At the end of 2017 I did a series of favorites posts: makeup, fashion, blogs, TV, and vegan dishes in Austin, but this year I’m going to keep it concise and do 3-4 favorites from various categories all in one post–keep reading to check out some of the things I loved in 2018. Also check out my 2019 favorites here!
Disclosure: This post is not sponsored but does contain some affiliate links, meaning if you purchase through them I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you)–thanks for your support!
Recipes (Vegan & Gluten free)
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- Magical Chocolate Chip Cookies–My top favorite recipe of 2018 was my magical chocolate chip cookies–they’re vegan and gluten free, quick and easy to make, and so delicious that they disappear as if by magic!
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese Balls–I only made these a few times for special occasions but they are SO GOOD, seriously, if you love cheese, you need to try this recipe, just do it.
- Broccoli Kale Brown Rice Casserole— I made this recipe many times in 2018 because it’s fairly easy to make, packed with nutrients, hearty and comforting, and it reminds me of the casseroles my mom used to make.
PS if you want to see more of my favorite recipes, check out my Fave Recipes board on Pinterest.
Restaurants (Vegan & Gluten free options)
I thought about doing another top vegan dishes in Austin post like I did last year, but honestly I didn’t try that many new dishes this year, and the ones from last year are all still my favorites (besides the Citizen Scramble, it’s not that I don’t like it anymore, but I just rarely go there and I think they changed that dish anyways.)
So in addition to all of those places that are still my faves, this year I also want to mention:
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- Counter Culture–I’m obsessed with their house made vegan cheese plates as well as their gluten free Mac and Cheese and chocolate chip pancakes. Give me all of the vegan cheese please!
- Food Trucks at Spiderhouse–I love that you can get the amazingly delicious al pastor nachos from Cool Beans, the always amazing Arlo’s burgers, and/or a vegan milkshake from Milky Way Shakes all in one place!
- Juiceland–I’ve been going to Juiceland for years and love their smoothies, and this year I started getting their Beyond Burrito (it’s gluten free!) often too, and they even have a drive through at their Brodie location which is rad.
Snacks
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- Blaze Doritos–I used to love Doritos before I was vegan, and I fell in love with them all over again when they came out with the oh so spicy but oh so delicious vegan friendly Blaze flavor this year. (Spicy Sweet Chili are also vegan.)
- Hippeas Chickpea Puffs–Two words: vegan Cheetos. Well not exactly, but pretty close–I love the vegan white cheddar flavor (and they’re even available at Starbucks now!)
- Nugo Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bars–I found Nugo protein bars and cookies awhile back and like that they have vegan and gluten free options, and my favorite flavor is the Dark Chocolate Pretzel–they taste like candy bars…but have some protein so they’re healthy-ish right? Either way they’re delicious.
Makeup/Beauty (Vegan & Cruelty free)
- Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter— This product was hyped up by a lot of my favorite beauty Youtubers, and it lives up to the hype–it provides just a little bit of coverage and so much glow. When I don’t have time for any makeup I slap it on with a kabuki brush and look more alive, and I also love it for minimal makeup days, as a highlight over foundation or mixed with foundation, it’s so good. Rhian said “When I die, bury me in Hollywood Flawless Filter,” and yes, same, for real.
- Hourglass Caution Mascara–I got a travel size of this mascara after Jholmie recommended it, and it immediately became my all time favorite vegan mascara. It makes my lashes look amazing, and unlike most other mascaras I’ve tried, it doesn’t smudge.
- Oil Cleansing–This year I started oil cleansing after seeing this video from ItsBlitzz, and I love it so much. Before I was using Tatcha Cleansing Oil, but avocado oil works just as well for me, is way cheaper, and only contains one ingredient. I’ve found that avocado oil works well with my dry skin, but you may need an oil with a lower comedogenic rating if you break out easily, so look into that when choosing an oil.
- LXMI Pure Nilotica Melt–I reviewed this in July and am still loving it–essentially it’s shea butter, but it’s a high quality shea butter (I use shea butter on my body sometimes as well, and it feels a lot grittier.) I don’t know if it would suit other skin types well because it’s very thick and moisturizing, but it helps my dry skin so much–I apply it at night over any other products I’m using, and it locks in moisture overnight. I don’t typically use it during the day since it’s pretty heavy, but if my skin is extra dry sometimes I will.
Clothing & Jewelry
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- Topshop Jamie Ripped Jeans–I don’t like shopping for jeans–it’s so hard to find flattering styles, but I lucked out with these–they’re high-waisted and flattering and comfortable (for jeans), and the rips add a little bit of edge, even if they’re totally fake and I bought them at Nordstrom.
- Hauntwell Tees–I mentioned these in last year’s favorites, and they’re still a favorite–I have five now (I just can’t help myself!), and someday I want to collect all of the sigils.
- ENA Apparel Valentina Velvet Bell Bottoms–These amazing velvet bell bottoms I mentioned in my Summer Favorites are definitely still a fave! They’re better for warmer weather in my opinion since they look amazing with crop tops, and I’m excited to whip them out again when it warms up.
- Willow Magic Pentagram Ring--I love this ring I got early this year so much I’ve thought about ordering a backup just in case anything happens to it. It’s from the Harmony Nice X Dixi Collection (Harmony is one of my fave Youtubers), and I love the simple but beautiful design and wear it every day.
Photography
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- J-Squared Studios–One of my good friends Julien opened a photo studio this year, and it’s a really nice space equipped with high quality photo equipment. I recently shot some Cheryl Blossom cosplay self portraits there–check out the photos if you haven’t yet.
- The double-sided photo background I made–I have a how-to post on it if you want to make one too.
Books/TV
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- On Writing–I re-read Stephen King’s memoir this year, and it spurred me to start writing creatively for the first time in a long time, and I’m really grateful for that. If you’re a writer and haven’t read it (or haven’t read it in a while), you probably should.
- Sookie Stackhouse Novels–I read these in 2011 during a sad time in my life, and they’re my comfort books–I re-read and fell in love with them all over again this year (yes I love True Blood too!) I’m always kind of sad when I end them because I’m so deep in the Bon Temps world…but then I remember I can just start them again another time or re-watch True Blood.
- The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina–This show is controversial, and it’s not an accurate portrayal of witchcraft or Wicca, but it’s dark, stylish, and entertaining, and I can’t help but love it.
What were some of your favorite things from 2018? Let me know in the comments!