The Best of 2020 with Friends
Well I’m excited to have been invited by my friend Emily to blog about my “best of’s” for this year! She asked me and a handful of other friend bloggers to chime in, and it was SO much fun to read through all of their answers last year, I’m excited to participate again! Here are my friends and bloggers that also participated. I LOVED reading their answers, too!
Emily (Em for Marvelous) | Lisa (Something Pretty Blog) | Stephanie (Steph Seeking Joy) | Rhi Bosse
Never has there been a more important year to focus on the good, to focus on the best of’s. We’re all feeling heavy, so I think it’s good and right to fight for what’s fun and good and even a little lighthearted!
Best book: The Nightingale was definitely the best-could-not-put-it-down book. For non-fiction, these two tie: Crucial Conversations and Seasons of God. Both worth reading multiple times. (Sorry I couldn’t just choose one!)
Best movie or TV show: Married at first sight! Modern day couples agree to an arranged marriage and don’t see their spouse until they are walking down the aisle. Then they have 8 weeks to decide whether to stay together or get a divorce. Found this one on Netflix and I can’t stop watching!
Best album or song: I heard a song I can’t ignore - album by Mission House
Best podcast or episode: Allie Beth Stuckey’s podcast has been helpful and informative in this intense political climate
Best adventure/travel/trip: Flying to Nashville by myself with 3 kids in the middle of a pandemic 🤪
Best follow on Instagram: Kate from Naptime Kitchen
Best date: After restaurants opened back up in April, Will secretly made reservations and arranged childcare so he could take me to City Kitchen in Beaufort, NC (we had been living there for a few weeks during quarantine and working remotely). Having a beautiful waterfront view, fresh air, and watching the sunset was everything I needed after being cooped up with the kids for so long!
Best kiddo milestone: Milly going to Kindergarten and Beaufort walking! (He was a late walker at 18 months, but it was worth the wait!)
Best faith grower: Finding a new local church that we love.
Best trend you tried: Joggers in general (I have two pairs), but specifically these joggers from Amazon. I wear them every other day and need to just buy another pair so I can wear them nonstop!
Best beauty purchase: Primally Pure’s cleansing oil
Best family memory: Living in Beaufort, North Carolina for 3 weeks during quarantine! We have access to Will’s family home there and were able to make it our home for the 3 weeks leading up to Easter. Will had to convince me to do it, but once we were there - goodness, it was such a gift.
Best habit you created: Leaving my phone to charge in the kitchen at night and only having books and a real alarm clock on my bedside table. I read so much more!
Favorite blog post written: Em’s Self Care blogpost. Yes, it was written in 2018, but I just discovered it this year so it counts at my favorite 2020 blogpost :). When I was preparing for my Work and Play episode on Self Care, she put to words so much of what I felt about the topic. I quoted her a few times in the episode!
Best new recipe: These BBQ Chicken sliders were so delicious!
Best life or mom hack: I turned my center console into a trash bag! I line it with a plastic target bag and throw all trash from the car inside that little center console and close it shut. Keeps the stink out and keeps my car more orderly. (Learned this from a suggestion episode 57!)
Best mama moment: The day Beaufort walked for the first time, I almost missed it. But thankfully God was SO gracious to me even in my own forgetfulness and I saw it happen! You can read more here.
Best home improvement: Landscaping + Landscape lighting! So grateful for the crew at For Garden’s Sake who installed the most beautiful landscaping around our home. And for Tim who installed the lighting that has made all the difference!
Best little luxury you've enjoyed: Long hot baths before going to bed with Dr Teals Epsom Salts.