Weekly Wrap Up + 2019 Favorite Things
Happy weekend!
We’ve had a wild week here in our house – we had a few late nights for some fun Christmas celebrations (like visiting the Trail of Lights in downtown Austin), I was sick all week long, my dad had surgery (he’s fine!), and on Friday, Jackson came down with strep and had to miss his class Christmas party.
What! A! Bummer!
We’re finally all on the mend, and I’m excited to spend our weekend baking Christmas cookies, watching movies, and resting up for the big holiday next week.
It’s a little hard to believe that we’ve been in our house for a little over a month now and I still haven’t even put any paint on the walls (who AM I?), but I can assure you that the moment Christmas is over and the tree is down (I take mine down right away!), I’ve got two fun projects that I can’t wait to tackle. January will be a fun month for DIY, and you’ll want to make sure you’re following along on Instagram stories if you want to see all of the behind-the-scenes fun!
I’ve been seeing lots of my favorite bloggers share their favorite things for the year, so I thought it’d be fun to do a little round up of 19 of the products I used and loved the most in 2019. I’d love it if you drop some of your favorites in the comments too – it’s always so fun to learn about new life-changing things!
19 of my Favorite things from 2019
Faux Fur Throw Blanket ($29.99) I snagged this blanket right after we moved into this house when I needed something soft and cozy to snuggle with in my favorite leather chair. This is the best faux fur blanket I’ve ever owned and I use it every single night while we’re watching television.
Betrayal Legacy ($49.99) Betrayal is one of my very favorite games of all time, and the Legacy version is so, so, SO fun! We got about halfway through this year and haven’t played in a few months, but I’m ready to get back to it. If you’ve never played a Legacy game, look into it – they’re really unique and REALLY fun!
Google Nest Hub ($129) We just got a Nest Hub when we got our new smart lock and I’m so in love with it. I find myself using it way more often than I expected to, and I love the screen for looking up recipes, checking on the front door, and occasionally even reading the lyrics to the song I’m listening to, hah!
Jesus Calling Devotional Book ($8.49) I just started this devotional this month and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love it. It’s very short, easy to keep up with, and always seems so targeted to exactly what I need to hear.
Tranquility Weighted Blanket ($45-$65) Corey and I are both in love with our weighted blankets – I wrote all about them here. We tell everyone we know about them, we got one for my dad for his birthday, and I genuinely don’t even know what I’m going to do when we travel and I can’t bring it with me.
Time & Tru Sweatshirt ($10.88) This is the sweatshirt that basically took over my Instagram for a couple of weeks when I first discovered it. I have it in four colors and wear one multiple times a week – and I know many of y’all are doing the same! It’s the best cheap sweatshirt I’ve ever found and it has pretty much become my uniform.
Crate & Barrel 104″ Basque Table ($999) Did you see the story of how we got the table from our first home back? I’ve fallen completely in love with this table all over again and can’t stop raving about it to anyone who will listen. It’s massive, it’s beautiful, and it’s our family’s favorite gathering space.
Shark Rocket Cordless Vacuum ($249) I got this on Black Friday after talking about how much I wanted the Dyson version for years, and I’m actually really glad I went with this brand instead! I’ve been so pleased with the battery life, it keeps up with our mess really well, and it’s so lightweight and easy to use.
Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit ($26.99) I can’t talk about my favorite things from the year without touching on the product that transformed our old master bathroom and got us on the Rachael Ray show! If you have a bathtub or shower that you hate, you can make it gorgeous for less than $30. This stuff is SO GOOD.
The Frame TV ($1097 for a 55″) Corey and I have been wanting one of these for years and years, and we finally decided to go for it in this house. It’s an instant conversation piece anytime someone comes over because they can’t believe it’s actually a television. I’ve had multiple people reach out and touch the screen for verification that the mat isn’t actually real! This thing is pricey but worth every single penny.
Telestrations ($25) We started having a big, monthly game night with a bunch of our friends and this one is a huge winner every time. There will be laughter. There will be tears (from the laughter). You’ll want to play it over and over.
The best sheets ever ($25) I was influenced to try these by Cassie from Hi Sugarplum and I’m so, so glad I tried them. These are the softest sheets we’ve ever owned, and I was nervous about going with black but it turns out I’m obsessed with them.
Romabio Paint in Navy Steel ($28.97 for 1L) Of course I have to mention the paint that totally transformed our entire house. This is probably one of my favorite projects of all time, and I’m already looking for something else I can paint.
Our new shower head ($28.97) It always kind of blows my mind how big of a difference a new shower head can make. We replaced the tiny one that came in our master shower with this (under $30!) one and it was a game changer. I have a hard time getting out of the shower now!
Shark IQ Robot Vacuum ($449) This is another investment piece but HOLY COW it is life-changing. I’ve never had a robot vacuum before and now I don’t know how I lived without one. I only have to sweep my house every couple of weeks now, and things just stay so much cleaner in general. I’m obsessed.
Azul ($39.99) This game got pulled out for many of mine and Corey’s date nights, and it’s also one we can always pull out when we have guests and know it’ll be a hit. It’s easy to learn, has some good strategy involved, and is so, so much fun.
St. Tropez Self-Tan Face Mist ($30) Another one I was influenced to try! Julia from Chris Loves Julia shared this sometime this summer and I had to try it – and I’m so glad I did! I’m super pale, and I love that this stuff gives me a nice, subtle glow and helps me not look like a ghost, even in the dead of winter.
3M 4-in-1 Patch Plus Primer ($7) I wrote an entire blog post about how much I adore this stuff and how to use it to patch walls in your house. It’s legitimately life-changing if you’re like me and are constantly changing your mind about the stuff on your walls!
Big Red Rooster White Noise Machine ($18.99) After using our ginormous air purifier as a sound machine for years, we finally decided to get rid of it (so! big!) and use a real sound machine. This one is affordable, tiny, and packs a punch. We like our room to sound like we’re inside a jet engine, and this one allows for exactly that. I fully intend to travel with it from now on because I can’t sleep without it!
ICYMI: This week on the blog
- I shared our traditional (simple!) Christmas table setting. Also known as the first time I got to decorate this table in over two years and the post that made my heart burst with excitement
- Having guests for the holidays? I did some deep cleaning with our steam cleaner and was so excited about how big of a difference it made! Here are 4 simple tasks that will go a long, long way.
- And, if you missed it last week, I shared the adorable (interactive) wood Christmas tree I made for the boys! They’re still loving it!
Elsewhere on the internet
- I need one of these candles for next year!
- As always, the comment section is pure gold.
- Next year I’m gonna learn how to take photos like this of our house at Christmas.
- This is a perfect example of exactly what I wanted to do with my Christmas table this year!
- Just ordered this skirt to pair with this top and I don’t even know where I’m going to wear it yet – but I’m so excited!
- It’s my last week to be able to share gorgeous homes all decked out for Christmas, so I’d better live it up.
- Here’s one more.
- And (I can’t resist!) onnnnnne more.
Have a lovely weekend!