I’ve been writing “Debbie’s Favorite Things” yearly since 2007 (wow, 12 years!) and it’s easily my favorite post that I write each year! I was so excited that Roy decided to join in on the fun, making 2016 the first year that he added his favorite picks. Double fun!

If you’d like to take a look back, here you go: Debbie’s & Roy’s Favorite Things 2017; Debbie’s & Roy’s Favorite Things 2016; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2015; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2014; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2012; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2011; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2010; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2009; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2008; Debbie’s Favorite Things 2007.

So, without further ado, here are our Favorite Things from 2018!

Debbie’s Favorite Things 2018

1. Dish cloths. Yeah, seems kinda funny that my #1 is a dish cloth, huh?! Try them and I assure you they will become a favorite of yours too! This woven mesh cloth helps you scrub clean even the most caked-on junk from your pots and pans with little effort. My mom and mother-in-law now use these too and they make great gifts for anyone who cooks!

2. Air Fryer. We got an Air fryer on a Holiday sale last year and have been loving it since! An Air Fryer uses a convection fan that circulates super-heated air around cooking food to achieve similar results to deep-frying, but using a fraction of the oil. We use ours to make crispy fries, to cook vegetables, and to cook and rewarm most meats. There are many options on the market and we chose one with a large capacity.

3. Cashew Focaccia. I am a big fan of my friend Magdalena’s recipes and this cashew focaccia recipe is a recent favorite. While gluten free breads have come a long way in the last decade, most are filled with tons of eggs. Instead, this recipe uses flax seeds as a binder and instead of flour uses high protein cashews (my favorite nut!). It really is like having rosemary focaccia again!

4. Don’t Stop Believin’. The amazing and inspirational movie, Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey, follows the real life rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale of Arnel Pineda, who was discovered in Manila (in the Philippines) to become the front man for the band Journey. It is truly one of those movies that makes you believe, “wow, dreams can come true”! Watch the trailer here. Our whole family loved the message and LOVED rocking out to the music!

5. Five Minute Journals. Who doesn’t have five minutes a day to improve their health and mindset? These great journals help focus your attention on the good things in life, and these days it seems we could all use a dose of that! Each day you are asked five questions that will help you cultivate gratitude, change how you feel, alter the actions you take, and cultivate positive habits. These journals are for adults and these  adorable journals are for kids.

6. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself. Roy & I got turned on to Dr Joe Dispenza’s work five or six years ago and attended one of his workshops a few years back. I have read all of his books and this one (which I just read for the 3^rd time) is my favorite. It speaks to me so much that more than half the book is highlighted at this point! If you are interested in breaking old thought patterns and learning how to consciously create a new future for yourself, this book is for you!

7. Thieves Oil. I’ve mentioned Thieves oil in several blog posts before (such as here, here, and here) and so it’s certainly worth listing as a favorite! If you haven’t read the tale of how the four thieves avoided the Bubonic Plague while robbing the houses of people who died from the illness, you can read it here or here. Thieves oil has been a powerful force in my arsenal for almost twenty years. I drop a few drops in an ounce of water and gargle with it. I also dab thieves oil on the glands/lymph nodes in my neck, and rub it on the soles of my feet. And I add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with filtered water and use it to purify the air.

8. Dakine Beanie. I have this hat in almost every color—and I have two in black and white! I get tons of compliments when I wear them (and I am NOT one who looks great in hats!) and so I figured I’d share. These great hats are warm, fleece-lined (and not itchy!) and affordably priced.

9. Erase the Day. I have a really hard time wearing sunblock on my face because I end up with clogged pores and sometimes even a huge cystic pimple! I wear mineral makeup without a problem but mineral sun blocks (which are my preference to avoid nasty chemicals) are simply the worst for me! This local Boulder company came out with my new favorite cleanser, made from clay and designed to draw out mineral sunscreen and makeup each evening! I bought it this summer before our 2-week beach vacation and it saved my skin! I am a loyal nightly user now.

10. Digest Tea. I have fallen in love with this beautiful digest tea blend from Wise Woman Herbals. It refreshes, soothes, and supports healthy digestive function—while tasting delicious!  I like it so much that it is one of the two teas that we have chosen to use in our new Mindful Reset Program this January! So, if you “Reset” with us, maybe it will become your new favorite tea too 🙂

Dr. Roy’s Favorite Things 2018

1. Pact socks. Anyone who has been a family at Mindful Pediatrics for a while knows that I am fairly predictable when it comes to my work clothes (jeans and a button up polo tee).  The one place I’ve been known to let a little loose is with my super cool sock collection 🙂  Pact socks are my all time favorite.  Not only are they made from all organic fair-trade cotton, but generous owners and clients, Kelley and Brendan Synnott, also donated 100 pairs of socks to our bags for the homeless this year!

2. Hot Tub with TPS Complete Water Purification System. Not only do I love soaking in hot water, but there is also good research to support its positive health benefits. I have always wanted my own private hot tub but didn’t want to expose myself to the chlorine or bromine chemicals that can be harmful to your health, especially your thyroid. I looked into salt water systems, but they actually use sodium chloride (salt) to make chlorine as well. By chance I found the TPS system that uses sliver/copper ionizer, ozone and UV light to sterilize the water.  Both Debbie and I have sat in our new tub at least once a day since we bought it.  I’m in love! (If you too are interested in a personal home tub, our local rep offered a $200 discount to our community, if you use the code MINDFUL200.)

3. Michael Singer – Living From a Place of Surrender (online course).  In 2016 I shared that Michael Singer’s book, The Untethered Soul, was one of my favorites.  The book outlines how our mind works and how that leads to suffering.  While the book is a great place to start, the course Living From a Place of Surrender takes the concepts he introduced way deeper.  It has changed my life this year and I can’t recommend it any more highly.

4. Steel Cut Oats with Nutritional Yeast. On a camping trip this year my dear friend, David Bergstein, introduced me to what he said was a Waldorf school staple: steel cut oats with a dash of ghee and a heaping helping of nutritional yeast. It is simply yummy. People say that nutritional yeast is the “vegan Parmesan cheese”—and maybe I’ve been dairy free long enough now to believe it 😉

5. Stanley GO Series Tumbler. I’m always mindful to stay hydrated at work while trying not to spill my drink on my computer when going between exam rooms.  I don’t want to use toxic plastics and I just couldn’t bond with the feel of stainless steel on my lips. This Stanley tumbler has a ceramic insert that feels like drinking from my favorite mug. As a matter of fact, it’s become my favorite mug even at home. It keeps cold drinks cold and warm drinks warm, but most of all it keeps my mouth happy.

6. Spotify Your Favorite Coffeehouse Playlist. This playlist is filled with mellow, moody and inspiring roots music. It gets updated with new tunes from time-to-time so make yourself a warm cup of tea or coffee and take a listen.

7. Orthomolecular Glutashield Powder. This is one of my all-time favorite supplements. Glutashield is a gut soothing supplement that is designed to decrease inflammation, support intestinal lining integrity and provide concentrated nutrients for intestinal healing. I use it for anything from the simplest tummy bug to severe digestive disorders with great success. It tastes like chocolate milk and kids love it.

8. The Jompson Brothers Self-titled Album. Last year Chris Stapleton’s voice mesmerized me, and I couldn’t stop listening to his soulful country solo work. That really opened a door to a genre of country music which I had never been able to understand or bond with. Believe it or not, I have always loved southern rock and hard rock music and through the power of Spotify’s listening suggestions, I have been introduced to The Jompson Brothers. It’s basically southern hard rock with Chris Stapleton’s powerful, soulful voice.

9. Kitchen Aid Spiralizer. Spiralized fruits and veggies just makes eating fun, and this attachment for your Kitchen Aid Mixer makes it quick and easy to clean. Try spiralizing zucchini as a replacement for pasta. Or make the kids spiralized apples, just for fun.

10. WeberGenesis II E-410 Four-Burner Grill. For years I hated grilling because, quite honestly, I sucked at it. Then I met sensei & grill master Allan (Debbie’s brother) and all that changed quickly. To celebrate my new skills, the kids and Deb got me this amazing grill. It is large and in charge—but predictable, which makes grilling fun and delicious.

If you have made it this far, thanks for reading!

We wonder if any of OUR favorites were also YOUR favorites?

Comment below and let us know the best things YOU discovered in 2018.

We love to hear from you!