Do you ever take a moment to consider all the small things that whir in the background of your life and quietly help you thrive? Earlier this year, I started tuning into those things. As a result, I shared 12 little habits that upgrade my life— small, gentle, subtle choices I make day in and day out that stack up and enrich my life. Then I shared about 12 simple things that have a positive impact on my life, less “habits” and more so general practices that make life sweeter.
Today I’m sharing another 12 things, but this time I’m sharing about actual things. You may already know this, but I am not one to recommend things lightly. I’ve been working on this list for months now, observing the rhythms of my day and the things that smooth it all out, lighten my load, and upgrade my life. When I recommend something that takes up physical space, requires resources to produce, and costs money, I do so only with the utmost consideration and thoughtfulness.
I now present to you 12 things that upgrade my daily life. And when you get to the end, please leave a comment and share something that makes your life a bit sweeter and easier. I’d love to know!
The “by the door” part is key. We’ve used this sunscreen for years now and buy the refill pouch each summer to restock (and limit waste). Having the sunscreen pump out and accessible makes it so easy to slather it on everyone on the way out the door.
I was relatively late to the air fryer scene, but it didn’t take long for me to understand the hype. We have the Our Place Wonder Oven, and it also toasts and bakes, so we use it aaaa lot. Yes, for the crispy air fryer aspects for everything from frozen veg nuggets to leftovers, but it’s also great for small-batch things that are not worth heating up the entire oven. And with a small kitchen, it eliminates the need for a toaster and looks dang cute.
While we’re on the subject of kitchen gadgets, the Our Place Dream Cooker is also clutch. Yes, as a pressure cooker but also as a slow cooker. I make rice and beans in it several times a week. For those two reasons alone, it’s worth the counter space in my kitchen. But I also make plenty of soups and stews in it, which is a nice bonus.
This is not the first time I’m singing about our TUSHY bidet, and it will not be the last time because guyyyyss, it’s actually the best thing since sliced bread. I miss it when I’m not at home and not just for the reasons you would expect. It’s also so clutch when I’m on my period aaand after intimacy with my husband. The TUSHY bidet is easy to install on just about any toilet too. Oh and you use way less toilet paper which is a win for your wallet and the environment. I plan to add one to every bathroom in our home.
Last year we finally hopped on our first CSA (community supported agriculture), and it was a highlight of the warmer months. Every Saturday we venture over to the farmstand (Paul Mazza's Fruit and Veggies to be exact!) to pick up our goods. We get so excited to see what we get each week from berries to squash, leafy greens to corn, and we can add on things like mushrooms and bread, which you knooow we love. It makes eating seasonally and locally easy breezy. We also have four garden boxes and pick up extra produce at the markets, and yet we still devour every fiber of our CSA haul each week.
I found these at Michaels many, many years ago, and the kids use them ALL.THE.TIME for everything from LEGO building (so helpful for containing all the bits!) to slime and playdough play, to messy art projects and beyond. My kids know to pull them out pretty much anytime they are getting into something that needs to be contained.
I’ve had a stainless steel tongue scraper for at least a decade now, and my mouth is so much fresher as a result. It’s the first thing I do in the morning when I wake up, and the last thing I do at night after brushing my teeth. Here are 5 reasons to scrape your tongue and how to do it (though it’s really quite straightforward).
We’ve been doing the Chatbooks Monthly Minis since 2019, and everyone (but especially the kids) adore looking at them. My favorite thing about them is that at the end of the year I can compile all our monthly books into a yearbook, making what would be a daunting task outrageously easy. When you are choosing photos for your Monthly Minis, the app limits you to the month you are working on so you don’t have to scroll through the 100,000 photos on your camera roll to have physical photos printed. Thank heavens.
While these aren’t physical things, they are both things that have upgraded my life in big ways, especially after having 4 babies. I was lucky enough to have a chiropractor during my 4th pregnancy who also specialized in pelvic floor therapy, so I transitioned straight into it after having my last baby, and it was life-changing. I can sneeze and cough like it’s 1999. As for reformer Pilates, it is a critical part of my weekly routine (3x a week) and has made a massive difference in my core and back strength after kids. And my neck and back pain is virtually non-existent now. I also love feeling strong and present in my body, and having someone tell me exactly what to do and help me make adjustments if needed on my form. Local friends, I go to The Body Lab and cannot recommend them enough.
Everyone deserves to feel pleasure, and everyone’s bodies work differently. For me, pleasure was more accessible when I integrated something vibrational into the bedroom. My very favorite products are from Dame, they have something for everyone. But if you don’t know where to start, trust the gals from Sex in the City and start with the classic magic wand.
I was originally very skeptical, but after we invested in a Vitamix blender in 2018, I was quickly converted. We use it at a minimum once a day, everything from smoothies to soups and sauces, homemade plant milks, to blender pancakes and cookie dough, you name it. We also have the food processor attachment, which is also amazing. Vitamix blenders come with a 10-year warranty that we utilized a few years ago. Vitamix repaired and replaced everything that needed it and covered all expenses (shipping, labor, parts, etc). Nothing and I mean NOTHING comes with that kind of service anymore.
Of all the things on this list, an Ember mug that keeps your hot beverages hot feels the most frivolous, but it would be a great gift to ask for at the holidays. I loved mine so much that I got one for my husband, who is as low-fuss, low-maintenance, simple as one can be, and even he loves it. A hot mug of coffee— that stays hot— is the best morning treat. Be sure to grab a sliding lid for hot coffee on the go, too.
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Do you have a product or thing that upgrades your daily life? Let us know in the comments!
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