My Favorite Things of 2023

Every year, I look forward to taking time to reflect and celebrate the end of another year. Part of that process includes checking back on some of my favorite products from the year and sharing 5 things I tried & liked every month made this substantially easier this year! Another part of my process is taking time to outline big content pillars I have for the next year and finalizing travel plans while leaving some open weekends for relaxation and fun + personal travel. Last year, I started a tradition of clearing a teacher’s list during Things I Bought & Liked’s annual Giving Tuesday (through Thursday) push. I’m excited to say I cleared a list for a teacher in Burnsville, a quaint, mountain town David and I had the pleasure of visiting in 2023. I’m bringing back my annual Favorite Things giveaway this year and am changing up the entry format. Be sure to scroll to the end for entry details!

For my favorites from years past, check out this collection of articles! 

My Favorite Things of 2023

one + two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten

eleven | twelve | thirteen | fourteen | fifteen | sixteen | seventeen | eighteen | nineteen | twenty

For Our Home

I saw this Smeg cooler on Azanique’s bar cart and immediately put it on my wish list. Fast forward to some holiday shopping I was doing when I found this in stock at the Wine Store in Village District, where I found that it comes with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot. And since I’m the only one in the Grant house who drinks champagne, this gold champagne stopper has come in very handy!

Another favorite home purchase of mine this month are Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet Set. I was influenced by the marketing blitz around Black Friday and honestly, I’m glad I was. They’re worth the hype! I added a ton of battery-operated candles around our home this year and I have zero regrets, except when I can’t find the right remote. They’re absolutely perfect for the spaces that you may want to have a little extra light and ambiance. After taking a little bit of a break from home updates, I got an itch to freshen up some spaces and I added this rug to our foyer. I have loved it SO much. It sparks so much joy for me and brightens up our home.

For My Closet

At this point, I have a solid collection of Lake Pajamas, but far and away my favorite addition was this seersucker nightgown (currently sold out, but I also love this one!). It is so breezy and perfect for sleeping or for wearing around the house on hot days. I was really all about matching sets this year and I adore this one from Amazon. It has fast shipping and is super comfortable. Another staple for my closet this year was this pullover from Amazon. I paired it with jeans, joggers, and shorts and it pretty much stayed a best seller for me this year.

For My Hair & Skin Routine

I first tried this Kosas Eyebrow Gel (in medium chocolate brown) at Aillea Beauty in Village District and it quickly became a staple in my day-to-day skincare routine. Even if I’m not wearing a full face of makeup, I still swipe this over my eyebrows for a more put-together look. Another product I tried and loved thanks to Aillea is Kosas DreamBeam Silicone Free Mineral Sunscreen. During the Sephora fall sale, I picked up this Merit eyeshadow (in Social) to try and I have really enjoyed using it for everyday wear and for special events. It is nice and buildable. I received a sample of Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick and let me just say that I understand what the hype is all about. I decided to get a full size and I wear it the most out of my lipstick collection.

David got me this hot iron holder that sticks to the edge of the countertop for my stocking last year and it has stayed a favorite item for me this year! And speaking of hair straightening, I tried the K18 leave-in hair mask and the process has completely helped my frizzy hair in the best possible way. Another leave-in mask I tried and loved was the IGK leave-in dry mask. This is a different, more low-maintenance process that I use to refresh my hair between washes. It also smells *amazing.*

My teeth are super sensitive so I have been on the hunt for white strips that work well while not making my teeth uncomfortable. Enter these Lumineux white strips. They work well and have yet to make my teeth sensitive to cold.

For My Lifestyle

Last year, one of my favorite items was my Book of the Month subscription, which I credit for increasing my reading over the last two years. I still stand by this and think it is such a great option for those who love reading. Another one of my stocking stuffers last year was this book light that David got me and let me tell ya, I have really enjoyed it when staying up to finish a book. I am also a big fan of handwriting things out — lists, cards, paper planners, etc. I received a set of these ink pens for my birthday and they are absolutely the best around. Speaking of cards, I get custom cards from Erisha’s Etsy shop and I loved this set this year.

Now for the Giveaway!

This year’s giveaway features 10 of my very favorite items from 2023. Congratulations, Erica for winning! Prize has been claimed & delivered. Here’s what I’m giving away this year:

• Smeg Cooler with a bottle of Veuve (so you’ll need to be 21+ to win this year!)
• Champagne Stopper (featured in October’s 5 Things I Tried & Loved)
• RBF Wine Glass (a favorite local, woman-owned business I love supporting)
• Eliza Quinn Candle (will be featured in an upcoming article in 2024 — based in Carthage, NC)
• 3 Month Book of the Month Subscription (all articles highlighting books I’ve read can be found here)
• IGK Anti-Social Dry Mask (featured in September’s 5 Things I Tried & Loved)
• Lumineux White Strips (featured in September’s 5 Things I Tried & Loved)
• Handpainted Ring Dish (from Enfield’s Southern Secrets at Mears shop, featured in this article)
• Aillea Signature Facial at Raleigh Location (if you’re not local, it will be subbed for a gift card)

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Entry Details

• Subscribe to I’m Fixin’ To newsletter
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• Comment on this article with your favorite item from 2023
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The winner was chosen at random on 12/29 and will be verified with the above criteria. Must be 21+ to win and live in the continental US. The winner will have 24 hours to claim before another winner will be randomly chosen. Not affiliated with WordPress, Instagram, or Flodesk.

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