To Sparkle Punch...

2022 Favorites!

JessComment

Before we get into this past year’s favorites, I must say, I still love and use the vast majority of my 2020-21 Favorites! (That Amazon table is SO good, it gets used all.the.time in our house. Although, yikes, it was half the price when I got it! 😬) So if Favorites posts are your jam, have a peek over there or at the periodic Favorites updates I shared during 2022!

Now, here are some other fave things that I haven’t talked about yet!

Some links below are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission (at no cost to you) if you click through!

Otium Bluetooth Headphones

How are these darn earbuds so good for $20?! If you feel like your wireless earbuds are always juuuust about to fall out, these are definitely worth a try. The sound quality is surprisingly good for the price point, the controls aren’t too fiddly, and I’m not constantly having to charge them. Even though I have a more expensive pair I could use, these are the ones I reach for!

Luna Weighted Blanket

Once Pudge joined the family, I tried to give up my weighted blanket (due to the impracticality of washing it), and I simply COULD NOT. I am just that person now. Forget the air fryer and the instapot, I will be preaching solely on the weighted blanket till the day I die, apparently. 😂

So I did a little research and found the washable Luna weighted blanket.

Now, I have not yet washed the blanket itself (only the duvet, and that’s been fine), but I am comforted to know that that option is there. It has been lovely as a weighted blanket, and, when paired with the duvet, it feels like a real comforter, rather than a throw that kind of fits my bed—so that’s new and fun for me! 😂

It’s also Pudge approved!

Uproot Cleaner Mini

Speaking of Pudge, this little guy has come in clutch for getting fur off the sections of the couch that she prefers to lounge on. My only regret is not getting the bigger one! (And the small one is not currently available, so you can learn from my mistake! haha)



“Mystical Pink Ombre” 🔮 curtain lights

These lights were a total impulse buy from Target in May, and I love them so much. They give off a surprising amount of light, which is very much appreciated in our dim house, and now, my bedroom has a pink and purple glow—what could be better??


Inspired Voices Bracelet

Speaking of impulse buys from Target, this Brave bracelet… I got it in early April and still wear it every day. (It gives me such joy when an impulse buy becomes a favorite, ha!) I love the small brassy lettering against the hematite beads, and the message is a nice reminder for those moments (aka most of life LOL) when I do not, in fact, feel brave. Unfortunately, it’s showing as sold out, but I’m pretty sure there are similar offerings in the Inspired Voices line.

Taken on especially brave day! 💖

Five and Two Hoops

Ugh, speaking of sold-out things, it looks like the exact pair of earrings I’ve been wearing nonstop (cute little gold hoops with removable stars) are not currently available—though this pair is the same concept, just blingier! I don’t like to sleep in hoops, so I will actually take them out at the end of the day and put them back in the next day. I realize that is normal earring-wearing behavior, but it’s HUGE for me because earrings are just not an accessory I think to change up. I usually live in one pair of studs for months on end!

You can see them in this photo, as well as the earbuds one, and probably any pics I’ve posted since June! They’re truly my 2022 ride-or-die!

Clearstem skincare

Almost 30 (and *cough* their discount code!) influenced me to try Clearstem, and I’m still using it. I’ve gone through multiple bottles of their Cellrenew serum and Hydraglow moisturizer, and, thanks to a holiday coupon, am now trying their Bounceback serum. (Unfortunately, you can blow their stuff pretty quick, and it is not cheap.) I’ve never loved my skin, mainly because of redness and uneven tone, but I’m liking it quite a bit more these days! Which is great because I can’t be arsed to wear makeup anymore. 😂

I actually took this picture after doing my skincare routine in March (so, about a month after I started using Clearstem) because I was shocked by how good my skin looked! HEY, LISTEN! Who is this glowing model?! 😂

Harper Wilde bras

These bras, particularly the Lounge Triangle and Lounge Scoop, are sooo comfy, while also being supportive and not annoying… aka perfect? haha They’re pretty much the only bras I want to wear at this point. Also excellent—each order comes with a mailer so you can recycle your old bras. That’s actually how I initially found the company, so it’s been a win-win!

Old Navy Sunday Sleep pajama pants

These pants are so good—they’re lightweight (great for sleeping under the aforementioned weighted blanket LOL), and they feel like a dream. Plus, they’re Old Navy, so you know the price isn’t outrageous. I was actually introduced to the Sunday Sleep line when I got a pair of their shorts from the clearance rack for like $3. Once those quickly became a fave, I went back for more!

What are your favorite finds of 2022? Did you buy anything you now can’t live without?

Happy Friday! xoxo ✨ 


Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites!

Favorite Experiences of 2022!

JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁


I eventually want to do the usual round-up of favorite purchases of 2022, but I’ve felt a pull to explore some other favorites first—favorite experiences! I had no idea when I managed to go to that random AAA baseball game by myself in 2021 that it would lead to so many cool things in 2022. Who knew I was capable of all this? 😁

Considering how strong the grip of anxiety and fear can be, I still can hardly believe I actually did these things! Including…

  • Becoming a cat mom!

  • Meeting two of my fave General Hospital actresses!

  • Meeting my favorite baseball player! (A wild experience that I will maybe elaborate on someday, who knows, LOL. 🙈)

  • Asking my dad’s favorite baseball player (and his now-wife) a question on IG Live!

  • Going to four MLB games in multiple states!

  • Going to the botanical garden six times just because I’m a member and it brings me great joy!

There’s a lot of baseball in there (thank you, Pops!), but that darn sport really gave my perfectionist self some interesting perspective. As they say in this video, “Fail 7 out of 10 times and you’re going to Cooperstown” [the Baseball Hall of Fame]. Like, WHAT?! The thought of failing that much makes me want to throw up… and yet, in baseball, failure is just part of the deal. The emphasis is more so on accepting that things will be rough at times and moving on/staying positive when that inevitably happens.

What a concept!!

I’ve always been so so terrified to try things because, what if I fail, screw up, look stupid, regret it, etc. etc.? But this past year, I started to feel more pangs of regret around not trying things. (“Better scared than never”…?) Why not try and just see what happens?

Like, maybe, a very interesting 2022 full of aliveness. 🫶✨

What put the sparkle in your 2022? ✨ 

Happy Friday! xoxo

Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites!

High Five for Friday: December 30

JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁

I’ve been off for the past two weeks and living it up (well, introvert style 😂)! Unfortunately, I now seem to have a cold, so I’m not feeling (or sounding) so hot, but I didn’t want Christmas to totally fly by, so here are a few snapshots of things that brought the holiday sparkle!

(Not including the “same day delivery” humidifier that I ordered at 3:30 AM yesterday. 👍)

  • Let’s start with the most amazing Christmas gift I could ever hope to receive, courtesy of my bffl. WHAT. A MASTERPIECE. I am just this person now! 😂 In all seriousness, I really like clothes, jewelry, etc. that feel emotionally comforting, so this is, like, beyond my wildest dreams of what could be accomplished on that front. 😭💖

IT YOU!

  • I was pretty uninspired with gift-buying this year, but these two eBay items were by far my best finds:

For Timmi, who has picked up “Timbits” as one of many ridiculous nicknames. 😂🫶

For my dad, who lamented his inability to go to CT Bobblehead Night pretty much all season. 😂 I don’t think it would even occur to him to get sports memorabilia on eBay!

  • I also managed to make a trip to the Christmas Conservatory before it got too crazy!

The purple section was obv my fave.

There were a million varieties of poinsettias, of course…

but there were also these Malibu Barbie cyclamen, which is, ah, a choice at Christmastime—but one that I can fully support! 💖💜

I can’t believe 2022 is over tomorrow. As much as it held some really hard moments, it had a lot of good ones too. I’ve become more able to do what I want, even if I have to do it alone, even if it “scares” me. I want to bring this sudden emergence of “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” energy into 2023 because it really made me feel alive in 2022. 🙌

What are you hoping to leave behind in 2022 or take with you into 2023? ✨ 

Happy Friday! xoxo


Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites!

High Five for Friday: December 16

JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁


Starting out leaving this link here, in light of tWitch’s suicide (Pops and I used to watch DWTS and loved Allison and tWitch together ❤️):

988 - the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US

Talking about my suicidal thoughts has saved and continues to save my life, whether with Kristin and the suicide hotline back in the day, or now, in therapy. I always thought the “goal” (lol) was to never have a suicidal thought again, but that’s not realistic. It’s more so learning (over and over again…) to recognize the thoughts for what they are—fleeting, changeable, and untrue

…And also learning that the antidote to these feelings is connection, not isolation. No matter what your brain is telling you, you are not a burden. (I say that as someone who struggles to internalize all of this as well!) You are loved. 💖💖

Well, there is no way to transition from that, so just TGIF and here are some sparkly snapshots from the week:

  • I feel like I’ve just been soaking in the Christmas spirit, honestly. Pretty lights, Hallmark movies, and a cat ready to be wrapped! 😂 Though time has seemingly gone into warp speed since Thanksgiving, I’m glad I’ve been able to slow down a bit this week and actually enjoy the season. 

A random Marshall’s find that pairs well with my Christmas donut blanket! 😂

Working in a winter wonderland!

Just watching An Unexpected Christmas on repeat…

PETS PLS

  • I got really cute stickers for my Christmas cards, and now that they’ve been sent, I’m using up the stickers that I would never ever send to anyone in my planner. Such as:

In flu season/covid times?! No, thank you!! 🙅🏼‍♀️🚫❌

  • Lastly, a splash of Barbiecore for a dentist appointment on an incredibly dreary day:

Hope y’all are doing all right out there. 💖🫶 What put the sparkle in your week? ✨ 

Happy Friday! xoxo

Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites!

High Five for Friday: December 9

JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁

I am also so glad it’s the weekend—I’m exhausted this week, for no apparent reason. And I still have Christmas shopping to do. 😩 Well, here’s what brought the sparkle this week:

(FYI: I make a small commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.)

  • A treat yo self face mask on Saturday night, something I hadn’t done in forever. I had low expectations for this Elf Cookies ‘n Dreams mask (other than it smelling good), but my skin did actually feel quite soft afterward!

  • This incredibly soft, snuggly hoodie! Always here for the Y2K aesthetic, apparently. 😂

  • I had to laugh when I woke up to this sight on Sunday morning:

Happy to report this update! (And that Pops has gotten a new stand that actually fits such a small tree LOL.)

  • The forever vibe: crystals and reminders to calm the eff down. 😂

Got this sticker recently and it’s been a great addition to my work desk!

  • Lastly, some Pudge cuteness, like when she reluctantly tolerated joined me for some stretches!

…even though she’s more of a savasana gal. 🥰🥰

What put the sparkle in your week? ✨ 

Happy Friday! xoxo



Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites!