2020 was quite a year to remember. And for some not so good things, but also some good things. Reflecting back on the year it’s incredible to see how much has changed, and how companies adapted their products to fit the needs of our new realities. With people spending more time cooking, baking, working, exercising and everything else from home now more than ever, you’ll see my top 15 most loved and used products of the year reflect the essence of that lifestyle. Can you guess what my favorite purchase of the year was?
The silver lining of 2020 for me was finding clarity in what truly makes me happy, focusing more seriously on my health, and getting to spend more time with the ones I love. That being said, Let’s dive in…
Paris and London In Bloom Books
2020 was to be the year of my long awaited, big travel date with Europe. Specifically we had booked my first trip to London and Paris for end of May (Mark has been before, and that’s a story for another day).
I was so looking forward to seeing all of the beautiful architecture, browsing the shops, strolling the charming streets and most of all seeing the gorgeous blooms. In fact our trip was centered around The Chelsea Flower Festival dates in London.
Clearly that didn’t happen this year and it’s still on our horizon for next year (hopefully). That being said, I can’t tell you how much joy these two books by Georgianna Lane brought me this year. They allowed me to experience these places through her beautiful lens (the photographs are incredible) as well as read about all that delights my soul while envisioning our actual trip one day. Any time I was having a bad day, I would just take a minute and flip through these books, escaping to somewhere more beautiful and better than the present.
2. Green Pan Pots & Pans in light blue
2020 certainly had us all learning our way around the kitchen more than ever before. I have to say I am pretty impressed with the recipes I made this year and how scrumptious they ended up turning out. While Mark still does most of our cooking (being a true Italian), it was nice to discover some new recipes we both enjoyed this year, some of which we would make together.
That being said, I needed something to brighten my time in the kitchen and these pastel blue pans were just the thing to keep me motivated on my new cooking endeavors. I originally bought them as something pretty and healthy (being they are non-toxic, highly rated and free of Teflon), but turns out they are incredibly easy to clean (like way easier than the All-Clad pots we already own too). This made cooking for me that much better.
3. Amazon Memory Foam Pink Slippers
While working from home, I found a new love for Slippers this year. So out with the heels and in with the comfort it was. Of all the slippers I purchased in 2020 (yes I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit there were multiple slipper purchases ha), these by far were my favorite.
I went with pink but they come in several colors. The reason why they’re so great though is the fur is super soft and warm (I always have cold feet), and the sole is durable to wear outside while checking the mail, and the inner sole is made of plush memory foam. And they were under $40, looking incredibly similar to the designer Ugg ones that will cost you a pretty penny more. These were and are a definite win for me! PS-size up one if in between sizes.
4. Ice Pink Yeti Tumbler
While stuck at home a lot this year to think, and seeing the disaster of COVID unfold, sadly taking away many lives, I started to take my health more seriously. I find that if I start small with changes, I am much more likely to stick with them because I am not overwhelmed.
One simple thing I knew I could do a better job at was hydrating. In order to hydrate more, I committed to constantly reminding myself to drink water, and what better way to do so than with a large, cute, pink tumblr to remind me to drink up. I filled this thing up multiple times a day and use it while working out from home too. It’s also dishwasher safe, bpa free and keeps drinks hot or cold. Money well spent!
5. Barefoot Dreams Blanket
So this was a long time coming purchase for me. I bought my blanket during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale this year so it would be discounted, because I always really wondered if they were worth the hype. They are.
This is the softest blanket I own and I keep it on my desk chair as I spent so much time in my office this year and easily get chilly. It made working from home that much more comforting and I love how stretchy and soft the blanket is. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in, literally.
6. Amazon Gold Clothing Rack
Every year my love for blogging and this digital community I’ve built gets stronger. One of the things I got to spend more time with this year while at home was my blog. I’m so excited to be signed by Spark Talent Group now as well, ending 2020 on an incredibly positive note.
With all of that, I needed better organization and prettier organization in my office for all of the gifted product and brand collaborations of the year. Initially I wondered what would happen to blogging and working with brands after so many were struggling or filing bankruptcy. Suddenly this digital world seemed so unstable and I was so thankful to be employed in my medical career. Ironically, the industry just got stronger with more people shopping on-line for almost everything than ever before. I’m so thankful to be in the place I’m at right now with my blog and medical job.
I love that this gold clothing rack helped keep my work space pretty and organized while shooting more content at home than ever before. And it’s like half of the price of the original sought after version on etsy.
7. No Slip 50 Pack Velvet Hangers in Pink
There’s not much to say about these other than they have a pretty aesthetic and you can’t beat the price for the pack of 50. While at home this year (after my entire closet basically collapsed…embarrassing I know), I pretty much swapped out all my cheap, old plastic hangers for these. They created a more uniform look and take up way less space in the closet. Plus like I said, they’re pretty.
9. Wireless Sonos Speaker
Ok I LOVE this thing. Originally Mark ordered it and I was like wait what…how much was that thing?! But then I quickly came to love it for it’s sound quality and wireless, blue tooth capabilities. It’s also steam/humidity resistant so I would easily take it from listening to music in my office, up to the bathroom to shower and get ready, and it even came with us on the many road trips we took the later half of the year! Great investment.
10. USB chargeable lighter in Pink (linked similar)
I love the scent of a natural candle. It’s one of my guilty pleasures while working from home. A fresh scent instantly boosts my mood and gets me in the right head space.
With my love for burning a candle, came my hate for the ever-dying, many gas lighters I went through. I was almost done with candles until I discovered this adorable pink, chargeable, USB lighter. I LOVE this thing and keep it right in my office!
11. Transportable & Oscillating Space Heater
With moving to NC 2 years ago now comes the season change. I LOVE the season change, but I don’t love cold feet, cold floors, or just being cold in general. I also don’t love blasting the heat either because it makes the house stuffy and messes with our sinuses and skin health.
And so this little $35 space heater became my best buddy (besides Archie) while at home. From using it upstairs in the bathroom to warm the tile while showering, to just having it on in the office while I work. Thing’s literally been a life saver (especially when our heat went out for a couple days).
12. Electric Heated Blanket
On the topic of staying warm and cozy, you can NOT beat this plush heated blanket from Target! My husband got it for me for Christmas one year and it is seriously one of my favorite things ever. It’s under $50 and I basically use it in my bed every night or while binging shows on the couch this year!
13. My Top Beauty Products
Ok there’s a lot to unpack with this one so I am going to break it down product by product. However after having the wonderful opportunity to try so many beauty products this year, these are my tried and true favorites that I use on a daily basis.
Kenra #9 hairspray-It is just the right amount of hold without feeling sitcky and it literally smells like strawberry shortcake. Been using it for a couple years.
Olaplex #6 - I just started using this a couple months ago and it’s my new favorite for smoothing and protecting hair from heat.
Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo - I love the original scent of this and the product actually works. Not to mention if you have brown or dark hair like me, this is one of the only ones I can find that doesn’t leave white residue. Score!
Davines Love Shampoo and Conditioner - I also started using these a couple months ago and am obsesses. It smoothes and hydrates my hair without leaving it feeling greasy or weighed down. I love a heavenly smelling shampoo but not an overly scented one. This just smells so fresh, it’s the perfect scent! These products are also a cleaner alternative to most shampoo and conditioning products and are safe for colored hair.
Sarah Happ Lip Scrub- I use this twice weakly at night on my lips in the winter to keep them from chapping. I wake up with soft lips every day thanks to this sweet product!
Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment - Tinted Chapstick that actually gives you color. Need I say more? But really, its moisturizing and the colors actually have lasting pigment. Perfect for our current times (masks and all) because it’s not heavy but still gives a healthy, light pigment. Favorite colors are ruby and tulip.
Bobbie Brown Art Stick - I wear this all the time in color Dusty Pink. It actually lasts but it’s not a lip stain. It doesn’t dry out my lips and the color is the perfect pink neutral. I always get tons of questions on stories when I am wearing this lip product, and it’s no doubt one of my favorites.
Dime Beauty Hyaluronic Acid Serum - I know this company is all over instagram lately with big influencers, but I was using it long before then as a clean alternative skin care product. The product I love and use most of theirs (like on the daily now that it’s winter) is their hyaluronic acid serum. It’s natural and it works to hydrate and plump the skin. I am seriously obsessed with it (especially now during winter) and would say of all their products, it’s the one to get!
Curology personalized cream - I love this because its prescription strength cream to target my pores, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Whatever it is that you want to target, just upload make-up free photos and fill out their questionnaire on-line. Walaa, a dermatology provider sends you prescription strength product to target what you want, without ever leaving your home and going to the Derm Doc. Perfect for current times.
The Skin Supply Cloud Cream - Ok talk about weightless hydration! Wow, this may be my favorite skin product of the year! I always follow up the other two products with this product morning and night. It hydrates without weighing skin down, all while balancing sebum production (to not clog pores and cause acne). It is so hydrating and glowey, I love this product!
Arianna Grande Cloud Fragrance - I’m usually not one for celeb fragrance but this is literally the less expensive dupe to Bond Greenwich village #9. It’s got a slightly sweeter vanilla musk to it but it’s darn close and a fraction of the cost ($320 compared to $64 to be exact)! 2 of my friends actually figured it out and shared it with me and I am so glad they did! I have the travel size since I am on the go again with work too!
Revlon One Step Hair Dryer Brush - coming in under $45 this one is a huge win! I recently got to try a friends dyson hair dryer with the round brush attachment and I have to say it took so much longer to dry my hair (the dyson). I also feel like the revlon one because of the brush being bigger gave my hair more volume and shine. However, that being said I am still very curious to try the dyson air wrap curling attachments. If that actually works, it’s way less damaging for the hair so I would be sold on it. I’m going to try my friends eventually and will let you know but until then, you can’t go wrong with this revlon dryer for the money. I use it every time I wash my hair now.
14. Rifle Paper Co Snow Meadow Rug
Spending more time at home at first seemed torturous this year. Also remember when we thought it was only going to last for like 2 weeks in March?!
And so….when reality set in that this was going to last much longer, like many of you, I started redoing spaces in our house (that we’re currently renting) that I spent lots of time in suddenly. Obviously the office was one of them.
I’m a huge fan of Caitlin Wilson design. Her rugs are beautiful and truth be told, I’ve always loved a good blue and pink pastel pattern (which you know if you’ve been here for a while with me). I don’t like the price tag though. And the fact that most of her rugs are wool and so I know the shedding will be horrendous. It’s something Mark and I hate about wool rugs (I guess we all have our pet pieves).
I was so ecstatic when I found this Caitlin Wilson look a like rug by Rifle Paper Co that was a fraction of the price and not wool. It’s stayed in great shape all year and I love it so much! It was the start of my office transformation or my inspo piece.
15. My Peloton Bike
Well you know what they say…save the best for last. My Favorite purchase of 2020 was by far my peloton! I use this thing sooo much and finally don’t have an excuse of not working out. I love that I can literally go from jammies, to work out clothes, and complete a cycling class in an hour or less and get on with my day.
Just because we’re spending more time working and living from home, certainly doesn’t mean we are any less busy. At least not for me. So being able to get my work out done and on with my day by having this bike has been so great and has caused me to work out more than I may ever have (other than pre-wedding I guess). I know it’s pricey but investing in this for myself this year was such a great decision and I’m thankful I was able to do so.
SO now that I’ve shared my favorites from the year, tell me…what has been your favorite purchase of the year and what are you most looking to scoop up in 2021?
My Love and best to you all! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
