My 12 Best Buys of 2019

2019 Best Buys

Here are my favorite items I purchased in 2019:

1.    YETI MUG: It keeps my coffee warm for hours at a time. I love how the handle feels on my hand.  It’s available in a variety of colors and under $25!

2.    APL SNEAKERS: The most comfortable and stylish sneakers.

3.    WEATHERMAN TRAVEL UMBRELLA: I finally found an umbrella that is durable and stylish for travel. It weighs under a pound and is less than 12 inches long. Reinforced fiberglass plastic defends against inverting and breaking, Teflon-coated fabric repels water, and the canopy fights off winds up to 45 mph. It’s truly the best umbrella you’ll ever use.

The umbrellas are all backed by a lifetime warranty and designed by a meteorologist. I also have a collapsible design.

4.    LAKE PAJAMAS: These pajamas are so cute.

5.    ZOJIRUSHI STAINLESS STEAL 16-OUNCE MUG MATTE GOLD: This mug does not spill! The locking mechanism allows me to throw it in my tote or gym bag without the fear of it leaking. It also keeps my coffee hot for hours. I also love the color. Other colors are available.

6.   EQUILIBRIUM NUTRITION SINUS SUPPORT: This product is amazing for sinus relief. It cleared up my recurrent sinus infections for good.

7.    PELETON BIKE AND CLASS PASS MEMBERSHIP: I invested in the Peleton bike so I can exercise at home. Peloton offers a no-risk 30-day trial. If you purchase the bike, you pay $39 a month membership for the classes. The Peloton app includes full-body workouts, stretching, yoga, running and more classes you can stream.

If you are visiting New York, you can take a class at the Peloton Studio in Chelsea. You can also schedule a class using Class Pass. I use Class Pass when I travel to take fitness classes at a reduced rate. Instead of paying $25 or more for a class, I can take classes for $10 or less. I also use it locally to take pilates reformer classes.

8.    ICE ROLLER: I keep my ice roller in the freezer and use it in the morning to help with de-puffing my skin. It is also helpful to relieve dark circles.

9.    MADE IN COOKWARE: I love my non-stick frying pan and butter warmer. These non-stick pans are free of PFOA and built to last. The cookware line features premium-quality cookware at a discounted cost made in America. It’s also very popular with chefs.

10.  FIELD COMPANY CAST IRON: I love this skillet. It’s not heavy like other brands. I use it for making the perfect pancakes. It’s also great in the oven for casseroles. Field Company products are made in the USA.

11.  EKOUAERTHERMALS FLEECE UNDERWEAR: These fit better than other brands. If you are traveling to a cold-weather destination, these will help keep you warm.

12.  NATIVE UNION WIRELESS CHARGING PAD: This charging pad is stylish and keeps my iPhone charged wirelessly.

More of my favorite products purchased in 2019:

More of my favorite products purchased in 2019:

1.    PORTER CERAMIC TO-GO MUG: I use this mug when I travel. The slick style is made of BPA-free plastic and dishwasher safe. Most coffee shops offer a discount for using your mug..

2.    THERA-GUN: TheraGun is a unique handheld device applied to the surface of the skin to boost healing and recovery. I use it after exercising and at night before I go to sleep.

3.    REBEL KETO ICE CREAM: The most delicious low carb, high fat, keto, no sugar added ice cream.

4.    PELETON BIKE: I invested in the Peleton bike so I can exercise at home. Peloton offers a no-risk 30-day trial. If you purchase the bike, you pay $39 a month membership for the classes. The Peloton app includes full-body workouts, stretching, yoga, running and more classes you can stream.

If you are visiting New York, you can take a class at the Peloton Studio in Chelsea. You can also schedule a class using Class Pass. I use Class Pass when I travel to take fitness classes at a reduced rate. Instead of paying $25 or more for a class, I can take classes for $10 or less. I also use it locally to take pilates reformer classes.

5.    CUYANA LEATHER ZIPPER TOTE: The Cuyana is elegant and relatively affordable, costing less than $200 for a bag that’s made in America out of Italian leather. I use the tote organization insert to keep my bag organized.

6.   URSA MAJOR DEODORANT: I tried several natural deodorants and Ursa Major was the most effective. It eliminates underarm odor while absorbing excess moisture and does not irritate my skin.

7.    MADE IN COOKWARE: I love my non-stick frying pan and butter warmer. These non-stick pans are free of PFOA and built to last. The cookware line features premium-quality cookware at a discounted cost made in America. It’s also very popular with chefs.

8.    PRIMAL BLUEPRINT PROBIOTICS: I use these probiotics developed by Mark Sission. This particular probiotic contains Bacillus coagulans. Many probiotics cannot survive the harsh conditions of the stomach and never reach the gut. Bacillus coagulans are extremely tolerant of acidic conditions and survive transit to reach and colonize the gut.

I also recommend Primal Kitchen Salad Dressings, Avocado Oil, Protein Bars, and condiments. Be sure to read Mark’s Daily Apple. Download the Feedly app to read your favorite blogs.

9.    MAISON FRANCIS KURKDIJAN AQUA FABRIC SOFTENER: It adds the best smell to workout clothes and sheets.

10.  EUFY ROBOVAC: This affordable robot vacuum is quieter and fits under more furniture than many others.

11.   SONOS SPEAKERS: Sonos speakers work seamlessly with your favorite streaming services. The Sonos One is the perfect starter speaker for most people. It’s reasonably priced and can be moved from one room to another with ease. It’s easy to set-up using the Sonos Controller app on my iPhone. The sound quality is amazing.

12.  VORNADO FAN: This fan is so great I don’t need an air conditioner. I mostly use it when I ride my Peloton bike.

1.  HEART HOOPS: I wear these heart earrings with my uniform. They are available in gold, silver, and rose gold.

2.  PETITE BLUSH PEARL VELVET HEADBAND: I am in love with this headband. It’s pink, velvet, and studded with pearls.

3.  SIMPLE HUMAN ROSE GOLD SOAP DISPENSER: It is a dispenser that will drop some dish soap on your hands or sponge by a sensor.

4.  DUDLEY STEPHENS HIGHLAND HIGH LOW FLEECE: I ordered a pink fleece and plan to add to my collection. I was surprised at how well the fabric holds up. They are long enough to wear with leggings and great for travel. Dudley Stephens is a US-based, female-owned company that uses sustainable materials and manufacturing processes.

5.  EAST FORK MUGS: Dubbed #TheMug by Instagram, East Fork’s coffee mug is a web phenomenon. Every Tuesday at noon, its web stock is refreshed. They’re also microwave and dishwasher-safe. All of East Fork’s pottery is handmade in Ashville, North Carolina.

6.  PEARL HAIR CLIP: These barrettes are so pretty and stylish.

7. LULULEMON ALIGN PANTS 25″: These lightweight, high-rise pants are the most comfortable workout pants I have ever worn. They are soft and stretch when you move. Lululemon products are expensive, but the fabric holds up for a long time.

8.  JULIA REED’S NEW ORLEANS Food, Fun, and Field Trips for Letting the Good Times Roll: In Julia’s latest book, the consummate hostess and lifestyle expert shares her favorite New Orleans recipes and entertaining tips. I substitute cauliflower rice for white rice.

9.  GARRETT LEIGHT x ULLA JOHNSON PALOMA SUNGLASSES: These sunglasses have the best tint. I ordered the Tortoiseshell design. I also love the rose pink frame.

10. CORNELIA JAMES MERINO WOOL GLOVES: Duchess Kate Middleton owns the Cornelia James Imogen gloves in two different colors, black and brown. In addition to the black and chocolate brown shades worn by Kate, the Imogen gloves come in several colors, including forest green, red, elephant grey, pink, plum purple, navy blue, taupe and biscuit.

11. GRAY MALIN: ITALY: I am a big fan of Gray Malin’s prints. His latest book includes the most beautiful beach photography in Italy. It’s also perfect to display on your coffee table.

12. LEATHER CAMERA SLING STRAPS: These camera straps are lightweight and can be personalized.

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What products did you fall in love with in 2019? Tell me in the comments.

If you buy something through some of my links, I may earn an affiliate commission.

Link Love

link love

Here are a few fun and informative links from around the web. Hope you enjoy this edition of link love.

Note: Links are not endorsements and do not necessarily represent the editor’s opinion. Download the Pocket App to save articles.

1.    The best Instagram apps.

2.    Inside Elizabeth Holmes final months at Theranos.

3.    A terrific guide to Lisbon and Porto.

4.    The discount cable and charger brands you can trust.

5.    The 40 minute face lift with no sedation or scars.

6.    The Caribbean travel guide.

7.    The people who eat the same meal everyday.

8.    Zac Posen’s delicious brown buttered chocolate chip cookie recipe. I substituted Cup4Cup gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version. For more of Zac’s recipes, order his new cookbook. The dessert recipes are my favorite.

9.    I’m saving Gaby’s guide to San Francisco for my next layover.

10.  Tips for flying with a toddler.

11.  As part of an enhanced security process, citizens traveling to the majority of the European Union nations after January 2021 will have to register online and pay a small fee.

12.  How high do you hang art?

13.  36 houses in St. Augustine.

14.  Things to know before your first visit to Paris.

15.  Hotel travel hacks.

16.  Who decides what news is fake news. Is it an attempt to control a narrative?

17.  How to win the Bachelor. Somehow, after 23 seasons and some very clear patterns, the contestants of America’s greatest dating show do not know how to work the system.

18.  What locals eat around the world.

19.  This guide to copywriting is excellent.

20. Where to eat in Pittsburgh.

21.  How to use iPhone abroad without going broke.

22.  How to Marie Kondo your Twitter feed.

23.  I’m reading Dr. Gundry’s new book The Longevity Paradox: How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age.

P.S. Share what you read, watched, heard, or did that made you think twice.

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Link Love

link love

Here are a few fun and informative links from around the web. Hope you enjoy this edition of link love.

P.S. Download the Pocket App or Feedly to save articles to read later offline.

Note: Links are not endorsements and do not necessarily represent my opinion.

1.    The last conversation you’ll ever need to have about eating right. This is great!

2.    How to keep Facebook from over sharing your information.

3.    Airdrop is iPhone’s most underrated tool.

4.    This French Onion Soup recipe is so good.

5.    The do’s and don’ts of being interviewed.

6.    The best women’s running clothes for every kind of weather.

7.    Why long haul flights expose flight crews and passengers to radiation.

8.    Five tips for blocking spam from your inbox.

9.    A terrific guide to Dublin.

10.  The 5 red flags of deception in email.

11.  The Bachelor Makeup artist shares on set beauty secrets.

12.  Are you easily discouraged? A psychologist says it all comes down to this one thing.

13.  Introvert friendly tips for the dreaded first date.

14.  The original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

15.  Private clinics in Germany sell cancer patients hope  and mixed results at exorbitant prices.

16.  How to spend 48 hours in Memphis.

17.  The top three things you need to know about storage.

18.  The ultimate printable party planning checklist.

19.  A step by step guide for flower arranging.

20.  Here are the ages you peak for almost everything in your life.

21.  I like Kristin Cavallari’s spinach artichoke dip.

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What notable things did you read this week?

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Link Love

link love

Here are a few fun and informative links from around the web. Hope you enjoy this edition of link love.

P.S. Download the Pocket App or Feedly to save articles to read later offline.

Note: Links are not endorsements and do not necessarily represent my opinion.

1.     How to spot teenage depression.

2.    The wife of the Pulse night-club shooter goes on trial.

3.    Is there plastic particles in your water bottle? Yes, very likely.

4.    Meet the baker behind the Mrs. Fields empire.

5.    How sincere is The Bachelor franchise?

6.    How to gain power at work when you have none.

7.    What does it mean to die?

8.    How Bachelor contestants get camera ready.

9.    24 hours in Bachelor nation.

10.  Inside the opioid crisis.

11.  How to help children sleep better.

12.  How to care for dry winter hair.

13.  If you don’t have children, what do you leave behind?

14.  How to stop annoying robocalls on your smart phone.

15.  All the details of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new restaurant.

16.  Tips for blocking spam from your inbox.

17.  A playlist of 100 great songs by artists performing at SXSW 2018.

18.  Why your pharmacist can’t tell you you’re $20 prescription could cost only $8.

19.  How to create covers for Instagram stories highlights.

20.  People are putting oil in their coffee to lose weight.

21.  The keys to raising a happy child.

22.  How to travel with children.

23.  The one thing that protects a laptop after it’s been stolen.

What notable things did you read this week?

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My Favorite New Podcasts

Good Reads: Banana Buckwheat Bread + Inside Social Media’s Fake Followers + What You Need to Know About DNA Testing + How to Clean an Oven Naturally + Kate Middleton’s Hair Products + Black Bean Soup + More!

Link Love

link love

Here are a few fun and informative links from around the web. Hope you enjoy this edition of link love.

P.S. Download the Pocket App or Feedly to save articles to read later offline.

Note: Links are not endorsements and do not necessarily represent my opinion.

1.    Remembering the legacy of Billy Graham.

2.    The faith of the super bowl champions.

3.    A detailed Barcelona travel guide.

4.    Here’s what it means if your plane is labeled for ETOPS.

5.    The 5 best podcast apps for apple and android.

6.    How to prepare your community for a disaster.

7.    Jimmy Buffet does not live the Jimmy Buffet lifestyle.

8.    How sponsored content is changing social media.

9.    This story of the worst roommate ever has gone viral and the Internet’s terrified.

10.  How to stop rushing into love.

11.  These pineapple ginger wellness shots taste good and are good for you.

12.  Black Panther director Ryan Coogler penned an emotional letter thanking fans for coming out to watch and support the new Marvel movie, which has shattered multiple box office records.

13.  The science of dealing with toxic people.

14.  Are Household cleaning products causing lung cancer?

15.  When it’s your first wedding, but your partner’s second.

16.  An extensive guide to LA’s Koreatown.

17.  An NBC Bay Area Investigation reveals a dangerous concoction of drug needles, garbage, and feces lining the streets of downtown San Francisco. The Investigative Unit surveyed more than 150 blocks, including some of the city’s top tourist destinations, and discovered conditions that are now being compared to some of the worst slums in the world.

18.  Ranchers set to fight back against vegetarian fake meat. I don’t buy these brands. The fake meat tastes awful.

19.  Should there be armed security guards and teachers at every school?

20.  Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine prom inspire special-needs people and their families.

21.  This is the most popular cake recipe on Pinterest.

22. Check out Jennifer Anniston’s home in Los Angeles home.

23.  The care and keeping of bacon grease.

24.  The history of queso dip and how Chipotle got it wrong.

P.S. You May Have Missed:

What to Eat, Read, Watch, and Listen To: Charleston Favorites, Dating Book, Food Allergy Cookbook + Movies, Music, and More!

My Favorite New Podcasts

Good Reads: Banana Buckwheat Bread + Inside Social Media’s Fake Followers + What You Need to Know About DNA Testing + How to Clean an Oven Naturally + Kate Middleton’s Hair Products + Black Bean Soup + More!