This is the time of year that all the magazines, newspapers, and websites start counting down the ‘Best ofs’ for the past year. Even bloggers get in on the action. I’ll be recapping my most popular posts and projects, and the status of my Home Goals of 2013. Today I’m thrilled to be part of the lovely Melissa’s Favorite Things Series. I’ve been reading them on her blog, 320 Sycamore, for years, and I’m excited to play along this year.
To keep my list at 10, I focused only on new things I discovered and fell in love with this year. Here they are, in no particular order.
1) I’ve been a fan of colored jeans for awhile, and this year I added Patterned Jeans to the mix. I own both these leopard and camo patterns, and they wear just like neutrals. (See some of my outfits with the camo pants here.) As cute as they are, however, they don’t magically keep my thighs from touching, like the pictures indicate.
2) I would almost trade my first-born child for a jar of Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter. Earlier this year our store had a shortage, and they kept it hidden under lock-and-key…you had to ask the manager for a jar, and then you could only have one! I might have panicked. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s, don’t worry, you can find it on Amazon.
3) I don’t burn a lot of candles at home, but when I do, Trapp Orange Vanilla is my favorite. But when the holidays roll around, I become obsessed with Trapp White Fir. It smells like Christmas, and Heaven, and Oprah’s house, all wrapped in one perfect candle. It’s the one holiday thing I don’t give up when January rolls around.
4) If you have kids, then you go to approximately 87 birthday parties a year. #embellisher Even if you don’t have kids, you likely have a few you buy gifts for each year. Well, I discovered the best kid-gift on the planet… Kiwi Crate. For only $20, the cutest box will arrive on your doorstep, full of supplies to create 2-3 craft projects. These aren’t janky crafts, either. My daughter is obsessed with them, and I love gifting something creative to all her friends, instead of a plastic toy that will get tossed aside after a few days. There are several themes to choose from, and you can even subscribe to a monthly service. Use this link and get $10 off your first crate.
5) I picked up these Booties during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale…they are a little edgier than my usual style, but I took a chance because of the great price. I can’t tell you how good I feel when I wear them…it’s almost like I’m Carrie Bradshaw’s BFF.
6) When I’m not trying to be cool in my booties, you’ll find me in my basic uniform…these boots and Fleece Wrap are in weekly rotation. If I’m honest, the wrap is practically a daily thing…it’s so comfy I usually pair it with pajamas as soon as I get home from work. It’s like wearing a sweatshirt, without looking like you’re in sweats. Does that even make sense?
7) I’ve sung the praises of our Keurig before, along with how we organize the K-cups, but I couldn’t leave it off this list. I love this thing. How I can love something so much that I didn’t even know I needed, is beyond me. But I do. And dare I say, it’s a marriage-saver, too?! No more ‘who’s going to make the coffee?’ or ‘who drank all the coffee?’
8) If you’re a new-ish reader around here, then you likely don’t know I’m not a regular hair-washer. I bathe daily…let’s just get that out of the way…but I don’t wash my hair until it frightens children. #embellisher The only way to stretch the days is with dry shampoo. And let me tell you, I’m a dry shampoo connoisseur…I’ve tried drugstore and designer, but the only one I use is Psssssst Instant Dry Shampoo. It’s hard as heck to find, so I just order it by the case online.
9) Can we agree there are about 1082 different kinds of mascara? Girls are fussy-pants about their eyelashes, but all we want is for them to look thick and long, without flaking, and maybe even make us look skinnier. Well, the skinny part I’ve yet to find in a mascara, but Maybelline New York The Falsies Volum’ Express does all the rest. You can keep buying $35 dollar mascara if you want, but I’ll stick to this $7 stuff.
10) And finally, my very favorite home decor item of this year is this Ikea Striped Throw and Pillow. They are both less than $20, and fit perfectly in any decor. I am constantly moving mine around, and always marvel at how great they look. In fact, I may have more than one. Or two.
Bonus Thing!) I’m sort of an only child, so of course I have to over-achieve and give you 11 things. I added this EF 50mm Camera Lens
to my camera bag this year, and all of a sudden I take some pretty rocking pictures. No joke, it’s not me, it’s the lens!
Obviously I’m being shallow and totally first-world with my picks. Of course I’d choose my family and dog over camo pants….these are the materialistic things of 2013 that have made my heart flutter and my life easier. I wish I were Oprah and could gift each of you with them all!
So, do we share any Favorite Things? What would you add to the list? Melissa is hosting a Favorite Things link party on December 19, so be sure to check that out. Now you get to hop over to the next bloggers to see their fun picks!
i neeed to try that cookie butter 🙂 great love list! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
AHH i love Camo pants!
XO,
Ellen
http://www.askawayblog.com
I love that dry shampoo too! they used to make them in colors and had one for blondes that had just a hint of color that was perfect for refreshing your hair. But you are right, that are very hard to find.
Oh there are some real gems here! Thanks for sharing!
My sil brought cookie butter to Thanksgiving last year and I was hooked. That stuff is the devil I have been looking for a good shampoo…thank you! If my body looked like yours, I would be totally rocking those patterned jeans. Come be my trainer 🙂
I love a favorite list! I just ordered that fleece wrap; that will be a must have during winter.
That's my go-to mascara too, I use the Flared version. If only my lashes would stay curled!
I'm a dedicated Psssst user too! Goin' on ten years! Clean hair is so overrated.
LOVE that first pair of pants!
I wanted those camo pants so bad! I Seems like they were the most popular item at GAP this year!
I got the 50mm 1.4 and mighttt have already played with it (shhh, don't tell Chris) and I agree…it is totally the lens taking the great pictures…not me!!
I have got to check out that dry shampoo! I've tried several and haven't been impressed. And I too go for D A Y S in-between hair washes. Like as long as I can go before my head starts itching. (Did I really just admit that?) 🙂 Great favorites Cassie!
I knew we had so much in common. I hate to wash my hair. What a pain! I stretch it as long as I possibly can. Which basically means that a lot of days I have REALLY dirty hair.
Great items! I love them all so much I can't pick a favorite! Great list!
Great picks! I own several of the same things and love them. Especially the wrap!
Amen to number 2. Should I be embarrassed that I just eat spoonfuls straight from the jar?
um, that wrap sweater? DYING! I love your comment about $35 mascara–guilty! I'm definitely trying out your reco, $7 is too good to pass up!
Shut the front door! Of course we would love the same mascara! Now, send me your favorite pink lipstick colors! Oh, and I love your favorite list! If I made a list of favorites, you would be on it! 😉 xoxo!
I have that fleece wrap from Nordstroms and it is so cute! I have yet to get a Keurig, but want to try it someday. And thank you so much for the camera lens recommendation. Our son is interning with a photographer and needs a nice lens for his Canon. This is perfect!
I love fleece but my pullovers and jackets are so boxy and, well, frumpy looking. I just checked out your fleece wrap at Nordstrom and it is on sale for $39.90! Plus if you shop through Ebates you will get another 5% back on it. BTW if you shop on line Ebates is a must. Free money back on stuff you were going to buy anyway. Gotta love that.
Here's the link for more info: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=1lcumWWvYqoC12fUt04fhA%3D%3D
Cassie I was laughing when I read your post because I had just gotten back from CVS where I grabbed the mascara since it was B1G 1/2 off. I love Falsies too. And I just ordered the fleece wrap, it looks fab, thanks for the recommendation
Love those cameo and leopard pants. Leopard is sold out, but I am definitely considering those cameo!
Love your list! I had been wanting those camo pants since you recommended them in your NYC fashion post. I finally bit the bullet a few weeks ago – I love them! They are flattering (and I'm not a skinny minnie) and comfy – unbeatable combo!
My daughter is a huge dry shampoo fan. Just ordered a few cans of the PSST. And only $5.00! Thanks for the recommendation!
Cookie butter? What? I am a huge fan of cookies … and butter … so I'm sure I will want to slurp it all up. Gotta get myself over to the Trader Joe's that came to town about a year ago. I'm never near it when my husband is with me, and since we're both foodies, I feel like I need him to be with me so I won't feel guilty about all the stuff I want to buy and try out!
Thanks for the reco on the orange/vanilla candle, too. Haven't heard of Trapp, but both orange and vanilla are two of my favorite scents. I never burn candles but I've been wanting to add some in to my decor.
"They don't magically keep my thighs from touching". HILARIOUS!
I really need to get some of those camo jeans! And a 50 ml lens! Both are on my Christmas list 😉