My Best Of's 2024
It's been a crazy year. A hard year. But a year full of new...as well as 'tried and trusted' things.
We all need things to break up the monotony of the day to day juggling of work and parenting. We need things to keep us entertained and afloat. I am someone who creates as many dopamine hits for myself as possible to keep me coping through the harder stuff and give me things to look forward to.
Plus I like to look at the positives as much as I can...so this year I thought I would wrap 2024 up with a 'best of's type blog.
So here are all the things I'm grateful for and happy they were part of my year that was! I've linked anything you might want to take a look at (especially if you are Brissie or Gold Coast based for the restaurants!)
Best restaurants for date nights
Pneuma - George St, Brisbane City
Supernormal - Queens St, Brisbane City
The Arsonist - Manly, Brisbane
Best family restaurants
Maru Grill House (Korean bbq!)- Cannon Hill, Brisbane
Osushi - Coolangatta
Brew Dog - Murarrie
Best reads
I'm a bit of a reader and have read many books this year but these are my standouts:
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (not pictured)
The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
The Valley by Chris Hammer
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman (not pictured)
And if you want to look through a much more comprehensive list of my fave books from 2022, you can do that HERE
Best New Movies
It Ends With Us
Force of Nature
Deadpool and Wolverine
Best New Family Movies
Inside Out 2
IF
Fall Guy
Moana 2
Best tv shows watching solo
Fisk - Netflix
Only Murders in the Building - Disney
Shrinking - Apple TV
Disclaimer - Apple TV
Nobody Wants This - Netflix
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart - Prime
Best tv shows watching with hubby
The Diplomat - Netflix
Yellowstone - Stan
Boy Swallows Universe - Netflix
Lupin - Netflix
Best tv shows watching with family (with young teens)
The Rookie - Netflix
Castle - Disney
Brooklyn 99 - Netflix
Suits - Netflix
The Big Bang Theory - Netflix
Young Sheldon - Netflix
Best sweet treat to go out for
Yo-Chi frozen yoghurt. I like combing the classic vanilla with the butterscotch flavours and toppings like strawberry mochi and caramelised banana
Best Sweet Treat to make at home
Best new finds
Thigh society anti-chafe shorts
Conserving Beauty Dissolvable Oil Cleansing Wipes
Best self care routines
cold plunging (mainly at Soak)
ocean swims
nightly foot massages from hubby and son during tv time
somatic therapy (check out The Work Out Witch)
Attending a Writers Retreat
Monthly Facials at Kinder Life
Fortnightly psychology Sessions
Best new medications
Lexipro (has helped me so much this year with anxiety and sleep!)
Prometrium (bioidentical progesterone because hello perimenopause and heavy bleeding!)
Best herbal supplements for me
Curcusolv (Turmeric with MSM) (Bioclinic Naturals - Practitioner Brand)
P-Lift (Chaste Tree, Withania) (Metagenics - Practitioner Brand)
Estrovera (False Unicorn Root)
Best nutritional supplements for me - Practitioner Brands
Beef Liver Capsules (Chief)
Bioheme (iron by BioMedica)
Vitamin C (Interclinical Professional)
Multigen probiotics (Orthoplex)
Magnesium and Theanine (Orthoplex)
Best listening
My fave songs Spotify playlist
Best Trips
Rainbow Bay, Qld (family)
Binna Burra (solo)
Murwillumbah, Northern NSW (family)
Pottsville, Northern NSW (girls weekend)
Newrybar, Northern NSW (girls weekend)
Best and most requested family dinner
Caramelised pork mince poke bowls! I make the pork from a Recipe Tin Eats Recipe and then I serve with steamed rice, edamame beans, grated carrot, fresh baby spinach leaves and cucumber that is dressed in soy and sesame oil. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds and squirt with kewpie mayo and kejap manis (optional!)
My Fave New Recipe and My most frequent make at home lunch!
So I hope you like my fave things of 2024 and maybe try some out for yourself next year! Booking things in to look forward to has been shown to greatly help our mental health by decreasing anxiety and depression. And don't forget the best dopamine hits are free -Love, Sunshine, Quality Sleep, Ocean Swims, Sunrise, Sunset and just being out in nature! Wishing you an amazing 2025.
Yours in Health, Alisha x
My Best Of's 2024
It's been a crazy year. A hard year. But a year full of new...as well as 'tried and trusted' things.
We all need things to break up the monotony of the day to day juggling of work and parenting. We need things to keep us entertained and afloat. I am someone who creates as many dopamine hits for myself as possible to keep me coping through the harder stuff and give me things to look forward to.
Plus I like to look at the positives as much as I can...so this year I thought I would wrap 2024 up with a 'best of's type blog.
So here are all the things I'm grateful for and happy they were part of my year that was! I've linked anything you might want to take a look at (especially if you are Brissie or Gold Coast based for the restaurants!)
Best restaurants for date nights
Pneuma - George St, Brisbane City
Supernormal - Queens St, Brisbane City
The Arsonist - Manly, Brisbane
Best family restaurants
Maru Grill House (Korean bbq!)- Cannon Hill, Brisbane
Osushi - Coolangatta
Brew Dog - Murarrie
Best reads
I'm a bit of a reader and have read many books this year but these are my standouts:
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (not pictured)
The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
The Valley by Chris Hammer
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman (not pictured)
And if you want to look through a much more comprehensive list of my fave books from 2022, you can do that HERE
Best New Movies
It Ends With Us
Force of Nature
Deadpool and Wolverine
Best New Family Movies
Inside Out 2
IF
Fall Guy
Moana 2
Best tv shows watching solo
Fisk - Netflix
Only Murders in the Building - Disney
Shrinking - Apple TV
Disclaimer - Apple TV
Nobody Wants This - Netflix
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart - Prime
Best tv shows watching with hubby
The Diplomat - Netflix
Yellowstone - Stan
Boy Swallows Universe - Netflix
Lupin - Netflix
Best tv shows watching with family (with young teens)
The Rookie - Netflix
Castle - Disney
Brooklyn 99 - Netflix
Suits - Netflix
The Big Bang Theory - Netflix
Young Sheldon - Netflix
Best sweet treat to go out for
Yo-Chi frozen yoghurt. I like combing the classic vanilla with the butterscotch flavours and toppings like strawberry mochi and caramelised banana
Best Sweet Treat to make at home
Best new finds
Thigh society anti-chafe shorts
Conserving Beauty Dissolvable Oil Cleansing Wipes
Best self care routines
cold plunging (mainly at Soak)
ocean swims
nightly foot massages from hubby and son during tv time
somatic therapy (check out The Work Out Witch)
Attending a Writers Retreat
Monthly Facials at Kinder Life
Fortnightly psychology Sessions
Best new medications
Lexipro (has helped me so much this year with anxiety and sleep!)
Prometrium (bioidentical progesterone because hello perimenopause and heavy bleeding!)
Best herbal supplements for me
Curcusolv (Turmeric with MSM) (Bioclinic Naturals - Practitioner Brand)
P-Lift (Chaste Tree, Withania) (Metagenics - Practitioner Brand)
Estrovera (False Unicorn Root)
Best nutritional supplements for me - Practitioner Brands
Beef Liver Capsules (Chief)
Bioheme (iron by BioMedica)
Vitamin C (Interclinical Professional)
Multigen probiotics (Orthoplex)
Magnesium and Theanine (Orthoplex)
Best listening
My fave songs Spotify playlist
Best Trips
Rainbow Bay, Qld (family)
Binna Burra (solo)
Murwillumbah, Northern NSW (family)
Pottsville, Northern NSW (girls weekend)
Newrybar, Northern NSW (girls weekend)
Best and most requested family dinner
Caramelised pork mince poke bowls! I make the pork from a Recipe Tin Eats Recipe and then I serve with steamed rice, edamame beans, grated carrot, fresh baby spinach leaves and cucumber that is dressed in soy and sesame oil. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds and squirt with kewpie mayo and kejap manis (optional!)
My Fave New Recipe and My most frequent make at home lunch!
So I hope you like my fave things of 2024 and maybe try some out for yourself next year! Booking things in to look forward to has been shown to greatly help our mental health by decreasing anxiety and depression. And don't forget the best dopamine hits are free -Love, Sunshine, Quality Sleep, Ocean Swims, Sunrise, Sunset and just being out in nature! Wishing you an amazing 2025.
Yours in Health, Alisha x
