Ever take a peek at what the the person behind you in line at the grocery store is unloading onto the checkout belt? Me neither. Ok fine, I do admit to giggling when I spied the 20-something-male behind me in line at HyVee last week buying beer and Uncrustables. Just living his best, crust-free life!
Anyway, my selection wasn’t nearly as exciting (gluten free bread is only sold with crusts, rude) but I thought it’d be fun to share the last ten FUN things I’ve bought over the past few months! Forget diapers and wipes, we’re talking yummy snacks, beauty finds, fun fall boots, and a super cute book too. Costco members: do NOT miss #4!
#1 Sole Society Slip on Bootie
I’m officially over mid-calf boots in favor of booties, and these Sole Society Natasha Slip on Booties are SO adorable! The flat heel makes them great everyday boots, plus I love that they’re pull on vs having a zipper, and that they’re wide enough to wear with skinny jeans but aren’t flappy. Know what I mean? ;) I got the honey color and cannot wait to start wearing them on the regular. FYI, I feel like they run just a tiny bit big.
#2 Slidebox Photo Manager
If you’re anything like me, you take 10+ pictures of any cute situation you find your kids in and thus are DROWNING IN PHOTOS. Lindsay shared her iPhone photo clean up project on Instagram the other day and passed along a recommendation for the Slidebox Photo Manager app from a follower of hers. This app is a lifesaver! It has a simple swipe up feature to trash a photo which makes the process of deleting duplicate pictures go very very quickly. I started out with the free version but upgraded to the premium version for $4.99 so I don’t have to see any ads (they pop up after swiping through 15 photos or so.) Money WELL spent. I have been cleaning up photos instead of surfing social media at night and am making a huge dent in my massive photo library. Feels so good!
#3 Lindsay Letters Rainbow Daydream Canvas
As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I’ve been following Eva Love’s recovery story extremely closely and in addition to donating to her family to help with medical bills, I thought I’d support them by purchasing a canvas from her Mom, Lindsay of Lindsay Letters! I chose this “Rainbow Daydream Canvas“, which is what Lindsay imagines her daughter’s dreams look like. It’s every bit as adorable, fun and whimsical as it looks. I hung it in Gwen’s room and she LOVES it – points to it every time we walk in the room!
#4 Kirkland Organic Dried Mangoes
New snack obsession alert! I think Ben first found these Kirkland Organic Dried Mangoes at Costco, but either way we have blown through three bags in like a month. They are soft, unsulphured, and the perfect thing to eat when you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to get too crazy. The value is incredible, too! An enormous, 2.5lb bag of organic dried mango for under $20? Insane.
#5 Primally Pure Clarifying Serum
File Primally Pure’s Clarifying Serum under “splurge” – but ohhh it’s such a treat. Primally Pure is a wonderful company whose beauty and personal health products – including deodorant, everything spray, and beauty cream (their lip balm is AWESOME too) – have become staples in my daily routine over the past couple of years. Earlier this summer I ordered their clarifying serum, which is said to minimize inflammation and breakouts, plus even skin tone, and swore I saw results overnight. Thinking I was crazy, I went to their website to read the comments on the product page and others were saying the same exact thing!! I truly feel like this serum stops breakouts in their path and has helped even out my skin tone. I hope they never, ever stop making it. PSST: You can get 10% off your oder with code: IOWAGIRLEATS
#6 Dove Micellar Water Body Wash
From splurge to save: Dove Micellar Water Body Wash. I initially bought this body wash because I was…out of body wash…but also because the “anti stress” claim jumped out at me and I’m a sucker for good marketing. Anyway, this body wash is killing it not only because it smells exactly like the soap bars my grandparents used to keep in their shower (which I know sounds suuuper weird, but it’s a happy memory for me and I’ve been missing my Grandma a lot,) but also because it leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean yet hydrated. I would describe the scent as very CLEAN. Not even “fresh” – but clean. New shower staple for sure!
#7 Be Kind Book
A friend of mine who is a teacher recently shared this Be Kind book on social media and I instantly ordered it. Every single day before Lincoln hops on the bus I tell him, “Be kind. Have fun.” Wouldn’t the world be a much nicer place if we could all be kind? And stay in our own dang lane? Anyway, the story contains great examples of how to extend and show kindness to others, and the impact one small act of kindness can have. The last page gave me goosebumps! This book would be a great addition to a classroom library.
#8 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar
As you know, Lincoln is obsessed with all things Harry Potter (Hogwarts is finished and is THE COOLEST THING EVER!) and so I purchased this LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar as a fun surprise for the holiday season. I have some buyer’s remorse because I don’t want Christmas to be about stuff! stuff! and more stuff! but I just couldn’t resist. He’s going to flip.
#9 The Daily Page Planner
If you are a Type A list lover, or just trying to get your daily life, health and wellness together, The Daily Page Planner from Dani @ Thyme is Honey, is going to help you get there. I have been a huge fan of Dani’s for years and years. She is an inspiring person in so many ways (follow her on Instagram to see what I mean,) from the Midwest (whoop!), and creator of the ultra popular Daily Page products which have earned her a spot in the top 1% of all Etsy shops! Dani recently released her Daily Page Planner which I immediately ordered because I pretty much do whatever she tells me to. Ha! In addition to the minimalist design of the planner, I love that every purchase plants a tree, and the entire thing, including the cover, is recyclable. Can’t wait to start using it!
Psst: Dani just got in touch and is giving IGE readers 10% off any order from her shop, including the planner! Use code: IOWAGIRLEATS at check out. :)
#10 NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
I feel like I’ve been looking for the perfect foundation since I was 16 years old. Every foundation I’ve ever tried has either made my face itch (mineral makeup is the worst offender) or was so thick I felt like I was wearing a mask. Enter NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. This foundation is water-based, buildable, and best of all – I CANNOT FEEL IT ON MY FACE! Huge, huuuuge fan. For what it’s worth, this summer I also tried Beautycounter’s Tint Skin foundation and really liked it (hated their dew skin,) but this NARS foundation edges it out a bit because it’s a tad thinner.
What’s the last fun thing YOU bought?
yay! so glad you’re making progress on your photo project!
My last fun item was a makeup purchase, too: the new Urban Decay Honey Naked palette. I couldn’t resist!
Thanks for sharing the link to Eva Love’s recovery story. I’m emotionally invested now too.♥️ I’m definitely going to purchase one of their canvases for my daughters room. So amazing!
Oh gosh. The body wash/Grandma memories. I am right there with you with certain scents and Ivory soap is one of mine!
I bought the same advent calendar for my son. I just hope I can hold off on giving it to him! He’s going to love it. Love this post.
Love these types of posts! A few fun things I’ve purchased recently:
– Madewell carina boots (gorgeous with soft leather, super comfy)
– Trader Joe’s fall goodies. A few of my faves are the apple cider hand soap (I stocked up on those), pumpkin biscotti, and butternut squash mac and cheese!
Those boots are goooorgeous!! And yum, yum, and more yum to those TJ’s finds. Thank you for sharing! :)
These all look like great picks – thanks so much for sharing! One of my recent favorite buys is Living Proof Perfect Day Heat Protectant Spray! Some other similar types of sprays can be heavy and leave a residue, but this one in particular is a fine mist and really does an excellent job! It’s pricey, but worth it.
I am SO glad you shared those boots, because I have been looking for some just like them to wear teaching every day!
A question on sizing: I know that you have the New Balance sneakers (I got them after you raved about them!), and I was wondering if you got the same size in these boots that you have in the sneakers? Or bigger in the boots? I hope that question makes sense :-)
This is fun! I just bought a blackhead extractor tool and can’t wait for after my next steamy shower so I can pick my face – eek. I’ll look into Primally Pure!
I love these posts!!! And because of hour recommendation, Im ordering the Primally Pure clarifying lotion. I have a 10mo old but feel like a high schooler w acne dotting my face that I HONESTLY feel like people probably wonder if he’s mine. lol “shes prob the babysitter”. Thank you, Kristin!!
I’ve been making a move toward “cleaner” products and use the “Think Dirty” app to gather ratings about new-to-me products. As a result, I’ve switched to many Beautycounter products, including the Dew Skin foundation, which I LOVE. (The NARS foundation you mention is rated as Dirty, by the way. Just FYI.)
I do hope you’ll check out Primally Pure if you love Beautycounter – their ingredient lists are top notch!
Love this type of post! Last thing I bought were sweaters from Old Navy and Halloween costumes for my kids! :)
Those boots are ADORABLE. I need to know, though, if they are comfortable – I am in search of the perfect pair of booties to bring on a trip to Paris (so, lots of walking) to wear with everrrrrrything.
I think if they were well broken in yes, they’d be fabulous for Paris (omg, what a trip!!!!!) Right out of the box though, I wouldn’t say they’d be good for walking all day in.
I just bought tickets to see Hamilton with my brother when it comes to Milwaukee in late fall! I have already seen it once but I loved it so much I am going again! It was a splurge but totally worth it!
Amazing!!! Ben and I saw it when it was in town and it was increeeedible. I bet you’ll see a bunch of stuff you didn’t notice the first time around. So cool. Have fun!
What a fun list! That Be Kind book sounds like a wonderful gift for the young children we know! And the dried mangos!!! I got some Trader Joe’s Fall Leaf corn tortilla chips for a fall Bachtoberfest party, so cute, in the shape and colors of fall leaves!!!
Oh, those sound amazing – and so cute!!
Great post! I’m definitely going to get the Micellar body wash!! I love the facial cleanser.
Last fun thing I bought was a Love Mich coffee cozie. Never heard of it right? Go check out @lovemichco on instagram. It is more than just a coffee cozie, it’s a lifestyle!! ;)
Ok I’ll definitely check them out!! Let me know if you end up getting the body wash and what you think! :)
Ok just clicked over and…adorable. Excited to follow! :)
Pat Zietlow Miller is an amazing author! Her two newest books “Remarkably You” and “When You Are Brave” are also amazing books that we have in our kid’s library. They have an awesome message and get pulled out on the regular!
Thank you for the recommendation! The “When You are Brave” title is jumping out at me for several reasons. ;) Will definitely check those out. :)
I love this post! Love the recipes of course but this is fun! I bought tickets to the upcoming Maren Morris concert and a Caramel Apple Cider from Starbucks (I usually just drink regular cofffee).
Oooo good for you for treating yourself! Have fun at the concert!!
A new Lands’ End fall sweater! (But great for winter and spring as well.)
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-cotton-drifter-shawl-cardigan-sweater/id_339174_59?sku_0=::M9I
Also some clothes from Seasalt Cornwall. (British– I love their sailor stripes and they make great skirts that cover your knees!)
A pumpkin spice frappuccino. (I usually drink plain black coffee that I make at home but I can’t resist pumpkin spice coffee drinks!)
Oh my gosh that shawl looks like I would never, ever take it off if I owned it!! ?