My Favorites of 2013

Happy 2014 everyone!  I thought I would kick off the new year with a review of some of the products that I absolutely loved in 2013.  

Favorite Beauty Product: Beauty Blender Sponge- For the first time in my life, I have gotten into wearing foundation.  While I started wearing it with the best of intentions (to cover my rosacea, which has gotten more severe as I have gotten older), my husband started noticing that I was applying it with a heavy hand.  So after reading many reviews, I decided to give this a try, and it has made a world of difference to me.  My application is now much smoother, and I am using less product. Win!

Favorite Nail Polish:  Formula X for Sephora- This is Sephora's new line of nail polishes (I think it replaces the Sephora for OPI collection).  I first discovered it when I was shopping the VIB sale in November, and I loved the range of colors.  I ultimately decided on Light My Fire (shown below) for my first color pick, and I was not disappointed.  The formula applies evenly and has great staying power.

Favorite Hair Product:  The Wet Brush- This is the most delicate, yet effective detangling brush I have tried.  I run it through my hair immediately upon finishing my shower, and it does a great job without pulling out my hair.

Favorite Fashion Item:  The Longchamp LePliage Large Tote- I purchased this bag before my trip to Europe this summer, and I haven't stopped using it since.  It is fantastically roomy, and great not only for traveling, but for the everyday things you need to tote around with you.  It folds up into a tiny square when you need to store it.  Plus, it comes in a beautiful array of colors (mine is in Bilberry, pictured below).

Favorite Jewelry Piece:  Pandora Bracelet- I am definitely a sentimental kind of gal, which for me means that I love charm bracelets.  I enjoy collecting charms that mean something to me, representing places I have been or experiences I have had, or even my three dogs.  I got my first Pandora bracelet for Christmas in 2012, and have been adding to it throughout the year.  Just looking at each charm brings me back to cherished times in my life.

Favorite Shopping Website: Groop Delaz- I spend way too much time on this site.  It all started with the well-priced statement necklaces and then the deals from some of my favorite Etsy stores. There is a great variety from jewelry to homegoods represented here, and the price points will help you fall in love quickly.  If you haven't checked out the site before, here is an invite link.  It is worth checking out.  New deals go up at 11pm PST every night.

Favorite Music: Lorde- When I like music, I have a tendency to listen to it non-stop, until my husband gently suggests that maybe we should turn off iTunes and listed to something on the radio. This has been going on with Lorde since August.  I love her entire album, and have a hard time even picking a favorite song.  So here is her album sampler so you can listen to them all.

Favorite Phone App:  Shazam- Hold your phone up to any song, commercial, tv show, etc while using this app, and it will immediately identify it for you.  I don't understand how this magic app works, but it is definitely my most used.

Favorite Book:  The Fault in our Stars- I did a review on this earlier in the year, which I will link here. It was definitely the best book I have read in a long time.  Also one of the most quotable and beautifully haunting (meaning I can't stop thinking about it).  It is being made into a movie in 2014 (but read it before you see it).

Favorite TV Show:  Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead- I couldn't pick just one show here, so these are my two current favorites.  The first is about a motorcycle club in Northern California, and the second is about the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse.  The writing in each of these is flawless, and is full of little twists and turns that you never see coming.  Both of these programs are worthy of binge watching.

Favorite Can't Live Without Item:  Smart Charger- I found this at the Container Store, took it on vacation with me, and have used it on a regular basis ever since.  It is essentially an extra battery that you plug directly into your iPhone and automatically extends your charge.  It comes with a little velvet bag for toting it around, and will stay charged for a long time in-between uses.

That was a round up of my top eleven favorite items from 2013.  Let me know if you are a fan of any of these things. What are your most-loved product discoveries from the last year?