Happy Wednesday everyone! It is so crazy to think that we are getting closer and closer to the end of the year. 2020 was very interesting to say the least! Despite the craziness and the hectic times that came with it, I wanted to reflect on the positives and rounded up some products and items that I have been loving this year. I cannot wait to share them with you today!
Everything that could be linked can be found throughout the post. If you see something you like, you can shop right from here in addition to my LIKEtoKNOW.it profile where I have posted different product collages for you to browse. I have broken it up into three categories to keep things organized – let’s get started!
Beauty & Style
- Dry Bar Tress Press 1.25″ Straightener: I purchased this straightener around this time last year and it has changed the game for me when it comes to my hair. I normally would not advocate for spending this much on a hair tool, but I am willing to invest in something if I feel it is worth it. This straightener is such great quality and I use it almost every day. I never feel like it’s destroying my hair and I could not recommend it enough!
- Shep Shirts: This year I have been loving my Vineyard Vines Shep Shirts! I have the classic one in navy (linked), and a light blue funnel neck one in the color “hydrangea”. These were my go-to loungewear pieces during quarantine and online classes. I also love dressing them up with jeans!
- Navy & White: This one is a bit of a no-brainer as it is my favorite color combination, but I have been loving it navy and white clothing pieces even more this year. One go-to piece in my closet is the striped boatneck tee from J.Crew (pictured bottom right). It is so versatile and I found myself reaching for it time and time again!
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer: I have used this concealer for a couple of years now, but it is my all-time favorite! I have always been a little self-conscious of my dark circles and this concealer is the only one that I have found so far that not only completely covers them, but stays on all day and never looks cake-y! A holy grail product if I’ve ever seen one!
- Lancôme Cils Booster XL: This lash primer is a recent discovery of mine, but I don’t know how I lived without it in the past! I purchased a trial size from Ulta and will definitely purchase the full size when this one runs out. It has definitely enhanced the curl of my lashes and prevents my mascara from smudging – It’s a win win!
- Sunday Riley CEO Glow Vitamin C & Turmeric Serum: I tend to have pretty dry skin, especially in the winter, and this product has been a cure-all! My sister purchased it and found she wasn’t using it, so she let me try it – let me tell you this is the BEST!! At $40 for 0.5oz, it is a bit pricey for a serum, but a little bit goes a long way. Like I mentioned earlier, I would only recommend buying a more expensive product if it was truly worth it, and this one definitely is!
Tech
- iPad: My iPad has been a blessing in disguise this year! I never intended to purchase one, but when I did, it really made a difference. My dad retired earlier in the year and needed some sort of device after returning his work computer. As an avid Android user, he didn’t have much use for the iPad and let me use it for school. This device has definitely increased my efficiency as a student and I am so glad I started using it.
- Canon EOS M50 Camera: Earlier in the summer, I decided that it was time to trade in the Nikon Coolpix for something a bit more professional. Although I only had my Nikon for a little over 2 years, it served as a stepping stone to a better camera. When I wanted to learn more about photography and take my pictures to the next level, I saved up some babysitting money, and purchased the Canon EOS M50. It is a smaller DSLR with a wide range of functions and I have nothing but good things to say about it!
- Adobe Lightroom: On the topic of photography, Lightroom has been another one of my favorites this year. I enjoy taking pictures outside of my blog and decided it was time to invest in some sort of editing software. I decided to purchase the desktop version of Lightroom and I have loved learning about the different tools and styles I can use to edit my pictures!
- Amazon Alexa Echo Show 5: I received my Echo Show before heading back to campus for my junior year and I love using it! It serves as my speaker for playing music, my alarm clock, my personal assistant (lol) and everything in between. I love the size of it and have found so many unique features to it! My sister loved it so much that she went out and got one herself haha! This is another one of my favorite products that I could not recommend enough 🙂
- Blue Light Glasses: I received these blue light glasses from Eye Buy Direct for Christmas last year and I haven’t taken them off since! They have helped to eliminate eye strain headaches and fatigue when working on the computer and I think they are definitely worth the investment! If you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to reach out – I would be more than happy to chat 🙂
Home
- Weighted Blanket: My mom got my sister and I these weighted blankets for Christmas last year and we love them! They definitely take a little getting used to, but they make a big difference! I love that this one doesn’t have beads which can get unevenly distributed throughout the pockets – the weight stays put!
- Quip Toothbrush: I was introduced to Quip by one of my roommates (hey Lauren if you’re reading this!!) and I love the concept – an electric toothbrush that is easy to travel with and inexpensive compared to other brands. The toothbrush itself only cost $25 and for $5 every 3 months, you get a replacement brush head and battery. Although it involves a subscription, I definitely prefer this over some other electric toothbrushes that can cost over $100.
- Lilly Pulitzer Tumbler: This product is an oldie but goodie for me! I received this tumbler for my birthday freshman year of high school and re-discovered it during quarantine. I never brought it to college with me because I preferred to have a water bottle with a closed top, but after coming home, I used this almost every day. I love the bright colors of it and this will definitely be something I continue to use around the house in place of water bottles or other glasses. This one is pretty old, but I have a similar one linked!
- Threshold Sheets: This year, I discovered the Threshold brand of sheets at Target. These are the most comfortable sheets I have ever used and they come in a variety of colors and patterns! My whole family has switched over to them and, if you’re looking for some new sheets, I know that you’ll love them as well. I have these two patterns shown below:
- Vitruvi Oil Diffuser: This diffuser from Amazon has definitely been a favorite this year! I love using at night with their “Sleep” oil blend before heading to bed.
- Ocean View Candles: During the day, I love burning candles in my room. I discovered Ocean View Candle Company earlier this year and absolutely fell in love with their products and the message behind Karla’s business. All of her candles smell amazing and I have continued to purchase candles from her season after season. Although I cannot link them on LTK, you can receive 15% off using my code THESKWAY15.
- Chinoiserie: I have always loved everything blue and white, but I have been OBSESSED with chinoiserie this year. I love the classic print and ginger jars are definitely my new favorite things haha! I was having trouble linking my ginger jar from Target (pictured below), but I believe it is only $35!
- Amazon Pens: I borrowed this pen from my sister and it is arguably one of the best pens I have used to date! They are great for writing in your planner and I love the classy look of the black & gold. I will definitely be ordering more for myself in the future!
- Gossip Girl: I started watching Gossip Girl in high school but never finished all 6 seasons. I tend to watch multiple shows at once and most likely got caught up in something else (probably Grey’s Anatomy) before I could finish it. I have been watching it periodically throughout the year and I am so glad that I not only re-discovered it, but can finally finish it!
That was a long one!! Thank you for reading if you made it this far! There were so many things I wanted to include in this post, but narrowed it down to the ones I used the most. What were some of your favorites this year?
*Disclaimer: Some of the links featured in this post are affiliate links – at no additional cost to you, I may make a small commission if you make a purchase from this post. It helps to keep my blog up and running!
