Welcome to the 2nd annual Anna’s Favorite Things!
Not trying to compete with Oprah here, but who doesn’t love a favorite things list? Give me those recommendations that are tried and true, that have been proven over time. And that’s what we’ve got today!
Below, you’ll find my very favorite things from 2021. Some of these were purchased in 2021, some before that. But all of them earned highest praise from me over this past year.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
(FYI, some links below may be affiliate links. I may earn a few pennies if you buy something through a qualifying link!)
Home Favorites
Woodfire Candle Co. candles
I’m making it official: Citrus Spice from Woodfire Candle Co. is my favorite candle. It just makes me happy every time it’s burning. The scent is everything i want a non-pine holiday scent to be – citrusy but also cinnamon-warmed and a little sweet. Plus, the smell is *just* strong enough and not at all headache-inducing.
Gigantic cutting boards
Adam teases me about having an obsession with wooden cutting boards. I may deny it…but he’s not wrong. They’re the perfect marriage of practicality and beauty: they’re so much better for your knives than skinny plastic cutting boards and they look great on a counter or under a charcuterie board.
This item made the favorite things list this year because Adam got me a chunky, beautiful Boos block for my birthday. It’s pretty dreamy for dinner prep – if you don’t have a giant cutting board, you don’t know what you’re missing. (I’ll also still pull out smaller wooden cutting boards from Ikea and Bed Bath and Beyond for small, quick tasks, too – those can also be a fine place to start).
Spindrift
Yes, I’m shoving sparkling water into the home favorite things category because I couldn’t leave this out. In the year of our Lord 2021 I discovered Spindrift and LO MY LIFE WAS CHANGED. I used to doctor up plain sparking water with frozen fruit or a splash of juice because I needed just a hint of flavor but without the weird artificial taste of most sparkling water. (Ahem, LaCroix.) And then I discovered that Spindrift does it for you and it tastes so good. I haven’t had a bad flavor, but we probably buy the raspberry or the lemon most often.
Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing groups
We moved this year and have leaned on Facebook Marketplace and our local Buy Nothing groups more than ever. We harnessed the power of Buy Nothing to get rid of furniture we couldn’t move and to find (and later get rid of) moving boxes. We’ve also furnished our new place without spending a bajillion dollars thanks to Facebook Marketplace. This is probably not new information, but if you’re in the market for something, try spending a week checking Facebook Marketplace daily before buying new!
Clothing Favorites
Athleta Altitude tights
If you live in a cold climate, please order these leggings ASAP. They are like wearing your coziest fleece blanket on your legs. I went on a walk in 30 degree weather with a fiesty wind, and my face was freezing but my legs were so snuggly. They’re expensive, yes. But I’ve never regretted a pair of Athleta pants. (Heads up, though – I don’t have pets, but these feel like they would be magnets for pet hair.)
Taos white sneakers
While compiling photos for my Washington DC guide, I realized that I am wearing these sneakers in just about every photo taken around the city. And it’s because they coordinate with nearly any outfit while also being so darn comfy and supportive. I have high arches and very picky feet, and I can walk all day in these without issue.
I’ve had the canvas ones for going on three years and will probably get one more summer season out of them before they’re beat to shreds. After that, I’m considering switching to the leather version so they’re easier to keep clean.
Madewell Perfect Vintage jeans
I love these jeans. If you’re looking for a jean that feels slightly cooler than a skinny, has a high waist that won’t make you hate yourself, and still works with ankle boots, these might be your new best friend. I own both the white and the Lunar (a faded black) wash and they are totally worth it, especially if you can snag them on sale. For sizing, I generally take one size down from most other brands in Madewell, and that’s true for these as well.
Darn Tough socks
For this recommendation to have full weight, you need to understand how picky I am about socks. I could never handle the cute frilly socks my mom tried to make me wear as a child because the darn seam across the toe make me lose my mind. Even now, socks with lots of ribbing or texture make me crazy if I walk in them at all.
So it should come as no surprise that when we go hiking, I need really good socks. And Darn Tough’s cushion socks have converted me. They have great padding and just the right amount of support across the arch. Plus, they’re crazy durable – I’ve had issues with recent Smartwool socks developing holes, but that has not been a problem with Darn Tough. The pair I’ve worn on tons of hikes barely shows any wear.
Even better, if my favorite socks do ever get holey, Darn Tough has a lifetime guarantee – they’ll replace them with no questions asked. (!!!)
I haven’t tried the regular crew socks yet (aren’t these cute?!), but they’re on my list!
Beauty Favorites
Kristin Ess Hair Pin
I LOVE THIS THING. You can use it all by itself to put your hair into a bun, and it does not hurt or cause headaches. (Anyone else find high ponies and messy buns painful, or is that just me?!) Just make sure to watch a few videos about how to use it – if your bun won’t stay put, you’re doing it wrong. There’s a slight learning curve, but it becomes second nature after a few tries. (This is a good one – the tutorial starts at about 1:48)
Thrive Causemetics liquid lash extensions mascara
I included this on last year’s list but just couldn’t take it off this year. Using random waterproof mascara from Target for my brother’s wedding reminded me just how dang good Thrive’s mascara is. It makes my eyelashes look extra-long, it’s not clumpy, and it stays on all day long with no flaking or smearing. It’s officially reached holy grail status. I have it auto-shipped every four months because otherwise I would go an embarrassingly long time without switching tubes otherwise. You can get a discount on your first purchase here.
AmLactin
Listen, I attempted to branch out in body lotions this year, I really did. But I just kept coming back to AmLactin. Hence why it’s included again on this year’s list.
If you’re in the market for something girly that smells good enough to eat, this is not your lotion. It is not cute. But if you have dry skin, especially if it’s riddled with keratosis pilaris, this lotion is a workhorse that truly actually works. I apply after I shower (which is a few times a week) and I don’t often need another body lotion in between.
Aquaphor
Since, I don’t know, 4th grade Lip Smacker days, I’ve been hunting for the perfect lip balm. It needs to actually keep my lips moisturized and not require reapplication every 10 minutes. And after using Aquaphor for five years, ever since I went on Accutane and my dermatologist recommended it, it has been a staple in my lip balm arsenal. If I had to choose just one lip balm to keep around, this might be it.
Again, this lip balm is not sexy. (Are we sensing a theme?) It smells like nothing, goes on clear, and is basically Vaseline that’s easier to apply. But it’s not sticky, and it actually heals my lips. Plus, it’s way cheaper than anything else you’ll find at Sephora.
(Just don’t get the one with SPF. It tastes terrible.)
Tech Favorites
Airpods Pro
I realize that these are not an inexpensive item. $190 for headphones is…exorbitant. However. I love my AirPods. SO MUCH. The quick, automatic connection to all your Apple devices is incredibly satisfying and so easy. I use them daily so I can listen to podcasts or do video workouts without interrupting my husband when he’s studying. They’re also great for phone calls if you’re a multitasker and can’t sit still while chatting.
I also didn’t know how much I was missing a noise cancelling feature in my headphones. Because it is AMAZING. It comes in especially handy for travel – they’re of course wonderful if you’re on a plane, but Adam also stole them when he had to drive a very noisy U-Haul and wanted to listen to an audiobook.
One caveat: the microphone is nowhere near as good as the regular earbuds with a jack, so I don’t use these on video calls with tutoring students.
Asana
If you’re looking for an online program to keep track of to-dos, I’ve found Asana to be highly useful this year. I discovered it because my work uses this program to help track big projects with multiple contributors. After trying it for a few months, I adopted it to keep track of my own writing and home tasks, and I convinced Adam to use it for managing his research, too. We just use the free version, as it still allows you to see all of your tasks in one place, add due dates, create subtasks, and more.
Apple Notes
Earlier this year, I was searching for a way to keep track of digital notes. You know, links I want to hang on to, notes on articles, gift ideas, that sort of thing. I needed it to be quick to access, easy to use, and able to sync between my phone and laptop. And as I researched, the most obvious solution smacked me in the forehead: just use Apple Notes. So I opened the app that was already on all my devices, created some folders (which is absolutely key to this whole project), and went to town. And it’s worked great! The ability to add images, search, and create checklists are basic but function well. And the folders! They work miracles. If you need a really obvious but possibly overlooked solution to keep track of your digital life, try it!