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When I started my sabbatical last year, I expected to enjoy the full three months off: I don’t think I truly expected to stop blogging. And then a month into 2019, my company was acquired by Spotify: since that happened, it’s been a fairly constant level of crazy. It’s super exciting, and I love my new role (Podcast Specialist at Spotify!) –but there’s been a lot of work travel, and what feels like a never-ending stream of emails.

In hindsight: it was a good year to step back on the blog, although I have missed having a spot to share my travels and book/podcast recommendations beyond Instagram Stories. I’ve been very consistent in keeping up my Goodreads (here are my top reads of 2019, and here are all of the books I read this year!), and I just updated all of my recommended podcasts in an Instagram Story Highlight. Here are a few other recent highlights and favorite things!

Reads

I’ve gotten into a really nice nighttime routine of reading while listening to classical music in bed–and because I’ve started charging my phone in our living room, as well as setting a screen time limit on my phone after 9:30pm (highly recommend!!!), I’m much less distracted. I also have tried to start my weekend mornings at home with a cup of coffee and a book in the sunroom.

Because of that: I read so many good books this year! I can’t stop reflecting on the insightful and thought-provoking essays in Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion (a great holiday gift for the millennial in your life!), and I’ve been recommending Girl Woman Other all over the place as well. One of my favorite genres is historical fiction, and Next Year in Havana (Cuba) and The Fountains of Silence (Spain) totally fit the bill of transporting me to different places and times that I didn’t know anything about. I was also totally transported into turn-of-century New York and the “modern” detective work of the early 1900s in The Alienist. I’ve also still been trying to read more diverse viewpoints, and A Woman is No Man opened my eyes to Palestinian-American culture (which I knew nothing about!). Of course, I’m still such a true crime fan and American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century totally rattled me even as I couldn’t stop reading. And lastly, What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen affected me so deeply: it made examine how I’m using social media to project and connect. A quote that I haven’t stopped thinking about since reading it: “Notice how close perfection is to despair.”

I signed up for Book of the Month this summer, and I’ve really been enjoying the curated recommendations. It feels like a little gift to myself that arrives in the mail every month! Also: if you need a last-minute gift recommendation for a reader in your life, this is a fun one.

Looks

A quick shoutout to the hero of my wardrobe this year: Everlane jeans. I have the Authentic Stretch High-Rise Skinny in white, blue and black, and I LOVE them. I wear them to work and on the weekends and while walking the dog, with heels and boots and sandals. Flattering, comfortable, versatile! And in warmer weather, I basically live in the Denim Short: also flattering and cute without being tooooo short.

Home

The most fun DIY home project that we undertook: a master bathroom refresh! When we moved in, all of the fixtures were basically the cheapest standard thing from Home Depot and the tan walls clashed with the gray tile. We painted the walls a nice bright white and painted the vanity a rich coastal blue (and by we, I mean David)–which made a huge difference in itself! We also replaced the light fixtures, mirrors and faucets, and added some hardware to the cabinets. Adding in a simple shelf with some plants above the bathtub and a framed Arielle Vey print added some extra pizazz. To really enhance the whole at-home spa experience, I also treated myself to a nice bathrobe and a fast-drying hair turban.

In other house-related news: we’re hoping that 2020 is the year of the kitchen refresh! I’m glad that we took a little bit of time to live in the house and use the kitchen: the layout is actually super functional with a ton of storage, even if I’m not a huge fan of the colors and finishes. Looking forward to the challenge of figuring out what sort of magic we can create with paint, DIY and a limited budget.

Beauty

I haven’t changed my makeup or skincare routine too much this year, but I have gotten very committed to bimonthly facials with BLH Beauty. I’m also trying to keep my skin super hydrated, especially since I’m flying so much: beyond drinking a ton of water, I’m also taking fish oil, using hyaluronic acid and trying not to wear makeup on planes. I’m also really into this Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel and Brightening Facial Oil (it smells SO wonderfully citrusy!). In general, I’m also trying to slowly switch over to all-natural products.

I’m also obsessed with the beauty products I discovered in South Korea, especially this incredible highlighter and these matte lipsticks. And there is really nothing like incredible variety and value of the sheet masks available there: I brought back SO many! I also just discovered Glossier Lidstar, and it’s such a fun way to spice up my everyday makeup (10% off here if you haven’t tried Glossier yet!).

I’ve also been getting more into nail art lately: I veer toward more of a “uniform” in my hair, makeup and clothes, so it’s been cool to do something a little unexpected on my nails. Very into Hello Birdie in San Diego! Although I usually take a break from gel twice a year (usually in January and late August) and use a lot of Nail Envy to strengthen them, and I’m currently taking that break and really just enjoying natural nails at the moment.

Words

“We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget.” -Joan Didion

This weekend, we’re going to our neighborhood holiday party–and then deep-cleaning our house and packing before we head to Portugal on Tuesday!