This year, I’ve gotten rid of way more things than I’ve bought. And ironically, owning less has made me more willing to spend money—but only on the things that make a noticeable difference in my daily life.
I’ve been feeling a pull to simplify for a while now: to ruthlessly edit what feels unnecessary or misaligned from my home, my closet, and my schedule. At the same time, I’ve become obsessed with the idea of nourishment—not just when it comes to food… but more the idea of building my days around the rituals, people, and pleasures that feed me in every sense of the word.
And I’m learning that simplifying can cohabitate with this sense of abundance. Having less creates more room—physically, energetically, financially—for the things that bring real joy and ease to the everyday. Minimalism doesn’t have to mean deprivation. Sometimes living intentionally means clearing the clutter, and sometimes it means buying the really good olive oil, drinking incredible coffee from a gorgeous handmade mug, and outsourcing the job you dread. In other words, prioritizing pleasure and learning to live a little!
I always love hearing what other people have spent money on and found genuinely worth it, so today’s list is my own: 15 things I’d happily buy again and again because they’re just that good. (Share yours in the comments!!)
There’s something that feels a bit decadent about buying the really good olive oil in a beautiful bottle, and because I’m a vinegar freak, I’d say the same about a fine aged balsamic or something special like this persimmon vinegar. Favorite EVOOs include this, this, and this.
(A close runner-up here is salt, which felt too redundant to include as its own item, but I am so passionate about it that I made this salt ritual bundle. I order diamond crystal kosher for everyday/baking, Maldon for finishing, and always keep some type of smoky or infused salt around for when dinner needs a little something extra.)
I’ve been going to this challenging and amazing strength-pilates combo class twice a week lately. It’s in an infrared-heated room, so you sweat an insane amount, which feels like an emotional detox in addition to detoxing the lymphatic system and getting me stronger than I’ve been in a while. I go back and forth with studio classes because they’re an investment in both time and money, but the way this is transforming my physical and mental health is completely worth it.
I carry a high-low mix of bags that range from my Celine luggage tote to a straw bag I picked up at a gift shop in Hawaii, and none have gotten quite as much mileage as this Farrow Bag. I can haul it to a work meeting—my laptop just squeezes in—and carry it to dinner in equal measure, which is why it comes with me on every trip. It has a louche ’70s vibe and feels buttery-soft and luxurious without the bank-breaking price tag.
I’m currently sleeping on the most expensive mattress I’ve ever owned, and at age 42 I’ve finally learned that the rumors are true: a really good mattress changes everything—about how well you sleep, at least. I have never in my life slept as deeply as I do on this mattress (I got it with the pillow top). Every night when I climb into bed, I feel like I’m being wrapped into the most luxurious cocoon. Worth every penny.
File under “unexpected joy sparker”: putting on a bra that’s so soft and flattering, I’ve been known to wear it with boxers and call it pajamas. I wear this bra under t-shirts, sweaters, basically everything—and somehow mine look as good now as they did on day one.
I’m one of those people who goes to bed at night already looking forward to coffee in the morning (tell me I’m not alone). Yes, I love the taste and the energy boost, but I also really love the ritual—choosing from my collection of handmade mugs, savoring the feel of the clay in my hands, taking my time to pour the coffee, scoop my collagen, and settle into my favorite chair. It’s why the first product I ever helped design was this handmade mug, and I just can’t stop.
When we designed the kitchen at the beach house, we had to take a somewhat minimalist approach: all the cabinetry lives along one wall of the great room, and ten feet of that wall is taken up by a huge sliding window. Translation: no upper cabinetry.
That said, my list of non-negotiables still included two dishwashers—even limited space couldn’t stop me!! We first added two when we designed our Austin home 15 years ago, and countless dinner parties and weekends hosting friends proved how absolutely life-saving they are. No matter the size of the group, I love being able to load literally everything at the end of the night—serving pieces and pots included—shut the doors, and be done.
A comfortable pen with a good ink flow truly transforms my journaling game—it’s the difference between “why can’t I write anymore?” and a stream of consciousness, Artist’s Way-level session. The right pen helps me find my flow. My preferred pen is the Sharpie S-Gel Pens in Medium—I stock up so I always have a full pencil cup at the ready.
Thanks to my line of work, I get gifted quite a lot of beauty products, so it says a lot that I continue to purchase this rosemary-scented shampoo and conditioner the moment I start to run low—free products be damned. Honestly, I feel the same way about the eucalyptus body wash. The formulas leave my hair and skin feeling incredible, but what really gets me is the scent. The moment I squeeze them into my hand, my entire shower is transformed into a retreat. (At least until I hear one of my kids yell, “Hey, MOM!!”)
Splurging on gorgeous, plant-based cleaning products feels like a very specific sign that I’ve reached adulthood—and maybe an act of self-respect that says, “You’re allowed to have beautiful things even if no one sees them but you.” My utility closet full of Koala Eco makes me happy every time I open the door, which is saying a lot for a utility closet. They’re made with Australian essential oils and packaged in recycled bottles, so well-designed that I don’t even mind leaving them on the counter once in a while.
I like experimenting with different supplements, but I always find myself going back to these as my most trusted, easiest-to-swallow option. I take their Omega-3, Multivitamin, and Stress Relief—and ever since Adam and I put them on recurring delivery, we’ve gotten so much more consistent with our morning lineup. No remembering to reorder, no realizing we ran out three weeks ago. Anything that makes taking care of myself feel almost effortless is well worth it in my book (ps—they’re doing a site-wide 40% off sale, so now’s the time to stock up.)
How do I describe my level of excitement when I show someone how perfectly this thing slices sourdough? 😂 I got this German-designed bread slicer for my birthday a few months ago, and truly—where has it been all my life while I’ve been practically destroying crusty loaves of bread by sawing through them with a not-sharp-enough serrated knife? There is something so satisfying about the way this cleanly cuts the most perfect, uniform slices from any loaf of bread, and I love that I can adjust the settings to do thin-sliced (for me) and thick-cut (for Adam). I’ll post a video of this to my Stories this week so you can see it in action.
I find cleaning somewhat meditative, and I actually enjoy putting on a good podcast, popping in my AirPods, and folding a mountain of laundry on a Sunday night. That said, I’m not a huge fan of the deeper jobs required to keep a house truly clean—and I detest changing sheets.
At this point in my life, the math feels pretty simple: How do I want to spend my limited weekend hours? Obviously, this isn’t a decision available to everyone—it certainly wasn’t to me in my younger years—but in this season, having our house cleaned from top to bottom every Monday morning is a very worth-it luxury.
Confession: I have absolutely zero self-control when it comes to well-designed books—if I see one I love, I typically buy it on the spot. The math in my head says: “This is about the cost of getting dinner delivered, and you’ll own it forever,” and I really can’t formulate a good argument against that reasoning, hehe. My collection is actually too big to keep out on display all the time, and I love rotating favorite books in and out to refresh my coffee table with the seasons. A few faves, pictured above: The California Surf Project, Biarritz Basque, Houses Atelier AM, Feel Free Home.
Yes, going to the Saturday farm stand is pricier than grabbing all my produce from the grocery store, and it is a little luxury that is so worth it for me. The assurance of local and organic, combined with the pure joy I get from biting into a truly ripe, juicy peach, is an experience I don’t mind paying for. I also enjoy weekly meal planning so much more when I can get inspired by what’s actually growing. I’ll get almost giddy thinking about the garlicky tomato pasta I’m going to make with that colorful mountain of cherry tomatoes in my market bag.
Looking at this list, I’m realizing that the things I consider worth spending money on tend to do one of three things: make an everyday ritual more pleasurable, give me back time, or simply help me feel better. Which feels like a good filter to keep on hand when I’m considering a future purchase.
Okay, now I need to know your “worth it” buys! What have you purchased that you’d happily pay for all over again? Spill in the comments.
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