🎂 9/15: Rinne's Recommendations
BIRTHDAY EDITION!
Hi, hello, happy Tuesday! (Yes, I know this isn’t Friday. Just roll with me.) Do I look older to you? Well that might be because I turned one year older last week. Ya girl is now the ripe old age of twenty-four. So instead of sharing with you my favorite things of the week, I present to you *DRUM ROLL PLEASE* my 24 favorite things from the last year!
Olaf in Frozen 2
It’s hard to describe how much joy Olaf brought me throughout Frozen 2. Spicy take: I don’t love the plot that much. But Olaf’s shenanigans throughout make the movie. I even bought a “Samantha?” hat. Simply iconic.
Half-Baked Harvest
If you’re not following Half Baked Harvest’s food blog, you’re truly playing yourself. Whenever I cook, there’s a 90% chance that what I’m making is one of her recipes. She also has AMAZING cookbooks. I personally love the Super Simple cookbook. You cannot go wrong with anything she makes. *chef kiss*
Record Player
I got a record player for Christmas last year and it has changed everything. My favorite nights in include putting on one of my favorite records (right now that is either Ben Platt’s Sing to Me Instead or Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors), lighting a candle, and just listening to an album all the way through.
I also started subscribing to Drew Holcomb’s record club, Magnolia Record Club, and I cannot recommend enough. I get amazing albums every month that I love, and all they’re pressings are exclusive so they always look super cool as well.
TikTok
This really goes without explaination. It’s brought me laughs, tears, and too many jokes that I now pretend are my own. These are a few of my favorites:
High School Musical feat. Lin Manuel Miranda as Troy Bolton.
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
If I recommend one book that I’ve read over the last year it is absolutely this book. John Mark Comer is my favorite pastor hands down and he brings heat in this book all about how we need to slow down our lives and become apprentices to Jesus. But even if you’re not sold on Jesus, the principles in this book are amazing for everyone.
Lazy Genius
This is a newer find, but this podcast is changing my life. Kendra offers hacks and tips from how to shop well at Aldi, to how to make your home cozy for fall, to how to meal prep super well. You can find her podcast on all podcast platforms, but her website is here.
Slow Mornings
I am NOT a morning person. But I’m learning the value a slow morning brings to my life. Days that start with a hot cup of coffee, my instrumental worship playlist, time with Jesus, and my journal are infinitely better than those where I stumble out of bed five minutes before my first meeting of the day. If you have space and time for a slow morning, do it.
Game Nights
I have always been a game night person in theory but it wasn’t until I moved into my apartment last year that I became a real life game night person. I truly adore getting all my friends in a room and laughing while playing whatever the game of choice is for the night. My favorites right now are Anomia, Chameleon, and Cards Christians Like.
Playlist Making
This is not news to anyone, but making playlists is one of my favorite hobbies. Is there anything better than curating the perfect playlist for every activity, mood, and place? The answer is no. I have lots but the fan favorites are:
Cozy Overdozy — The perfect fall vibe
Country I Don’t Hate — Self-explanatory. Started ironically but now has over 70 songs.
It’s a Vibe — Just vibey songs. The perfect playlist for driving with your windows down.
Absolute Bops — These are my favorite pop songs. They’re all bops.
Audio Messages Instead of Texting
I hate texting. If you have ever texted me before, you know this. So my new hack is to just send a voice memo of whatever I want to communicate. Easier, more personable, and MUCH quicker.
Lazy Woman Margarita
I love margs. I hate juicing a million limes. Enter: the lazy woman margarita.
Recipe:
2 shots tequila
1 shot triple sec
Trader Joe’s margarita mix
Reading Multiple Books at the Same Time
I used to believe you had to read one book at a time. A book monogamist one might say. That is now cancelled. I have a short attention span, and I blame social media. I now read anywhere from 2-5 books at the same time and it keeps life interesting.
Unfollowing
You do not need to follow every person you’ve ever had a conversation with. I don’t know when I started believing in this narrative but it’s false and dumb. If I haven’t had a personal conversation with you in the last two years and/or you don’t bring value to my feed, you’re getting unfollowed. It doesn’t mean I don’t like you as a human, it just means I’m making space for people who are in my current sphere.
Getting Outdoors
I am a self-proclaimed indoor person. I don’t do nature things. I like air-conditioning. But this summer I’ve done more outdoor things than ever before and I think I’m creating a monster. Between kayaking, hiking, tubing, and camping, I have made nature and I friends this summer.
Nights Alone
Things that are really hard for extroverts: being alone. Things that are really good for extroverts: being alone. I’m pushing myself to be alone and be okay with being bored. It sucks mostly but I’m learning it’s in these times of boredom and loneliness that God really shows Himself to me, so it’s absolutely worth it.
Sabbath
This is from John Mark Comer’s book mentioned above but taking good, intentional, and restful sabbaths has been a game changer for me. God literally gave us a weekly celebration, so why don’t we all take Him up on it? (That’s mostly rhetorical, but if you want an answer read the book)
Baby Yoda
Baby Yoda got me through quarantine. I love him. Full stop.
Family Time
One amazing benefit to quarantine was the amount of time I got to spend with my family. I’m so blessed to have a family that not only gets along, but genuinely adores the time we have together. Family time is some of the happiest times I’ve had over the last year.
Tattoos
In the last 12 months, I’ve gotten 4 tattoos (sorry Dad). I never thought I’d be a tattoo person, but here I am. There’s something beautiful about signifying important lessons or times in your life on your skin. Big big fan.
Disney+
Again, self-explanatory. I love Disney movies. They all make me cry. They are deep and sweet and make me want to hug my parents. Being able to watch my favorites whenever I want has made my quality of life increase dramatically. Also, it brought me Baby Yoda.
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
The better Reese’s. I said it. Do yourself a favor and purchase them.
Buying Flowers
In 2020, we are buying ourselves flowers because we are worth it. Make your house happy. Treat yourself to a little signal of everyday beauty. Little things can have huge impacts.
This Newsletter
As inconsistently as I send it (oops), writing this newsletter has been an absolute joy in my life. I really enjoyed writing as a kid, but then life happened and I got a big girl job and I thought that was the end of it. But this has been an amazing creative outlet and it’s made me smile so many smiles.
Community
My church has a saying of “We refuse to live life alone” and it’s been my mantra over the last year. Moving to a new city is scary, let alone living by yourself, starting a new job, finding a new church, etc. But the Lord has absolutely blessed me with the best people I’ve ever met. But not only that, I have been blessed with a huge community throughout my life that technology has allowed me to stay in contact with. People are what make life fun and interesting and hard and challenging and worth it. I am deeply thankful for my people and my community. You are what make my life what it is. Thank you.
HERE WE COME 24!
xoxo, Rinne
