Anyone here ever watch Oprah? I don’t even remember how many years ago it’s been since it’s not been a show. I didn’t watch it regular, but my mom and grandma sure did and I can remember them always talking about her show every year where she surprised her audience with “her favorite things”.
Now I’m not in any way endorsing Oprah….but I DID think it would be fun to do a “favorite things” post. Now my pockets are no where deep enough to give away to each one of you my favorite things, but in the weeks to come, I am going to do a giveaway to one person, where I will ship them a box full of some of my favorite things (not mine actually – as you can see from this pic, mine are well used – I’ll send you brand new!)!! It won’t include everything from this post (I wish it could!), but it will include many items! The giveaway will likely end Thanksgiving weekend.
There will be multiple ways you can sign up, I’m still working on some of the details, but by ordering you will get an entry, by sharing my post on social media you will get an entry, and if you sign up or are already signed up for my newsletter, you will get an entry!
Obviously Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, and so for you early bird shoppers (I’m working at trying to become one of you!), I thought I’d post this list early enough, as a lot of these items might be fun gift ideas, stocking stuffers, or even just fit a need in your own life! Some of the items linked below are affiliate links, but many of them are not. I truly just have been helped so much by suggestions from other people, and if any of these items are ones that could help someone else, then please know that that is my purpose!
I’ve been wanting to do this post for the last 2 years, for some reason I’m just now getting around to it…..so without further delay…..here are some of my favorite things!
Makeup
Fenty Cream Blush -I have gotten color Macchiato in the past and used this as a bronzer – I wear this almost daily!
Loreal Paris True Match Nude Foundation – This is more like a tinted serum, yet if you apply more it does offer good coverage, though you can apply just a very light amount. I DO NOT apply this like traditional foundation. I kinda “dab” it on with my fingers – I have a video if you want to search my facebook on how to apply it. Also, to get a natural look, apply moisturizer first, then when it’s still kinda tacky from your moisturizer, apply this.
Bare Minerals – Faux Tan – This color is a fairly dark orange – it happens to agree with my skin tone, but just in general I like all their powder blushes – they stay on really well!
Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara and Eyeliner (I get the brown) – I have used this for prob 3 years now – really like this stuff!
Tarte Creaseless Concealer – I use this under my eyes and on my eyelids – just the right amount of “highlight” to it – kinda brightens up the dark circles under my eyes without making me look like a racoon….plus it does not seem to settle in my lines!
Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum – I really like this also for under my eyes – it’s lighter weight than the Tarte – so if you need more coverage go for the Tarte, but if you just want a little something to cover up the dark circles, then give this a try – I like them both! You may want to purchase this one in store so you can see in person the color options!
Tarte Amazonian Blush – color seduce – This wears well – has “staying” power – is a matte blush which I like because a lot of them now have sparkle and I don’t really need/want that!
Flawless Makeup Brushes – The best brushes I’ve found for the price!
Wetbrush – Love this hairbrush – I’m on my 3rd one – when one wears out I always get another. I know hairbrushes are a dime a dozen, but this really does well. I even bought one for our horses manes and tails and keep one at the barn now!
Haircare
Pantene Volume and Body Shampoo – My favorite new shampoo – seems to do an excellent job of cleansing – I have fine hair, but a lot of it. As I’ve gotten older I tend to get greasy patches – eww….and it just does a great job, especially considering it’s half the price of the Ulta shampoo I was using.
Monday SMOOTH Shampoo and Conditioner – I have used this for a very long time….I really do think it helps my hair to dry more smooth!
Briogeo Hair Mask – This is like food for your hair – I’m currently out, so it’s not pictured, but I need to get some more!
Loreal Paris Ever Pure Moisture 21 in 1 spray – really helps with detangling. I spray on my hands and then on the ends of my hair, otherwise if I just spray it on I feel like I get too much and then it feels yucky when my hair is dry – and probably because I have fine hair, maybe if you had thicker hair you could use a little more without it making your hair feel heavy….but just a few sprays on my hands, then run through my ends – I use this every time I wash!
Kenra Platinum Dry Texture Spray – Just a few sprays gives a little more “texture” to my fine hair!
Kenra Platinum Blow Dry Spray – thermal protectant for blow drying – have used this forever – love the way it smells too!
Chi Infra Texture Hairspray – favorite shampoo ever – holds, but not in a crunchy stiff way – I’ve literally used this same shampoo for like 6 or 7 years probably!
Batiste Naturally Dry Shampoo – Good dry shampoo for the money – a little goes a long way. I spray this on at night before bed. This helps me to only wash my hair 2-3x/week
Living Proof Dry Shampoo – Probably my favorite dry shampoo – though I really want to try this Amika as it has great reviews – but it’s very pricey….but if I get any Christmas or bday money this will likely be on my list!
Snacks/Supplements
Bulletproof Coffee – We have used this for probably 3 years. Everyone who drinks coffee here always comments that it’s really good coffee – I have it on subscribe and save….and we don’t drink a ton of it, I know, it’s pricey….but coffee is one of those things you really need to drink a good brand and not one that has sat and likely has mold. When our shipment comes I throw this in the freezer till I’m ready to use a new bag.
Xymogen ATP Ignite – Energy, Electrolytes, Antioxidants – I would not buy it here, I pay much less for this locally at a chiro office, just sharing this link so you can see product, but this is way too expensive! This is my favorite electrolyte drink – it does contain some caffeine.
Xymogen Optimag Neuro (Powdered Magnesium) – Like the above product – I purchase this for about $55 locally, I’m sure this price fluctuates, so just make sure to do your homework on the price through this link! I take a scoop of this/day – really like this product. My family suffers from restless legs, so I try to make sure I take quality magnesium.
Biooptimizers Magnesium – We really like this magnesium too. It’s in capsule form, my kids take this before bed too and they can tell they have a harder time getting to sleep when we run out of it.
Magnesium Lotion – I actually haven’t personally used this – so technically it’s not my favorite thing….yet it has such amazing reviews that I plan to look for it when it’s on sale during black Friday. I make no commission off mentioning this just in case you’re wondering, just think this is probably a very solid product!
Kind Thins – Dark Chocolate, Nuts & Sea Salt – Best gluten free granola bar I’ve had!
Hylands #12 Silicea 6x (helped me with hairloss after covid) – After I had covid I was losing hair in massive amounts. A gal recommended this to me and I thought it really did make a difference. I don’t always take it, but if I notice I’m starting to lose more hair in the shower I might take it for several days in a row.
Accelerated Health Products – Acceleradine – really love this product – I’ve spoken about it here before – check out her site for all the info on it.
Neolife – Vitamin Supplements – Last winter we had what I dubbed as “the great sickness” – it’s like we all got sick in December and didn’t fully get well and feel good again until March. Mid-January I started looking at vitamins/supplements, etc. So like any “crunchy” mama would do…..I spent my Christmas money on vitamins for our family. We have been taking them (sometimes very sporadically) since February. They come in packets, are easy to take, I feel like cover the baseline of needs. Do I expect that we will not get sick? No absolutely not, my hope is that we will just have a healthier baseline and can maybe better weather some of the illness that comes our way. Email me if you have questions about this one!
Books/Podcasts
Practical Happiness by Bob Schultz – This author has since passed away, but his books I feel like have gems of wisdom. They have very short chapters that we have often used as family devotions, or I’ll take them along on trips to read.
The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson – I feel like Sally Clarkson mentored me as a mother and didn’t even know it. Her books changed so much of my view of motherhood and how I approached things – it is not at all prescriptive, it is encouraging, and just makes you want to do well! All of her books have been so good!
Simple Money, Rich Life by Bob Lotich – Such a great book – I think I’ve shared it before. Just Biblically based sound money principles and actionable steps to apply the information. Nothing earth shattering new in here, but I find that if I read about things that are important – like finances – sometimes it just helps to refocus and keep me on track!
The Green Ember by S.D. Smith – Fighting Rabbits? If you would have told me this would be one of my all time favorite read alouds with my kids I would have told you you were crazy….fighting rabbits is not really my genre….but this is so much more. It is good against evil, honor, respect, such great writing and witty humor. When a new book of the series would come out I would cancel school for the day and we would spend the whole day reading. I thought the 2nd to last book was actually the last book – somehow I had in my head the series would be over, so when we got to the last page and the last chapter and it was a huge cliffhanger, I was so upset….it was like another year and a half before the next book came out!!!! Anyhoo, big Green Ember series fan here!
Tea Time with Sally Clarkson Podcast – I’m not into tea time, I’m not a fan necessarily of England or Oxford (Sally is!), but it doesn’t matter, I love the encouragement Sally offers each week. It’s applicable and I always feel so equipped to continue on even in the “hard”. That’s what I love about Biblical community. We are no where alike in the day in and day out, but our foundation is built on Christ and so that makes our foundation the same and I’m able to pull her nuggets of wisdom and encouragement and apply them to my own family…..this is my favorite podcast!
Courageous Parenting Podcast – Isaac and Angie Tolpin – I feel like we could be good neighbors. Solid teaching, encouragement, very practical.
Miscellaneous
Kitsch Hair Clips – I recently found these – and love them – a good hair clip makes a huge difference!
Jeans – BKE style Billie – Tailored Bootcut – lightweight, high rise – I don’t buy jeans very often because then I wear them for the next 5 years, so these are pricey – 72.99, but I really like them! Jeans are a struggle for me…..I may come home with 5 pairs and wear them around the house each for about 15 minutes before I decide which ones are actually “the one”. Then I return the rest. I’m terrible about this, but since I rarely buy jeans, if I spend that much I want to really like them! Also, I’ve had fairly good success getting jeans at the thrift store too!
Over & Under – This is my friend’s facebook page and business. She makes t-shirts/sweatshirts – really cool things – we love her stuff!
Whew…..that feels like a lot of products! I hope you can browse this list and get some ideas of your own – feel free to reach out if you have questions – email me is the best way! And be on the lookout in the weeks to come on how to enter to win some of these products for yourself!
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