Our Favorite Things from 2024
Every year, we discover things that bring us joy or leave a lasting impression. To celebrate these moments, we’ve compiled a list of our team’s favorite finds from 2024. From memorable experiences to must-try items, here’s our “Best of 2024” list—curated with love by the Mend team!Every year, we discover things that bring us joy or leave a lasting impression. To celebrate these moments, we’ve compiled a list of our team’s favorite finds from 2024. From memorable experiences to must-try items, here’s our “Best of 2024” list—curated with love by the Mend team!
Catherine Belleza, L.Ac., Acupuncturist
Food: Miến Gà, a Vietnamese chicken soup with glass noodles made of mung bean (gluten friendly). It can be made on the stovetop (quick preparation) or in a slow cooker. For a collagen boost, use bone broth; for a daily dose of greens, add bok choy. (recipe)
Herbs/tea: Hojicha, burdock root, dandelion root
Skincare: Hemp seed oil, shea butter, rose water
Movie: Sound of Music
Miến Gà. Quick, flavorful, and easy to make, this Vietnamese noodle soup is perfect for a cozy, light meal at home.
Kim Hennessee, L.Ac., Acupuncturist, Director of Operations
Wellness Formula: It’s a bit of a running joke but I always have a bottle of Wellness Formula on me and take a dropperful daily. It feels like simple self-care to me!
Somebody, Somewhere (Max): honest, beautiful, soothing writing
Everyday Dose: mushroom coffee (not psychedelic but gives a little lift without the jitters)
Wellness Formula. Simple and easy self-care.
Isabel Hulkover, L.Ac., Acupuncturist
Drink: Tomato Vine Spritz by Clever Beast Botanicals. This apéritif is bubbly and effervescent and tastes like nothing I’ve ever had before. It’s a very cool botanical blend with tomato leaf, sumac, pine, hops, burdock, angelica, apple, geranium, and warm honeysuckle.
Book: Everybody, A Book About Freedom by Olivia Liang
TV Show: Frasier reruns (it holds up I promise)
Grounding Force in a Chaotic World: Oats from Purple Mountain Grown. These oats are grown by a very sweet family in Takoma Park. They are unbelievably nourishing and have a nutty, earthy flavor. Proceed at your own risk because grocery store oats will no longer do once you’re hooked.
Beauty Product: Living Libations’ Seabuckthorn Oil
Tomato Vine Spritz by Clever Beast Botanicals. A sip will truly transport you back to summer.
Sarah Humpal, L.Ac., Acupuncturist
Book: What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World by Prentis Hemphill
Baltimore Fest this Year: The Baltimore Book Festival in Waverly. So many books, bookstores, amazing author talks, and great neighborhood and city vibes.
Helpful Practice: Video co-working sessions with friends and shared interest groups. For a few hours each week, I got to meet-up with folks via video. We’d chat about what we wanted to do during the co-working time, go do the thing, and come back to check-in. I found this so helpful to do a few things that would otherwise be put on the back burner AND to foster my community of comrades.
Baltimore Book Festival in Waverly. Photo by Maggie Jones.
Jaime Kauffman, Director of Marketing
Food: I first tried Ka’Chava vegan shakes when I needed simple, effective nutritional support during a time when I wasn’t feeling my best. It made a big difference then and now I’m hooked! This is a no-fuss way to start the day and get in a good dose of protein, vitamins, minerals, and more. Pricey? Yes. However, these shakes are filled with ingredients I can pronounce and are aimed at whole body health. The chai flavor is my favorite.
Self-Care: This weighted jade heating pad set of FOUR is my go-to right now. (Though there is a set of 3, I think it’s worth splurging on the set of 4 for $10 more.) This would make a great gift for anyone with fibro or chronic pain issues. I also recently picked up this weighted vibrating heating pad as well, and it’s been helpful for calming down unrelenting neck pain.
I didn’t expect to become obsessed with a Harmonic Egg in Bel Air, MD this year, but exploring sound and light therapy for energy balance and healing has been fascinating. ChromoCymatics Wellness owner Charles Monroe, Jr.’s knowledge and dedication makes the experience even more impactful.
Harmonic Egg. A sound and light therapy chamber designed for relaxation and wellness.
Liana MacNeil, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., D.Ac., Acupuncturist
Self-care: Many Moons Lunar Planner; Lanshin massager (my neck’s literal favorite thing!)
Recipe: Puffed Rice and Coconut Crunchies
Restaurant: Mera Kitchen Collective
Place to take a stroll: The Circle trail at Cylburn Arboretum. Free to visit and the Circle Trail is a relatively low impact, quiet, tree-lined walking option. Lots of great spots to pause for a deep breath or forest bath moment!
Cylburn Arboretum. Photo from Preservation Maryland.
Alexandra McElwee, L.Ac., Acupuncturist
Laurie Anderson’s latest album Amelia
Sacré Sucré in Fells. Literally the best pastries I’ve ever had
Make Rest Your Revolution (Episode 362) of We Can Do Hard Things podcast with Tricia Hersey, founder of the Nap Ministry
This tomato curry recipe from the NYT…I recommend making it in tomato season
The novel The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
I recently read Jenny Slate’s new book Life Form (which was a wild ride and did inspire creativity), which led to me watching the film Marcel The Shell With Shoes On, and I loved it!
Make Rest Your Revolution (Episode 362) of We Can Do Hard Things podcast with Tricia Hersey, founder of the Nap Ministry.
Susannah Neal, L.Ac., Acupuncturist
Bakery: Harmony Bakery (vegan, GF)
Visionary Gallery: Baltimore Art Gallery, especially First Friday
Restaurant for Special Occasion: Dylan’s Oyster Cellar
Crab Cake: Koko’s GF
Books: Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World by Craig Foster; The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoe Schlanger
Favorite Bodega: Modern World Non-Alcoholic and Specialty Foods on the Avenue in Hampden
Baltimore Art Gallery in Hampden. Highlights local artists, usually live music on First Friday, and great affordable local art.
Sarah O’Leary, L.Ac., Acupuncturist, Founder & CEO
Carbs. After years of carbohydrate fear, this year I started to reintegrate carbohydrates in the form of oatmeal as a work snack and thoughtful SANDWICHES (I love a sando!). Guess what? The sky didn’t fall when I added in these grains. I feel more satisfaction and joy with my meals this year.
Brightly Glazed Ceramic Mugs. Coffee is one of my favorite things (every year). And this year I upped my mug game to brighten my WFH days. My favorite glazes this year are coming out of the studios of Baltimore ceramists @snailhousestudio and @personalbestceramics.
Le Labo Fragrances. On a trip to NYC this year I wandered into Le Labo – a New York based perfumery. Each bottle was a surprise of complex, layered, natural ingredients. The perfumes are blended in house. My personal favorite is Rose 31 with Rose, Cumin, Cedar, Vetiver, and Musk.
good neighbor Outdoor Space. Baltimore deserves lovely spaces and good neighbor in Hampden delivers just that — beautiful aesthetics inside and out. The outdoor space is a place I find myself at least 1-2x per month for a coffee and visit with good friends, my partner or just myself. Thank you good neighbor!
Lifting Heavier Things. This year I’ve taken seriously the idea around “use it or lose it” regarding muscle mass in our 40’s. I have been increasing weight almost every week in my deadlift, squat, chest press, an overhead press.
Lifting heavier things. Thanks to my trainer Donna at Arenal at the Quarry for helping me do this safely and slowly.
Mary Shock, Admin Manager
Movies: Anora, Wicked
Local Biz: Thread Coffee, The Charles, Beyond Video, Iron Crow Theatre
Iron Crow’s production of Rent earlier this year was so good I had to see it twice and cried each time. Can’t wait for their productions in 2025, especially The Rocky Horror show in June!
Sydney Taub, Administrative Support
Movie: The Substance
Cookbook: There’s a Soup for That by Theresa Von Wangenheim
Pilates: Mas Movimmiento by Ania
Pizza: Dink’s pies
Local biz: Baltimore Vintage Expo held by Milk and Ice Vintage and rings by delpear
Mas Movimiento. Follow @mas_movimiento on Instagram.
