FMG Newsletter: 2024 Hyperfixations
+ my 2025 resolutions
It’s the first Friday of 2025! As of yesterday, I’m officially back to work after a nice little break. I spent several days eating my favorite suburban foods (Barone’s Pizza and Alfie’s Inn, both in Glen Ellyn, have, respectively, my favorite pizza and burger in the world), finishing some books (see below!), and, finally, at the ripe age of 30, learning to play Texas Hold ‘Em (I am not good!). I will admit: as much as I fancy myself a career woman, the type who channels an early-2000s magazine editor and sports her attaché and flip phone around town, I loved spending these last few days of the year sleeping, eating, reading, and binge-watching whichever Harry Potter movie happened to be on. I truly hope yours was similarly relaxing.
This Year’s Hyperfixations: In place of a full, technical recap of my year, I’ll instead utilize the below space to share a few of my hyperfixations of 2024 — and, thankfully for all of us, they’re all evergreen, so you too can enjoy them any year, any time, anywhere.
Movie (New to Everyone): Wicked, obviously
Movie (New Just to Me): Cast Away, plus all three Santa Clause films (I simply love a middle-aged 90s heartthrob)
Song (New to Everyone): “Angel of My Dreams” by JADE (this song was on my Discover Weekly one day and I haven’t looked back since — it was my most-listened-to song of 2024)
Song (New Just to Me): “Through the Fire and the Flames” by DragonForce (I did technically know this song back when I played Guitar Hero in 2008 but for some reason it re-entered my life this year and found its way into my Spotify top 20)
Playlist I Made: “Songs I Feel Like I Can Hear Inside My Veins”
Playlist Someone Else Made: “Bey v Tay” (Not actually a “versus” situation at all — it lists songs to listen to by each respective artist if you like the songs by the other artist, in a specific order. See the creator’s TikTok about it here, which explains it much better than I am doing right now.)
Nonfiction Book: The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (ugh, Dave)
Fiction Book: The Women by Kristin Hannah
TV Show (New to Everyone): Nobody Wants This
TV Show (Not Even New to Me I Just Love It): Desperate Housewives (click that link if you know what’s good for you)
Celebrity (New-ish to Everyone): Ilona Maher
Celebrity (New Just to Me): Paige Bueckers
Item of Clothing: This very boring ribbed long-sleeve tee that I wear all the time
Shoes: Hoka Arahi 7s (I’ve worn Arahis for years but just got the Frost/Rose Gold colorway from my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas and I forgot how amazing new ones feel!!!!!! It’s like running on two little clouds!!!!!)
Accessory: This necklace from Five and Two Jewelry
Makeup Product: Dibs Desert Island Duo (I have tried three shade variations and love them all)
Skincare Product: COSRX Snail Mucin Moisture Cream (If they ever stop selling this I’ll die of both disappointment and fine lines)
Hair Product: My wavy-hair product combo of this Pattern mousse, this Bread gel, and this Verb oil
Fragrance: Zara Ebony Wood (Thank you to my coworker/friend Kimberly who always smells so good!!!)
Food Item: Miyoko’s Oat Milk Butter (I planned every meal around this butter for about three months)
Books: In more recent news, I finished two books over my work break! P.S. I Hate You was a solid 4ish/5 — a cute rom-com with a great plot, and One Perfect Couple was the best thriller I’ve read in a long time. I genuinely couldn’t put it down (Five couples join a reality show on an island then get marooned there!?!? Can you blame me?!?), and it was a perfect book to end the year with. Now I’m reading The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, which is technically a Christmas book but I’m choosing to ignore that fact and just enjoy it.
One of my ~resolutions~ (along with strengthening my core and exposing myself to more germs) is to get back to writing this newsletter in a way that feels more thoughtful and meaningful — so while that’s coming soon, we all know the first week of the year isn’t actually the time to start a resolution. May you similarly give yourself grace this week and all year long.
XO, Gail