I started writing this post at the start of last week, when the year felt wide open with possibility. 6 days later and I had to come back and completely revise these opening lines. 2025 has already handed out cruel fates for thousands due to the fires in Los Angeles this past week. It’s unfathomable really and puts into harsh relief just how much I have to be grateful for – even if not a single thing more came to me this year.
That being said, as the rest of us find ways to offer help to those in greater need, I’ll share what I had planned.
If you read my 2024 recap – you’ll know that I started last year with a bit of fear over losing the momentum I’d started in 2023. But that’s not what happened. I doubled down in almost every aspect of my life and felt like I was rewarded with a lot because of it. This year, I don’t feel as scared. I feel confident that even if I have to sidestep here or there (and I undoubtedly will.. nothing is linear in life), I’m capable of continuing to think in decades, act in days.
While I always create a private list of specific things I want to accomplish (both big and small, lighthearted and lofty), this year I also put together a moodboard (shown above) that I thought would be fun to share. It captures a bit of what I’m hoping to attract:
Home Decor – now that we’ve bought our apartment I’m itching to do a bit of redecorating to really make it ours.
Audrey Hepburn at the barre – representing balance and poise, both of which I hope to have.
Runners on a track with the words ‘every day is a new day’ – both for the fitness of it all and my hope to run faster and even more this year, and also for the mantra to view each day as a new opportunity.
A sleeping beauty of sorts – to remind myself that despite a challenging job and busy schedule, I want to prioritize rest when I can.
New York in all her glory – what a gift to live here, I want to keep taking advantage of all she has to offer.
Travel destinations – I’m always hoping to see more of the world each year, as well as return to places that really make me feel inspired and happy.
Paris specifically – because I want to dust off my high school/college French and restart lessons in some capacity.
A vintage car – a nod to wanting to get my driver’s license again. Mine lapsed several years ago and I’ve been a passenger princess ever since, but it would be nice to take the wheel again.
A great head of hair – my own took a real beating last year for various reasons, and so I’m on a quest to restore the health of it and grow it out again.
A manuscript – while I’m not sure I’ll finish my long mulled over novel in 2025, I do want to commit to making writing a regular practice.
Fashion sketches – representing my work (and a reminder of what I love about this industry and why I started), but also because I really want to ruthlessly edit my own closet this year and continue to be very clear on how I want to dress and the overall style I want to cultivate in my forever wardrobe.
May your year be filled with health, happiness and hopefulness. Thinking of all of those in LA that are going to deserve those things more than ever.
I wrote in my year’s recap on Instagram that 2024 felt, in many ways, like a winning streak. The payoff for consistent habits and hard work. Finish lines crossed and a mortgage signed. Generous portions of luck and circumstance. 13 years with Adam (and our first of marriage) stacking up like a well dealt hand. The above “mood board” was something I created in January of 2024 – and so much of it feels like it represents the incredible year we had.
In truth, I entered into this year with a lot of optimism but also a fair amount of worry. In 2023 I had a personal reckoning of sorts that lead to some big changes. I got married, kicked off an overhaul of my health and habits, and had finally worked to reject a lot of the old ideas and patterns I’d been clinging to in various areas of my life. In many ways I was worried I’d backslide somehow and lose it all.
And so I began this year with a single phrase – think in decades, act in days. In 2024 I knew I wanted to continue the momentum I’d started the year prior, by making sure that my day to day was working towards the bigger picture. That meant working out regularly and choosing a healthy diet – even when it wasn’t always convenient or when the motivation wasn’t there. It meant getting our financials in order to be able to finally buy our apartment. It meant working really hard so that we could have a life that includes regular travel, enjoying all of New York and celebrating things small and large as they came along.
It felt like a windfall when everything started to click further into place this year. Free of the extra weight I’d been carrying (both physically and mentally), I was able to step up my workouts significantly and get into what I’d consider to be the best shape of my life this year. I ran a 10k.. and then 2 more half marathons! I feel really strong, with energy and stamina to spare. I finally made an eye appointment and got fitted for contacts – something I’d been talking about for years. Adam and I went skiing/snowboarding after a decade or more away from it and discovered a whole new thing we loved to do together. I got a big promotion at work. We bought the apartment. We traveled and celebrated every chance we could.
Like any year, there were moments that didn’t make the highlight reel. Challenging and sad ones. We went bust a few rounds. Life will do that. But someday, I suspect we’ll be sentimental over exactly what we had in 2024.
Below a few of my favorite moments from year. And a heartfelt thank you all for being here – I’m never quite sure what to make of this space, but I’m grateful to those of you (readers new and old) that make it a place worth sharing.
Back on skis for the first time in over a decade! Had so much fun.
Baked my first ever tiered cake (carrot with cream cheese icing for Easter) – really enjoying being a novice and learning a new skill!In Palm Springs in April, one of my happy places. Our 2nd annual walking marathon of NYC – an incredible day, organized by a friend. Traveled to Venice in May and I was in awe of it for 4 days straight – an unforgettable trip to Italy.Ran my first half marathon in 7 years – it was veryyy hot that day but I finished proud of myself. In September I ran another and knocked 8 minutes off my time , felt great.Attended the Tony Awards on behalf of work – such a fun night out in New York. Was asked to speak on my first professional panel for work. Nerve-wracking but also exciting. Celebrated our 13 year dating anniversary at the lake – I wore the t-shirt I’d worn 13 years prior on the first weekend he ever brought me there. Felt very lucky indeed. Celebrated my promotion at work with a big dinner out at Minetta Tavern (I’d been wanting to go there forever). Went to a jazz show at Smalls afterwards. Very old New York.Back in Paris for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Magic, every time. Paris – too good for just one photo!Starting to explore more of France, starting with Reims – the champagne region.. naturally. A fun New York day with my parents – went on a small yacht tour of lower Manhattan!Spontaneous weekend trip to the Hudson Valley in perfect Fall weather – hoping to do more of those in 2025.Ending the year as homeowners in our beloved little apartment.
I finished 45 books – exactly the same number as last year, a few shy of my goal of 52 and still far less than I was finishing in 2020-2022. I entered this year thinking I’d knock 2023 numbers out of the park, but life continued to move at a speed that often didn’t leave much time or brain space for reading. When I look back at my finished books though, there was a lot I really loved, and more than ever, I’m starting to learn what really works and doesn’t work for me in my reading life. For instance, 1 or 2 rom-com books a year are great and I have fun reading them. Any more than that and I sort of find myself hating them. Same goes for thrillers. They’re just really not for me and everytime I try.. I end up feeling like I’ve wasted my time. But sweeping literary fiction, captivating memoirs, narrative non-fiction or even a hint of magical realism.. as long as all of it is well-written (meaning beyond the plot or the characters, the sentence level prose feels quality) and I’m usually on the right path. This pursuit of quality over quantity feels like a great direction for 2025.
But first, in no particular order, a recap of the 10 best books I read in 2024 – plus a few fun ‘honorable mentions’ at the bottom.
For more of my ‘best of the year’ reading lists, here are the past 5 years’ worth: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019!Surely enough to fill your shelves with great books in the coming year.
Real Americans by Rachel Khong:Real Americans is the sort of novel I wish I’d written, but with a far defter hand than my own. I loved Khong’s debut novel Goodbye, Vitamin – but this sweeping, multi-generational story feels like the book she was meant to write. It examines parenthood, destiny and what it means to be American in a completely fresh way.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: This book knocked me out. Not only is the storyline so wholly original (talk about world building – the concept and characters feel so weirdly real.. which plays into the narrative perfectly), it also plays with perspective shifts in a way that felt impossible to pull off and yet Thorpe did it. I’m not going to even speak to a synopsis here.. just go into this book blind and get ready for a really fantastic literary ride.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo: Sometimes a book makes the list because of how much it surprises me. How much I’m swept up in it when I’m not expecting to be. That was this book. A little bit historical fiction, a little bit magical realism, a dash of romance, some feminist rage thrown in – I’ve thought about this book often since finishing and if you’re in a reading rut, I feel like this would be the perfect thing to jumpstart things.
The Things We Carried by Tim O’Brien: I would have never read this if not for my book club that decided to pair The Women by Kristin Hannah with a backlist non-fiction book about Vietnam, from a soldier’s perspective vs. her historical fiction from a nurse’s. Originally published in 1990, this was another book that I went into with zero expectations and it felt like a gut punch. Raw and scattered and visceral and strange. This book will stay with me for a long time.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett: If it’s a year in which Ann Patchett has published something new, I can be almost sure she’ll rank on this list. And in years when she hasn’t and I’m exploring her backlist – she’s still making the list. I’m a Patchett fangirl through and through. There was a point in this novel where I exclaimed out loud ‘Damn it Ann, how do you do it?’ – because she’s working at a level of narrative consistency (across decades) that I think is unmatched. She’s the queen of complex family novels written with a sort of quiet dignity that’s really beautiful and her characters leave a lasting memory long after I’ve finished reading. Tom Lake was no exception.
Grief is For People by Sloan Crosley: Another auto-buy author for me, I’ve long been a fan of Sloan Crosley’s dark wit. But Grief is For People felt different for her – in a good way. It’s cutting close to the bone and things aren’t wrapped up with a convenient punch line. It’s a story of grief and friendship and loss in many forms. I loved it.
James by Percival Everett:All you have to do is Google this book to see how many accolades it’s earned.. and with good reason. For me, I was initially hesitant – thinking I’d need to reacquaint myself with Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn to understand it, or that the experience of reading would feel like high school English assigned homework. None of that proved true. The book is a masterwork in American literature yet stunningly accessible. Satire and heartache sit side by side on the page and you walk away having more appreciation for Twain’s original but also grateful that Everett deigned to give us another perspective.
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher: The most backlist (published in 1987), I read this with my book club and loved it. I was completely swept away in this English world and totally charmed by the protagonist Penelope (and loved that she was an older woman), looking back on her life and dealing with the turmoils of adult children relationships. It was long and yet, I would have read another 100 pages of it. More than anything it was fun to read something from an author who has plenty of other backlist works to explore. Hoping to pick up another Pilcher this year!
My Life in France by Julia Child: What an absolute joy. Published in 2007, this is the book that went on to inspire the movie Julie & Julia. What I loved about this book is how unconventional Julia’s story is – she’s not a young ingenue when she gets married or starts her career or makes it big. She’s a woman firmly in middle age, determined to keep learning and chasing big dreams and following her heart. And Paul.. what a a gift. I was so enamored with this book that Adam and I started watching old videos of Julia’s cooking show on YouTube afterwards. I love a book that inspires a deep dive into something else!
Talking At Night by Claire Daverley: Why aren’t more people talking about this quiet knock-out of a book? I’m not sure if it just struck a chord with me in particular but to me – this is what I wanted Normal People by Sally Rooney to be (sorry to her diehards). It felt so much more achingly real and captured that feeling of first love and deep teenage friendship so well.
This year’s Honorable Mentions are books that surprised me, delighted me and were just all around a fun time to read:
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid: I love a feminist retelling – taking a known story (in this case Shakespeare’s Macbeth) and revisiting it from a female character’s perspective. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this up but it was beautifully written, gothic fiction and even though I wasn’t deeply familiar with the original work – I didn’t need to be to love this.
Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten: I generally liked Ina Garten before reading this, but hadn’t watched her show and didn’t honestly know that much about her. But I grabbed it on audiobook free from the library and thought – why not? Turns out, I love her. So much so that after I finished I bought a hard copy. This memoir is a story of passion and career and ambition and risk. It’s a story of a marriage and what it takes to make it work, even when you know they’re the love of your life. It’s a story of food and Paris and chasing what excites you. 10/10. And some really fun parallels to Julia Child’s My Life in France that made my list, which I had read 6 months prior!
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross: I officially entered the world of romantasy with this one. To be clear there were dragons and there was also a love story, but the two were not combined.. to each their own, I’m not sure that’s my speed. But I will say – I was totally swept up in this YA book and truly couldn’t put it down, which felt so fun.
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck:Exactly the sort of rom-com that really does work for me – biting wit, great dialogue and a (fairly) believable story with solid character development. This book is essentially a modern re-telling of When Harry Met Sally – and while normally I’d be opposed to anyone touching that classic.. in this case I thought it really worked and was a fun time all throughout.
This month always feels like a car in drive. It’s partially the building momentum of it – a shifting into higher gear with no hope of slowing down until January. But of course, it is also the memory below, that returns to me unbidden this time of year. 14 years later, the thought of that particular moment still feels like a full-throttle beginning…
The first time I met Adam he offered to give me a ride. 25 minutes out of his way on Christmas Eve, and if he had better places to be that morning he didn’t let on.
As we twisted along back roads, his driving fast and steady with one-handed confidence, I squinted my eyes against a waist high Pennsylvania sun. Without a word, Adam reached across me into the glovebox, pulled out a pair of spare sunglasses and handed them to me. It was a small kindness really, but it belied such an acute noticing. With unearned familiarity, he hadn’t asked. Hadn’t waited for me to ask. I was a cynic cracked wide open by this singular gesture that felt blushingly intimate.
No longer two static-y strangers in a car. We were all at once in drive. His foot on the clutch, my heart in my throat.
It comes back to me the first really cold morning each winter and I wonder how a moment so small could have ended up so behemoth in my life. How 25 minutes in a car changed the entire direction of my future. How it is that December will always feel like a car in drive.
Ahh BFCM week (or to non-retail people.. Thanksgiving and a long weekend off work that comes with it). I won’t get into the weeds of how these sales make it to your digital screens, but suffice to say it’s an enormous amount of work – so here is my yearly PSA to be extra kind to customer service people this time of year and be patient with your order shipping times. From the people who are sending out those sale emails, to the people packing up orders.. we’re doing our best.
With that, I’m sharing the best sales I’ve seen and exactly what I’m shopping or what I already own and love that might be of interest. As always, I so appreciate the support of those who shop through my links – it’s no extra cost to you but I receive a small affiliate commission – which helps me share more here! Enjoy the weekend friends. I’m living vicariously through you!
The striped dress shown at the top of this post was one of my favorite things I wore in Paris, now 25% off.
I’ve been singing the praises of these wide leg trousers for a full year now – grab them for an extra 40% off their sale price (making them just $60) and thank me later.
I picked up this black lace long sleeved top before our trip to Paris and I’ve since worn it on it’s own (with just a black lace bra underneath) or layered under a dress – just one of those pieces that ends up making an outfit.
I’ve worn these green cargo pants constantly on weekends since getting them at the end of summer. On sale + an extra 25% off this weekend. I took my smaller size so they’re a lot less baggy than on the model photo, which I like. But size up if you’re curvier through the hips/bottom.
I wear these small hoop earrings at least twice a week – they’re 30% off right now and make a great gift.
My favorite jeans are 25% off right now ($126 – and my cost per wear on these is pennies by now) – they have 0 stretch and a high waisted fit – take your regular waist size and then break them in to fit like a glove.
I’ve had a polaroid mini for about 5 or 6 years now and take it on all of our trips. So fun to have an instant souvenir photo in this digital world. This one is on sale and would make a great gift!
I bought these ankle boots before our honeymoon last year (20% off right now) and I have walked countless miles in them and they still feel brand new and have never once hurt my feet. I have 3 pairs of shoes from Inez now and they are all equally classic (yet feel modern and fashion-y), incredibly well-made and comfortable.
For the money, this cropped crewneck cashmere sweater is pretty perfect. I took my usual size but if you want some extra slouch or are on the taller side, go a size up.
I’ve had my Sarah Flint black suede ‘Perfect Pumps’ for probably 5 years now and they still look brand new. Timeless and truly the most comfortable stiletto I’ve ever worn. 30% off sitewide this weekend which is I think the best discount I’ve seen from them. I am very tempted to invest in another pair.
Completely frivolous but I bought this feather bag 2 years ago and it continues to make every holiday party more fun.
This black mini skirt is one of my absolute closet staples. Under $50 today.
Likewise, so many of my staples come from French Connection – easy pieces that I end up wearing lots of different ways: this tuxedo mini dress I wore in Paris (layered with shirt and tie), this crinkle striped shirt and this punchy red blazer.
I’ve gotten so much wear out of these croc embossed dark brown leather knee high boots the past 2 years. A small walkable heel and they go with so much in my wardrobe. I think this is the best price I’ve seen them ($160).
