The Best Things I've Bought on Amazon This Year

I hate how much I love Amazon, but its convenience, prime shipping, and low prices make it hard to beat. I’ve had some major Amazon wins this year and felt inclined to share with the class. I’ve rounded up 15 purchases from 2021, so far, that I couldn’t recommend more.

Milk Frother // It works as well as the Nespresso one and is less than half the price.

Teva Midfoam Fray Sandals // I wear mine with dresses, athleisure, to the lake etc, Tevas are back!

Sun Bum spf 30 sunscreen // I swear by this sunscreen and have yet to get burned while using it the past two summers.

EltaMD UV Clear spf 46 // I wear this on my face every day. FYI the clear is considered clean, the tinted is not.

Polarized Sunglasses // I’ve turned a handful of friends on to these glasses. They come in other colors, but I love the light brown/blonde color. My favorite part is they hold your hair back when you push up on your head - ha!

Gray Shoulder Pad Tank Top // Just a great go-to top. I often wear it with the gold chain necklace also linked.

Translucent Neon Pink PopSocket // I have the new iPhone max and it is so heavy I feel like I’m getting arthritis in my wrists. I’m bringing the PopSocket back to relieve some tension. #firstworldproblems

Clear iPhone12 pro max case // Sign me up for a $10 phone case.

Simple Modern 28oz Tumbler // The viral Amazon cup is worth the hype and an Oklahoma-based company!

Smiley Face Trucker Hat // If you are patient unlike me, I suggest you order from small business Hats by Madi! I was impatient and wanted a fun trucker hat for the lake this weekend and found this one on Amazon.

Gold Medallion Chain Necklace // I wear it every day and get so many inquiring minds about this piece. Best $17 necklace.

Black Ribbed Seamless Set // LOL at this distorted model, but I love this set, I’m in a medium.

Black Ribbed Crop Tank Top // Great with biker shorts for working out. Comes in a million colors, I’m in a large for a slightly looser fit and length that hits right above my belly button.

Neoprene Tote Bag // I’ve been looking for a new work bag and this knock-off of the popular $$ one may be it!

Every Single Moment // A devotional to help pray for your future marriage written by one of my favorites, Stephanie May Wilson.

I rec ‘em, I love ‘em, I use ‘em on the daily. A reminder that you can always shop my Amazon shop by clicking here, using the link in my Instagram bio, or clicking on the shop tab at the top of my site. Questions about an item featured? Ask away below or in my DMs. Bless you Amazon and your quick shipping speeds and snazzy affordable pricing. Now go shop local… ;)

Annie

What's In My Bag?

I've always loved those articles in magazines "what's in their bag," that give you a peak inside what a celebrity carries in their purse. Maybe it's creepy that I enjoy knowing what somewhere totes around all day, but I'm also the weirdo that loves knowing what's in someone's fridge. It says a lot about a person.

Purse: Who What Wear Mini Shopper

Snacks: RX Kids bar, these are the best purse size snack. I try to always have a bar or baggy of nuts in my car or purse. #alwayspacksnack I also often have tea bags in my purse and work bag. It's an easy way to cure the mid-day slump and cure my issue of always being cold. 

Brush: Conair mini brush. The one thing that is ALWAYS in my purse, and always gets transferred from day to evening bag too. A quick brush through your hair can really make you feel better.

Sunglasses: Cheaper than cheap from Forever 21. Despite the fact that I have a really good track record with sunglasses, I still can't bring myself to spend money on them. These were $3. 

Meds: Epi-pen, inhaler, Benadryl, allergies are fun! 

Gum: Extra Spearmint, each piece eaten in 1/3s cause I'm a freak. But hey, it makes a pack last almost 3 weeks, but the amount of gum wrappers I accumulate are uncanny. 

Lips: e.l.f Aqua Beauty Lip Stain in Dewy Berry and Rouge Radiance (creates this watercolor type lip stain that I love), Glossier coconut balm dotcom, MAC lipstick in twig, and Dior Addict Lip Glow (the coolest lip stain that enhances your natural lip color). 

Wallet: Mine is a discontinued style from SCOUT bags, but I love their stuff so much, find similar options here. 

This post idea originated back in the fall of 2014 when I was a senior in college. See my first "what's in my bag" here. Honestly not much has changed, at all. Same gum, similar wallet, cheap sunglasses, bright blue purse, and the same pink snakeskin hair brush is still going strong 4 years later. Is that gross?

What's in your bag?

Annie

10 Products I Love & 10 Products to Try at Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's Oklahoma City

The big league city that is Oklahoma City, and the place I call home is FINALLY getting a Trader Joe's. Officially opening Friday the 23rd at 8am. I can hardly stand the wait. 

I fell in love with TJ's the summer I lived in DC and have been deprived ever since. Anytime I'm on vacation or a weekend trip to Texas, I make a stop at their Trader Joe's to pick up my favorite almond butter and trail mix. It's a full on love affair with this quirky grocery store. I'm not shy to share my love, leading to posts like this...

I'm not the most experience Trader Joe's shopper, for obvious reasons, but I do have some tried and true favorites I pick up on the rare occasions I'm in the same city as a TJ's. Today I'm sharing my 10 faves, as well as 10 items I can't wait to try. I stalk every blog post, article, report, instagram feed, etc. that devotes itself to the best Trader Joe's products. I feel confident I've come up with a well crafted list of things to try.

10 Products I Love:

1. Raw Crunchy Almond Butter This is without a doubt my favorite almond butter. It's very thin and needs a good stir when you open it, but it's perfect for that almond butter drizzle over oats or smoothie bowls all foodgrammers dream of. And #teamcrunchy just cause.

via the trader joes experience 

2. Cashew Butter Just like the bottle says it's creamy and salty and delicious. Cashews are my favorite nut so I obvi wig out over cashew butter. So great with apple slices, but also perfect for savory things like dipping carrots & broccoli into or for asian sauces. 

Via Ambitious Kitchen

3. Rolled Oats This massive bag is so cheap and lasts forever. Makes a great bowl of oatmeal, but I mainly use this big bag more for baking or making granola. 

via Ambitious Kitchen

4. Tomato-Less Corn Salsa With chips dipped straight in or served over tacos, fish, chicken or in taco salad!

via Ambitious Kitchen

5. Macadamias mix Gingerly with Cranberries & Almonds Trail Mix Okay so look past the Omega Trek Mix image and into the background. This was my DC discovery and helped me get through the afternoon slump of my summer internship. The little bits of crystalized ginger are the best part and makes it my favorite trail mix EVER.

via Ambitious Kitchen

6. Feta Dip This one's for you Anna! When I visited Anna this summer I was greeted with a glass of rosé and this feta cheese spread served with pita chips. We scraped the container clean despite the dinner reservations we had.

via Trader Joes

7. Body Butter TJ's has some sneaky awesome beauty products that shouldn't go overlooked. I picked this up on a whim and it works so well for my dry eczema skin. The pumpkin version is faboo too. 

via  The red headed child

8. Cookie Butter Cups You live under a rock if you haven't heard of cookie butter. It's kind of like Trader Joe's mascot. Unable to eat Reese's cups, these cookie butter cups are the perfect replacement and most likely better IMO.

9. Greek Yogurt Say hello to my breakfast every morning the summer I lived in DC. At only $0.99 a cup, they were perfect for my wallet and appetite. I love pomegranate and vanilla bean! 

10. Green Tea Mints This was an impulse check out purchase that I didn't regret. Actually so good and great for after lunch. 

Via Trader Joes

10 Products I Want to Try:

1. Bollywood Popcorn 100% buying this. Jai ho!

Via @traderjoeslist

2. Frozen Falafel Wrapped in a pita with tzatziki? Yes please!

Via A Dash of Soul

3. Frozen Vegan Tikka Masala I'm not a frozen meal person, but this one is on just about every list. 

Via pInterest

4. Parsnip Chips Intrigued! Dipped in hummus or guac.

via @traderjoesmealplan

5. Honey Sesame Almonds Trader Joe's nut section is dreamy. These almonds, coconut cashews, truffle marcona almonds, chili lime cashews etc. all at the best prices. I can't wait to try these. 

Via Real Simple

6. Riced Veggies (Cauliflower and Broccoli) To sneak into smoothies or as a rice alternative!

Via @traderjoeslist

7. Balsamic Glaze Perfect on my Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Figs.

via What's Gaby COoking

8. Sweet Potato Gnocchi I tried to make sweet potato gnocchi one time and it was such a fail. I'll leave it up to trusty Trader Joe's instead now. 

Via Spoon University

9. Vanilla Almond Spiced Chai Protein Smoothie Everything I like in one bottle.

via @traderjoes_doesitagain

10. Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream I have the driest hands so this is a must try!

via @traderjoesinsider

For all you Trader Joe's veterans, any products that are a MUST? Let me know in the comments. For all you readers, get ready for the slew of TJ's products that will soon be seen all over Take A Bite. For all you OKCers, I'll see you Friday. And after you all swoop up a jar of cookie butter make sure you put it to use by making my Cookie Butter Popcorn, Cookie Butter Rice Krispies or just by the spoonful, whatever you prefer. 

p.s. I trust Gaby and Monique with all things food. Check out their full lists of favorites here, here and here. 

Annie

Besos Asos

XOXO Asos you are killing the shoe game! The targeted marketing we see now is sneaky and it works. I was sifting through pages and pages of clothes on asos.com the other day, then all of a sudden every site I visited had little sidebar and banner ads for Asos popping up. Last week on Facebook a little ad popped up in my newsfeed featuring these shoes. Wahhhhh target marketing you got me. How do you know me so well?

I just got signed up on Try so I quickly ordered them to try and I'm still deciding if I should keep them or not. Amazing and adorable-yes, practical and comfortable-no. Check out more of Asos's killer spring shoes below. At killer prices too might I add. 

I love a good impulse buy, but HELP do I keep or return?

Annie

Mark Your Calendars

Target - known as the place where you go in for a pack of paper towels and few groceries and leave with a new sweater, workout leggings, front door mat, coffee mug and the new seasonal flavor of Chobani. Essentially a death trap for your wallet. Well Target is about to put a another dent in your wallet with there new designer collection. This is just a fair warning. 

Most images via Refinery 29

Designer Adam Lippes was chosen for Target's next designer collection. Lippes got his start at Polo Ralph Lauren, then Oscar de la Renta, before starting his own collection ADAM + EVE in 2004, now known as ADAM. They challenged Lippes to create a whole collection using only buffalo check plaid. From Stacy's Pita Chip to ponchos and jogger pants, Target is about to be covered in plaid. The collection debuts in stores everywhere September 27th. 

My sights are set on the oversized sweaters and home goods. You can bet I'll be in line bright an early to storm the store. I was there at 7 AM for the Missoni and Phillip Lim collections and I'll be there for Lippes too. (Please look back at those Missoni and Phillip Lim links to see how embarrassing Kathleen and I are). 

Target hit the "bullseye" with this one, "check" it out. Okay that was one two many puns in one sentence. But really, you can view the whole collection here. Oh and p.s. Adam Lippes is pretty nice on the eyes, you can check him out here.

Annie