This week I’m sharing a lot of “Best of” content from this past year. I had a lot of fun putting this post together as it made me really think about items I purchased in 2019 that truly brought and continue to bring me joy almost every day! I rounded up my 10 Best Purchases in 2019 for you below! All are obviously tried and true products that I LOVE and highly recommend!
10 Best Purchases in 2019
Parachute Linen Sheets
I splurged on new sheets this year (they’re actually not that expensive), and it was one of my BEST purchases of 2019! I saw multiple people talking about Parachute bedding on Instagram and then listened to a podcast interview of the Parachute founder. Eventually, I heard enough about the brand that I decided to try out the 4-piece linen set. I’m obsessed. The linen is so luxurious. As a caveat, it did take me a couple of weeks to get used to the different texture, but now, when I’m away from home, I can’t WAIT to get back home to my own bed and my linen sheets!
Instant Pot
My mother-in-law gave Michael and I our Instant Pot for Christmas last year. I used the Instant Pot so much in 2019! It makes cooking dinner at home so easy and quick. I can cook an entire pack of chicken breasts in 20 minutes as compared to 4-6 hours in a traditional slow cooker. I’ve found some really great dinner recipes using the Instant Pot by Half Baked Harvest, SkinnyTaste, and The Defined Dish!
I use our Instant Pot at least once a week, sometimes more. It’s definitely worth grabbing! Especially if you’re aiming to cook more at home this year!
Golden Goose Sneakers
This purchase might seem frivolous to some people, but after eyeing Golden Goose sneakers for years, I finally grabbed a pair in October. They are the MOST worn shoes in my closet! I have them on as I’m writing this blog post. If you’re a sneaker person, you need these in your life. I promise you won’t regret the purchase. I went with a neutral white, silver, and grey pair so that they pretty much go with everything.
I wear my Golden Goose sneakers with leggings, jeans, dresses, you name it! They’re great for everyday wear, weekend wear, and especially great for travel! Mine took a few weeks to break in, but now they’re super soft and so comfortable. I don’t even wear socks with mine, and I never get blisters!
I did a lot of research on these sneakers prior to pulling the trigger. The neutral colors are usually hard to find at traditional retailers like Saks and Neiman’s. A couple of non-traditional sites that you may not have shopped from before, but that are totally legit and usually have a wide range of availability are ssense.com (I purchased my pair here) and farfetch.com.
For sizing, I wear a size 7 in all of my shoes. I went with a 37 and they fit perfectly. If you’re in between sizes, I’d recommend going with the larger size as Golden Goose sneakers aren’t available in half sizes.
Apple Watch
Michael has had an Apple watch for years. I always contemplated getting one, but never took the leap. This year, when we were training for the Houston Half-Marathon, I quickly realized how much more seamlessly he was able to track our mileage, easily change songs mid run, and track recaps of our runs, all using his Apple Watch.
I purchased mine mid-training and haven’t regretted it one bit! I mainly use it to track my activity, but I also wear it for its watch function too. I like that it tracks my steps, calories burned, workouts, and stand time throughout the day. It also has reminders that alert me throughout the day to keep me on track to hit my stand goals and exercise (or move) goals.
I went with the Series 3 (not the newest model) since it’s a bit less expensive than the newest series. It works perfectly. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a way to track your movement and exercise this year!
Amazon Leggings
I’ve raved about these Amazon leggings on Instagram Stories non-stop since I purchased them. They’re very comparable to the Lululemon Align leggings, but cost a fraction of the price. They’re high waisted, suck everything in, come in fun prints, are super soft, and only $30!
I have the army green splinter camo print and wear them weekly. I’m eyeing the cyan leopard print for my next pair! For sizing reference, I’m usually a size 6 in Lululemon but wear a size small in the Amazon Leggings.
Away Everywhere Bag
You know I LOVE my Away luggage. This year I added the Away Everywhere Bag to my collection and even got Michael one for Christmas too! It is the PERFECT personal carry-on item!
It’s super spacious – When I travel, I fit my laptop, legal pad, planner, DSLR camera, toiletry bag, makeup bag, snacks, water bottle, sunglasses, wallet, lip glosses, hand sanitizer (and I’m sure a few other things I’m missing) all in the bag! Michael and I both have the canvas – I have the blue and he has the green. The canvas is really easy to clean.
The BEST thing about this bag is that it has a cutout so that it slides right onto your rolling carry-on bag handle. This makes a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE when maneuvering through the airport! The Everywhere Bag stays put right on top of the rolling luggage, it’s awesome!
Beautycounter Brightening Facial Oil
Like I mentioned in my New Year’s Goals post, I’ve almost completely swapped out all of my skincare products to clean products. One of my favorites that I started using in 2019 is the Beautycounter Brightening Facial Oil! I LOVE it!
I apply a few drops to my face every night after cleansing and before my moisturizer. Not only is it super hydrating, but it has helped with discoloration on my skin so much this past year. I have lots of sun spots on my face so I’m always looking for ways to help tame them.
The oil leaves my face feeling so nice and smooth and bouncy in the mornings!
Yeti Mug
A simple pleasure, hot coffee all morning long! I don’t know why I held off on buying a Yeti mug for so long. I finally bit the bullet and snagged one for myself a few months ago, and I use it almost every single morning when I have coffee at home. Not only do I love the aesthetic of the mug (the shape, the color, the material etc.), it keeps my coffee warm for hours on end!
I have the white, but it’s available in tons of different colors. And only $25!
Dyson Cordless Vacuum
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I used to HATE vacuuming and would only do once every other week. I finally upgraded our pitiful vacuum that I’d had since college to this cordless Dyson vacuum. GAME. CHANGER.
I now vacuum twice a day, no joke! The cordless feature and the fact that it’s so lightweight makes it easy to whip out after lunch and dinner to quickly clean up crumbs on the kitchen floor. Not only do I not dread vacuuming, I actually really enjoy it! Michael even offers to vacuum without me asking – now that’s saying something!
If you’re in need of a new vacuum, put this on your 2020 list. It’s worth every penny!
Loeffler Randall Heels
Last but not least, another pair of investment shoes! I purchased this pair of Loeffler Randall heels for my wedding last January (I wore them for our welcome party). I’ve gotten so much wear out of them since then! I’ve styled them with casual sun dresses, jeans and blazers, and wedding guest dresses. They’re surprisingly incredibly versatile!
Like my pair of Golden Goose sneakers, I had been eyeing these Loeffler Randall heels for a few months, maybe even a year. When I think about a specific item for that long without loosing interest, it’s usually a sign that the investment will be worth my money. I’ve worn these heels countless times this year (and always receive compliments on them), and they’re still in pristine condition to continue wearing this year too!
What’s the best thing you bought this past year?! Let me know in the comments below!
I think my Rebecca Minkoff beanies have served me SO well over the last few months haha. Definitely my favorite purchases.
I also bought those Amazon leggings because of you and I LOVE. They were definitely soaking wet after my hot yoga class this weekend, but they dried fairly quickly.
Dana | The Champagne Edit
Beanies are a MUST in cold weather cities! Not so useful now that I’m in Houston, ha! I love a good beanie though!
And yes! That’s one reason I love those leggings! The material is pretty thin so it dries fast but also yoga/bend over proof in the see-through department! haha I did a mirror test before going all in on that one!