Ahh another year came and went, it was filled with many new discoveries, new places were seen and even personally learned more about myself. In 2022, I found favorites in a wide range of different things – books, tv shows, experiences, music, movies, outfits and many more. Let’s take a look back in the past year of my favorite things!
Favorite experience I visited:
The Stranger Things Experience
As you probably have read in my recent blog post, I mentioned three experiences that caught my eye and I loved them so much. But there have been more since then; all were unique and fun in their own way. One rained supreme for me and that was the Stranger Things Experience. As a major fan of limited events (also of stranger things), I made sure I got my tickets a year in advance. Trust me, it was worth the wait!
The first part of your stranger things story- you encounter many different scenes of the show such as Hawkins Lab. The lab was a major part of this first half of this story where you are put into smaller groups to do this sleep study for Hawkins but if you’ve seen strangers things – it gets real so fast! You are taken to different rooms and encounter so much that you cant even taken pictures or video(its not allowed). I’ll just say that look everywhere for different elements and stay alert, in the best way possible. The actors were so good and made the experience what it was; I fully enjoyed it!
If you are a fan of the show you will definitely love it and also get ready to participate a lot! The second part of the experience is called the arcade area where you can find so many Easter eggs of the show and literally spend hours in here like my friends and I did- do some shopping, eat some amazing food from the show, get some nice photos, and even do a little scavenger hunt while you can to get a little prize.
Dress in your best 80s outfit and have a blast! Check out their website and instagram page to see when they’ll be in your city.
Favorite tech product:
I feel like over the years, there’s been so much new technology out there, but this one has been my favorite. This is the Hatch Restore; not only is this cute to look at but it does a lot. It gives you sleep sounds, alarms for the morning and even get to customize the colors of the alarm. There is a corresponding app that lets you control your device-one interesting feature you can use is guided meditation and listen to sleep stories if that more your jam than the regular sleep sounds. I haven’t tried this feature on the app yet but would love to this coming year.
This item has been helping me sleep and even wake up on time with all the different alarm sounds you can choose from. Fun fact, you get to name your device, my Hatch is named cedar like the type of wood.
Favorite Place I’ve Visited:
I recently discovered this place on Tik Tok and got to go last February to see the recent Scream movie. This movie theater location (New York City location) was really cool and felt very old age movie theater vibes with the vintage posters everywhere. Fun fact – I love vintage things! So you know I was super excited to see this in its glory. This location is very hidden since you have to go inside a corporate building and go three floors down. Not only is this a dine-in movie theater where they bring food to you and bottomless popcorn but they also offer movie rentals to take home for free, just have to bring it back in a couple of days-Blockbuster anyone?
I also like that they offer special menus with certain movies release like the one I recently go to do was the Bobs Burgers Movie. Also fun fact, I’m a huge Bobs Burgers fan! I got to taste the specialty burger from the movies menu and then I also indulged in alamos nachos (as seen in the photo). You are able to shop special merchandise and even get to experience the upstairs restaurant if you don’t want to see a movie- definitely check them out when you are in the area. Check out their website for the nearest location!
Favorite new store I discovered in the city:
This store was on my radar for a while then one weekend I made a choice and visited, Little Words Project; a bracelet store of many designs and different inspirational words. Little words project’s mission is to, as said on their website, “encourage to let people be kind to themselves and pay that kindness forward”- you see that conveyed all throughout this store.
First glance when you walk in there’s walls filled with bracelets and a station where you can make a custom one with your own words. I got the opportunity to do just that and the amazing girl working there helped me every step of the way. When you make your way to the back of the store, you are greeted with mirrors having different quotes and affirmations. I got a few mirror selfies here. Definitely worth the visit if they are in your city, check on their website for which location is closet to you!
Favorite curly Hair product
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In Conditioner
There were many hair products I tried since doing the big chop 6 years ago and by far the best I tried is Pattern’s leave-in conditioner. Pattern beauty got around the curly hair scene in 2019 and they haven’t stopped since with products like stylers, wash n’ go essentials and even travel sizes. Also their CEO/Founder is Tracee Ellis Ross. Need I say more? But this leave-in conditioner changed my routine; my curls became defined, shiny and showed length instead of shrinkage. I like to pair this product with the current styler that I’m using- its the chef kiss combo! I can’t wait to see what this year brings for them!
I have a lot more favorites, but it was hard to narrow down in entertainment and other things. Even had old favorites from previous years that I used, but overall ready for what 2023 has to offer. Share what was your favorites this past year in the comments!