November 6, 2019
I know, it’s a pretty weird title for a blog post, but it’s true. I’ve put together a list of 5 items you definitely don’t need for Christmas, but you may want to add them to your list. Why? Well, they are all things I’ve purchased in the past couple of years and I didn’t need them, but I’ve also determined they go a long way in making my life better (in their own little ways that is).
Moving from gifts that take up space to gifts that provide experiences, are consumable, or allow the recipient to choose what they get (hello gift cards!) is something I’ve been really trying to do. I don’t want a lot of random “stuff”, so I assume nobody else does either, but I still want to get some fun gifts that will make me happy and will make life just a little bit better or more interesting. That’s what prompted me to make this list.
You may already have some of these items or you may find that some of them don’t apply to you or your situation. That’s A-OK. I’m just sharing some things I definitely didn’t need, but 100% adore and hopefully you find an item or two that you can put on your own Christmas list this year.
Now let’s get started!
(disclosure: the following links are Amazon Affiliate links, so if you make a purchase I will earn a few cents)
5 Items you definitely don’t need
The Milk Frother
I think a lot of people have these now or have fancier versions (like that dreamy Nespresso frother) that do the same thing, but after so much deliberation I bought myself a cheap milk frother on Amazon a few years back and I freaking love that thing.
Homemade lattes, frothy hot chocolate–it’s even ideal for making a small amount of homemade Hollandaise sauce (just make sure to clean it right away so the sauce doesn’t dry on the device). I had no idea what fun I was missing until I got this little gadget!
The Tiny Bluetooth Speaker
This was a purchase I made when I first started listening to audiobooks and podcasts while driving, but didn’t have the capability to play them through the car sound system. For months, I drove around with my phone shoved in my shirt under my bra strap so that I could hear it while driving. Yeah, I’m serious. So, I finally broke down and spent $15 or $20 on a small Bluetooth speaker that fits in one of my cup holders. LIFE. CHANGING.
Now I can play music or audiobooks/podcasts through my car sound system, so I don’t need it for that, but I’ve found so many other uses for this little powerhouse. When I travel, I take it and use the white noise app on my phone to create a sound machine for sleeping. I can take it outside and use it when painting or cleaning (or whatever) since it has a rechargeable battery it’s totally portable. I’ve even used it for playing sound for yoga classes where the music doesn’t need to be blaring loud (like Zumba).
Amazon Fire Stick
This is a more recent purchase, but one that I am so glad I made. We have 3 TVs in our house. Two are hooked up to cable, the third is not. But the third one is in our bedroom and is a smart TV, so we can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime on it. I’d been looking at the Amazon Fire Stick for years and didn’t see why I needed it, but when it was on sale back on Amazon Prime day I bought one because it would allow us to have access to more shows in our bedroom.
Now, not only do I have I have Netflix and Amazon Prime, but also the CTV app, CBC Gem, Global, and a few other free apps. Most importantly, I can now watch episodes of Heartland live on CBC as they air while folding laundry. It’s also super convenient that you can take them anywhere. We took one when we went to Oak Island Resort for BlogJam a few weeks ago and we were able to watch Netflix which was super fun!
Flawless Hair Remover
This one isn’t all that glamorous, but I don’t think I ever promised glamour here. Ha ha! Facial hair is a thing we all deal with. Whether you are fine with leaving it as is or prefer laser hair removal, waxing, plucking, whatever–it’s still an inconvenience. I picked up a Flawless Hair Remover last year after one of my friends raved about how much she loved the one she bought and she wasn’t wrong. See a few hairs you need to do something about? In mere seconds you can have them taken care of pain-free. Boom! I’ve been using mine for a year and have yet to need to change the battery and it still works as great today as it did on day one. This just might be my favourite on the list!
Collapsible Straw
We know I like my iced coffee and while my favourite café has switched over to biodegradable straws, lots of places haven’t. I have a way to go to fully be disposable straw-free, but having my collapsible straw (that is the link to the exact one I have, but there are lots of really cute ones listed now that didn’t exist when I bought mine. Check those out here!) on hand when out and about has really cut back on the number of straws I’ve used this year. I’ll admit, it’s a bit weird. The outside is steel, the inside is rubber and it takes a little getting used to when you first start drinking out of it, but it’s worth it when you stop to think about what a difference it would make if nobody ever used a single-use straw again.
There you go! 5 items you definitely don’t need, but maybe a couple that could make your life just a teensy bit more enjoyable.
What’s one item you’ve purchased in recent years that you didn’t need, but are still super glad you bought? Let me know in the comments. Maybe I will add it to my Christmas list!
Filed Under: Life
