Best of 2015 | Lifestyle Favorites
Finally, the last of the 2015 Favorites videos (and blog posts)! I don’t know how some people have boiled the whole list down to 15 items…I clearly couldn’t even get close! These favorites can be broken down into 3 distinct categories: books, “stuff”, and recipes.
BOOKS
My love of reading is no secret, and I definitely have a preference to the type of books I read. I prefer to read books in a series, because I really like to get to know the characters and “spend” a lot of time with them. I also like to read mysteries more than any other genre, although if I can combine some sort of paranormal feature with a mystery, then I’m in heaven! Here are my favorite books from 2015:
“STUFF”
I didn’t know what else to call this category–it’s just the random objects or things that I’ve discovered this year that have made my life a little better, a little easier, and a little more fun! I included two planners in this list. One is the , which so many of you have asked about and which has made grocery shopping and planning for family events SO much easier. The other, which I feel needs justification, is the . I know I complained about the customer service ad nauseum during my June vlogs. It still stinks…but the actual product doesn’t, and so far it has worked the best for me out of all the planners I’ve tried. You know I’m all about telling the truth, and even though I might get raked over the coals for this one, it is my favorite!
RECIPES
Finally, we come to recipes. I do enjoy cooking, but I’m not terribly creative–I definitely rely on recipes to get me through cooking for my family. I have a few “go-to” chefs, namely Giada de Laurentiis and Laura in the Kitchen (I think I was Italian in another life), but there are some other family favorites in there as well. One of my goals for 2016 is to put a dedicated “recipe” page on my blog, so these recipes will be easy to find for everyone. Click on the names below to get the full recipes:
(this will take you to an old video of mine that has the recipe in the description box)
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading/watching this series as much as I’ve enjoyed making them! I can’t wait to see what 2016 brings all of us!
Really glad I learned of the Julia Spencer-Fleming book series from you in 2015. I’m on the fifth book. Wonderful characters, interesting settings and plots! Thanks!
I wish she’d hurry up and write another one!
Hi Marnie – I think you mentioned once before that you don’t like electronic planners, but if you’re looking for advice on how to best use your planner, that’s the way to go. I’m the niche you’re looking for– FT working mom with 9th grader and 6th grader and husband, with 4 busy schedules of sports, band, dance, theater, work travel, etc. GOOGLE CALENDAR is the best thing ever! I don’t have a blog or YT channel, but I will tell you how awesome and easy it is to use. We have separate calendars for each person but can share with each other so we can see others’ at any time (or always), a separate one for meal planning, separate one for vacation plans, stuff like that, It’s all color-coded. It’s all available on everybody’s laptop, tablet, phone. Accessible no matter where you are– borrow someone’s machine to look up if you don’t have your phone for some reason. I can add stuff to my kids’ calendars and I can include addresses that will link to directions, copy and paste details, requirements, etc., straight out of teacher/coach/band director emails into the appointments. Hubby doesn’t have to ask me which night is the basketball game this week or where it is. Every can see what’s for dinner tonight. I could go on an on. I LOVE GOOGLE CALENDAR! Your paper calendar is really pretty limited!
That sounds pretty amazing! I might add that, but I also need to be able to write stuff down. That’s just how my brain works. If I don’t physically write something, it doesn’t stick in my sieve of a brain!