2025 best buys: kid stuff

Last favorite things round up for 2025 - kid stuff. Some of these tried-and-trues will be getting some extra use over the next couple of weeks with kids home on break for sure... time will tell when I start counting down the days until the lunch box gets used again 😛

1. Balance beam set: I already included this in my family gift recommendations post, but it bears mentioning again given how much use the endlessly-configurable set of beams/stepping stones has gotten since Freddie received it in August: obstacle courses, floor-is-lava, gymnastics, even courses for driving little monster truck toys on. Will be great to have for the winter months for sure.

2. Wireless headphones: we have definitely reached the middle school own opinions + music/band obsessions stage - and these wireless headphones have been great so that he can keep his on-repeat songs going when the rest of us would prefer not to join in (though then the adults are just stuck with the preschooler's selections...)

3. Light up football: we actually gave this as a birthday gift to a fellow middle schooler but for how much fun the kids had playing with it, Hendrik will be getting one of his own for Christmas. Lights up on contact, so very fun to throw around the back yard, especially these days when it gets dark sooo early.

4. Sun Bum Kids gel face stick and sunscreen: this stuff is clear and spreads on much more smoothly and silkily than regular sunscreen, so I already liked it for ease of application on kids - but then it became the only sunscreen that Freddie would allow to be applied without a fuss, so it is now the only one I buy!

5. Plastic golf balls 24-pack: for my golf-obsessed 4 year old this set of plastic balls used in our backyard "driving range" (with no chance of damage to house/windows or people...) turned into one of the best value-for-money purchases of my whole year. I bet we're down to pennies per use after his daily sessions of hitting 50+ tee shots.

6. Walker Goods lunch box: in his second year of preschool with a couple of afternoon sessions a week added to his daily morning schedule, Freddie finally got to be one of the "lunch kids" that he always was jealous of last year - and that meant a back-to-school outing to buy a lunch box of course. Picked out this one at a local shop and have found it to be great quality, fits his bento box perfectly, and he could not be cuter toting it into school in the mornings.

7. Sharpie brush tip pens: Hendrik was gifted these last Christmas, and they were a fun addition to his art supply arsenal for something a little different. Also great for entertainment in the winter months...

8. Gingerbread house advent calendar: my kids love (and expect!) advent calendars, but in middle school Hendrik has been getting to a trickier stage to find a good one; our go-to Lego advent calendars are too simple for him these days, so instead I thought we'd try this building kit with mini bricks. You add on to the adorable (and surprisingly detailed) gingerbread house build each day, and in the end it's a great piece of holiday decor. Definitely more challenging and thus enjoyable for him at this stage - would recommend for older kids in a similar boat.

2025 best buys: home & life

Next up in the best buys series - some of the most worth-it purchases/gifts in 2025 for use in the home and life in general. A few things purely for fun, and a few things for function that also happen to be as nice to look at as they are to use...

1. Silicone lids: we have lots of glass pyrex containers for leftovers, etc. and they are great to replace plastic versions. I think they'll last forever. The lids, unfortunately, not so much. These silicone replacement ones have held up great and they come in fun colors too.

2. The Correspondent: I requested this for my birthday, read it, hugged it, and wanted to gift it to everyone else (I loaned my copy anyway). Probably will end up my #1 read of the year when I make my list (see full review).

3. Pool/ping pong table: for our new garage upstairs rec room, we got a ping pong / pool combo table, and it has been great for family fun as well as for turning our place into more of a middle school hangout draw. This was a big purchase that my family will tell you loomed even larger in my mind. It can be nerve wracking to buy furniture online, but this one had good reviews on quality, and indeed it is very sturdy (and HEAVY - if you get it you need to have 3 high school/college age boys living next door like we do to help you move it).

4. Solar-powered lights: we've had a set of these by our front walkway for a while, and they're so nice I bought them twice. They've held up great and are super easy to install for a bit of classy walkway lighting, no electrician needed.

5. Christmas tree storage bag: last Christmas was our first with an artificial tree (got a great deal on this one and it is great), but then come January I had to figure out how to store it in the basement... this bag is great, easy to move around on my own thanks to the wheels. I got a second to hold all of our garlands too, plus matching ornament box and was quite pleased with my organizational choices when it came time to decorate this year.

6. Maldon sea salt flakes: I'm actually a couple of years into my obsession with this and it continues to be a great buy - makes for fancy recipe finisher (these cookies were Hendrik's birthday request - amazing) and I also sprinkle it on apple slices every morning. So good!

7. Lego wildflower bouquet set: I bought this as a Valentine's/anniversary gift for us. Very fun to have a little activity to do together as a way to connect, and a set like this is great because you can build the same thing simultaneously (with duplicates of most of the flowers), and it's something you can pick up for 10-20 minutes at a time when you only have small pockets (as parents of young kids often do). And it's actually pretty cool looking in a vase!

2025 best buys: style & beauty

As the year comes to a close, but gift giving season is still in full swing, it seemed like a great time to do the annual look-back posts on my favorite purchases (or indeed, things I received as gifts!) from the past year. First up, style and beauty related items: 

1. Calpak sling bag: I upgraded the size of my sling bag this year, and it has been great for travel and for daily life with kids - holds all of my needs plus plenty of snacks, sanitizer, etc. and is easy to clean. Lots of pockets for organization to boot.

2. Straight leg jeans: while trying to keep up with the (denim) times, I am struggling to go all the way on wide-leg jeans. They're just a bit much on a short lady and also don't bring back the fondest middle school style memories... so I was quite pleased to find this pair at an amazing price - and in petite length - that feels a bit more of the moment but suits me better.

3. Adidas Barreda Decode shoes: cool kid sneakers to rival the ones my college-age babysitters wear. Plus they fit my old lady orthotics. HA!

4. Denim skort: I wore this thing almost daily in the summer. I feel too casual in denim shorts but also wanted an easy option that's not athletic wear - perfection with a simple tee or tank (similar / similar)

5. Laneige lip mask: this stuff is the best for slathering on before bed at night to keep your lips soft, especially in the dry winter months when mine tend to get cracked. Smells amazing too.

6. Elta MD UV daily tinted moisturizer: daily sunscreen wear (even in winter!) is a must, and this is my go-to thanks to Peter's recommendation via the dermatologist bro YouTube videos he watches. It does triple duty as moisturizer, sunscreen, and nice light tint (great for a minimal makeup wearer like me), feels good going on, and has no weird scent like some sunscreen moisturizers. 

7. Peloton/Lululemon active dress: when not wearing my denim skort, an active dress was my favorite summer wear. Again just feels a tad more polished than some other options but still kept me cool and worked for any kid type of activity, outing to the park, etc. The great innovation in this one vs. ones I owned previously is the ability to pull down the built in shorts to use the bathroom... IYKYK.

Stay tuned for some best buys of the year in home/life and kid stuff too.

gift grid 2025: team Hoekman recommendations

One month until Christmas... already?! I don't like to get ahead of things with holidays until we've celebrated Thanksgiving, but the season is going to sneak up on us with it landing so late this year. So while my tree isn't coming out till Friday, I have been planning/shopping for gifts and thought I'd share some Hoekman family recommendations in the form of a "gift grid" for anyone who needs 'em. The "mom" ones happen to be my wishlist; the rest are items that we have and have loved in this household that would make great gifts for things your family might want/need or that they could wear/read.

for the mom - want: the Evie charm necklace is top of my wishlist as I love everything I have purchased from this jewelry company and have been wanting to add this personalize-able delicate necklace to my collection | need: mini tongs are more indispensable in the kitchen than you might guess (but mine have gone missing) | wear: shearling-lined Birkenstock clogs would be such cozy and comfy house shoes! | read: Wreck is the just-released follow-up to one of my favorite reads of the year (Sandwich)

for the dad - want: the yardball is a fun/unique ball that "combines the form of a baseball with the function of a leather glove - perfect for playing catch, anytime and anywhere!" and my crew enjoys it for sure | need: a sport sunscreen that is dermatologist recommended and has cool packaging | wear: LL Bean's insulated utility gloves get a lot of use for colder-weather yardwork around here | read: the Thursday Murder Club series is great for all kinds of readers and has been a favorite in Peter's 2025 reading year 

for the big - want: The Great Wave Lego set looks so cool in person, and Hendrik really enjoyed putting it together | need: a Yeti water bottle that's a good size for carting around all day | wear: a hoodie in black is what my middle schooler thinks is just the thing; he has this exact one and loves how soft the inside is | read: Impossible Creatures was last year's Christmas book for Hendrik, and he and I both loved the fantasy world and friendship/quest of the main characters (the sequel is going in his stocking this year!)

for the little - want: this re-configurable balance beam set is excellent for an active kid on an indoor day, whether setting up an obstacle course/"floor is lava" type game or repurposing it as a monster truck driving course | need: garden tools in a preschooler size have gotten a lot of use here alongside mom and dad in the yard | wear: an apron for little baking assistants with a cute personalized leather patch | read: Bulldozer's Big Rescue is the perfect selection for a kid who is ready for simple chapter book read-alouds but requires a vehicle to be part of any story...

for the whole fam - want: this indoor putting green was actually Freddie's birthday gift (he is so golf obsessed!), but it has been fun for the whole family and is another good indoor winter activity | need: personalized placemats protect the table from kid spills but also are great dinner conversation pieces as we reminisce about the various photos on them | wear: matching cozy socks are my favorite stocking stuffer | read: The Art of the Minifigure is the kind of coffee table book that the whole family finds fun to page through and will return to again and again

Some tried-and-true recommendations from us to you - and there are more where those came from in the archives!

2024 best buys: kid stuff

One last roundup of our tried-and-true 2024 buys. If you're looking for gift ideas, this is a very particular demographic of 3 and 11 year old boys... but some of these are a bit more universal/family suggestions, plus it's just fun to think back on our kids' most loved and used purchases from the year as a little time capsule for their current stages/interests. 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

1. Sticker book: Freddie is obsessed with stickers, and we have gone through many books in the past year, during travel and especially when waiting on Hendrik for a piano lesson or tennis match. I thought this one was particularly cute, has bonus coloring pages, and got extra mom points for having a spiral binding and sticker sheets placed opposite the pages for sticking, so none of that flipping to the back to peel a sticker, ad nauseum. (They have lots of other cute options - cats, dogs, farmer's market, etc. - if your giftee is willing to entertain the idea of non-vehicle stickers... mine is not.)

2. Knit hoodie: Hendrik entered middle school, and he started having personal style opinions: it's all hoodies, all the time. Luckily he loves this one just as much as his MSU Spartans and school tennis team ones, a great option to dress things up a tad with the nice knit fabric and less oversized silhouette. It's super soft and cozy to boot.

3. Nike Air Force Ones: Possibly even more than the clothing opinions has been the emergence of middle schooler shoe opinions! He has liked this style for a while, and they fit right in at school - but when he outgrew his last pair we had to look more carefully than we used to at every color choice to land on something that he liked, and that toed the line (if you will) of being cool but not overly flashy. He's very pleased with these ones.

4. CAT mini machines set: This inexpensive little set has gone everywhere with us (travel, beach, in my purse since they're nice and lightweight), and has done so much backyard digging in our construction site - WELL worth the purchase. 

5. Sherpa fleece: A colder climate kid needs a fleece or two, and why not go for a fun one? When I saw this print, I couldn't resist - it just makes me so happy, and Freddie loves it too. This particular one is sold out, but there are plenty of other cheery ones out there like this and this.

6. Perler beads: We've had these a while, and they are great for a range of elementary school ages, but they really had a resurgence in our house this summer when Hendrik undertook his Starry Night project, so we bought lots of them in particular colors. We got the larger boards too, and the possibilities are endless now. The Starry Night replica turned out SO cool, even if it was beastly to iron...

7. Those Kids from Fawn Creek: Hendrik read a lot of books this year, but I list this one in particular as a family favorite, because Peter and I read it too. And like all Erin Entrada Kelly books we've read, we would highly recommend. So good at capturing middle school emotions and relationships, weaving a story about kids who feel real, and giving me protagonists and endings that make me hug the book when I finish.

8. Qwixx: Admittedly this is not Hendrik's favorite game, but it's one I actually enjoy (not a game lover here)! This dice game is one we'd recommend for a wide range of ages, introduced to us by my parents. We like that it's not a huge time commitment, it's a good mix of skill/luck, and it's easy to learn.

9. Lovevery tricky topics books: I bought several of the books from this line to help us with some big toddler things - starting preschool, using the potty, and giving up the pacifier. The real photos and the very realistic stories capture Freddie's attention so well, and the books have given me and him both language for some of these big emotions/transitions. I think I need to acquire the one about "hitting hurts" too, unfortunately

10. Fleece PJ joggers: I love Primary for all of their kids' basics, and these PJ joggers especially bear mentioning because they are so warm and cozy - and I can make my kids match in them. Super cute for Christmas morning too.

Happy shopping and celebrating... see you back here in a couple of weeks for my best books of the year!

2024 best buys: style & beauty

Okay, I'll admit that my favorite person to shop for might be... me. But I have done admirably well this year with not making any personal purchases while doing my holiday shopping. Instead, I thought about all the great style & beauty finds from throughout 2024 and rounded them up here to share as my gift to you - whether you want for yourself or an idea for a present for a lovely lady you know 😊

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

1. Horseshoe earrings: Hello Adorn is my new favorite for minimalist jewelry these horseshoe earrings especially are so lovely - elegant but somehow also make me feel just a tad edgy and cool with this twist on a hoop. I never take them off, though admittedly they can fall out, not being closed at the bottom... when I commented this in a (glowing, otherwise) review on the website I got to learn about their amazing customer service - they sent me a new pair! Have gifted these already to most of the ladies in my life.

2. JCrew Carolyn sweater: I own a ton of sweaters and love many of them, but this one gets a special shout out because it's just a classic cut, really nice lightweight knit that doesn't seem to pill, and, most importantly, comes in my current favorite color from my light spring palette (see #4 below!) to purchase. 

3. Dans Les Bois perfume: DIME scents also bring some minimalist loveliness to life. My friend gifted me a sample pack a while back, which had several great ones, but my favorite was Dans Les Bois, enough so that this year I purchased it in full size and in travel size to keep in my toiletry bag (a true joy in life is having mini sizes of my favorite products always packed and ready to go in my toiletry bag).

4. Expanded color palette: I have gushed before about how great the Created Colorful color consult is - an amazing gift I received a couple of Christmases ago, and you can see their influence in identifying my light spring palette here... Recently they introduced a downloadable expanded palette for each of the color sub-seasons. Love having this saved to an album on my phone for easy reference.

5. Quince denim: this site has been a go-to for super affordable classic pieces (less charitably: knockoffs) over the last couple of years, and I'm happy to report that so far their kick-flare denim compares quite favorably to Madewell's in style, comfort, fit, and quality - and they come in a petite inseam! - for less than 1/2 the cost. Now I want to try the wide leg ones.

6. Paula's Choice BHA exfoliant: turning 40 made me turn to more skincare choices. I think this particular suggestion came from Jamie B. Golden in this podcast episode, and it's something I have purchased multiple times now. I use it before serum + creams, and I love how smoothing and glowy it is.

7. Beauty of Joseon dynasty cream: being in Seoul, skincare capital of the world, for 2 weeks meant I had to try out and acquire some new products! This brand is one liked by Peter's favorite YouTube dermatologists, especially the sunscreen, so we checked out some samples at Olive Young (ubiquitous cosmetics shop in Korea) and I found this to be the most delectable face cream I have ever tried. So lightweight and nice. 

8. Satellite choker: again, Hello Adorn is my new favorite discovery! as advertised, you can sweat, swim, shower, and sleep in it completely comfortably; honestly sometimes I wouldn't wear jewelry because it's annoying to take on and off, but this adds the perfect bit of polish to the neckline of pretty much all of my tees and sweaters without any extra effort.

9. All in Motion skort: Target has really been a great source of workout gear for years, but this year's MVPs were these particular skorts. You can exercise in them, but they also look decently polished for wearing about town, or travel/sightseeing. I have it in two colors and wore almost every day, whether with a workout tank, a tucked-in tee, or a cropped sweatshirt. Highly recommend.

2024 best buys: home & life

I miss doing my gift grid roundups - always so fun and satisfying, even if nobody but me were to look at them! - though unfortunately time for that is not in the cards these days. But in case anyone is still out there reading and in search of some Christmas gift ideas (it is sneaking up on us fast, only 20 days away!), I thought I might round up my best buys of 2024. Tried and true things in my house that would make for great holiday presents for a range of recipients! 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

1. The God of the Woods: Not only did this book land in my top 5 of 2024 reads, but also it is my book of this year that I feel like I can hand to almost anyone. It's a genre mashup, it's super well written, and I think it has a wide range of readership.

2. Take Back Bag: Trashie is a site that got presented to me in an Instagram ad and I'm pleased I took the bait on the Take Back Bag - textiles recycling that you can feel confident is actually doing good as recycling. I'm willing to pay a fee for textiles recycling, to make sure my stinky old towels and socks and holey-kneed kids' clothes aren't ending up in landfills. An eco-friendly gift!

3. The NYT games app: this is a subscription I've had for a few years but will continue to renew yearly - it's the best! Great gift if there's a word puzzle lover in your life who doesn't already subscribe. It has access to the archives of favorite puzzles that you might already be doing (Wordle, Connections), and of course Spelling Bee and the excellent crossword + mini crossword.

4. 50 Must-Read Books puzzle: I'll buy pretty much any book cover-themed jigsaw puzzle; this is my latest one, and it was quite a delight to do. Have passed it around to the book-loving puzzlers in my circle, and they agree.

5. mindbodygreen Creatine+: I was Instagram influenced into this particular brand of Creatine via a Peloton instructor, but my spouse - and apparently menopause experts - are on board with the efficacy of this supplement for building lean muscle, exercise recovery, energy. I haven't been taking for super long, but so far I'm pleased with the results of this one; a subscription could benefit the athlete or lady of a certain age in your life too perhaps. (Note: way more enjoyable to consume when mixed with a flavored electrolyte pack like this!)

6. Caseify phone case: Happened upon this option when I needed a replacement, and I'm very pleased - it's cute, slim, not too expensive, and works like a charm... don't care to admit how many times I have dropped my phone, and no cracks!

7. OXO coffee brewer: The drip coffee consumer in my house got this after Wirecutter declared it the best one, and if you know a coffee lover who likes to sip throughout the day, this is a nice splurge - looks lovely on the countertop, makes great coffee (and makes it fast), and keeps the pot of coffee nice and hot + fresh in the carafe (no burnt coffee taste)

8. Figment rubber utensil set: one of those things I "accidentally" bought for myself at Target during holiday shopping last year, and WELL worth the $5 - super cute and super useful. I use them every day for cooking eggs, getting the last out of the jar of peanut butter, etc. Stocking stuffer, anyone?!  

9. Letterfolk tile placemats: we've loved our Letterfolk tile mat for years - so fun to swap out the designs seasonally - and this new addition of the placemats has been delightful as well. They look colorful and cheery on the table, they are a great material for kid spills, and they also double as great kid entertainment! Freddie and I spent an entire evening placing tiles recently, and when a proverbial rainy (snowy) day arrives, we can pull them off and make new designs.

10. Grazia olive oil: I'll buy wine just for a cute label, and apparently now olive oil too. The Grazia packaging caught my eye when I needed a new bottle of oil, and I've gone back to it multiple times now. Tastes good, looks cute on the counter (sense a theme?), and I absolutely love the twist cap/squeeze bottle functionality for cooking. Looks like it also comes in a nice little gift set!

life lately: things I learned this summer

School year is now in full swing, with Freddie starting preschool (!!) after Labor Day. It got me thinking a little about the classic "what I did this summer" beginning of school writing assignment, and ah I miss those simpler times when writing a couple of paragraphs was the hardest thing about my day. So I thought I'd give myself a little nostalgic escape from the rocky road we're on with school adjustments and write a little post about some things I learned this summer that will be accompanying me into the rest of the year:

Lovevery's "tricky topics" books are brilliant. Freddie really responded to the real-life pictures and interactions in the Goodbye, Paci! book and very willingly utilized the envelope it comes with for depositing said pacifiers (I really wish they could do something about the crazy sleep disruptions and nap protests that ensued though...), and the starting preschool one really helped us prepare too. Based on those, I am adding the poop on the potty and toddler bed ones to our collection pronto.

Planning a getaway inspired by books is an excellent idea - if Tom Lake and/or Funny Story made you want to visit northern Michigan in the summer, do it! I'm partial to my portion of Lake Michigan, but that part of it is delightful too, with orchards, wineries, beaches, and an added bonus: Traverse City has a couple of nice bookstores within a block of each other where you can accumulate some more great reads. Now which book of 2024 will inspire my travel in 2025? The coast of Greece might be a stretch but Excavations makes me wish for it!

Kale chicken caesar is the perfect quick dinner, and somehow my kids even like it?! Best thing is how easy it is with the bag of chopped kale from Target how delicious it is with Briana's asiago caesar dressing. Just add some croutons, parm, and cherry tomatoes, and you've got yourself a meal.

The stripey shirts that I love to buy my kids "stand out" too much to be worn to middle school. Okay, noted, and stocked on plain gray tees...

The Olympics are magical, and for as little as $7 you can keep the joy in your life by acquiring the Amazon version of a rhythmic gymnastics ribbon (thanks to my mom for that hot tip). My children and I are delighted.

JCrew's brilliant peony is my color jam right now (with Gap's peach parfait alongside it). In general spring/summer is the best time to find things in my personal color palette - and sometimes it's hard to know how well my light/bright colors fit into fall/winter dressing - but this color that makes me happy and also makes my face look less tired than I am is extending into sweaters too!

2023 best buys: home & life

And one more from 2023 - a random assortment of purchases for home & life that I have loved and that are still proving their worth in usefulness and/or enjoyment in 2024!

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

 

1. Bose noise-cancelling earbuds: my first pair of noise-cancelling headphones, and my first pair of true wireless - and I love both things about these! The noise-cancelling part is so nice for longer flights especially. Haven't actually tried it to drown out toddler yells but am very tempted. The true wireless part (as opposed to these) is great so I can listen in one ear while I follow Freddie on neighborhood wanders. It got me a lot more audiobook listening in the year than ever before. And with Bose, you know the sound quality is great.

2. All in Motion dumbbells: I've had various sets of these since our pandemic gym membership cancellation and am still happy with them; even more happy that in 2023 my leveling up of strength (thanks to consistency with Peloton strength workouts!) required the acquisition of the heaviest ones, the 20-pounders.

3. Cookie scoop: For years, every time I have made cookies I've thought about how it would be handy to have one of these. Finally got one, and for $10 the satisfaction and also the perfectly consistently sized cookies... what took me so long?

4. Costzon kids basketball hoop: The number of hours that Freddie has gotten entertainment out of "shootin' hoops" brings the cost-per-use of this thing very low - and that's not even considering the soccer net/ball and golf club/ball it comes with. Highly recommend for an active toddler.

5. Skiphop toddler backpack: Unlike his big brother, Freddie is the toddler you need to worry about wandering off when you're trying to pay for your produce at the farmer's market... Enter the backpack "leash" (they call it, more nicely, a "tether"). He adores being able to carry a couple of cars in it, and I found it especially fabulous for keeping him close while walking through the airport on our trips.

6. Pillowfort plate set: Hendrik was still using an old bamboo plate set from years ago, but with Freddie ready for regular plates we needed a few more, and I spotted these at Target. Crazy good price, fab colors, and with 2 kids using 2-3 times per day and then running through the dishwasher, I can say they're durable! Got the matching plastic utensils, bowls, and cups too, an entire serving array for under $15!

7. Yellowbird serrano hot sauce: My brother-in-law introduced us to this stuff, and I promptly bought a big bottle. It's so good on tacos, gives your meal a nice kick without being too much (I'm a little wimpy) - I really like the flavor of it too. Only hot sauce I'd use aside from sriracha.

8. Threshold rug: We had our bedroom repainted at the same time we were getting Freddie's nursery ready, and while I loved our new paint color (Benjamin Moore chelsea gray for life!) I did not love how it looked with our rug. Peter said get a new one... and it took me years to decide. Finally went for this one from Target (always helps that it's easy to return things if I don't end up liking them in the room), and now every time I walk in to our bedroom I'm so pleased with how it all looks. That's worth the price of a Target rug for sure (especially since I got it on sale). It's pretty darn good quality for the price to boot.

9. Built puff bars: Can't remember if it was an influencer or just an Instagram ad that got me on these ones, but these cookie dough puff bars are basically chewy, chocolatey candy bars with chunks of yumminess on top - and packs a punch in grams of protein for its size/taste! No weird low-sugar or chalky protein texture, and a great little treat after lifting my heavier weights! (I've tried one of the regular bars and found that to be the weird protein bar kind of thing, so the puff bars are the way to go. Brownie batter is good, but the ones with chunks - cookie dough, cookies & cream, and s'mores - have been my favorites. If you can get your hands on the cookies & cream chunk puff - I could eat that for dessert instead of an actual dessert, I like it so much.)

10. Magnetic picture hangers: Hendrik and I got inspired to make a fun gallery wall in the playroom with various prints that correlate with our family's hobbies/interests, and these 

11. Faux planter pot fillers: While my spouse doesn't love faux plants and is actually quite good at taking care of real ones, I am the opposite on both counts, and I decided that instead of ending up with pansies and mums and such that just bake in the full sun of our front steps, I was going to invest in a couple seasonal faux planter fillers. I think they're great! The one pictured was for fall and even looked great with my Christmas greens, and I also had tulips in the spring that I loved even more - and best of all, squirrels DON'T love them, so while my neighbors' Tulip Time decor was gnawed on, mine stayed perfect for the occasion.

2023 best buys: style & beauty

I had more ideas than available free time at the end of the year, but who says we can't recap some 2023 favorites in 2024? I did this "best buys" series at the end of 2022 and was inspired again to think about some of my favorite purchases of the year in 2023, as it brought a lot of satisfaction in reflecting on what I got my money's worth of, and also what made my life better/happier/easier.

So, some top beauty/wardrobe buys:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

1. LASLULU sweatshirt: I don't own any Lululemon but have heard that there are some good Amazon dupes of their yummy fabrics; I tried this one out on the recommendation of some of my new "light spring" color palette shopping sources, and it's indeed great. Feels really luxe, washes great, and a great deal too.

2. Quince nap dress: I really loved my official nap dress, but it just was not in my light spring color palette... and was 100% in my friend's winter palette. So I passed it along and got myself this great dupe in a gorgeous blue. The quality and fit feel just as good to me, for much cheaper.

3. Quince shearling slipper: another great knockoff! Just like the Ugg ones for a lot cheaper, and they have held up so well. Still feel cushy and cozy after lots of wears. I wear them all the time.

4. Nisolo flatform sandals: I still wore my Birks (one of 2022's best purchases!) a ton in 2023, but I also really liked having a nice streamlined/polished looking sandal in my footwear collection; these ones are really great for being able to dress up and dress down (they go with pretty much everything!), for giving me a little height without having to wear a heel, and for generally being quite comfortable. 

5. Herschel belt bag: Amazon-ed this one on a last minute whim before our Bahamas trip last February, and it was just the thing for keeping passports close during travel, carrying my phone when I was wearing bathing suits/non-pocketed dresses. And then I proceeded to use it a ton on other trips and life in general, especially the summer when I was running around with kids and wanted an easy way to track wallet/keys/phone.

6. Natori bliss underwear: let this be the permission you need to start the year with fresh undies! Seems a little silly because they're literally under-wear, but there's just something about having non-faded and stretched out pairs that makes me feel better about my days (bonus points for matching bras). I tried out Natori this year thanks to the Nordstrom sale and really like this style for being comfortable but not too "granny", but honestly new ones from Target might have done the trick as well just for that fresh feeling.

7. CeraVe retinol face serum: Peter is into all kinds of YouTube wormholes but one that I've found helpful is the dermatology-related (?!) videos he's watched and reported back that retinol is the answer to everything, and that this is a good brand. It's very economical as far as a face serum goes, and I've been using it for months and find great results in smooth skin and in dealing with the bits of acne that somehow are cropping back up as I near 40 (?!)

8. Supergoop glow screen: Also as I near 40 finally getting on that recommendation to always wear SPF, and I like this as a summer no-makeup look makeup substitute. Subtle glow, spf 40, and goes on so nice and smooth without any weird scent. Got me to actually put it on my spf daily in the summer!

9. Virtue shampoo/conditioner: I have fairly straight hair but there's always a little frizz underneath, especially in the humid times of year, so I'm always interested in a hair product billed as "smoothing"; after seeing this shampoo/conditioner line mentioned by Grace at The Stripe, I gave it a try, and I love it! Definitely makes my hair smoother and also smells great, as a shampoo should.

10. Gap kick fit jeans: apparently we're supposed to be moving away from skinny jeans, and while I'm not one particularly on top of the trends, as one employing college students as babysitters I try to at least maintain a little bit of coolness so as to not seem ancient... I find wide leg options tricky on my short frame, and I can't quite go back to some of the jeans styles of my youth but these jeans are a great happy medium - high rise, fitted in the upper part, with a cute little just-the-right-amount kick at the cropped ankle that makes them look good with sneakers and with ankle boots. Plus available in petite lengths, PLUS constantly on sale. These are my #1 worn pair of jeans in the last 6 months.

Easter basket goodies

After ordering personalized totes to serve as the boys' Easter baskets, I got all excited to get goodies to stuff in them - enough that I thought I had better rein it in! Luckily I remembered that a couple of years ago I came up with a handy little Easter basket formula for myself for making it fun for Hendrik to discover at the end of his Easter morning egg hunt, but also not too junky (in terms of food and throw-away toys!). Tweaking it a bit, we'll go with the "want, need, wear, read" philosophy - but with a treat (or two) included, of course. Thought I'd pass along the ideas for anyone shopping for the same...

For Freddie, here are the toddler-friendly ideas I have in mind:

want: Freddie and I have been going to a weekly music class this semester, and he really loved the week when we got to play instruments that you blow into - seeing him figure out a kazoo was a HOOT, but he didn't quite master the harmonica yet. Thought he'd love having one of his own. 

need: we've barely been able to learn any crayon-holding/using skills yet because Freddie just puts everything in his mouth. Need a very non-toxic crayon option around here...

wear: some new springy stripes in this onesie!

read: Freddie's currently very into the two books we have from this series, so an Easter-themed Construction Site board book is perfect for his basket.

treat: Freddie would adore any treat I'd give him, but he's also young enough not to realize he's missing out on Easter candy. He basically considers these Yogis to be candy, but they're something he gets to have somewhat regularly anyway, so that's easy for the Easter basket.

And for Hendrik, here's the bigger kid version:

want: a new game is always fun. I've about Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza as a good family game and thought about trying it, so the Easter edition seemed like the perfect time.

need: when he was a little kid, Hendrik was great about wearing sunglasses, but for some reason in the last couple of years he's just refused - but he also complains about bright sun! As we head into more outdoor time this spring/summer, it's time to get back on that. I think he'll like the Goodr style, nice and lightweight - and not too expensive to entrust to a 9 year old.

wear: springy stripes for the big kid too, with this tee.

read: Hendrik and Peter enjoyed Pax as a readaloud a while back, so the sequel will be perfect to add to their queue.

treat: two for my little sweet tooth :)

I know I've mentioned it before, but to prolong the fun of Easter baskets, I always find a printable treasure hunt with riddle-type clues for Hendrik to hunt down around the house, with the basket as the prize at the end. He always gets a big kick out of a hunt, and doing the free printable makes it so quick and easy.

2022 best buys: home stuff

Next up in favorite purchases of the year, after kid/baby stuff and style/beauty, is my best buys for the home (and life in general), most of which comes from Target - not that surprising, as most of the best things in life do... Again, I think so many of these would make for great gifts, if you're looking for ideas!

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1. Face planters: I'm really not a plant lady (for someone who is so on top of many things in life, somehow I can't remember to water them?), but we were given a cute little one as part of a baby gift, and that gave me an excuse to get one of these adorable planters from Target! Peter was so good at keeping it going that I ended up getting two more plants from our cute local shop, and now we have a set of these 3 ladies on our kitchen windowsill. I love them so much - definitely an excellent gift idea.

2. Wooden utensils: this is a random treat-yourself moment from early in the year. I was just tired of mis-matched and super old utensils for cooking, and so I got this set. 

3. Yoga strap: I do a lot of stretching and yoga with the Peloton app, but even if you're just stretching in general, this inexpensive addition to your arsenal (blocks are also a must-have) is a game changer. So good for a hamstring stretch, IT band stretch, even this amazing neck-cradling thing I learned from a yoga video. (If you're a Peloton user, look for Kristin's floor-pose focus classes, 20 or 10 minutes, that use a strap. So relaxing, and your body will feel soooo good after!)

4. Box grater: kind of random, but I was using this one at my parents' cottage and realized how far superior it was to my own - much bigger, and with this super helpful clip-on container to catch the things you're grating. If you're annoyed any time you have to grate something, like I used to be... this thing is a good buy.

5. Finishing salt flakes: fancy finishing salt is great for baking a salted chocolate chip cookie - but turns out also makes for my favorite snack. Once upon a time Dani mentioned how she sprinkles salt on sliced apples, and after I bought these flakes I gave it a try. OMG why is that so good?! I don't eat apples without them now. 

6. Ceramic mug: a Target impulse purchase because I liked the shape and color, but it has become my mug of choice - just feels so nice in the hands for some reason.

7. Champagne stopper: we were also given some fancy champagne as part of a baby gift (aren't my neighbors amazing?), and I was glad that I had bought this champagne stopper after seeing my parents' because while I love some bubbly, I love it even more when I don't have too much... and this thing actually pressurizes it well enough that you can enjoy the 2nd half of the bottle the next evening!

8. Gel pens: a random, inexpensive Target recommendation from Rachel at some point, these are now my go-to pen for list making. I just love how the ink flows, and of course the cute colors don't hurt their appeal!

9. Faux fur blanket: Hendrik and I are sometimes fighting for the "good" blanket on the couch, so I decided to add another to our living room lineup when I saw this faux fur one on sale at Target. And now we compete for this one - SO cozy. And I should note that the product photo doesn't do it justice for how lovely it looks draped on the back of our couch.

Any new favorites around your home in 2022 I should know about?

2022 best buys: fashion & beauty

Up next in the 2022 best buys - which would also make for some pretty fab holiday gifts - is my favorites in the style and beauty categories. Several of these I've had for months and are very tried and true, and there's a couple of new things making the list last minute (okay, I will admit to succumbing to some Black Friday online sales, but they were for things that I had been on the hunt for!).

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1. Initial beanie: I've mentioned a love for Rey to Z personalized initial baseball caps multiple times - the kids and I wore ours all summer - but not sure I've ever posted about the initial beanies. I bought myself one last winter, and it's still my go-to now that it's cold again, and I just purchased more for gifting this Christmas!

2. Hill House nap dress: after seeing this all over Instagram I decided to give it a try, and it was the perfect investment dress pick. It's super easy to wear but feels so fancy (though easy to dress down with sneakers + denim jacket), and I got compliments every single time I wore it. Recommend!

3. Large camera bag: I've had (still have) other Madewell cross-body bags that I love, but something that can fit a book and still zip up?! Really loving the size of this one, and the two straps it comes with - the more "dressy" leather one, and the fun canvas colorblocked one.

4. Mango skin perfume: I haven't worn perfume in years but got a sample set from Vilhelm Parfumerie as part of a beauty advent calendar, and I started trying out one of the summery scents in the last few months - and have liked it so much that I actually bought a little bottle of the mango skin! It's kind of fun having a scent again, in a more grown-up way than the last time I did.

5. Rose Inc skin-enhancing duo: learned about this one from Grace at The Stripe and thought I would give it a try, as I love the glowy minimal makeup look - okay, and I also like a super fast makeup routine. This gives a lovely all-over glow and perfect paired with the brush in a set. (Also loved/used up in 2022 the Saie dewy highlighter that Grace has also recommended; this would be an amazing gift set)

6. Quarter-length socks: the whole fam wears Bombas for everything from athletics to everyday to dress socks, but I recently took a foray into a new category with these quarter-length ones. They are absolutely perfect with ankle boots - tall enough that the boots don't rub my ankles and short enough that they don't peek out the top. Plus, how cute?! (You can this referral link for 25% off, a great deal.)

7. Metallic Birks: honestly, as a high school Birkenstock wearer I was not so sure about these coming back into style (I really was not cool then, so were they ever cool? and I still cannot go there with the clogs, I'm afraid) - but they're just such a great, easy sandal and the modern twist with the metallic leather makes me love them so much. I wore them all summer and they're still in such great shape, I'll be wearing them tons to come.

8. TOMS chelsea boots: this one coming in under the wire, thanks to a Black Friday sale! I have been hunting for the right chelsea boots to wear with my stovepipe jeans, realizing thanks to advice from the ever-stylish Lauren that I needed something a bit taller than my old boots to look right. I decided to give these a shot, and they're great! Weatherproof, comfy, stylish, and just the right height.

9. Slim wallet: I decided I was tired of having a honking big wallet and wanted to try something more streamlined. This one matches my cognac cross-body perfectly, holds just the right amount of cards + cash, and I love it even more with the free monogramming for insiders. 

Looking forward to taking all of these into 2023 with me - how about your favorites for the year?

2022 best buys: kid stuff

I wish I had the bandwidth to bring back my old gift grid guides because I always found them so satisfying and fun to put together - maybe next year! Instead I thought I'd post a bit early with the roundups of 2022 favorites/best buys that I had already planned as some of the new favorite things in our house this year would make for great gifting ideas if you're looking for any.... Indeed, several of the baby/kid faves were actually gifted to us!

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1. Lovevery blocks: my mom got this set for Freddie for his birthday, and beyond being super cute, it is very durable and comes with so many great ideas for play in addition to block building - you can make the box into a little cart, use it as a drum, make it into a little puzzle, and more. 

2. My First Heroes books: Freddie received a set of these board books as a birthday gift as well. We've seen other cute "little heroes" type of books, but these are a favorite because they have little slide-out and spin/push/pull elements to make things interesting - he loves books with moving parts. I think I'll get him the newer Black history one to add to our collection too!

3. Sloth lovey blanket: we've had this since birth, but Freddie became extremely attached to it in 2022 - it's a must for sleeping (and also he loves to sneak into his room and pull it out of his crib for a snuggle whenever he gets the chance), and I ended up buying 2 more, one for the diaper bag and one for the cottage. So soft and cute, I think any baby would love!

4. Nugget couch: we already had one in Hendrik's room, but as Freddie started getting into the toddler cruising phase, I thought it would be fun to have one in the playroom. We ended up putting them both there, and the doubled-up configuration possibilities are even more fun for climbing on! Highly recommend this small-business and their excellent quality product, worth the investment.

5. Sherpa fleece: could this little jacket be any cuter? Well, when you put it on my cutie-pie Freddie, I guess. 

6. Mushie toothbrush: Freddie loves teeth brushing, and I love this silicone one - we just run it through the dishwasher when it gets icky - plus the little safety guard thing is rather nice so that I can let him do it himself without worrying about gagging, ha.

7. Mushie snack cup: another great "do it myself" item for toddlers - perfect sized handles for grabbing and carrying, and the soft top means the cheerios stay in when it's tipped, but it's easy for the little hand to get in there to grab them (

8. Ten Little sneakers: my mom got these for Freddie and we have loved them - aside from being adorable, they are nice and sturdy for little learning-to-walk feet, and the velcro opens up nice and wide, making them easier to put on than other little shoes I've dealt with in the past.

And here are some favorites that have come into Hendrik's life in the past year, sometimes via gifting, sometimes via his hard-earned/saved cash - if you have any elementary school kids (boys) in your life, he would certainly recommend them all!

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1. Genius Square game: I love a game that can be played solo or together - and that can be played fast. This one is super fast and easy to learn and has endless possibilities, fitting your block shapes into the grid (kind of like tetris).

2. Pokemon handbook: Hendrik is OBSESSED with Pokémon these days (remember his party?)

3. Erasable pens: Hendrik bought one of these at the school store last year and just thought it was the coolest thing ever, so I ended up using them as party favors too. Just a random inexpensive (but useful1) thing that I think any kid would have fun with.

4. Quarter-zip sweatshirt: Hendrik still lets me pick out his clothes for the most part, but he does love Saturdays when I give him free rein for wearing any (crazy, usually) combo of the "comfy" stuff in his wardrobe. This quarter-zip looks put-together with the style and fit, but it's super cozy with its fleece-brushed interior so it feels like the perfect compromise on school day style for him :)

5. Headphones: anyone else's kid obsessed with creating their own playlists? Hendrik has basically taken over my Spotify, and also my phone on any car ride to/from the cottage - I got him these headphones (only 10 bucks!), and he's very happily entertained for the whole hour with his "Hendrik's awesomeness" playlist.

6. National Geographic Kids subscription: who doesn't love fun mail? My in-laws got him a Highlights subscription as a birthday present years ago, and this year switched over to National Geographic Kids, which he loves. I've also thought about subscribing to this great looking artsy kids magazine for him.

7. Rey to Z initial hat: this one immediately became his hat of choice when heading outdoors in the summer... They're so cute to coordinate among siblings (or parents) too. Love this brand.

8. Over-door basketball hoop: he actually got this one for Christmas last year but became fully obsessed with it over the course of the last year. Lots of play time with Daddy and coming up with crazy trick shots in the playroom. 

five things Friday: new & notable edition

A notable thing around here this week: Freddie got his first haircut! His little curls in the humidity were so sweet, but when the weather started to calm down a little, it was really looking mullet-y. So my lovely stylist helped us out with a little trim right after Hendrik's regularly scheduled cut. Freddie sat still on my lap for it, but he cried and cried and cried. It turned out so cute, but he seems so grown up which kind of makes me want to cry and cry...  Here's a distraction though: a few new & notable things in my life to report on.

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In my wardrobe: I thought fall maybe required an update to my "cool kid sneakers" as my friend (hi, Lesley!) calls them... though that name did come about before we had kids, so maybe they're "cool mom sneakers" now? Love a pair like this for wearing with jeans and tees/sweaters to jazz up an outfit but still be comfy for library walks, school pickups, etc. And now that we're venturing back out into the world a bit more (and have a new babysitter on the roster!) I thought this fall deserved a cute dress too. Love the cotton fabric (baby friendly) and print on this one; it'll be cute with tights + boots when it gets cold too.

Around the house: while I loved our West Elm coffee table, it was purchased when Hendrik was beyond the baby/toddler stage... and it was just not working with a now-mobile Freddie. Target to the rescue with this stylish but inexpensive round option, with no corners to bang heads on or metal legs to get tangled up in (Freddie is quite something with getting himself into sticky situations). 

And a couple of little indulgences: I haven't worn perfume in years but got a sample set from Vilhelm Parfumerie as part of a beauty advent calendar, and I started trying out one of the summery scents in the last few months - and have liked it so much that I actually bought a little bottle of the mango skin! It's kind of fun having a scent again, in a more grown-up way than the last time I did. And finally, the newest book from one of my favorite rom-com authors, Kerry Winfrey. I treated myself to it, and I'm loving it already - her books are feel-good and delightful. 

That's what's new and of note around here. How about for you?

wearing lately: summer prep

Okay, it's barely even spring weather here yet, but I have my reasons for summer dreamin': being cooped up because of my lack of mobility - going on week 3 of at least 4 of being in a boot for a stress fracture) is really starting to get to me - and it's going to be a slow recovery even when the boot is done. But if I put in the careful work, but summer I'll be running free!! Not to mention wearing my regular shoes again, rather than the boot + the right shoe from this kinda silly pair of platform high-tops that I had to buy in order to even out my gait. Gah!

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Also, having been pregnant last summer, I'm kind of looking forward to the return to regular wardrobe possibilities for the season... not to mention that our Covid-cautious life has a lot more possibilities when outdoor weather is back. Ahh, can't wait! And thus I *may* have placed some online orders in anticipation of and preparation for everything, as you can see above.

I've been Instagram influenced on a couple of things... hoping that the ubiquitous nap dress will be as cute in person as it is on everyone I've seen - loving the idea of being able to wear something with this more fit-and-flare silhouette this summer rather than the sheaths or muumuus of pregnancy last summer, so fingers crossed. (If you're feeling tempted to try it to, do it via this link for 20% off!) Could be adorable with a denim jacket for dressing down, and much as I love the one I've had for a zillion years, I'm excited about pulling out this lighter colored one too.

Also influenced to go all-in on Birkenstocks this year - I loved my rubber ones last summer, but now adding the "fancier" pair to my collection after seeing them looking so cute on a few people. Love the copper color, especially with some of the browns I've been gravitating toward lately, like this tank - all so cute and easy with a pair of pull-on linen shorts, and a cute initial baseball cap (really want my own to go with Hendrik and Freddie in theirs!)

And then finally, no maternity bathing suit needed this year, but I am back into the territory of needing good stay-put coverage as by beach time I'll probably have a crawling baby to chase across the sand! Not to mention that he likes grabbing at all parts of me, so if I've got him in the water I definitely want something that is not pull-down-able. Love this type of high-neck top + a high-ish waist bottom, and the fabric is great too, so nice and smooth.

What are you getting excited to wear?!

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wearing lately: Madewell picks

I'm not your regular "influencer" constantly posting about the latest sales... but I can't help but mention the current Madewell Insider sale (20% off everything for members of their free rewards program, or 25% off if you're a higher-level rewards member...which is me...whoops) because of how much I love my wardrobe staples from Madewell. Pretty much all I have been wearing this winter is a Madewell jeans + sweater combo (such as this), and it's going to be the same as the weather warms up too, as you can see:

I love a nice, sturdy cotton sweater for transitioning into spring when - as I've mentioned a zillion times I know - the weather is still decidedly chilly but I'm sick of all of the winter stuff and don't quite need the heavy wool ones any longer. This recent acquisition just makes me happy with the embellishments, and paired with my trusty roadtrippers (seriously, I've had these for probably 5 years) and some nice off-white (it's not spring YET) sneakers, I've got a perfectly cute and comfy and weather-appropriate outfit. Early spring wardrobe, done and dusted! Though obviously I have a bit of a wishlist while this big sale is going on:

The above are some things hanging out in my cart as I mull them over - some great basics that could fill some wardrobe holes for me, but also some fun springy things too. Especially liking the look of those off-white jeans in a new silhouette. I will always love my skinny jeans from Madewell, but the cropped stovepipe/straight leg has been a new favorite style, and after not getting to wear white jeans at all last year because I didn't have any in my maternity wardrobe, I think it would be fun to re-enter the arena with these. Especially if I start to be able to actually go out to more places this spring! 

If you're looking for the classic, totally worth the investment but event BETTER when you can get them on sale like this type of items that I swear by from Madewell, here's a great roundup, all 20-25% off till next Monday!

(Post not sponsored in any way, but does contain affiliate links.)

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five things Friday: life savers edition

No surprise, life has been a bit nutty lately with work, a 6-month-old and limited childcare, an elementary school kid who keeps having 1/2 days and snow days, etc. etc. Luckily I've got some amazing grandparent babysitting (thanks especially for all the extra time lately, mom!) and a grocery store pickup subscription (here's looking at you for shopping my orders and adding on all my extra requests, Karen!) saving my life lately - along with a few random products that seem simple but are huge in the way they simplify life. Thought they all deserved an honorable mention here:

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Also no surprise, several of these are baby-related items... The Mixie bottle is leftover from Hendrik's baby days, actually, and now that Freddie's partially on formula I got it back out (apparently not available any longer, but this and this look to be similar products with the same idea), and I need to sing its praises: you fill the little inner slot with powdered formula and the outer with water, and they stay separated until you push the button on the bottom of the bottle to release the powder, then shake up and feed. Brilliant to have such fast prep for a bottle, and to have something you can keep in the diaper bag all pre-measured and ready to go in an instant. I love this thing.

The pacifier clip saves my sanity of not picking up the thing from the ground all the time, plus Freddie is now quite skilled at putting it into his own mouth if in reach - which it always is with this! Not to mention that he really loves gnawing on this particular one, so it keeps him entertained all the time, such as when we've got to ride back and forth across town to do the school run. Also handy for that is the car seat cocoon cover, which is super warm and takes the work out of figuring out what to bundle him in, and saves time because it just lives on the car seat and easily unzips to get him in and out. Wasn't sure about buying one because this is just one season of a baby in a little car seat - but the daily use and ease is worth it!

Also worth it is multi-use products. I already like micellar water (+ washable cotton rounds) for cleaning off makeup at the end of the day because you just swipe with no need to rinse. Quick and easy which means I'm wayyyy more likely to actually do it. This Burt's Bees 3-in-1 does makeup removal, cleansing, and toning, which means that it puts me another step into the facial care routine, and again makes it more likely that I'll actually do the rest of the serum and moisturizer stuff. Clutch when I'm still going to bed really early because of really early wakeups to work/pump.

Minced garlic and ginger paste seem like pretty weird things to include on a product collage for a blog post, but wowza do I love having these in my fridge for making dinner - so quick and handy to have these ingredients prepped in advance that it really feels like a big step in getting a delicious dinner on the table quickly (not to mention that I really just don't enjoy mincing and peeling them in the first place).

So how's that for a random collection of life savers... What's saving yours lately?

mini me Monday: top buys of 2021

Happy New Year! One more 2021-related post though, since in going through my bests of the year (books, home buys, wardrobe/beauty buys) I had a bunch of kid stuff that we've absolutely loved around here and warranted a mention. Of course with a new baby there has been lots of new stuff (and new-to-us, since it's been so long since we had a tiny one!), but there are a few big kid things too that I'd definitely buy all over again...

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In baby: huge fan of Lovevery, which was not around when Hendrik was little. We have their (aesthetically pleasing, yay) playmat on loan from my sister and have used it a ton; it's even more fun for Freddie right now with the added sensory strands that he got for Christmas. And their subscription kits of Montessori-based toys/activities is so great too - love having things arrive to our door that are developmentally appropriate for each stage and come complete with cards suggesting activities to do with baby to enjoy time together and also to help him learn/develop. The products are lovely and well-made, and it's so fun to see how Freddie's interest in new items comes out as he grows. Admittedly I also think it's fun to have new toys too. Thanks, Gigi, for that gift!

Another new-to-us item on loan from my sister is the lotus tub for bathing in the sink. Freddie loves it so much - nice and soft and holds warmth better than a plastic tub. We're a little sad he's about to outgrow it! Would highly recommend for new babies.

Spanning big and little is my new favorite place to buy kids' clothes, Primary. The basics are such a great price and have held up well for us, plus STRIPES. Also I can't get enough of buying Hendrik and Freddie coordinating things, and this is a great option for it too - they both love their cozy sweatshirts and their stripey pjs and assure me that they really enjoy matching each other. Hendrik requests it regularly, in fact.

Also spanning big and little: the Target x Lego Collection. Oh my goodness, so much fun and cute clothing/accessories. Of course Hendrik is the one who is into Legos, but their colorful selections are fun for baby/toddler too. I tried to limit myself, but since Hendrik needed a new beanie, I snagged this one for him. (And might have also gotten some coordinating big kid and toddler pjs for next winter too... okay, okay, and also this great sherpa fleece.)

In big kid: I got Hendrik a pair of the rubber Birkenstocks when I bought my own, since I thought it would be handy to have a sandal option that has a back strap and also is hose-off-able. He absolutely wore through this pair, he loved them so much - and though they actually cracked by the end of the summer, for how hard he was on them, I thought they were a great value. 

The muslin quilt is from a new-to-me brand, Little Unicorn, that has such cute patterns for baby gear like swaddle blankets and burp cloths that I was scoping for Freddie but then noticed this bigger size blanket that I thought would be perfect for Hendrik's needs - a summer-weight bed topper. It's maybe a tad small for a twin-sized bed, but it works, and it's so soft and cute and provides the perfect weight that he likes on top of him without being too warm for summer.

And the lunch box notes are a little random thing that I have been very pleased with this school year, since at some point last year I wrote out a joke on a sticky note and stuck it in his lunch box - and then of course he wanted one every day. 

So those are some favorite new finds for the minis in the last year, and I'm sure there will be more new ones for 2022 as Freddie gets into the older baby stage... such as the new bike trailer we got for Christmas, once he's big enough to ride! Any favorites in your life that my boys should know about?