Things I Love

Coffee is non-negotiable.

This stuff keeps me sane — English toffee sweetness in my coffee without the sugar or calories. I use it all the time, and when I say I don't want to run out, I mean it.

Yes, I own the big Vitamix.

No, I don't love dragging it out, giving up half a cabinet to store it, or washing the thing.

This little Ninja? All-time favorite.

It's tiny. It stores away easily. The cups go right in the dishwasher, and there isn't a big rubber seal sitting around getting gross.

I use it, rinse it, toss everything in the dishwasher and move on with my life.

Sometimes the thing you actually use is better than the fancy thing sitting in the cabinet.

Apparently no one tells you that when your kids move out, you don't automatically learn how to cook for one.

So... meal prep it is!

These portion freezer trays are amazing. Every time I cook, I freeze a couple of individual portions. Before you know it, I've got homemade meals ready to go when I don't feel like cooking.

My trick?

Don't "meal prep" all day Sunday. Just make a little extra whenever you cook and freeze a portion or two.

Eventually, your freezer becomes your own little takeout menu.

Less food waste. Less cooking. And far fewer "I'm tired, let's just order something" nights.

I walk in the door, hands full, and say:

"Alexa, turn on the desk lamp."

And just like that, my empty condo lights up.

No putting everything down. No walking through a dark room trying to find a switch. Just lights on, I'm home.

I honestly didn't realize how much I would love something this simple until I had it. Now I have lamps connected throughout my condo and can turn them on with my voice.

It's one of those little things that makes living alone easier — and makes my home feel welcoming the second I walk through the door.

I'm a side sleeper who never wants to sleep on a pillow you could mistake for a cotton ball.

I need a pillow with some substance — supportive, comfortable and actually capable of holding my head up instead of disappearing underneath it five minutes after I lie down.

This one gets it right.

If you're a side sleeper who likes a pillow with actual structure instead of a giant puff of nothing, this is worth a look.

You know the gym bag.

Shoes on the bottom. Water bottle rolling around. Headphones missing. And whatever you need is always underneath everything else.

Put this organizer inside an L.L.Bean Boat and Tote and suddenly you've got a gym bag that actually makes sense.

Everything has a place. I can see what I packed. I can grab what I need. And I can keep the whole thing ready to go.

Will it actually make you stop procrastinating about going to the gym?

I'm not making promises. 😂 But now your messy bag isn't an excuse.

I have a system.

U.S. flight? Extra-Large.
International flight? Large.

Then I put my actual purse or special bag inside the tote, shove the whole thing under the seat and don't stress about it.

It's sturdy, it holds an absurd amount of stuff, and I don't have to baby it.

Travel is stressful enough. My bag doesn't need to be.