In this full year of lockdown, what 2021 Favorites have made the days merry and bright?
I feel like 2021 has come and gone like a blur! So many times in the past few weeks (months!) I’ve thought “I have plenty of time,” only to realize the New Year was around the corner. As a result, it took me a while to think of my favorites for the year! How can I think of all the good things when it all flew by so fast? Nevertheless, I persist!
2021 Favorites
- Favorite Movie – Spiderman: No Way Home. I don’t want to hear any judgement that my favorite movie was a superhero flick! I’ve quite enjoyed the MCU, practically since the beginning. In addition, Spiderman holds the title for my favorite superhero! I won’t get into the major spoilers, but seeing the movie the night it premiered, with other super fans, made CERTAIN MOMENTS very fun. The film’s finale had equal parts “They could go in a new direction” and “I NEED RESOLUTION.” I just hope that Tom Holland returns for the next Spiderman movie. Apparently his contract ends with this film, but maybe he renewed it quietly and will play Spiderman again? Please?
- Favorite Book – Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV by Warren Littlefield. A whole introspective on Must-See TV? How about that! This book, written by a former major NBC executive, has interviews, commentary, and trivia from the era. We’re talking a behind-the-scenes look from writers, directors, actors and executives during the time of “Friends,” “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” and “Mad About You,” among others! As someone whose appreciation for comedy came from NBC shows, I breezed through this book like that! I hope that ten years from now someone will write a book about NBC tv during 2008-2013. Most people would agree, myself included, that the 90s era was unmatched, but there was something so magical about the late ’00s to ’10s. I think it endures in hindsight!
- Favorite TV Show – Wandavision. Now hear me out! No, I do not ONLY watch Marvel content. I swear. There are a lot of things that are SUCH a close second. I LOVED “Killing Eve,” and “Elite.” Heck, this year I finally watched “Seinfeld” ALL the way through for the first time, and that was remarkable! However, Wandavision is all about Wanda Maximoff coping with PTSD through vignettes of her life depicted in sitcom format. Each episode furthered the plot using different styles and tropes of the sitcom genre through the years! As someone who plays “The Office” as background noise (as a start), seeing someone handle the tough stuff through the comforts of sitcoms spoke to me on a deep level. I’ve said this before, and I’ve said it again: After a year of solitude, hearing this version of the Wandavision theme song sparked the first bit of true joy I’d felt since March of the previous year. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
- Favorite Album – Life Support, Madison Beer. I talked about Madison Beer a few months ago, with reference to this album. As much as I loved Billie Eilish’s “Happier than Ever,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “sour,” and Taylor Swift’s re-release of “Red,” this album has a LOT of earworms. Particularly in the past month, I’ve had “Follow the White Rabbit” and “Stay Numb and Carry On” stuck in my head. The stuff that plays is the stuff that stays! That said, honorable mention solely for the ten minute version of “All Too Well.” Thank you, Taylor. See you next year for either (I’m guessing) “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” or “1989 (Taylor’s Version)”. I am not prepared for either.
- Favorite Trip – Vermont, Labor Day Weekend. I haven’t had the chance to leave the state/house in general this year. As a result, I’ve appreciated every moment I’ve been able to go somewhere fun! Getting to see my closest friends in Boston over Memorial Day Weekend felt like a true treat. Seeing my Grandparents and my best friend in NYC a few months later was even better. However, the true winner came from a long weekend in Vermont. Aaron and I flew out to attend a friend’s wedding. Returning to Burlington and seeing all the nature, breathing in the clean air, and reminiscing about our last trip to Vermont (a nice couple of days) felt truly magical. Aaron felt it too, as we drove around on the country roads past cider mills and changing leaves. “We’ll move back,” he promised. “We just need to make more money and work remotely”. Challenge accepted!
- Favorite Food – Spinach and Artichoke Bread Bowl. At a new food hall, Aaron has found something to enjoy at almost every stall! However, I don’t love all the options available. A charcuterie place has this delicious cheesy bread dip that fills me up without overwhelming my tummy with too much dairy! What a win-win.
- Favorite Skin Care Product – Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser. I fell for the hype, and I’m not going back! This cleanser, like my makeup recommendations, feels light on my skin when I wash with it. I stopped using medication for my skin, relying only on face washing and moisturizing (with the occasional exfoliating scrub). I feel confident enough to not wear foundation when I leave the house!
- Favorite Makeup Product – Yves St Laurent Vinyl Cream Liquid Lipstick, Burgundy Vibes. I mentioned my top five favorites yesterday, but I have to name this one as my absolute favorite. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good red lip!
- Favorite Place – Give Kids the World Village. To celebrate the season, I took the whole family to the Give Kids the World Village for their “Night of A Million Lights” celebration. I enjoyed a fun night filled with festive holiday lights! More than that, I learned about what the Village serves as during the year: a safe haven for critically ill kids visiting the theme parks. The village has over 150 villas for families to stay in, with amenities like a fishing pond, luxury swimming pool, and accessible theme park rides. It’s truly a beautiful place with a beautiful mission! Proceeds of ticket/snacks/merch purchases goes toward funding the village. That makes me want to come back every year… and maybe even volunteer next year!
- Favorite Moment – Finishing the Food and Wine 5K. I wrote a whole blog post about this last month, but I wanted to reflect on it again here. I’m so proud of myself for finishing , and breaking my own speed record. Here’s hoping I can repeat this in March!
Truthfully, thinking of my absolute favorite moment of the year took more than a minute. There were so many good ones this year, despite everything! Similar to last year, I’m feeling a lot of gratitude about what I have in times like these. My 2021 Favorites reflect the little and big things that matter most to me: laughter, compassion, and a little bit of color. That’s what I want 2022 to be: life in color.