everything I loved in 2023🍵 just some tea
my recs to read/listen/watch/buy/be/do
I find writing about my “year highlights” stressful. As if, you can neatly package life into these boxes of 365 days and put a ribbon on it.
Life’s wild and messy and chaotic, it changes every second. We change with it. Our likes, our dislikes. Things we hate, things we love.
Writing a list of all things I loved as my 2023 version felt more apt and soul soothing. And sharing them with you - ties a ribbon on top for all my future versions.
🍵 Books I loved reading..
Fourth wing. A decade later, this book got me back into reading fantasy.
ACOTAR series. It was so fun binging through an entire series. Last series I binged was prolly Twilight uff. I read them in oct-nov, while it was personally a turbulent time. These books anchored me.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. A book that does not hide away from exploring complexities of friendships and relationships.
Wolf den. A TikTok rec I started reading casually, but turned out to be such a dose of drive and self-belief I needed.
Something new happened too this year!
I eagerly waited release of new books by authors I love and follow (hi Carley Fortune and Emily Henry). I have derived a lot of pleasure from nurturing my love for reading/publishing this year, and I hope to carry on. Thanks #booktok.
🍵 Newsletters I loved reading..
A big reason of why you are reading this are newsletters listed below. I have enjoyed reading their writings, and it’s inspired me to keep writing.
She has a way of finding you where you are and offering you words to make you feel less lonely. For words that make you feel restless nostalgia.Lenny’s newsletter and Career whisperers The reason I didn’t really feel the need to non-fiction books this year.
Some more newsletters I have read weekly in my inbox - Perspectives, Mind mine, Morning Brew, and The Newslette.
🍵 Creators I loved watching/listening..
I am in awe of these people and their journeys.
Pick Up Limes. I find her videos soothing, and their journey to build their app fun to follow along. It also kinda keeps me motivated to eat better.
Girls Gotta Eat. My go-to podcast for walks and errand runs. So fun omg.
Chloe Shih. Probably my internet work bestie.
Taylor Swift. No words needed. Cruel summer was my top song in the Spotify wrapped.
🍵 I loved writing..
Yes I read my own writings. Here are a few I absolutely love (re)reading.
when I feel behind in career
when dealing with difficult colleagues
🍵 I loved buying..
I love to ask my friends what did they buy recently that brought them joy. Here’s my list this year.
Helio Sunscreen. Been through my share of sticky makes-you-look-white to land on this one. Now I apply sunscreen even on a cloudy day.
Benefit Tint. Okay this with sunscreen above is basically my daily makeup lol. I love the tint, and the water based lightness it comes with. Makes me look like I worked out even when I didn’t!
Vanilla beans candle. I got this on a duty-free airport, and now I have acquired an expensive taste, or should I say smell. I light it after especially long days, my brain takes it as a signal to wind down.
Astro lamp. Sambhav got this inspired by TikTok. I love putting this up to create that cozy-den feeling while I am writing on my desk or reading in bed.
Desi Tea. How I have started most of my mornings in 2023, I love it so much I have had a friend of a friend get it for me from India.
Iced Latte. This is the year my coffee order became a sentence. My usual from Pret was a decaf iced latte with soy milk and a shot of caramel.
🍵 I loved being..
Surrounded by powerful, kind women. Both in my personal and professional lives, I had a thriving circle of women to lean on. It has kept me sane, it has kept me driven, it has kept me loved.
Unaffected by what others are doing. Started practicing Mel Robbin’s let-them-theory. If people are hanging out without you, discussing you, creating drama, let them. You do your thing.
Patient with people I love. Every year my answer changes to what is love. Love is patience.
🍵 I loved doing..
Roadtrip around Iceland. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.
Keeping my houseplants alive. Might sound a little cringey, but they really taught me a lot about not giving up. A lot of plants should not have survived in my care, but they did lol.
Planning an intimate wedding with Sambhav. Best group project partner I could have asked for - I am keeping him!
Sending out this newsletter. Imagining you finding this in your inbox, and taking a few minutes to read it is the most soul-filling giddy feeling. Thank you so much for being here, for reading this. ✨
Lots of love, Chhavi x
Thanks for sharing this, Chhavi! Resonated the most with the “let them” method from this post. This year, I consistently read the content by some of the good creators. I must say, Just Some Tea (Just Design Tea) is one of them. Thanks for being the warm place on this cold so-called connected internet. Loved reading your posts and feeling assured. Thanks for sharing and keep going! 🫶