It’s been a magical snowy few days here in New England and I can tell it’s gotten everyone into the Christmas spirit. I was bummed that Thanksgiving was so late and we’d only have three weeks of holiday-ing but I think the timing of it kicked everyone into high gear the second turkey day was over - and the snow only helped move things along :)
As expected, most Black Friday sales have simply continued over the weekend, but there are still a few worth shopping if you’d had specific items on your list and have been waiting for the best possible price.
The only big-ticket item I’ve ordered so far is Nell’s Christmas present. We knew we wanted to invest in a quality activity table and chairs for Nell and have been researching our options for a few months now. Most of what we were finding ended up being particle board, laminate, etc. which we almost settled for until I found this table and these chairs on Maisonette. They are solid wood, handmade in the US (Pennsylvania) and can be passed down for generations. The Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale price (+ and extra 10% off today with code EXTRA10) put the set right in line with others we were looking at. It took everything in me to not get these bow chairs instead (I mean… LOOK AT THEM) but the rattan seat simply isn’t practical for years of kid-induced wear and tear.
Lastly, I ordered it on Friday and it’s arriving TODAY. And we got free shipping!
Nell’s play kitchen is also the lowest price of the year. This is definitely the toy I get asked about the most, for a few good reasons: 1) it’s pricey (is it worth it) and 2) it’s a painted white finish (does it wear well?) and 3) it’s nice to look at (is that worth paying for?). I had the exact same questions last year when we took the plunge for Nell’s first Christmas and can now confidently answer with a resounding YES. The finish is super hard, she plays with it every day and there isn’t a single scratch, dent, or scrape. It’s honestly beautiful and I don’t mind it being in our living room. Most kiddos we know play with their play kitchens for many years so I’m glad we invested where we did. In terms of assembly, I did not put it together, but C and his dad said it was easy!
The other things I’ve purchased have been in the natural beauty world - I have finally established a skin care routine that is 100% clean and also items I LOVE. Balanced with regular facial treatments from Betul, my skin is finally looking better than ever. I stocked up on my favorites from Indie Lee during Follain’s 20% off sale, like this Brightening Cleanser and famous COQ-10 Toner (both smell like strawberries and magic) as well as my favorite Squalane Facial Oil. I am also trying Follain’s Refillable Everything Soap and have my fingers crossed that we love it so that I can stop buying plastic soap containers at the store.
Farmacy is another clean skin care favorite of mine and is offering up to 30% off sitewide. I LOVE their Honeymoon Glow Night Resurfacing Serum (A++ reco from Jess Kirby, especially if you suffer from hormonal/cystic acne like I do). I also live for their Very Cherry Clean Meltaway Makeup Balm; it takes off every lick of makeup (GENTLY!) and it smells sooo good. Fingers crossed they don’t discontinue the Cherry version but the original Green Clean works exactly the same :) The Clean Bee Cleanser is another big winner - I love the smell of the Indie Lee too much to swap but I may use it in the summer; it’s so gentle!
In other environmentally friendly news, Stasher Bags is offering 25% off sitewide (I noticed they are on sale at Whole Foods right now too, they are probably price matching). This Cyber Monday bundle isn’t in the budget this year but if it’s in yours, scoop it up! These are hands down my favorite after trying Full Circle and one other fabric brand. These are not commission links, I just REALLY love them and this is the best deal I’ve found. They are great quality and I’m hopeful they will last us a while.
W+P Design is ALSO offering 25% off sitewide, including my favorite water bottle and lunch container. Both are lightweight, wash great, and are super portable. I recommend only buying one for each member of our household, as I notice that when you have one, you wash and reuse. If you have a lot, you let them pile up in the sink and are much more likely to reach for something single-use in a hurry!
My ride-or-die CBD brand is offering a STACKED promo today! Use promo code MEGHALLBF for 20% off site wide (this is an additional 5% of from their public deal) AND get a $20 gift certificate with any purchase over $100. My code is not just for first time users, subscriptions, etc. - it works on everything. Definitely a great way to try trustworthy, quality CBD at a significant discount.
I happened to poke around the Goop Sale last night looking for gifts and found some good luxury picks there as well, like this gorgeous candle and this detoxifying bath soak. I’m intrigued by this simple tank for wearing with high-waisted shorts (love the cut of the neckline) and am so tempted to pick up this military jacket that I’ve wanted since it first came out.
It’s also the final day of Serena & Lily’s Thank You Sale. There isn’t a single other home brand that better reflects my ideal home - light, airy, and comfortable… but also intentional. I don’t like a lot of “decor” i.e. props, etc. as they make my space feel cluttered and don’t bear any significance to me. I love that the pieces we have from them like the tray and coffee table pictured above serve so many purposes and work in every living space in our home. The Thank You Sale brings the coffee table under $450…a great price for a timeless, kid-safe piece that is easy to clean and offers extra storage (removable enamel tin top). We added the finishing touches (minus curtains, those are coming soon :)) to our living room with these pillows this fall and I love their substantial size. I’d like to add lamps like this in the spring for a more layered, neutral effect but for now we are focused on finishing our 2.0 kitchen project. We already added the famous Riviera Stools and this flush mount but are currently saving for this pendant light for over the sink. We are going light grey on the cabinets with un-laquered brass hardware and I think the light will pull together those touches and our dark counters well. You can see right into our dining room from the kitchen and I’m contemplating these chairs as end chairs - I think they’d tie in nicely with our vintage bamboo while adding a bit of texture. I’d love to do something upholstered like these but that much fabric makes me nervous with a toddler, regardless of the durability :) I LOVE the bright white of this dining table but plan to keep my Craiglist find until Nell is a little older for the same reason.
This is my final sale post for this year’s biggest shopping weekend - I hope it was helpful in navigating the sales in search of those longer-term, quality items! Happy Holidays!
