Shopping is my easy button in life (per Glennon Doyle, who I imagine I will quote in every other post going forward). An "easy button" is what you choose to do that you think will take you out of pain and stress, but really just help you abandon yourself (thanks Glennon). Reading this last night was a huge realization for me and my shopping addiction. Anyone who knows me knows I have a problem with shopping, and until last night I've basically accepted it as *cute* and *quirky* personality trait. I'm also usually pretty proud of the *good* buys that I've made and how all of my possessions display my elevated taste and prowess for finding bargains. The problem is all the actually bad buys that I've made that I don't share with anyone.
This purpose of this post is to highlight good buys that I've made, or the purchases that I used the most last year. It should also remind me of everything I have that's good and that I don't need even more things.
Similarly, I want to highlight things that I bought and did not work for me but may have bought in an "easy button" fashion and I now regret.
But for now, let's start with best purchases:
1. Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Vacuum
Full disclosure, this was actually gifted ... by my PARENTS! Ha. I wish I got gifted items. If you actually follow bloggers, this should be no surprise, and you can just read their very well-thought-out reviews and sponsored links. I'm just linking to an eBay find because that's what came up on google when I searched it. Anyway, I'm not exaggerating when I say this vacuum changed my life. It is cordless, so you don't have to worry about the added extra "stress" of plugging in a vacuum and only vacuuming to places that it extends to. The attachment shown in the photo is also my favorite for what is essentially spot treatment for vacuuming. It makes me want to vacuum anything and everything! And I do. We still kept our regular plug-in shark vacuum for when we need to do heavy-duty vacuuming of our rugs (which I admit, is not happening as frequently as it should due to our spot-treatment habits) but this makes cleaning up crumbs and other messes so easy. I LOVE IT!
One of my best friends just got a switch and got Animal Crossing, so I finally got back into my island and pulling all the weeds. I never played Animal Crossing before the 2020 release, but I have always heard that I would like it because it's basically about decorating. And it is! People kept asking me what the point of the game is, and I always say, it's just life. All you do is try to make money to spend it on clothes and items for your house and island. If that isn't a summary of my life, I don't know what is. Anyway, I love the game, it is very low stress (until you see a tarantula or scorpion) and it gives me another way to flex my decorating skills. I'm back on and currently creating a home office in my island home, just like in real life.
These are interesting. I initially bought these water bottles because I thought I would be a lemon water drinker, like I always think I will be, at least once a year. They are 18oz glass bottles that I now just keep filled with water in the fridge whenever I want to go somewhere with a cold bottle of water. While I also have a bunch of swell water bottles and a hydro flask, I like that these are sleek and chic looking at always tend to go for these bottles instead. Go figure! Stay hydrated!
I LOVE POPCORN! Since microwave popcorn is frowned upon and movie theaters are closed, I finally decided to get my own personal popcorn maker. My dream is to own one of those giant popcorn carts that only homes with movie-theater-rooms have, but for now, this mint one will do. I love coating my popcorn with coconut oil and Himalayan sea salt. It makes me feel fancy but still like I care about my health. It's great!
5. Outdoor Voices Cloudknit Long Sleeve Tee and Joggers
Since everyone is all about sweat sets for quarantine, I figured I should be honest and include that I too have succumbed to sweat sets, but this one is different since it is not fleece. I already owned the OV CloudKnit joggers, and I just picked up a long sleeve tee to complete the set. It is a sleek lewk but still extremely comfortable. If I was rich, I would get another set! Alas, I am not, and I care too much about variety to do that. It's still the best sweat set I own though.
WORST PURCHASES
This was a little bit harder to compile, because I am a known returner. I LOVE to buy and return things, because it gives me both the sensation of adding things to my life but also getting money back for them if they don't work out for me. These are mostly things I bought and couldn't return and I am now stuck with.
I am so lame for falling into this trap. I know myself, I rarely do my hair unless it's a "special event" and I should have seen how much room this barrel thing was going to take up. It is also IMPOSSIBLE to use and I burned myself the first (and only) time I tried to use it. It's very bulky and unwieldy and I couldn't get the hang of it and never wanted to try again. I hate it!
2. Chinese Laundry Feather Slippers
WHY ME? I knew there was a reason I don't normally buy directly from brand websites. It's because they trick you with their return policies! I bought TWO pairs of these slippers, thinking I could just return the one that I liked least, but I ended up not liking either of them. They are uncomfortable! Even though they are cute for loungey sleepover looks! Anyway, Chinese Laundry never included a return label in my box, nor did they ever respond to my requests for one (understandable, in early pandemic days). Anyway, I never got around to returning them and now they sit in my parents' house waiting for me to sell them to someone else on Poshmark. Now, I see they are selling at Nordstrom, which I obviously would have bought from NOW, but too late.
I bought this due to the poor lighting in our old apartment for zoom date nights with our other couple friends. It is weak and does nothing to add to lighting. Waste of money!
4. La Ligne x Cesta Collective Bucket Bag
I've used this bag twice, which I guess is actually a lot considering I don't go out and use novelty bags very often due to this pandemic. I just felt bad about buying it with nowhere to go, which I feel about most things I've bought in the past few months, but somehow I feel even worse about this purchase. I think I can always sell it though, especially if I don't end up using it next Spring/Summer.
5. This ivy plant
I bought this ivy plant at Lowe's and it got spider mites and even though I tried to clean them off it kept dying. Very annoying and I had high hopes for this plant. Eventually I just threw it away, which was very difficult because I have not had very many plants die on me!!!
Anyway, that's about it. I love to return things and very rarely buy things final sale because I am never quite sure about anything. What's next on my list to buy? You will just have to wait and see in my future posts!
Best,
Isabella
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