I took a break for two years from writing these posts, but I am so happy to be back sharing 33 things that I have recently discovered and loved. I like to share a list of favorite things around my birthday and I often find that when I go back and read past lists SO MUCH OF THE STUFF is still my favorite. That's good news. In fact, while writing this list I found overlap with stuff I shared on my 30 list and I had to pick different items.
So here we go...33 things that entered my life over the past three years to change the game. Two quick notes. 1. there are affiliate links in this post (and many of my posts) but I don't share this stuff to make money, I share this stuff because I legit love it. 2. There is an excessive amount of footwear shared below. For the record I have 15 pairs of shoes and THREE of them made this list.
Girlfriend collective leggings / I ordered these when the brand was just launching and they were FREE, you just had to pay shipping. (The idea was that you'd love them and you'd hype them to others.) The idea worked because I do love them and I do hype them. They are high waist and to the ankle and generally great. If I was currently allowing myself to shop for clothing I would buy a second pair.
daily habit tracker / this is my own product and it's free if you subscribe to my newsletter. It's keeping me on track with pilates and it's helping others make daily changes and for that I love it.
L.L. Bean wicked good slippers / a 2017 Christmas gift that I wear anytime we are at home from about December 1 to March 21st. Love these.
Dymo label printer / this changed my business 100%. It's fast and efficient and most importantly...doesn't need ink replacements. If you are shipping product consistently, you need this. Also, I use the generic labels which they say not to do and literally 10,000s of labels later, my printer is still hanging in.
glamping hub / for my 33rd birthday Paul and I stayed in a safari tent about 70 miles northeast of us. It was FREEZING COLD (my watercup had ice in it in the morning when we woke up) and also one of the most hilariously romantic things we have done together. I want to book more short trips at fun places through them. (It's like airbnb for treehouses, tents and other oddities.)
Today, Explained podcast / I'll do a separate blog post on all the podcasts I listen to weekly but this is a real favorite. It's weekdays in the afternoons and you get the day's news in an engaging way.
the harriet bra pattern / my sewing life changed in a big way last year and making my own bras was something I said I would NEVER do and then two months later I was hooked (alert: pun.) Love this pattern, the challenge of DIY lingerie and the bonkers sense of accomplishment I feel pulling a t-shirt I made over a bra I made. (If you're not planning to make your own, this bra remains my favorite on the market for six years running.)
#the100dayproject / I have done this three years in a row now and it's a real life creative game-changer. In 2016 I wrote 100 pep talks (and turned them into a book!). In 2017 I got 100 plants on fabric (and turned them into a quilt!). In 2018, I took 100 creative adventures. 100 days is a really long time and this project is perfectly suited to my slightly obsessive and very determined creative nature.
Grove Collaborative / I order all of our home cleaning products and many of our personal care items (bar soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, wipes, sunscreen) through Grove. For years I used amazon but I found the pricing to be comparable and I love that they ship everything in a much smaller box (reducing waste). I also love that I don't have to think about this stuff. I get an email once a month that asks if I am ready to order and I can adjust what's needed then. This really sounds like an ad. Apologies.
Primal Pit Paste in lavender / I get it. There are people who like natural deodorant and people who don't. For me, the former, this is great.
ravelry.com / I have spent a lot of time on this website and love that it's a directory for everything knitting as I work harder on improving my craft and finding patterns that are actually something I will love to wear (vs. something I will love to knit).
Lo & Sons Pearl cross-body bag / I think this was a gift a few years ago and it's my go-to travel purse. I feel like any day now it might become by go-to everyday purse...
Hamilton / We were lucky enough to see this in San Francisco in June 2017 and I spent most of it on the edge of my seat with a slightly manic grin on my face. Still my favorite album to listen to when I need to hammer out some writing.
Harney & Sons hot cinnamon spice tea / absolutely changed the tea game. This tastes like red hots. I would personally recommend 2 (heaping!) teaspoons of the loose leaf but that's because I am aggressive about my red hot flavor. Also! Get the herbal (non-caffeinated version) if you plan to drink at night.
rosehip oil / I am not super brand loyal on this so I don't have a specific link, but you can get this tons of places at various price points. I use it at night after washing my face. I rub a few drops on my hands and then pat into my skin. The smell is odd, but after using it for awhile, I like it because it's signals sleep is coming.
Essie's Between the Sheets nail polish / I don't wear nail polish on my fingers (it sometimes transfers to planner pages when I am shipping books) but I love this color on my toes. It's like a white with a pink/lavender tint. That doesn't sell it. But try it if you're into white.
Living Proof hairstuff / I am having a journey with my hair you guys. It fell out after Piper was born and has not recovered. I use this when when it's wet and I want to make it straight & this when I want body (curly or straight) applied after it's dry.
Bryr clogs / another 2017 Christmas gift. Made in San Francisco by a woman-owned business and seriously amazing. I have the Clementine, High Heel in Whiskey Leather.
Purl Soho linen quill yarn / I used this for a striped sweater in 2017 and I currently have on my knitting needles the Goode sweater. It's teeny tiny yarn and takes FOREVER to knit up but it's a good price (you can easily get a sweater from 3-4 skeins), comes in beautiful colors and drapes wonderfully.
#memademay / this is yet another hashtag challenge that changed my life. I love following along on this challenge to see what others make and wear. I love the challenge of wearing my own handmade. I love that this pushed me out of my "sew another boxy tee" habit last spring and I can't wait to see what happens after another 31 days of me mades in 2019.
this snack pouch pattern / I made a set of these for Ellerie to take to school in an effort to reduce our plastic waste. They are so quick and satisfying to make plus they get used EVERY SINGLE DAY and that's a tremendous win for anything me made.
yarn dying / I experimented with this last summer and while I haven't yet made a project I love from my hand-dyed yarn, I did really enjoy the process and want to experiment more with this.
Everlane high-rise skinny jean / I think this is my first pair of non-stretch jeans...ever? I am not sure. They took a bit of getting used to, but now something I reach for often (as I type this I am on day three of wearing them). I am 5'3" so the "ankle" fit is just right. I also found that I had to size down to get the fit I wanted.
mora slub fabric / I made a dress from this last fall and am counting the moments until I have something else to sew with this fabric. It's a blend and comes in so many colors. Check here or here.
Hobes boat shoes / I logged 20k step days in these in Europe and Disneyland and they are my favorite. If you're not into minimalist (low-support) footwear I am not going to convince you in a few sentences (though this book might) but if you are ... TRY THEM.
giant foldout Fiskars cutting mat / my sewing game changed when I started cutting out my patterns with weights and a rotary cutter. This mat (it folds out for easy storage!) made it possible.
Benjamin Moore Cloud White Paint / we just painted every single wall (and ceiling) of our new house with this color. It's a warm, sliiiiiiightly creamy white. BM paint is pricey (especially when you need 20 gallons) but we had it color matched to Behr by Home Depot and it worked out great.
blocking mats / file this under things I thought were unnecessary. OMG. Note to self, if you want that knitted garment you spent 100 hours on to fit correctly, measure it while blocking instead of "eyeballing it" on damp towels. Yikes. Total game changer.
TV antenna / we haven't had cable for six years, but we bought an antenna so we could watch (what else?!) the Olympics. We just stuck a binder clip on it and hung it up on the wall on a nail whenever we wanted to watch something.
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne / it's impossible to pick one favorite book from the past few years but this fiction novel sticks out. I loved it.
Union St. Tee pattern / another great pattern. I can't believe I can make a t-shirt. Excited to try more neckline options this year.
Tata Harper cheek and lip tint / just a bit on my cheeks and a bit on my lips on the 14 days a year I put on make-up. At the rate I use this up, I will be able to be buried wearing this color.
"Good for her, not for me." / I read this in Amy Poehler's book long, long ago but I think about this phrase EVERY SINGLE DAY. Usually while scrolling or reading my DMs. There are billions of ways to do something. Only some will work for me. Only some will work for you. It's all very much okay.
