczema. It’s also great for washing off waterproof sunscreen.

Books

Lonely Castle in the Mirror This was not only my favorite books I read this year but one of my favorite books I have ever read. This was incredibly heartwarming and beautiful in the end. I wish so badly I could read this again for the first time.

We Were Liars This was my runner up for favorite book of the year. I love everything about this book- the plot, the dynamics between characters, the fact that it takes place in New England. I also did not see the plot twist coming and it literally made my jaw drop. It follows a group of angsty privileged teens as they discover the very real consequences of not getting away with everything.

River Sing Me Home This is a very moving book that will make you cry tears of sorrow and tears of joy. It’s captivating from the first page. I loved the authors writing style and I thought it was a powerful read.

The Flatshare I’m not really into romance books but I loved this one. There were so many wholesome moments. It’s a quick read but it had me savoring it.

Home

Chair I got two of these chairs to go near our fireplace and I’ve been so impressed with the quality and how comfortable they are. They surprisingly dropped in price since I bought them so I feel like they’re a great price for the quality.

New York Art My husband and I came across this photographer when we were in New York. His work caught my eye because he prints on gold leaf and I’ve never seen that before. I hung it in our entryway and when the light hits it in the late afternoon it looks like it’s glowing. Every time we walk by it, it brings back happy memories.

Le Creuset Casserole Dish I actually got my Le Creuset Casserole dish at their outlet store near me. I saw it in a pink ombre and just could not pass it up. I really love it because it’s deep enough for stuffed peppers.

Pillow Inserts Earlier in the year I got our living room set re-stuffed by a local business. Once we got it refilled it became clear we needed new pillow inserts too. I originally got down pillow inserts but quickly realized that was a huge mistake because they were not supportive enough for pillows on a sofa and feathers were constantly coming out of the pillows. I then bought these inserts and we are so much happier with them. They’re supportive enough and don’t make a mess. They’re also less expensive than the down inserts.

Side table I bought this side table to use as a nightstand in our guest bedroom. It’s the perfect size. I cannot get over the price considering it is a solid marble top.

My Favorite Pajamas

Long Sleeve Pajama Set This is made with a satin-like material that is super comfortable. This is a great winter pajama set.

Sleep Shirt For me, this is a summer pajama. I personally prefer the long sleeves but they do have a short sleeve version. This is from the cool nights collection.

Henley Shirt This shirt is also from the cool nights collection. I love this collection because I’m a hot sleeper, so wearing a cooling and breathable fabric is a must. It’s also one of the softest fabrics I’ve ever felt.

Ankle Pants This is another item from the cool nights collection. If it is an option, I prefer a tapered pajama bottom but they also come in wide leg.

Short Sleeve Pajama Set This is from the same brand as the long sleeve set and also made from the same soft material. I prefer this set for the summer.

My Winter TBR List

I recently shared a review of all the books I read over the Fall season so it’s time to share all the books I plan to read this upcoming season.

Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell

As a teenager I loved reading Vogue. Now as an adult I love consuming their online content and still picking up the September issue every year. Speaking of the September issue, I think The September issue is one of the best fashion documentaries. Since I love fashion and a good biography I think I’m going to enjoy this.

A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Tales

You really can’t go wrong with reading A Christmas Carol this time of year to get you in the Christmas spirit. I’m also planning on reading the Nutcracker, which as a book I’m admittedly kind of indifferent towards, but I’m a huge fan of the ballet.

Blame It on the Mistletoe by Beth Garod

I bought this book because I heard someone say it was cute and very atmospheric, and I love to read a cutesy light hearted Christmas book every year but I unfortunately did not read the synopsis before ordering it. I started the book last night an I’m not sure it’s for me. I enjoy a good YA every once in a while, but this feels VERY YA. I’m only about 4 chapters in and it had me cringing most of the time. It’s a quick read so there is a good chance I’ll finish it regardless of how I feel about it, but I’m hoping it gets better.

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towles

The plot of this book sounds very different from anything I’ve read before so I’m exited to read it. Historical Fiction’s tend to be my favorite books. This book is a New York Times Bestseller and currently in the works of being turned into a mini series on Showtime/Paramount.