Almost every week this year, I’ve posted about a few things that have caught my eye. Some are great products, others are TV shows, people, or even new practices. I always caveat with the idea that these are just things I love in that moment – they may not stand the test of time.
But today, I’m coming back to share my favorites of the things I’ve talked about throughout 2018. Things that I discovered and then continued to use and love over the course of the year.
The Best Of Things I Loved In 2018
1. Highlighter Stick | 2. Blush Bow Mules | 3. Microwave Egg Maker | 4. Amazon Echo Dot | 5. Amazon Smart Home Plug | 6. Alps Day Pack | 7. Tea Tree Lavender Mint Conditioning Spray | 8. Organys Lash Serum | 9. Translucent Setting Powder | 10. Meditation
Highlighter Stick
One of my makeup discoveries this year was using a highlighter stick – or any highlighter for that matter. This guy is only a few bucks at the drug store and totally takes a look to the next level. I don’t wear it every day – more for evenings out or special occasions.
Blush Bow Mules
Okay, so I bought these inexpensive-but-adorable shoes on Amazon thinking I’d wear them once or twice and they wouldn’t look super nice or hold up. They actually are some of my fav shoes to wear in the spring and summer and even transitioned well into fall. They’re so cute and match way more than you’d think!
Microwave Egg Maker
This was a coworker discovery that I bought on a whim thinking it would be helpful in making a quick, nutritious breakfast. I had no idea how much I would use it – almost every day when I work from home. I have found things to throw in the eggs – chopped deli ham and mixed peppers are my go-tos.
Amazon Echo Dot + Amazon Smart Home Plug
From April 5 and September 27
These two go great together. I added an Echo Dot to my bedroom a few months ago and really liked being able to do things like check the weather in the morning right as I am waking up and listening to music while I get dressed. A few weeks ago, I added a smart plug and plugged my bedside lamp into it. Now I can tell the Echo Dot (Alexa) to turn on and off the lamp. This sounds so lazy, but it’s really nice if I’m cozy under the blankets and don’t want to move before falling asleep. It’s also helping in the morning, because I can turn on the light and start to wake up before I physically get out of bed.
Alps Day Pack
I really leaned into more hiking this year and I definitely needed a better day pack. My old one was too small and really only fit by hydration bladder and my cell phone. Plus, my cell phone wasn’t accessible while on my back. This pack – which I’ve used for a few hikes now and love – has a hip strap pocket for my phone and tissues (because allergies), still has space for my hydration bladder, but also has tons of space for sunscreen, bug spray, and even a rolled-up jacket for when it gets chilly.
Tea Tree Lavender Mint Conditioning Spray
I was gifted a bottle of this stuff at an event and I’ve been using it daily since. It makes my hair so much softer and smoother without weighting it down like most products. Plus, it smells so good. Will definitely be ordering another bottle when mine runs out!
Organys Lash Serum
If I sound like a broken record with my love of this stuff, it’s only because it works so well and at such a good price! I had a bad reaction to the name brand you’ve probably heard of and found out they put some nasty ingredients in there to make it work faster – just at an expense. This product doesn’t include that specific ingredient and is a fraction of the price. Best of all, IT ACTUALLY WORKS!
Translucent Setting Powder
I’ve been fighting facial oil for a while now and my dermatologist finally told me that since everything we’ve tried hasn’t worked, my only other option is an oral medication. My body is super sensitive to medication, so I opted to go a different route – setting powder. This cuts down on the shine and powers through the day. It’s easy to apply and pretty inexpensive. Normally I prefer to treat root causes and not symptoms, but in this case, I’ll call setting powder a win!
Meditation
Probably my number-one discover of 2018 is the power of meditation. Not to be cheesy, but it’s been so helpful in helping me stay positive and get to sleep sans anxiety. My favorite way to mediate is using recordings on Insights Timer – a free cell phone app. I also published my favorite meditation recordings earlier this year as well that you can find here.
This is my last Things I Love of 2018 and have had so much fun writing them! I plan to continue on through 2019 as well – is there anything you’d like to see done differently here?? And what were some of the things you loved in 2018?
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Kelly says
Love your Things I Love posts – keep ’em coming in the new year! Also…I’m obsessed with the Insights Timer app because of your original post!
Claire Gamble says
Aww! Glad to hear it – it’s the best!