Think of this as my Top 23 List of 2023
Since 2018, I've been listing my favorite things, experiences, and items that have impacted me that year. If you haven't read any of them, check them out:
Below are the experiences, products, and applications that affected me in 2023. I've done my best not to include anything from previous years, but needless to say, the things on those lists (for the most part) carry over for this year as well.
Remember, what may work for me, may not work well for you. The wonderful thing about this article is that it gives you new things to try and incorporate into your life.
2023 Experiences / Classes
1. Facebook Groups- Okay, I know this is strange, but joining The Jersey Girls of North Carolina led me to many experiences since they host an in-person event once a month. I went to a few of these in the beginning of 2023 and it was great to be able to check out different locations in the Triangle of NC while bonding with fellow Jersey transplants. I recommend joining a Facebook group (or an Eventbrite group) that has an in-person component; it does help with combating loneliness in this post-pandemic world.
2. Bingo Nights- Since my grandma was at a senior rehab center, we played a LOT of bingo on Monday and Wednesday nights. This was immensely fun since I enjoy Bingo, and it seemed to do a lot of good for my grandma. At first, she’d just look for numbers (and I’d have to help), but then she was able to remember how to play, and that brought so much joy to my heart.
3. Friendsgiving- I got invited to a Friendsgiving party, and it was fun. What I liked a lot about this party was that the hostess came up with an icebreaker game that made it easy for us, the guests, to start chatting with one another even though it was our first meeting. She included a competitive element to it which made a lot of other guests have a blast. But I guess this brilliant move is to be expected from a rockstar who writes about the importance of mental health.
4. Events at Breweries- I don’t like beer, but I like playing board games and checking out cool places. In Durham, and I’m sure in many other cities, breweries host many events to bring in people. So if you haven’t checked out your local brewery (or meadery), then I encourage it. Activities can range from board game nights, trivia nights, craft days, etc.
5. SGM Summit- The Start Grow Manage Summits technically started in 2021, but they started to make their stride in 2022. It’s hosted three times a year (April, August, and December), and it’s all about planning for the next 365 days. It’s tailored specifically for owners of MSPs (Managed Service Providers or IT Companies).
Books and Movies
6. Reimagined Fairytale Novels- This year, I picked up two series that were based on fairytales that were reimagined. My favorite one was The Wicked Series by Katee Robert. My favorite one was “A Worthy Opponent” which was a reimagining that paired Hook and Tinkerbell. Though “Learn My Lesson” deserves an honorary mention for showcasing a polyamorous relationship with Meg, Hades, and Hercules.
7. Divorcing My Tyrant Husband- I read a LOT of WebToons; I’ve even written about it on my blog before. I’m going to shout out “Divoring My Tyrant Husband” in particular because the main character is a gem to read about. Everything she does to get the Tyrant to divorce her always backfires on her. It’s a comedy of errors that keeps me grinning from ear to ear. If there was a VIP on WebToons for helping me get through 2023, the trophy goes to this one.
8. The Super Mario Bros- It’s still surreal to me to be living in a world where I get to have movies of the things that I grew up with. This was such a great movie, and I loved all the easter eggs scattered throughout the film. So not only was it a great movie, but I think it’s great that more gaming things are being pushed forward in the pop culture scene.
9. Barbie- This woman-dominated film that is all-pink, all the time hitting such great box-office numbers is excellent! This shows that films don’t have to be full of action and explosions to do well. And yes, it was also a great movie, though there were a few bits I wish were tweaked around a bit, but it’s “kenough” for me.
10. Trolls Band Together- This movie nearly made me cry! It was made for me. Boy Bands + disco + animation = a very happy Carla. I loved their version of “Fame,” and I wish there was a full cover of this song for me to play all the time. I knew this movie would be great from the premise, and the execution was flawless.
Applications
11. Descript- I do a bit of video editing, and Adobe Premiere Pro can sometimes feel like a slog. So when I discovered Descript, which could do captions (in karaoke style), I was sold. It allows you to edit videos by editing the transcript. And while it’s not perfect and can feel clunky at times, I do like how it can help me produce the Start Grow Manage Podcast a lot quicker than Adobe Premiere Pro.
12. ChatGPT- Yes, the AI overlords are here, and ChatGPT has been a crucial part of my 2023 experience. It has helped me a ton when it comes to generating copy at work, and while it’s not perfect and does require a lot of human intervention, it’s better than staring at a blank page.
13. Wyze- Since I’ve been traveling a ton this year, Wyze has been instrumental in helping me keep an eye on those I love while I’ve been away. When I’m in Jersey, I can watch my pets with Wyze, and when I’m in North Carolina, I can keep an eye on my relatives in Jersey. I especially love the Wyze Cam Pan v3 due to the panning feature.
14. GoodNotes- While I think there are years I’ve used GoodNotes more than in 2023, GoodNotes has definitely helped me keep my sanity in the latter half of the year. I love how it allowed me to have a digital notebook to take notes, help care for my grandma, and plan my day. It definitely gave me that ‘writing in notebook’ feel that Notion wasn’t providing.
15. Clay- Early in 2023, I used Clay as my own personal CRM. It’s a bit pricy, so I didn’t use it, especially after I reached out to all my LinkedIn contacts. However, I like the idea, and if I had all the unlimited money in the world for subscriptions, I’d grab this one and Superhuman.
Skincare / Beauty Products
16. Function of Beauty- While I don’t plan on resubscribing to function of beauty since I plan on transitioning to Redken, admittedly, I have used their products in 2022 and 2023. I love how it made picking out my shampoo and conditioner a breeze and the fact that I could customize it with my hair goals, color, and scent. The best part was that it was delivered straight to my door, though now I see it in Target as well if you prefer in-person shopping.
17. Tease Eau de Parfum- I’ve been using Tease for years, but never have put it on my list. Tease is a perfume from Victoria’s Secret that I’ve been using ever since my hubby got it for me. I like how it smells, and he likes it, so it’s a win-win for both of us. Oh, and it also comes in pink, so that’s an additional win for me. On the website, the scent profile is described as “Warm Gourmand”.
Lifestyle - Miscellaneous Products
18. Atchison Skipper Cotton Duffel- This duffel bag has been my BFF this year. Whenever I needed to bring my work gear, I would put everything into this bag. Anytime I needed to hop on a plane, I would take this as my carry-on. It’s also quick and easy to toss in the washer, and I appreciate that I got this as a goody-bag item at a networking event. Nothing is better than a useful freebie!
19. Pokemon Go Plus +- I originally bought this to play Pokemon Sleep with, but the fact that it has one button and feels clunky to get in and out of “sleep mode” made me stick with using my phone for tracking sleep. However, this Pokemon Go + does allow me to play Pokemon Go while being able to keep an eye on my surroundings. ‘Cause otherwise, I’d be walking and having my eyes and fingers glued to my screen as opposed to enjoying the walk and nature. I’ve also been able to catch shinies with this too!
20. LaCie Rugged External Hard Drive- Since I’ve been traveling so much this year, I bought this external harddrive to always have my files with me. Now I know I could use the cloud for this, but while I’m on the go (or on a plane), I don’t have wifi on me. So it’s nice having an offline option for my files… That and cloud storage costs money, so this one-time purchase is a better deal than increasing my cloud storage fees.
21. Automatic Safety One Touch Can Opener- My neighbor recommended this product to us, and I love it! This makes opening cans a breeze, and while I don’t use this every day, the few times I’ve needed to use it, I’ve been mega grateful.
22. Gneiss Spice Magnetic Jars- I don’t have a lot of storage space in my apartment, so these jars have come in handy when storing my spices. I decanter my spices twice a month into these small jars, and then I put the rest of my spices on the top shelf in my kitchen. It makes cooking so much easier.
23. Sketches Slip-ins- I never thought I would rave about sneakers. Ever. However, these slip-ins are a god-send. Especially now that my life has become so chaotic. I put these puppies on easily when I rush out of the house and take them off just as fast when I get home. I also got these for my mom and grandma so they don’t struggle when putting on their shoes. (Psst, Naturalizer, if you could restock my 4.5 size dress sandals that’d be appreciated.)
What would be on your Top 5 List of 2023?
I'd love to hear what experiences, products, or media affected your 2023 experience. Perhaps it was something small, such as a new pair of socks or an incredible traveling experience of a lifetime. Regardless of how grand or small your list may seem, I'd love to read about it! After all, maybe it'll show up on my Top 2024 list!