Pardon Me Oprah, But I Have Favorite Things for 2023, Too

Based on the Bonnie Garmus novel, this Apple TV+ Brie Larson series was an empowering take on women in science in the 1960s, followed by a gut punch of a romantic subplot. Lewis Pullman shines and is a star in the making. Your will be swooning one day and brokenhearted the next.

Name a more iconic duo of 2023 than "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer." The phenomenon of Barbenheimer came out of nowhere and made July exciting. There was rivalry, competition, not to mention two must-see movies, summer blockbusters pitted against each other. I’ve never dressed up for a film before, but "Barbie" inspired a whole ensemble, and the theater was a sea of pink. For "Oppenheimer," I traveled over an hour to see a rare 70 mm IMAX print (one of only 30 in the world), recommended by director Christopher Nolan and also a first for me. There will be other movies that will try to pair up and capture this lightning in a bottle, but they’ll be second at best (a Ken, perhaps). There’s only one Barbenheimer.

I’ll admit at the start of 2023, I was indifferent to Taylor Swift. I was a passing fan of her music and knew vaguely of her albums, but I was no Swiftie. I did not score much coveted tickets to her tour, but I also did not even try.

Finding a good reason to go to the movies can be tough. You have to leave the house, there are overpriced snacks, dirty bathrooms and annoying people. But some movies get better in a group setting. "Barbie" was one example. It showed us a community could be built in two hours with so many flocking to the theater donning pink. "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" was another, with all the dancing. An unlikely addition to that list was "Saltburn," an erotic psychological thriller by writer/director Emerald Fennell (who was pregnant Midge in "Barbie," by the way).

If you caught the cast of the foreign-language film “RRR” dancing to the song “Naatu Naatu” during this year’s Academy Awards, you might have been confused if you didn't know the context. The frenetic dance number is infectious as heck, even if you haven’t seen the Bollywood film. How do the dancers not get winded while going so hard?

This Matt Haig novel about a woman stuck between life and death exploring infinite alternate realities was not released this year, but it was by far the favorite thing I read in 2023. It made me think deeply about life, missed opportunities and the effect of small choices on everyday life. I absolutely loved it and will probably read it again.

This night cream feels nourishing without being too heavy and smells scrumptious. It’s got vitamin C and prebiotics from skin-reviving ingredients like Camu Camu and Banana Flower Extract and it feels soothing and cooling on the skin. You’ll be counting the minutes until you can get ready for your evening skin care routine.

When your brain needs a mental vacation, pop on this podcast to enjoy the magic of theme parks without any planning. Each week, comedians Mike Carlson, Jason Sheridan and Scott Gairdner explore a different ride, attraction or other minutiae of their favorite parks, from Disney to Six Flags and beyond. They discuss the good, the poorly-planned and ways to improve, along with lots of silly bits on topics very much outside of the parks.

I was struggling with applying foundation this year. Everything was looking cakey and creasy on my maturing, prone-to-dryness skin. Then, I saw this tip on TikTok that’s been a game changer. Mix a drop or two of your favorite face oil (I’ve been using Donginbi 1899 Signature Oil) with a full-coverage foundation. You get sheer-to-medium coverage without creasing and with a super glow. Just lock it in with a finishing powder and it will stay all day.

Get all eight shades of this affordable blush so you can have a healthy glow no matter your mood. It’s lusciously pigmented, so you just need a few taps of the brush on your cheek for a touch of color.

After using this deep conditioner once a week this year, my dry hair feels shiny and healthy. It doesn’t weigh my hair down and I don’t need to chase my shampoo and conditioner with a dose of leave-in conditioner. It is an essential part of my weekly “everything shower.”

I like to dab this rich highlighter on my cheekbones to wake up my entire face. Use just a dot and blend with your fingers. It feels light and airy on skin, but blends incredibly well.

Frequent flyers and travel novices alike: download this app ASAP before you plan a trip. Not only can you make itineraries with including your flights, hotels and sites you want to see, but it will also map them for you, give you point-to-point Google map directions and give you suggestions of other hot spots in your area. You can share your trip with friends, too, so group travel planning is a cinch.

Save this TikTok because this simple one-dish recipe has become a staple in my house this year. It’s a nutritious and quick way to prepare salmon and it tastes like a crowd pleaser. It makes a lot of pasta and veggies, so I double the salmon and divide it between two trays so I have enough food for the next night, too.

You might have seen this guy on Saturday Night Live recently when he performed “Drunk Dial,” his radio hit with Post Malone. This Vermont-raised singer-songwriter has been charting since 2017, but is blowing up this year with Grammy nominations and sold-out stops on his national tour. I love his energy, his catchy tunes and honesty about his mental health issues. Expect to be hearing more about Noah in 2024.