My Personal ‘Best of 2019’ List
Real or fake writing?
Having lived in the Midwest nearly my entire life, the month of December can certainly be tough.
Sure, there are a few holidays but other than that, there isn’t a lot going for the 12th month of the calendar. It’s cold as heck and gets dark at 4pm - SWEET. Why haven’t I moved south yet? Hold on while I check the housing market in San Diego. Just kidding. Kind of.
Anyway, there is one thing I do love about December: end of the year lists.
I always enjoy looking back on the year that was and everything that shaped it - from pop culture, sports, entertainment, books, technology, fashion, trends and more.
With this in mind, I thought I’d make a list of my own. Sure, I’m a marketing professional, but I generally like to share things I’m passionate about with others - that’s just my personality.
Maybe one of these has been a major part of your year too, or will play a large role in your 2020.
Without further ado, here are the things that came to define my 2019 - from random categories and in no specific order.
Enjoy!
(And yes, I’m open to sponsorships if individuals from these companies are reading.)
Armchair Expert: I’m certain I’m not the only person who digs this pod. But if you are unfamiliar, actor and amateur psychologist Dax Shepard hosts, taking a deep dive with his celebrity guests (some of whom are his close friends) peeling back the layers of their past and personality to uncover why they are who they are. This show will have you looking at your own life with more introspection, and is also a cool glimpse inside the Hollywood machine. It’s impossible to recommend just one or two episodes - I suggest pick your favorite guest and start there. The first one I listened to was Jake Johnson and I was hooked; a very recent discussion with Malcolm Gladwell will become very popular, I’m sure. Many have found the interview with his wife, Kristen Bell, to be a particularly fascinating and honest look into their relationship ups and downs.
The Rewatchables: Do you like movies? Right - who doesn’t. Another amazing show from the Ringer Podcast Network. I often wish I would have come up with this very simple yet profitable idea. Personal fave episodes include The Departed, Jerry Maguire, Step Brothers, Mean Girls, Get Out and Top Gun. Perfect content for traveling, IMHO, because it’s fun and entertaining, meaning time passes in double speed.
Marine Layer: No brand fits my personal style of casual + comfortable like ML does. Having known about it for a year or two prior, 2019 was the year I truly embraced the brand, purchasing multiple pairs of pants, several jackets and a couple t-shirts. The SF-based company absolutely nails the West Coast vibe in its products that are designed for *pun intended, probably by them* layering in all seasons. As a staunch lululemon advocate as well who for a period of time absolutely hated wearing jeans, I could not more highly recommend ML’s ridiculously comfortable denim.
Spotify: The app has been a prominent part of my entire decade, and if I continue this list in the future, the leader in music streaming is likely to hold a permanent spot. As mentioned above, I spent a ton of time podcasting this year so I was not surprised my Spotify Wrapped stats showed a decline in music consumption, but I still logged over 50K minutes of streamed tunes. See next paragraph for more on that. Also, I feel like major props are due as Spotify was on dark mode years before anyone else, so shout out to them.
Female Musicians: Artists such as Taylor Swift, Maggie Rogers, Chelsea Cutler, Lana Del Rey, Anna of the North, King Princess - just to name a few - dominated a fair share of the tunes coming through my AirPods (also a clutch part of my year, thanks Dad) the last 365 days. Jack Antonoff probably could have his own spot on this list, but I’ll include him here due to him having a hand in several of these female artists music as a producer, along with running his own band Bleachers. If you haven’t heard Rogers’ incredibly catchy track “Alaska” click here now, then look up the video of Pharrell Williams hearing it for the first time.
Trader Joe’s: I wouldn’t say I’m the greatest cook in the world by a long shot, but I’m getting pretty decent! I’m proud to say I’ve come a long way over the last 12 months in my abilities in the kitchen, and a lot of a the credit has to do with TJ’s making things super easy for me. Bookmakers have set the over/under on pounds of chicken shawarma I consumed this year at 25. Take the over.
Soccer: 2019 was the year I became a soccer nerd (PS: It’s time we started calling it football because that is what it is). Maybe it’s a surprise for the world’s most popular sport to occupy a spot on this list. Maybe not. I’ve included it for two reasons, both playing for exercise and watching for entertainment. It’s a great way to get in cardio and a leg workout, just grab a buddy and hit the park like I do. As I’ve gotten more into following professional fútbol, I have become a better citizen of the world. Following the Champions League has helped me learn about other countries and cultures. The broadcast duo Men in Blazers often say the Premier League is the world’s most expensive soap opera, and I finally understand it. Nobody could write these characters and story lines (but some try and do it hilariously). Speaking of the Premier League…
England: Not sure how else to say it other that I have become slightly obsessed with learning about this country. From the accent and vocabulary, to geography, to books like The Club, movies like The Darkest Hour, and of course, the Premier League, I have been enamored with this island and its culture. In the process of planning my first ever visit to this land next year!
On Running: Over the years, I’ve worn most of the major shoe brands. Not only do I run a couple times a week, I also walk a ton in Chicago. I felt like it was time to try something new, and that’s why I bought my first pair of On Cloudswift running shoes. They’re freakishly comfortable, and stylish as hell to boot. A+ grade from me, totally worth the investment.
Succession: To be honest, this isn’t my preferred genre of television. But beyond the power, greed and money theatrics, there are human emotions and family dynamics that drive every scene of this dramady (yes, it’s incredibly funny too when it wants to be). HBO absolutely crushes it with the characters, dialogue and cinematography. Season 1 was great, Season 2 was insanely greater. You will feel things watching this show. #TeamCousinGreg
Booksmart: Easily the funniest movie I saw this year without a doubt. I had high expectations, and it completely exceeded them. Olivia Wilde impressed in her directorial debut and the combo of Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as high school besties was pure gold (I’m a sucker for a buddy comedy). Just an overall good time. The film captures the cultural climate of 2019 well with its humor and feels right for this time. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve brought it up during dinner conversations.
Divvy Bikes: After getting my bike stolen last year, I finally bit the bullet and paid $99 for a year pass to Chicago’s main bike share brand. What a life changer. I can’t even calculate how much money I’ve saved on Ubers and train passes, not to mention time. The convenience is so clutch as docks are located just about everywhere I need or want to go. Biking really is the best way to get around the city, plus it counts as exercise! At the time of writing, I’ve biked 350 miles in 47 hours over 250 trips, and burned 15K calories - and that’s all since July 15th. If you live in an urban area, I suggest you check out your local bike share option.
Lavazza Coffee: For some reason, I didn’t start drinking coffee until roughly three years ago. And each year, I consume more than the last. This year was largely one of exploration as I got more adventurous about trying new flavors, blends and brands. Lavazza tops the list as my go-to in 2019. And yes, I am on the oat milk trend, thank you for asking.
Jeni’s: Hands down the best ice cream I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot. My goodness, I’ve never tasted anything as delicious as their Peanut Butter with Chocolate Fleck. Of course a store had to open up less than a 10 minute walk from my apartment. Did I once buy three pints in order to get a free freezer bag? Yes, yes I did. Don’t judge me. Honestly not a lot more to say on this one, you’ll just have to go taste it for yourself. (Sneaky tip for those in the Chicago area, Foxtrot sells various flavors of Jeni’s pints and has a very excellent delivery team.)
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck : This book was lent to me and it ended up being the quickest I finished a book all year (in which I read the most I have since college - go me!). The title is what it is and can be somewhat misleading, but author Mark Manson ultimately gets into his thesis statement: We should really take a deeper look at what we truly care about and the things we spend our time and energy on. It’s a super easy read and surely everyone can take away some lessons that will resonate personally. And if not, you’ll probably laugh at a few of the stories.
Well, that’s the list. Let me know what you agree/disagree with, your personal picks and anything I should be checking out. Hope you had a lovely year and cheers to a great 2020 everybody!
Robbie