I have a bit of a problem. I abhor shopping but my type-A personality feels the need to research every product I buy, sometimes for hours or days! Seriously, I thought my head would explode and my eyes would permanently glaze over when I was shopping for a laptop, but it was almost impossible to make myself stop researching and just buy already! That one took me three weeks of research. Ugh! I'm cursed with a brain that must compare every option.
So for fun, I decided to put together an eclectic list of five of my favorite products that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Maybe I can save you from a research-induced pounding head and bugging eyes if you're in the market for any of these things. Here's to painless shopping!
I am obsessed with these leggings and this company! There are so many things to love! Their patterns are unique and fun. When I want to feel fierce, I wear my dragon pants. Flower pants on happy, spring days. Tree pants when I want to feel grounded. Maybe it’s just me but I like that I can tailor what I’m wearing based on what I’m feeling that day. The high-waist fit is flattering, even if you aren’t the size you wish you were. And speaking of, they now have sizes XS to 3XL. I have and love the standard leggings, cropped leggings and flow runner shorts. I have tried but did not care for any of the tops (yes, I tried every style). I have worn these bottoms practicing yoga, running, rock climbing, hiking and snorkeling. Yet another thing to love is that they are rated excellent for UPF protection (equivalent to UVB/UVA 40-50+) and are chlorine, sun cream and oil resistant, so you can wear them in the pool or the ocean!
OK, so the leggings are absolutely amazing, but what about the company? I love that they make their materials from recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets. Plus, they use a no-water dyeing process. There is a tremendous amount of waste and toxic pollution in the traditional fashion industry; I’m pleased to see that Yoga Democracy has prioritized the environment in their fabric-creating and product-making processes. Speaking of which, the fabric is made in California and their products are hand-sewn in Arizona. Their packaging has almost no plastic (only the small bit that attaches the tag); everything else is recyclable or compostable. To top it all off, the customer service I have received from Yoga Democracy earns above a 5-star rating! You can return any item for free if you decide you don’t like it or it doesn’t fit. They send you a return label and you leave the package in your mailbox for your carrier to pick up – super simple. On my first order, I wasn’t sure what size to get because I was between a L and XL based on their size chart but all my other leggings are M. I reached out to them and they suggested getting a L. When I first tried on the L, it seemed like a good fit; however as I started to move through my exercise routine, the leggings started sagging. I reached out to YD and they determined that I did, in fact, need a medium, so they sent me a new pair of leggings for free! How committed is that! Finally, although their prices are steep (though comparable to many other quality companies), I love that they regularly offer discounts up to 30 percent off. If you can be patient, you can score an amazing deal on an amazing pair of leggings. Worth every penny!
I know, it’s weird to be so excited about dental floss that I would include it as a Top 5 product I love. But if you ask me, it’s really hard to find a good dental floss. I want one that isn’t flimsy, that actually scrapes across my teeth, one that feels solid in my fingers, and none of that flat tape stuff that doesn’t really do anything. And bonus for a dental floss that is not made of plastic and is actually compostable!
I get the Vegan Bamboo Charcoal floss from Lucky Teeth. Yes, it’s pricey at first because you have to buy the glass container, but you can buy refills after that initial investment, and the lengthy cord of floss actually lasts a really long time.
And for the cherry on top, I love that their packaging is 100 percent recyclable/compostable.
It’s hard to find a company that stands behind their product so much that they guarantee it for life. And for socks??? Seriously, I hate to throw out socks because they have a hole in them, but I’m nearing a point where so many have holes or have stretched that they can’t be worn anymore.
Enter Darn Tough Socks. I have one pair of hiking socks and one pair of running socks by Darn Tough. Both are insanely comfortable, and I love that if I ever do get a hole in them or they stretch, I can return them for a free pair. Not only does that speak to the customer service of Darn Tough, but it highlights the quality. Made in Vermont; sold on their website and lots of other stores.
It seems almost impossible to find a high impact bra that actually provides support for a larger chest.
After searching through multiple stores, I finally came across this Run Bra from Brooks at REI. Unfortunately my local store didn’t have my size, but I liked the bra enough to check out REI’s online availability. Not only did they have the size I needed, but they had some discontinued colors at a discounted price! Score!
This is by far my favorite running bra. It's insanely comfortable, easy to get on/off, and actually provides support. This bra is a perfect fit, and it looks and feels great!
I spent two years researching various composting options, trying to determine the best option for me to dispose of food waste and get nutrient-rich compost in return. I wanted something easy to use and that didn’t require a lot of time managing. I finally decided that the Subpod was the system for me, and I love it! I got mine Fall 2021 and placed it in a raised bed since we get too much rain to put it in the ground. A couple of people from my local garden groups were kind enough to give me worms to get started. I let the worms settle in for a bit and then I slowly began adding food waste. Once set up, the system requires very little effort on my part, and while I knew I’d get satisfaction out of having a place for my food waste to go, I didn’t anticipate how much fun it would be to watch my little wormies in action! I actually get excited when I have food I know they’ll love, like avocado. Did you know that worms can double their population every 90 days?
I started with a very small number of worms – about 50 compared to the recommended 2,000 – and it has been so much fun to see those numbers increase over time. I haven’t harvested compost yet since my low worm population has been steadily increasing, but I look forward to the day when I can use those worm castings to help build up my garden. With most vermicomposting systems, you have to sift your compost to separate your worms from the castings. With the Subpod, you just scoop a pile of compost and place it on top of the soil in your raised bed. Since worms prefer the dark, they’ll move back into the soil below, leaving you with only compost. Genius! A few more things I love about Subpod: 1) All their packaging can be used as bedding for the worms = no waste, 2) They now offer a small Mini version and even have an elevated bed that can be used on decks and patios, and 3) They have excellent customer service. If you want a fun way to process food waste, I highly recommend a Subpod vermicomposting system. Update: I recently wrote a post on my experience with the Subpod - check out my Subpod Review.
Honorable Mention
I love having a bidet seat in the house! Seriously, we use half the toilet paper and it’s so nice to have a clean booty!
This is an honorable mention because I’d imagine a number of bidet seats are good, and while I like the Alpha brand, I don’t know that it’s anything amazing compared to other brands.
Additionally, bidet seats require an electric outlet close-by. We factored this in when we remodeled our house, but many homes don’t have an outlet near the toilet, so this might not be an option for a lot of people.
What products do you absolutely love? Share your recommendations in the comments section!
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