10 Must-Have Items from Babble's Favorite Things List
- Erika Doty
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
We didn't invent the "favorite things" list, but we sure love one! All year Babble has told you about products we love, purchases that were life-changing (yes! really!) and items we just can't imagine living without...because they make our chaotic lives easy, softer, better. Plus, who doesn't love nailing the gift giving?! That look on your friend or family member's face that says, "You really know me. I can't believe it!"
Babble has ordered, tested, posted, and babbled about so many kick-ass things this year! A few were definitely failures, some just meh...but we found several new favorites this year too. (Find all of Babble's favs here.) Somehow (with a lot of babbling) we narrowed the following list down to our ultimate Top 10 truly most favorite things. We just know you'll find a hidden gem or three below.
It is worth mentioning this list is NOT SPONSORED.
Yes, we are Amazon affiliates, but we only chose items that we would (and are) getting for for or recommending to friends and family this year, without any outside persuasion or motivation.
This is THE best gift I've ever given to anyone ever. Seriously. I'm not being dramatic. These frames are amazing, personal gifts that will continue giving to your loved ones each day. In the age of digital pictures, this is the best way to actually SEE your pictures on a daily basis, and share them with friends and family. And the Aura app for downloading and sharing pics is SO easy to use - even my 70+-year-old parents figured it out with ease.
Tip: These frames are a little pricey, but the knock-off brands are not nearly as good and their apps aren't as user-friendly. Keep an eye on Amazon as the holidays approach - there's usually a deal or two available to snag up!
I wasn't super convinced about this, mainly because we have a small bathroom and it seemed like an unnecessary use of space, that is until my sister gifted me one for Christmas. My husband and I both love it! We just pop our towel in before we hop in the shower and it is nice and toasty by the time we're finished. It's even better after a bath. It really feels like you are in a fancy spa as you wrap yourself up in a warm bath towel. Pro Tip- it's alsy great to toss in your robe or even your favorite sweatshirt and get it all toasty before you put it on. In my opinion- everyone needs one. DREAMY!
Nothing has blown-up more on Babble than this book. My mom and I were at a used bookstore when she found it and we were laughing about it, but also it had some great sound advice. I purchased the book for her and shot a super short and simple and completely unrehearsed or planned reel outside of the store and not joking it has almost 10 million views on Instagram!! (See it here.) While we were mainly joking this DOES make a great gift- subtly (or not so subtly) telling those in your life you don't want to be left with a mess of their shit after they die! There is actually a Swedish concept called "Swedish death cleaning" that encourages decluttering before you die. This is a whole thing!
If you have a (self-proclaimed) Grill Master in your life, they need this. This little blue tooth meat thermometer almost makes grilling too easy. The thermometer is about the size of a pen and comes in a stylist bamboo holder that also acts as a charging station. Stick the thermometer in whatever you're grilling, open the app and literally set it and forget it. The app gives you real time updates and will notify you when your meat reaches the desired temp. And this little guy is SO easy to clean!
I've loved these headphones almost every single day for over 6 years now. An equally obsessed friend introduced me after I was complaining about AirPods hurting my ear holes (you too?). Super light, wraparound design that rests over your ears and most importantly sits outside your ear using bone conduction technology. Layman's terms: the sound is awesome AND you can hear everything around you AND nothing IN your ear. Especially great for walks/runs so you can hear what is happening around you with total comfort and great sound. Treat yourself and encourage more walks!
We are OBSESSED with all of the amazing skincare items coming out of the Korean Skincare craze! Here are five that I have sitting in my bathroom right now and I used on a daily or weekly basis. The products are amazing! We see instant results and - in the world of skincare - the price point is shockingly affordable. You will not regret using or giving any of these.
Want more info on these products and why we love them? Check out Babble's Korean Skincare guide here.
Heal Socks
I've always had ridiculously dry and cracked heels for no apparent reason. I've tried every lotion and buffing product you can imagine and these are the only thing that has REALLY worked, which is awesome, because these are also the easiest of all the methods. If you have issues with cracked heels, especially during the colder winter months, these are miracle workers! I use these a few times a week during the winter to make my heals look and feel smooth and moisturized. A great stocking stuffer too!
Glasses Cleaner
Obsessed. This is another one I feel strongly about for anyone on your list who wears glasses or sunglasses. I'm THE WORST at cleaning my glasses. I feel like they are always smeary and smudged, but this little tool cleans the front and the back at the same time and works like a dream! You can see them in action here. A friend raved about them to me and now I can't stop raving about them to everyone else. Compact enough to toss in your purse. We own three in our household now- one at my husband's office, one at my desk, and one that lives by the sunglasses and goes everywhere with me. My favorite little handy, companion!
Lumify (Special Occasion) Eye Drops
This is truly a miracle product, which I have nicknamed my "special occasion eye drop". As someone who suffers from dry and red, irritated eyes, this has been a game changer for me. Not be used on the daily (hence the nickname) if I had to choose between makeup or my Lumify eye drops before going out, I honestly would choose my eye drops. You instantly look 1,000x better with bright white, almost blue, eyes! A tool everyone with eye issues needs in their toolbox. You will not believe the transformation! You can see me using them in realtime here.
Unless you've been living under a rock this past year, you've heard of this book. If you haven't read it yet - it doesn't matter where you are in life, what you're doing, who you're with, what you're trying to achieve - this is a must-read for all humans. I don't typically like self-help books, but this was so easy to digest. It's so simple. And applies to anyone and everyone. And it will literally make your life better. Seriously! If you read this already, you know what I'm talking about. This book really does live up to all of the hype. I personally listened to it and then purchased it so I could refer to it and highlight great reminders and pieces that really resonated with me. This would make a great gift for just about anyone on your list.
I am an Amazon Affiliate and can earn commission on certain purchases.
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