Kimberlee K.

This year certainly started with a bang. Every where you looked, there was surely chaos to be found. So when I could, I tried to look elsewhere. I tried to turn off social media and dig in to books, movies, and TV shows. I tried to read more blogs and try more recipes, to watch uplifting documentaries and learn something new.

Needless to say, this favorites post is full.

Let’s get started.

Books

Dolly Alderton is an automatic read for me, so I’ve been wanting to read Ghosts for a while now. It follows Nina as she re-enters the dating scene after getting out of a near decade long relationship, and explores the word “ghost” in multiple ways.

Rarely do I find a book where I love every. single. character but The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune was one of those books. It follows Linus, a case worker in charge of overseeing the operation of orphanages for magical youth. When he is sent to an orphanage full of “dangerous children” his whole life changes.

Having watched all of One Tree Hill, I was very excited to read Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz (or as I still call her, Haley). Not only was it fun to hear more about her as a person, but WILD to learn that her time spent on the show coincided with time she was unknowingly in a religious cult.

I also loved Onyx Storm, the third book in the Fourth Wing series!

.

TV Shows

Brooklyn Nine-Nine has long been on my backlist of shows and I think I started it at the absolutely perfect time! It consistently makes me laugh out loud and always puts me in a good mood. (find it on Netflix)

XO Kitty, the spinoff of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movie series, aired its second season in January and, like the first, I thought it was so cute! It’s an easy, fun watch that follows the youngest sister, Kitty, as she goes to school in Korea and seeks answers about herself and her late mom. (find it on Netflix)

I also loved season two of The Night Agent and season three of Special Forces.

.

Documentaries

I saw a few mentions of Blink in passing but wasn’t sure what it was about. So you can imagine that when I turned it on and learned the premise is a family going on a trip around the world in order to create visual memories for their three children who have been diagnosed with a degenerative vision disorder, I was locked in immediately.(find it on Disney+)

Beyond Saturday Night is a behind the scenes look at Saturday Night Live that I never knew I needed! From how comedians are casted, to how sketches get on the show, to the history of the Cow Bell sketch, I loved every episode. (find it on Peacock)

The Greatest Night in Pop tells the story of the night “We Are the World” was recorded. I had no idea of the absolute insanity behind this collaboration, but I’m so glad they got it on tape so we could watch it all these years later. (find it on Netflix)

.

Movies

I technically watched My Old Ass at the end of last year, but I wanted to mention it here because I reallllllllly loved it! Based on the title I thought I was walking into something a lot more crass or raunchy, but I was so pleasantly surprised by how touching and thoughtful this movie is. It’s a must watch! (find it on Prime Video)

I also capital L Loved A Real Pain, which follows estranged cousins on a group tour of Poland to honor their late grandmother. It is heartfelt and real and honestly uncomfortable at times, but very human and captivating. (find it on Hulu)

Green & Gold follows a Wisconsin family struggling to keep their farm afloat who bet on the Green Bay Packers to try and save it. It is a beautiful testament to family, community, faith and music. I loved every second of it! (find it in theaters)

.

Music

Endurance by Josiah & the Bonnevilles

Cover to Cover by Cory Asbury

Subtitles for Feelings by Patrick Droney

.

YouTube

I came across Eva Nys’s channel through her YouTube Shorts, where she both showcases her gorgeous photography and the ways she gets the shot (like in this one and this one) and gives you a behind the scenes look of the Master’s Ballet Academy (like this one).

.

Newsletters & Posts

My favorite newsletter as of late is Notes On by Hannah Connolly. Her gorgeous, thoughtful writing always gives me the warm fuzzies and makes me want to write. I especially love her “How to Romanticize” series that she does at the top of the month. Like this one about February.

I’ve also been loving Never Not Nervous. Her doodles make me smile everytime.

I loved this post about trading in small talk for “specific talk.”

And this post about discomfort.

.

Food & Recipes

Loved these Pesto Egg & Bacon Avocado Wraps from Half Baked Harvest’s new Quick & Cozy cookbook.

This super yummy and hearty Better than Takeout Beef & Broccoli

And I was proud of these technical (for me) Brown Sugar Poptart cookies I made my sister for her birthday

.

Links & Misc

Really loving the Dove Probiotic Boost Hand Wash! It’s the first soap that doesn’t dry out my hands and I’ve added it to every sink in my house. (I found it at my local target)

I’ve also been addicted to the Ladder app. One of my goals this year is to get into strength training and this has been the perfect tool to help me get started!

I thought these x-ray photographs were so cool!

I loved this Variety interview w/ Timothee Chalamet & Saoirse Ronan.

I thought this test of creativity was fun and interesting.

And was so touched by this artist who is drawing houses destroyed by the wildfires.

---

Have anything you’ve been loving over these last couple months? Let me know!

See my previous favorites post here.