Best Of 2023
TV, movies, books, meals, reels, moments, purchases, and more!
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was 2023.
As this year comes to a close (THANK CHRIST), I decided to emotionally cut myself by scrolling back through my camera roll and creating a list of my personal “best of” moments from outfits and food, to reels, cocktails, movies, and more. In a year sprinkled with so much sadness, I’m choosing to dig into the belly of the cake and focus more on the sponge than the sprinkles (even if the sponge itself is a bit stodgy).
To my free subscribers — this is your last letter of the year. Consider it an oversized 📖📺🎧🔪🛍️ List and enjoy the crap out of it. Also, in the name of Christmas, I’m offering a 20% discount on yearly paid memberships from now through Friday. I have a lot in store for 2024 and would love to see you on the other side of the pay wall for those moments.
To my paid subscribers — keep your eyes on your inbox for one more (probably very sappy) letter from me before year’s end.
To everyone — if you haven’t downloaded the Substack app yet, I’m telling you, it’s a much better experience for these letters. They won’t get cut off when they’re super long (like this one). Plus, you can directly comment on and like letters within the app, which makes me happy and I know you like making me happy.
Now, in no particular order, here is my random collection of best moments this year.
BEST READ
This was a toss-up between two.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Yearbook. Witches was about as charming of a book as you can get. While the ending was predictable, the writing was so phenomenal, the characters were well developed, and the plot was - dare I say - bewitching.
Yearbook is Seth Rogan’s memoir and the most I’ve probably ever laughed out loud reading a book before. He’s just hilarious and gives a lot of BTS tidbits about the industry that you won’t find elsewhere. It was highly entertaining — emphasis on high.
BEST WATCHED
In terms of TV and series, my favorites were: Last of Us, Jury Duty, Silo, Shrinking, and Beckham. When I take a step back and look at that list, I’m kinda proud of how wide-ranging it is! You’ve got drama, comedy, sci-fi, zombies, pseudo-reality, and Becks and Posh.
Movie-wise, when I thought back on this year, I realized how many movies we didn’t see? The only new movie that stuck with me is Emily The Criminal and that’s from 2022. Otherwise, I’m not a Barbie-head, we didn’t see Oppenheimer, and the Oscar-worthy movies are all dropping this month. Check in with me again at the start of 2024!
BEST HEARD
I need to break this section into sub-sections.
Best old-new podcast: Ride (formerly Obsessed)
Best new-to-me podcast: Take Your Shoes Off
Best new podcast: Too Far, Finally
BEST LIVE SHOWS
Moulin Rouge — we saw this with my parents in Dallas and OMG, what an experience. Such an incredible show and amazing cast!
Dead and Co — we went both nights in Chicago this summer, and it was a fucking blast.
Ride Live — obviously. Getting to meet my sister in Austin and sit literal front row and bow down to my saviors, Mary Beth and Benny, was everything.
BEST MEALS
Funnily enough, the two best meals I had this year were in Austin with my sister: Este and Suerte.
Locally, we just dined at a new place called Bricks and Horses last weekend and it was the best meal Zac and I shared this year, hands down. Incredible (hot tip: if you eat meat and love steak, get the NY strip. Most perfect steak I’ve had in years!).
Runner-up is Taco Bell on our anniversary in Guerneville, California. Honest to god, it was the freshest fucking TB we’ve ever had and absolutely delicious (and a core memory).
As for homemade meals, the best were:
Zac’s chicken piccata pasta he made us one night from scratch and DIDN’T SAVE THE RECIPE. Sigh. He’s not the cook in this family, so when he does, it’s a toss-up and he nailed this meal. I ate every last scrap.
The other best was in North Carolina at Zac’s best friend’s home. His bestie is a renowned chef and made us his famous biscuits from scratch with from-scratch sausage gravy and strawberry compote and I tear up thinking about how good it all tasted.
BEST COCKTAILS
So many to count. Too many. So I’ll keep it simple and go with two versions of a spicy pineapple margarita. One at a gorgeous hotel in Cabo while soaking in an infinite pool overlooking the ocean; the other made by yours truly at home.
BEST HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS
I was busy baking this year (baking is one of my top coping mechanisms, so the oven was on and the standing mixer was working hard for the money this year) and have three recipes that I would consider some of the best I’ve made. Enjoy!
BEST PURCHASES
I’m going to break this category into sub categories to make it easier on all of us.
Best Bottoms: Both my tapered pants from Madewell (no longer sold) and these Free People Chino shorts (still very much sold and I cannot recommend them enough).
Best Tops: Sézane’s Tomboy shirt (best button down ever), sheer polo sweater, and this cropped sweatshirt.
Best Dress: I didn’t buy many this year, so this Sézane one takes the cake.
Best Jacket: Once again, Sézane. I’m telling you — their clothes are everything.
Best Shoes: HANDS DOWN my adidas Sambas, which I know are hard to find in-stock in your size, but don’t give up hope. I didn’t. I wear these almost daily.
Best Makeup: I got my first contour stick this year, and it changed my makeup game. It’s so easy to use and perfect for beginners. Also, this Saie highlighter is everything.
Best Haircare: First, Aveda’s overnight serum has been game-changing between wash days. Second and most importantly, a motherfucking silk bonnet to wear overnight. Best purchase ever.
Best Home: Battery-operated faux candlesticks that look like the real deal and create the best glow and our Ninja 12-cup coffeemaker. I tried so many auto-drip machines this year, and the Ninja was by far the most superior. I love it so much.
BEST REEL
Yes, I’m sharing what I think was my best reel this year, and it has to be the one mocking food bloggers’ reels:
BEST LONG-FORM VIDEO
Remember at the very beginning of the year when Zac insisted that he could nail a cat eye on me and how I recorded the entire fail?
BEST CAT EYE
One of the only times I nailed it myself. I’ve since given up. Maybe I’ll get back into it in 2024 — who knows.
BEST HEAD-TO-TOE OUTFIT
Let’s end this Best Of list on a high note with what I consider to be my best look of 2023.
Sometimes, I have no idea where these outfit ideas come from. I’ve been so used to dressing like a fucking troll since 2020, that these OOTD moments still surprise me when they happen. What’s funny is, we had an aggressively mediocre dinner this night that was way too expensive so I felt like my outfit was “wasted,” but at least I have photographical evidence of this absolutely flawless look.
I feel like I could’ve spent weeks on this list and gotten incredibly detailed. Alas, we have about a week and a half left in 2023 and a major holiday to celebrate, so I must be going now.
Have a very merry Christmas, don’t let the haters get you down, sip champagne at midnight on 12/31, and I’ll be back in your inbox in 2024!
— EGM
Love this end of the year review. So many "nuggets"!
It strikes me as fun that your best meals out were with your sister at sister restaurants Este and Suerte ❤️