Best of 2018

Despite (or maybe because of) a rollercoaster ride of changes in my life over the past twelve months, 2018 was a pretty good year. I got to travel, meet a ton of new people, and gained some experience in a new field. I read amazing books, ate a lot of good food, and moved my writing career forward. All in all, it has been a great year for this blog, so I’m going to do a quick recap to give you a look at the best of 2018 all in one place – my top 10 favorites for books and recipes this year!

These are listed in no particular order, because I could never choose a true favorite! These are just the ones that stood out the most to me this year, which, interestingly, does not necessarily mean they stood out the most to my readers. I’m also including the top five most viewed posts at the end, which includes posts from previous years as well, and those will be in order of most views to fewest.

I hope each of you has had a wonderful year and here’s to an even better 2019! Thanks for reading!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I might make some fancy coffee money at no extra expense to you if you buy something through one of my links. Read more about that here. 

My Top 10 Favorite Recipes of 2018

Skinny Vanilla Chai Latte

No Bake Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Creamy Lemon Spinach Penne

Strawberry Lemonade Slush

Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Garlic Parmesan Macaroni and Cheese

Purple Berry Smoothie Bowl

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Power Balls

Creamy Chicken Fajita Soup

Maple Walnut Overnight Oats

The Best 10 Books I Read in 2018

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand – This biography captivated me from the first paragraph and left me touched and inspired by the strength and tenacity Olympic runner and WWI soldier Louis Zamperini possessed. I still think about it all the time. I also highly recommend the audio version read by Edward Herrman.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain, by Joanne Bischof – I loved the character dynamics in this story of a girl who is searching for a safe place to call home. It’s somewhat unusual to have a hero with a disability and I was fascinated by the historical perspective on deafness, as well as on alcoholism, racism, domestic abuse, and more.

The House on Foster Hill, by Jaime Jo Wright – It’s not hard to see why this debut author won a Christy award for this intriguing dual timeline mystery that is just the right amount of creepy while still infusing hope and faith into dark situations. It also provides a great discussion on the long-reaching and insidious nature of human trafficking.

All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr – Not surprisingly, this historical novel that tells the intertwining stories of a blind French girl and an orphan German boy was a hit for me. Set in WWII, it is full of rich scenery and the different perspectives are told with impressive empathy.

The Passage, by Justin Cronin – This post-apocalyptic novel is a masterpiece in my eyes. I was so impressed by the way the author would drop in little details that seemed interesting but unimportant that would pop back up later to weave together all the elements of this epic story. This book explores scientific ethics, relationships, and what it means to be human.

Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire, by John August – Who says adults can’t read middle-grade? This book was so much fun and I can’t wait till my girls are big enough to read it. It explores friendship, courage, and follows Arlo and his friends in the Rangers, an organization of youngsters akin to mystical scouts, as they work together to solve several dangerous mysteries.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown – Lot’s of people like this book, and for good reason. It changed my perspective on the value of my time and gave me the confidence to say ‘no’ more often. It has made an impact on the quantity and types of things I say yes to and I can see myself reading it again in the future.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, by Cal Newport – I don’t always take notes as I read, but I definitely did with this book. Similarly to Essentialism, it challenged me to say ‘no’ more often to structure my time in a way that leads to more concentrated, focused (deeper) work that is more creative and higher quality. I’m a work in progress, but the points he makes and the skills he promotes in this book are worth contemplation and practice.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis, by Patti Callahan – Many people love the work of C.S. Lewis, but it had never even occurred to me to wonder about Mrs. Lewis. This unconventional love story follows Lewis and American writer Joy Davidman through a life of trouble and heartache and explores humanity, theology, and the quest to really know oneself.

The Lost Castle, by Kristy Cambron – Another dual timeline novel (I read a lot of those this year), I was completely enthralled by the intertwining stories of three generations of spunky young women. The timelines jump back and forth between present day, the French Revolution, and WWII, with beautiful descriptions of the French countryside and culture in each period.

Top 5 Most Viewed Posts of 2018

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins

Chocolate Hummus

Chicken Parmesan Sliders

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Power Balls

Black Bean & Spinach Quesadillas

Runners up for the posts with the most views include:

• Skinny Vanilla Chai Latte
• No Bake Cookie Dough Cheesecake
• Creamy Chicken Fajita Soup
• 2018 Reading Challenge
• Books in Progress – What I’m Reading, February 2018

Tell me some of your favorites from 2018, blogging or otherwise, in the comments below!