The year (and decade?!) are just about over, which means it’s time for me to look back at the top posts from 2019! Just like the blog topics highlighted in my Top 18 Posts of 2018, this year was another mix of recipes and healthy lifestyle tips. Inspirational quotes/posts were also popular this year—the ones featured in this list I feel especially strong about, so I’m happy they resonated with you, as well!
Check out the countdown to #1 below. As always, I appreciate your readership and support as we wind down from one year to get ready for the next!
19. 7 Ways to Make Salads Suck Less. From toppings and dressings to salad size and general preparation tips, this post provides a look inside how I make salads more exciting so I actually want to eat them.
18. How to Save Smoothies for Later: 3 Tips for Keeping Them Fresh. I don’t drink smoothies as much as I used to, and that’s often because I don’t feel like making them. With these tips, you can have them ready ahead of time for a simple snack or small meal.
17. Hot Lemon Ginger Water with Honey. Feeling sick? Sore throat? This is one of my go-to remedies for cold symptoms, as it helps soothe the throat and settle the stomach.
16. Tourist’s Guide to San Diego: Top 15 Places to Visit. Soon after moving to Chicago, I wanted to rave about the previous place we called home. San Diego is no doubt a magical place, and this list covers some of my favorite spots.
15. 5 Tips for Drinking More Water During the Day. Check out this post if you could use a boost of motivation when it comes to drinking water. Staying hydrated helps you feel your best, and the habit doesn’t have to feel like a burden.
14. Halloween Costume Ideas for Work. After DIY-ing my way to top spots in my work’s annual Halloween costume competition, I felt the need to share a roundup of some of my favorite costumes—both mine and my coworkers.
13. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Sandwiches. A simple snack and sweet treat that looks and tastes impressive.
12. 15 Cardio-Based Circuit Workouts. I started 2019 off with a collection of high-energy workouts to help us warm up, get the blood flowing, and work on our endurance.
11. Those Extra 5-10 Lbs. One of my favorite quotes I shared this year, this post is just a reminder that you’re enough now, and hanging onto a little “extra weight” could mean you’re actually just living a good life.
10. It’s About Effort, Not Being Perfect. Whether you love her or hate her, Jillian Michaels has some good sayings like this one out there to help inspire a dedication to fitness.
9. 10 Ways to Keep Your House Organized (& Not Acquire So Much Stuff). After giving in and watching the Marie Kondo series on Netflix, I felt excited to clean and organize. This post covers some of the strategies that help us keep our home in order (ish), as well as keep me from acquiring too much clutter.
8. How to Make a Smoothie Bowl. Smoothie bowls are fun alternative to your usual smoothie, and the reason I like them is because toppingsssssss. In this post I cover some tips for making sure your smoothie bowl has a thick base and fun top layer.
7. Raspberry Chia Seed Tea. This recipe was inspired by flavored chia water, which you can buy at many stores. Wanting to make my own, I chose some “Zinger” tea for a flavorful, no-sugar-added liquid and mixed in the chia seeds for my own filling drink.
6. Spicy Roasted Pepitas. I’ve shared some other recipes for roasted nuts and seeds over the years, but this is the best one if you crave a salty snack and love the flavor of pumpkin seeds like I do!
5. 5 Stores to Buy Affordable Workout Clothes. Exercising is much more fun if you feel good doing it. My favorite workout clothes are from a small collection of stores, and making sure they’re affordable is always a top priority when I’m in need of more.
4. Broccoli Cheese Soup. You can’t go wrong with a warm bowl of broccoli cheese soup! I used frozen broccoli for this, two types of cheeses, and a collection of other ingredients to make it flavorful and filling.
3. Mongolian Beef in the Slow Cooker. Hands-down one of my favorite slow cooker recipes ever, this is great for preparing over a few hours or saving it for later as a freezer meal.
2. Garlic & Herb Dipping Oil for Bread. Due to all my bread baking this year, I made this recipe as a new way to enjoy it. The garlic gives this recipe a little bit of a “bite,” which can be toned down based on preference. The combo of olive oil, fresh herbs, and Parmesan makes this a delicious appetizer alongside fresh bread!
1. Slow Cooker Taco Soup. Everyone needs a taco soup recipe on hand, if you ask me. This is one I’ve made for years that I finally turned into a post to share the wealth. Commonly called a “7-can-taco soup,” this is easy to throw together with canned ingredients, ground turkey, and a few seasoning blends.
And there you have it! People like tacos and in soup form. I would have to agree. Were any of these posts one that you especially liked this year?
