Favorite Finds of 2020

In just a few short hours, the year 2020 will officially be in the rearview mirror. Frankly, I think we’ve all been ready for this moment since March. And while I don’t expect everything to magically change the minute the clock strikes 12:01 on January 1, 2021; I am hopeful for what the new yar may bring. But, in the meantime, I want to share my Favorite Finds of 2020.

And I can’t wait to see what awesome finds I get to share with you next year!

Best Book

I’m an avid reader and 2020 certainly gave me plenty of time to dive into new books. It’s so hard to choose just one, so I’m going to split the vote and share two of my favorite must-read novels from this past year.

We Were The Lucky Ones

Based on a true story, this novel follows a Polish family through the Holocaust. I won’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away but, it’s truly an incredible story. I’ll be honest, it’s not exactly a lighthearted or easy read, but I promise it’s worth it.

A Man Called Ove

This one started with my sister who passed it on to my mom who passed it on to me. Now I’m passing it on to you. It tells the story of, you guessed it, a man called Ove. He’s cranky (some might call him a curmudgeon) and enjoys his strict routines. So you can imagine his displeasure when a chatty new family moves into the neighborhood. This novel is charming, comical, and hits you right in the feels.

Want more reading recommendations? Check out this post!

Best Drugstore Makeup Product

L’Oreal Voluminous X Fiber Mascara

Of any drugstore beauty product I tried this year, this is the one that impressed me the most. It stays on all day, doesn’t flake off, doesn’t cause reverse raccoon eyes, and the two-step formula gives major volume and length. Of any drugstore mascara I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot), this one performs most similar to my favorite luxury mascara for about half the price.

Best Luxury Beauty Product

Artis Brushes

I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to test out these brushes a couple of months ago and fell in love with them. The densely packed fibers in these brushes sweep any makeup product (cream or powder) over your skin evenly without absorbing all of your product. Over on my IG, I have an IGTV video showing how I use these brushes and how little product I need to create a smooth finish. They are a luxury brand item, so the price tag is a little steeper than I normally spend. But, factoring in how much I save on products, I believe they’re 100% worth it.

Best Skincare Product

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream

As someone who deals with genetic dark circles under their eyes, trust me when I say this stuff is like magic. It’s the only eye cream I’ve ever tried that actually makes a visible difference in the appearance of undereye shadows and bags. And a little goes a long way with this stuff so one little jar lasts me a couple of months.

Best Hair Product

Olaplex Bonding Oil

Another magic-in-a-bottle product, this oil has awesome benefits for your hair. It repairs and strengthens damaged hair, hydrates, adds shine, and provides heat protection. Since I started using it, I’ve noticed a substantial difference in the amount of breakage and split ends. One bottle of it also lasts forever, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. (Trust me on that, I use it basically every day and I’m still using the same bottle I bought back in May.)

Most Worn Jeans

Wild Fable Distressed

These win the most-worn-jeans category by a landslide. In fact, I think I wore them almost every day during quarantine (you know, when I got tired of wearing sweatpants). They’re comfortable, easy to style, and, at $22, extremely affordable.

Most Worn Item

I’m calling another split vote on this category. Take a scroll through my IG feed and there are two items that you’re going to see over and over and over again.

Pink Lily Cardigan

 I originally purchased this for layering back in the Spring, wore it a ton, and immediately pulled it out again in the Fall. I love the oversized fit and the chunky knit. It’s the first thing I grab on chilly days because it’s so cozy and still looks cute with jeans or dresses.

White Converse

Purchased at the beginning of Summer, I wear these multiple times a week. I think everyone needs a good white sneaker and these are absolutely my favorite. I love the slip-on style (no fussing with laces!) and they’re very comfortable. Compared to a lot of other sneaker brands, I also find Converse to have a sleeker style that pairs with everything from shorts to dresses to joggers.

Favorite Fashion Purchase

Amazon Bodycon Dress

Because of the pandemic and the limited social activities this year, I tried not to purchase too many clothing items that would just sit in my closet and collect dust. Instead, I focused on items I could style for any occasion and wear all year long. This bodycon dress checked all the boxes and, in addition, has a ruched style that’s flattering on any body type. I’ve shared a ton of ways to style it over on IG, but here are a couple of my favorites.

Favorite Amazon Purchase

Ice Roller

Best $20 I’ve ever spent! I bought this all the way back in January and it’s still the best thing I’ve bought off Amazon this year. Ice rolling helps boost blood circulation, reduces puffiness, soothes the skin, and can reduce the appearance of pores. But also, it just feels really, really, really good. I keep mine in my freezer and take it out a few minutes before I use it. Scott also uses it occasionally to help soothe migraines.

You can find some of my other must-have Amazon skincare products here!

Best Games

During the quarantine/ stay-at-home phase of this year, Scott and I tested out a lot of games. Because there were only two of us, our options were limited. Plus, a lot of two-player-friendly games just aren’t much fun. We found some that we really enjoyed though! But I also want to share a game we found recently that requires more players but is a riot to play!

Exit the Game

These were our favorite games to play if you only have two players. You can also do them all by yourself. Essentially, these games are an escape room in a box. You can find a ton of them with all kinds of themes (everything from Murder on the Orient to a Haunted Roller Coaster) and most are under $15. They also have different difficulty levels.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

We just tried this game for our family game day on Christmas. If you’re looking for a game that’s family-friendly and will have you in tears from laughing, this is it. The rules may sound silly, and that’s because they are, but I promise it’s fun.

There’s an entire blog post about our favorite two-player games here!

Best Subscription Service

HelloFresh

In a previous lifetime (you know, before Covid), Scott and I worked weird hours at our jobs and often weren’t home for dinner at the same time. Therefore, I didn’t do a lot of cooking. But then my job shut down for a few months and I needed to come up with dinner ideas 7 nights a week. So, I started using HelloFresh. Right now, we get three meals delivered every other week so that I don’t have to stress out about planning dinner. We’ve yet to try a recipe we haven’t liked and (aside from one week where UPS destroyed my delivery) haven’t had any issues with the service. Also, the recipes are easy enough for just about anyone and, if you need proof or just a laugh, you can check out a highlight on my IG called Scott Cooks.