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We always love sharing recommendations and realizations with this community (books<\/a>! home decorating<\/a>! panic-attack strategies<\/a>!). So, as the year draws to a close, I asked our team about their favorite things of 2025. We\u2019re missing Jannelle<\/a> \u2014 who\u2019s currently on leave after a very cinematic birth experience<\/a> \u2014 but she\u2019ll be back in March, and in the meantime, we hope you enjoy these recs from the rest of us. And, as always, we\u2019d love to hear yours!<\/p>\n JOANNA, founder and editor<\/strong><\/p>\n What I watched:<\/strong> Freddie<\/a> 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)<\/a>. The musical follows two people \u2014 a cynical, wry New Yorker and a charming, nervous Englishman \u2014 on their way to a wedding, and the lyrics are funny and heartfelt. It\u2019s kind of like Fleabag<\/a> with songs.<\/p>\n What I read:<\/strong> The Correspondent<\/a> by Virginia Evans, James<\/a> by Percival Everett, and The Ten Year Affair<\/a> by Erin Somers. All different, all fantastic.<\/p>\n What I wore:<\/strong> Striped turtlenecks<\/a> under sweaters, inspired by my friend Liz<\/a>. And my feet have been FREEZING this winter (perimenopause<\/a>?) so I just got three pairs of game-changing wool socks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Recipes we enjoyed:<\/strong> Our family is very into these chicken pieces<\/a>, which the boys devour. (I make them with peppers and onions instead of asparagus.) Also, shortbread<\/a> (gift link), which is sooooooooo easy and incredible with a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n Things that made life easier:<\/strong> A set of Sabre cutlery<\/a>, I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! And an egg boiler<\/a>, 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<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Random things I learned:<\/strong> Freddie says bananas last longer when they\u2019re 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\u2019s substack<\/a>. SWAK!<\/p>\n KELSEY<\/a>, contributing editor<\/strong><\/p>\n What I watched:<\/strong> One afternoon, I took my five-year-old to see the animated film Hola Frida<\/a>, 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 \u2014 and since it\u2019s a children\u2019s movie, it really moves.<\/p>\n Bonus: Margot was psyched to go see a real, live Frida Kahlo painting afterward.<\/em><\/p>\n What I wore:<\/strong> The Ori backpack<\/a> 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\u2019t (like a built-in charger I will never use).<\/p>\n Beauty stuff: <\/strong> I wasn\u2019t a big spender this year, but I did splurge on Go\u0113 Oil<\/a>, and it was more than worth it. It calms my mild rosacea, and it\u2019s a super hydrating winter moisturizer. Plus, I\u2019m still on the same tube from almost a year ago!<\/p>\n Recipe we enjoyed:<\/strong> My faaaavorite five-minute dinner<\/a>. I still make it at least once a week, and we haven\u2019t gotten tired of it. <\/p>\n Something that made life easier:<\/strong> An electric, heated floor mat<\/a>. 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\u2019ve tried space heaters, layered rugs, thick boots \u2014 but nothing works as well as the unattractive rectangle<\/a> I bought in the dead of last winter. It\u2019s a simple thing, but not<\/em> having freezing cold feet all day has genuinely made me a more content person. <\/p>\n New-to-me activity:<\/strong> 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<\/a> in February, and it still sometimes feels so fresh and painful, and there\u2019s a relief in being around others who get it. My group is part of The Dinner Party<\/a>, a peer-support network, with \u201ctables\u201d all over the U.S. Each month we get together to eat, chat, and sometimes cry our eyes out.<\/p>\n Random thing I learned:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n KAITLYN<\/a>, newsletter editor<\/strong><\/p>\n What I watched:<\/strong> My husband and I tore through The Pitt<\/a>, the tension-filled medical drama. We can\u2019t wait for the second season to come out next month. We\u2019ve also been making our way through Diane Keaton\u2019s films, which helps soften the arrival of the Pacific Northwest\u2019s Big Dark.<\/p>\n What I read:<\/strong> I devoured Jen Hatmaker\u2019s divorce memoir Awake<\/a>. 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\u2026lol\u2026I am what I am: God of the Woods<\/a>, Wild Dark Shore<\/a>, The Serviceberry<\/a>, Whale Fall<\/a>.<\/p>\n Beauty stuff: <\/strong> I reach for VIOLETTE_FR\u2019s Bisou Balm<\/a> every day. I was intrigued by Nicki Sebastian\u2019s description<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Recipe we enjoyed:<\/strong> This apple snacking cake<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Something that made life easier:<\/strong> We started using an Etsy tablecloth<\/a>, and I love the ruffles with the gingham. The chocolatey brown looks great with everything, too.<\/p>\n MAUREEN<\/a>, partnerships and growth director<\/strong><\/p>\n What I watched:<\/strong> Severance<\/a> was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.<\/p>\n What I read:<\/strong> The only book I finished this year (blame my toddlers) was Heart the Lover<\/a> but omg I laughed and cried my eyes out and loved every single page. <\/p>\n What my kids wore:<\/strong> Tuffo Muddy Buddy<\/a> for the win!<\/p>\n Beauty stuff:<\/strong> I treated myself to this perfume<\/a>, which smells woody and fresh.<\/p>\n Recipe we enjoyed:<\/strong> I make a batch of granola<\/a> once a week. Our family also started a loose tradition of dim-sum Sundays.<\/p>\n What I learned:<\/strong> You have to find the joy, or you\u2019ll 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\u2019s resolution is to try very, very hard to practice finding \u201cmoments of joy\u201d in my day. Three examples:<\/p>\n 1. A beach vacation, where it poured but we made sandcastles anyway. 2. \u201cI just closed the door a little bit.\u201d 3. Up for the day at 4 a.m.! But we\u2019re smiling!<\/em><\/p>\n What are your 2025 favorites, or things that made life easier, or new-to-you activities? Please share, if you\u2019d like. We love you, and we\u2019d love to hear. xoxoxo<\/strong><\/p>\n P.S. The simplest dessert<\/a>, and what\u2019s the most helpful thing a therapist ever told you<\/a>?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cupofjo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-18-at-1.49.32-PM.png\")
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