Having to refrain from posting about so many wonderful gifts I’d received and fun purchases I’d made over the course of last year’s holiday season and my birthday earlier this month was nothing short of torture. My friends and family are so thoughtful, so fun, and just *get* me on every level – and as much as I wanted to show everything off immediately – I knew it’d make for a great first “Favorite Things” post for 2025!
I have a lot of favorites to share this month, and so much to be grateful for, so I want to get right into it. Those of you who have read ‘Coffee & Chiffon‘ for any length of time probably know how these posts go by now, but if you’re new (looking at the latest subscribers who signed up for e-mail updates of new posts! Hi, and thank you for joining me!) – I share the things I could photograph first, and then dive into the miscellaneous odds and ends. I’ll provide links to products/items when able, too – just in case you want to add them to your own “Favorite Things” lists, as well.
So without further delay – let’s get right into it!
This first favorite, and definitely the silliest of the bunch, is this roasted marshmallow plushie by Squishable my mom gifted me during the holidays last month after she’d seen me laughing over how adorable it was while we were out during some Christmas shopping together. She’d gone back to the store after we parted ways to buy it for me – and it has found a permanent home propped up on my couch in my apartment ever since! I love cuddling up with this one when I’m settling in for a movie or trash TV binge. It’s so soft and squishy!
The faces on the marshmallows (and the little flame!) crack me up so bad, but what you can’t see in the picture angle is that the top two marshmallows appear to be slightly toasted, as well. It’s the cutest thing ever.
Of course, no New Year would be complete without a new planner to keep me organized and on-track for the days, weeks and months to come! This year, as I usually do, I turned to Èccolo and this scalloped-edged pink weekly/monthly planner since the brand has always produced high quality, durable products with plenty of space for writing and task managing.
I’ve only been using this one for a few weeks now, but it’s been a life-saver – and I am especially appreciative that this version includes a “Things I’m Grateful For” and “My Top Accomplishment” section to fill in each week. It’s nice to have little reminders of progress and positive moments!
As if I couldn’t love my boyfriend any more! After I’d mentioned how much I used to love ‘Animal Crossing’ back in the day when it was limited to the GameCube, Troy went out and bought me a Nintendo Switch (with ‘New Horizons!’) so that I could have a little “me time” every day with my animal friends on the island I’ve been tirelessly making look as cute as possible since he gifted this to me while I was in Vegas earlier this month.
My friend Stef, who’d heard about the Switch and my island, just got one of her own so we can visit each other and trade goods in the game now – and our friend Sean wants in on the action, too – so he’ll be rebooting his Switch for the first time in forever this week!
I can see why everyone loved playing this so much in the height of the pandemic!
While out buying a body care gift set for my cousin Paige for our annual post-Christmas get-together earlier this month, I followed my nose to a shelf at LUSH that featured different products under the “Sticky Dates” scent, including soaps and scrubs.
This deeply conditioning body wash smells like vanilla, caramel, and toffee – some of my favorite scents to have around me during the Winter – and using this daily has made my skin feel so soft to the touch, even on the coldest and driest days. I ended up buying this and a scrub I have since run out of since it had a similar effect on my skin.
So yes, while I did get Paige a set (of the same scent, since I knew she’d love it, too!) – I couldn’t help but buy this one for my own shower. It’s just so good!
Speaking of Paige, at the aforementioned post-Christmas get-together, she gifted me these earrings that she made and decorated herself! How beautiful are these, and how talented is she?
I’m so excited to start wearing these in the Spring, since I have so many outfits and ensembles these are going to look beautiful with!
And finally, I had picked up this crystal LED ring light from Tech Mod on a whim to replace a bedside lamp I’d been using that was on it’s last leg, but it unexpectedly turned into one of the most relaxing night lights ever! With three light settings, gold, white, and soft pink (the gold is my favorite,) this USB-charged lamp creates the perfect ambiance and atmosphere for a restful night’s sleep – and I find myself drifting off effortlessly whenever I leave this on after a long day at work or when I return home from a night out with my loved ones.
I’ll have to snap some photos one of these days to show the different settings soon – but believe me when I say they’re all gorgeous!
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And while that may conclude the photogenic favorites this month, I’ve got one more thing I’m loving and am excited for that I’ve been waiting to talk about!
– MUSIC/MOVIES/TELEVISION –
“She’s With The Band” – My long-awaited return to radio is actually happening tomorrow night (!!!) where I’ll be debuting a two-hour weekly night show on MarkSkinRadio.com. My show, “She’s With The Band” will be focusing on indie music from the past, present and future, and will be every Thursday night from 8 – 10PM! You can tune in at the link I shared, and follow along on the station’s official Facebook account.
I’m nervous, excited, happy – just a cluster of nerves (but in a good way!) and I’m so grateful for everyone who has been rooting for this show, helping me get ready to premiere it, and giving me this opportunity. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this one leads!
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And there you have it! The first “Favorite Things” of 2025 is done and in the books! A little later on this week, I’ll be looking back at all of January’s best moments before we head into February and more Game Day recipes, Valentine’s Day-inspired outfits, and some long-overdue travel down to the Carolinas!
See you all in a couple of days!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 