What I Did

We went to Hawaii for Christmas to spend time with family. I honestly dreaded it a bit (mostly because of the plane ride and the exhaustion of travel), but it turned out well and we all had a good time. There’s nothing quite like going back to your hometown for the holidays.

Alcohol-free for one year: Well I did it, not a drop of alcohol since December 31st. As I write this year, I 100% expect to drink again for 2023 but I hope it’s with clear eyes (i.e. the alcohol is probably going to ruin my sleep and productivity) and with moderation in mind (to truly savor the occasional glass of wine or bottle of beer). I learned a lot during this year of not drinking and I plan to write all about it soon!

A year of reading: Did my year of not-drinking perhaps influence my boom of reading this year? I definitely think so. Alas my reading slowed down at the end of the year due to travel+job+holidays. I don’t plan to continue my reading recaps but it was fun while it lasted.

Less New 2022 recap: Overall I think my year of buying less new items was not bad. Of course near the end here I did buy a lot of new things, but in general terms for the year it was a lot less new items than in years past. I bought far less clothing and bags this year, and a lot of the items I did buy were used (Crossroads, Goodwill, The RealReal, and Fashionphile were the places I shopped the most). I did receive a lot of new Quince items with credit. However they’re the only major source of affiliate income I currently earn and thus the only (monetary) lifeblood of this blog—so I’m letting this one slide for now. I’m planning to continue to buy less items in general and mostly used if possible.

What I Bought

Hermes Silk’In Classic and Hermes Azap Wallet from Fashionphile: Ok this was the big purchase of the year (and actually purchased before December). I finally got tired of my Everlane card case and wanted a bigger wallet that could also hold my phone in a pinch. So I tried out these two Hermes wallet and the Quince continental wallet for comparison. Full comparison review to come soon but let’s just say the only one I kept was the Azap Wallet. This was my Christmas present to myself and I have zero regrets. I love its slim profile, the smoothness of the zipper, and the overall great craftsmanship of a well made wallet. I think when it comes to wallets and other small leather goods, you really do get what you pay for sometimes.