You know how Oprah has her favorite things list during the holidays every year? Well this is sort of like that, only it’s not. For one, I’m not Oprah and I’m definitely not giving anything away. But I still thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite things that I use on a pretty regular basis. You will see there aren’t any high-end products on here, because I’m a little on the cheap side, and the list is pretty random. I just went about my day, and as I came across something I use that I really like, I would think, “Ooh I really love this! I should add to my favorite things list!”, hence the randomness. This also isn’t really a gift guide, although I wouldn’t mind any of these things in my stocking or under the tree! And, as a side note, I am not affiliated with any of these products or companies in any way, so nothing promotional going on here, just my little, humble opinion.
So without further ado, here is a list of Angela’s Favorite Things 2017, in no particular order:
Aveeno Postively Radiant CC Cream with Sunscreen
Just the other day I was talking to some friends about my “gym makeup” vs. my everyday makeup. This product is my gym makeup. It’s very light, and it’s tinted (technically CC = Color Correcting) so it gives me a little coverage, yet I still feel like I’m going bare, but not really. And it seems to have a bit of iridescence to it so it gives me a dewy look. And, honestly, it is sometimes the only base I will put on, even for my everyday makeup. It’s sunscreen in a CC cream and I’m all about consolidating steps to my morning routine!
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen
I discovered this awesome face sunscreen this past summer. I was looking for something I could wear everyday, either alone or under makeup, but I didn’t want it to be thick and pasty (or expensive!). I wanted something that was light and absorbed quickly, but protected my skin. I spent a little time and money to fade some melasma on my face last year and I didn’t want one day out in the sun to ruin all that effort. While the Aveeno has a nice SPF of 30, this Cetaphil packs a punch at an SPF of 50+. As you can tell from the picture, I’m almost completely out of it, but since I’m not spending long hours outside right now, I haven’t run out to replace it yet. It’s not available at my local Target anymore, but I’m guessing it will come back around summer. I’ll still keep my eyes peeled for it, or order from Amazon soon, because it will be good to have if we hit the slopes this winter. And an added plus is the kids find it much easier to apply than regular sunscreen!
Blow Dry Lotion
I’m going to sound like a commercial for a minute. Do you have thick hair that takes forever to dry? Do you only half-dry your hair because you ain’t got time for that? Then you need blow dry lotion! I bought this as part of a set at some point when there was some special going on. I seem to recall it was a groupon deal or something similar. The fact that I don’t remember should show that this stuff lasts a LONG time. The brand is N.4 (Number 4), but I imagine most of the blow dry lotions work the same. I’m not even sure where to buy this particular brand anymore so when it’s time to replenish, I will probably just look for something similar. Anyway, I rub this in my wet hair, just a small pea size amount, and then blow dry. I swear it cuts down my dry time in HALF while giving me some body as well. You need it, trust me.
John Frieda Sea Salt Spray
The time and effort I put into my hair style every day is pretty minimal. I wash my hair at night and most of the time I dry with the above blow dry lotion, but sometimes I even just let it air dry and go to bed with it damp. Then I wake up in the morning, run a brush through it and spray with this sea salt spray and go. I’m pretty sure my hairstyle shows my lack of effort, but it’s good enough for me! This sea salt spray smells yummy, reminding me of coconut, sunscreen and the beach. I give my hair a little tousle and voila, the wind blown beach look.
Essie Nail Polish in Chinchilly
My all time favorite nail polish color right here. It’s the perfect grey and looks great on fingernails and toenails. Great stocking stuffer or as part of a little spa gift set. 😉 That’s all I’ve got to say about that.
Fabletics Subscription
Have you been wondering about this subscription? I know there’s so many out there and it’s hard to commit to a subscription without knowing much about the product. Well my husband bought this subscription for me for Christmas a couple years ago and Fabletics is now 90% of my fitness wardrobe. I have a VIP membership (not sure what other levels are available) and I pay $49.95 per month, giving me access to complete workout outfits (usually leggings/workout tights or pants and a workout tank top). Some of the outfits are a little more, so it depends on what you choose, but for the most part, I have only chosen $49.95 outfits, which is still cheaper than a complete outfit of similar quality at a regular retailer. The great thing is, if I don’t like any of the outfits for a particular month, or if I don’t want to spend the money that month (which happens more often than not!), then I just skip that month and I don’t get charged. Have I been unhappy with some items? Sure. Either they didn’t fit like it looked in the picture (which could be more a result of my body shape than the product!) or the material wasn’t what I expected, but for the most part I have been happy with the quality and fit and have found some favorites that I have ordered again in multiple colors.
Athleta Criss Cross Sweathsirt
Speaking of fitness gear, Athleta is my favorite store for athleisure wear. Unfortunately, most of their items are a splurge for my stay-at-home-mom budget, but whenever I do treat myself to an item, I’m always, always in love with it. This sweatshirt is no exception. Fit is perfect, it’s super soft and comfy, and if you can get in on any of their local discounts (friends and family, holiday, etc.) then it’s a tad more affordable (regular price right now is $69). I wear this sweatshirt AT LEAST once a week, if not more, so I’m totally getting my money’s worth. And it washes real well too, thankfully! It’s already on my Christmas list in another color and if it goes on sale closer to summer, then I will definitely be buying in yet another color!
Essential Oil Diffuser and DoTerra’s On Guard
Oh, finally something that is a little more Everyday Road to Healthy…essential oils! I am in no way an expert or an advocate of essential oils. And while I have a doTerra oil on my favorite things list, I’m not trying to push any particular brand, this just happens to be the brand I started buying a few years ago and have stuck with. This particular oil blend, On Guard, is their immunity blend. It smells a little cinnamon and spice-y. I use this mostly once school starts and will diffuse it in the morning while the kids are getting ready for school, or they will put a drop on the bottom of their feet before putting on their socks. I personally have no proven, medical facts that it works, but my kids have managed to remain fairly healthy the past couple years (knock on wood), so I am convinced. At minimum, it gives me peace of mind knowing I’m doing something to give them a fighting chance against any viruses going around their germ-y school. And this diffuser has been great. I just happened to come across it on Amazon and it was the right price and had the features I like…2 levels of output, timer, auto shut-off and the nightlight/colored light feature. Plus it looks very zen. 🙂 This brand is TaoTronics if you want a brand name, but really there’s so many out there with great reviews on Amazon. This diffuser has a fill line for the water and then I just had 4-5 drops of the essential oil I want to diffuse. Some of my other favorites are doTerra’s Serenity blend (lavender-vanilla scent), wild orange and peppermint, just to name a few!
So there you have it, Angela’s Favorite Things 2017! Obviously my favorite things in life aren’t really things, but since my kids can’t be wrapped up and put under a tree, I came up with this list instead. I’d love to hear some of your favorite things because I am way far off from finishing my Christmas shopping and could really use some ideas!
