My 2023 Favorites

If Oprah can publish her own favorites list, so can I!

Back to the Barre podcast
Okay, it's a guilty pleasure, but I just can't stop listening to this Dance Moms podcast. Back when Dance Moms was airing, I would watch it with my own mom after I'd gotten home from dance class on a weeknight. We'd sit in front of the TV, and I'd have a late dinner, and this drama soaked show was a surprisingly calm way to unwind from a busy day. I now find a similar pleasure in this podcast in which two Dance Moms stars Christi and Kelly go back through the show and let us listeners in on the real tea. Which, spoiler alert, is a lot of mom guilt for putting their kids through all that. Sometimes the podcast is just as petty as the TV show was (ahhh nostalgia); sometimes it is surprisingly reflective.

Baggu
I know the word "obsessed" tends to get overused in these types of contexts, but in this case, I think it might be appropriate. I'm obsessed with these bags. Their foldable tote bags are cute and handy and come in a million fun patterns. They're such a simple way to add a bit of brightness and joy to errands. I always throw at least one of their foldable totes in my Baggu medium crescent bag, which I have in the cloud pattern and also love. I've even found that Baggu lovers have their own little community online, and I love spotting someone else wearing a Baggu when I'm out and about.

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Zack's Mighty Tortilla Chips
I never thought I'd have a favorite grocery store tortilla chip until I tasted these for the first time. The actual flavor of the chip is so much better than you'd expect from a standard tortilla chip.

Letterboxd
I have taken to logging every movie I watch on this platform, and reading the reviews always has me laughing out loud. So if you want to keep up with how often I'm watching Disney Channel Original Movies, follow me at @ambervandegrift.

Being Frenshe Body Wash in Cashmere Vanilla
Great fragrance, great quality. Sometimes it's the little things.

Tasty Bite Madras Lentils
I've been known to say that if you catch me eating a TV dinner, please check on my mental wellbeing. But this comes in a pouch that I then pour into a real bowl, NOT a plastic tray, so I'm fine, I promise! But for real, this is the tastiest, most substantial easy dinner I've found (other than frozen pizza, of course). Pop one of these bad boys in the microwave for one minute, pour it over some rice, and you've got yourself a cozy dinner.

Eilish Eau de Parfum
I've never had a signature scent until this perfume. It's a very soft, warm scent that I don't find too overwhelming or sharp at all. It's a daily wear for me.

Rare Beauty Eye Brightener
I'm not a heavy makeup wearer, and this product is perfect for a light face of makeup. I tend to have dark circles under my eyes, and when I would use concealer under my eyes without a full face of makeup on, I found that it looked very unnatural. This product has the perfect amount of translucency to easily blend while still brightening the darkness under my eyes. Another daily wear for me.

Convivial Candle in Pomelo Blossom
If Eilish is my signature scent, then this candle is my home's signature scent. This candle smells amazing and comes in a beautiful hand made ceramic vessel. Convivial also has a great refill program, so when I hit the bottom of my vessel, I bring it in to their Kansas City storefront, Verdant, and return it for 50% off a new candle. I've gone through a few of these now, because I love this fragrance so much.

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Public library audiobooks
If you're not using your library card to get audiobooks to your phone, what are you doing? Listening to audiobooks has become a cherished part of my daily routine as I commute to and from work. And for free through the library! Some of my favorite listens this year have been Tom Lake, narrated by Meryl Streep, Paris: The Memoir, narrated by Paris Hilton, and One Italian Summer, narrated by Lauren Graham.

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Mejuri Easy Small Hoops
I love a pair of fun, bold earrings as much as the next person, but ever since I bought these dainty, simple hoop earrings, I've found myself reaching for them all the time. These were a splurge for me, but throwing on these hoops with any outfit makes it feel just a little more special and elegant to me.

Refilling my soaps
Just reading through this list, it's easy to notice how many things we enjoy in life come in disposable packaging. Refilling my soaps not only lightens that weight of guilt just a smidge, but it has also become a routine I quite enjoy. KC locals: you can do this at the Soap Refill Station in Waldo. Their "Free & Clear" laundry detergent and house made hand soap are in my regular rotation.

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