Happy New Year, friends! Am I the only one that feels like 2022 went by in a flash?! For me, it was a year filled with so many highs and lows, milestone moments from my son’s high school graduation and my daughter getting her driver’s license to moving my son into his college dorm. So many tears and lessons learned and also so much absolute joy! I always love to start a new year with reflection and gratitude. Looking back over the year and around my home this first Monday of 2023, I thought it would be fun to share my favorite finds of 2022!
Starting with the home…..
1. My family calls him Cuthbert. 🙂 I put this guy to work every day! And my only regret is that I didn’t get this robot vacuum sooner.
2. I feel like a broken record because I’ve raved about this burl wood contact paper so many times since I discovered it, but I just can’t quit singing its praises. I covered my desk with it, added it to the back of a vintage curio cabinet, and made burl wood frames and even boxes with this magical adhesive burl wood paper! And…..I’m just getting started. 😉
3. My bathroom cabinets have never looked better thanks to these organizers! I love that they stack! They work so well that I also got them for my girl’s bathroom. I just wish I’d bought them when we moved into the house three years ago!
4. Before the freeze that killed my beloved Laverne (I forgot to bring her in the night that the temps dropped down into the twenties!), this incredible fiddle leaf fig plant food had her thriving! So once I mourn the loss of my sweet Laverne, maybe I’ll bring another figgy friend home.
5. Because I’m always cold…even in the summer….this mattress warmer has literally been a life changer! I legit can’t believe I ever lived without one! It’s dual-sided so my husband can’t complain about being too hot on his side of the bed. 😉
6. These light bulbs are not only handy when the power goes out, but they make adding a lamp where you don’t have an outlet easy peasy! (See the one I added to the powder room here.)
Moving on to beauty finds!
If you follow my beauty account on Instagram, you’ve seen me post about each of these items multiple times over the past year.
1. This is the best eye cream I’ve ever used! It smooths the undereye area so well and wears beautifully under concealer.
2. Speaking of concealer, this Kosas concealer is my favorite for under eyes. The formula is super creamy and blends wonderfully with no settling into fine lines.
3. And this brush makes blending concealer a breeze! It makes concealer just melt into the skin.
4. Hands down, the best new Beautycounter product of the year is this exfoliating polish that is currently only available in their Clean & Polished gift set that is on sale right now for just $22! This polish is a powder that you can add to any cleanser or mask for gentle but totally effective exfoliating. It’s basically like microdermabrasion at home! I’m obsessed!
5. Another incredible Kosas find is their brow pencil. The rectangular shape of the pencil is perfect for filling in brows!
6. This Versed retinol body lotion is amazing!
7. She’s spendy, but she’s worth it! This oval-shaped tapered curling wand creates the prettiest waves, and they have major lasting power too!
8. I’ve completely ditched powder blush for cream blush this year, and this brush is perfect for blending! It seems to go in and out of stock, so I must not be the only one who loves it!
9. Another Versed product I fell in love with this year is their Dark Spot Gel which is so great for hyperpigmentation and melasma.
10. And speaking of hyperpigmentation, azelaic acid is an unsung skincare ingredient for treating dark spots, but it works really well! And you can use it in conjunction with retinol! You can get it in prescription strength from a dermatologist, but this 10% suspension from The Ordinary works great!
Last but not least are the fashion finds.
More and more I’m leaning into 70s styles. Really just love the effortless, comfortable yet chic styles of that era, and I’ve been really happy to see flares come back this past year!
1. I basically LIVED in these clogs in 2022. I wore them with everything from shorts to skirts and jeans. They’re beyond comfy and just get better the more I wear them. That little slit in the sole gives them great movement.
2. I finally found the perfect one-piece! The wide straps are so flattering! It no longer comes in this toffee color that I have, but black and ivory are great classic colors!
3. It happened. I got a fanny pack belt bag. Even I still can’t believe it, but I’ve fallen in love with this easy-to-wear, go-anywhere bag!
4. Like I said, I’m happy to see flares having a moment again. I fell hard for these pull-on flares that are as comfy as leggings. So much so, I have them in 3 colors!
5. If I wasn’t in clogs last year, I was in these Nikes. I wore them so much that I actually wore a little tear into the cloth. I haven’t worn out a pair of tennis shoes since I was a kid! But I wore these for everything from walks around the neighborhood to running errands to Disney, they’re just so comfy and this colorway goes with everything!
So many great discoveries this year, but outside of things, I also fell in love with……
The Summer I Turned Pretty series on Prime Video and Wednesday on Netflix.
I’m beyond happy I finally decided to give laser hair removal a go as it has been a game-changer for bathing suit season.
And I’m so glad I went back to Pure Barre last January as it has been the perfect workout to support my back after my injury in 2021.
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Tell me about your favorite finds of 2022!
P.S. I haven’t forgotten about the books! I have a whole separate post coming about my favorite reads of 2022!
