I have much to discuss! I feel like my life is overflowing with favourite things lately. Even though it’s not the end of January, I didn’t think I could wait another day to share some current loves.
(None of the links below are affiliate – I don’t have any affiliations! – but I provided them to make it easier for people to click through to look at certain items).
CONTOURED EYE MASKS
They look like something out of Star Wars (Luke Skywalker on Hoth, anyone?), but I am borderline obsessed with my new eye masks (here are the exact ones I purchased). I bought them back in October to help protect my eyes which were still irritated while sleeping after my PRK surgery. They’re designed to accommodate false eyelashes which means they are ROOMY – I can fully open my eyes and blink inside these masks. They fit so well and block out all the light; even if it’s full sun or the bedroom lights are on, it’s pitch black in my little masked world.
A (THRIFTED) MAGIC BULLET
I have long hated blenders. I find them an absolute nuisance to wash, good blenders are very expensive, and they’re big and bulky to store. I had wanted to try a smaller blender for smoothies for years (I use my immersion blender + food processor for lots of things but neither do a good job of making smoothies). We found a Magic Bullet at a thrift store for about $7 and have already gotten more than our money out of it. This thing is AMAZING for morning smoothies. We bought two extra cups + bases at different times at thrift stores and it’s wonderful to have multiples.
CORDLESS WATERPIK
Two people recommended a Waterpik for braces care and within 24 hours of A getting braces, I went to the store to buy one. It is amazing and I cannot imagine her being able to keep her braces clean without a Waterpik. It took a few uses for her to get the hang of it, but now she uses it twice a day and likes it. (It does make a mess of the sink because braces attract a lot of food gunk and it tends to spray everywhere – GROSS – but better a messy sink than cavities!)
I bought mine locally, but this is the exact one I bought.
FOOT PEDAL GARBAGE CANS
I hate seeing garbage inside garbage cans. This is a problem since that is the exact point of garbage cans. I have solved the issue by sourcing two foot-pedal garbage cans at thrift stores. One was $5 and the other was $7 (a quick look online suggests most run $30-50!). I do not mind garbage cans filled with garbage…if I don’t have to see the garbage. This little purchase makes me smile daily.
THIS CHRISTMAS
Turns out that staying healthy makes…a big difference. Also, having older children makes a difference. I was still tired by the end of the festivities – it’s a lot of work even when things go smoothly – but I really enjoyed Christmas 2023 and I think I’ll treasure it for years to come.
Speaking of Christmas, some of my new gifts are already favourites!
- Book tabs with the perfect amount of “sticky”; each set comes ON A PLASTIC RULER which I can use as a bookmark while also keeping tabs handy. Having 1,600 sticky tabs makes this reader very, very happy. And they’re easy to reuse. (Here’s the set I asked for and got at Christmas.)
- My leakproof Stanley. (Here’s the one I got in Rose Quartz). Did you know Stanley’s have been around since the early 1900s, but the current obsession with these water bottles was largely inspired by Mormon women?!
- Milk frother. Our whole family is obsessed. It’s such an unexpected favourite – if my father-in-law had asked me before Christmas I would have said I had zero interest in owning a milk frother. He was right and I was wrong and I’m glad he didn’t ask!
- Apple corer. We bought ours at a thrift store, and it’s an old one from IKEA that’s no longer in production. It makes prepping apple snacks so much easier! I am tempted by this $9.99 set from IKEA that allows for slicing veggies, oranges and apples!
- Crocs. John and I have been using Crocs for years as indoor shoes and now the whole family has them, thanks to finding thrifted pairs for the kids that were $1.99 each (minus 20%). I am so happy with the support and comfort of Crocs and would 100% buy another pair when my current set wears out (though after years of near-daily use, they still look brand-new).
- Blundstones. These are an investment and one of the few pieces of footwear we buy brand new (they rarely show up in thrift stores because people use them until they wear out). They’re pricy, but our whole family loves their Blundstones and we use them year-round. They’re neutral in styling so both kids wear the same style (L fits into A’s old pair that we bought back in 2019). They are expensive, but for us worth every penny for the amount of time we use them outdoors (and with no laces, they are so easy to take on/off for the kids at school, too).
Phew. That’s a lot of favourite things. Your turn. Garbage cans lidded or open; do you care or are you neutral about this? Do you invest in footwear, or make do with whatever happens to be on sale? Does anyone else use a Waterpik? Who else wears an eye mask to bed (unfortunately I cannot sleep without one now; if it comes off in the night, the slightest amount of ambient lighting will wake me up)?
Sarah
I have blind stones in an online cart— glad to hear you endorse them!!
I just cannot even with braces and keeping them clean. I have decided they are not on my teeth and washed my hands of the whole situation because YUCK.
(I AM involved in making sure they wear their rubber bands and their retainers, but that’s mostly only because I am the one who paid for the darn braces)
Elisabeth
Ha to autocorrect – it can make like…interesting.
I love my Blundstones, the kids LOVE their Blundstones, John loves his Blundstones. I would NOT buy my style again. Rustic brown (I think it is) is so much easier to keep looking clean and nice. Mine always look super scuffed. This isn’t a big deal since I wear them for hiking and such, but everyone else in our family has the more distressed looking ones and I will go for those if mine ever wear out. I didn’t buy the same ones at the time because John and I wear the same size and I thought it would be hard to tell the pairs apart, but I have regretted that.
I *think* we’re getting bottom braces on tomorrow. Oh giddy.
Sarah
BLUNDSTONES **shakes fist at autocorrect **
Colleen Martin
Heading over to read that article about Mormons and Stanleys! My dentist said that a good trick for the water pick is using it in the shower, not that your daughter showers twice a day, but it may be worth it for whenever she does. We used to use our Magic Bullet so much! Then I bought a professional style blender which is amazing for blending, but yes a total pain to clean even though I do the blend the water with soap trick.
Elisabeth
YES! The shower is perfect, but she likes to do it in the sink and then leave it looking like AN ACTUAL CRIME SCENE.
If I was making more than individual-sized smoothies I don’t think I’d love the Magic Bullet nearly as much, but it’s PERFECT. Sometimes the kids split one, or I prep individual ones and it takes seconds to blend each. I am just amazed how well they work!
Nicole MacPherson
The waterpik was a godsend for our house of braces! I don’t think they still use it though, it’s somewhere in the boys’ (really, J’s) bathroom.
Staying healthy is AMAZING! I hope that streak continues!
Elisabeth
I had no idea how impossible it is to keep braces clean. The Waterpik – judging by the state of the kid’s bathroom sink – dislodges A LOT of gunk.
Sarah
I finally bought Blundstones this year and I LOVE them. So comfortable. I see some other flower farmers using them as work boots, but they are too expensive for that! Luckily I have small feet and can fit the kid’s version. I also wear Crocs in the house, they look silly but they are comfortable, and I never wear them outside. The article about Stanley is eye-opening! I had no idea about “dirty soda” – and it sounds gross TBH!
Elisabeth
Yes – the kids version are cheaper. I have giant canoe paddles for feet, so alas I have to buy adult sizes.
I LOVE Crocs and also basically never wear them outside the house (unless I’m running garbage to the curb etc; I treat them like house slippers).
I had also never heard about dirty soda and agree is does NOT sound appealing.
Jenny
How wonderful to have a life that’s overflowing with favorites! I am VERY intrigued by those eye masks- I bet it would help my sleep issues. I read the article about Stanley- yes, I read a very popular running blog, the woman is mormon and she does always carry around a Stanley! That’s funny.
I’m glad this Christmas was extra special for you. All Christmases are great (even the one where we had Covid) but some definitely stand out more than others.
It was nice to read such an upbeat post today- I’m sad because my son is back at school. But, life must go on! I should come up with a list of my own favorite things.
Elisabeth
Oh, Jenny…that is so sad that Paul had to go home. It feels like he was home for longer than normal? I’m so glad he was able to accompany you to Tampa so it was a full-family affair.
The eye masks are…great. And a pretty inexpensive thing to try to improve sleep. I also love them for napping (I can’t usually fall asleep without pulling the blinds etc, but this way I just pop a mask on and – BAM. Blackout.
Allison McCaskill
Eve and I are Docs girls, but I have been contemplating trying a switch – I have terrible feet which results in back problems, so my footwear is expensive by necessity, although I don’t have a lot of it.
Eve can’t sleep without an eye mask – I already have a CPAP mask on, so another thing on my face would be too much, I think. I might get her this one on the next gift occasion.
Those sticky tabs didn’t raise my interest until you mentioned the ruler – that would probably be a game-changer. When I read electronically I take screenshots to save quotes, but I’ve been struggling with what to do with paper books. Thanks for the rec!
Elisabeth
I LOVE these tabs. They are not paper, unfortunately – they’re a plasticky material – so not recyclable (Boo), but I’ve been using them twice and they are SO sticky and don’t curl, and having each one with a ruler built in. GAME ON.
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie
I never had an eye mask before last fall but it’s a game changer for travel. I don’t need one at home because we have blackout curtains, so if I’m not in a pitch black room it’s hard to sleep. The mask takes care of that. I don’t think I have exactly the same one as yours, but it’s a similar design.
Garbage cans – we’re on the same page. For a kitchen garbage can it either needs to be in a cupboard or to have a lid with a foot pedal. I don’t care about “non food” trashcans elsewhere in the house.
That’s wild that the Stanley cup craze started with dirty soda!
Elisabeth
Our kitchen garbage is one of the under-the-cupboard mounted ones, so it is away AND covered. This is perfect. But the two bathrooms upstairs just stressed me out. It is amazing how big of a difference this has made.
Katie
Ooh, great list!
I am seriously debating getting a Stanley… you think I should, right?!
I also use those eye masks every night. I’ve always been anti anything that shuts out the lights, but migraines have turned everything upside down… so now we have blinds in every room, and I sleep with these exact eye masks. They’re great. Hubby has an eye mask that connects to his phone so he can listen to audio in it!
Hmm my favourite purchase recently would have to be…. my Oodie, which has pumpkins on because I bought it back in October! It’s the perfect weight for me, I somehow don’t overheat in it but just stay nice and cosy.
Elisabeth
I really enjoy my Stanley (more than my Yeti; my sister also has a leakproof Yeti and told me she preferred her leakproof Stanley so that’s why I went with Stanley). I have ZERO desire to have the big cup-with-handle Stanley. For me it was all about leakproof and I am loving it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
I want a big fuzzy sweater. I keep stealing my husbands since I literally down own a single zip-up hoody. I don’t love pulling things over my head, so I’m on the hunt for a (thrifted) zip-up sweater.
Ernie
I don’t own crocs, but when I wear Curly’s out to the mailbox I find them so comfy. Our kitchen garbage is in a drawer so I don’t have to look at it. I do like the idea of a lid on the garbage. Your thrift finds are amazing. Oh, our dentist suggested a water pic and I bought one and I don’t like it. I probably should use it more often and I do think it is good for my gums, etc. Maybe if I used it regularly I’d get used to it.
Elisabeth
Crocs are soooo comfy.
The first few times A did not like the Waterpik but now she’s used to it and I think it’s a bit addicting (I’m the same way with flossing) AND there is just so much “gunk” that accumulates with braces, she appreciates something just blasts it all away.
NGS
In general, I do not skimp on footwear. I have plantar fasciitis, have a bad leg from when it was broken a decade ago, and I walk A LOT. I also repair my shoes a lot (I have a pair that’s at the cobbler RIGHT NOW and they told me that their records indicate I first took them in for repair in 2014, so I’ve had it for at least ten years and even though I paid $350 for them, their price per wear has got to be cents AND my feet are never in discomfort when I wear them). My winter boots are a pair of Columbia boots I bought on clearance in February 2020 and I hope to get at least four more seasons out of them. Again, they’re worn daily and I walk miles, so they get beat up, but the price per wear has got to be very low.
I always associate Stanley with camping gear. A quick look around my fitness class yesterday showed we’re still a Yeti town (of course, I had my Zojirushi) for the most part.
Elisabeth
I’m sorry, just the word cobbler is making me want to laugh and send heart emojis!
I have never heard of Zojirushi before. Sounds fancy 🙂
Michelle
I have an eye mask just like that, and I love it! I’d been trying different styles forever, and they all smooshed my eyes. I finally found this one, and you’re right, it’s amazing! I can’t stand the smallest speck of light when I’m sleeping, and I used to put a towel over the clock and cover up the lights on electric cords with electrician’s tape! But now I don’t try to fix the room, I just put on my eye mask and I’m happy! I get why this is at the top of your list!
Elisabeth
I used to use an airline-type mask before and this is a gamechanger (though it’s hard to sleep on my stomach since it is so puffy…!)
Sara
I looooove my Blundstones. I got them on sale with a coupon at REI and it was clutch. I do however wish I had gone up a full size and not let the person at REI convince me to just go up a half size. They’re just a little too snug with thick socks. But I still wear them to death.
Elisabeth
Mine are also a bit too snug with thick winter socks, but I make do. I would buy another pair in a heartbeat!
Vita Mark Art
I do love an eye mask! I have a contoured one but not as extreme as the pictured one.
Funny. We had a Magic Bullet and donated it, then were gifted more mini-blenders and donated them too! LOL. I just like having one good blender without lots of parts and pieces to wash.
Elisabeth
I’m shocked I like the MagicBullet as much as I do. You’re right – there are lots of smaller pieces, but it’s perfect for making to-order smoothies for the kids (who like different ingredients).
Lisa's Yarns
Our garbage cans are open except the one we use for daipers/pull-ups. But our kitchen garbage and recycling bins are inside a drawer so they are out of sight!
I have never heard of Blundstones!!
I have loved and used my wool socks this month when it’s been bitterly cold. Phil’s cousin bought our whole family bombas socks. Little did he know that Taco will basically only wear bombas. They are pretty thick so we have to hide them from him in the spring/summer months. I’ve also been (mostly) loving the caroline girvan workouts I’ve been doing. Admittedly, I don’t love her HIIT workouts but they are so dang hard! And involve a lot of burpees. But besides those, I love her strength training workouts! I just did workout 40 of 50 this morning so I should finish the series I’m working on in the next month or so (my number of workouts will drastically decline when I go back to the office next week. I’ve been WFH for 2 weeks and it’s been wonderful.
Elisabeth
Oh yay for WFH.
I’m intimated by those workouts like that (CG etc); but I’m loving my daily Yoga with Adrienne!
San
I love your favorites posts. I feel the same urge sometimes to share the good things in my life with other people. I don’t sleep with a sleep mask but I’ve seen these funny-looking masks and even better that they work well 🙂
I’ve heard good things about the waterpik. Maybe I should get one of those.
Elisabeth
I don’t use the Waterpik myself, but I’m tempted to get one. It is a LIFESAVER for braces. She got another A at the orthodontist this week and I have had exactly ZERO to do with her tooth care the last month, so that is 100% on her (and I credit the Waterpik for a lot of the success).
Stephany
I used those same eye masks right after LASIK – I hated wearing the eye shields they gave me to wear right after the surgery so I bought that eye mask and it was a godsend. But it was also a bit cumbersome for me – I like sleeping on my stomach or side and they felt so bulky. I’m glad they’re working for you!
I need to get a covered trash can for my bathroom. I *also* hate looking at the trash and I don’t think I realized how much until you posted about it!
Elisabeth
I wish I had these masks right after surgery. It took my months to find them and I actually think between the masks + the Omega 3 supplements, I would have had a much better recovery if those two items had been in place earlier.
I mean, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to HATE THE LOOK OF GARBAGE IN A GARBGE CAN…but I hate it so, so much. It just always looks so messy and gross. And I 100% don’t care now that it’s covered. It is amazing. Buy one. You will NOT regret it.
Anne
I have an (uncovered) trash can in my bathroom that bugs me, but not enough to pay to replace it. That thing does not owe me a nickel. 🙂 Also, I don’t own a blender, but someone mentioned to me recently that they clean theirs by putting water and dish soap in it, and actually running it! Not sure if this can be done w/ a Magic Bullet (see: no blender here) but might be worth exploring? (Because that is WHY I do not have a blender, the cleaning is…suboptimal.)
Elisabeth
Ohhh. That sounds like a brilliant way to clean a blender. The Magic Bullet has seemed very easy to clean, but it’s still a bit of a pain. I’m going to try this! Thanks, Anne <3