a few of my favorite things

I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As always, my opinions and sentiments are my own and I express them freely, regardless of sponsorship because I partner with brands I love.

I haven’t done one of these favorite things roundups in a while! I made this one short and sweet, because I got a few of these as Christmas gifts (others I’ve just stumbled upon or started coveting) and they’re what I’m loving now. All of this month’s items are under $100.

I’m going to try to do a roundup like this every month (or every other). If you have input on how often you’d like to see them, please put it in the comments.

One – skyn iceland hydra cool firming eye gels

I have some pretty crazy allergies for most of the year and at times, I rub my eyes so much that they nearly swell shut. I’ve been looking for an additional way to calm my puffy eyes, as my ice roller doesn’t allow me to get that close. I got these eye gels once before (I think it was in an Ipsy bag) and I LOVED them! They were so comfortable to wear and produced awesome results. My eyes were depuffed in a relatively short amount of time and my sensitive skin wasn’t irritated. The cooling effect was also a huge bonus.

Two – Kendra Scott Leanor Pendant

I have wanted a Kendra Scott necklace for what seems like ever, but adulting always kept me from pulling the trigger. Bob ended up finding out that I really wanted one and got this one for me for Christmas. I LOVE it and wear it all the time! The gold/multi drusy is exactly my style and is the one that I chose. I love the Leanor (which is the bar shaped pendant) but the Elisa is also wildly popular. They come in a variety of metals and stones, so you can find the perfect combo for your tastes. Lastly, I love that Kendra Scott is a woman-owned business and that Kendra is so into philanthropy, too!

Three – Calpak Kaya Backpack

My work backpack was falling apart but I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted. I use my work bag a ton because, well, I go there every day. I knew that I wanted something chic but that wasn’t going to hurt my shoulder (I’m getting too old and beat up for shoulder bags with laptops and everything else in it). I saw someone with this backpack sometime this fall and knew it was going to be the perfect replacement. I added it to my Christmas list, Santa delivered, and it has quickly become one of my favorite things. I have this gorgeous blue color because it’s really fun and vibrant, different, and it won’t show wear as easily. It has tons of great pockets for notebooks, your laptop (in a separate compartment), my RxBars, pens, etc. The stitching is gorgeous and the bag is great quality!

Four – MAC Lipstick (Ruby Woo, Cosmo, and Creme Cup)

I recently got reacquainted with MAC lipstick and forgot how much I loved it! There are so many colors to choose from (it is almost overwhelming at times)! I really wanted an amazing, bright red lip for the holidays and my parents got me the matte finish in the shade “Ruby Woo”. It’s so, so beautiful and is highly pigmented. I wanted a more pinky shade for wedding day touch ups and everyday wear and stumbled upon the shade “Cosmo”. Lastly, the perfect everyday nude got purchased when I was in Chicago O’Hare Airport recently — Creme Cup. Creme Cup goes on my lips like a dream and effortlessly completes a look. MAC makes such a great lip product, hence why it’s one of my favorite things.

 Five – Yeti Coffee Mug

I think a lot of us struggle to keep our coffee hot because we’re doing about five million things at once in the mornings. I love my other Yeti Ramblers to keep my water cold, but, I didn’t realize they made a coffee mug until recently. I added it to my wedding registry and shout out to my friend, Brittany, who got it for me. I have the white (as pictured here) and use it nearly daily. It has really helped me enjoy my coffee nice and hot when I’m ready (even when I get sidetracked). It washes up really nicely and holds a TON of liquid!

 Six – LOFT Puff Sleeve Top

If you’ve been following me for a little while, you know that I am thrilled that LOFT made a plus size line this year and nearly everything on it also has a regular size (and/or petite) component, too. I’ve seen this top on a couple of petite, regular, and plus babes and EVERY SINGLE BODY TYPE has rocked it! I’ve got to add it to my list of must-grabs, particularly while it’s on sale and $15!

Seven – J Crew Factory Classic Plaid Scarf

I’ve been looking for a large, gorgeous, cashmere-feel plaid scarf to add to my typical Minnesota attire over the winter season and I stumbled upon this gorgeous J. Crew Factory scarf. My in-laws got it for me for Christmas and I’ve been wearing it on repeat lately! It’s awesome quality and comes in several colors — mine is the White Juniper Plaid.

Eight – invisibobble limited edition metallics

I love putting my hair up but really lothe taking it down, because ordinary elastics leave my hair a birds’ nest and kinks galore! These invisibobbles look like telephone cord but hold your hair securely and come out with little to no kinks. They also bounce back to their original shape and you can use them over and over. I loved the metallic look of this limited edition pack that my in-laws got me for Christmas this year and have been wearing them a ton!