roomba | robinson mini tote | snowglobe sweater | gingham pouch | make up for ever ultra HD foundation | pointed tassel flat | nude york tote | custom monogrammed pillow | plaid shirt
Today I’m taking a different spin on the gift guide— this is a gift guide of items I’ve actually purchased for myself recently to give you some ideas for your own wish list (save for two that were sent to me- but I’m obsessed and wouldn’t be sharing them otherwise).
roomba
Since we got a new house this year and we’re buying a lot of furniture, Kevin and I decided to take it easy with gifts this Christmas. However, there was one thing we did buy for ourselves and that’s a Roomba. We both really wanted one since our dark hardwood floors show every.single.speck of dirt. We wish we could go back in time and choose a lighter stain, but what’s done is done. Several friends recommended the Roomba to us and we couldn’t be happier with such a practical gift. Because having clean floors is good for your mental health and it’s the gift that keeps on giving…and cleaning.
robinson mini tote
I’m completely obsessed with this bag. To be honest, I didn’t always love red. I don’t have red clothes and was never attracted to the color. But in the past couple of years I’ve warmed up to it and it’s safe to say I love it now. This tote is the perfect size for when I don’t need to take a ton of stuff with me— wallet, cell phone, sunglasses and there’s still plenty of room for other stuff. I wear it crossbody but it also has the cutest handles. I just can’t rave enough about it and it also comes in pink! I think the shape and style of this bag is so chic and classic and its bright color makes it such a standout accessory.
snowglobe sweater
I couldn’t resist the sweet pom accents on this sweater. I don’t own a turtleneck so I decided it was time and this cozy creamy sweater was just the ticket.
gingham pouch
I saw this pouch while shopping and was totally smitten with the color/print. I love gingham and a pouch like this can be used for so many purposes. You can use it to hold makeup in your purse or to store coupons, receipts, etc. It’s a coated fabric so it will stay clean too! I loved it so much I also purchased one as a gift.
make up for ever ultra HD foundation
I’m planning a full review of this foundation soon because it really deserves its own post, but this is a game-changer. And by that, I mean that I have not used liquid foundation in over ten years. I was devoted to my MAC StudioFix powder and never strayed (though I have tried some foundations for review purposes, I always went back to my MAC powder). I never imagined I would ever use liquid foundation again but here I am and I can honestly say I have worn this foundation every.single.day I have worn makeup since the day I got it. Yup. My poor StudioFix is just sitting in my makeup drawer wondering where I’ve been (I’m sorry, it’s you, not me). This foundation was sent to me, but I can guarantee I’ll be repurchasing as soon as I’m out because it’s that good. It gives great coverage but also lets your skin show through (you can see my freckles). It is SO lightweight I can’t even feel it on my skin. It gives skin a beautiful finish and I’m so glad I tried it because I know that as skin ages liquid products tend to wear better. If you’re looking for a new foundation, I highly recommend this one— it totally converted me, and that’s saying a lot.
pointed tassel flat
I have the non-tassel version of these, but my goodness those tassels are cute. I wish they would have had these when I got mine! This flat is stylish and comfy and the tassel accent is just the cherry on top.
nude york tote
I didn’t mention this because we had so much going on at the time (new house, baby, etc) but I was promoted at work a week before I had Lincoln! I decided I would treat myself to something special to celebrate my promotion but then I had a baby and life got busy and I forgot all about it. So when Tory Burch had a sale recently, I decided to get the robinson tote and the york tote, which I plan to use for work. It’s the perfect size (can fit a Macbook) and the nude color is absolutely beautiful. It also has a zip pocket in the center and lots of storage pockets on the inside. I couldn’t be happier with this bag—and the price point is incredible for TB at just under $300. It also comes in a smaller version which is great if you’re petite or just prefer a bit of a smaller bag.
custom monogrammed pillow
I’ve been so impressed with the quality of the monogrammed pillows I’ve received from Caroline Randall Made. I have one for Lincoln, Harper and also in our master bedroom. They’re just the perfect finishing touch to any space and it’s a fun gift to buy for yourself (or for someone else). You can check out the pillows we have here, here and here! They’re gorgeous and you can choose from a wide variety of fabric colors and monogram styles.
plaid shirt
I still wear my “rock salt” plaid shirt from J.Crew all the time so it was time to add another to my collection. I got this plaid perfect shirt because I love the holiday colors and because this is one of my favorite fits J.Crew offers (plus, it comes in tall!) I will say I ordered two sizes— a 4T and 6T and kept the larger size because I felt that the shirt fit smaller compared to my other perfect shirts. I have one in a 2T and that one fits me even through my early second trimester, so something is a little off on the sizing on this one, so keep that in mind when ordering!
I hope you enjoyed this “gift guide!” Whether you’re buying for yourself or someone you love, I hope you find some things you love as much as I do the items on this list!
Happy Shopping!
I usually enjoy your blog however I am irked by this post. I know you probably won’t publish this, but maybe you will read it…it seems ludicrous to me that you are not buying your husband gifts because of the furniture, new house, etc but then you go out and spend a TON on stuff for yourself? How does this make any sense? The rationale to not exchange gifts because of home expenses totally makes sense, but to then spend so much on yourself seems completely selfish.
Hi Madeline! My husband and I don’t really exchange a bunch of gifts for Christmas and instead we chose to buy something we both want that’s a little pricier- and so we decided that since we spent a lot of money on furniture we would rather splurge on something we need—-and that’s a Roomba. We made the decision together and my husband always tells me that he doesn’t want gifts (even for his birthday!)— if you don’t believe me, you can feel free to email him and ask. Of course I still get him gifts but this year we decided we’d rather focus our finances on things we really need like furniture instead of buying each other “things” just to have items under the tree. As for the things I purchased for myself- I shop for myself all the time and these aren’t Christmas presents. As I mentioned in the post, two of the splurge items were to reward myself for my promotion at work. I also though they’d make great gifts or wish list items which is why I shared them here. I work and like to treat myself. I don’t see that as selfish.
Kevin did buy himself a brand new TV recently, so don’t worry, he’s not completely deprived!
Throughout the years, I have gravitated more and more towards MUFE products. I just love them, especially their foundations. You should try their powder foundation as well if you’re ever looking to switch from your studio fix 🙂 If anyone out there has oily skin then I’d recommend the MUFE mat velvet foundation over the HD to control shine. If you apply it with a beauty blender then it doesn’t feel too heavy even though it’s a full coverage foundation. Thanks for sharing your favorites, Veronika!!!
Sam- thanks for this recommendation! I am also looking to get a beauty blender as my friend meg recommended it as well and she’s a total makeup pro (megoonthego.com). My skin is always its best when I’m nursing (must be the hormones) but I typically have combination skin. Maybe I’ll have to try the mat velvet plus as well! Have a great day!
We have the dark floor problem too…drives me insane! They look amazing right after I clean them and then the dog walks through and my blood pressure is through the roof with the paw prints lol! And your rationale with the gift giving is completely justified…it’s YOUR family 🙂
Hi Mandy! Arghh the dark floors right? We had them in our last house too but I guess since our main living space is right there as you enter our home from the porch, it’s much more noticeable in this house when our floors get dirty. But they do look so amazing when they’re clean and create such a great contrast with the white cabinets and all of the bright white trim. Silver lining? Ha.
And thanks for your comment about the gifts! I agree that everyone needs to do what’s best for their family and not “police” the spending decisions others make. I work so hard at my job and my blog and if I want to treat myself I will definitely do that! I barely shopped for myself when I was pregnant so I guess I’m making up for some of that now 🙂 and a promotion is definitely worthy of a celebratory gift, right? 🙂 have a great weekend!
Would you ever consider doing a budget-type post? I always find it interesting when bloggers talk more about how they decide to splurge on specific items, or how they determine how much to allocate to fashion purchases from their household budget. Franish does posts like these, but you’re a working mom like I am, so I’d love your take.
Hi Liz! Thanks for your suggestion 🙂 I also love learning more about the routines and general lifestyles of other working moms! It’s always interesting to get a glimpse into someone else’s life especially if it’s similar to your own.
I could definitely share what makes me splurge on certain items (for example, I love splurging on accessories like sunglasses and bags that I use daily versus things like shirts or costume jewlery). To me, it makes more sense to spend more on a bag I’ll use a ton or sunglasses that I wear daily than something that gets worn just a couple of times a month. Plus, clothing trends change so often that I much prefer buying clothing on sale (thank you for the constant 40% off sales Gap and BR!). Having said that, I think it’s sometimes worthwhile to invest in the classics like dress shirts, work pants, a trench coat, etc. Things that don’t go out of style and that will be worn season after season.
To be honest, I don’t use any of my salary from my job for fun/fashion purchases. I’m so fortunate that over the last six years as I’ve grown my blog, my income from it allows me to make “fun” purchases like clothing, accessories, beauty items, etc. I’m not sure if that’s really relatable in terms of budgeting advice since most working moms don’t also have an extra income.
I will check out Fran’s posts on this topic to see if I can share a similar post. I know she too makes an income from her blog, so she’s probably also in the position where she’s not having to use credit cards etc. and is probably able to splurge a little more than if she didn’t have her blog.
Thanks for taking the time to respond! I appreciate it.
Of course! I always want to be honest and transparent so I felt like I needed to put it out there that my supplemental income covers my fun purchases so I don’t really “budget” from our actual family income, if that makes sense. I hope you have a great weekend!
Do you think you could do a review on the Roomba? I want to buy one but the price!!! Yikes. I have dark wood floors in my entire house. They look wonderful when they are clean, but country living, dirt, sand, rocks,2 dogs and a toddler, I feel like I am cleaning them all the time!! Id love your input once you’ve had it a while.
Love your blog! I have been following you for years, and I live here in Houston too!
https://aaronandcrystalsnest.blogspot.com/
Hi Crystal! Love hearing from fellow Houstonians 🙂 I will be posting a full review after we’ve used it for a little while. I agree the price is so steep so I’m hoping it will live up to our expectations (I posted about it on my personal FB and several friends raved about theirs so we have high hopes). I will check out your blog!
If only they’d invent a robot that would vacuum stairs!
I really look forward to your review on the MUFE foundation. I just bought my usual (the Sephora airbrush foundation), but i’ve been on the lookout to try something new. Plus, it’s nice to see reviews from fellow Houstonians who understand the struggles of dealing with all this humidity 🙂
Dani— seriously about the stairs! I usually just used a swiffer duster to do the stairs—pretty quick that way but lots of bending, haha 🙂
I haven’t worn this foundation in the summer yet…but it’s so lightweight that I bet it will wear well and not melt off. I do top it off with the MUFE HD micropowder as well!
As long as I’ve read your blog you’ve always used Studio Fix powder (which I tried and could not get on board with), can’t believe you’ve switched!!!!
I’m just as shocked as you are! It’s funny I was texting one of my friends today and we both used to use studio fix religiously and she told me she switched to liquid as well! I honestly wouldn’t have switched if MUFE hadn’t sent me the foundation to try because I wasn’t looking for something new. But of course I wanted to try it to give a fair review and I was just blown away!
I think Santa should bring everyone a Roomba this year. My parents have one and it works wonders!
https://www.smallestthing.com
For real! Santa we’ve all been good this year!