It’s been a year, hasn’t it? When I reflect back on the last twelve months and think about all that occurred (joyful and difficult), my head spins. I’ve thought about what worked for me and what didn’t. After listening to a few different podcasts discussing annual best-of lists, I decided to write my own true favorites of 2020. I find using superlatives to be tricky, but I did my best to note all the things that made my 2020 a little easier. It was HARD to narrow it down, but here you go! (There may be some affiliate links here.)

2020 Favorites

We probably watched more TV than normal this year and definitely binge-watched quite a bit! While there were many shows I thoroughly enjoyed, here are my favorites.

TV

• This is Us
• The Crown
• A Million Little Things
• Madam Secretary
• Away
• The English Game
• The Good Doctor
• New Amsterdam

I read almost 60 books this year, and it was difficult to choose my favorites. When I add books to my Everyday Reads page, I place an asterisk by favorites. As I reviewed the page, I tried to remember what stood out to me in each book. I asked myself which books stayed with me, which had the biggest impact, and which were the most entertaining. I would recommend almost all the books on my entire list, but here are the stand outs.

Books

Non-Fiction

• I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott
• Stay: Discovering Grace, Freedom, and Wholeness by Anjuli Paschall
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Know My Name by Chanel Miller
• Searching for Certainty by Shelly Miller

Fiction

• The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger
• We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
• Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
• Long Bright River by Liz Moore
• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

I can’t think of a better year to practice self-care, try new beauty products, and step up my skincare game than 2020. Though wearing a mask changed how often I wore a bold lip color (almost never!), it didn’t affect my love for makeup and skincare products. I enjoy discovering new-to-me brands, but I also have some tried and true favorites. This compilation could easily be much longer (there are SO many great products I love!), but in the effort to keep my lists in each category to ten and under, here are my top ten. (Also, I usually don’t pay full price for anything, so I patiently wait for sales or look for discounts 😊)

Beauty

• Olive and June nail polish~ a dear friend gifted me w/ a starter kit and there’s no turning back. This polish is long-lasting and has a wide variety of colors. I find painting my nails each week to be therapeutic.
• The Honey Mud~ I kept hearing about this face mask and decided to try it. Oh my word! This stuff is incredible- the scent is amazing, the texture feels like pudding, and my skin loves it! A little goes a long way, so a jar of this will last you a long, long time.
• Love + Sage lip balm~ These organic, natural lip balms are lightly tinted and smell divine! They’re very moisturizing and long-staying.
• Supergoop Glowscreen~I wear sunscreen daily, and this is typically my go-to. It’s described as an SPF 40 makeup-gripping primer that leaves a dewy, glowy finish, with sun protection and major hydration. I often wear it alone or under makeup.
• Chanel Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow~ Speaking of makeup, I love the lightweight formula of this one. It provides a luminous, natural finish without looking shiny.
• Becca Undereye Brightening Corrector~ You can say goodbye to undereye dark circles and hello to a bright, radiant appearance using this.
• ILIA Multi-Stick~ This creamy, hydrating stick can be used for lips and cheeks, and I love the natural color it provides.
• Leahlani Bless Beauty Balm~ This nutrient-dense, silky moisturizer melts into your skin and smells like Hawaii! You need only the tiniest amount of this pink goodness.
• Primally Pure Deodorant~ I tried quite a few natural brands before I found one I like. This deodorant is made with 100% natural and safe ingredients AND actually works!
• Rachel’s Plan Bee Cream~ I’ve been using this dry skin balm for several years now, and it’s my favorite! I carry a small jar in my purse and take it with me whenever I travel.

How many of us found ourselves wearing more comfy clothes this year instead of our regular wear? Well, I know I did! I fully embraced the loungewear trend and found some new favorites. Of course there were days when I dressed and looked put together, but with being home so much more this year, I frequently wore leggings, joggers, and stretchy jeans. I purchased some beautiful sweaters and other clothes this year, but the following list contains items I reached for most often. As noted above, I usually don’t pay full price for anything, so I patiently wait for sales or hunt for discounts.

Clothing

• Everlane Pima Long Sleeve Crew~ Purchasing from Everlane always feels good because I love their mission of radical transparency. This lightweight, stretchy, soft top is perfect for wearing alone or layering under a sweater.
• Everlane Dress~ This machine-washable jersey dress is comfy and stylish. I wore this repeatedly over the summer when I wanted to look more put together.
• Madewell Roadtripper Jeans~ I wrote about these in a recent newsletter, and how they’re one of the most comfortable jeans I own. They’re lightweight, stretchy, and flattering.
• Vuori Joggers~ I kept seeing ads for these and people raving about them, so I took the plunge. They’re buttery soft, wash well, and don’t sag. I love them so much that I asked for a second pair for Christmas. I wear them all the time.
• Beyond Yoga Leggings~ Speaking of buttery soft, these cozy leggings are perfect for lounging or yoga. They’re thick, don’t pill, and are high quality.
• Girlfriend Leggings~ These fabulous high-rise leggings are my favorite for wearing when exercising. They stay put, are compressive, wash well, and are made from recycled water bottles!
• Allbirds~ I’ve been gifted pairs of these from my husband and kids, and I love them all! I wear the Tree Skippers in the summer, the Tree Dashers when exercising, and the loungers around the house.

Due to a pandemic, grief from losing my mom earlier this year, and less socializing, I found myself staying at home much more. This list was one of the most difficult to narrow down because I use so many different things at home. I thought about which items make being home a little easier and which ones I couldn’t live without. Here are my ten favorite, random home goods.

Home

• Cozy blankets~ my Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw (it was a Christmas gift from a few years ago) or this Bliss Plush Throw were the blankets I reached for any time I was chilly.
• Grove Collaborative~ I’m so thankful for this online company that delivers eco-friendly home essentials. I order almost all my cleaning products, laundry, and some personal care products from this company.
• Folding Step Stool~Instead of dragging a chair into the kitchen or my closet to reach things (short people problems!), I use this step stool. It’s sturdy, has grip pads, and folds up easily.
• Vitamix Blender~ After doing tons of research on blenders, we ordered this during a major sale. This blender is powerful, easy to clean, and doesn’t take up a ton of room on the counter. We use it almost daily for smoothies and soups. Vitamix blenders are quite pricey, but well worth it. We previously owned a less expensive blender (the Ninja), and this one is 10x better. 
• Earth Therapeutics Microwavable Wrap~ I use this anti-stress comfort wrap all the time- in the mornings when my neck feels tight, on chilly mornings to warm up, or when I have a migraine. I had my previous one for 10 years before I bought a new one this year. 
• Hydro Flask Water Bottle~ I use this stainless steel, wide-mouth water bottle every single day to ensure proper hydration. My water stays cold for hours, the bottle is extra sturdy, and it’s dishwasher safe. 
• Moka Pot~ If I’m going to drink coffee, I make it in this stovetop Italian pot. I enjoy the ritual of making it and listening for the bubbling to let me know the coffee is ready. These are the coffee beans I use with the Moka Pot.
• Kindle~ I prefer actual books that I can hold, but reading on this device is the next best thing. I can adjust the brightness and read outdoors with it. It’s super lightweight, and the battery lasts for ages. I typically get my ebooks from the library via the overdrive app.
• Neck and Back Massager~ If you carry your tension in your neck and shoulders like I do, this gadget is the thing to have. Between the heat and the kneading massage, it works out all the kinks. 
• Candles~ If you know me at all, you won’t be surprised candles made the list. I burn candles daily and have for years. The flickering light, the scent, and the soft illumination make me happy. I wrote more about candles here and here. Besides the brands I mention in this post, I also love these other companies: Harlem Candle Company, Xoan Candles, and buying other brands from Anthropologie.

Whew! That was a lot to cover, but I hope this post inspired you to make a list of your own true favorites from 2020, and perhaps gave you some new items to consider adding into your life. Thank you for reading and for being a part of my year. Here’s to hoping for a wonderful 2021! ⭐️

I would love to know what things would make your true favorites list ❤️Please feel free to comment below or send me an email. I find it so fun to read about other people’s favorites 😊