When I sat down to compile this list, it was tough to narrow it down, because it turns out that I love a lot of stuff! It also made me take a good, hard look at all of my recent purchases, and I realized maybe I should cool it with the ol' American Express. But this article isn't about my sometimes irresponsible spending habits, it's about quality products that I love and use nearly every day.
I'm a busy mom of two young kids, and everything on this list is personally owned by and vouched for by yours truly. I promise you that if you end up buying one or two (or ten) of these items, they will not disappoint. So start scrolling to discover all the awesomeness that you've been missing out on until now.
Before I got this office chair from Branch, I used to commit the cardinal sin of working from home: I worked in bed. Laying in bed was way more comfortable than sitting in my old chair, but after a while, my back started to hurt and my mattress got a permanent dent from laying in bed all day. Something had to change. This chair not only looks beautiful, but it's incredibly supportive and comfortable to sit in for hours at a time.
I don't have the time to blow dry my hair very often, but when I leave it to air-dry without the right products, it looks dry, frizzy, and flat. This air dry cream allows me to step out of the shower, rub a dime-sized amount of product through my wet hair, and go about my day. I don't even brush it most of the time and it still dries beautifully. I don't know how it works, but I hope they never stop making it.
A few months ago, a mom friend of mine showed up at a playdate lugging this gigantic water bottle. I teased her about it at first, because she's very petite and this thing is almost bigger than she is. But then I realized I wanted one for myself, so I went home and bought one. And now I lug it to all of our playdates and she makes fun of me about it. I love how the stainless steel construction keeps water cold for 10-plus hours. Oh, and the picture is deceiving. This thing is huge.
I'm confident enough in my other qualities to admit that I'm not a very good cook. I can follow a recipe fairly well, but when it comes to just winging it and using my natural cooking instincts, it never goes very well, probably because I don't have any. But with this Dutch oven, I can make pretty much anything taste amazing. The heat distribution and retention are unparalleled, nothing sticks to it, and it looks really pretty on my stovetop.
When my husband first mentioned wanting to buy this OLED TV for our basement, I had reservations. I didn't care about how "amazing" the colors would look or how the black would look "really, really black". I would be fine watching an old tube TV, I told him. And then it arrived, and I watched two seconds of Planet Earth before I immediately changed my tune. I'm currently watching Titanic on it, and let me tell you, if the ship crashed through my house right now in real life, the resolution wouldn't be any better.
Air fryers are one of those kitchen appliances that I always figured I would buy, use a few times, and then never use again (much like my pricey espresso machine). So when I finally caved and bought one, my expectations were low. But then I tried it for the first time and was immediately hooked. In fact, I've barely used my oven since I got it a few months ago. It's so much faster and more convenient than the oven, and it's way more versatile than I expected. I've even baked a cake in it!
If you're a parent, there are lots of toys and expensive products that other parents will insist you have to buy. But here's a secret: most of it, you really don't. Your kids will be just fine if you don't buy the $300 book-reading gadget or the $1,500 robot (yes, it exists). But the Nugget is one thing that I'm 100% glad I bought and I'm actually considering buying a second. It has an incredibly soft micro-suede cover, can be configured a million different ways, and the covers can be taken off and washed in the washing machine. Here's a picture of the day my kids made a slide/ramp setup and climbed up and down it for over an hour while I sat and drank coffee. A total parenting win.
I love pretty much everything West Elm sells, and I'd had my eye on these chairs for a while before I actually pulled the trigger and ordered them. When they arrived, I remember being shocked by how comfortable they were, even without any sort of cushion. We've had them for just over a year at this point, and I still love them just as much as I did the day they arrived. They're simple, sleek, sturdy, and super easy to clean, which is a big selling point for me these days.
If my sleeping conditions aren't exactly how I like them, I won't sleep. My body just won't let me. This is why it's so hard for me to be well-rested while traveling. Too thin of a comforter? No sleep. An air conditioner that makes a rattling sound? Not gonna happen. So when I found out this comforter had three different weight options so I could get exactly what I wanted, I was on board immediately. Choose from lightweight, all-season, and heavyweight options. I chose the "all-season" version, which I highly recommend. In fact, I might just try traveling with this baby.
The lamp in this photo looks relatively small, right? Like a cute little accent lamp on a cute little accent table? Well, I thought it would be small as well, but when it arrived, it turned out to be way bigger than I expected, and that's exactly why I love it. It's nearly 12 inches tall, which is by no means a tiny lamp, and it creates a lovely glowing effect with a warm low-wattage lightbulb inside.
I'm a redhead with extremely pale and sensitive skin, so whenever I try to exfoliate my face I tend to wake up the next morning with red and inflamed skin. This microfoliant facial scrub powder from Dermalogica is the only one that hasn't caused irritation, and I literally use it twice per day. It makes my skin baby-soft, and this is coming from someone who has an actual baby, so I know what I'm talking about.
I've had these Keds boots for two years, and other than being a little bit dirty, they look exactly the same as they did when I first bought them. They're incredibly comfortable, are easy to get on and off (not always the case with Ked's boots), and I've walked through literal snow banks in these puppies and my feet stay bone dry. The day they fall apart will be the day I buy another pair.
I am 100% obsessed with this Himalayan salt body scrub. The chunky salt crystals gently exfoliate without leaving my skin red and raw, and the lychee oil complex and sweet almond oil are super hydrating and smell amazing. I have psoriasis, and this stuff even helps to keep flair-ups under control.
If there's one parenting hack I've learned since becoming a mom, it's this: get a wagon. More specifically, get this wagon. It has so many features that you'll use on a regular basis, like a removable canopy, an adjustable stroller bar, a side-zip that makes it easy for little ones to get in and out, and a collapsable design that makes it surprisingly portable.
I'm a pretty anxious person, so I've wanted a weighted blanket since I first heard about how helpful they can be with anxiety. Well, I finally bought one, and now I can't imagine ever being able to fall asleep without one. I actually own two of them, but I prefer this one because of how soft the fabric is and the larger size. Bonus: It's reversible!
I've turned into a "two cups of coffee per day" person (sometimes three) since having kids, so my Keurig gets quite the workout. I love how the single-cup brewing style makes every sip taste as hot and fresh as possible, and the compact size takes up hardly any space in my cramped kitchen. And while mine is the classic black color, I kind of regret not getting the pretty "evergreen" shade.
I never really saw the point of getting a tablet until I had kids, and now I can't imagine my life without it. My three-year-old son uses it to play educational games during his afternoon "quiet time," which means he's learning and resting while I get other stuff done. It has a separate kid's profile that won't let them buy anything that you don't want them to (trust me, you need this) and is simple enough for my son to navigate.
If I could gift one item from this list to everyone reading this, it would be this hot air brush from Revlon. Okay, so some of you might not have long hair or actually want something like this, but chances are you know someone who does, and giving them this hair-beautifying tool will make them love you forever. It makes my hair look just as good (if not better) than when I leave the salon, and it dries my hair in half the time as my blow dryer.
I'm pretty lazy with my skincare, so unless something is incredibly quick and convenient to use, I won't use it. This jade facial roller is the newest addition to my nighttime routine. I keep it on my side table and roll it over my face and neck to help my serums and lotions soak into my skin while enjoying a mini massage at the same time. The heat from your face won't transfer to the little jade stone roller, so it stays cold to de-puff your under-eyes and calm inflammation. I swear, I wake up with less puffiness and a more even skin tone since I bought this thing.
I want to tell you something important about this peeling solution from The Ordinary before you use it for the first time: it will look like your face is covered in blood. It isn't, the solution just happens to be red, but it's a shocking sight the first time you apply it. And even though it stings a tiny bit right before you rinse it off, it will make your skin look so much better instantly, and won't cause dryness or irritation. I use it twice per week, and my skin has never looked better. Oh, and you won't believe the low price point!
