Favorites from 2024
From the sentimental stuff (like family or my new puppy) to the more tangible purchases (like a great pair of pajamas) find a recap of my 2024 favorites.
Happy 2025!
I don't know about you all, but I feel like 2024 flew by, or at least it certainly did for the year's final months. My past year was filled with a range of highs and lows, as I suspect it was for most of us, but in general, I would say I had a lovely and relatively uneventful year, and for that, I am grateful!
Planning for the Year Ahead
In my personal life, I always like to review the past year and set goals for the upcoming year. I know goal setting is not for everyone, and that is A-OKAY, but I wanted to share a resource with you all in case you enjoy goal setting and planning. Last year, I used Grace Clarke's Personal Annual Planning Template and found it helpful! I am using it again this year for 2025. I found out about Grace and her planning template from someone's Instagram story last year (I can't even remember who), but like all promising Instagram discoveries, I went down a bit of an IG rabbit hole and dove right into working through her planning template. My favorite section is the 'bingo card' — I saved that page in the front of my journal and have referred back to it many times over the past year, and I am happy to report that I accomplished a few of those goals! So, as we enter 2025, I am working my way through the planner again. I have not finished it quite yet, but I hope to in the next few days (and even if I don't fill out every section, I find it to be helpful nonetheless).
2024 Favorites
While I will keep most of my personal goals to myself, I thought it might be fun to chat about some of my favorite things from the past year! Also, I went to look back on all my substack posts I shared in 2024, and this Mid-Summer Favorites was extremely popular in terms of views, clicks, and new subscribers. So I figured, let's do it again, but this time, looking back on all of 2024.
So, here is a list of my favorite things from 2024! From the sentimental stuff to the more tangible purchases I loved, find a list of my favorites below.
Family & Friends.
We can all agree that the people we spend our lives with are probably some of the most influential elements of our day to day! I am forever grateful for my family and friends, what they add to my life, their support and encouragement, and more! (You don’t see many images/ examples of my family and friends on my instagram and substack because I do my best to protect their privacy. Just because I have chosen to share elements of my life publicly does not mean they have….) But I do, of course, want to take a second to mention them because, well, how could I not?!
And the people in my world also include you all, this community we have built here on my Substack and on my Instagram page. I am beyond grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for being here, following along, engaging with my content, asking me questions or sending ideas over DM, chatting with me, and more. Sharing part of your life on the internet is odd, but I keep doing it because of you all! You have given me this space and this platform to share, and I am so grateful for your support. Thank you, thank you!
My little Cavapoo pup, FitzGibbon, or Fitzy as I usually call him, was hands down the best thing that happened to me in the past year! I love the little guy so much! He certainly gives me a run for my money (ha!)..! We have a LOT more training to do, but I love having him as my little sidekick.
Travel—to new and familiar places.
My Health.
There is not much to say here as I am fortunate to have no major health problems in my daily life, which, mind you, I realize is such an immense blessing.
New York City.
I am continually so grateful that I live in New York City. I will be walking with Fitz and look around and just think, 'How lucky am I?!' I know New York is not for everyone, but for me, at this place in my life, it feels right.
A Refined & Simplified Skincare Routine.
One thing I really leaned into this year was simplifying my skincare routine. You all know I LOVE all things beauty, and I really enjoy trying the latest and greatest products. However, Instagram accounts like @mrs.derm and seeing my new dermatologist (who also has a great IG, @ellengendlermd) have helped me learn that I really don't need so many steps or fancy products. Like many things, sometimes the simplest version can be best.
Working with a Stylist.
As I have shared on Instagram, I worked with my friend Elyse Winter a few times throughout the year on my wardrobe. We did a BIG closet clean out, and then I hired her to build some curated shopping lists for me; then we did an in-person styling session and a month where I could text her regularly with questions as I got dressed. This whole experience was SO helpful! Generally, I think hiring a professional can make a world of difference in any area of your life. Think: lawyer, interior designer, accountant, etc. So why not apply this to your wardrobe and the clothes you wear everyday. Like everything in my life, I am still refining my taste & style (as I think I always will be), but having help from an expert was beyond helpful. I need to text Elyse and book some sessions for 2025!
One hobby that I really leaned into this year was playing Mahjong. Whether it was my once-a-month get-together with friends in New York or playing with gals during the summer days in Maine, I loved having a new way to get together with friends (other than just grabbing dinner) all while learning a new skill.
Needlepoint Projects.
As you all know, I love to needlepoint! My mom taught me when I was young, maybe when I was in 4th or 6th grade, and I have stitched on and off for my whole life, but during COVID, I got back into it! I probably did not stitch as much this year as years prior, but I still enjoy it! I always have one (or a few) projects in the works.
Is it odd to include this on this list?! I hope not.
My morning cups of coffee are truly something that brings me a good amount of joy (because it is the little things, right?!) I am no coffee snob; I will really drink anything; I just love the routine of starting the day with a fresh cup of coffee - usually with some almond milk and a dash of sugar // or a mocha almond milk latte when I am feeling fancy and want a little treat!
FaceTime Calls.
Anyone who knows me well knows I am NOT good at texting. I really am the worst—I don't respond promptly and can take days or weeks to respond. This is something I am trying to work on, but what I can say is that in contrast, I LOVE a FaceTime call! In my family, we almost always FaceTime if we can, and I feel like over this past year, I started to FaceTime with friends more so than just catching up on a traditional phone call.
I have never been the most avid reader, but it is still something that I enjoy. To make more time for it, I set a goal of reading 30 books in 2024. In the end, I did not quite get there - in total, I read 28 books last year. Close enough if you ask me! I will aim for 30 again this year and hopefully make it happen. I love to listen to audio books while I do chores around my apartment or run errands, I have an Audible subscription and I love it. And then I also use my kindle a lot! If you have not joined the Kindle train, I highly suggest it!
Okay, now for some favorite products, brands, and shoppable items!
Aka, the fun stuff that we usually talk about:
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know I love this item. I just can't get enough of these comfortable pajamas—so much so that I have cleaned out my pajamas drawer and donated most of my other PJs. I love that these are solid colors and can not only be pajamas but also double as loungewear, meaning I can throw on a jacket and walk Fitz around the block if needed. (I have seen someone on Instagram mention that they wore these on a flight while traveling; I don't think I would do that; to me, the material feels a tad thin for true out-and-about day loungewear, but I happily wear them around the house/on quick errands.)
I take my true size, XL.
When I think of clothing and where some of my favorite items I bought in 2024 year are from, many are from Attersee, be it my new car coat or plum trousers. While the brand had been on my radar for a few years, thanks go to my friend and stylist, Elyse, for pushing me to go for it and finally try on some of their pieces.
I love this New York-based brand's chic small 'pochette' bags. I have had my first Brown Suede Pochette for a few years but added a Navy Textured Leather version to my collection this year. As I look back on photos from 2024, I realize that I got so much great use out of these bags.
If I had to pick my favorite pant style of the year, it might have to be these comfortable yet chic ribbed pants from Donni. The pants have the comfort level of your favorite leggings but are just a tad dressier, which makes me feel much more pulled together.
I take the tall length in my true size, XL.
Ribbed Long-Sleeve Shirt From Lululemon.
I don't know if I talk about this shirt enough, but I own it in multiple colorways and wear it very often. I am wearing one in heather gray right now as I write this. I don't know if you all are the same, but my first 'outfit' of the day is usually a workout outfit that consists of black leggings and this long-sleeved shirt. I wear this for my morning routine and errands - from walking Fitz to having breakfast and running out for a cup of coffee. I will also wear this to a workout (though candidly, lately, I am not working out quite as often as I would like to…something to work on in 2025, perhaps.) But if I have a proper gym workout or not, this is the outfit I wear to start most days. The ribbed long-sleeve top is super comfortable and soft but also somewhat flattering, especially in terms of exercise clothes.
I usually wear an XL, 14 or 16 in tops and dresses; on this top, I take my smaller size, size 14.
As we know…I have expensive taste, which does not always lead to the best outcome for my bank account! However, one way I have been able to lean into my love for fashion while being somewhat budget-conscious is by shopping resale. I will happily take the time to look around online for items, from eBay to Poshmark, but the place where I bought the most resale items in 2024 was surely The Real Real.
White Crew Neck T-Shirt from Uniqlo.
It is hard to beat the price and quality of this $15 T-shirt. I love the slightly thicker material, the boxy cut, and the thicker neck collar. I mainly wear white but also own a few in black.
I find Uniqlo to run a bit small, so I size up one size and get an XXL in these T-shirts.
Canned Margaritas from TipTop.
A margarita is my favorite cocktail, and while making one from scratch is always ideal, I do not often have the time or energy for it. I seem to always be on the hunt for a good pre-made option, and this year, I was thrilled to find Tip Top's Canned Margaritas. They are hands down the best pre-made margaritas I have ever tried, and I buy boxes in bulk!
A product I reach for regularly is this in-shower body moisturizer. The creamy product is such a game changer for anyone who is a tad lazy in their body care routine because it helps you simplify your steps by moisturizing your body in the shower instead of applying body lotion after showering.
*I always like to note that this does have a faint floral scent. I like the scent, but if you are scent-averse, take note.
Code: NAN20 for 20% off on Hanni’s site.
Black Jane Dress from Julia Amory.
After eyeing this dress for what felt like months, I finally ordered it over the summer, and I am so happy to have this classic black maxi dress in my closet. I have worn it countless times, from friend's birthday parties to dinner in Paris.
I took my true size XL in this dress.
*Note, I don't love the Julia Amory return policy; it is for store credit or exchange only. As I have discussed with many of you in DMs, I know that makes it a bit harder to 'try' out a product. I ordered this knowing I would be okay exchanging it for a tablecloth or another home product if it did not fit.
Dry Shampoo from Crown Affair.
I am not great at all things hair (again, maybe a goal for 2025!) Skincare and makeup are more my thing, but one tried-and-true hair item I swear by is this powdered dry shampoo. My hair is thin, fine, and straight, so it tends to get oily rather quickly, and this is one of the only dry shampoos I've found that can really tame this and allow me to go a few more days between hair washes.
I love a lot of other products from Crown Affair - like their Hair Towel and their Leave-In Conditioner. Code: NAN15 for 15% off.
I am sure I could keep going and easily share more of my favorite things but I will stop here before this post gets too long. ;)
Thanks for being here! Until next time. xo Nan
Agree 100% with the ribbed long-sleeve Lululemon top. They are a great length for tall ppl and had enough stretch to wear during my pregnancy and after. A little bit of pilling, but not bad after 1 year of consistent wear. I wear them for work in an active job, and they don't get the nasty kind of sweaty and dry quickly. Highly recommend as well.