It’s so hard to summarize what our favorite products were of the entire year. We as a family get to try such a variety of items – from cereal to vacuum cleaners – and generally have very good experiences with everything. Still, as my husband and I were discussing the other day, there are definitely some items that are our favorites that we reviewed this past year, so I thought I would highlight them here (you can click on the links to read the reviews). In no particular order, here are our top 10 favorites of 2010:
The Flip Ultra Camcorder is essential on our trips, but it’s also been great for taking along to taekwondo and other sporting events. I keep it in my camera bag which means it’s always handy. In the past month I pulled it out to record Elijah’s nonsense sleepwalking (which is quite funny…bad mom.) and Nevaeh making up songs at the dinner table.
Yes, a kitchen faucet is actually on my favorites list this year! The Home Reno Event we did in April/May showcased a ton of great items for the home including the Delta Pilar Touch 2O faucet. No more yucky hands touching handles! We’ve been using it since May and still haven’t changed the battery in the touch-sensor though I think it’s time to soon.
I’m so happy to have teamed up with Silver Jeans in 2010. I brought you reviews in January, February, and May this past year. All my jeans have washed beautifully and up until my pregnancy, fit like a dream. I can’t wait to get my butt back into them this spring, fingers crossed! Psst…stay tuned for a Silver Jeans feature this month!
Our VTech Cordless phones (does anyone use a corded phone anymore?) have been super! I was so disappointed in our last set we owned (can’t even remember the brand for sure so I don’t want to say the name if I’m wrong) because the sound was horrible, they’d lose their charge in no time, and I could overhear neighbor’s conversations sometimes too (yikes!) The VTech Cordless phones are a winner in our household!
FitFlop sandals and shoes are a definite must for me! I’ve worn them for 2 years now, having tried my first pair of Fit Flop sandals in June/09. I also reviewed FitFlop Mukluks in 09 and this past summer both my husband and I reviewed his and her FitFlop sandals this past summer. Why all the love? They’re simply the most comfortable flip flops we’ve worn, wear very well, and don’t get smelly! Plus, they tone your bum and legs…and we can all use a little toning! I can’t wait to get out there with baby in the stroller this spring, wearing my FitFlops!
Scentsy’s tag line is “the hottest new thing in candles” and I agree! As a candle-freak myself, I am a Scentsy convert and now use my Scentsy Warmers and Scentsy Bricks several times a week in my house, whereas my candles have been set aside and are definitely not getting used up as they should. It’s easy to simply turn on the Scentsy Warmer after dinner to eliminate cooking smells, or to give the house a fresh scent when company is expected. They’ve been in Canada for about a year now and are really picking up speed (and fans) along the way, and likely will soon be as popular as it is in the US.
The Little Tikes Neighborhood Market is a product that surprised me by the appeal it had for my kids. Since we already have a toy kitchen I thought this would be more of the same, so to speak, but the kids play with this market all the time and it’s cute watching their store/customer role playing. Sure, other toys end up behind the counter for sale along side the bananas and ice cream but as long as the kids are busy, I’m happy!
Start a conversation over coffee or at a mom’s group about children’s bedding and I’ll start my praise of Natura products and explain exactly why we love them so much in our household. Our King Size bed is completely Natura-covered along with both the kid’s beds as well. We are a Natura milyfa and won’t be purchasing any other bedding – there’s absolutely no reason to when everything we need comes from this family-friendly company. In April we reviewed the Natura Moonbeam Twin Mattress for Nevaeh’s bed, and my husband briefly considered moving to a twin bed so he could sleep on it – it’s that comfortable (like a cloud!) Later in November, Neaveh’s bed was complete when we reviewed a Twin Sleep Package (comforter, mattress pad and pillow, oh my!) Now that we all have Natura bedding (and Nevaeh is the luckiest one with a mattress as well) I’m sure we’ll all sleep through the night once baby arrives…right? Right?
As part of the Constructive Moms team at Constructive Playthings, I get to review a variety of items throughout the year. This product just goes to show that it’s not always the most expensive products that can capture a child’s heart and remain a favorite. Peek-A-Boo Puppies, available exclusively at Constructive Playthings, features 5 plush beanie puppies and a puppy condo that your little one can carry around with ease. Nevaeh plays with this almost every single day. Remember, when ordering from Constructive Playthings, use the 15% off discount button to link to the site (see right hand sidebar) and you will automatically save 15% on your order at check out.
A favorites list of mine wouldn’t be complete without a coffee mention! The Keurig Platinum Brewer has been a great addition to our household this past year, and the Keurig Mini is easy to tote to family get togethers as needed. Looking for K Cups in Canada? Check out the link for some great sites suggested by readers.
Of course this top 10 list is just the tip of the iceberg of great products we reviewed this year! I’m sure once I post this I’ll think of 10 other items, smack my head, and think they should have earned a spot as well. Blame pregnancy brain I suppose, but I hope you enjoyed this quick summary of some of our favorites and check out the links included to learn more!
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