Things I'm thankful for this year
Just to name a few.
This year, it’s easy for me to list all of the things I’m thankful for. Besides the obvious such as good health, my job, my friends and family, the fact that I live and spend this part of my life in New York City, I wanted to highlight some of the little things in my life that bring me gratitude and happiness on a daily basis.
In honor of my favorite holiday (by the way, Happy Thanksgiving to my dearest and most loyal readers), here’s my list of things to be thankful for this year.
1. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
This is a franchise I absolutely took for granted in its absence this summer, and even last year. These six women are serving something on television we haven’t seen since the age of table flippings, tax evasions, and christening brawls in Jersey, or Berkshires screaming matches, It’s about Tom’s, and Pirating in New York. They’re bringing delirium, new money, and familial drama that you cannot believe people are allowing to be on television, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
2. Taylor Swift
As this list grows, I’ll attempt to be less predictable. But I think it’s best if I get all of my obvious ones out of the way first. Taylor Swift is someone who’s had a spot at the top of my gratitude list for many of the 23 years I’ve been on this earth. However, this year in particular, I got to see her live in LA for the first time in almost eight years and had one of the best experiences of my life. She pushes me to become a better writer (even though saying things like Your Midas touch on the Chevy door don’t really fit into this platform or style…), she brings me unequivocal joy every time she leaves her house, and she makes music that speaks to me on a level that I’ll never be able to explain.
3. The East Village
Before moving to New York, I was afraid of the East Village. The sense I got was that after COVID, crime and shenanigans in the area had gotten a little rampant, and weird things were happening, so it wasn’t an ideal place for a young and impressional girl like myself to find her first apartment. So what did my roommates and I do? Move to the Lower East Side, because it’s a worlds difference (sarcasm intended)! I did end up loving the LES as well, but upon moving to the East Village (barely the East Village) this fall, I’ve found myself becoming a real champion for it. I feel like I’m living in an episode of Girls (ONLY BECAUSE IM LIVING WITH MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE BIG CITY, NO OTHER REASON) or Broad City, or some other show where young girls live in New York in a wholesome way because those two aren’t at all wholesome. My favorite restaurants and coffee places and little shops are emerging in my new neighborhood, the leaves are beautiful fall colors, and it’s actually pretty quiet 5/7 days of the week.
I’ve mentioned these on this blog before, but I genuinely don’t think I’ve worn a single piece of clothing more than the Levi Baggy Dad Jean this year. Since mentioning before, I’ve gotten two more pairs, converted multiple of my friends, and have wear them at least twice a week, every single week, to work or out. Currently, as I write this in my childhood bedroom, I have two pairs in my suitcase for just Thanksgiving weekend. Jeans are really tough, so when you find a pair you love, especially when they’re under $100, I suggest holding onto them real tight.
5. Learning To Make Soup
I am self-proclaimed soup-sessed. I’ve already made four unique pots of soup this year, and have no plans of stopping. Pictured above is the viral Wishbone Kitchen “Swamp Soup” that I highly recommend making as well. The real reason I’m thankful for this newfound hobby is that it’s made me a lot more confident in the kitchen. For some reason, I thought soup was really difficult to make. However, it’s extremely easy. And now, I feel like I can make other things that I thought were really difficult, like chicken cutlets or my own pasta sauces.
6. The New York Times Word Games
These have single-handedly gotten me through every bus ride up Avenue A to the L Train, every hungover morning, and every time I’ve had to wait impatiently for something I should be patient about. In this exact order every day, I do the Mini Crossword, then attempt Wordle, then attempt Connections. Sometimes if it’s a slow work day, I’ll even do Letterbox. I hope it’s at least strengthening my vocabulary too.
7. Netflix Reality Shows
As a connoisseur of reality television, I think I have a good sense on what works and what doesn’t. Reality T.V. shows—specifically dating shows—produced by Netflix, have sparked so much joy for me this year, I don’t even know where to begin. From Love is Blind to The Queer Ultimatum to The Perfect Match, I was consistently blown away with how much these contestants were willing to leave it all on the floor for love. I became obsessed with each and every one of them for such a small period of time, it’s almost unimaginable how little I care about them now. But that’s why Netflix has the magic touch for these types of shows; they rope you in for the perfect amount of time, just before setting you free right before the next one comes along.
8. The Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm
There’s no product this year I’m more thankful for than lip products. The Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm basically taught me the importance of a good lip, and I’ll never stop using it. The silhouette is extremely chic, it stays on for a great amount of time, and it’s the perfect price.
9. The Resy App
This year, I really leaned into my love of trying new restaurants/obtaining difficult reservations, especially since I live in the best city in the world to do so. I truly get a kick out of the entire dining experience, and feel as though I’m floating on a cloud after enjoying an amazing meal with people I love. I’d like to thank the Resy app for making this so accessible (yet infuriating sometimes). Special shout-out to also the Beli app, which also brings me joy.
10. The Return of the Ballet Flat
My ballet flats have acquired some severe milage over the past year. I wear them with almost everything and anything, and they make me feel adorable and dainty and like someone in between mother Devon Lee Carlson and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. I’m constantly looking for my next pair, and will hold onto them for dear life until they become cheugy again.
On a real note, what I’m most thankful for is everyone who has subscribed to this silly little passion project, and who takes the time to click on it every time I appear in your inbox. Here’s to another year of rambling about things that don’t matter in the grand scheme of life ❤️.
New York Times games have been arguably as valuable as therapy to me
The new york times games truly is what keeps me going in life