A few years ago, I did a roundup of my favorite things in 2023. That blog post gets a lot of traffic around this time of year, so I decided it was time for an update.
I thoroughly enjoyed reflecting on what I’ve accomplished, read, and purchased this year, and I’m excited to share my favorite things list for 2025.
My Favorite Things List for 2025
Favorite Coffee: Hazelnut Crema from Melitta
Admittedly, I didn’t drink much coffee this year. And that’s because I’m currently pregnant and due in early 2026 with my second child!
Although a small amount of caffeine is safe during pregnancy, I choose to cut it out. So the last time I had a caffeinated cup of coffee was in late May 2025. I still drink decaf on occasion; I even found a decaf-exclusive company: Dekáf Coffee Roasters.
My favorite of the year, though, was the Hazelnut Crema from Melitta. A popular German coffee roaster, this medium roast coffee was delicious and highlighted the lovely taste of hazelnuts with a sweet, creamy finish.
If you are after a flavored coffee from a European country, I highly recommend this one!
Favorite Book: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
I read a lot of great books this year, but according to my Book of the Year Bracket Challenge, Onyx Storm was my favorite read of 2025.
Although it’s not quite as good as book one, Fourth Wing, it kept me hooked from start to finish and was one of those books I couldn’t stop thinking about long after I turned the last page.
And I’ll never forget that last page! Ugh! So good!
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the Empyrean series, I highly recommend checking out Fantasy Fan Girls and Between Pages & Friends for their coverage and discussions.
Favorite New TV Show: Landman
I’m a big TV buff and love series. There are a lot of great TV shows that came back in 2025, like Bridgerton and Stranger Things.
But my husband and I discovered Landman in early 2025 (it released late 2024 technically), and I’m marking it for my favorite things list as my favorite “new” TV series for 2025.
Landman is interesting and different, exploring the oil business and oil rigs in Texas. Billy Bob Thornton does a great job as the lead character, Tommy Norris.
The second season came out in November 2025 (releasing one episode a week) and has been just as good so far. The show streams on Paramount+.
Favorite Beauty Item: Urban Decay Mini Eyeshadow Palette
I love eyeshadow, especially glitter shades, and this palette has been my favorite for many months this year.
The shimmer colors are easy to wear but still feel fun, and I love how quickly I can apply them when I want to feel a little more put together. It’s one of those simple beauty items I reach for again and again, even on busy days.
Favorite Fragrance: Feyre Perfume from The Wonderwick
I discovered The Wonderwick earlier this year, thanks to bookstagram, and it’s an amazing small business that brings the scents of some of the best fantasy book characters to life. Not just with candles, but with perfumes!
I purchased both the Feyre and Elain fragrances based on their descriptions, and I love them both! But the Feyre scent is my favorite.
Favorite Maternity Item: Crewneck Maternity Sweater Dress
This second pregnancy has been different (as is often the case!), and one of the big differences is in clothing.
When I was pregnant with my first, it was during the height of the pandemic, plus I wasn’t pregnant during the colder winter months. So I’ve had to buy different maternity clothes this time around.
I went on a trip a few months ago for work and needed a nice maternity dress for a dinner. After many, many attempts at finding something, I found this one. It was perfect and exactly what I needed. I’ve worn it several times since that event. It’s very comfortable and versatile. I was a large pre-pregnancy and sized up to an XL in this dress, which has fit perfectly over both the second and third trimester.
Favorite Journaling Habit: Book Reflection Journaling
If you didn’t notice throughout the year on the blog, each month (well, almost every month, lol) focused on a series of journaling prompts related to reading. Reading has become such a joy for me again, and although I don’t have as much time for it as I wish I did, I really enjoy reflecting on books I’ve read.
That’s why I started sharing monthly book journal prompts on the blog!
It was a great topic for me to explore, and I personally used many of the prompts for reading reflection.
With the little one on the way in 2026, I don’t think I will do a monthly journaling series like I have the past two years. But I promise to share journaling content and prompts throughout the year still!
Favorite Recipe: Crockpot Chicken Tikka Masala
I’ve been making this Crockpot Chicken Tikka Masala for years. It’s so easy and flavorful. You can also tweak the red pepper flakes to your liking and make it spicier if you want.
I personally serve this recipe with brown rice. I make at least two cups of rice because this recipe makes a lot of chicken/sauce!
This recipe works great as a freezer meal too, one that I plan to prepare and use for my freezer meal storage after baby #2 arrives!
Favorite App: Meals Hero
Caroline, the founder of Meals Hero, first reached out to me back in May 2025 about collaborating. She ended up writing a guest post on the blog and hooked me up with a Meals Hero account.
I admit I was a bit skeptical about it to start out, but having used it now for 6+ months, I can confidently say I love it and think it’s worth the investment.
Major pros for me with Meals Hero include:
- Unlimited storage for recipes
- Recipes only – no ads or other noise from the original website (it basically strips out the recipe)
- Option to share the recipe via a link with someone (they don’t need an account!)
- Shopping list builder so you can get everything you need for all the recipes
Overall, Meals Hero has really helped me with meal planning and grocery shopping. If you are a busy mom, I encourage you to check it out!
Favorite Blog: Tomorrow is a Mother Day
This was honestly one of the hardest things to pick from my favorite things list. I follow a lot of great bloggers and love connecting with other bloggers that I have followed over the past few years.
Kelly is a blogger I’ve followed for a few years now, and we always support one another in various posts and comments. Even if I didn’t blog, I would still follow her. She has great, relatable mom content. I also love her simple recipes and book reviews, and that’s what I frequently find myself coming to on her blog.
Two of my favorite recipes from Tomorrow is a Mother Day are:
They are delicious and simple, perfect for a busy mom!
That wraps up my favorite things list for 2025! A mix of simple joys, practical finds, and things that made this year feel a little brighter.
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to stick around for more coffee and everyday mom life in 2026.
What were some of your favorite things this year? Tell me in the comments below!
3 thoughts on “2025: My Favorite Things List”
Great list! Always fun to see what people are into. Thanks for sharing!
Those are so great! Journaling have been my comeback in 2025. I also been enjoying lots of coffee since I got an espresso machine at home now. Trying new drinks.
That sounds like so much fun! I hope you enjoy more coffee in 2026 too!