Recent Purchases

 

I've looked and looked for a vintage ad of a woman shopping.  I can find only one or a plump woman and a thin one in a dress shop.  ALL the rest of the ads are either of a woman in the grocery, coming out of the grocery or sitting at home with the Avon lady...I wonder why?

I thought I'd compile a list of recent purchases.  All of these were bought in the past four months or so.  I have tested them, used them and highly recommend them.

The car is top of my list with this quarter's spending.  That's because we invested in Weathertech car mats for my car.  We debated this for a couple of months, and we decided that not only would we buy these for my current car but in future we will just go on and order them for any car we have in the future.  

You see, we have a very coarse sandy soil here and over the years, that coarse sand has literally worn holes in the floor mats we've had which we bought a few years ago at quite a tidy sum.  Back when John was working, we'd already bought Weathertech flooring for his Honda and we both felt it was worth every penny.  However, he declined to buy them for my car because frankly we do routine upkeep on my car.  He didn't on his Honda.  He will happily wash and vacuum my car but the Honda might get hit with a water hose now and then.  It was because of his lack of interest in vacuuming his car that I insisted we go on and order the Weathertech mats for his car.  They've been in his car now for six years or so and look like new.

So, when the mats to my car become not only soiled and had holes in them, I asked for Weathertech for my car.

We ordered custom fit mats for the front seats only, as the back gets little use.  They are specifically made for the year and model car I have.  With all the rain we've had of late, we've been especially glad for them because nothing causes us to track that gritty soil into the car half so well as wet soles.

While we were debating the mats for the car, a respected vlogger who does mechanical work on cars recommended a rubber trunk mat.  We've only just gotten this.  I didn't opt for a custom fit.  The mat the vlogger recommended was just about $25.  He'd gotten one for his wife's Toyota SUV.  Is it a perfect fit?  No, but it covers the main portion of the trunk that we'd typically use.  If my car were an SUV, it would likely fit perfectly.

Amazon Associate Affiliate Link

At the vlogger's suggestion, I ordered right from Amazon and got the lowest cost one I could find.

John and I were sleeping very poorly and waking with sore hips, backs and shoulders.  We debated getting a new mattress, and we may end up doing that anyway, but in the meantime, I asked if he thought perhaps our pillows could be the culprit. 

We had a day out where we shopped for pillows and I was so unimpressed with what we found, though we did buy two that were meant to be firm.  Within two days I knew they were not the pillows for us.  I told John they'd make great 'huggy' pillows but they weren't for support by any means.

Then I found a link to a huge sale going on at Walmart for Serta memory foam pillows.  The price was ridiculously low for a pair of pillows.  I'd paid more than that for one pillow a few years before.   I read the reviews and determined that as back/slide sleepers these pillows would work well for us.  I ordered the pair.  note: the price is still good on these.

Goodness Gracious!  If you are a back/side sleeper, please let me argue the case for these pillows.  John has a heavy head and pillows tend to flatten.  No such thing with these.  They give just enough to be comfortable, but they are a firm pillow, and they keep your head and neck supported. No more tense sore necks or shoulders.  And yes, it has helped with hip pain as well because our spines are in better alignment.  I may not sleep well, something I have never done, but I am comfortable and that's saying a LOT.

Warner's bras no longer makes the same bra I once had in my size.  However, they have renamed my second choice as 'Simply Perfect'.  I now have to buy them at either Amazon or Target.  I won't show a picture of them for fear the whole page will explode in ads for undergarments, but I still love these.  I find the 2X at Target is comparable to the 2X from other places where I've sourced the same bras.  That isn't always the case when you have to go to a new place to shop, but I'm happy to report that they are still true to size.  

I find these bras so comfortable and often forget I'm wearing a bra.  They hold up well to routine washing and drying, though I have stated my preference to have them hung to dry.  What's most important to me, they support well and they help to hold that underarm side area firmly in place.

e.l.f.'s Holy Hydration skin care line is my latest skin care attempts.  I think I've finally found a keeper. 

I loved the Farmasii products but when you don't get enough product to last more than a month at a time at their costs...well, I had to find a more affordable alternative.  Katie suggested the Holy Hydration line to me when we were out shopping at the end of December.  I bought the daily moisturizer that day and liked it so well that a week later I went to the e.l.f. website and ordered the whole line.  I've been using them twice daily for over four months now and have only just needed to reorder the daily moisturizer.  I highly recommend them for those of you who are new to dry skin, the way I am.

I just love the e.l.f. line of cosmetics and have been a user for years now.  The skin care line is just as great.  All the e.l.f. products are affordable.  They feel luxe on the skin.  And the fragrance level is such that I don't even notice it.  I am sensitive to scent in products and will not use any that are heavily perfumed or unpleasant smelling.  I notice in looking at the website now that they have some of this line in a fragrance free, but I honestly haven't noticed a fragrance in any of their products thus far.

I routinely use the cleanser, daily moisturizer, lip mask, eye cream and in the evening, I use the nighttime moisturizer.  I've just placed an order for a fresh night cream and am adding in the sleep mask and the Triple Bounce serum (Hyaluronic Acid drops).