Max Out Happy

Best Subscriptions I’ve Tried: Top Ten

I honestly love a good subscription box. Something to look forward to, something you can count on, new goodies…it just MAKES SENSE. They also make really great gifts! But, like with anything, subscriptions are not all created equal. Some are better than others, and some just aren’t worth the money. I’m here to break it down for you. Here are the top 10 best subscriptions I’ve tried!

Beauty

  1. Ipsy: Super affordable. $12 for 5 beauty products! I love that you get a pretty little bag with each box, because I use them for all kinds of storage needs in my purse, diaper bag, beach bag, and in my bathroom! I think this is one of the best subscriptions for trying new products.
  2. Birchbox: I got this as a gift several years ago and then signed up to keep receiving it for a long time. It’s another great way to try new products! This one is almost exactly like Ipsy, for $15 a month.
  3. Billie Razor: Y’all already know. I LOVE this thing and I will never look back. Best shave I’ve ever had, a handle that is amazing, refills sent to you, etc. I mentioned this one in my worth the hype post last week!
  4. FabFitFun: Another one that I think is worth the hype! This is such a fun box to receive, and I love that it always has full-sized products. You pay $50, and most boxes have over $200 worth of goodies inside. Beauty, hair, home, jewelry, accessories…there are all kinds of things in this box, but I usually customize it to get more beauty products. I reviewed previous FabFitFun boxes in this post (fall) and this post (spring)!

Fashion

  1. Stitch Fix: I got a couple pairs of pants for teaching from my Stitch Fix box years ago and I loved them so much. You can always customize your preferences, sizes, and styles easily. Clothes, shoes, bags and accessories, and jewelry options are available, and you get a surprise box of items you can purchase each month. I stopped getting the box because everything was too expensive for me to purchase, and I just couldn’t justify it anymore. Still, I really enjoyed my subscription while I had it!
  2. Fabletics: LOVE this subscription. All kinds of great finds, cute matching fitness outfits, sports bras, loungewear, you name it. The only downfall to this was that I felt like everything went out of stock so quickly as soon as all the new releases came out. I got so many great clothes from this subscription! I would love to do it again if our budget allowed it.

Other

  1. Cloth & Paper: For all my fellow nerds and office supply lovers out there. I got this for my birthday a couple years ago, and I absolutely loved it. Whenever it was time for it to arrive, I got so excited with anticipation! Everything was high quality and beautiful. Choose from a stationery box, a pen box, or both! Here is a previous review I did of my Cloth & Paper subscription.
  2. TheraBox: I got this self care box as a gift for my friend Savannah’s birthday last year while the pandemic was in full force and we were all stuck at home, sheltering in place. Such a great idea for a subscription or a gift! We all need to practice better self care, if you ask me.
  3. GlobeIn: My siblings and I got this one for our mom a while back, and she loved it! This box is filled with unique, handmade and ethically made artisan goods from around the world. I love the idea! Lots of good items for the home in this box.
  4. Chewy: We get our dog food delivered monthly, and we have also done heartworm or flea/tick meds in the past, as well as Bruno’s insulin and syringes. I love that we can order a huge box of food, and I don’t have to lug it into a cart or out to my car and into the house. Chewy has a great reminders setup, and you can postpone or change your orders really easily and without fuss.

What are the best subscriptions you’ve tried? Which ones do you swear by? I know lots of people who receive HelloFresh boxes, wine of the month club or Winc for wine, and I’ve seen a lot of influencers do the KiwiCo boxes for their kids. Of course there’s BarkBox for dogs, but I didn’t realize there’s also a CatLadyBox! Love to see it.

18 Months Old

Davis is 18 months old! Well, technically he was 18 months old on July 15, but life is busy and I’m just now getting around to writing this post. I am who I am. Plus, I wanted to wait until we had these perfect photos from Whitney before I got this post up! I can’t believe it has been a year and a half since we brought Davis home. Time truly flies. Having an 18 month old at home is so much fun! Of course it’s also challenging, but I think every stage is challenging in its own way. I’ve mentioned before that my friend Kelly refers to parenting as always “leveling up,” and that’s truly how it feels!

18 months old, raising a toddler
my guy

I wrote about being parents to a “pandemic baby” in this post, but being Davis’ mom is the best thing I have ever done. Being a mom is HARD WORK. I know it’s hard work being a dad, too, but since most of y’all are women reading this, you feel me. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, but I have such a different respect for my own mom and any mama out there now that I am a mother myself. It’s hard to describe, because it’s the most wonderful thing in your life, but it’s also the most challenging.

Even with an 18 month old, a year and a half in, I’m always second guessing myself and worrying. Always hoping Davis is happy and healthy, that he’ll be a good person, that Andrew and I are making the right decisions with raising him, and that we’re doing enough for him. It’s really easy to feel like you’re not doing a good enough job, or to feel like you’re losing yourself in the process of being a parent and a partner. Meanwhile, all of your other responsibilities and relationships are still there and you have to take care of those, too. It’s just hard, y’all.

If you’re a parent to a young child, or if you have been in the past, I absolutely commend you. We are all doing the best we can and running on fumes and dry shampoo. If you’re not a parent yet and you’re hoping to become one, don’t let this deter you by any means. Being a mom is, without a doubt, the most joyful thing in my life. I mean, just look at this dude:

Davis’ favorite things

Right now, Davis is very into Cocomelon, and he loves “reading” books on his own, sucking on crushed ice, and doing literally anything outdoors. He loves going to Andrew’s baseball games and showing off for all the parents and big kids. If you need a sous chef, he’s your guy; he loves “helping” us cook and seeing what’s going on in the kitchen. The guy loves a good game of “Where’s Davis,” and he gets really tickled when you tell him you’re gonna “get” him. His laugh is the best thing.

He loves playing with the dogs, especially Bruno, and he’s very into “The Wheels on the Bus” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes.” Give him any type of ball, and he’s a happy camper. His favorite toys right now are his golf set and baseball set; he loves to interchange them and carry a golf club with him everywhere he goes. Lovessss bubbles and balloons, and thinks latex gloves are called balloons. He also has started to “shush” the dogs when they bark, haha! If only it worked.

Details

Davis has a BUNCH of teeth coming in. He didn’t get his first tooth until 11 months old, and then he got 4 right away. That was tough, but this time is much tougher! He is getting a few molars and more teeth on the bottom and top all at the same time, and it has been a hard time for the poor guy. He’s predicted to be 6’2″, and right now he’s in the 93rd percentile for length! About 27 pounds of silly, happy, talkative, energetic little boy. He says a ton of words, but not a whole lot of sentences yet. He will say, “Where is she?!” or “Where is it?” or “What’s that?” He throws his arms up in the air in question, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

My favorite thing about Davis right now is that there’s always something new. He surprises us every day, and we are always asking ourselves where he picked up a new word, mannerism, etc. His personality is really developing, which is so much fun. I know I’m biased, but he’s the best! Here are some more pictures from our 18 month old session:

18 month old

Everyone, of course, keeps asking us if we’re planning on having another baby. We always said we’d have 2 kids, but we’re enjoying this season right now and not putting pressure on ourselves to rush anything. I’m trying to get in as many snuggles and kisses as I can. Davis Mark, we love you so much.

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Amazon Finds

Y’all know I love a good Amazon finds roundup. Random items, clothes, house gadgets, and accessories that can be at my door in 2 days? Sign me up! We got our last paychecks on May 31 and we won’t get paid again until August 31, so I may be waiting to purchase any of these items…but a girl can dream! I follow a few accounts on Instagram that have great Amazon finds, but these are all my own!

Amazon finds + Amazon wish list roundup of unique items for home, organization, silicone dishware, desk accessories, and fashion.

Here’s the roundup:

  1. Baby Foot Original Foot Peel: This isn’t a new amazon find, but I’ve never tried it before. My friend Emily swears by it! I need to find a time where I can wear shoes that cover my feet for a couple weeks while they peel. Gross, but satisfying.
  2. Heel socks: I’m really into these heel socks for between foot peels or for regular nightly use. What a great idea so your feet don’t get as hot, and you can wash/reuse these! Just add your cream and slip on the heel socks.
  3. Silicone dishes for pool, beach, picnics, etc.: I went down a rabbit hole with this. The Silipint Silicone Pint Glass is perfect for whatever type of drink your heart desires. I also love that you can buy lids for it! The bowl and kid cups would be perfect for Davis, and they have wine glasses so yours aren’t at risk of being broken.
  4. Cute desk accessories: You guys know I’m trying to get a cloffice going in the playroom (turning our closet into a small office space). I love this daily flip calendar with motivational quotes, small white planters with fake succulents, this phone/tablet stand, and this table lamp. Usually I prefer white and bright, but I’m kind of leaning towards a moody vibe for this tiny space. I’m thinking I’ll do some peel and stick wallpaper, but that’s all TBD. We haven’t even started the project yet!
  5. Kitchen storage and organization: I’m slowly trying to make our house more functional and minimalistic, but it takes time – and, of course, money! I love this corner shelf bamboo organizer. It would be great for a coffee corner, storage by the sink, bar items, cooking items and utensils, cookbooks and decor…you name it! I think it would also be great in a bathroom. This food container lid organizer is a must. We have so many lids that are always out of control. We also have a bunch of cutting boards because we’re constantly cutting food up for Davis, so an organizer like this would be helpful. It would also be good for pot/pan lids! Finally, we have a bunch of water bottles, but we use them all the time. An organizer for all the water bottles would be great to free up some space in our cabinet!
  6. Simple acrylic organizer that has so many uses. This listing is for a set of 2 and comes in clear, white, or blush pink. It’s for purses/wallets, but I can think of some other great ways to use this stand. You could do a charging station for electronics/tablets, use it as a desk organizer, use it in the kitchen…lots of possibilities.
  7. Crocs for women: I can’t help myself. I am loving these wedge slides. It feels weird, but i’m into it. My sister has these slip on sandals, and they’re so comfortable. Great for water activities, walking around the neighborhood, or running errands!
  8. 2 sided grooming brush for pets: I am SO INTRIGUED. We have a furminator brush, but all three of our dogs have thick fur and an undercoat. The dog hair is really impossible to manage. I spent way too long looking at these pictures and reviews. I think it seems worth a try! Has anyone out there used it? I’ll report back if we end up getting it for our dogs.
  9. Apple Watch bands: I’ve worn the band my Apple Watch came with since I bought it 2 years ago, but I have really wanted to jazz up my options recently. I love this leather strap with tons of color options. It would be great for everyday use and makes it seem more like a “normal” watch. This resin band is another great option for daily wear; I’m loving the white nougat color option. If you like a stretchy band, this one has great reviews and it comes in a pack of 3 different colors!
  10. Diamond Dazzle Stik: Another product I’ve heard of, but have never purchased. This would be great to keep in your purse for quick cleanings or if you had photos you wanted your ring to look great for. I usually clean my rings with a toothbrush and toothpaste, but I think this would be really convenient! Also loving the idea of these empty cuticle oil pens that you can fill up yourself. Doing my own nails, I’ve realized how important cuticle care is, but I’m terrible at remembering to use my oil, especially since it’s just in one place. With this pack of 5, I could keep one downstairs, in my purse, in my car, at school, etc.

That’s it for today’s roundup! I’ve added a few of these to my Amazon wish list! What Amazon finds are you currently loving? Let me know!

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