I have not done one of these posts in quite a while, but as 2025 winds down, it’s time for a list in no particular order, of 20 things I have had bring me value or joy.
1.) This Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder
We found a gently used Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder
for sale on FB Marketplace and it has been our enjoyment and entertainment ever since. We love our birds, especially the cardinals. The squirrels still try to damage it, but they fail because their weight trips a locking mechanism to the food, which is not tripped by birds.
2.) The Amazon Prime Series “The Chosen”
This show has been a wonderful “value add”blessing in my life. The casting is excellent. Naturally, Jesus is the ultimate, based, Alpha male (example quick scene: “I am the Law of Moses”) It takes a few episodes to get hooked, but stick with it. It’s available on Amazon Prime.
3.) Vintage Turi Design Lotte table wear from Norway
I inherited these vintage hand-painted silk screened plates, cups, etc (and tea kettle not pictured) several years ago. We brought them out to start using them earlier this year and I really love how whimsical and cute they are. You can find them on etsy with a search for “Turi Design Lotte”.
4.) Paintings by Christa Kieffer
5.) Noble Isle Tea Rose Soap and Lotion
When we were in Brighton England, we stopped at the Grand Hotel, and this is what they had in the ladies room. It smelled so good, that I had to go back the next day just to write down the details and hunt this down! This has the softest feminine rose scent, and lasts.
6.) Substantially reducing time on Social Media & Opting for “Analog Life”
Not unlike many, many people, I am choosing to depart greatly from time spent on social media. Especially instagram. Not long ago I took Facebook and Instagram off my phone. I have them on my ipad, but have set a 15 minute limit a day. I have been much happier! I am trying to live life offline even better than I have been. My blog here is my way of going back to the early 2000s when blogging was the main way you showed creative expression to the internet world. I’m not totally quitting, but I won’t be on there as much, to my benefit! It’s spiritual warefare out there, and I personally feel I am winning more, if I reduce distractions.
7.) BabeLash Essential Lash Serum
My friend told me about this product, and it’s right up there with my #13 on the list as far as being one of the best beauty products I know of. I used this in the past, then tried a different brand (which didn’t work as well). Now I cam back to this brand and my lashes are starting to grow long again. They will get longer than this, but already I’m happy with how much longer they are becoming.
8.) Mulled Wine tea bags
We picked these up at the V&A Museum gift shop, and it’s essentially a tea bag which you simmer on the stove with inexpensive red wine (we get some at Trader Joes) and oranges. It’s not too overpowering but gives the perfect mulled spice flavor, and pairs well with a bit of honey and an orange slice in the mug. This is such a nice treat on a cold winter night.
9.) Butterick B6720 Coat Sewing Pattern
This coat sewing pattern, Butterick 6720 has become one of my favorites! It’s easy and produces an impressive coat with a nice silhouette. I am currently making coat 2 of 3 which I plan to make using this pattern. One I finished is this pink one.
10.) Our Bread Machine
It’s likely I put this on my top 20 list before, but it is really just so value adding I don’t mind putting it on the list again. I make bread, pizza dough, and cinnamon rolls. The first one finally broke, so I bought the same model again on Facebook Marketplace for $20. It’s a Toastmaster. Picking up a used one is all you need, and you will be baking bread easily in no time.
11.) The Amazon Prime Series “Medici”
My husband is into Niccolo Machiavelli, we even visited his grave in Florence. So when we discovered this historical TV show we were excited to watch it. This one takes some concentration to follow but I enjoy this series, and the opening theme song is great (listen). It’s funny, Joe is all about Medici and I’m more a fan of The Chosen, but we both like each other’s show.
12.) Ikea “Billy Bookcase” with “Oxberg Doors”
I recently purchased this storage cabinet at Ikea and I love it! It has given me a wonderful option to store and display my fabric stash so I can actually see what I have to work with. When Joann Fabrics was liquidating I tried to stock up, but until this storage option, the fabrics were stored in boxes where I couldn’t easily access them. I love this!
13.) Lily & Fox Nail wraps
As far as beauty products go, these nail wraps by Lily & Fox have been my absolute number 1 discovery of the year! Another flight attendant told me about them. These last 2 weeks or more without ever chipping! They are easy to apply, and they can be removed easily with absolutely no nail damage, using warm coconut oil. In my job my painted nails were getting chipped so easily! Best of all they are only $2.99. For my needs and desires I can ask for no better nail product and I’m entirely happy. I personally like solid red, but it’s fun to occasionally do a themed set.
14.) This Bible Study
In the new year I am going to use this very helpful and beautifully illustrated Bible Study to help me read the entire Bible. While one year I used an app called “Daily audio Bible” to listen to the Bible read aloud, I have never actually READ the Bible in it’s entirety, so I look forward to this in 2026.
15.) Pink and White Hoka Clifton 10 Running Shoes
These are giving “Barbie”, and I find them very comfortable to wear when running on the treadmill (my own specific use for them in my running routine). Admittedly, the shoes I actually MOSTLY train in, and race in are Vibram 5 FIngers (which have made my list before) But these are cuter for sure.
16.) Carrot Cake from Trader Joe’s
This is so bad for me, but it’s so tasty! I have a weakness for this cake LOL!
17.) These Heatless Curlers
I love these, and I use them in a special pattern ( I use only 5 of them!) for “side sleepers”, on 90% dry hair and they turn out very vintage-Y!
18.) Reading the book ” How to be Victorian” by Ruth Goodman
I have been enjoying this book from the library (or available here). The author has immersed herself in actually personally LIVING in Victorian ways so she can lend first hand insights to different components of daily life in Victorian Britain. This has been a fascinating read, as it takes you through the “everyday” mundane life of these people. Some of it is shocking! For instance the opium and other drugs used on infants! Some of it heartbreaking, such as the constant desperation for food, along with extreme labor for Victorian Britain, including children as young as 6 going into full time employment. I can’t say I especially like the time we are currently living in (the post 2019 years), however this book makes me thankful for many things I take for granted.
19.) My “Marie Antoinette” Style Inspired Ring
This heart ring, which I saw and took pictures of at the V&A’s “Marie Antoinette Style Exhibit” struck me, because they looked so modern! These were not Marie Antoinette’s own rings (most of her items were lost in history) however these were from the time period. For Christmas my husband gave me this very special ring he customized in rose gold, and with our birth stones (from Jeulia). It brings me delight to look at it 🙂
20.) This Book About Near Death Experiences (People who saw Heaven)
This book has been a great blessing to me, especially since my dad passed away this year. The author compiled the testimonies of countless individuals who had near death experiences and witnessed Heaven, but he purposely sought out to use the stories of people who had everything to lose and nothing to gain by sharing. For example, people in careers (pilots, doctors, etc) where mental health and clarity are paramount to keeping their career, and therefore to disclose their experiences would put them in jeopardy of judgement. These are not stories of people trying to make money on a book. There are even accounts from the past century which correlate. There are consistent details and some interesting specifics which are tantalizing to even imagine.
Furthermore, I personally had a very brief, but life altering experience, when I was in a car crash into a telephone pole at age 16. “I” (my conscious soul) was taken up in an all consuming bright light tunnel where the only feeling was incredibly saturating PEACE. This happened very quickly and that’s as far as it went for me. But I was amazed to read other accounts in this book describing that same experience (but then they continued further on). What a page turner! Available here.
