Friday Five #11
Favorite Finds of 2023
The items on this list did not all originate in 2023, but I either “discovered” them in 2023 or became obsessed with them in 2023. Maybe this list will introduce you to something new! Some links are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you shop while using them.
Bamboo sheets. I shared about these in a previous newsletter, but guys, I love my sheets so much. If I were independently wealthy, I would have enough sheets to be able to change them every day so I could always sleep on clean sheets (and then I would also hire someone else to change them because changing sheets is obnoxious), but since I don’t, I am thankful to at least have these silky soft, cool sheets. The downside of them is that in colder weather, they do feel cold to slide underneath, but I warm up pretty quickly, so it’s not really an issue for me. (The ones I linked above vary significantly in price depending on the color you want, and the price also fluctuates often.)
The Daily Poem podcast. I look forward to listening to this podcast every day. It’s a wonderful way for me to be exposed to all kinds of different poems.
Substack. I don’t even think I had heard of Substack before this year and don’t remember how I learned about it, but not only have I enjoyed building my own Substack, I have loved all of the different writers I have found on here. I missed the days where people would hang out in the comments sections of blogs, and Substack helps bring some of that back (speaking of, come hang out in the comments of my posts!). It feels like a writerly community, and I enjoy that. I am only a paid subscriber of 2 Substacks (Coffee + Crumbs and Katie Blackburn), but there is a lot of content that writers make available for free, and you can easily spend way too many hours reading other writers on here.
Ouai Detox shampoo. I first got this in a FabFitFun box a while back and then forgot about it. Then I decided to try it again and fell in love. It’s a clarifying shampoo that’s safe on color-treated hair, and I use it about once a week or so (sometimes less than that but never more than that). It’s pricier than most other hair care products I buy, but the bottle lasts me a while since I don’t use it every time I wash. It has a nice, mild smell and cleans my hair really well. I can tell a noticeable difference when I use it. I like to use the scalp scrubber before shampooing for an added boost. (This massager on Amazon looks similar to the one I got in my box but is half the price.)
The Dwell Bible app. I have mentioned this app before, but I truly love it so much. I use it EVERY DAY and especially love to use it when I get ready for work. Having Scripture read to me is one of my very favorite things (and in general I hate to be read to), and I love that Dwell has different translations and different narrators. You can choose types of music to play behind the readings (guitar, strings, piano, etc.), and Dwell has daily devotionals and reading plans also. I made a playlist with my favorite Psalms that I listen to often. It is a paid app, but in my opinion it is well worth the investment. A subscription would make a great gift, too!
Now it’s YOUR turn: What have you loved this year? What would make your favorites list?
I have been loving Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Oil with Coconut & Argan Oil for taking my makeup off. Double cleansing has really helped my skin in general, but this particular oil has seemed more hydrating.
Here's my list: voice texting, bike shorts, plastic slides (it's summer here haha), The Ordinary's Niacinamide + Zinc, and Neostrata's Clarify solution. The latter two make my skin very, very happy rather than dry, allergic, and pimply!