best of 2024 (part 2)

only the good stuff

Part two of the best parts of my year in review. Where I break down, month by month, my favorite books, foods, experiences, habits, clothes, products, music and hobbies. If you missed the first part, you can read it here.

July

• “I can’t remember a summer I’ve enjoyed as much as I’ve enjoyed this one.” I wrote that in my journal the first week of July. Starting off strong celebrating the twins’ second birthday with a homemade cake, which incidentally brings me to my first “thing” of the month: the secret to never making a dry cake in your life again. Here’s what you’re going to do: remove two tablespoons of your all-purpose flour, and replace them with either two tablespoons of arrowroot flour or cornstarch. So for example if a recipe calls for three cups of flour, you’ll remove six tablespoons of the AP flour and replace them with six tablespoons of arrowroot flour. Trust me. Best cakes of your life start now.

• I cooked a lot. Specifically from Molly Baz’s Cook This Book, and I can’t say it produced a single bad recipe. We made the Sunday Brisket (recipe pictured), the pastrami roast chicken, the coconut shrimp chickpeas (YUM!), and many a salad. A good one for anyone who really enjoys their time in the kitchen.

• I read Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe and while I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite book I’ve ever read, it’s definitely the one I think of most from the stack I read this year. It was the perfect summer road trip book.

• Speaking of which, we road tripped to northern Wisconsin (basically Canada!) for our annual cabin stay with my family. It was chaotic and dreamy and we made loads of memories.

• I lived in my Le Bon Shoppe basketball shorts all summer. I have them in three colors and plan on getting the rest of the colors next summer. I have one pair in large and the others in medium, and while they both fit very comfortably, I like the large ones better for that more flowy look. 10/10 recommend.

August

• I got to travel solo with my husband on a work gig he had in Alaska and it was so nice to be together doing things we love— namely eating carbs, salmon and hiking. I also read three books in the span of five days, which was really lovely. Though none of them feel ultra worth mentioning.

• I baked these cookies a lot and they are so good. Chewy center, crispy edges, crinkly top and no chilling time. 12,000 reviews don’t lie.

• I’ve never played Zelda, or really any video games, but for some reason Zelda & Sleep was one of my top listened to albums. Beautifully composed, piano instrumental that has that lazy, sleeping outside under a green shady tree kind of restfulness to it.

• I also got a sewing machine off Facebook marketplace and starting following @hisydgraham for beginning clothing sewing inspiration.

September

• I hosted my supper club this month and therefore got to pick the theme. I picked cooking from

  Meredith Hayden
  (aka Wishbone Kitchen)’s online repertoire of recipes. I made her “Tequila Thyme” cocktail for the gals and it was a HUGE hit.

• Got the viral hoodie from TikTok shop in firetruck red and it is, sadly, fantastic.

• Hosted an online Fire Cider making workshop with my friends for the Autumn Equinox. We had a blast. There are many Fire Cider recipes out there, it’s dead easy. Here’s one of them. I like to add dried elderberries to mine for vitamin c and color!

• God of the Woods by Liz Moore was by far my favorite read of another book heavy month. Plan to read more of her work next year.

October

• This month was magical because all three of my kids finally “got” Halloween and have not shut up about it since. A peak parenting moment for me.

• I made these garlic roasted mashed potatoes by Athena Calderone of eyeswoon and they are so flavorful and delicious.

• Got mega back into buying second hand, thrifting, and Facebook marketplace. Sometimes I just get so overwhelmed by how much STUFF there is in the world. Homing some of it is soothing for me.

• All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker was a top read of the year. If East of Eden and True Detective had a baby, it would be this book.

November

• Realizing I’m going to plant so much aster in my yard after watching hundreds of insects fill up on its late year pollen. I didn’t think I was a purple flower person but wow these were stunning.

• A month of traditions and friends. We attended our annual Friendsgiving which has been going strong for nearly a decade. So long that we all have our dishes we always bring. I’m the dessert lady.

• Started a new tradition with my girls of getting lunch and martinis semi-regularly and it’s good for the soul.

• I listened to the Little Women (1995) soundtrack a lot. And my Spotify wrapped confirmed what I already knew: this was the year I became a die hard The Paper Kites fan.

December

I wasn’t going to include this month because it’s still on going, but you know what, it’s been delightful so far. Whether it’s evangelizing to my friends about the merits of these viral rosemary and thyme Rice Krispie treats, or crying with Chris over our morning coffee while watching the new animated Christmas film That Christmas on Netflix, it’s been cozy.

Mostly though, I feel like this year has been a rebirth for me personally. A reminder that I love living again. That even when things are depressing, bleak, and hard, there is so much good if you look for it. There is love. And for that, I’m so grateful.

love,

g xxxx