I cannot wrap my head around how half the year has already passed. It almost feels like the last six months was a blur. I’m hoping that the next few months unravel more decisively. As much as I would love to rewrite history, and today, I am choosing to focus on the good. And so, here are a couple of the greatest hits of 2025 (so-far).
2025 favorites
Table of Contents
1. Owala Water Bottle
I would consider myself a water bottle connoisseur, and I think I’ve tried all the popular water bottles available in the market. I was obsessed with Starbucks tumblers for a while, but then I stopped going (as much as I can). I loved the idea behind the Bkr bottle, a glass bottle that was supposed to prevent the transfer of miscellaneous tastes. Then the Stanley tumbler swept the nation.
Unfortunately, the Bkr bottle became too much of a hassle to wash. The little spout made it hard to just put in the dish washer. On the other hand, the Stanley tumblers that were previously released were too heavy for me. I loved the idea that it would keep water cold, but I did not want to carry around a whole free weight.
For me, the Owala water bottle just made perfect sense. I liked how it had a built in straw, but also the option to chug. I liked that I would theoretically just toss it in my purse and wouldn’t have to think twice about it leaking. It comes in different sizes (16, 24, 32, 40 oz). Kids also have their own version.
I personally recommend the 16 oz Owala Free Sip for short little shopping trips and the like and the 24 oz for longer travel or for your office water bottle.
Price: around $29 available on Amazon, Urban Outfitters and Owala.
2. Baggu Medium Crescent Bag.
I cannot deny it anymore, I am definitely a Baggu girly. It’s not even that I have a bunch of designs, a bunch of sizes. I just keep going back to the same black medium crescent baggu. It’s just perfect for all the random hobbies that I’ve picked up this year. It’s not too heavy for walks or trips to the museum. I’m a pretty low key person, so I don’t necessarily need to dress up. Baggu bags just fit.
Price: around $52 available on Urban Outfitters, Amazon, and Baggu.
3. Kodak Mini 2 Retro
I am deep into my junk journaling era and I wanted to get a little printer for photos. The Kodak Mini 2 Retro really does make it easy to print out smaller sized photos that are perfect for any kind of journalling or memory keeping.
The quality of the photos aren’t perfect studio quality, which I don’t really mind. I think it adds to the novelty of it. I think it’s the perfect size for my little journals. The refill cartridges aren’t to expensive either, which I appreciate.
Amazon has a bundle that includes the Kodak Mini 2 and replacement cartridges included for under $100.
4. Josie Maran Vanilla Vibezzz
The scent that I keep going back to this year is Josie Maran’s Vanilla Vibezzz. If you love vanilla scents in any capacity, I would definitely recommend testing this out. I’m not someone who likes to switch out scents according to season, more so choosing to pick based on my mood. It’s a beautiful scent without being too overpowering, just a little bottle of joy.
Available for $26 at Sephora.
5. PopSockets Kick-out Grip
I highly recommend having using this specific PopSocket Grip on your Kindle. It allows your kindle to be propped up in various ways, while still keeping it lightweight. Also, it is Magsafe so you’re able to remove it and change it out as needed.
Available for $39.99 on Amazon.
6. Books, Books, Books
I had a significant hiatus reading, I just didn’t feel very up to it for a while. I got back into it in a big way in the past couple months. I’ve been visiting a number of bookstores, fell in love with a bunch of used bookstores in New York and got back into my libby game.
This year was the year that I really got into Fredrik Backman and some classics. I also got introduced to Joan Didion’s books.
I’m currently at 66 books for 2025.
7. Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion
I wasn’t really feeling lotions with fragrance this year. Although I started the year off on the Welcos Strawberry Milk Lotion, I just wasn’t feeling it after a month or so. I don’t know if it didn’t match my mood at the time, but I felt like I needed something fragrance free. If you’re all about fragrance free lotions at the moment, I would definitely recommend the Naturium Bio-Lipid Body Lotion. It is priced under $15 for 14 oz, which is lasting me a good amount of time.
Available for $14.99 on Amazon.
8. Hobonichi Hon Planner
Last year, I have to confess that I didn’t use my Hobonichi that much. I certainly did not associate good feelings towards it, mostly frustrated days when I could not be bothered to actually use it. But the concept of junk journaling really changed my mind. If you’re not familiar, junk journaling involved saving scraps of paper like receipts or stamps and creating pages based on that. I started using my Hobonichi to remind me of specific days and what I was able to accomplish. It’s a great reminder of days that may blur without that reminder.
Unfortunately, due to the tariffs that are potentially being imposed on other countries, the price on Hobonichi planners will potentially increase.
9. Traveler’s Factory / Traveler’s Company Passport Size Notebooks
When I found out about Traveler’s Factory in Japan, it was love at first sight. They had me at stamps and they have had me since. Although it is not as easily accessible here, especially in my small town, it is fun to even just search for it. I love the idea of having a notebook I can constantly switch out. Something to draw with, something to write random thoughts on, and maybe even junk journal.
I was thinking about replacing my Hobonichi with this notebook, but I don’t think I can. I appreciate having a small little thing in my purse or bag to carry, and even having half a year left my hobonichi is entirely too big, too heavy to bring around. At least for me anyway.
Overall
These are my favorites from 2025, so far. I could a little bit more, but it would make this entirely too long and my carpal tunnel is already begging and screaming for me to stop. Do you have anything that you couldn’t live without in 2025?
