It’s already a week into 2017…how do you feel about it? It’s still weird to me. I don’t like writing that 7, to be honest. I’ll get used to it, though.
It seems like everyone was complaining about 2016, calling it the worst year ever. I think that’s a bit dramatic. Personally, 2016 was a great year for me. I accomplished a lot, grew a lot as a person, and found a lot of new obsessions.
I want to close out my 2016/2017 transition blog series with a roundup of my absolute faves from 2016. While many of these were released in 2016, some are things that I personally discovered this year but were available years before. This list includes it all – food, television, makeup, skincare, fashion, apps, restaurants, and everything in between.
2016 Favorites
PODCASTS: Specifically, Actually Adultish. I know I know, I’m biased. I listen to podcasts nonstop. All day, every day. They’ve basically replaced music in my life. You learn so much through podcasts, and you can listen to them while doing pretty much everything. Watching actual videos is too inconvenient for me. I mostly listen to health and lifestyle podcasts, and there are way too many amazing ones to list right now. Here’s a list of some of my favorite lifestyle podcasts, though! (Since then, I’d add That’s So Maven and Soul on Fire to the list!)
Artisana Coconut Butter: This was the year of coconut butter. If you haven’t noticed, I’m very addicted to this stuff. Any brand of raw coconut butter is fine, but I always tend to grab Artisana. You can put it in baked goods, in smoothies, in fat bombs, on your sweet potatoes, etc. I eat coconut butter by the spoonful every single night. It tastes like frosting.
Tahini: Another complete obsession. I have a major problem. I love to dollop this on pretty much everything, especially roasted vegetables and salmon. Aaaand it makes a killer salad dressing. Lemon tahini dressing is a game-changer.
Eating Evolved Coconut Butter Cups: I love all Eating Evolved products, but the coconut butter cups have stolen my heart. Every single flavor. I won’t pick just one. Plus, they’re totally clean and one of the few chocolates I will eat from the store! My friend introduced these to me a few months ago, and it changed my life forever. #dramatic
Daily Harvest Smoothies: I never thought I would eat a pre-packaged smoothie. Ever. But these are so healthy, so delicious, and so convenient! All you have to do is add liquid, blend, and you’re done. You can add other things in there too, if you want. My faves are the Cacao + Avocado smoothie, Mint + Cacao smoothie, and Carrot + Coconut soup! So good. You can use the code “ADDICTEDTOLOVELY” to get 3 free smoothies with your first purchase if you’re interested in trying!
Vital Proteins Collagen: All of their collagen products are must-haves in my kitchen. As of recently, though, my absolute favorite for smoothies is the Vanilla Collagen Peptides. I first started taking Vital Proteins when I got sick a little over a year ago, really only because my doctors told me to, but I quickly fell in love when I saw what it was doing for my skin, hair, nails, and muscles. Not only that, but it’s been pivotal in healing my gut lining. I will do a full post on this very soon!
Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea: It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite tea because I love so many. If you follow me on social media, you know my collection is excessive. I’m going based on numbers to make it easier, and I drank this tea the most, by far, compared to any other tea this year. I went through at least 3 full containers, which is saying a lot considering how often I switch up my teas.
Spiced Gingerbread Bath & Body Works Candle: We all know I have an obsession with candles in general, but my favorite find of the year was definitely Spiced Gingerbread. It’s so Christmassy, I love it.
Beautycounter Charcoal Bar & Purifying Charcoal Mask: Beautycounter in general is a favorite, but the charcoal bar and the charcoal mask are probably the two things I depend on the most when it comes to skincare. I cannot live without these.
Beautycounter Bronzer, No. 1: I really just have an unreal obsession with this bronzer and refuse to wear anything else, which is insane considering how picky I am about bronzers. Not too warm, not too cool, and the perfect shade for my skin tone.
Bite Beauty Honeycomb: This was definitely my most worn lipstick of the year. What I love about Honeycomb is that it looks different on everybody, but it’s a universally flattering nude. I adore Bite Beauty lipsticks in general. The formula is creamy and long-lasting, and the ingredients are safer than most brands.
Sephora Pro Blending Brush #27: If I could only have one eyeshadow brush for the rest of my life, this would be it. I wish it was cruelty-free and made with synthetic bristles, but whatever. I didn’t get into clean beauty until the end of the year, and I gotta be honest about what was my main squeeze throughout the majority of 2016. You can use this in the crease, on the lid, to highlight, or really for anything else. It’s amazing.
LUSH Prince Shaving Cream: I have a really hard time finding a shaving cream I like, but ever since I found this I’ve been extremely satisfied. Most shaving creams either slide right off my skin or are too thick, but this is the perfect consistency, not irritating, and is made with fresh ingredients.
Kate Spade Cobble Hill Toddy: I have this bag in beige, and I don’t go anywhere without it. It’s the perfect size to fit all of my belongings, it can be worn as a satchel or as a regular purse, and it can be dressed up or down. And it goes with every single outfit. Kate Spade always has random sales, so wait for one and buy it!
Alex and Ani Rose Gold Bracelet: Alex and Ani released rose gold bracelets this year, and I immediately had to have one. Rose gold was very on trend in 2016, and I adore all Alex and Ani bracelets. Therefore, a rose gold Alex and Ani is a must.
Lululemon Wonder-Under Pants High Rise: Literally lived in these all year long. I always live in Lululemon leggings, but this year I upgraded to high rise. Into it.
BDG Parker Cardigan: We all know I’m obsessed with sweaters, but I wore this one in particular almost every day after buying it. It’s my go-to. I make it work with every outfit because it’s so comfy and cute.
The Wet Brush: I legitimately cannot brush my hair without this brush. I have one in my purse, one in my car, one in my bathroom, one in my bedroom, and one in my bedroom in the Bay Area. Yup, I’m that paranoid about being without one of these things. If you have tangled or unruly hair, this will change your life. If you haven’t already seen it, I wrote a post about my hair must-haves!
Ice Roller: I’m gonna be honest – I don’t know if this actually does anything. I don’t really care, though. You keep it in the freezer and then roll it over your face when it’s clean, and it feels so good. Super relaxing. Lauryn Evarts and Kayleigh Clark are both huge fans, so I’m hoppin’ on the bandwagon too.
Young Living Essential Oils: I was never really into essential oils, but my friend Marissa suggested I try these and I quickly became obsessed. There’s something so calming about diffusing an essential oil, especially when you’re sick. My favorites are peppermint and lavender – they’re both really relaxing and perfect before going to sleep.
The OC: I got the DVDs for Christmas last year, and I’ve slowly been watching them throughout 2016. Nothing will ever compare to my love for One Tree Hill, but The OC quickly became one of my all-time favorite television shows. I love high school drama. It’s addicting. Sorry ’bout it.
Game of Thrones: I can’t tell you how many times I tried to watch this show… I hated it. I couldn’t get through the first season. Then, this year I finally tried the second season, and I became obsessed. If you don’t like season 1, don’t give up. It gets waaaay better.
Yoga-Urt: If you follow me on any form of social media, you already know how much I love this place. I have a full review on the blog if you want super detailed information. Basically, Yoga-urt has amazing soft serve that’s completely gluten-free and vegan. They even have gluten-free waffle cones! The flavors rotate in and out, but my all-time favorites are Salted Caramel Zen, Calming Coconut Chai, and Strawberry Serenity. Their banana split is INCREDIBLE.
Frozen Fruit Co: This is my other favorite dessert shop. It’s also gluten-free and vegan, and it’s made completely from frozen fruit. You can’t get cleaner ingredients than that. Everyone’s obsessed with Pressed Freeze, but I think this is much better. I can never decide on a flavor, but their seasonal Banana Pumpkin was completely unreal. Besides that, they always have Coconut & Cacao, which is probably the best chocolate soft serve/ice cream I’ve ever tasted.
Cafe Gratitude: In terms of food, Cafe Gratitude is almost always my number one choice. Their entire menu is delicious. It’s all plant-based and most of it is gluten-free, as well. It has relaxing, trendy vibes. A lot of affirmations. Their berry cobbler, brownie sundae, and mint chip shake are MUST-HAVES.
The Butcher’s Daughter Venice: I cannot tell you how happy I am that The Butcher’s Daughter opened up in Venice. First of all, it’s so trendy and Instagrammable. Second, the food is extremely fresh and delicious. I went here for my 21st birthday and basically ordered the entire menu. I could eat here for every meal, every day.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: I reread this book over and over again to get reinspired whenever I’m in a slump. I have it on Audible and also on my iPad, so I can reference it whenever I need to. If you’re feeling creatively blocked or uninspired about your life, I would highly recommend reading this book. It completely changed my perspective on how I approach things, and it motivated me to pursue so many of my passions that I never thought I would have the courage to pursue.
EWG’s Healthy Living App: I’m so happy I found this this year, because it’s a must if you’re interested in using safe personal care products. There are so many toxins and chemicals in most products – it’s scary. All you do is scan the product or search for it in the app, and EWG rates the product in different health categories so you can decide if you want to purchase it or use it. It doesn’t have information for every single product, but it has a lot.
Obviously I didn’t include people on this list, because the list would be too long. If you’re reading this, you’re definitely a favorite, though. Tell me… what were your favorite things from 2016?!
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