My favorite things of 2025

An annual collection of things I loved, in no particular order

Looking for my favorite books of the year? See Kiss, Marry, Kill BOOK EDITION, for paid subscribers. (It’s just $6 a month, and there are a lot of fun back-issues!)

I’ve been sharing my Favorite Things list on Instagram for a few years now. (You can see last year’s video here.) I keep a running list in my Notes app as the year goes on, then cull it down to just ten at the end of the year. (It’s hard!)

A few days ago, someone sent me a DM: “Are you going to share your Best Of list this year? I always look forward to those.” Ah! I had the list, and forgot to record it at year-end. Better late than never! Here are my favorite things of 2025.

💫 Watch the Instagram video here

#1 Vaginal estrogen inserts

This was a menopause game-changer. As estrogen levels diminish, the tissues in your vagina become thinner and more dry. (They call it “vaginal atrophy,” which makes me imagine my lady parts spitting out dust every time I open my legs.) Symptoms include dryness, burning, and itching, not just inside the vagina, but in the surrounding tissues. That dryness and irritation can create micro-tears during sex, leading to infections and recurring UTIs. It also makes for painful sex. (This was the impetus for me to see my doctor.)

Vaginal estradiol can help! Getting the estrogen directly into your vag can restore lubrication, thicken the vaginal lining, increase elasticity, and makes you less prone to irritation and infection. However, the creams my doctor originally prescribed were messy, burned my skin, and left me feeling even worse. Then she suggested vaginal inserts; a little pellet I shoot right up there (with an applicator) twice a week. No mess, no cream, and after a few weeks of consistent use, highly effective!

This is the brand I’m using, and I’ve had zero negative side effects. Talk to your doctor about vaginal estrogen as part of your menopause care plan.

#2 Wonderskin lip stain

I’ve tried other lip stains; don’t bother. Wonderskin are the only stains that (a) actually stain, (b) don’t leave a mess if you aren’t perfect in your application, and (c) feature a wide range of different post-stain shades.

My favorite shades are rosy-nudey-neutrals. I use Whimsical the most (it’s close to my own lip color, but deeper); Hush for a more browny-pink, and Lovely for a slightly brighter rose. You don’t need the kit, which includes a spray that helps you peel the lip stain off instead of wiping it. Peeling looks cool on Instagram but it’s not worth the money, and didn’t work well for me anyway.

For a light stain, leave it on 20 seconds. For a deeper stain, leave it on until it fully dries. I sometimes don’t wipe it off entirely, because I like a faint purple tone over the rosy color on my lips. (Weird, but it works with my skin.)

#3 Ozlo Sleepbuds

If you haven’t heard me talk about these yet, where have you even been. First, read this:

These sleepbuds saved my marriage

Or don’t read it, because I had you at “saved my marriage.” (TL;DR, my husband started snoring—loudly—after a bad cold.) I swear by Ozlo Sleepbuds. Those of you who have bought them also swear by them. They are the best thing I purchased all year. The end.

Use the code MELISSAU for $80 off.

P.S. This is the only item on my list that is, at times, sponsored content. However, I bought them with my own money and raved about them for months before the company even reached out. And THIS mention isn’t sponsored.

#4 Melusa Cashmere Socks

I had to replenish my stock this year because my 13-year-old kept stealing mine. These are gorgeously cozy cashmere and wool socks that make you feel special (read: bougie) at a fraction of the price of those sold elsewhere. (Right now they’re 3 for $36.) I have more than a few pairs of neutrals, but my son has collected all of my black pairs.

#5 Suction cup phone holder thingy

I saw this advertised, bought one, and promptly bought a second one. These are such a small and solid alternative to a tripod, especially when you’re traveling. (Hotel rooms often offers terrible light; stick this right to the window and you’re ready for content.) These stick to most smooth surfaces, and once it’s securely stuck, I’ve never had one fall on me. I keep one in my car for those on-the-go deep thoughts, and one at home for quick filming.

#6 Trader Joe’s flowers

I owe Alyssa, my Partnership Director, an apology. (I’M SORRY.) She’s been preaching the joys of Trader Joe’s for years, and I kept telling her, “That’s not a grocery store, it’s just a bunch of snacks.” When a new store opened here last year, I went in just to poke around… and found so much more than I imagined. Yes, delicious snacks, but also produce, frozen goods, meat sticks, protein bars, and well-priced pantry staples.

But the real star of my Trader Joe’s visits are the flowers. They have such an amazing selection, at price points that beat any of my local grocery stores. I’m now stopping in twice a week for their protein pancakes (they’d make my top 20), chicken broth, granola bars (they rival Costco’s!) and at least one gorgeous bunch of flowers. Find a Trader Joe’s near you.

#7 Rechargeable hand warmers

It’s been a warm winter in SLC, but mornings are still cold. I walk the dogs before the sun comes up, and in below-freezing temps, found the only things getting cold were my fingers, even in gloves. I went looking for disposable hand warmers, and found this rechargeable version. I bought a pair on a whim. After using them on my first walk, I immediately bought a pair for my husband and son.

If you just hold them in your hands out in the open, they won’t feel super-warm. But inside a glove or mitten, they heat up. I had them on level 1 during my walk and my hands stayed perfectly warm—they go up to level 3 (which I found too intense inside narrow gloves). My husband and son both took them camping and said they made a big difference in comfort at night.

Buy these, because I made the mistake of buying a cuter version that looked like a knit sweater, and IT ONLY CAME WITH ONE, which is rude.

#8 Libby, Hoopla, Chirp (and Spotify)

I love supporting authors, and I buy a lot of books. But I’m much better at choosing print books than audiobooks. I don’t absorb information well through my ears, so audiobooks I think sound good just don’t hold my attention. Also, I’m very picky about narrators, and it’s hard to tell how good someone is going to be in a short sample. I got tired of wasting money on books I won’t listen to, so I spent the year rotating through cheap or free sites.

Libby: Connects to your local library, has every title your library does (including new releases). You do have to wait for books, though, and sometimes the wait is months. Still, it’s free, and you can reserve a bunch, then listen as they become available.

Hoopla: Also connects to your library, if your library offers it. Has a much more limited title selection for some reason, and their in-app search is terrible, However, if they have a book you want, you’ll never have to wait! (But they limit the number of books you can borrow each month, so choose carefully.)

Chirp: An app offering a large selection of audiobooks for $1 - $5. They’re not always the bestsellers, but I got two Agatha Christie audiobooks for $1 apiece! They also send you suggestions and sales daily, which introduces me to books I’d otherwise never consider.

Spotify: I didn’t list this, because the way Spotify organizes audiobooks is infuriating. But they do let you listen for up to 15 hours a month for free with a Premium account. This is my last option, but if I can find the book I want in a fashion that doesn’t require me to add 72 different chapters to a playlist, it’s a nice bonus.

#9 Jean buttons

These fake jean buttons feel as dated as dickies, but they’re so handy. (Also, Gen Z has discovered dickies, and they are making a comeback! You can’t make this up.) I have a hard time finding pants sometimes; if they fit in the thighs and butt, they’re often too big in the waist. A belt is fine, but it can bunch your pants up awkwardly and be super uncomfortable. Introducing the fake jean button!

It’s so simple but works so well, even if you’ve got a lot of material to take in. Yes, it can give you a bit of an asymmetrical fly, but that’s in style anyway, and for most small alterations you can barely notice. (My son wears his tees untucked, which solves this issue.) These are a godsend for parents—they let you buy pants a little big so they can grow into them, which saves you money. They come in packs with various colors to match any pant button.

#10 Resetting your Instagram algorithm

I discovered this IG setting over the summer, and ever since I’ve been drunk with power. Why am I seeing so many MAHA influencers? Reset. I literally do not care about your Amazon haul, reset. Where did all of my yoga and fitness accounts go? Reset.

This feature single-handedly improved my IG experience by 43%. I was super engaged with political commentary early in the year, but was burned out by summer. Resetting my algorithm let me engage with the accounts I wanted to see (including my favorite political creators), and loop in more recipes, video editing inspo, dogs, hiking, fitness, and good news. Now, any time my feed feels off—RESET.

To reset:

• Go to your IG profile

• Tap the hamburger menu (three lines) top right

• Scroll down to Content Settings

• Tap Reset Suggested Content

• Follow the prompts to reset

You can also turn off all suggested posts for 30 days (it’s the setting right above). This is another way to keep from scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, and would let you see the people you actually follow in your feed. (It doesn’t eliminate ads, unfortunately—nothing does.) I haven’t done this yet, but will test it out and report back.

What was one of your favorite things of 2025? Share in comments!

XO, MU

P.S. Some of the links here are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you purchase through my links. However, NONE of these picks were sponsored, and I bought every single one with my own money. Just sayin’.