Caroline TeSelle

my life shared. your dreams encouraged.

  • Blog
  • Shop

My 2016 Top Ten Favorite Things

December 16, 2016 By Caroline TeSelle

It’s that time of year again where we all share our favorite things for the year. Just like last year, my list is full of people and books and trips and a few random favorite things. Enjoy!

1. My favorite books of 2016:

Falling Free by Shannan Martin
All the Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth
Like a River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart
Rhythms of Rest by Shelly Martin
Spiritual Misfit by Michelle DeRusha
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Curious Faith by Logan Wolfram
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
The Lake House by Kate Morton

2. Italy!

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remember that this trip actually happened! Greg and I spent 10 days exploring this beautiful country with some amazing people, who have now become lifelong friends!

We now love Italian wine, especially from Montepulciano! We regularly serve a side dish of Tuscan olive oil with crusty bread. To see some of the pictures, check out #TuscanyWritersRetreat on Instagram and you can also see more of my photos here.

3. Packing Cubes

Since Italy was our first overseas trip, I relied heavily on the help of friends and Pinterest for packing ideas. We decided to just pack in a carry-on and a backpack. The packing cubes were amazing! I fit all of this in the 3 cubes inside my carry-on:

4. Bullet Journal

I have been a journal girl since childhood. And I’m a sucker for organization. Kendra introduced me to a way to combine those two things for the good of my well-being.

I’m still figuring out the best system that works for me. I use it for journal entries, brain dumps, books I’m reading, and it helps me to keep track of work projects.

photo source

5. Nest Fest

A dream in the making for our friends Chad & Myquillyn & I was honored to be a part of it. The most rewarding part was the journey of coming along them and their family, cheering on their dream.

I loved every minute! Can’t wait until the next one… {click here to see a ton of beautiful photos from the day of Nest Fest}.

photo source

6. Unmasking the Truth Masquerade Ball

This was a fundraising event for dreamed up by my dear friend Ashley that raised almost $14,000 to benefit Women At Risk, International. This organization rescues women and children who have been caught in slave trafficking. WAR, Int’l provides them with safe houses, medical and emotional care, education and training that will allow these women and children to lead lives of freedom, safety, and dignity.

7. Thanksgiving in Chicago

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to do something a little different. All of our extended family is scattered across the US and we knew we wouldn’t be traveling long distance, so we decided to stay home but with a twist. We spent 3 nights and 4 days in Chicago.

We rented an place on the 33rd floor near Millennium Park, ate the most delicious steaks on Thanksgiving at Smith & Wollensky’s, shopped the Michigan Mile on Black Friday, went ice skating in Maggie Daley park & more! It was a memory maker of a trip.

My two favorite things? The delicious gluten-free donut from Do-Rite Donuts. And listening to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra play the score of the movie E.T. while it was playing on the big screen behind them. Incredible!

Did we start a new Thanksgiving tradition this year? Maybe? I guess we’ll find out next year.

8. This is Us

Please tell me you’re watching this show? It is SO. GOOD.

photo source

9. Grove Collaborative

Gone are the days of running out of my favorite fabric softener, scented candle & toilet cleaner. Grove Collaborative “does the work to find amazing, affordable and effective natural products” delivered to my house according to my schedule.

And if you join their VIP program, you get free shipping and receive 5 free gifts throughout the year. Another reason that I love them is their customer service that’s quick to respond if you have a question. They also email to remind you when your order is about to be shipped so you can add more items or delete them if you don’t need them that month.

10. Drippy Candles

While we were shopping on Black Friday in Chicago, we stopped into Urban Outfitters and saw these. I bought some right away as gifts & a box for me too. Came home and popped one into one of our empty rye bottles and watched it slowly drip down the bottle, creating a beautiful design.

Honorable Mentions for 2016 favorite things:

  • I’m a bourbon drinker now thanks to my husband for teaching me the correct way to drink this tasty beverage.
  • I purchased an Instant Pot on Cyber Monday. So far, I’ve successfully cooked a turkey breast & a pot roast and they were DELICIOUS.
  • Paper bendy straws
  • A hoodie pillow that I secretly hope shows up under the Christmas tree for me this year!

And since I’m a huge fan of writers and books, here are a few that will be released in 2017 that I’m super excited about:

Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner – release date January 10, 2017

Craving Connection by (in)courage – release date January 10, 2017

Katharina & Martin Luther by Michelle DeRusha – release date January 31, 2017

At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider – release date April 18, 2017

*affiliate links used in this post – thank you!*

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: what I learned

Comments

  1. Marian Vischer says

    December 17, 2016 at 7:27 am

    Oh how I love a good list post! I just read The Kitchen House this month and loved it (even though it was a complete emotional roller coaster.) Also LOVING This Is Us. : )

    Thanks for this fun list of faves!

  2. Michelle DeRusha says

    December 17, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    This was such a fun read, and thank YOU so much for sharing my books. You are SO sweet and generous! Merry Christmas, Caroline!

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      December 19, 2016 at 5:44 am

      Merry Christmas!

  3. Tsh Oxenreider says

    December 17, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    Okay, we have many things to talk/vox about…. I’ll just pick one: I want to know about this InstantPot that I am now seeing EVERYWHERE. What type did you get? It’s now on my wish list after smart people loving them!

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      December 19, 2016 at 5:50 am

      I got the 6qt one – it’s a little intimidating at first but for me to successfully cook a pot roast & a turkey breast, it’s a miracle (if I look at meat, it dries out – seriously, I’m cursed, lol!) and for them to be cooked in under 2 hours – amazing.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Hi! My name is Caroline TeSelle and I'm currently doing life with my husband & 4 kids in our little corner of the world. Read more.

carolineteselle

Caroline TeSelle
T W E N T Y! ⁣ ⁣ Happy Birthday, @twayne0623! T W E N T Y! ⁣
⁣
Happy Birthday, @twayne0623! We love you!
Father’s Day edition of how it’s going to how Father’s Day edition of how it’s going to how it started. ⁣
⁣
2022 to 1972. Fifty years of being your daughter. ⁣
⁣
You are such a blessing to me and countless others! I hope you enjoy your day and wish we could be together to share an order of salty fries and a Coke. ⁣
⁣
Pop, we love you 🥰
T W E N T Y - T W O⁣ ⁣ Happy Birthday, @gunnar T W E N T Y - T W O⁣
⁣
Happy Birthday, @gunnar_teselle 🥳 We love you and we love that we’ll never have to do math to figure out how old you are on your birthday 🤣 #bornintheyear2000 #tesellelife
#OneDayMay May 31 - This is who I am right now…⁣
⁣
…an imperfect daughter of Christ, wife, mom, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, friend, neighbor, writer, gardener, reader, knitter, community member, exerciser, dream cheerleader, cook, and so many more. ⁣
⁣
You get the idea. ⁣😉⁣
⁣
Perfection is not the goal. Relying on my own strength is not the goal. ⁣
⁣
The goal is to love God, do my part in his kingdom, walk in his plan, and encourage others along our journey home.

This is who I am.⁣
⁣
———⁣
⁣
Thank you @laura.tremaine for hosting this challenge 🥰
#OneDayMay May 27 - Something I do for fun…⁣
⁣
…is hang out with these yahoos where fun is a consequence 🤣 

Today we had our “yay, it’s summer!” meal of breakfast foods at a local cafe. We started this tradition when they were little and I realized today that we only have three of these left. 😭 That’s not fun.
#OneDayMay May 26 - What’s saving my life⁣ ⁣ #OneDayMay May 26 - What’s saving my life⁣
⁣
🌸My garden! Lilacs, peonies, cherry tree!⁣
 ⁣
🍓Growing plants in our raised bed: cucumbers, strawberries, peppers, beans, brussel sprouts, watermelon. ⁣
⁣
💊My medications! ⁣
⁣
💛The septum occluder placed in my heart last week to close the hole (PFO) in my heart.⁣
⁣
What’s saving your life these days?
#OneDayMay May 25 - A struggle right now is…

…in the words of Steve Kerr, “When are we going to do something?” 

I’ve struggled for years, especially in my childhood, wondering if my voice mattered. 

As an adult, I’ve grown to learn that my voice matters. Whether or not you disagree with the what I’m saying, it matters. 

It’s a voice that needs to be heard. 

It’s a voice that is here, at this point in time, during this span of 1972 until I die, for such a time as this—to speak up for the innocent, the abused, the least of these. 

I’ve heard the phrase, “not every issue has our name on it.” I believe that is true to a certain extent. I can’t possibly support every issue or cause. I would be exhausted and bankrupt. 

But friends, gun violence has every American name on it. 

Something needs to be done because the way it is now is unacceptable. 

When are we going to do something?

Now. 

Contact your representative and state senators and voice your concern about the lack of a senate vote on The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, H.R. 8 and the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, H.R. 1446. 

Your voice matters!
#OneDayMay May 24 - Quote⁣ ⁣ “The artist can #OneDayMay May 24 - Quote⁣
⁣
“The artist cannot hold back; it is impossible, because writing, or any other discipline of art, involves participation in suffering, in the ills and the occasional stabbing joys that come from being part of the human drama.” Madeleine L’Engle ⁣
⁣
A question for all of us: I wonder what art will be produced from our current season of suffering and stabbing joys? 🤔 ⁣
⁣
📸: Michelangelo’s David // Florence, Italy 2016
#OneDayMay May 19 - I’m proud of myself for…⁣
⁣
…allowing myself to be taken care of the past few years. That’s hard for me to admit 😘 because I am usually the one taking care of others. ⁣
⁣
But my body finally said enough or it was the quiet pride building up in my heart that had finally had enough. My heart was literally enlarged and I could barely make it out of bed most days much less take care of others! ⁣
⁣
The pandemic has been horrible in so many ways but it brought our family closer. ⁣
⁣
Between my health and Eden’s hip reconstruction, the men in our family rallied and have taken such great care of us. And the support from family and friends has been life-giving. 💛⁣
⁣
Here we are, two years later and I’m still advocating for my health (that will never stop!) and allowing others to take care of me (I hope I don’t let my pride get in the way of that either!).⁣
⁣
Another surgery in the morning, friends. This time, a team of doctors and nurses will be closing the PFO (hole in my heart) with a tiny “umbrella”. Amazing, right? I’m so thankful. ☂️❤️‍🩹⁣
⁣
The hope is by closing this hole it will reduce the risk of a future stroke. After all the tests they’ve done the past few months, the doctors believe the cause of my mini-stroke back in December was due to a small clot escaping through that hole and up into my brain.⁣
⁣
——⁣
⁣
I hope to keep up with the #OneDayMay prompts after tomorrow because I have loved this challenge and also have enjoyed reading what others have shared. ⁣
⁣
Until then, much love to each of you and your families 🥰
See More... Follow on Instagram

search:

Privacy Policy

© 2022 Caroline TeSelle · All Rights Reserved