Well, well, well, look what time of year it is.

THE END. It's the end of the year. We have made it. We are here.

I've been keeping this post in my drafts for the past couple months, slowly adding things here and there, and now it's finally ready to publish. I recently looked back at last year's posts (part one, part two) and realized I have less favorites to share this year. Either my tastes are more refined or I'm becoming more difficult to please, either way, I don't have to split the post this time around.

Ok, let's get to it.


Food



Recipes
Coconut flour biscuits and pizza bites
Loaded baked cauliflower - a deliciously low-carb spin on loaded baked potatoes.
Bison chili - thanks, Costsco, for selling reasonably priced ground bison.
Tacos forever

Snacks
All white cheddar popcorn
Harney & Son's Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea - This is surgar free but somehow satisfies my late-night sweet tooth, so i'm throwing it in the snack category.
Plant based protein shakes using Garden of Life Protein Powder
Tacos forever


Entertainment



Youtube 
Negative Feedback - For every analog photography lover out there.

Books
The Mothers, by Britt Bennett (mentioned in this post)
It Ends with Us, by Colleen Hoover (mentioned in this post)

TV
"The Good Wife" - This is the only tv favorite of mine this year. These days TV shows have all become so soapy and cliffhanger-driven that I've hardly had the tolerance to sit through "will-they-won't-they" of it all. The Good Wife had some soapy narratives, but it's got that episodic formula I crave and love (a la Law & Order, CSI, Criminal Minds, etc). Each week a new case unfolds, and each case is different from the last. All seven seasons are currently streaming on Hulu, and each episode is nothing short of captivating. My only gripe is that Alicia Florrick is an insufferable main character, but the best shows usually have the most flawed main characters (in my humble opinion) (think: How I Met Your Mother, True Blood, Scandal, Sex and the City). I powered through the first three seasons and paced myself on the remaining four, so it took me about six months to watch the whole series, but I felt quite satisfied after watching the finale.

Movies 
Murder on the Orient Express - Stunning cinematography. STUNNING.
It
Get Out
The Mummy - I think the critics chewed this one up, but I enjoyed every minute (much better than the Brendan Frasier Mummy franchise), and Russel Crowe as Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde? Excellent casting there.


Intangible



Moments
Summer trip to Florida (recapped in this post)
Vacationing in Cuba (recapped in this post series)
Girls trip to New Orleans (somewhat recapped in this post)
All the girls nights
All the quiet evenings at home curled up on the couch by the fireplace
Catching up with old friends on late nights

Accomplishments
Surpassing my/our personal savings goal for the year
Navigating FABMs (Fertility Awareness Based Methods) as my primary form of birth control and ditching oral contraceptives for good


Things



Clothes
Thrifting - in July, I refreshed my summer wardrobe for less than $20, and last month I bought everything shown above for $13. My love for thrifting may never die.

Electronics
Olympus OM-10 analog camera
Instax Printer - This was a birthday gift from J. I'm super selective about which photos I print, because the film isn't cheap, but I love this thing and would highly recommend to anyone interested in a photo printer.

Other
Patio Set - Now all we need is to get the backyard treated for mosquitos, so I can actually sit out there more often.


Products




Skin
(aside from what's listed in the pictorial above, much of which were mentioned in last year's post)
Nivea Moisturizing Creme
Blistex Lip Balm - the regular $1 variety that comes in a classic tube
100% Tea Tree Oil
Diptyque Eau Moheli Eau de Toilette

Face & Hair
L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara
Denman brush


Music




Awaken, My Love!, by Childish Gambino - this didn't come out in 2017, but it was definitely my most played album of the year, especially after I snagged a vinyl copy at my local record store. It's officially my Saturday-morning-cleaning anthem.

And that's that. My favorites for the year 2017.

Next, I think I'll sit down and write about some lessons I've learned this year as well.

:)



photo source »»