My Best Purchases of 2019

I can't believe 2019 is coming to a close. This year, this semester, this season, this month, and this week have all gone by in the blink of an eye. Life isn't slowing down. It's just speeding up. Seriously, I'm stunned that we're about to start 2020. I'm a second-semester senior! Where has the time gone? Reflecting on the year, I can say this was an incredible year with so many great memories. While I'm still processing all that I've done/thought/participated in/wondered/experienced/loved/questioned this year, I've come up with a list of my most favorite purchases of 2019.

I'm not a spender. I'm the person who will see something on a website and completely love it, but I won't buy it. When I'm finally ready to buy it, its sold out. For me to buy something, it means I've thought about it for weeks months. Keep this in mind as you see my list of favorites.

Throughout summer 2018, my friends would rave about this water bottle they all magically discovered that kept their water cold for 24 hours. I shrugged off their urges to investigate but finally took a sip. Man, that water was cold. I was impressed, but I still loved my Nalgene. My Nalgene had bumps and bruises and was part of so many stories. The thought of trading it out for a new water bottle made me teary-eyed. I thought about the water bottle all of fall Junior year as my friends started toting around their Hydroflask. With everyone purchasing it, I was wary of the fad, but I decided since I'd thought about it for a whole six months I'd buy the water bottle anyways. This water bottle is the best. Sure, my water bottle looks more banged up than my Nalgene, but it keeps my water cold for so way longer than my Nalgene did. Plus, it's so fun to sip out of a water bottle rather than gulp out of a water bottle. I've carried this purchase from January around with me pretty much every day. While the price of the water bottle is absurd if you use it every day for a year it turns into a quarter per day. I used my Nalgene for six years so the cost will be meer pennies in a few years. As someone hesitant to spend money, I'd say this is a worthwhile purchase.

They're currently sold out of the color I got, but I love my 32-ounce version. I have a yellow bottle with a teal cap. My friend has a teal bottle with a yellow cap. It's a fun way to match with a friend, but not everyone has to know it.

I didn't own headphones for years. I didn't have much of a need for them. I could just set my phone down and listen to my podcast or music no problem. I've gotten into going on short runs and taking my dog on walks. It's so awkward to be jamming out to music when people are walking by. I got a pair of AirPods to help combat these awkward moments. They're also super practical for talking on the phone. I was shopping for scrapbook supplies the other day. I just popped my AirPods in and chatted with my friend. So easy!

When I went to find the link for the AirPods, I realized they've made multiple generations. I'm pretty sure I have the first generation AirPods. I'd say they're definitely worth the money. You'll save a bit by getting on the older models.

I've had Chacos for years. Somehow, I lost my Chacos in 2018. It's still a mystery that I'm lowkey sad about. My Grandma gave me her old Chacos so I could keep wearing my everyday summer shoes. I ended up using her Chacos for close to eight months. I'm so happy with my new Chacos. They're perfect for doing everything when it's warm out.

I have the Z/2 strap style. I love the classic black look as they're perfect for wearing with any color. I'd say think about whether you want a toe strap for a long time. My previous Chacos didn't have toe straps. Now that I have the toe strap model, I think I prefer the flexibility of the non-toe strap model.

I'm always amazed by how much the little things impact my life so greatly. I had a phone case that had a wallet shell. It was great until it broke. I loved the easiness of having my license and school card readily available. I'd seen many of my school friends carrying a pocket on their phones where they kept all their cards.

I bought a set of iPhone wallets a few months ago from Amazon. I assumed I'd have to replace them because they'd get dirty or break. I'm happy to report the original one is still holding strong. It has s a small tear, but it's still working.

Finding vegan shoes that are built to last is so much harder than you'd expect. The shoes I like are always sold out in my size or obscenely expensive. Shoe shopping is not something I find great joy in. That is until I discovered Veja. They're an ethical shoe company that produces the cutest vegan shoes. I'm obsessed! I've always loved the white sneaker trend, but I haven't found a vegan pair built to last. The vegan pair I'm currently wearing is exactly what I want.

I have a very similar pair to the ones pictured. My pair's blue. This shoe looks super sturdy with reenforcing at the toe and a thick sole.

My sister's friend and my mom gave my sister an O key ring for her keys. She didn't need two key rings so she gave one to me. I totally thought this key ring was over the top. Boy, was I wrong. I can now swing my keys onto my wrist and carry something in my hand. This is really transformative for me.

I love this Oventure O key ring. Its the perfect size for slinging around with my wrist with a sweatshirt on and with just my bare hand. I love the tie dye pattern and they have tons of other options.