My Favorite Things 2020

2020 is *finally* coming to an end! Although this year was tough in a lot of ways, it was really wonderful in other ways as well. This year forced me to slow down, allowed me to spend extra time with my husband and granted us with 24/7 time with our newborn. One thing that I realized in 2020 was that I didn’t *need* all of the things I thought I did. Sure, I can’t wait until I go get regular manicures again and sit in coffee shops to work, but those things aren’t necessary for my day to day life!

This year in particular I paid more attention to the items I used day in and day out to function! I thought it would be fun to share what my favorite items of the year were for 2020. All of these products have bettered my life in some way and are items I continuously reached for throughout 2020. Some of the products I discovered from friends/family, others I found on my own & some I discovered through partnerships. Regardless, each of these items became part of my routine and favorite items of mine! So let’s do this…

chappywrap blanket | I’ll admit I had seen these blankets everywhere and I wasn’t so sure about the hype! I mean, a blanket is a blanket, right? Wrong! I was so, so wrong! I partnered with chappywrap earlier this spring and immediately understood the hype. Chappywrap blankets are the perfect weight, I never feel too hot or too cold when using it & it washes so well. Between two animals and a baby we wash our blankets often and they have held up so well and still look brand new. We even have two of their mini blankets for Noah. No matter what season it is, I’m constantly grabbing my chappywrap to snuggle up in.

hatch rest sound machine | We got this sound machine for Noah’s nursery. Since he was in our bedroom for the first few weeks we moved it into our room temporarily. Well, once we moved Noah we ordered a second Hatch sound machine for our room because we loved it so much! There are so many sound (and light) options and we love that it can be operated and programmed from our phones.

skinceuticals C E ferulic acid serum | My friends rave about this serum, so I decided to add it into my skincare routine this year. It improves signs of aging, reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles & helps to bright skin’s complexion while also providing advanced protection from environmental damage.

Nespresso machine | This is another item that has been a favorite of mine for years. We have the Nespresso DeLonghi Lattissima and I cannot say enough great things about this machine. It makes the best lattes and I love that I don’t have to go to a coffee shop to get a good latte. Nick uses this often to do shots of espresso, too! It’s definitely an investment, but it is worth every penny (and more!).

stance no show socks | I tried to find good no show socks for years. After many fails I stumbled upon the brand stance and decided to try their no show socks. These are the only brand I wear now because they fit my feet well and they never slide down or fall off.

Essie gel couture | I used to get SNS done on my nails once a month. It was my favorite and loved having that “me” time. When quarantine started I began using the Essie gel Couture polish and I *love* it. It lasts for 2+ weeks and I love that I can easily remove it with nail polish remover. I have been so impressed with it the past 10 months!

Birkenstocks | Never in a million years did I think I would have Birkenstock sandals but I caved and ordered them this summer and they became my go-to sandals to wear when running errands or going on walks in the hot summer months. I love the gold color and the support they provide is key. I’m already looking forward to pulling these out in the spring.

kindle paperwhite | This has been a favorite item of mine for a few years now, but especially this year! Since having Noah I have relied on my kindle more than ever before. It’s so easy to read this with one hand while feeding Noah and I love that I can easily take it with me anywhere. I will always prefer a physical book over an e-book, but for convenience sake it’s been the best!

UPPAbaby VISTA V2 stroller | Although we have only used this stroller system for five months, it’s easily one of my favorite baby items! I talk a bit more about it in this post but the stroller is worth all the hype. It’s easy to put together and I love the bassinet feature it comes with. We used the bassinet for naps for the first few months and we still use it for walks at 22 weeks!

MZ Wallace medium Metro tote | If you are looking for a lightweight tote that can work as an everyday tote, a work bag, gym bag or even diaper bag… grab this tote! I got mine back in 2017 and it has functioned as all of those bags! I truly love this tote and am planning on getting the deluxe version soon. I appreciate how lightweight it as, especially when using it as a carry on, and that is can fold up and fit into the small pouch it comes in. The medium size can hold a lot and I always use pouches to keep it organized! If you’re wanting to use it for a diaper bag, I suggest getting the tote savvy insert.

Quay Australia After Hours Sunglasses | I am notorious for losing expensive sunglasses (RIP to all of my Ray-Bans!) so I grabbed these on a whim a few years ago. I can say with 100% certainty that these are hands down my favorite sunglasses that I own! They’re $65 and have held up through beach trips, traveling, and dropping them.

albanese gummy bears | When I was pregnant I went through a phase where I loved gummy bears. My MIL got these for us last year and believe me when I say they are the *best* gummy bears ever! I went through sooo many packs of these throughout my pregnancy haha! They stay good for so long (love how soft they are) and each color actually tastes like a flavor, unlike some gummy bears!

Kiehl’s ultimate strength hand salve | I have struggled to find a good, hydrating hand lotion for quite some time. I got this hand lotion at the end of last year and it’s been the best hand lotion. I notice a huge difference when I use it!

Mother denim | After having Noah none of my jeans fit. I am a tried-and-true jeans girl and was in desperate need for a good pair of jeans! I finally tried Mother brand denim and they quickly became my favorite brand. They’re so comfortable and incredibly soft. I felt so confident in this with my postpartum body!