MVPs | Most Valuable Purchases of 2022

2022 in the rear view and whewww — I feel like I’m still in the middle of a giant exhale after a year of being in straight up survival mode, stretched so beyond thin. I’m finding my footing and seeing the light after a tough, refining season.

2022 required some downsizing and I’ve been open in sharing our simplification journey and the reasons behind all of that — and as a result, the way I approach making purchases big and small. The goal is intentionality and practicality, to end up with things that don’t make me feel like I’ve settled.

So in no particular order, I’m sharing some favorites that come to mind from 2022. My MVPs if you will - Most Valuable Purchases. Things I truly adore, have found useful, use all the time and think you might, too!

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Bogg bag

Am I totally late to the Bogg bag game? Yes. But oh my gosh, this thing got used so much this past year. I snagged the Olive You color I’d been eyeing and it went everywhere with us all summer. Is it a lot to spend on a bag that looks like Crocs? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. So nice to not worry about wet towels or swimsuits, dirt, crumbs, etc. Just wipe or wash it! And it’s been great for bringing toys, books, and bulkier things on the road with us if we need to - the structured shape means it doesn’t fall over or collapse like a normal tote and makes it easy to toss things in.

Black sneakers

I’d been searching for shoes to wear with athleisure and wasn’t necessarily looking for a darker pair, but when I tried these on with my favorite leggings, I ended up loving the black-on-black look. Comfy, classic, versatile — these neutral Adidas shoes are my new go-to for everyday wear. I’d go a half or full size down on these, fyi!

6 for $16 undies

2022 was the year I finally broke up with Victoria’s Secret — we had a nice 20 year run (WHAT! for real though - circa 2002) but the price had gone up and quality has gone down and it was time. I found this set of lace trim thongs from Amazon and wish I would’ve made the switch sooner! The lace doesn’t get stretched out, they wash great, feel great… love.

Luna oil

When I tell you this stuff has transformed my skin… I had been sleeping on this retinol face oil, until I was gifted a sample size and fell in love, and now I’m literally sleeping on it every night. I legit look forward to putting this on every night before bed (it smells divine) and you only need a few drops - the smaller bottle lasted me 7 months. I’ve pared my skincare products down to just a few products and this one for sure made the cut. It’s so good!

American Cowboys book

This American Cowboys coffee table book is a treasure. It’s BIG and gorgeous inside and out – incredible photography, beautiful short stories, and essays by Taylor Sheridan. So happy to have this in my collection!

My Kader Boly print (also a gift from andrew) should’ve made this list too, but i feel like it’s in a league of its own. it’s a stunner and the sentimental value behind it makes it stand out from the rest.

Matted frames

2022 was also the year I got my crap together and finally got more photos displayed throughout our home, using these 16x20 matted to 8x10 frames. Seriously, I have nine of these in various spots in our house and am contemplating a few more. I have Rustic Brown and White but they also come in Walnut and Natural. They’re beautiful. If you don’t want to spend Pottery Barn money but appreciate the Pottery Barn gallery frame look, these are what you’re looking for.

Jennifer Zeuner hoops

In my blog about purging our home and prioritizing simplicity, I talked about paring down my jewelry collection and essentially starting over, slowly rebuilding with timeless pieces. These Jennifer Zeuner 2-inch gold hoops were my first post-purge purchase and I couldn’t be happier with them. They’re big enough to be eye-catching but so lightweight and versatile — they pair perfectly with a casual outfit just as much as a dressy one and the cost per wear makes these more than worth it.

GreenPan set

After lottttts of research on non-toxic, non-stick cookware, we finally ditched our old, scratched up pots and pans this past year and replaced everything with this GreenPan stainless steel set. The sizes are perfect, they’re durable but not too heavy, and cleaning them is a breeze. Money well spent, for sure.

$15 sunglasses

Last but not least, these $15 Amazon aviators had to make the list. I’ve been so impressed with these! They come in several colors.

It’s been refreshing this year to approach purchases with intention - if that means researching, I research until I’m sure. If that means waiting, I’ll wait - because at least I’m not settling or adding things to my home that won’t be staying for the long haul. Hoping to do more of the same in 2023!

Three Babies Later... Baby Items We've Loved + Ones We Wouldn't Miss

With lots of friends and clients expecting their first babies or soon to enter that season, I wanted to share some of my very favorite baby items we’ve used over the last few years.

Before pregnancy, I’d never spent SO much time combing through products, reading reviews or asking for recommendations. But despite what the internet might tell you, you really don’t need a whole lot for babies, and I was grateful for insight from seasoned mama friends who approached their own registries and purchases with a super practical, minimalist mindset. We joined the three under two club for a while after the arrival of our twin boys and after living and learning a little more this go-round, we actually ended up using even fewer baby items with them than we did with our first. Less truly is more!

That said, these are the items I’d absolutely want on my ultimate baby registry. If I had to do it all over again with the least amount of stuff possible, these are the things I’d still use – and if it’s on this list, I’ve loved it times three!

Favorite Baby Items by Category

SLEEP

Taking Cara Babies sleep class - Cara is all over Instagram, and for good reason. We bought her sleep course (it’s giftable too!) after hearing glowing reviews from several friends and watched the videos before Steele was born – and again before the boys arrived as a refresher! Her classes go beyond sleep training and taught us so much about caring for a newborn in general - schedules, cues, and more. Andrew and I agree it was some of the best money we spent. Moms on Call is another course I’ve heard great things about!
MOM TIP: Sleep training is of course a personal decision every family needs to make for themselves, but we’re continually thankful we did it – and surprisingly, it really wasn’t much harder with two than with one! There’s crying involved, yes, but not crying it out - the whole point is to avoid that. Six to eight weeks of implementing her strategies was completely worth the results. They’ve all slept 12 hours in their cribs every night since they were 3-4 months old and fall asleep on their own within minutes, and for our family, it’s been the absolute best scenario all the way around.

Hatch Rest sound machine - tons of sound options and I love that I can turn it up or down from my phone without having to go in the nursery. Our two Hatch machines (one for Steele, one for the boys) come with us on every overnight trip we take!
MOM TIP: the Better Sleep phone app is free and has tons of good white noise choices – works great when we’re out and about. I’ll play it through the car speakers if I need them to nap on the go!

Ollie swaddle - there’s just no other swaddle that calms or stays put like this one – it’s Houdini-proof. Cara from Taking Cara Babies highly recommends the Ollie swaddle and Target recently started carrying them, too!
MOM TIP: We only used the Ollie for nighttime sleep to cut down on needing to wash it, so for daytime sleep we used any kind of jersey swaddle with stretch. Muslin swaddles are cute but for practical purposes, stretchy cotton is the winner. Copper Pearl, Lou Lou, and Spearmint all have great jersey swaddles - the bigger, the better!

These crib sheets - the oatmeal color is the perfect neutral, soft, plenty of stretch, and 10 bucks a pop. I love that they don’t pill, either. We’ve kept these on all 3 cribs plus a few backups in the linen closet.

Absorbency-doubling diaper pads - total game changer. As our babies grew and were taking bigger bottles, they started soaking through their diapers onto their pajamas and sheets overnight. Not into doing more laundry than necessary, so I was so thankful to find these – they really do absorb a LOT and they’ve helped all three go 12 hours at night while staying dry.

FEEDING

Nuk Simply Natural bottles - bottles are tricky because you don’t know if baby will have a preference, so it’s best to try a few kinds out and see. Some sites offer sample packs with several brands. I decided to try Nuk on a whim and lucked out - they’re very affordable compared to other brands, super easy to clean (minimal parts), and they haven’t given us any issues with gas. We bought the standard 9oz size from the get-go and they’ve worked for the entire first year for all 3 babies – no need to buy multiple sizes.
MOM TIP: I stick the lids + nipples in these dishwasher baskets and wash everything on the sanitize cycle overnight, every night, and that’s the extent of our bottle-washing routine! We keep it simple – no need for endless scrubbing or a bulky bottle sanitizer – but we do use these sanitizing bags (also great for breast pump parts) when we know we’ll be somewhere without a dishwasher.

Oxo Tot bottle drying rack - I read reviews about the grass style racks growing mold - no thanks. This one’s been great! Doesn’t take up a ton of space but holds a lot, and is easy to wash clean (they all collect dust and grime at some point).

Oxo Tot forks and spoons - easy for little hands to hold and the spoon actually holds a good amount - my babies take big bites! Ha.

Silicone bibs - our only bibs. The fold to catch spills is a must and they’re SO easy to clean. Each kid has 2 and that’s been plenty.

Thick muslin burp cloths - hands-down, our go-to rags. Thick, large, super absorbent, hold up well in the wash, and inexpensive. I have a kitchen drawer stocked full of these.

Bentgo lunchbox - good compartments and microwave/dishwasher-safe. Steele loves hers for daycare days, and I’ll be buying two more soon when the boys start Mother’s Day Out!

Space-saving high chair - our kitchen/dining area isn’t huge, so I wanted a chair that took up the least amount of space possible - bought this kind for Steele and got a matching one before the boys arrived. Love how compact it is, love that it’s easy to clean (I didn’t want anything with fabric padding - it inevitably gets stained and gross over time), love that the tray is slim so it doesn’t take up a ton of room in the dishwasher, and love that it has a footrest and encourages correct eating posture - those make a huge difference for babies learning to eat. Can’t beat the price, either. This space-saving option is beautiful, too!

Ingenuity floor seat with built-in tray - we had a Bumbo for Steele but I bought two of these for the boys because I liked the price, color, and built-in tray storage much better. When the boys were sitting up but still little, we took these instead of high chairs when we traveled. Also love that it buckles onto a chair as a booster seat - Steele uses it too!

TRAVEL

Chicco Bravo carrier/car seat base/stroller combo - probably what I spent the longest time researching. The car seat has great safety ratings, awesome reviews and the entire combo system costs less than a lot of car seats and strollers cost separately these days. We’ve been really happy with it all! Obviously we needed a double stroller for the boys (I got the Zoe Classic - lightest double stroller on the market and fits through all standard doors) but we did use the Bravo bases + carriers for them, as well.

Graco Slim Fit convertible car seat - the winner after lots of research on seats that fit 3-across on a bench seat. This one converts up to a booster and is a fraction of the price of the “luxe” brands. Mamas - real talk - no one cares what brand your kid’s car seat is. The $200 and $300 car seats can be just as safe as the $500 and $600 car seats - price doesn’t always equal safety or comfort.
MOM TIP: @safeintheseat is a certified car seat expert and a great account to follow for safety tips. As she says - the safest car seat is one that’s installed correctly. Steele is still rear-facing at 3 years old and will be for as long as possible thanks to her advice!

Backpack diaper bag - affordable, wipes down, smart compartment placement. I loved this similar Eddie Bauer diaper backpack option too. Love keeping this little bag dispenser in the diaper bag for when we’re out and don’t have a good place to throw away stinky diapers.

Infantino Flip convertible carrier - this was a hand-me-down that’s quickly become a favorite. To me, it feels a lot more secure than the Solly or wrap style carriers. I tried a few of those but was worried the whole time baby was going to fall out the bottom, and the other buckle/strap ones I tried were too complicated to put on quickly. This one is very affordable, a nice neutral color, super easy to put on and feels very secure but not bulky. We bought a second one before the twins arrived!

BATHING + HEALTH

Microfiber hooded bath towels - did a clean-out of the towels in the kids’ bathroom and kept only these. Affordable, oversized, thick, absorbent.

Bath kneeler pad - I’ve used it for every bath, ever. This one is overpriced for what it is and they do get stained from splashing water, so even a cheap garden kneeler pad would be a good option, but either way, your knees will thank you.

Bath flower - a hand-me-down I wasn’t sure we’d use, but when all of our babies ended up coming home at 5.5 pounds and under, we actually used it a ton! The regular baby bathtubs (love this simple design) didn’t work until they hit about 8-9 pounds. The flower made sink baths a lot easier and I definitely recommend for preemies!

Stelatopia Cleansing Oil - Steele never had any reaction to soaps or shampoos, but for our sensitive skin boys, we’ve tried LOTS of brands and Mustela Stelatopia has been our favorite!
MOM TIP: with Steele, I used to think a bath was a necessary part of her nighttime routine even though I knew she wasn’t really dirty. With the boys, giving both of them a bath every night is just too overwhelming, so we don’t. We bathed them twice a week until they were 8 months old, and now we do just every other night for all 3 unless they’re filthy. Don’t stress yourself out over bath time - fewer baths is better for their skin anyway.

Triple Paste - the only diaper rash cream I bought the second time around. We tried them all with Steele, but nothing compares. Not cheap, but a little goes a long way - one container will last you months.

Butt spatula - game changer. No more sticky hands – just spread the cream, wipe the excess off on the clean diaper and you’re done!

Ubbi weighted wipe dispenser - I bought a second one of these because it just makes grabbing a wipe with one hand while you’re wrangling a wiggly baby so much easier. For on the go, I love this one!

Hatch Grow changing pad with built-in scale - a wipeable changing pad is a must-have for me and worth the extra cost. So easy to clean and it’s been nice to be able to see how much they weigh whenever we want, especially in the early days when it’s hard to tell how much they’re gaining.

Nose Frida - a necessity. You can buy cheap replacement filters on Amazon (or just wash and reuse the ones it comes with – it’s fine).

Vicks Speed Read Thermometer - we used a digital forehead one with Steele, but had issues with temperature readings being all over the place. The hospital recommended an underarm thermometer (better accuracy) for the boys after their NICU stay, so we’ve been using this one ever since and love that it gets an accurate reading super quickly.

CLOTHES

This neutral-colored gown was our favorite. Soft and washed well. For us, though, gowns weren’t really ideal after about 2 months - babies are too wiggly and their feet get all caught in them! I’d only register for one or two and no bigger than Newborn or 0-3m size.

Burts Bees and Honest Baby pajamas - I’m a sucker for the cute designs (could not click Add to Cart fast enough on this precious pink pair), the fit is nice and snug but good for tall/long babies, and they hold up well. Good price point, too! Pretty much the only PJs my kids wear, from newborn size to toddlerhood.

THIS headband pack + this one too - my top favorites for Steele. These were the most comfortable on her head, not too tight or too loose, and stayed put.
MOM TIP: we stored her headbands on this rod with these clips. So much easier to be able to see them all at a glance, rather than stuffed in a basket or drawer.

MISCELLANEOUS

SnuggleMe Organic - we were gifted one and used it every single day for the first 3-4 months for all 3 babies - bought a second one for the boys, too! So handy to be able to set them down wherever we needed to. I prefer the SnuggleMe over the Dock-a-Tot because it really does snuggle them in close and tight – the middle piece of fabric is suspended and taut, so when you lay baby on it, it pulls the sides in close. Big fan of the generic off-brand covers vs. the brand name, but definitely get some sort of cover because washing the lounger itself is a pain.

Piano play mat - bought a second one for the boys so they could each have their own – not sure what exactly it is about this thing that’s so magical but it kept all 3 of mine entertained for many, many hours throughout their first year.

Fat Brain toys - again, not sure what’s so magical here but a favorite for all 3 babies.

Foam tile floor mat - wish I would’ve found this sooner! Love the neutral colors and you can arrange the tiles in a ton of different designs. It’s big for the price and so nice for the learning to sit/crawl phase.

Name Bubbles labels - the Daycare Pack of name labels comes with a good variety of sizes. We’ve had these on cups, nap mats and extra pairs of clothes for 2 years now and never had an issue with any coming off in the dishwasher or washing machine. Love these!

I can think of a few other items we used quite a bit (pack n plays, bassinets, baby gates, stand-up activity center, bouncy chairs) but I just didn’t love ours enough to put them on this list.

Baby Items We Didn’t Use

Here’s what I purged or didn’t end up using like I thought I would:

Socks and mittens - they just do not stay on those tiny hands and feet! Ha. Most of our onesies had the fold-over built-in mittens and we kept blankets over their legs and feet, so they weren’t necessary anyway.

A million pacifiers and clips - for some reason, pre-babies, I thought we’d need a TON of pacifiers. Not the case. Three or four (a couple for the house, a couple for the car/diaper bag) was plenty.

Diaper pail - we ended up getting rid of ours after the boys were born. With 2x the diapers, it filled up so quickly and changing the bags became more of a hassle than it was worth. And the refills are expensive! We got a separate trash can with a good lid for stinky diapers and keep it in the garage.

Wipe warmer - some swear by it. My kids never minded a cold wipe, and the wipes only stay warm for a few seconds anyway, so this was one less thing I wanted on the changing table.

Fancy pajamas - I got a few pairs of really nice, stretchy, bamboo/rayon pajamas for Steele, and don’t get me wrong, they were great. I just couldn’t bring myself to spend $40 a pair on pajamas for two growing, messy baby boys, so we skipped those this time around. Whichever PJs you get, ZIPPER is key. I didn’t love the magnet kind, and snaps - just say no.

Baby detergents and baby dish soap - truly, a marketing ploy. No need for Dreft - any “free and clear” fragrance free laundry detergent or dish soap works just the same.

Sleep sacks - I feel like we might be the only family in America that doesn’t use sleep sacks. We did use Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suits with all 3 to help them transition out of the swaddle once they could roll over, but after that, just PJs. Tons of people love sleep sacks, but definitely not a necessity.

Baby swing/Mamaroo - nothing against them, we just didn’t have the space. A bouncy chair with vibration always worked fine and is a lot easier to move around the house.

Baby Brezza - handy, yes, but I can whip up a formula bottle myself just as quickly, so it wasn’t worth the cost or counterspace to me. If you’re breastfeeding/pumping and needing to thaw stored milk, a bottle warmer is probably worth having, but for our formula babies, we followed the advice of a friend to feed them room temp bottles from the start, so we don’t own a warmer, either. We’ve always kept this big water dispenser in our pantry filled with distilled or purified water for bottles.

Hook-on travel high chair - way more trouble than it’s worth, IMO. You either forget it at home, forget it in the car or get annoyed lugging it into the restaurant. Used it maybe once, ever.

Owlet Smart Sock - everyone is different, but for me personally, the Owlet was stressful. I didn’t use one with Steele and never thought twice about it, but one of the twins had some apnea/oxygen issues in the NICU, so I borrowed an Owlet sock from a friend when we brought him home for peace of mind. It helped calm my nerves for about a week, but after that, it ended up making me more hyperaware, anxious, stressed, etc., and wasn’t the easiest to put on correctly anyway (I got a lot of error readings), so I put it back in the box and decided it wasn’t for us.

Boppy pillow - I didn’t find it comfortable or helpful for feeding (I may be in the minority on that) so we didn’t keep it. We did get the Twin Z pillow for the boys though, and that’s been a life saver for simultaneous bottle feeds and support while they were learning to sit!

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That’s a wrap on my very favorite items for newborns - ones I’ve used threefold and would buy again if I had to! Did I miss anything? Share your faves in the comments! Hopefully this list can help you in some small way!