B&B’s Annika Noelle Shares a Few of Her Favorite Things (EXCLUSIVE)

1. Her Cat 

“I was volunteering at an L.A. animal shelter, and Henry, then a very young kitten, had medical and behavioral marks against him, so they were essentially going to put him down. I took him home and nursed him back to health, and that’s how he got his nickname, The Burrito Man, because I had to wrap him up like a burrito and feed him Pedialyte and baby food. He’s my fur baby now.” 

2. Boston

“I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, and that city made me the woman I am today. It’s so beautiful, the people are so down-to-earth and real, and there’s also that Boston grittiness. I think it’s the greatest city in America, and I miss it all the time.” 

3. Coffee 

“I hated it when I was a child, but now I fully understand why every adult drinks coffee. It helps get me going in the morning, because I am not a morning person. I like my cold-brew coffee in the hair-and-makeup chair while I’m getting ready at work. I have to have it.” 

4. Boxing 

“Martial arts was a big part of my life. It was almost a meditative sport for me, but I got injured and could no longer do it. Sean Carrigan (ex-Stitch, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) trains people in boxing and told me I should try it. It’s the first time I’ve had a real cardio workout since I injured both my knees, so it’s great to have that outlet again. It’s also a lot of fun.” 

5. Nature 

“I grew up with a forest in my backyard and going camping with my dad. I find it brings a lot of perspective when you’re able to kind of escape or see the stars and be surrounded by the quiet beauty God gave us. It’s important for me to reconnect with Mother Earth every now and then, and get out hiking or canoeing or going to the amazing national parks we have in this country.” 

6. Travel

"I have an adventurous heart. I've traveled by myself to many, many places all over Europe and to Bali and Thailand, and [I went to] Finland over the holidays. It just opens you up to so many different cultures and experiences, and it really expands your horizons in so many ways. I love exploring."

7. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (wfft.org)

“When I graduated from college, I took a trip here and worked with elephants for about a month. It completely changed my life, including the way I view animal tourism and the animal trade. It took off a blindfold that I didn’t even realize I had been wearing. Being able to interact with these animals and taking care of them encouraged my passion for animal advocacy.” 

8. Giving Back 

“I also support Much Love Animal Rescue and the Pawsitive Change Prison Program through Marley’s Mutts. Giving back enriches my life and gives me a purpose, especially now that I actually have a platform where I can shine some light on these causes. In the news cycle today, there’s so much negativity that we don’t really pay enough attention to so many people out there doing good."

9. Autumn 

“L.A. doesn’t really have fall, but it’s my favorite season. That crisp, cold smell in the air and the crunchy leaves beneath your feet and getting wrapped up in warm blankets and drinking hot cocoa... It’s such a cozy feeling, and it’s the time I’m most homesick for Boston.” 

10. Yacht Rock 

“It’s a genre of rock ’n’ roll [that includes] Hall & Oates, the Eagles, the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Toto, Kenny Loggins. Don’t get me wrong — I am a ’90s grunge girl through and through, but yacht rock was introduced to me a few years ago and it's the only thing that calms me down in L.A. traffic!"

11. French Fries

"I could eat them every day for the rest of my life. I know that's probably not the best idea, but I love them so much, whether they are thin shoestring fries or thick steak fries. I dip them in Cholula or maybe even malt vinegar. I'm kind of a fry connoisseur and know which restaurants have the good ones."

12. B&B 

“I am so grateful to get to go to such a historic studio and tell stories that impact people’s lives in some way. I’m grateful every single day for this job and for the cast and crew who’ve become my friends. So thank you, [executive producer and headwriter] Brad Bell, for the amazing year that I’ve had, and hopefully, there is more to come!”