2024 Life-Changers

The 22 big, small and bougie things that made my year

Welcome to my annual goal series! I’m releasing a new goals-related blog post each day. Here’s what’s included!

• 2024 Answered Prayers (12/27)

• 2024 Goals Recap (12/28)

• 2024 Life-Changers (12/30)

• 20+ Books I Read in 2024 (12/31)

• 2025 Word of the Year (1/1)

• 2025 Goals (1/2)

• 40 Books to Read in 2025 (1/3)

• What’s Next? (1/6)

If you desire more focus and consistency and less distractions and distance from the Lord, now is the perfect time to grab our yearly prayer journal for 2025. Grab one here. And don’t miss my Instagram live on how to use our prayer journals and overcome common obstacles Monday at 7 pm here.

In the last few years, I’ve started sharing the things that changed my life that year. Some are super deep and serious and others small but impacted me in some way that I specifically can pinpoint.

Here’s this year’s list of life-changers in no particular order, except number 1!!

1. Prayer

This year, specifically, the prayer focus map. In the Answered Prayers post, I shared my 10 big prayers for the year and how God had worked insanely in the entire list. What I forgot was that I did a Prayer Focus Map for each one and taped them in my closet where I would do my redlight. I eventually had to take it town when we had to do some bathroom repairs but I found them this week while packing and wanted to cry seeing it! I forgot I had gone way beyond just writing them down and praying for each of them. I really took a 360 look and surrendered it to the Lord.

2. Acupressure mat *

These have been everywhere, but my less bougie confession is that I have a $29 one from Amazon, which works amazing. (Just checked. It’s $25 right now!) I lay on it for 10 minutes before bed (sometimes longer), and it’s so relaxing that I often fall into that by-the-pool sleep where you doze but are still kinda awake. I crawl into bed and fall asleep so fast after.

3. Movement

After reading two books this year (more on one of them further down this list), I realized I need to move my body more. And that might be obvious, but I’m not just talking about getting a walk-in every day but not sitting down for more than 4-6 hours a day. That sounds insane, right? But I gave it a try and I feel so much better on the days I’m moving more throughout the day. I wrote more about it here.

4. A legit non-toxic perfume *

Y’all I have talked about Henry Rose but I can easily say this is the best perfume ever, and it has changed my Sundays. I typically only put on perfume when I would get dressed up (AKA mostly just church) and would get headaches every Sunday. I probably knew I should have quick, but I love the smell of a good perfume and wasn’t crunchy enough to switch to straight essential oils. This stuff is fantastic. I even got the girls a small one, too, and I love knowing they aren’t spraying themselves with stuff that’s not great. My favorites are Torn and Char. Vana has Char, and Vivi has Dark is Night.

5. Asking Questions

It feels funny to lump this in right after a beauty product, but I have been blown away by how much our weekly questions have changed me. Obviously, I write hoping to impact your prayer lives, but when it’s your job, you forget you’re the beneficiary, just like everyone who reads it. It’s challenged me to pray about so much more than the requests in my prayer journal and created a weekly habit of going to God, which is increasing that muscle to keep going to God for other things.

6. Anti-inflammatory salad

Part of mold toxity is higher inflammation so I have been looking for ways to decrease it. I feel a noticeable difference when this is a part of my week. I make a big batch and divide it into individual portions and that way even in a crazy week, I can pop this out the fridge add some toppings and eat foods that are helping. I’ll eat honestly any time of day, breakfast, lunch, a snack. Now I do add feta so I’m sure that dulls the anti-inflammatory properties a little but it’s better than fast food or not eating at all!

7. AmyLu chicken sausage

On that note, I often pair this with it. I’ve seen this brand before but I ran into a friend at Whole Foods a few months back and the sausage was on sale. She was buying a bunch because she said her family loves it so I got some to try and it’s just about the most perfect thing to have on hand. It’s easy protein and keeps for longer than straight chicken in the fridge. I cook it a little in a cast iron skillet and then chop it up. The asiago cheese melts out and makes it crispy. All you really need to know is my girls like it too. ;)

8. Puzzles

This has been the sweetest way to slow down. I’ve thought about writing what puzzles has been teaching me about life but I’m afraid that would get a little too deep but suffice to say, it has been a way I slow my brain down and the girls will join me sometimes and we’ll have some great conversations while we work with our hands. I love Janet Hill’s designs. They are so fun. We’ve got a few everyday ones as well as a beach them (for the beach trips obviously) and a Christmas one.

9. Old Navy Extra-High Waisted Ski-Hi Wide Leg jeans

I bought these jeans on a whim when shopping with the girls. They like to match, and when they saw me try on baggy jeans, I couldn’t resist. When I got them home, however, I couldn’t figure out how to wear them, so I tried to return them, but alas, I missed the return window. So I hauled them back home and decided to cut them, and magically, they have become my favorite pair of jeans. I normally get most of my jeans from J. Crew or Madewell, so it was fun to find a more affordable pair I loved.

10. Basic white tee

I’ve been on the hunt for a good white tee to wear under sweaters or blazers and tried the pricy ones. I literally bought a $40 t-shirt from two fancier shops and an $8 one from Old Navy and the Old Navy one won hands down. I love when that happens! Made sure to return quickly this time. ;)

11. Dime Biome Body Butter and Body Serum *

I’m 40 and my hands are getting old. I have never been a big lotion girl because I don’t like feeling greasy (it’s humid enough here ;) but my cracking hands look about 10 years older than the rest of me so I got this lotion and serum for my “crepey” arms and I love the texture and smell so much I don’t skip it! It’s a sweet bedtime ritual that I look forward to doing.

12. Good Energy

When I first saw this book by Calley and Casey Means, I thought it was a woo-woo manifestation book. 😜 Totally not. It’s honestly one of the most transforming books on health I’ve read. It’s easy to follow and eye-opening and has led to real change in my habits.

13. Created Co. cups

I know. I know. Awola and Stanley have the insulated cups market by a chokehold, but I got one of these Cold cups as a gift and it’s the one I reached for ALL the time. So much so that I ended up getting a 16 oz (for my tea), a 30 oz (for my water), and a Nomad Flip (for my hot chocolate bone broth) during their Black Friday sale.

14. Good set of kitchen knives

Tyler got a good set as a gift during Pastor Appreciation month and holy cow, they make me enjoy cooking 1000X more. Who knew how terrible our knives were? We’ve had the same set since we were married (14 years ago), and even then, we got a cheap set. This single thing has gotten me in the kitchen so much more because I can cut a carrot without needing to use all my upper body strength. 😂

15. 7-day sugar fast

In October, when I was trying to decide what avenues to pursue for VMP (sell, close as planned, licensing, partnerships), I fasted from sugar for a week, and God brought so much clarity. I plan to incorporate more fasting in 2025, and I’ll share more about that in my Word of the Year post!

16. Armra *

I feel so basic sharing this, but last year, when I shared 2023 life-changers, I mentioned I was just starting Armra and would report back on if it’s worth it. For me, I think it is! The biggest difference I’ve experienced is no sickness like colds. The 2 times this year I skipped a few days, I caught the illness I was around. Otherwise, when I was consistent (I only do 2 scoops so it stretches further) I was taking care of or around people walking pneumonia, covid, flu, strep, all the things and never got sick. This is also pretty crazy because one big symptom of mold exposure is a lower immune system, so I think this has helped!

17. Mold report

After having our home tested several times, we decided to invest in a mold company specializing in working with hyper-sensitive individuals. Basically, they do a much more thorough job because they know you’re sick and desperate for answers. We’re in the middle of the mess right now, but getting a thorough mold report is going to change our lives and the future.

18. Glasses

I feel like I’ve always got a few items on my life-changer list that aid in sleep. This year it was the acupressure mat and these glasses. I put them on as soon as the sun goes down to help my circadian rhythms.

19. Garrnish produce cleaner *

We just started using this one so I can’t totally vouch for it yet but I know our produce has pesticides and when I use this, the residue is so telling of what we’ve been ingesting. Check it out if you like and I’ll plan to update next year if we notice a difference.

20. Brick app

This basically turns your phone into a dumb phone when you want to go off the grid! This has been so much better for me than deleting Instagram or apps and then skirting around it by using the browser. Y’all know y’all do this too! 😜It’s a little “brick” that hangs on our fridge that when I want to not get on all the distracting apps, I tap the brick and it goes into a dumb mode. You pick what websites are included. It’s amazing.

21. Keychain holder for airtag

Last summer at family camp, we lost our keys. We searched all our luggage, the parking lot, trash and never found them. After that, I got myself a fancy air tag and attached it to my keys and now it’s the most fun thing to think I lost my keys just so I can locate them with my airtag.

22. Selling VMP

I could write a book about this one, but this is obviously in the process of changing our lives. I thought I’d pass Val Marie Paper down to my girls someday so this was a surprises and will change so much in our future. I cannot wait to see what God does in our families’ life and now that I know it will be continuing, I cannot wait to see what God continues to do through VMP!

Next up, 2024 Books Read!

Ok, well, that’s about as random as you can get for things that changed my life this year. I want to hear, what piqued your interest. Did you order anything mentioned?

*Denotes an affiliate link used. Normally it’s for points to get more of the product I love and am sharing about! ;)