Best Purchases of 2024, Worst Purchases of 2024, and What's On My Black Friday List

My favorite things from the year, my least favorite things of the year, and what is sitting in my cart on Black Friday.

This post is precisely what it sounds like: a list of purchases from 2024 that brought me the most joy. I will also share a few things I wish I hadn’t purchased or was disappointed by and the things I want to (and may!) buy.

This post is likely too long for email — I’d suggest opening it in your browser.

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My Favorite Purchases Of The Year

Quince Percale Sheets

1. The second issue of this newsletter discussed a problem that has plagued me: being a hot sleeper. I tried many sheets and recommendations, and then, in a random perimenopause post, the Quince Percale Sheets were mentioned. My life has been changed. They are CRISP. They breathe! They wash up well. I also bought the duvet cover to match, and I’m delighted.

   

   This vacuum changed my life.

2. We have THREE DOGS now, which means my house is always covered an obscene amount of dog hair. I bought this Shark Navigator 360 vacuum, the most incredible vacuum I’ve ever owned. It’s light, the bulk of it detaches to make cleaning furniture easier, and IT IS CURRENTLY 55% OFF!!!! Go! If you live with animals or humans, this thing is truly magical.

   

   U Beauty does not miss!

3. I recently fell in love with U Beauty and am a convert, and you can find all of my favorites here. I love the Resurfacing Flash Peel. I don’t get facials often, but this feels like an at-home chemical treatment. I use it once a week and use the Resurfacing Compound every night (save for the nights I use the aforementioned Flash Peel). I use the Barrier Bioactive Treatment nearly every night to seal in my products. Before my 40s, I did not understand what Nora Ephron meant when she said she felt bad about her neck, but I very much do now. I have been using The Sculpt Neck and Décolleté Concentrate, and I swear on everything that it makes all the difference. I have been so impressed by the neck formula that I bought the Sculpt Arm Concentrate and the Body Super Hydrator. I’ve slowly started working the Body Resurfacing Compound into my routine and will amp it up closer to summer when more skin is showing. I also got the Lip Plasma Trio, and while I don’t think I can see a significant difference yet, I like the texture, and my hopes are high.

   

4. I have been looking for some fun sneakers for a while and fell in love with these Nike Debut Waffle shoes. The neon and leopard make them exciting but not terribly bright. I often wear black, and these are a good kick for an otherwise dull outfit.

   

   It looks dumb, but it is truly magical

5. I get frequent headaches, and in a moment of desperation, I bought this migraine cap. You put it in the freezer, and then you can pull it out when you need it. The cold feels incredible, but so does the pressure it applies — it’s just enough.

   

   SURI is the most beautiful and effective toothbrush I’ve ever owned.

6. 2024 was the year that made me an oral hygiene fanatic, partly because I got Invisalign and partly because I inherited the worst teeth and gums from my dad’s side of the family. After some genuinely hellish root canals, I decided that I was willing to do just about anything to avoid spending more money on my teeth. After relentless advertising, I bought the SURI toothbrush, and the hype is real. It’s beautiful and makes my mouth feel so clean. I floss religiously, and I follow it up with this WaterPik. I love it because I can adjust the pressure, and it comes with various attachments. I use this lightweight Phillips Sonicare 1 at work. Regarding Invisalign-specific purchases: I bought this sonic cleaner for my aligners, added a tablet meant for denture cleaning, and cleaned them at least twice daily. It helped keep them clean and kept me from getting cavities from using aligners. I also bought a UV case to sterilize my aligners while I ate or took them out for any other reason. It helped me feel better about putting my hands in my mouth multiple times daily.

   

   Holds dog poop bags, a personal alarm, and pepper spray gel.

7. I have started walking my dogs early in the morning and after dark. While I live in a super-safe area of Sacramento, having a personal alarm makes me feel more secure. (I love the Birdie one!). I keep it in my Lululemon Belt Bag (one of my favorite bags!), along with pepper spray gel. I also wear this little clip-on light to make me and the dogs visible.

   

   The Align leggings are the best. Don’t fight me.

8. Exercise has been a big part of my life this year, and to make it easier, I wear a uniform: Lululemon Align Leggings (in black, of course! I’m partial to the 28’ length, which are cropped for many folks, but full-length for my five-foot tall self), Lululemon Love Tank (I am fond of black, gray, and jade gray), the Lululemon Longline Energy Bra, and Bombas Cushioned Ankle socks. All of these items are soft, sweat-wicking, and non-irritating. I know people have Feelings about Lululemon, but I’ve had some of my Aligns for nearly 10 years, and they are still holding up.

   

9. Becca recommended this Cupcakes and Cashmere Cove Mini Curved Diamond Necklace. It went on sale a while back, and I caved. I’ve barely taken it off. It’s so delicate and lovely that it’s become an everyday staple.

   

   These cute socks are BOMBAS! I know!

10. A few years ago, my dear friend Jenn got me hooked on Bombas, and I have become a fanatic about nearly everything they make. My must-haves are their low-cut No-Show socks (they are the only no-shows that stay put without bunching), Seamless Full Brief underwear, Seamless Triangle Bralette, Sunday Slippers, Frilly Quarter Socks, and Pointelle Calf Socks (my favorite thing to wear with my Birkenstock Bostons).

    

11. It was a shockingly good year for pants. My favorite additions to my wardrobe are the Colette Wide-Leg Cropped pants and the Madewell Darted Barrel-Leg jeans. Both of them make me feel mildly cool and are shockingly comfortable.

    

12. This is a last-minute addition, but I bought this Theragun on Black Friday. I do not say this lightly: it has already changed my life. I recently had a severe lower back issue, and I wish I’d had this because I sincerely believe it would have fixed the problem much faster than muscle relaxers and physical therapy. I used it after a spin class on my perpetually tight calves and shoulder blades, and poof! All tightness was gone.

    

13. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, sleep is challenging for me. This year, I got two game-changers. First, I’m a hardcore fan of the NodPod, a weighted eye mask. It helps with headaches and anxiety, and it’s great if you want to rest or regulate. It also blocks light so you can fall asleep! Secondly — and I know this is pricey — I bought an adjustable bed. Amy and I stayed at the best Airbnb while she was staying in San Diego to care for her mom, and it had an adjustable bed that I fell in love with. I love to read in bed, but I wouldn't say I like holding up a paper book when I’m lying down (mostly because I tend to fall asleep and drop it on my face), and this lets me sit up to read without holding the book up. It has a zero gravity mode, taking all pressure off your body’s pressure points. Lastly, if you have acid reflux, elevating your head ever-so-slightly is lovely, and being able to do it without being fully awake or fussing over pillows is a delight. I got mine on sale, and I regret nothing.

14. Other things that brought me joy that are not purchasable include a ticket to see Maggie Rogers with my friend Jess, every spin class I took at TEAM Ride, regular manicures and pedicures, my wife coming home after 6 weeks away, my dogs, and tickets to Edinburgh (we were supposed to go over Thanksgiving but bumped it to spring).

Things I Wish I Did Not Buy

1. The Flaus Electric Flosser. It’s fine. It hasn’t actively made my oral hygiene worse, but it isn’t as easy to maneuver as regular floss. My teeth don’t get any cleaner than they did with regular floss.

   

2. Since moving into a home with a pool two summers ago, I’ve needed a bonkers amount of bathing suits because getting into a wet bathing suit is unpleasant at best. My body has been through some changes this year, and I bought some YouSwim bathing suits because they stretch across multiple sizes. That is true; however, they failed to mention that they become pretty see-through when they stretch. That’s fine for private settings, but I love to host friends and don’t care to make it weird. The care instructions state that you should always rinse them out with cold water and despite my diligence in caring for them, they felt stretched out and faded after only a few wears. I will be purchasing different swimsuits this summer.

   

3. These rechargeable table lamps. They’re not bright enough for anything, and they die quickly. Boo.

What I Want To Buy (But Likely Won’t)

1. I am obsessed with this Clare V. Grande Fanny in Mint Opal and Black Woven Zig Zag. It would be fun with any black top and jeans, a black dress, or just about anything. I fear it’s too bright, but I do love it. I keep it in my cart and dither about whether 15% off makes it worth it. I am typically very cheap about bags (I own zero designer things — my nicest bags are from Madewell), but this one is captivating.

   

2. Similarly, I look at this Beaded Statement Necklace from Clare V a few times a week. Although I fear it’s too flashy (and expensive), I love it.

I hope you’ve found a few things that you like or at least got some joy judging my purchases! Happy shopping!

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