My Favorite Things of 2024

This post was inspired by my friend and former client Claire Williams, who recently wrote about her favorite things from 2024! Check out her Substack. You won’t be sorry.

First, a 2024 Recap:

• January - February: Fostering two sweet girls (1yo & 6yo) that we were absolutely head over heels for

• March: 6yo went to live with her aunt

• April: Unexpectedly said goodbye to our 1yo foster daughter

• June: Started a new job at Sourcebooks!

• July: Recorded the Hungry Authors audiobook

• August: Hungry Authors book launch! + fostering three tweens

• September: My 35th birthday, Chattanooga book launch party, and the arrival of our current three foster babies

• October: Sucked into a vortex of potty training, fending off toddler bites, and bonding with babies

• November: Continued chaos, with a break to visit my parents at their new home near Lake Tahoe for Thanksgiving

Favorite Substack Posts I Wrote:

When You’re In the Midst of a Sea Change: Every word of this post is still true. I have undergone massive changes this year as a mom, and I’m still not quite sure where the dust is settling. I do feel the need and desire to write more about my life and our bewildering path to parenthood, and yet it still feels incongruent with the brand I’ve built. I’m still wrestling through that. Notice that none of my favorite posts this year were about writing or publishing—whatever that tells me.

My Car Got the Kids I Always Wanted: At some point, I will write a Part Two to this story, because believe it or not—there is an even happier ending. I still miss that freaking car, though.

A Year Ago, I Was Part of a Miracle: I still get emails, Facebook comments, and other messages about this post. Thinking about this experience still makes me cry. What a life.

Favorite Substack Posts I Read:

I Left My Heart in the Moors by Molly Ella

I love her exploration of the Yorkshire Moors—with pictures! Don’t you just want to escape there and bring along your favorite, tattered copy of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights?

The Way We Live in the United States is Not Normal by Kirsten Powers

This was written in late 2023, but I read it in 2024, so I’m counting it. Kirsten’s Substack, Changing the Channel, has become one of my favorite reads and one that I always make time for. I know I can always expect a thoughtful commentary on current events with an eye towards wellness and authentic self-care. I’ve needed that this year.

The Auntie Bulletin by Lisa Sibbett

This is my newest deep-dive into how to relate authentically with kids. SUCH good advice throughout this Substack!

Favorite Family Memories:

First, the moment our 6yo foster daughter lost her tooth. It was February, and we were repainting our bedroom. There was a bucket of paint on top of the closed toilet seat in our master bathroom, and J kept jumping on the toilet. I told her sooooo many times not to jump on there, but she did anyway. Of course, she fell and hit her mouth on the lid of the paint can. (She was fine.) Her already-loose tooth popped out and disappeared into the depths of buttery yellow paint. We assured her that the tooth fairy would be able to find it (hell no—the tooth fairy did not even bother), and I had fun leaving a little paint-spattered note from the tooth fairy (along with a couple dollars!) under her pillow that night.

Easter with our two former foster daughters was also a big highlight. By this point, the 6yo was living with her aunt, but we still maintained a relationship with her and her aunt asked us to watch her over the Easter weekend. She called us “Mommy” and “Daddy” the whole time—something she had never done when she lived with us! God, I miss that kid.

More recently, with our current kiddos, we decided to take them on a “hike,” where we went to a local state park and let them loose on a trail. We wandered in the woods. They laid down on the ground and played with sticks. We climbed trees. We saw how far we could throw rocks. We splashed in mud. The kids were utterly happy exploring nature, and now our 3yo asks us just about every day if we can go on a “hike” again.

Favorite Memory Not Involving Children:

Celebrating the launch of our book in Greenville and Chattanooga! Also traveling to Chicago to record the audiobook and taking book launch pictures. We had so much fun.

Favorite Daily Pleasure:

5:30-6am drinking coffee and indulging in a chocolate-covered biscotti while reading

Favorite Trip:

Josh and I had our first trip to Destin, Fort Walden, and 30A this year—meaning we can now call ourselves Southerners. It was absolutely gorgeous and I got to go paddleboarding in a perfect little bay, thanks to the generosity of our Airbnb hosts. Plus, we saw friends and had fun playing frisbee at Crab Island. Definitely a highlight!

Favorite Song:

“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” by Taylor Swift (Happy birthday, Tay!)

Favorite Clothing Item:

It’s got to be this dress with the open back (which you can glimpse in this pic) that I wore for my Chattanooga book launch!

Favorite Earrings:

I’ve been into studs lately, and these adorable sparkle heart studs from Loft are my daily vibes!

Favorite Movie:

Wicked. Hands down.

Favorite Podcasts:

• The Daily Stoic, which has been a favorite for several years. Ryan continues to interview interesting people who teach me something new—and I haven’t gotten tired of hearing some of the same stories from Ryan a few thousand times 🙂

• Knox & Jamie’s Popcast, even though Liz can’t understand why I love it… I love the Southern expressions sprinkled in there, the rants from Erin, and Jamie’s sassy opinions. For me it’s the perfect balance of wholesome and spicy takes on pop culture.

• Brooke & Jeffrey’s Second Date Update, which is my go-to guilty pleasure when I want something light. Look, I know most of these are probably scripted but I love hearing about people’s dating mishaps and stupid mistakes.

Favorite books of 2024 coming next week!

Now tell me some of your favorites from this year. :)