We always love sharing recommendations and realizations with this community (books! home decorating! panic-attack strategies!). So, as the year draws to a close, I asked our team about their favorite things of 2025. We’re missing Jannelle — who’s currently on leave after a very cinematic birth experience — but she’ll be back in March, and in the meantime, we hope you enjoy these recs from the rest of us. And, as always, we’d love to hear yours!
JOANNA, founder and editor
What I watched: Freddie and I were lucky enough to see a few Broadway plays this year, and the stand-out for me was Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). The musical follows two people — a cynical, wry New Yorker and a charming, nervous Englishman — on their way to a wedding, and the lyrics are funny and heartfelt. It’s kind of like Fleabag with songs.
What I read: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, James by Percival Everett, and The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers. All different, all fantastic.
What I wore: Striped turtlenecks under sweaters, inspired by my friend Liz. And my feet have been FREEZING this winter (perimenopause?) so I just got three pairs of game-changing wool socks.
Recipes we enjoyed: Our family is very into these chicken pieces, which the boys devour. (I make them with peppers and onions instead of asparagus.) Also, shortbread (gift link), which is sooooooooo easy and incredible with a cup of coffee.
Things that made life easier: A set of Sabre cutlery, I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! And an egg boiler, which makes perfect jammy eggs for breakfast, lunches, salads, and snacks. (Side note: Every time I eat a boiled egg, I think of this scene.)
Random things I learned: Freddie says bananas last longer when they’re not touching, so now I put them in a little row on our counter. And I love the idea of sealing a letter with a lipstick kiss, from Christina Grasso’s substack. SWAK!
KELSEY, contributing editor
What I watched: One afternoon, I took my five-year-old to see the animated film Hola Frida, mostly out of desperation, and to my surprise, it became one of my favorite movies of the year! As a grown-up! The story follows Frida Kahlo as a girl, surviving polio and discovering art during her recovery. It also touches on identity and ableism in such a nuanced way — and since it’s a children’s movie, it really moves.
Bonus: Margot was psyched to go see a real, live Frida Kahlo painting afterward.
What I wore: The Ori backpack is my favorite backpack for adults. It has all the stuff I need (like a secure laptop sleeve), and none of the stuff I don’t (like a built-in charger I will never use).
Beauty stuff: I wasn’t a big spender this year, but I did splurge on Goē Oil, and it was more than worth it. It calms my mild rosacea, and it’s a super hydrating winter moisturizer. Plus, I’m still on the same tube from almost a year ago!
Recipe we enjoyed: My faaaavorite five-minute dinner. I still make it at least once a week, and we haven’t gotten tired of it.
Something that made life easier: An electric, heated floor mat. Like many folks, my job requires sitting at a desk for long stretches, and at a certain point, the floor starts to feel like ice. I’ve tried space heaters, layered rugs, thick boots — but nothing works as well as the unattractive rectangle I bought in the dead of last winter. It’s a simple thing, but not having freezing cold feet all day has genuinely made me a more content person.
New-to-me activity: I joined a grief group! It feels weird to be excited about that, but one thing my grief group has taught me is that grief is very weird. I lost my dad in February, and it still sometimes feels so fresh and painful, and there’s a relief in being around others who get it. My group is part of The Dinner Party, a peer-support network, with “tables” all over the U.S. Each month we get together to eat, chat, and sometimes cry our eyes out.
Random thing I learned: When my dad died, an internet stranger told me to talk about him all the time, with everyone, and not even think about making people uncomfortable. It gave me permission I really needed, and helped so much.
KAITLYN, newsletter editor
What I watched: My husband and I tore through The Pitt, the tension-filled medical drama. We can’t wait for the second season to come out next month. We’ve also been making our way through Diane Keaton’s films, which helps soften the arrival of the Pacific Northwest’s Big Dark.
What I read: I devoured Jen Hatmaker’s divorce memoir Awake. I, too, grew up evangelical and appreciate reading stories of how people navigate the mess of leaving a faith community. The rest of my reading mostly centered on books that took place on islands or in the woods…lol…I am what I am: God of the Woods, Wild Dark Shore, The Serviceberry, Whale Fall.
Beauty stuff: I reach for VIOLETTE_FR’s Bisou Balm every day. I was intrigued by Nicki Sebastian’s description of it as blurred and matte and was delighted to find the bold color can easily be swiped on without a mirror. Low risk, high impact.
Recipe we enjoyed: This apple snacking cake was the best recipe I tried all year. In addition to fresh apples, it calls for the zest and juice of oranges and lemons, so our kitchen fills with a warm, spicy fragrance.
Something that made life easier: We started using an Etsy tablecloth, and I love the ruffles with the gingham. The chocolatey brown looks great with everything, too.
MAUREEN, partnerships and growth director
What I watched: Severance was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
What I read: The only book I finished this year (blame my toddlers) was Heart the Lover but omg I laughed and cried my eyes out and loved every single page.
What my kids wore: Tuffo Muddy Buddy for the win!
Beauty stuff: I treated myself to this perfume, which smells woody and fresh.
Recipe we enjoyed: I make a batch of granola once a week. Our family also started a loose tradition of dim-sum Sundays.
What I learned: You have to find the joy, or you’ll miss it! We had a tough year on very little sleep, and some days it was insanely hard to see how things were ever going to get better. My New Year’s resolution is to try very, very hard to practice finding “moments of joy” in my day. Three examples:
1. A beach vacation, where it poured but we made sandcastles anyway. 2. “I just closed the door a little bit.” 3. Up for the day at 4 a.m.! But we’re smiling!
What are your 2025 favorites, or things that made life easier, or new-to-you activities? Please share, if you’d like. We love you, and we’d love to hear. xoxoxo
P.S. The simplest dessert, and what’s the most helpful thing a therapist ever told you?
