Alyson's Top Picks: Discover the Favorite Things of a Babble Panel Member

Brooke Amidei
4 hours ago
3 min read

Babble is much more than Brooke babbling about her favorite recipes, products, books, fashion... A lot of what we're Babbling about on Instagram, in the Babble newsletter or here on our website comes from our Babble Panel.

What is the Babble Panel? It is a group of midlife women who we consult with daily. They share all the best stuff, and then we Babble about it! (It's like we're adding you to our group chat!)

Throughout the year, we're going to share with you a panel member's most favorite things. These are things they Babble about to everyone - items they simply cannot live without.

Check out this list - you might find your next favorite thing.

"Alyson here from Omaha, Nebraska. I spend my days dreaming of or planning my next travel adventure, with my nose in a book or knitting my nights away. I am a proud member of the OrangeTheory cult. I spend my summers riding my bike. I ride across the great state of Iowa each summer. I am in an adult marching band. Oh ya, I have two pups I love dearly and a husband. Here are my 10 things worth babbling about."

Favorite Recipes

I make these almost weekly.

1. Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

¼ cup pure maple syrup
3 Tablespoons melted coconut oil (I use avocado/olive)
2 Tablespoons honey
1.5 teaspoon pure vanilla
3 cups oats
Sprinkle cinnamon to preference

Mix everything together, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spread mixture across baking sheet, bake at 300 for about 30 – 40 ish minutes, allow to completely cool.

Sometimes I add in shaved almonds to change up the flavors.

2. Homemade Jam

Ingredients:

1pound strawberries
3 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons chia seeds

Chop the strawberries and cook on the stove, stir in the honey. Cook until super soft so you can mash with a fork. Mash to your preferred texture. Add chia seeds and let cook on low for a little while, may 10-15 minutes. I watch for consistency of the jam to determine when to remove from the heat. Let cool to room temperature and then put into an air tight container and keep in refrigerator.

Favorite Books

I could chat about books all day. Here are a few of all-time favorites:

Favorite Travel Spots

Best Overall: Greece

Most unique: Vietnam

Best Snorkeling: Galapagos and Roatan, Honduras; think swimming with Nemo.

A place I’ll probably never go back: Belize

Most cultural: Fiji

Most natural/outdoorsy: Iceland

Life Hacks

Keep A List

I keep a list of things that bring me joy and try to do at least one item off that list every day: reading, knitting, spending time with my dogs, organizing a closet, decluttering, riding my bike, going to OrangeTheory, a glass of wine, a good charcuterie board are a few items on my list.

Use A Meal Service

I started to use a meal service in 2025. My husband often travels so for dinner I am either planning for 1 or eating scraps from the kitchen. While I have been exploring different options, I’ve enjoyed Factor Meals and EveryPlate.

Favorite Face Product

I have been using Frownies for about 8 weeks and not sure how much of a difference I have noticed but I sure do love the way they feel on my forehead and the feeling of peeling them off in the morning. Now, I do notice a difference in the morning and I can feel a difference in my forehead muscles in the morning so maybe there is something to them… but golly I sure do love the feeling. And I hate the smell.

Favorite New Hobby

By "new" I mean I'm 2 years into my new knitting hobby. Starting a new hobby in your mid 40’s is hard. Like really hard. Getting my hands and fingers to move in the way my brain was telling it to was even harder. And who knew I’d love creating things. Knitting brings me joy, it is fun to spend time working on a project and either getting to enjoy it myself or gifting to another to enjoy.

Interested in more "Grandma Hobbies"? Check out Babble's complete list below:

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