Tuesday, January 20, 2026

I had so much fun writing this post! It was enlightening! I went back through my blog photos from each and every month of 2025 – because I share pretty much every purchase with you all here! I definitely spent more during the second half of the year which makes sense. My mom passed away at the end of January and until about April you don’t see many purchases.

I think we can learn a great deal from past purchases. I hate when I waste money and believe me… as I was looking through my purchases there was some buyer’s remorse. How about we focus on the positive, though? I also get very happy to share a good purchase.

You’re going to see a lot of clothes and a lot of shoes. I didn’t buy much for the home over this past year. I purchased a few beauty products.

Forgive me if some things were actually first purchased in 2024, as might be the case with Loving Tan. This is the best self-tanner I have used but I was stubborn and wouldn’t try a mitt for application for a long time. This plus the mitt is amazing. It ain’t cheap but it lasts a really long time for me. I pretty much just do legs and arms.

Many of us suffer from dry winter skin. This is shockingly good. It doesn’t have a scent, but you could always layer a scented lotion over it.

In 2026 I got one with a pump and it’s even better!

Halara jeans. So, this was definitely a 2024 discovery because of Jenn. In 2025 I ordered a few more pairs. I think I started 2025 with this pile – a medium denim, a light denim, and a charcoal denim. They were all of the same style – high waisted wide leg pull on. I mean, the cost per wear is down to pennies at this point.

In 2025, I added another medium wash denim in extra petite – perfect length, a straight legged light wash, and the striped side denim:

Zero regrets. I also got a tiny hole in the first pair I bought and then took them to be hemmed and it got rid of the hole since it was close to the original hem. They were a bit too long to start with. I took the striped and the straight leg to get hemmed, as well. The hemming is about $20 a pair but worth it to me since I wear them so much.

I must have a phone case with a loopy or a pop socket to prop my phone up and to hold it. I was surprised to see how long I’ve had this current case.

These shoes and the fact that I got my foot professionally measured. I went to a local running store and tried on a few pairs and decided I wasn’t going to go by brand or looks. I ended up with New Balance 860 and they are the most comfortable exercise shoes I have ever had.

This is a continuation of a few years. Impress brand press on nails continue to make my life easier and make my hands look better!

It’s a bit weird how happy these shorts make me and how much I love them. I now have yellow, baby blue, pink, brown, black, and heather gray. I wear them pretty much every day. They are like cut off sweatpants.

They have pockets. They are so comfy. They wash well.

I might have purchased these in 2024 but I definitely purchased my cork Aerosoles in 2025. I always picked these over the way more expensive Aerosoles. Don’t sleep on Dr. Scholl’s. I really love these dressy sandals. I love the look of the cork, but the height is a little much for me. These are the ones I reached for in the warmer weather.

Hari Mari flip flops. I wore them almost every day this summer.

This smells divine and has the perfect texture. Lip spf is so important.

Small gold earrings from Pavoi brand on Amazon and from a local boutique. Smallish hoops and bows are shown here:

I stand by the brand Pavoi. The quality is really good. They also make great gifts! I am choosing smaller earrings these days.

These hobnail glasses that I got from World Market (and now also the icon glasses from World Market or Target!)

These next sandals shocked me – they are a little bit ugly and pilgrimy. No offense to any pilgrims.

I wore them soooo much this summer and fall. They were the perfect height and perfect neutral sandal to go with skirts, dresses, jeans, and shorts. The story behind them is sweet, too. My mom had purchased $200 snow boots right before she passed away from a local shoe store that carries quality brands like Birkenstock, Taos, Keen, etc. They were in the box and had never been worn. Her best friend insisted we take them back for a refund. I took them back and got a store credit and my sisters insisted I be the one to use it. So, I consider these a gift from my mom. The brand Kork-Ease is high quality and pricey. I never would have paid $170 for these but look how much I have worn them! My mom loved when we appreciated a gift and she would often ask about it. So, when I wear them, I say “thanks, Mom”.

This migraine ring from Amazon! I don’t know why, but I loved having a pointer finger ring! I linked a similar one; mine is no longer available.

Finally going to the eye doctor and getting new prescription sunglasses, distance glasses, and readers. I put this off for way too long but having new glasses and having prescription sunglasses again was a game changer. If you don’t have prescription sunglasses, do it!

These Free People Mary Janes. This was kind of an impulse purchase and I usually show my toes in the warmer months but I really loved having these as an option and I was surprised by how many of my tops worked with them.

I don’t know why but I loved this TJ Maxx linen fruit shirt! I saw an almost identical one at an expensive boutique after I bought it and I was even happier!

These neutral Adidas Sambas. I have worn these quite a bit!

This blouse with a gift card from the besties for my retirement – but notice in the picture I have the medium denim Halaras and the Kork-Ease sandals on. I wore this combo quite a bit!

This leopard blouse

These Old Navy graphic tees along with a Santa one for Christmas, one with little pictures on it, and a few other graphic tees. I am loving the shape, fabric, and designs on their tees lately. They are cute more for a woman’s body and are shorter than a man’s tee.

Ordering my own custom bag made from recycled Guatemalan garments.

I picked this bag style:

This garment:

I think it will be a fun piece to have and I have already used it several times!

This TJ Maxx fall vibes blouse which is light enough for our hot September and October weather:

My electric frother – man, does this make me happy and I really would love to know how much I have saved on getting coffee out of the house because of this gadget!

My Anthropologie sale room glass and mug:

Yup, I just bought one of each!

Starting to sleep the Scandinavian way:

Yeah, it looks a little odd. We bought two twin sized down comforters from Costco and two twin sized duvets from Amazon. I predict we will be seeing more custom sized ones here in the US in the future because I have seen some ads for them lately. Tom and I are both in love with the weight and feel of this combo and I personally have never had so much cover at my disposal. Tom has accused me of the “tuck and roll” where I would take the comforter and roll it away from him. My defense is that I never had much to tuck and roll. I have had only mere inches of cover. We both talk about how happy we are being Scandinavians.

So, what is something you purchased in 2025 that was a good buy?

Amy