My first-ever annual round-up of favorite things; random things. Not in any particular order. But I do like the idea of counting backwards, so… (The Amazon links are affiliate links which means IF you purchase one of my favorite things? I get some cents – not sense – but cents!)
16. Aluminum Foil Gas Burner Bib Liners. I know, boring as all get-out BUT, we have a white gas range and cooktop that nothing will clean. I have tried every thing on the market and they remain grody. But, not anymore! Aluminum liners. Cheap fix. One can find anything on Amazon!
15. Dr. George’s Dental White I like white teeth and I cannot afford professional whitening. This is the next best thing. Thank you, Dr. George.
14. ZEP Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser The best-ever cleaner and degreaser. I knew when THIS didn’t clean those unsightly white burners mentioned above? Nothing would. This.stuff.is.that.good.
13. Microfiber Window Blind Glove If you own window blinds that cost too much to take down once a year and replace? You need this glove. Enough said.
12. Reusable k-cup pods Keurig’s are nice. K-cups are expensive. We learned that soon enough. We fill our own.
11. Grace Planners Branches Birds 2017 Inspirational Christian Daily Weekly Monthly Agenda Planner I’ve been using this planner (going on) three years. It’s perfect for my needs. Plus it has an awesome read-thru the Bible plan. I highly recommend this planner.
10. Faux Pencil (Christmas) Tree with Pinecones Because sometimes you just have to bless your far-away best friend!
9. Sliding Barn Door Hardware Kit Mid-year I suggested we turn our bedroom door into a sliding barn door. Hubs & I took a Saturday and installed. There’s only one bad word in the whole installation. Amen. Also, we gained square footage in our already small bedroom. Amen, again.
8. Secrets of Holly Hill My one and only sister finally finished her novel – it is a sweet story that can be read by girls of all ages!
7. Hopewell Essential Oils This is a homeschooling family who began a business years ago to support their homeschool conviction. They are wonderful to work with and their service is par excellence and their oils are awesome. They are not a multi-level company; but a family running a family business. (I get zero, zip, nothing for this testimonial.)
6. Bath Towels I love white bath towels and I had to say goodbye to four white spa towels purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond eight years ago when they finally began fraying and the weave began to rip – I was sad because I LOVED those towels. But, alas, I have found an excellent replacement for far less than half the price of the spa towels…at IKEA! The FRÄJEN white bath towel for $5.99. Love them and they already have a tab hook for hanging – all the towels in our wee bathroom hang on hooks. These do come in colors – but does anyone use anything but white bath towels? LOL. (Again, zero, zip, nothing for this testimonial.)
5. Skecher’s Go Walk 4 Walking Shoe On our road trip to Ohio in October I met Brenda and admired her shoes. She immediately told me they were the only shoes she ever wore and owned them in just about every color available. Skecher’s GO WALK’s. As soon as we got home I began researching these walkers. I am extremely flat-footed (as in NO arch at all) and I put the question out on Amazon reviews to see if these would work. I got a great response from my inquiry that they would. I went to Kohl’s and found a black pair on sale in my size and bought them. I have not taken them off since the day of purchase except to sleep. They are true-to-size too. Get a pair.
4. Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen (grass-fed) Kosher. I was told by my nutritionist I should be taking a Collagen product and she recommended this one. I take it as directed, once per day, and I have noticed, since May 28th, a significant improvement in joint health, hair growth, nail strength. Especially joint health. It is not expensive and it sure beats simmering a pot of bones for 72 hours. It works for me.
3. Teresa Tapp T-Tapp Workouts. Every morning, Mon-Fri, I T-tapp! Basic Workout Plus. Yes! You can! And, you can too. (Again, zero, zip, nothing for this testimonial.)
2. Husqvarna All-wheel Drive Lawn Mower We mow about one acre of grass twice a week all summer long. Our yard isn’t one of those nice level, suburban, manicured masterpieces. We have hills, rills, mole trails and it is hard mowing. This mower has saved our over-60 necks! And, the nicest part of all? Hubs thinks I can’t handle the pull – so he does all the mowing now. Amen. Selah. Praise the Name of our Merciful God. Buy one ladies for your hubs for Christmas – you may never mow again. (Again, I have no affiliation with Husqie – I wish I did, but I don’t!)
1. The very best thing of 16 things of 2016? I really did save the best for last. The Message Bible and my chronological read-through-the-bible-in-one-year reading plan. I adore The Message. Thank you, Eugene Peterson, for your obedience to that hugonomous task of translating The Word into one everyone on the planet can relate to. For the very first time in all my 60+ years I stuck to a plan and will read completely through the Bible…from Genesis to Revelation, before 2016 is over. And, the blessing is all mine. I could link The Message to an Amazon offer but honestly? You can find The Message on the shelves of thrift stores all across the world – I just know that every household needs one. Every book shelf is lacking if one isn’t on it. Do yourself a favor – start your 2017 with a copy and a good reading plan. You’ll be glad you did!
My early Christmas gift to you is a chronological Bible Reading Plan for 2017! Click on the image below and print the pdf on some heavy stock paper and be ready come January 1, 2017 for the adventure of a lifetime!
xo
What a fun list! Thanks for sharing all of your great 2016 discoveries! Visiting from #coffeeforyourheart.
Glad to have you over today, Kelly!
Love them all……..especially #10, of course. You’re such a gift, Susan. I love you!
Kathy
We sure need our trees of Hope and Trust!
Well aren’t you ahead of the game with this list. Yay! Perfect timing really. I love these lists so thanks, Susan.
To-do lists. Did lists. Bought lists. We are LIST PEOPLE!!! But not listless!!!
Love this post! Thanks for some great ideas! I’m considering switching out my bullet journal for the Grace Planner!
XO
Tammy
It’s enough for me –
The patient husband and I are planning a read through of the Message for 2017. Very excited about it as I’m a Eugene Peterson fan girl (gushing and all).
I knew that we were kindred spirits, but didn’t know that we were kindred feet, as well! I’ve written down the name of those shoes for research. I’m becoming ever less satisfied with my faithful New Balance walking shoes, so your tip came along at just the right time!
Always always love your lists, and am always glad to visit at your place.
How beautiful are the kindred feet wearing the gospel of peace and Skecher’s!!!
Love the list, Susan! And I agree, everyone should find a plan and a translation they love and make it a goal to read through the Bible! I’m also gonna be purchasing some of your favs! I’ll be sure to use your links! Blessings! (Sorry about all the !!!) LOL
I love !!!!! ‘ s
Thanks for serving up some great gift ideas, Susan! There are several on your list that I’m going to check out!
Thanks, Beth!
I do love practical lists. Thanks, Susan!
And I’m with you on The Message and reading through the Bible chronologically. That’s exactly what I did last year … what a huge blessing along the way.
Advent blessings to you and yours …
And, to YOU & YOURS!!!
Hi Susan,
I love lists and I loved reading about all of your favorites! (A few of them brought a chuckle!) But you did save the best for last in the Message version of the Bible. I’m hoping to get myself a hard copy of it to start the new year with it in my hands to deepen my appreciation of God’s words to us!
Oh, Valerie – do get one!!! A Christmas gift for yourself!!!
What a great list! I love my Message Bible. I just may join you in the reading challenge.
Barbie, even if it took you two years – it is worth the doing!
Thanks so much for this list, Susan. I’ll be checking out several of these today!
Brooke – check ’em out!!! And, thanks for coming by.
Thank you for your great list! I’m intrigued with Dr. George’s Dental White, your sister’s new novel, Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen and of course The Message is a given!
Dr. George’s IS THAT GOOD.
Great list! I was waiting for the Message to appear on it having read some of your posts this year! I agree that chronological reading plans are really helpful.
Lesley – how could I possible leave it out? It has changed me!
Like the one that strengthens the hair, nails etc.
Very much looking forward to reading through The Message chron. This coming year. Thanks for opening your home & your heart to us readers. You help all of us on our way to the celestial city.
Ah, the Celestial City. I’m a citizen of that place!!!
I love this list filled with such practical items! Hearing personal experiences with items is far better than all the ads in the world. Thanks for sharing, Susan!
I’m a big “read the review before you buy kind of consumer” so I like to share because I care!
I Love this list, especially the Grace Planner, I will have to find one for sure! Thank you honey, for sharing!
Only on Amazon, my dear. Don’t you use your phone as your planner?
I love the sketches walking g shoes. I bought a pair at Sams Club. Went back the next week and bought another color!
They are fab-u-lous!
Susan,
Looks like you’ve done a lot of cleaning, reading and getting healthy this year 🙂 Thanks for sharing and posting links. I love the Message Bible too, part of me really loves it because Eugene Peterson is Canadian and so am I!
Have a blessed 2017!
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Oh my goodness, those blind gloves are exactly what I need for our blinds! I never knew something like that even existed! And I LOVE the message Bible, and I know this one will be fabulous! Thanks for sharing!
Christin, that glove is awesome!!!
Susan I always enjoy favorites lists, and I’m already ordering Dr. George’s whitening, and only white bath towels for me also. Perfect timing too! What a wonderful blessing to have such writers in your family. Merry Christmas friend!
You will like Dr. George!
Love your list! I am impressed by your sliding door remodel – wow! May try several of your other favs, as well. Thanks!
Sandra – I’m glad you came by for a visit!
What a great post! I totally will be checking out the teeth whitener. Do you buy trays in addition? Love the planner too. So glad to have found your blog! Tracy from Blogbytracy
Tracy, I lurked over at your place and answered the tray question!!!
thank you for the reference to my book! And I thought you didn’t like Ikea towels??? I always tell Deb when we go in “Aunt Susie doesn’t like Ikea’s towels.” So we don’t even touch them. Trip to Ikea first week in 2017. The tooth whitener — I was not faithful to it. Must try to be faithful. Can’t wait to see the barn door. And yes I agree wholeheartedly — THE MESSAGE CHRONILOGICAL READING OF THE WORD. And Sestra you can read it online thru Bible Gateway if you don’t have a copy! FREE — THE WORD OF GOD IS FREE. I have never appreciated my Salvation, my Saviour like I have this year reading the entire BIBLE! Me! The ENTIRE BIBLE — Confession? A couple of times in some churches the question is have you read the Bible through? I always raised my hand a little bit (that was the lie)…now I can but you know what? My church will not ask that question but I will tell everyone — I HAVE READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AND YOU SHOULD TOO!
MERRY CHRISTMAS — JESUS IS TRULY THE ONLY REASON FOR THE SEASON!
These IKEA towels are the best – love them.