2024 Favorites
Hi friends — Happy Friday and New Year 2025! I hope you had the best holiday season, however you celebrated! I can’t believe it’s my last official day off work before I’m back to the office on Monday. Talk about the Sunday Scaries — I’ve got the Weekend Jitters haha. It’s tough. As much as I want to get back into some kind of normalcy and routine, I’m just not ready for my two week holiday break to be over and done — mega sigh! Anyway… in the spirit of “Friday Favorites” (which I’m committing to bring back to the blog in 2025), today I’m sharing a list of my favorite things from 2024. I always enjoy reading these kinds of posts from other creators, so I thought it’d be fun to wrap up a list of my own this year. From music to books to lots of miscellaneous products, I found myself with quite an array of things to love in 2024 — many things that brightened my days and made life a little bit sweeter when I needed it most.
Music Albums
The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift — No surprise here — it was my most streamed album of the year. (Full review here.)
Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter — So poppy, so fun. Cover to cover, one of the greatest pop albums I listened to in 2024. Made for a great concert experience too. (Full review here.)
Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini — A really great follow-up to 2023’s Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP. I personally loved the slower, mature sound of this country/pop record. (Full review coming soon.)
Vertigo by Griff — A masterful debut album. I’m such a fan of Griff’s work. She’s the true epitome of an artist.
Sugar Water by Maude Latour — Immediately obsessed from the very first listen. Discovered this album while scrolling TikTok.
The Secret of Us (Deluxe) by Gracie Abrams — There’s something to love about a girl and her guitar. It gives early Ed Sheeran energy in the best kind of way.
Songs
From Taylor Swift: My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys, Guilty as Sin?, loml, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, The Black Dog, So High School, The Prophecy, and Robin — The Tortured Poets Department delivered!
From Sabrina Carpenter: Taste, Please Please Please, Espresso, and Juno — Hard to pick favorites from all the gems we were dealt, but for sure, Juno is and has been a major, major ear worm. Quintessential Sabrina charm.
Baggage by Kelsea Ballerini — A bop from the Patterns album.
last night’s mascara by Griff — Heard this song live on the Short n’ Sweet Tour back when it was an unreleased demo. So glad it’s out in the world.
From Maude Latour: Officially Mine and Cursed Romantics — The two greats.
From Gracie Abrams: I Love You, I’m Sorry, Let It Happen, and That’s So True — Found myself jamming to these three songs the most.
cut! (feat. Julia Michaels) by Maren Morris — I know she’s in a very experimental phase right now, but I really wish Maren Morris would make more music that sounds like this.
Burton St. by OSTON — The way the song builds up to and explodes during the bridge >>> Love.
Beautiful Things by Benson Boone — A great pop song, accompanied by great live performances throughout the year.
RABBITHOLE by Emei — Another song I found on TikTok!
we can’t be friends (wait for your love) by Ariana Grande — A masterpiece. Period.
Books
The Women by Kristin Hannah — Kristin Hannah is a phenomenal author. I absolutely devoured this Vietnam War story. It was so thought-provoking and well-written, and such an interesting perspective from the wartime frontline with the focus on women soldiers, nursing, and the struggles of PTSD.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore — Like many readers in 2024, I very much enjoyed this atmospheric summer camp mystery. It’s dense, but so, so worth it in the end. Probably the best book I read in 2024.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston — Who doesn’t love a good con-artist story? I read this book wayyyy early when it first came out (January 2024) and it stuck with me all year long. Phenomenal writing that sucks you in!
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera — A murder mystery and a true crime podcast — not a new concept in literature, but really well executed in this crowd pleaser.
Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh — Such a surprise find, thanks to my Book of the Month subscription. Very Hitchcock-inspired writing in the best way! I didn’t see a lot of people talking about it, but if I had to recommend a sleeper pick for you to read, it’d be this one.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wind and Ruin — I’m not your typical fantasy reader, but reading the first three books in the ACOTAR series changed me as a person! I can’t wait to finish the last two books in the series (very soon).
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson — An oldie but goodie. The audiobook was phenomenal! Didn’t feel super YA despite the age of the characters. And a bonus — the tv adaptation was just released on Netflix not too long ago. I’ll be watching in 2025.
Honorable mentions to Middle of the Night by Riley Sager and The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley — I’m in the minority of readers who enjoyed both of these books. Seems to be an unpopular opinion.
Movies and TV Shows
Disclaimer — I don’t watch a lot of TV content aside from sports. I prefer reading books/listening to audiobooks.
The Wicked movie — After reading all the rave reviews, I rushed to the theater to see this one. Though I’ve never seen the musical (I know), I thought the movie was really well done. The soundtrack too. Seems that a lot of people agree.
Squid Game 2 — Binged after Christmas! Just as good as season one in my opinion. So thrilling, so much anxiety, and so much blood haha. Can’t wait for the third and final season because THAT DAMN CLIFFHANGER…
Beauty Products
BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner — Now a part of my everyday routine. Such a great value for what you get — competing products are way more expensive for a lesser amount of product.
Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum — I bought this product for the first time in the last Sephora sale and I love the way it makes my skin feel. It’s glowy, hydrating, and long-lasting.
NYX Plump Right Back Plumping Primer — One of the few things I’ve been influenced to buy and I’m not mad about it, not one bit!
Saie Glowy Super Gel — My favorite beauty purchase — ever! I love mixing it with the L'Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion as my makeup base (we don’t use foundation in this house).
ColourPop’s Stone Cold Fox Eyeshadow Palette and Patrick Ta’s Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette — Love both!
Patrick Ta creme and powder bronzer and blush duos — For the first part of the year, I was team DIBS. However, midway through the year, I fell in love with the Patrick Ta collection and haven’t looked back.
Milani Tubing Mascara — My go-to mascara in 2024. Very good black shade that enhances the lashes. Takes a minute to dry and kind of hard to get off, but worth it for the payoff.
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Setting Spray — They say it’s like hairspray for your face and if that ain’t the truth… Locks your makeup right into place. I’ve repurchased several times.
Glossier You perfume — I freaking love this scent. After buying and using two mini bottles, I think it’s time to get a big bottle. *Adds to wishlist*
Miscellaneous Things
Heated throw blanket — Highly recommend. Very cozy!
Stanley reusable tumbler — Totally helped me improve my water intake — three refills a day!
Homemade Greek salads for dinner — Homemade version >>> any restaurant I’ve tried. Not that it’s hard to make, but I’ll share my recipe soon!
Hot sauces, especially the Secret Aardvark Habanero and Old Bay hot sauces — Suddenly I’m a hot sauce girl and my husband couldn’t be happier. Weekly wing night became a lot more common in our household.
Keurig K-Duo coffee pot — We upgraded our coffee pot after our last one stopped working. Now we’re obsessed with the 2-in-1 feature the K-Duo offers. It’s nice to have two ways to make coffee without needing to have two separate machines. PS — These Chai Latte K-Cups are my favorite to make when I’m not feeling coffee.
The Libby App — A lifesaver for audiobook lovers — and free with a library card! I joined my local library a few months back and downloaded the Libby App as I walked out the door. A great way to cut costs by eliminating reliance on audiobook subscription services.
The Tortured Poets Department set on The Eras Tour — Watched so many times on grainy livestreams. Literally praying for an Eras 2 movie with the updated setlist (but RIP to Tolerate It).
Collecting pins for my backpack — A new hobby for me in 2024 (inspo: my aunt Pam). In a year, I’ve added a good mix of travel pins, fun pins, and (yes) Taylor Swift lyric pins. All decked out on my beloved Hershel backpack.
Kindred Spirit Candle Company — A local seller in my city. I love buying her candles and candle melts, especially in the scent Jamaica Please.
Aquaphor — May seem silly, but this stuff worked it’s wonders on my dry chapped lips without leaving any sort of chalky, yucky residue.
HOKA tennis shoes — These are the most comfortable tennis shoes I’ve ever owned. I will be buying another pair in 2025.
Blog Posts
What was something you loved in 2024?
Enjoy!
JBW