These are a Few of Our Favorite Things | 2023

It’s that time of year! Every December, we enjoy rounding up the things that bring us joy in the home, entertainment and self-care categories. It’s always fun to remember something we may have stumbled across in January, and share why it meant something to us! Below, these are the things that made us smile, brought a bright spot to our day, made our lives easier, or just simply enjoy!

What would top your list?

In This Post

1. Barfly Unisex fragrance, $95

The entirety of Wicker Park’s Scotch & Soda store smells like heaven, and after asking an associate what I was smelling, she told me it was this unisex fragrance! (Like, they literally pump it through their vents.) I knew Scott would love it, too, so I bought the small size – and I already need to repurchase in a larger size! We both wear it, and the scent instantly makes me feel pulled together, ready for a day of work, a date night or hanging out with friends.

2. Desert Bloom Incense Sticks, $16

MOCO Fragrance is a small woman-owned business based out of Indianapolis. We are already big fans of her unique candle scents, and earlier this year, she dropped her best sellers in incense form! And you know we love incense. Heat Wave and Desert Bloom top our list at the end of a long day. Like a ritual, we light a stick, pour a cocktail and cozy up to a few records.

3. Leighton Coffee Table, $720

After years of having small coffee tables to accommodate easier play time with our growing (almost) 6-year-old, we finally invested in a grown-up table. Our living room functions better than ever, it’s easier for larger group gatherings to place a drink or snack, and our family board games are all within reach! I can’t recommend this table enough. It was a splurge for us, but it has made each day a little easier to navigate.

4. U Turn Chair

We found a pair of vintage Bensen U-Turn chairs at this local vintage shop, our first big furniture purchase at The Red House! They’re beautifully worn in, the prettiest caramel leather, and good news for you – they’re still in production! These chairs are the starting dominoes towards the whole home’s design, and we can’t wait to see where they take us.

5. Wilderness Stand Alone Fireplace

When designing the layout of The Red House, we knew we needed to fit in a fireplace, somewhere, somehow. As soon as we saw this one we just knew. It is officially the showpiece of the home, and as you can see, even the furriest family member can’t get enough! We can’t wait for snowy days with this fireplace on, listening to music and baking in the kitchen.

6. Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker, $250

We share a passion for music, but Scott takes it to another level when it comes to how we hear it. We scooped this Sonos for The Red House, and this one small speaker is so mighty, it fills the entirety of the whole 900-square-foot home beautifully.

7. Prism + Silver Albums by Say She She, $27+

You may have heard me rave about Say She She a lot this year, and for good reason! This incredible trio of awesome women from Brooklyn have brought us immense amounts of joy this year. Lucy sings their music all day, every day, choosing their record for ‘chill time’ often. We’ve seen them twice, they used a photo I took for their tour poster(!!!), and I met them after sneaking behind the curtain at a street festival this summer (I barely held it together). Keep your eye on them – they’re going to be so, so huge, and I can’t wait to watch it happen.

8. Bellari VP130 Amplifier, $265

Since adding this tube amp to our turntable, our records pump out the most full, warm sound. I didn’t get the hype until Scott hooked it up, but it has made a massive difference in the way we experience music. As a family that listens to music 24/7, I appreciate that Scott has all the tricks to keep things sounding incredible!

9. Trova Trip to Costa Rica

Wow, wow, wow. Pinch us, we still can’t believe we had the opportunity to host a trip with friends of Yellow Brick Home this fall! Our group of 10 explored everything from the city to the jungle, watched a sea turtle lay eggs, encountered countless species we’ve only read about in books, dined on the most delicious food, and in the end, connected as lifelong friends. We are truly grateful we could share this with you. Should we do it again somewhere new?!

10. The Minimalist Complexion Stick, $40

I’ve struggled this year with fatigue, and simple tasks such as applying makeup in the morning often felt hurculean. It may seem silly, but adding this complexion stick to my routine has shortened everything by many minutes, so even on the hardest days, I feel confident putting my best ‘face’ forward. This one product does it all to even out skin, and it stays put it all day.

11. L’Amarue Face Cream, $60

I wanted to wait a while to write a review about this cream, and after 1 year of daily use, I can honestly say that this has transformed my skin! A few months ago, I encouraged Scott to give it a try, and he is the reason this item has made it on our list. It’s made the biggest difference in his skin, and now he panics if we’re close to running out. I can’t explain it, but it’s magic in a tube! Learn more here.

12. Stretchy Shoe Laces, $9

I have to laugh at this one, but what a game changer for every day life! I first bought a pair of these stretchy laces for Lucy’s high tops. She struggled to get them on and off, but she insisted on wearing them EVERY. DAY. After lacing her up with these, she can pull them on and off with ease, never having to untie the lace. Scott was intrigued, and now he’s on board, too! It’s the little thing – especially when you’re rushing out the door for school drop-off.

13. Talk to Me

I’ll start with the disclaimer that this is a horror film, but it’s also a horror film from A24, the studio putting out some of the best films I’ve seen in, like, ever. This movie has stuck with me since the evening Scott and I watched it with our mouths hanging open the whole time. It gave me a jolt that I’d been missing; my body physically responded to the movie in a way that left me speechless, excited and ready to conquer. If you like this genre and haven’t seen it, run! And if you don’t like this genre, well, how can I convince you to give this one a try?

14. Loloi Layla Rug, $250

This rug made the list because of a very special project we completed for Above & Beyond Recovery Center in the spring. In designing and executing a ‘Wellness Retreat’ for the hardworking team at this non-profit, this rug became a comedy of errors. First, it went missing. I purchased a back up rug, but didn’t LOVE it. So the night before the makeover, I drove 3 hours round trip for a secondhand rug on Marketplace, but didn’t love that one either. During install, one of our volunteers found it buried in a mountain of boxes, and it was absolutely the missing piece the room needed! This isn’t as much about the rug as it is about the group of wonderful people we wanted to enjoy it.

We’ve shared our favorite things for the last several years! See more here: 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022