Happy New Year! Can’t believe it’s already 2025, can you? Here are a few things I’ve been loving lately. (Some links are affiliate)
Something to Listen To:
- Blurry Creatures Episode 274 with Tom Doyle: Somehow I stumbled onto the Blurry Creatures podcast and sort of found it fascinating. I don’t listen to every episode but I definitely listened to this one! Tom Doyle is one of my favorite people and I’ve read several of his books. He and his wife do a lot of work in the middle east, ministering to Muslims, and they are such an inspiration! Give this episode a listen!
- With the Perrys podcast episode on Family and Parenting: Jackie Hill Perry and her husband Preston interviewed Ray and Jani Ortlund about what it means to parent with generations in mind. Lots of great information and encouragement here!
- Laura Tremaine’s podcast episode with Sophie Hudson: I love Laura’s podcast, 10 Thing to Tell You. It’s one of my favorites. When I saw that Sophie Hudson was going to be on the pod talking all things books, I couldn’t wait to listen! Such an eclectic mix of book recommendations and I can’t wait to read them. Plus I always love hearing two friends hang out and discuss things they love.
Something to Read:
- Dinner for Vampires: This memoir by Bethany Joy Lenz was fascinating. Bethany Joy was one of the stars of One Tree Hill (which I’d never seen) but was also in a religious cult at the same time. I know this is only her side of the story, but I just couldn’t stop reading it. Well, actually, I listened to it, which I recommend – Bethany does voices for all the characters and it’s great!
- The Thursday Murder Club: this is the first in a series, and full disclosure, the only one I’ve read. But it was so good. A murder mystery set in a retirement home where the elderly are trying to solve the crime – what could go wrong? I really enjoyed this one!
Something for the New Year:
- Growth Roots Journal: This journal has been a personal favorite for several years now. There is space to journal, space for prayer requests, another section for answered prayers, and a section to write down the books you’ve read. There’s also a section where you can bubble in each chapter in the Bible as you read it throughout the year.
- 5 Year Journal: I bought this at some point last year and decided to start it this January. Each page has space for 5 years worth of short entries. So far I’ve just written something that stood out to me or what I did each day. I’m excited to be able to look back over five years worth of entries.
Something for Fun!
- I finally got a pair of these Ugg slippers and I love them so much! Two of my girls have them but I could never justify paying that much for a pair for myself. Then Peter surprised me with a pair for Christmas! I wear them all the time.
- Weighted Vest: Is this “something for fun?” You be the judge. But since I’m getting older, I’ve been thinking a lot about my health and how to improve it. One way is by walking with a weighted vest. I wear it when I get on the treadmill (because it’s way too cold for an outdoor stroll in TN right now) and I love it. It actually gives me a great workout and I’m so happy with it.
- Barrel Jeans: I bought these off of Amazon recently to determine if I wanted to be part of this trend or not. And the verdict is – I definitely do! I love these jeans – they’re a fave of mine right now!
- This moisturizer: I’ve been eyeing the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream for months so imagine my delight when Brienne bought it for me for Christmas and put it in my stocking! What a very cool surprise! This cream definitely lives up to its hype. It makes my skin feel so soft and smooth. It’s the best thing I put on my face every day and I don’t ever want to be without it again.
Those are some of my favorite things right now! What are you loving?