I’m sitting here writing this on the night of December 29th, and it already feels like Christmas Day was three months ago. Granted, my Christmas came to an abrupt halt on the 26th when a tube behind my fridge cracked and my basement flooded, ceiling collapsed, etc. Yikes. But hey, could always be way worse! With all of that, there’s lots to look forward to that’s keeping me busy...including sharing my favorite things with you!
I’m realllllly excited for where 2019 will take me, especially with XO&So! I got a REAAAAAL camera and a KitchenAid, as well as a lot of photo-ready kitchen accessories to take my photography and cooking to the next level!
Say hello to my new best friend!
Before we dive into 2019, I wanted to put together a list of some of my favorite things from 2018, in hopes you’ll find something new to love. Some of these are affiliate links, but NOTHING is sponsored, and these are all things I love and use myself! You can click some images to shop or use the provided links.
Kitchen Supplies:
These are some of my favorite things I use and love in my own kitchen.
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- A lot of the metal flour sifters with cranks are clunky and don’t operate smoothly. I found this plastic version on Amazon and quickly fell in love with it. Sifting your flour never hurts, but it’s especially useful if you’re making pastries or baking.
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- My beautiful Eres Pie Dish. Another Anthro find I can’t get enough of! You’ll see this pop up in my Instagram a lot, and I’ve been keeping it in the center of my kitchen table because I always want to be able to look at it!
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- It’s no secret that I freaking loooooove Anthropologie’s kitchen stuff, and this jar I use to store sugar is no exception! They have a bunch of stuff with this pattern, and I ordered the mugs and coasters as Christmas gifts, too!
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- These silicone measuring cups are a life saver if you’re often microwaving butter, chocolate chips, etc. The silicone stops the container from getting too hot, so it’s easy to just grab right out of the microwave, and the measurements are really useful too!
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- I’ve been looooving my KitchenAid food processor. I use it for all sorts of things, from chopping vegetables, to making dough and dips, and much more. It’s also sleek and compact and easy to clean and it has lots of power packed into it.
Food:
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- Whether you avoid lactose or not, these are some of the best individual cheeses out there! I usually buy them at Safeway but I’ve seen them in lots of places. They’re the perfect size and they taste soooo freaking good, on their own or with crackers!
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- A lot of the metal flour sifters with cranks are clunky and don’t operate smoothly. I found this plastic version on Amazon and quickly fell in love with it. Sifting your flour never hurts, but it’s especially useful if you’re making pastries or baking.
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- My grandma recently served me this ravioli and the first thing I said was, “It tastes like mac and cheese in ravioli form!” Turns out, it’s mac and cheese ravioli so I was right on. You can buy this at Superstore and it’s my new fav. I serve it sometimes with a red sauce, or other times just with garlic butter sauce and breadcrumbs!
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- I buy five boxes of these at a time and they last about a week in my house… to say I’m obsessed is an understatement! They are soooo good on their own, or with cheese or dips. They’re like chips but even better somehow?!
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- Another recipe I can’t get enough of! So much flavor and all my favorite things packed into a wrap. Shout out to Gardein for making such great meat alternatives!
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- Mashed potatoes are one of my top three favorite foods and turning them into cheesy, oniony patties was one of the best decisions I made all year!
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- I first got to try the Beyond Meat Burger in the US in April this year. It blew me away, and it was no surprise they sold out right away when A&W started carrying them in Canada a few months later. Damn, I want one now!!!
Skincare, Hair, and Makeup:
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- Once you smell this stuff you’ll fall in love with it, and the cherry on top is that it’s seriously SO moisturizing. My favorite way to use it is over body lotion, because if you apply oil over lotion it can penetrate the lotion and help seal everything in, but if you put oil on first, your lotion won’t be able to do its job.
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- This is soooo good for fine hair and it’s probably the best-smelling hair product I’ve ever used in my life!
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- Yes, they’re a little pricey but ya get what ya pay for and I think Dior makes some of the absolute best lip products on the market. These are the ones I carry with my all the time: Satin Finish in Lilac Glow Shimmer Finish Holographic Pink Matte Finish Pink
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- I fell in love with this moisturizer the first time I used it based on it’s feel, smell, and the exceptional packaging. Over time, I loved it more and more because of how nicely it goes on and its perfect texture.
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- If you’re looking for the perfect mascara for your lower lashes, this is it. Thank me later!
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- If you have dry skin, this makeup remover will become your new holy grail product. It’s SOOOO soft, smells so good, and does such an amazing job of removing your makeup. It’s so soothing that your skin won’t feel tight and dry after, which is my favorite part!
Books:
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- Roxane Gay is one of my favorite authors, and this book had a profound effect on me, as I imagine it does on most anyone who reads it!
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- Everyone loves Chrissy Teigen, right? Her second cookbook is full of reeeeally good recipes, including lots that can be made vegetarian if they aren’t already!
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- My brother’s girlfriend lent me this novel and I just finished, and really enjoyed it! I found it was a real page turner with a captivating story but it was still an easy read the whole way through.
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- If you ever need a dose of body positivity (and who doesn’t!), this book is the one for you! It’s the kind of read that reminds you how exceptional you already are, and I love how it challenges stereotypes and helps change the way we’ve been taught to think about our bodies.
Miscellaneous:
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- These are, without a doubt, the best dog bones I’ve ever given my dogs - and there have been hundreds. These last FOREVER and they’re so sturdy and safe for strong chewers.
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- The Netflix show based on this book really shows off cooking and food like an art, and it’s so mesmerizing to watch. You’ll learn so much about food, how it’s made, how to make it better, and you’ll enjoy yourself while you watch, too!
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- If you like true crime, you’ll love the Cold Podcast about the murder and disappearance of Susan Powell. I've been totally gripped by it the whole way through.
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- Maggie Rogers is one of my new favorite musicians, and I highly recommend you check her out! She recently did a cover of Taylor Swift’s “Tim McGraw” that you just HAVE to hear.
Well, that should keep you busy for a while, right?
Cheers to the New Year! I hope 2019 is your best yet! Thanks so much for following along with my little blog.
If you have a minute, I'd love to get your input about what you'd like to see more of in 2019. Any specific recipes? What were your favorite things? Anything you're getting sick of? Let me know!
xo - C
This post may contain some “affiliate links”. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase a product/service, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. However, I only recommend products, services, and/or business that I personally use, love, and/or believe will add value to my readers. Thank you so much for your support!
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