Best Purchases of 2020
2020 put almost everything on hold, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a bit of shopping to be done! Here’s a roundup of the products that made my year a little better…
1. Mejuri Chain Necklace with Extender and Charms, $415
When Tatum was born, I wanted a piece of jewellery that celebrated his birth and would always remind me of him. As a long-time lover of Mejuri, I got myself their 14K gold chain necklace, matching chain extender and the letter “T” charm and moonstone charm (June birthstone). It was an investment but so worth it for this dainty necklace. It’s simple, classic and timeless and I know I’ll be keeping it forever.
2. Só Luxury Coco Oat Milk Bath, $22
This milk bath was part of Só Luxury’s baby bundle that I won through a big Instagram giveaway a week after Tatum was born (talk about a lucky baby!). It’s been so great on his skin, gently cleansing and keeping it soft. It’s also helped with minor eczema that he’ll sometimes develop around his neck. After a warm bath using this soak, I’ve noticed the eczema significantly reduced. I was such a fan that when we ran out of the first bag from the baby bundle, I continued to repurchase it.
3. Structube Bagus Desk, $199
Tatum’s nursery was originally occupied by our old dining table where we would set up our laptops to work when needed. When we began storing our baby shower gifts there and then eventually redecorating, we decided to buy a new desk to position next to our kitchen. A lot of our existing furniture is from Structube and naturally that was the first place we looked. Brentley chose the Bagus desk and we’ve received so many compliments on it!
4. Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $31
The frequent handwashing and sanitizing this year had really dried out my hands. With the addition of the cold, my hands were cracking to the point that I was bleeding between fingers and around my knuckles. I immediately searched for the best hand cream on Sephora and landed on this one by Kiehl’s. Within 3-4 days of using the hand salve after each wash, my hands were basically back to normal and the smoothest they’ve ever felt during a winter season.
5. Burga Phone Case, $39.95
I upgraded my iPhone in the summer and that meant I needed new cases. I soon discovered Burga on Instagram and I was immediately drawn to their stylish designs. Based on reviews, their cases are very durable too. At the time they were offering a “buy 2, get 2 free” deal and so I ordered two of their tough cases in Almond Latte and two in Night Sky. I’ve still got my first case on my phone and it’s held up so well.
6. Ruru Baked Ice Cream Pints, $12
I read about Ruru Baked online and the fact that their pint drops sell out within a few minutes had me intrigued. I’ve ordered their weekly limit of four pints several times since the summer and I was always lucky enough to get my orders through. They’re my new favourite place to get ice cream in the city. We’ve tried a variety of their flavours but our favourites have been the ones with baked mix-ins, like banoffee pie, strawberry shorty, honeycomb cereal milk and blueberry crumble.
7. Tru Earth Wool Dryer Balls, $19.99
While I was pregnant, we realized how much laundry we’d be doing once Tatum arrived. Since I’d been wanting to convert from dryer sheets to wool dryer balls for a while, it seemed like the perfect time to do so. This pack of four from Tru Earth were a great value and last more than 1000 loads. Wool balls offer so many benefits, including shortening drying time, saving energy and being gentle on sensitive skin.
8. Sézane Mom’s Club T-shirt, $60
Another thing I wanted to get for myself after Tatum was born was a top that had some type of “mom” text on it. I searched the internet high and low for something that combined both great design and great quality, and to my surprise my search ended at Sézane, one of my favourite clothing retailers. The “Mom’s Club” text takes a unique spin on the standard mama shirt.
9. Jackbox Party Pack, $27.99-$33.99
Back in March when everyone started to quarantine, we purchased a few Jackbox Party Packs to play over video meetings with friends and family since we weren’t sure how long we would be social distancing for. We bought Party Packs 3, 4 and 6. Our virtual game nights have been a great way to connect with people and a sure way to quickly cure boredom.
10. Mala the Brand ‘Cereal’ Candle, $30
I’m not sure I’ve enjoyed a scent more than this candle from Mala the Brand. It’s described as “nostalgia in a jar” and it really is just that. As soon as you open the tin, the smell of Fruit Loops (one of my favourite cereals growing up!) instantly takes you back to your childhood. Other than the sweet scent and cute packaging, you’ve also got to love the fact that it’s a small Canadian business, and a tree is planted with each purchase!
11. Native Union Dock Wireless Charger, $89.99
We’d been meaning to get a phone stand to make it easier for FaceTime calls, watching videos and checking on the baby through our baby monitor app. But we figured, why not get a wireless charging dock instead? The Native Union dock has been the perfect bedside companion. We keep the baby monitor app open at night, all while the phone’s charging. During the day, we just unplug the dock from its USB cable to give us the portability to set up our phones anywhere at home.
12. Kitsch Cotton Face Mask Set, $12
We’ve seen our fair share of face masks since the spring, but the cotton masks from Kitsch are by far my favourites. I stocked up on multiple sets in their neutral prints as well as the black. I love the way they look and feel. They’re made of three layers of soft, breathable cotton and they fit comfortably on my face. They don’t have inserts for filters, but I make sure they go in the wash after each use.
13. Z Supply Tie Dye Pullover, $89.95
My appreciation for roomy tops grew exponentially post-partum, and the boxy, cropped fit of this sweatshirt not only looked flattering but was so practical for the slightly different body I was now dealing with. I love all things cotton and this pastel tie dye print is so fun, yet muted. It’s incredibly comfy and easily one of my favourite clothing purchases this year (I’m pretty sure at the end of the summer I wore this sweatshirt three days in a row).
14. Tangle Teezer The Wet Detangler, $34.95
Since my first balayage over three years ago, the texture of my hair has never been the same. Brushing out tangles in my wet hair after showering got a lot more difficult, and up until a month ago I was using the Wet Brush I bought from Walmart. It did a decent job, but it can’t compare to the Wet Detangler by Tangle Teezer. It’s lightweight, easy to hold and quickly but gently detangles wet hair. The unique teeth also make it easier to keep clean from dust, lint and other buildup.
15. Liewood Merle Cape Bib, $35
I first saw this baby bib on a lifestyle vlog I’d been following, and thought the long-sleeved, waterproof design was such a genius idea to keep babies from staining their clothes. I already do an average of two to three loads of laundry each week and don’t need any more! We got the bib in three colours, alternating them at each meal. They conveniently wipe clean with a damp cloth, but are machine washable too.
16. Knix SuperStretch Boyshort 3-Pack, $48
Since Tatum was born via an emergency C-section, it never occurred to me what that would mean for my body. I was suddenly sporting a new, permanent scar that hurt, itched and was generally uncomfortable. I ordered a pack of the Knix boyshorts soon after we were discharged from the hospital. Their stretchy, seamless construction coupled with the mid-rise fit never bothered my scar area.
