#199: My favorite things of 2024
Not a Gift Guide
Good morning!
Every December I publish a list of my favorite things from the year—pants, products, gear, etc. Notably not a gift guide, more of a year in review. Last year’s list went out in July because I was going on leave, so this year’s list is actually a year-and-a-half’s list, even more if you count things from early 2023 that weren’t vetted enough yet to be included. Vetting, of course, is crucial. I don’t trust super-new recommendations because new things have a shine that deceives. I’ve always said this! Everything on this list is time-tested. I have no skin in this game (i.e. no affiliate links or kickbacks), only affection.
Here are past lists: 2021, 2022, 2023— I still agree with everything on them. Categories this year are: Care, Home, Closet, Baby, and Concepts. “Concepts” was a new addition this year, I get more attached to my concepts every day. Heads up I’ve been told this post is too long for email, so you’ll likely have to click through to read the whole thing!
Care
A continuous-mist spray bottle
When my hair looks sad for whatever reason but I don’t have time to wash it (or don’t need to yet), my go-to routine is to brush it through, spray it with water via this bottle, then add in some hair oil (still loyal to B&B invisible oil, from a previous list). Makes my hair basically look freshly washed again. The continuous-mist aspect is key—this is spray-bottle innovation.
“Snowdrop” hand soap by Mrs. Meyer’s
MB heads know I ride for Snowdrop. Blows all other Mrs. Meyer’s scents out of the water and is hard to find in stores…everyone who washes their hands in my apartment comments on it. Not a chic bottle at all but it’s what’s inside that counts.
The infamous Clinique black honey lip stain
This lip stain loomed large in my imagination for years until I finally bought it and unsurprisingly I love it. I’m not big on face or eye makeup but when I’m after a dressed-up feeling, I like to add color to my face via lip stain or Glossier Cloud Paint (in Haze).
This vagina-safe cleanser by Love Wellness
Once I learned you’re not supposed to wash your bits with soap and that in fact just water would suffice, I looked for something in-between (water alone feels psychologically insufficient). I hate the new design of the bottle (it used to be neutral and civilized, see pic above) but this is a great product. Super gentle/unscented/etc. On my fourth bottle now.
This CeraVe lotion with a pump
I am done with non-drugstore moisturizer. I don’t know why I ever stray. It’s all I need + the bottle has a pump which has become a must.
This Malin + Goetz Rum body wash
Got this after smelling the soap at Freeman’s and asking my friend who went into the bathroom after me to take a photo, forgot to get the photo, then requested it months later and bought this without remembering the smell at all. When it arrived it brought me right back. On my second bottle now.
This sunscreen by Korean brand Joseon
Never in my life have I been good about wearing sunscreen daily until my sister gave me this stuff, now I re-buy whenever it runs out. It feels (and wears) just like moisturizer.
Was told to use this by the internet and obeyed (womanhood). For a while my skincare routine was extremely simple (face wash, moisturizer), but I recently added this and sunscreen, and this in particular makes my skin feel like my routine has way more steps than it does. It’s also helped even out the melasma I developed in pregnancy. I am capping the routine here though.
Well it’s happened. I like to tape my mouth shut at night. Very unsettling conceptually but surprisingly pleasant in practice. Started this to help with a snoring habit I picked up while pregnant (it’s helped!) but I feel more rested in the morning too. The brand doesn’t really matter I don’t think.
Home
This Manduka Pro Lite yoga mat
My old mat attracted so much dust that I finally caved and asked Maybe Baby subscribers for yoga mat recs. Manduka was by far the winner so I bought it and it’s perfect. Looks new after months of use and doesn’t attract dust.
A handmade postpartum gift from my friend Alicia (the owner/ceramicist of FLCS and the lovliest postpartum friend/baby whisperer), which sits on my desk at the most delightful angle. I love how it can be used/hung/moved around so many different ways. I’m also a sucker for using a remote to turn on lights. (I also have one of her ash trays for lighting incense papers.)
This plastic-handle flatware set from Ginkgo
My perfect silverware. I looked long and hard for these!! They have the most satisfying weight and so far they seem indestructible (not so delicate like the Sabre ones which can come apart in hot water). They make me happy every time I use them.
Once I had a baby and realized a bedroom hamper was not enough, I got two of these baskets for throwing dirty baby laundry (the yellow one) and hauling it to the couch to be folded (the blue one). They sit stacked in our hallway at all times and I love them. I also checked their dimensions before buying them to make sure I could reuse them on a particular shelf for something else once we’re past this phase.
These hand-blown glasses by Food52 (in cobalt, 16oz)
I love the shape/look/weight of these glasses (they have a little hand-blown variability), and I like their size. Big enough if you need to chug water but not so big that they feel like pure utility.
A Berkey countertop water filter
Berkey water tastes so good. I love having a countertop water filter, especially one that fits near our sink so that we don’t have to move it to fill it up. This was a life-saver in our six-month formula phase too because it gave us instant room-temp filtered water.
This pillow set came for free with my Helix mattress which is crazy because I love them so much. Great for side sleepers. Very similar to but a little firmer than my beloved Victoria Beckham pillows (on last year’s list!), which are still great but which I now use as a knee pillow.
A Roland FP-10 Digital Piano Keyboard
I got this for Avi for his birthday/our anniversary/Christmas because he’s always wanted to learn piano and we play a ton of music at home. What I didn’t expect is to become obsessed with the piano myself. I now play every day and am about 30 hours into learning “I Giorni” by Ludavico Einaudi (using this 9-part tutorial).
A new 6-foot MacBook woven charging cable
I had one of those cursed live-wire charging cables that was coming apart at the seams for years. Finally got a new one and can’t overstate how refreshing it is to have a charging cable that doesn’t feel literally dangerous. I love the new woven casing on Apple cords to prevent that from happening…very luxurious.
Everything in my home organizing tips newsletter from last year
I stand by it all!
Closet
As I’ve mentioned a few times recently, I’ve been focusing on shopping slower and with more intention and willingness to invest in nice things. This list reflects that!
Rudy Jude Utility Jeans, sized up this time
I’ve been a long-time fan of Rudy Jude’s cult utility jeans. They’re expensive but I think they’re genuinely worth the price. I bought a second pair in a larger size when I was pregnant as a postpartum gift to myself and I ended up loving the baggier fit. My first pair is technically more flattering but these look way cooler. I wear them almost every day now with a little baby cuff.
The Nikki Chasin Shiba Cardigan
The price of this sweater is stomach-churning, but it’s truly the most cherished and worn item in my wardrobe. It’s the only sweater I bought this year or last year and I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth. (I have a size large.)
These Birkenstock “Reykjavik” clogs
How to express my love for these shoes? I think I have literally worn these shoes every day since I got them in September. That’s 10 weeks straight. I knew I loved these shoes the second I saw them (they look like a hiking clog?) but I actually could not have anticipated the level of obsession. Somehow they go with everything.
I lost my beloved blue Everlane beanie in an airport (it slipped off my head!), but I love this replacement just as much. I found it in a store upstate. It’s the perfect thickness and height.
I own three of these (M, L, XL—caved in a sale) because I need to wear this shirt every day basically. I know they’re so expensive but I’ve never found a better tee. It’s something about the sleeves.
Learned about this brand after a server at Ursula was wearing the perfect long-sleeve and I asked her where it was from. After combing the site and sitting in indecision for months, I finally picked this turtleneck and the fit/quality really feels special. I like wearing it solo or dressed down under a t-shirt.
The retail price for these is wild. I got mine on The Real Real for $145, which is still an investment. These shoes were a fun purchase in that they were so drastically unlike any of my other shoes I had that they inspired me to wear my clothes differently (or wear clothes that I’d been ignoring because they didn’t go with my other shoes). Sometimes a strategic purchase like that can pay off in surprising ways. Classic ballet flats are too dainty for me, so I love how these are a little weird.
My stylist friend Harling insisted I buy these and wow. It took me a second to figure out how to style them because they don’t look exactly right with a plain t-shirt (imo), but once I did (oversized button-down), I became obsessed. I always think it’s a little corny when dress pants are advertised as feeling like secret sweatpants, but sadly I get it now. These are both my dressiest and most comfortable pants. Amazing experience to chase after a baby in these.
This is my go-to “going-out top,” which is funny because it’s technically very modest, but I think there’s something sexy about it. I’m picky about tops that aren’t t-shirts, and when I saw this in an Ssense sale I instantly knew. Wore it to death this year and it still looks perfect.
I want to learn to make my own scrunchies but until then I love these ones from A Bronze Age. I got a cream one and a red one, both in size large. I can’t believe it took me so long to start wearing scrunchies. They are pure delight and whimsy.
Baby
I think of this section more so as “things I loved this year that happen to fall under the category of baby,” rather than “my favorite baby items,” as that might be a bit more comprehensive and utility-focused.
The Wildbird Aerial baby carrier
I love this baby carrier so much. To me it’s much more comfortable than the infamous Artipoppe (which I have tried!). I’ve worn it a million times this year.
We had to get rid of our coffee table to fit this in our living room and it was so worth it. It’s totally transformed our living room and is so fun and modular. Sometimes we stack them all to make a “soft coffee table,” other times we make them into stairs that lead up to the couch, or make them into a fort, or spread them out to make the entire ground a cushion. Alas, this “couch” is legitimately a huge part of our lives now.
This FridaBaby pacifier syringe
Once we got this thing, Sunny started taking medicine instantly and with genuine joy. I always get weirdly excited to use it because of how well it works (even though it’s never an ideal circumstance).
This incredible felt puppet bag
I found this in Maxwell Gift and Grocery in Bedstuy and it might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. The little sunflower, bunny, and caterpillar are removable finger puppets. Sunny is in love. We schlepped this thing through the airport, puppets falling left and right, just so she could have it on the plane. I hope she has this forever!
I love these bags. We use them a lot for storing fruits and veggies for Sunny and they really scratch a visual-organizational itch.
Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater stain remover
I heard this stain remover works like magic and it literally does. I use it on my own clothes too. Hasn’t failed once!
These in essence are adult diapers. Saved me postpartum.
Avi and I go through phases of filling this out more often and less, but I’m so happy we have it to record random little memories of Sunny’s babyhood, which I am so afraid of forgetting. I’m sure there are cuter ones—I had to cover this one in stickers because I hated the font on the front, but I do love the heft, material, and color of it.
These sweats from Hanna Andersson
Including these because they’re such a staple in Sunny’s wardrobe—she’s had four pairs at different sizes. They’re kind of her signature. So cute and comfortable and you can get them super cheap from the “Pre-Loved” section.
This knit bonnet, also Hanna Andersson
I’m a big fan of bonnets, they’re hard for babies to take off. Sunny looks like a gnome when she wears this one. I can’t say enough good things.
This handmade wool cardigan from Etsy
Sadly this store appears to be on break right now, but if they ever come back, they make the most precious handmade cardigans and little knit boots. My mother-in-law knits and studied the sweater for a good five minutes because she couldn’t believe how well-made it was.
This cosmos sweater from Milk Teeth
This was a gift and I love it so much. It’s so friendly and warm and will fit Sunny for a super long time. I also love our striped Milk Teeth socks. This brand is expensive as hell but heaven to touch/own/wear.
I doubt the specific brand matters much on these, but I can’t believe long-sleeve bibs weren’t always a thing. Anything that shaves time off the clean-up process is huge to me. I hate when Sunny eats without one of these on. Bonus points that they always make people laugh.
This woman Becca handmakes these baskets to order. I ordered one while pregnant for Sunny’s room but it actually sits in our living room. I love it (it holds so many toys) and Sunny’s smitten with the texture. (Becca’s store is fun, I love this ottoman.)
This incredibly tight Sleepea swaddle
Sunny loved this fucking thing. It’s like a waist trainer but make it a swaddle. So tight and cozy!
This is the sweetest sleep sack. Sooo comfortable and soft. Sunny loves it. I sized up because I see no reason to get a small “fitted” one.
This vintage red trinket organizer
I found this in a vintage store years ago and had been using it to store knitting accessories but always suspected I would eventually find a better use, and finally I did! It now holds all of Sunny’s hair clips and ties and is one of my favorite things in her room.
I sincerely love playing with these. Technically they are for Sunny and she loves them but I play with them every day. I also love the colors and the fact that they’re matte—they’re nice to look at! Annoyingly I care about that.
The Lalo play tent conversion kit
If you happen to own this play gym, there’s a conversion kit to make it into a tent when your baby gets older. What a thrill.
Got this print for Sunny’s room when I was pregnant and later took her to the Hiroshige exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. Fate! I love his work so much. Going to use this print later to practice shadow puppets with her.
This Susan Alexandra baby mobile
Not sure if Susan will ever sell these in her store, but she made one for Sunny for her first Christmas and it hangs in front of her window now, catching the light. It’s so sweet. Sunny loves to grab at the little fruits.
Books:
I Am a Bunny: The most beautiful artwork and most precious story
Noisy City Night: So fun and dynamic to read
Goodnight Moon: All-time classic full of bold artistic choices (e.g.”goodnight nobody” “goodnight air”)
Giraffes Can’t Dance: Smash hit—the sweetest story and really satisfying rhyming cadence
Concepts
Keeping a box of seltzer in the fridge at all times
Everything felt more festive when we started doing this.
Buying a fresh loaf of sourdough every week
Plus softened butter in the butter bell. Once we established this habit we never looked back.
Single-serving frozen leftovers
The method of freezing batch-cooked food into ice cube trays (I like these), then emptying those single-serving cubes into big labeled gallon bags (e.g. one for lentil soup, one for bolognese, one for porridge, etc) so each meal can be individually heated up for baby from the freezer—this changed my life. Also why don’t we do this for our own food?
A second kitchen crock specifically for spatulas
Everything got easier when we did this. One crock is not enough.
Organizing recipes in Mela
Mela is the most useful app on my phone. You can enter any recipe URL or even take photos of recipes in books and Mela automatically uploads it to your recipe list. Everything organized and searchable. So, so helpful.
Using bar seating under-counter area as storage
The ultimate apartment hack. We never sat there anyway!
Cutting Dickies into shorts
Dickies cut off into the perfect long shorts. I’ve had particular success with cutting my super old Urban Outfitters high-rise Dickies (not sold anymore) but I’ve heard it works with others! I think better if the pants are a little roomy, but dealer’s choice.
Using a shoe organizer to pack for a baby
Filling up this shoe organizer with things Sunny needs then rolling it up into a suitcase has made packing for trips so much easier. More than that though, it’s made trips themselves easier, because we just hang up the shoe organizer when we get there and we can see all her stuff.
Home Depot’s color match service
Did you know you can bring any color into Home Depot and they will make you a paint that matches that color? This is how I got my perfect yellow paint after not being able to find it on paint swatches.
Filling glasses prescriptions at Optical 88
If you ever need to fill prescription glasses frames, Optical 88 in Chinatown does a great job for $80 and with a 24-hour turnaround.
Making pancakes out of literally anything
The number of foods that can be mashed or blended together and made into a pancake that tastes almost exactly like a normal flour pancake is crazy. Bananas, eggs, oats, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc…I first started with this recipe (also love this one) but now I just improvise, which is how you reach pancake nirvana.
Would love to hear about your stand-out favorite things of the year! Also happy to answer any questions about the above if you have them.
If you’re a free subscriber and love recs, I send out a list every Friday to my paying subscribers (it’s not all consumer stuff—also includes articles/books/recipes/etc). If you convert to paid, you’ll get that list every Friday (plus lots of amazing reader recs and other perks, like my advice column and beloved advice podcast with my friend Danny) for $5/mo. Speaking of which: New Dear Danny drops this week—splitting this one into two parts because it’s literally three hours. You said you liked long eps and it seems we’ve taken a mile…
Hope you have a nice Sunday,
Haley
Could you re-link the ssense blouse? the link just directs to their website!
Strongly recommend buying rudy jude jeans second hand rather than from the store, for a handful of reasons!
1) their measurements are super inconsistent. I once got pants from them with two different length inseams, another time, jeans with the waist band measuring a full size and a half smaller than advertised and most importantly
2) this brand has the worst customer service, will take weeks to respond to your email, and doesn't consider flaws /wrong measurements of this kind to warrant a refund. In fact, they will give you a condescending reason regarding why this is normal and tell you that you can't return the item because the one week return period has lapsed. - but it only lapsed because it took them so long to get back to you...
3) their items usually take MONTHS to ship, often weeks over their estimated ship date, and they now refuse to give you status updates on your order. if you email and ask for one, they won't respond. you'll just get an automated message in response telling you to check their website for general updates on what stage they are it in manufacturing
4) and this is just a general complaint but i really don't like the idea of supporting companies that are rude to their customers (for example, i have received items from them with crooked hem seams (pointelle tees) or that immediately get holes or weird, huge stains after just one or two washes (following their wash instructions).
These are common problems (you can check reddit or instagram accounts that have been made to share these issues (comments are usually blocked on their IG or comments get deleted instantly if there is a complaint) anytime I have emailed customer service about this, they have not been sympathetic and responded (usually after 2 weeks) by telling me that this is just the reality of buying from small "sustainable" businesses and that i can take my items to a tailor to fix them. this should not be acceptable for a brand that charges so much and claims to make things that last. Some of their items might as will be branded as disposable.
They will also say the crazy staining is a result of the natural dye process, but many natural dye enthusiasts will tell you that this is not the norm!
Some easy to find examples:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Rude_Jude_snark/comments/1dx6iem/brand_new_pointelle_wore_one_time_and_fell_asleep/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Rude_Jude_snark/comments/1fzg3w5/calling_all_dyers_need_help_redying_these_please/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Rude_Jude_snark/comments/1f5tngn/a_weak_area_and_only_tried_on_one_or_two_times/
All this is to say, buy them second hand if you really want them. They pop up all the time on instagram seller accounts/secondhand selling platforms (mostly because their sizing is so unreliable), but at least then you can get the actual measurements of the item you will be receiving and be able to avoid dealing with their customer service nightmare - and won't be giving money to a green-washing company that sells clothes that have been consistently reported by customers to fall apart or get crazy stains immediately upon one wear/wash and treat their customers like garbage.
OR, there are many other small businesses with actual sustainable practices to support that aren't scamming their customers. Small businesses with similar workwear inspired jeans that are the same price range but actually great quality: Jesse Kamm, Gravel, Shelter, Beaton Linen (rip :( ) etc
Sorry for the long rant, I just felt the need to share this because their clothes are expensive and it makes me angry when brands advertise themselves as being "slow fashion," ie, great for the environment, when their practices are anything but.