A Few of My Favorite Things

As we near the end of 2022 I thought I would reflect on a few things that brightened my year and make daily life more enjoyable. Some of these are products in constant use, or routines I enjoy, or items that make the mundane more enjoyable, and they’ve become my favorites.

My Morning Coffee

My morning coffee… It has taken me awhile to perfect my coffee game in Switzerland. I started off with a stovetop espresso maker, but somehow with an induction cooktop, the flavor wasn’t as good. It is also hard to find quality ground coffee in the shops here, so I needed a machine that would grind the beans fresh. I’ve been so pleased with my Sage Barista Pro Espresso machine (Breville in the USA). I still prefer to use a separate milk frother rather than the one built into the machine. It’s faster, and easier to clean. Now my morning coffee is a favorite part of my day.

sage espresso maker, my favorite coffee machine — *photo credit John Lewis

My Favorite App

Wordscapes: I sometimes find social media to be a downer, and when I have extra time to goof off, I love to play wordscapes. Especially when I’m enjoying my favorite morning coffee! It becomes a moment to savor before the day begins.

wordscapes, my favorite way to spend a few minutes

Exercise on YouTube

I love to work out, and my favorite workouts for 2022 are from #growingannanas. There are so many to choose from, they are hard and never boring, and I love the format with countdowns and percentage completed. Most involve no equipment and can be done in your home. They are excellent! But if you are interested, some include weights too. I try to workout with Anna five days a week.

@growingannanas on youtube, my favorite workout — *#growingannanas*

Antiquing: A Favorite Past time

Antiquing: Some of my favorite finds this year have been scouring the antique shops, brocki if you are Swiss, and adding to my collections. I am collecting brass candleholders, and I cannot resist dishes or baskets, or portraits! I am working on incorporating this into my weekly routine. It provides a mental break from the mundane and is always of source of inspiration for me.

Luxury Bed Linen

Libeco Linen: I’ve bought a few products from them lately… a fitted sheet for my son, a coverlet for my own bed, to protect the duvet from wet paws, and some pillowcases. Their products are fabulous, and make your bed look more luxurious. I highly recommend them. I also have a Frette duvet, which I love. It is silky soft and sometimes it makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning. When I travel, I cannot wait to come back and sleep in my own bed with my luxurious linens.

Phone Case

A great purchase I made this year was my Mrsey iphone case, which includes a strap and cardholder on the back. I bought it for hiking so I could keep a bankcard handy for lift tickets or a coffee, and having it at the ready, rather than in a pocket when I’m teetering on a narrow path, searching for my phone. It’s been handy.

Coin purse

Another useful items in Europe, the Longchamp coin purse. Whether you are carrying euros or francs, a separate coin purse is a must. And this one opens up easily so you can find what you are looking for, but still fits easily in my small handbag. It is perfect and beautiful and has become a favorite of mine.