all good things
well, 15 good things at least...
I can’t believe I’m saying this: 2025 was a good year.
To be fair, the bar is in hell. But we’re taking the W and practicing a little gratitude because apparently that’s supposed to be good for you (???).
A quick reminder of where I was this time last year: chemotherapy! Last fall I wound up in the hospital with an ectopic pregnancy that turned into cancer. (You can read more about that here.) The past few years have thrown a lot at me as a regular person just trying to start a family with her partner of ten years. We celebrated our anniversary a few days after I finished chemo and as much as I hated hearing the words, I felt genuine relief when my doctors told me I should not get pregnant this year. That it would be very, very bad for my already very, very tired body.
It’s not like me to accept “no” as an answer, but this time it felt okay to take a break. And I promised myself I’d go everywhere and do everything…because nothing makes you appreciate your life quite like sitting in a chemo chair.
I’m happy to report I kept that promise. And now I’m going to tell you a little bit about it. Yay!
Here are 15 of the good things I saw, ate, smelled, and bought in 2025—both at home and across the nine (!!!) countries I was lucky enough to visit.
Good Afternoon Tea: The Georgian at Harrods
I’m an afternoon tea girl who has turned her husband into an afternoon tea boy, so it was only natural that we do the best one on our 10th wedding anniversary. The Georgian at Harrods did not disappoint. It’s up there with both the Ritz and the Savoy in London for me.
Good Show: Operation Mincemeat
My relationship with theater is still very weird and maybe some day I’ll write an essay about it, but I’m enjoying my professional break from theater for now. That being said, I attended plenty of shows this year and co-chaired a gala for the theater closest to my heart - so you can’t keep me very far away, tbh. Of everything I attended (good, bad, and ugly), Operation Mincemeat was my favorite and is my highest recommendation for theatergoers in NYC or London.
Good Loafers: Tony Bianco
I’m trying to build my closet slowly and intentionally, so when I donated my last pair of black loafers (never comfortable, never cute—funny how impulse buys betray you), I knew the replacement had to be perfect. Six months of research later, I found the Gatsby Black Venice loafers from Tony Bianco. They’re soft. They’re ruched. They require zero breaking in. They look expensive without being expensive. Is it illegal to marry a shoe?
Good Hot Chocolate: Café Savoy
Home to the best hot chocolate in the world - so how could we resist?! Turns out, they also have an excellent open faced egg salad sandwich. Would I normally eat those two things together? Ha! WHEN IN PRAGUE, RIGHT?
Good Hot Dog: DøP
The culinary bar was high for Copenhagen and it delivered. One of my best meals being a street hot dog. I could eat this one every day. The photo that appears on my husband’s phone when I call is me with this hot dog. His greatest competition.
Good Smells: Glossier Sandstone Body Spritz
Glossier launched this while we were in London, and between me, my mom, and my sister, we practically cleared the shelf at Covent Garden. I don’t really fit in the “clean girl aesthetic” box but if “clean girl aesthetic” had a smell, it’s this. I also involuntarily influenced the LiNNY AU team during our Collection 14 shoot because we were in close quarters and they couldn’t escape the aroma. Fortunately, they liked it.
Good Game: Stars Playoffs Round 1, Game 5
If you didn’t know, I am a massive hockey fan and I’m lucky enough to attend many Dallas Stars games in-person. Of all of the games I attended last season, this playoff game took the cake. I just love sad Nathan McKinnon.
Good Flight: Dallas to Nadi, Fiji
I flew several new (to me) airlines this year and have a new favorite in-flight experience: Fiji Airways. Holy moly. I traveled business class on my way down to Melbourne with a stop in Nadi. This is the best airline I’ve ever traveled with. The customer service was fantastic (the cabin crew all look like characters from Moana and I’d die for every single one of them) plus, the food was terrific. I was very happy and comfortable for my 20ish hours of travel with Fiji and look forward to flying with them again. The little LED candle with every meal is an incredible touch. 10/10.
Good Thrifting: Secondo
I did a lot of great secondhand shopping this year. I even made a couple mini compilations of my adventures in vintage/thrifting (linked below). Of all of the thrifts and consignments I ventured into, I think Secondo takes the top prize for 2025. I tried on a few things and ended up snagging a 2019 Gucci blouse for, I’m sure, more than 60-70% off retail. The selection was fabulous…I can’t wait to shop in Melbourne again!
Good Coffee: 787 Coffee
A new-to-me coffee shop that I discovered on my trips to NYC this year. 787 carried me through NYFW this fall. I will go out of my way to get my morning coffee from their delicious, rum-infused beans, it is that good.
Good Danish: Sankt Peders Bageri
So whenever you hear somebody annoyingly wax on pretentiously about how Copenhagen has the best pastries of any country in the world, please know that they are exactly right and speak no falsehoods. This was another spot on our CPH trip we hit twice because we couldn’t resist.
Good Thai Food: Chin Chin
My body has long been a temple for Thai food, and Chin Chin in Melbourne reaffirmed that religion. My hosts hyped it up for weeks and they were correct in every way. I took zero photos because I was too blissed out to document anything. Not one bite was wasted.
Good Dinner: Bob Bob Ricard
Two top-tier meals in one day? Absolutely. It was our anniversary and I had just finished chemo—go big or go home. Bob Bob Ricard (“PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE”) was a delight. I can’t tell you what I ate, but I can tell you the selfies I took in the bathroom were phenomenal.
Good Boots: Staud Wally Ankle Boot
Ankle boots were another thing that have been missing from my closet for a while because I haven’t had success finding a pair I’ve loved. Boots can be tough for me with mild-to-moderate bunions on both feet (chic!) but I knew a great ankle boot would get a lot of wear if I could find the right pair. Well, I did. I have heard Liv Perez sing the praises of the Wally Boot for a long time, so when the Staud sample sale rolled around I decided to go for it. I’m already trying to decide which pair I’m getting next.
Good Pants: The Ally Pant
Did you know there are pants named after me? I know. Chisel my face into Rushmore. I was delighted when Lindsay had us start test-wearing these black slacks that - let’s be honest - feel like a legging (but don’t look like it!!!) and even MORE delighted when she named them after moi. Of course, they’ve become a best-seller for the brand. With more colors rolling out next year. I may never have children but I will always have the Ally Pant.
Top L-R: Ally Pant / Glossier Body Spritz / Wally Boot / Me in my Newbury Trench
Bottom L-R: Bracelet / Loafers / Arlo Bag
I know what you’re thinking: am I going to try and get pregnant again now that a year is up? The answer: of course I am. Even against all odds, I can’t make myself give up. Honestly, some days I wish I would but I’m too stubborn.
Though I’ve truly enjoyed my year of grand adventures, there isn’t a day of 2025 I wouldn’t trade to have my kids around instead (and to be clear, 2025 was definitely far from perfect.) I’m simply making lemonade.
I still consider the happiest day of my life to be the day before I knew my son’s heart had stopped beating.
The only thing that keeps me forging onward is the hope that I can feel that happy again someday.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and gorgeous start to 2026. This is my last longform substack post for 2025, but I look forward to sharing my musings in the new year. I’m kicking off 2026 in Chicago for Stars v. Blackhawks on Jan 1, then I’m heading to Abu Dhabi (!!!) for a work conference later in the month, so the adventures continue… xoxo