December 2024 Monthly Favorites

 How fast did this year go by? My goodness! 2024, you were a bit of a roller coaster ride but you ended well... thankfully! Anyways, this is the last 2024 monthly favorites- don't you fret I'm not discontinuing these! I know a lot of people enjoy reading these posts and I enjoy making them- so there is a bonus! 

December 2024, you were quite a month- it seemed a different type of energy was in the air- but you rounded out good! Here's the favorites I was into for this month! Thank you the readers for loving and liking and all of the above on these posts! If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be doing it at all.

December 2024 Favorites Featured!

Favorite Music:

• Me & My Friends by Audio Chateau, MOD SUN & Beauty School Dropout: Feisty & fiery rock song- not mad about it! I'll link it: https://youtu.be/H_769oCTgQM?si=ZXSX5EgO0Lj65_Rv

• IF YOU NEVER LEFT by Blink 182: Another good tune from the band- need I say more? I'll link it: https://youtu.be/jYbyLND2i68?si=8nOr0ZlgticomLLf  

Favorite Coffee and / or Tea:

• Wintry Blend Coffee from Trader Joe's: This coffee had a nice bite with the spices infused into it- red & green peppercorns, cinnamon, and either cloves or nutmeg. Smooth on the palate, too! Unfortunately, this was more of a holiday blend so I am unable to link it. Definitely next year add this to your coffee rotation (if you do coffee that is).

• Cinnamon-Spiced Blend Coffee from Trader Joe's: This coffee had nice & warm notes (thanks to the cinnamon!) and was pleasant to drink for a flavored coffee (I'm not usually huge on flavored coffees but this one was a winner). Link- https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/cinnamon-spiced-coffee-079201

Favorite Workout Videos:

• Did these two videos together both by Audrey Koomar: Part 1- Shoulder Circuit Style Dumbbell Workout (beginner-friendly): https://youtu.be/c9g82ZIJCtA?si=yYi4CgzNAWrls8SN; Part 2- All Floor Ab Exercises (includes beginner modifications too): https://youtu.be/Ak3WvE6XavI?si=VtBxsBYkZT8Qup1J

• Lower Body Pilates Workout via Sanne Vloet: https://youtu.be/BUWm7qPq3c4?si=Giy6YdqMMmGgH5Ux

• Did these two videos together: Part 1- 20 Min. Gentle Pilates Workout via Motive Pilates: https://youtu.be/iwj8Y2yvEw4?si=Uu_C6Ju1jTM7BpOo; Part 2- 10 Min. Full Body Pilates via Lidia Mera: https://youtu.be/VzNJETRQ_XI?si=8mV4svmhCubpoXju

• Did these two videos together- both by Lidia Mera- Part 1- 20 Minute Christmas Music Infused Pilates: https://youtu.be/W17ze7q50A0?si=e5APlK2snouu85bf; Part 2- 10 Minute Christmas Music Infused Pilates: https://youtu.be/U5O_qEcWqGo?si=TKyt_5cxjkUW1H9L

Favorite Book(s) I've Read and / or listened to as an audiobook via Spotify:

• Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson (December 2024 BOTM Early Release Debut Novel): This book was beautifully written, filled with laughter moments and even made me cry (when it hits me like that I know I'll like it). The main character, Emma, is one year sober so I did learn about the highs + lows of sobriety and AA (alcoholics anonymous) meetings, too. I wasn't aware of any of it prior to reading it. Was attached to Emma's story so much I didn't want it to end (that's how hard it was for me to put down). I'll link it: https://www.amazon.com/Definitely-Better-Now-Ava-Robinson/dp/0778310590/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fBgJ-DNevhnVvNcQZYrIm5RL3fSicJBm8dpiBv-fSzWQb0cNYNermS-JoSjd5T__GNaGhyV4Fzo9nWeDydLSDDjT1mD3cbd8QP9Zubx6QBz_jA55FNslSyY_Gw-MH1QgbRo_6HEwTqwAAqhmTCbSmCrl1EGsyL0HzbvZDwJSy60nfN2qFbe_D6PwsyFqy57JUZ6B5gBUzbhs9jsj6y5p5UJFEeEcfsJ7GrHtcvpkAAI.6UT5QS-_mVDMrL1f18R7aue8QzYEjwQfiKKRcxUdnT0&qid=1735592508&sr=8-1

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (BOTM add-on from last month): This book was so great! A well-written novel if I may add, too! I'll link it: https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Life-Addie-LaRue/dp/0765387565/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.knDb_GcdE9HzBzisZloBFlt4NPE11jaLxN5UeiVYvPn7XhJw3xDK0jfHK2rRgeg4riSWaJh-3a5ka-LPHpyGBzBQ0kKkPOhUpfCBvaDkQ4oskLT96uJnxHCHAqOP7zoJQ7gY8wxXD-cFA4xwMvJF-0DHeVDc2N7woxigUgsvgRLzV3UOmRf4Dyh8ijd7Zz6Xn-FGF3begY2H7LEDIsp8M6HvmWCUCddNCdpIuTaHE28.DBLf-pLyr472F_jq6gu2pvvP1QybDmlZPL2o4eX_Rak&qid=1735592546&sr=8-1

• Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan (library pick): This book was so wholesome (made me laugh in bits which is always nice) & cozy at times, too. I'll link it: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-at-Cupcake-Cafe-Novel/dp/0063119269/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OxBmdxz9m_fWLAuhrOUNtOu3o7E5_uXroV6tTcvKYc1_K5wNp7nuN4rWBvl94Qm3TLX2iOZ8D6299iEiMeGxNS3uzHtGHbyj8BxUpNdEaDCTwDRDEn6HEOZ7L6Weg25BykRJE2wxwwO7dSolcnhHWW872R77fW7uz3S4qqEIa1VUoKcBzQMBTAX_4Qbj-ky_TtLvv_ZOv20KQMtEKlhZ8Vd88EY2YV_b-ruuP2B8CTg.A96rtEjRq9eAvAdUbGQNgtlDphYQKFMF0LrwELNbZrk&qid=1735592595&sr=8-1

• The Family Game by Catherine Steadman (library pick): This was such a great thrill ride- kept me going until near the end of the book. Didn't see any of the plot twists coming either! I'll link it: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Game-Novel-Catherine-Steadman-ebook/dp/B09SKT1T69/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W4TUWYE3Y9UU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.f966ZVJdfhginHE3hBzEANQ2EsBNoJD6c1dsPE9Zc1LJg2JfHjSa5DpwLPNyfH4jo-ODhbki6W2s9wBkojyeuXowo9OmzHCpjsY38OgA1gj-mOmae-0mI2s3uB88mjpWl4cXAK2R3HcE_Va1it8JDB-5U74trlsfVt6t_yvVI05hoZT4wAEh4SQqlr20KBV8WtY6rp4xgmezsby1Bg0F26a3MbB_CkcoejZmHYxrVw8.r_ip-Zi5EgMVYF4NQjFcSi-qZeiyLeFm4S-jRitj_YM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+family+game+catherine+steadman&qid=1735592646&sprefix=the+family+game%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1

• First Audiobook I listened to over on Spotify (which is where I listen to a majority of them): The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter- as someone that normally doesn't love audiobooks, this book was so good to listen to and loved all the seasonal + romantic + murder mystery vibes tied into the story. My only flaw was the narrators for it- I didn't care for them too much. But the story was wonderful overall!

Hope you enjoyed this month's favorites! See you next year for more fun posts!

-Lauren-