My Favorite Items of 2020

I think we can all agree that this year has been crazy and unexpected, to say the least. As we close out 2020 I wanted to do a round up of all my favorite items – everything from beauty and wellness, to home decor, to kid stuff and more.

Clothes & Accessories

Ugg Duffield II Robe – I was given the Duffield II robe in Oatmeal Heather as a birthday present and have worn it every day since. It makes sense why it’s Ugg’s bestselling robe. The fleece is super cozy and will keep you warm during the cold winter months.

Floral Face Masks – I’ve mentioned these beautiful floral face masks on IG stories a few times and I had to include them in this post. I found them on Etsy during the summer and recently purchased a few more. You can’t have too many masks these days.

Lou & Grey Signature Softblend Sweatpants – I bought these joggers right before quarantine happened, and I’m glad I did because I wore them so much this year. They are incredibly soft and have held up great after many washes. They come in petite sizing (as well as normal and plus), so if you’re short like me these are perfect.

Teddy Blake Bella Stampatto 12″ Bag – I was gifted this bag from Teddy Blake and I am so grateful! It is absolutely stunning. I have the dark gray bag with dark gray suede interior. It has a lot of storage with a large main compartment and 2 zipper side compartments. It’s perfect for moms who carry all the applesauce pouches, stickers, and small toys!

Hanes Men’s Sweatshirts – Since I’m spending most of my time at home, I love wearing comfy, oversized sweatshirts. I found these men’s Hanes sweatshirts on Amazon for under $10 and fell in love. I have a few colors and am always reaching for them. 

Beauty & Wellness

Nars “Orgasm” Blush – This year, I ran out of my holy grail blush (Bobbi Brown “Peony”), so I thought I’d switch it up and try Nars’ bestseller “Orgasm.” This peachy pink blush with shimmer always wins awards because it looks great on most skin tones. 

Laura Mercier Translucent Powder – This powder is another product everyone raves about that I finally decided to try this year. I went through 2 containers this year and I can’t live without it. It reduces shine and and isn’t cakey or heavy on your skin. I use it to set my concealer and on my t-zone.

Glossier Balm Dotcom – I’m glad I discovered Glossier this year because their Balm dotcom is amazing. I use it a few times a day, and always at night, to prevent my lips from chapping. It’s made from castor oil, beeswax, and lanolin. 

Equilibria Mint CBD Drops – I need to do an entire post on these CBD drops, because they’ve seriously changed my life this year. I started taking them at the start of quarantine. I don’t use CBD daily, but always when I know I’ll be having a stressful or overwhelming day. Use code NICOLERAUDONIS for $10 off.

Sonicare 4100 Toothbrush – I finally invested in a rechargeable toothbrush this year. I love this one from Sonicare because it has a long battery life and vibrates when I’m pressing too hard. I did a ton of research before purchasing, so I feel very confident recommending this one!

Home

Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe – This was probably the best purchase I’ve made all year. When quarantine started, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get my morning coffees anymore, so I invested in a new coffee maker. The VertuoPlus Deluxe from Nespresso is worth every penny. Coffee comes out super hot and the milk streamer/frother makes every drink seem luxurious. 

Linen Blend Curtains – I love these curtains so much that I installed them in both our bedroom and living room. They look more expensive than they are. I have 2 panels upstairs and 4 panels downstairs. I’m thinking about putting these in my home office too!

Jewelry Organizer – This is a recent purchase which was very much needed. I don’t have a ton of jewelry, so I like displaying it so I can see and wear each piece. This organizer is from Amazon and comes with 3 trays. The beige linen fabric matches everything and looks beautiful on my dresser.

Plastic Mesh Zipper Pouches – I use these zipper pouches for so many things, but mainly Vienna’s toys that have a million pieces. I have one for small cars, one for Mickey figurines, one for flash cards, one for markers, etc. I use my label maker to label each bag so I know exactly where things go.

Amber Glass Spray Bottles – I use these in our kitchen to store countertop and chrome cleaners. They look so much nicer than the plastic bottles. 

“Modern Comfort Food” by Ina Garten – If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m obsessed with Ina Garten. Every recipe I’ve ever made of hers has turned out amazing. She launched a new cookbook this year and it has so many recipes that don’t have long prep and cooking times. I’ve already tried a few and can’t wait to continue making my way through the book.

Bamboo Dish Soap Brush – 2020 was the year I got rid of the gross kitchen sponge and made my kitchen sink a little bit nicer. This dish brush is affordable and will give your sink a major upgrade. 

Yeti Mug – I use my Yeti mug every single day. It’s become a kitchen staple that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to live without. I switch between a white and pink mug, but Yeti sells so many gorgeous shades.

Pottery Barn Vase – I had my eye on this vase for months and one day I decided to just treat myself. I love the unique shape and modern iron detail on the base. It’s a statement piece for sure.

Kids

Melissa & Doug Table and Chairs – This table and chair set is one of our most used items. Vienna loves having her own little spot in the house to read, color, or assemble her blocks. It’s also so durable and can be wiped clean easily.

Little Partners Easel – I love this easel because it’s double sided – one side has a chalk board and the other is a dry erase/magnetic board. It also has adjustable heights, so it will grow with your little one. 

Little Partners Explore & Store Learning Tower – Vienna used to love sitting on the kitchen counter, but I’ve always been nervous that she’d fall. Now with this step stool tower, I feel comfortable letting her in the kitchen with me. Sometimes she’ll even help make dinner, but usually she just watches or colors. 

Frozen Karaoke Machine – This was another Christmas gift given to Vienna. She’s obsessed with Frozen and loves singing along to all the music from the movie. This karaoke machine is great because it’s lightweight so Vienna can move it around as she pleases. 

Elsa Doll – I wasn’t sure if I wanted to introduce Barbies to Vienna this soon, but once I saw this Elsa version at Target I knew she’d love it. She carries it everywhere and loves dancing around with it. I’m considering buying her the Anna version for her birthday in February.

Wee Ones Bows – These continue to be a favorite of ours. The clasp stays in Vienna’s thin hair and they come in a ton of sizes and colors. I’m planning on ordering her a few more for Valentine’s Day! 

Zara Sneaker Boots – My favorite clothing item for Vienna this year has to be these sneaker boots from Zara. I’ve mentioned them a ton and with good reason. They have fur inside to keep her feet warm in the cold weather, but the bottoms are flexible like sneakers. The best feature is the zipper on the sides, which make putting these on and off so easy! 

Gap Kids Rain Jacket – When Vienna was younger, I bought her the sweetest yellow raincoat from Zara. They didn’t make it in toddler sizes this season, so I bought this one from Gap Kids and it’s just as great. Anytime she wears it, we get a ton of compliments!

Wet Brush Mini – We have these mini wet brushes all over our house, because I never know where I’ll be doing Vienna’s hair. Vienna loves them because they come in a bunch of different colors and they don’t tug at her knotty hair. 

“Whoever You Are” by Mem Fox – This book is one of our all time favorites. It teaches children about diversity in a way that they can understand – we all look different on the outside, but inside we are all the same. 

Fubbles No-Spill Bubbles – A friend recommended this to me in the spring and I tell everyone about it now. If your kid loves bubbles, you need this no-spill bubble toy. It’s small enough for them to carry around and is refillable.

VTech Write & Learn – This interactive toy teaches your child how to write letters, draw objects and so much more. You can program your child’s name and it will give them step-by-step directions on how to write it.

Green Toys Tea Set – Vienna received this tea set for Easter and it has gotten so much use this year. She calls it “party time.” It’s made in the USA from 100% recycled milk jugs. It’s phthalate and BPA free and dishwasher safe!