Welcome to Friday Favorites! I get a lot of questions about things I like to use, so here’s a few things that have been making my life easier lately.
First, in case you don’t know me super well yet, here are a few fun facts about me:
- Some would call me frugal, but I prefer to call it intentional.
- I read a ton of reviews before I buy things because I don’t like wasting money on things that won’t improve my quality of life.
- I’m not afraid of investing money in quality items that save me time, stress, or bring me/my family more joy.
- I’m becoming minimalist (ish). I’m sick of clutter. It stresses me out.
- I dare to dream big. If I see a way to improve my life, I take responsibility and find a way to make it happen.
- No matter how healthy I want to be and how much I value nutritious food, I think the combination of donuts and coffee is one of the best things ever.
So now that you’ve gotten a peek behind the cover of Val, here are 5 things I am loving this week. These things are making my life easier, more productive, healthier, and full of more joy:
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure to learn more.
1. Stasher Reusable Silcone Food Bags
I was blessed and surprised to receive a bunch of Stasher reusable silicone food bags for Christmas last year and I LOVE THEM!
From storing half-cut produce to warming up leftovers, these bags are so handy! I hardly ever have to use throw-away plastic bags or cling wrap anymore. Plus, these make taking food on the go (an essential for frugal living and living with food allergies) so much easier.
I have the Storage (half-gallon size) and the Sandwich size and love them both. Plus, we’re taking a bunch of these on our upcoming spring break where we hit the road in an RV! These are not cheap, but they are a great investment for your health, the environment, and probably your wallet too in the long run now that I don’t have to buy all the plastic wrap and Ziploc bags anymore. If you’ve been wondering about reusable bags for food for kids lunches, I’ve been super happy with my Stasher bags.
2. Contigo Autospout Stainless Steel Water Bottle
I’m a big water bottle girl, as you can tell from my list of frugal living tips. My kids and I bring water bottles pretty much anytime we leave the house. And while I was a long-time lover of the Camelbak’s, I may be converting to these Contigo water bottles instead.
They’re easy to drink from with one hand, keep water the temperature you want for up to 24 hours, and the straw can close down completely to keep germs and dirt off. Plus, if you have curious baby hands around, the button lock adds an extra set of security to keep the lid closed.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a new water bottle so you drink more water and buy less bottled water, I’ve been loving my Contigo water bottle.
**BONUS** It’s on SUPER SALE right now at 50% off! Right now you can snag this water bottle for just eight bucks!
3. PUROAST Low-Acid Organic Vanilla Coffee
Plain and simple: This coffee is ah-mazing! I And I’ve been drinking my fair share this week.
The vanilla flavor is rich and delicious. Because it’s naturally-flavored with real vanilla (not artificial flavoring) it’s not fake tasting at all. The low acid works much better for my tummy. It has loads of antioxidants. And it’s organic, yay!
If you’ve been wanting a flavored coffee that’s naturally flavored or if you’ve wanted to try a lower acid coffee, this is my absolute favorite. I usually find a much better deal on this coffee at Vitacost, but if you’re an Amazon loyalist, you can Subscribe & Save to a little better price and keep the coffee coming to your doorstep every month.
4. Instant Pot
I have no idea why I waited so long to get an Instant Pot. I was happy with my slow cooker and didn’t think I needed another kitchen gadget…
However. the curiosity of the Instant Pot Loving Community got the best of me last Black Friday and now I totally understand why. I use my pressure cooker several times per week, almost daily! There’s a reason this Instant Pot has over 31,000 awesome reviews!
Since I like cooking and preparing our food at home but do NOT like babysitting the stove or oven making sure things don’t boil over or burn, the Instant Pot and I get along well. Dump the ingredients, push the button, and walk away. I have this Instant Pot and as I’ve been preparing food for our week vacation on the road, this baby has definitely made my life easier. **BONUS** This baby is $20 off today too. Seriously? It’s like Amazon is in my kitchen right now!
5. Brandless Coconut Oil
I use coconut oil every day and as I’m packing for our trip, the size of the Brandless coconut oil is perfect!
Not only is it a great deal for organic coconut oil, but it’s a smaller container. Sometimes I buy coconut oil in bulk (54 oz) because that’s the oil we use for pan frying and baking, but I definitely don’t have room for or need a giant tub of coconut oil in our RV.
But big tubs of coconut oil are not handy for packing to go camping or keeping in the bathroom for moisturizer or toothpaste like I do. So I am super grateful I have this perfect-sized container to take a long. You can read more about the Brandless products I love in my Brandless review.
Friday Favorites – That’s a Wrap
I hope you enjoyed getting a peek into those things that have been worth spending money on for me because they’ve made life just a little better.
What things have been amazing your life just a little easier, less stressful or more enjoyable? I’d love to hear what things you’ve been loving lately, big or small.
Cheers to Smarter Shopping & Your Best Life,
