Favourite Photos of 2020
by Liz Heather in Personal
Favourite Photos of 2020
December Dalliances 2020
I hope you had the most merry Christmas possible, I really do. Mine was definitely different from our family’s norm, but it still turned out to be intimate and special. I never thought I’d get a Christmas with my parents and Nathan and Baby Dog all together at once, so that’s kind of a wish come true. In such an awful year, it felt so nice to get something so unexpectedly perfect. A part of it felt empty without Gary and Robbie, but if this year has taught me anything it’s to appreciate what you’re lucky enough to have right infront of you.
In other news, are you impressed with how on-time this end-of-month list is this month? I hope you are. I live to impress you. Here’s what went down in December:
I recapped how my autumn list went.
I made my winter list of things to do for the season because I physically can’t stop making lists. It gives my life a sense of direction.
Instagram took away the option to embed your own photos (or changed it & I CAN’T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT), so if you know how to please please god tell me.
Great idea of the day: if you have a moment, you can send a letter to become a penpal with a senior citizen who loves to correspond.
I’m always a sucker for articles like this at the end of the year.
When I was making the Nutella cookies for Christmastime this year, I finally learned how to successfully brown butter! It really helps to use a white-bottomed pan so that you can see the browning process happen.
We did the Polar Drive by the airport and it was very cute. Would’ve been perfect for kids.
I watched the first episode of the new Saved By The Bell and it was cringe city USA. Just really horrendous. There were oddly maybe two parts that were really funny, so the whole experience was just confusing.
Just learned about the existence of mod podge and crafting will never be the same again.
Someone on the Food Network suggested mixing ricotta and cheddar for something and I can’t get it out of my head, I never would’ve put those cheeses together but now it’s all that I want to try.
Such a good waxing experience at Waxon. The wax they use is like magic, it hurts so much less than at regular waxing places.
I have been washing Baby Dog’s face like this almost every night since I saw this video and she loves it.
It’s the first time I’ve used it, but I’ve fallen in love with Isle of Paradise’s Self Tanning Drops.
Some movies I rewatched: The Craft (god, I love the outfits in this movie), Misery (great winter watch, still makes me sick to watch the feet scene), Reindeer Games (again, just a fun winter movie) and Alive (are you seeing a theme here? Love snowy movies without Christmas overtones).
I watched the Love Fraud documentary series and it was really, really good. Especially because in the last episode you get to hear from the main guy its based around.
I have been using the cranberry salve from Kiehl’s and it’s such a Christmas-y, great flavour.
Good god do I want this shirt. It’s so workman-chic.
In love with this white teeny tank I just bought. I have this fantasy of wearing it braless in the streets when we’re all vaccinated. Not sure if this will happen, but in my mind? Christ, it’s hot.
I made this cranberry-rosemary julep and yikes it was strong, but not delicious strong. Giada isn’t great at drinks, she should just stick to over-pronouncing Italian pastas and cheeses.
I reeeeally wanted this tulle bra from Zara but it sold out before I could get it, so I bought this blush lingerie one instead. I can almost guarantee that when I put it on Nathan will tell me to calm down.
Love love LOVING these Aritzia bodysuits.
Bought my first crossbody bag from Zara. Worried about how it’ll fit across tits, but we shall see and I will report back.
Currently living in this Zara sweatshirt.
Almost all of these leftover stuffing ideas are pure genius.
I’m not a terribly original person, so I’ll forever love a life hack. Love this list.
I’ve been using this great hair finish every day for a month because it’s been laying around my parent’s house, but I can’t find it available anywhere online.
I made this cranberry brie pistachio wreath that was so, so good (even if you hate brie, which I do).
I made these hot chocolate lace cookies that were very good, if not a little too sugary.
In love with these leftover stuffing muffins. As long as you add pancetta to the stuffing.
I can’t stop making this kale caesar salad with sweet potato and chickpeas. The dressing is unreal.
I dedicated an entire post to the magic that is stuffing.
I listed my very favourites from the year.
Best tweets of the month ahead.
Some things that I’m looking forward to this month: all of the snow that’s coming, I’m excited to sit down and listen to Taylor Swift’s evermore album, I still want to watch the newest season of Big Mouth, I’m so f-ing pumped for the return of Riverdale, might bite the bullet and buy this Glossier lip gloss that’s apparently NOT sticky (how is that even possible?), I really want to watch Soul, I can’t wait to make this carbonara on New Year’s Day and I’ll definitely do everything on this list for January 1st. Also, if you’re reading this on New Year’s Eve, then get your ass over here.
If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in November over here.
My Favourites of 2020
Everyone seems to love an end-of-year best-of post (myself included), so here we go. Behold, the best of the best in a year full of trash.
Clothing
J. Crew underwire 90s swimsuit: I bought it in both black & red and I can’t wait to wear them somewhere other than my house one day.
UNIQLO blouse: so soft and perfect fitting.
High waisted leggings from Aerie. I can’t put in a link because they’re always changing the ones they sell, but the softest/best ones are the ones that are 88% Nylon, 12% Elastane.
This Zella Crop Hoodie from Nordstrom that I pretty much wore every other day since June.
Babaton Contour V-Neck Bodysuit (so far I have it in two colours, clay & scarab), they’re amazing. They’re like better quality versions of the old American Apparel bodysuits.
TV & Movies
The Staircase documentary series
This one scene from The Good Place
The most recent season of Shrill
The Hillary documentary
The first season of Dave
Beauty Products
OUAI Wave Spray - such a low maintenance way to style your hair when it’s damp.
Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion - incredible for blemishes that are in the early stages.
Antihistamine Eye Drops - annihilated my itchy eye problem.
Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Salicylic Acid Pore Refining Pads - I went through the entire container, it really does wonders for your skin.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All-In-One Cleanser With Toner - again, just amazing on my skin.
Scalp Massager - I feel rich when I use it.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve - my saving grace this winter.
Luna Sleeping Night Oil from Sunday Riley - makes me look 18, in my opinion.
Restaurant Takeout
The steak tartare at The Dutch (NYC).
The lamb sliders & perfect fries at Pil Pil (NYC).
Literally any pasta at Portale (NYC).
The off-menu Cacio E Pepe at L’Artusi (NYC).
The steak at Giorgio’s of Gramercy (NYC).
The birthday cake slice from Milk Bar (NYC).
The burger at Vesta in Astoria (Queens).
The tomato focaccia & garlic butter at Lilia (Brooklyn).
The vegan chicken parmesan at VSPOT (NYC).
The Harvest Daiquiri from Gramercy Tavern (NYC).
The tuna at Atoboy (NYC).
The hazelnut cappuccino cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery (NYC).
The Hunters Penne Pasta from Erin Mills Pump & Patio (Mississauga).
Forever the roast beef sandwich at San Remo’s (Etobicoke).
The vegetable fried rice from Fortune Dragon (Mississauga).
Truly sorry for this addition, but the chicken sandwich at Popeye’s (Earth).
Recipes
Putting pickles on grilled cheese sandwiches.
Broccoli Bolognese, but with Beyond Meat sausage instead.
My forever favourite Summer Tomato Panzanella Salad
Random Favourites
Hal’s Seltzer in Cola flavour: it’s seltzer that tastes like Coke. It’s madness.
Nathan’s Patreon!
This little girl and everything she plays.
Best dog grooming place in the city: You Lucky Dog Grooming (Mississauga).
Every single product put out by the Beyond Meat people.
DAH!: a vegan yogurt that tastes better than regular yogurt.
Saratoga Sparkling water: it just tastes colder than other brands.
Listen to forests from around the world, I love this.
My day-trip to Sleepy Hollow, the one place I travelled to all year.
And there you have it! 2020, let me happily usher you to the door.
An Ode To Stuffing
Why am I devoting an entire post to a Thanksgiving side dish? I wish I could tell you. It’s been on my mind? Also, I wanted to make sure that I don’t forget exactly what I did to MAKE THE GREATEST STUFFING OF ALL TIME.
Before you lash out at me, please understand that I fully comprehend the beauty of cooking from scratch. However, there are times when certain foods simply do not need to be make from scratch. And this baby is one of them…
Yes, boxed stuffing. This stuff is magical when you add the right accoutrements. Some personal additions that I love to add are caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms together (if you’re avoiding meat). But if you aren’t avoiding meat? The most heavenly idea is to buy unchopped (get the kind you need to slice yourself) pancetta. And then?
Cook the pancetta in a pan big enough to hold the boxed stuffing.
Once the pancetta is done, add the stuffing, one cup of chicken stock or broth and one or two tablespoons of butter and follow the remaining instructions on the box.
Eat it by the handful.
I swear to you, it’s insanely good. And if you’re looking to do something with any leftover stuffing the following day, I found this incredible recipe for stuffing muffins that is just wildly good (why they weren’t called stuffin’ muffins, I’ll never know). You could eat those with gravy or cranberry sauce, but if you want to go one step better I’d recommend making this cranberry butter to go on top.
Winter List 2020
Remember when winter was here last and we were on full lockdown? And… here we are again? Maybe I shouldn’t have reminded you of that fact. But that being said, this winter list will be the most low maintenance list I’ve probably ever done because, well, that’s the law.
Build at least one snowman or snow-woman.
Arrange a decadent charcuterie board on New Year’s Eve.
If the city permits it, go ice skating.
Find a hill & sled down that hill.
Use up all of my winter stationary by sending out as much mail as my pen will allow me.
Wherever you are, I hope you’re staying warm and staying safe.
Merry Christmas!
Never could have anticipated a year like this one, but here we are - a little far apart but still together.
“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.”
Autumn List 2020 Revisited
Winter is upon on! Yes, that seems insane, but what isn’t insane at this point in time? I normally would be excited about a season full of staying inside, but that’s all of our lives now… so… there’s that. Here’s how my autumn list turned out.
Make an apple dessert.
Truly forgot about this one since Thanksgiving was pretty much cancelled this year and Tianna wasn’t around to request that I make it.
Visit Sleepy Hollow.
I did and it was so, so great.
Jog before sunrise.
Damnit, I forgot to do this one. I really want to one day.
Make homemade hot toddies.
I did and it was good, but it took waaaaay too long. Definitely a drink you order while you’re out somewhere so someone else has to make it.
Have the most epic Halloween possible since it falls on a full moon this year and that, my dear, is magical.
I did my absolute best and it went just as I’d hoped.
3/5 is respectable! It’s a miracle that I’m still writing and attempting these seasonal lists. I promise to take them even more seriously next year. Winter, here we go…
“There’s just something beautiful about walking in snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special.”