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These Are a Few of My Favorite Things From 2019

These are a few of my fav-o-rite things from 2019. (Bonus points if you sang that in tune!)

I’ve had so much fun catching up on everyone’s ‘Favorite Things’ lists from the year, that I thought I’d join in! I personally love seeing what tops others’ lists; it’s like catching a glimpse into their everyday routines. Below, I’m sharing the items that I find to be useful, make me smile on the daily and return to again and again. So without further adieu, these are a few of my favorite things from 2019!

Favorite Things | 2019

1. ‘Dad’ cap, $10 | This was the year – somewhere along the way! – that I discovered I was a hat person. And this is The Hat. Scott bought it for himself, but he’s hardly had a chance to wear it, because it’s always on my head. I have it in white, but I love the washed blue, too!

2. NARS liquid blush in Orgasm, $30 | Blush is my desert island makeup choice, and I’ve always loved this cult favorite. But as I get older, I’ve been looking towards cream, stick and liquid blushes (since they don’t settle into fine lines as noticeably). This liquid blush is concentrated with a built-in highlighter look, and I’m hooked.

3. Popcorn grid coverlet, $249 | I’m obsessed with a good coverlet (especially during the winter months), but this one reminds me of my sweet grandma and has a heavy, solid weight to it. It’s truly gorgeous in-person – photos can’t do it justice.

4. Kinn Chair, $449 | This chair has saved my back! I have a bad back and spend more time at our desk than I’d like to admit, and I finally decided that it was time to get an ergonomic chair. I searched for weeks and kept upping my budget, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend 4-figures on a chair. Exasperated, I Googled ‘tell me what office chair to buy‘, clicked on ‘feeling lucky’ and this was one of the first to pop up. It’s fully adjustable, sleek (as much as an ergonomic chair can be), and priced really well for what it is. The aches in my body have completely subsided, and I’d recommend this chair to anyone else on a similar hunt.

5. Outdoor wall sconce, $49 | These budget sconces look anything but! It was an inexpensive update to completely upgrade our front porch, and we continue to receive messages from you letting us know that you’ve loved yours for years!

6. Stone & Beam dinnerware set for 6, $99 | We finally bid farewell to our tired, scratched up dinnerware and upgraded to these. Funny how this swap can make you enjoy your meals that much more! The matte white is more of an ivory, and they look much more expensive than they were.

7. Chelsea boot, $228 | I’d been on the hunt for a good Chelsea boot for years, and these topped my list. I wanted shoes for the long haul (not something I’d need to replace in a year or two). I snagged these during a Black Friday sale, and I’ve been breaking them in for the last few weeks. They’ve started conforming to the shape of my foot, and they’re the only pair I’ve been reaching for since they came in the mail!

8. Stacking initial ring, $20 | I did the thing that moms do and bought myself an ‘L’ ring. It’s dainty and adorable, and I actually wear it! (I’m so not a jewelry person.) I’m thinking of adding an S, J and C – is a 4-stack too many?!

9. Sonos One speaker, $199 | Scott has often said that if he could start over and rebuild our home audio system from scratch, he’d choose Sonos over and over again. We have one speaker that lives in the bedroom, and it’s Alexa enabled. I love waking up and asking her to open all the blinds and play Christmas music, all without lifting a finger.

10. Cheeky 90s jeans, $78 | All of my jeans have started the slow shift over to Everlane, because they just fit good. I’ve been wearing these non-stop, and they only get better with more wears and less washes in-between. Tip: I always go 1 size down in Everlane denim.

11. Lutron Caséta Smart Start kit, $99 | We began the Smart Home journey at Tree House using Caséta, and we loved it so much that we added it to some of our switches in Chicago. This starter kit comes complete with everything you need!

12. The Ordinary peeling solution, $7 | This stuff is so weird, but I love it so much. It’s red and gooey and a little tingly, and my skin has never been so smooth! I’ve nixed my exfoliating scrubs completely in favor of this. Here’s my entire skincare routine, if you’d like to see!

13. Learning ladder (similar), $125 | Adding this learning ladder to our kitchen island has completely changed the way our family interacts with one another. See what I mean here! Lucy can join us in preparing meals, munching on snacks or just having (usually hilarious) conversations! She’s at our level, and it makes her so proud – which makes me weepy in the best way. Ours is no longer available, but here’s another similar one that ships prime!

14. Retractable safety gate, $43 | This safety gate might be the most requested link that fills my DMs! It reached up to 71″ wide, can be used indoors and out and is completely inoffensive when not in use. A win-win-win, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

15. Lake & Skye 11 11, $98 | I started with the rollerball in 2018, but after using up every last drop, I sprung for the perfume this time around. It’s a unisex scent that has quickly become my signature scent.

16. K9 Ballistics tough nesting bed, $89+ | Holy smokes, these dog beds are amazing! We have 3 now – 2 at home and 1 for Tree House – and the dogs couldn’t destroy these if they tried. (And believe me, they’ve tried.) The material is durable and washable, comes in several colors and the cushion itself has channels to keep the filling in place. Most importantly, Jack and CC absolutely love them!

17. YETI Rambler insulated mug, $25 | I’ve been so spoiled by my YETI, that it’s almost impossible to drink coffee out of a regular ol’ mug anymore. Keeps my coffee hot for hours and hours (and hours!), and the entire thing is dishwasher safe. Tip: If you need something that fits nicely into your car’s cup holders, Scott loves this style.

18. Custom silhouette print, $12 | We added these custom silhouettes to our walls earlier this year, and I couldn’t love them more. Our Libby print feels extra special now, and I could cry seeing how much Lucy’s profile has already grown up! The seller makes communication a breeze, and she sends you a draft to approve – so you can make sure she’s capturing your kiddo’s cowlick just right.

19. Transit backpack, $78 | Like, I couldn’t even begin to tell you how much easier this backpack has made my life. I use it to transport camera gear, my laptop and all my chargers. Or I take it on the plane with clothes for the weekend. Or I stuff notebooks and crayons and a stuffie inside for Lucy. It’s high quality with endless compartments, and, well, you should probably get on the waitlist now.

20. Sandberg wallpaper in Raphaël light blue, $147/roll | Tree House arrived the moment we added this wallpaper to the sleeping loft. It embodies the way we want that home to feel, and it makes us so genuinely happy.

21. Faux fur ombre throw, $99+ | There are endless options for faux fur throws in the world, but this is The One. They add instant warmth, texture and added interest to any room – and, oh yeah, they are c-o-o-o-zy. We have two!

What are the things that have made your year?

PS: If you’re still on the hunt for a perfect gift, these all arrive before Christmas, and you can catch all our gift guides right here!

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  • Andrea12.19.19 - 9:12 AM

    Thank you for these recommendations! I was having the same struggle with office chairs, all of the good ones are so expensive. The Kinn chair is $100 off right now, just ordered two!ReplyCancel

  • Paige Cassandra Flamm12.19.19 - 1:56 PM

    I need that Yeti mug in my life!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.comReplyCancel

  • Meredith12.19.19 - 2:05 PM

    I JUST bought that peeling solution today. I’m excited to try it!ReplyCancel

  • GG12.19.19 - 5:42 PM

    I loved Nars too but I found out they are not cruelty free and test on animals… so Nars no more.ReplyCancel

    • Kim12.19.19 - 6:35 PM

      I had to look into this because I thought they WERE cruelty free. It seems as though the shift happened when they advanced into the Chinese market, only when required by law… which I still don’t like the sound of. However, it appears they’re working towards alternate solutions. I’ll be watching this – thank you for bringing this up!ReplyCancel

  • Lucy1.7.20 - 9:08 AM

    I always love and trust your recommendations! So far they have not steered me wrong (Yi baby camera, Jcrew Winter parka, Nest Thermostat and retractable baby gate!) Thanks for taking the time out to share and answer inquiries :) ReplyCancel

    • Kim1.7.20 - 10:16 AM

      Love hearing this, Lucy! Thank you. :)ReplyCancel

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