Finishing up my 2022 recap posts with a list of favorites. Since I’m late already, instead of breaking this up into separate posts, I’m just combining everything into one! Kind of makes it more fun that way anyway. (And this is a good place to catch up on the blog if you’ve recently come from Instagram or TikTok and don’t know where to start.)
READER FAVORITES
This year there were a lot of products hovering with the same amount of popularity! Far and away the number one most popular product was the Stanley cup. (Which, is I guess a major theme of this blog post 😉) From the minute I got one, it instantly sky-rocketed to the number one spot where it remained right through the holiday season. Which makes sense– it’s a great gift, too.
The other most popular products in alphabetical order:
Puff Sleeve Abercrombie & Fitch Dress (it’s sold out, but I wore it for a book signing and you guys were obsessed!)
TRVL Stroller (my full review here)
MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS
No. 1 IS THE STANLEY CUP WORTH IT?
No. 2 MY HONEST REVIEW OF CADENCE CAPSULES
No. 3 IS THE KINDLE WORTH IT?
No. 4 COASTAL GRANDMOTHER STYLE
No. 5 10 THINGS VOL. 5
No. 6 A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CHILDCARE SITUATION
No. 7 COASTAL GRANDMOTHER FALL STYLE
No. 8 FILLING MY CUP
No. 9 MUST REGISTER BABY ITEMS
Most of these didn’t come as a surprise for me! They’re some of my most FAQ and a couple of these did really well traffic-wise from SEO. It did make me happy to see that a few of my personal posts made the top ten as well, though. These are almost entirely from a lot of people clicking through when I share on Instagram stories (and from you guys sharing it with your friends/audiences too). I know blogging may seem “dead” to a lot of people, but to me it’s the absolute best way to share long thoughts and more personal information…. and at the end of the day I own this! I have a lot of loyal readers who come by daily or weekly to catch up on posts (LOVE YOU) and my hope is that I’m able to continue to get people to click through from social media to see all the blog has to offer 😉
And if Instagram ever goes down or if TikTok does get banned, you know where you can always find me!
MY PERSONAL FAVORITES
I have a list on my phone with favorites, but I’m sure I am forgetting some…. So hopefully the list is comprehensive-ish. In no particular order, my top 10!
Hill House Lily Dress // This was like my magical piece of clothing. I really was struggling with body image and finding clothing that worked as a breastfeeding mom. It was a struggle to get dressed every morning, let alone shop. The Lily dress was perfection for me. I LOVE how I feel in it (and it’s “younger sister” Laura too). I wore the heck out of this dress so much so I was getting nasty DMs about often I was wearing and it and honestly I was like, “I feel good in this dress and that’s more than I can say for 95% of my closet right now.” When it works, it works. (Here’s my full review of the Lily dress and why I love it so much!)
J. Crew Sneaks // I thank my lucky stars daily that sneakers are very in right now. Between the pandemic (when I was barefoot for almost an entire year at home) and pregnancy, my feet are not the same feet I had. I also just have way less tolerance for anything uncomfortable. These sneakers are so cute, so comfortable. I feel like a “fun mom” in them.
TRVL Stroller // When I tell you I could talk about this stroller for hours, I mean it. (And chances are you’ve heard my spiel. It’s hands down the best piece of baby equipment. When I was pregnant, I was adamant that we didn’t need multiple strollers…. and maybe you don’t, technically speaking, but having different strollers for different purposes makes a huge difference. This TRVL has been a lifesaver for quick errands, visits to the city, and various travel. (Here’s our full stroller/car seat set up if you’re curious and want more.)
Cadence Capsules // These are a “fun” purchase and 100% not necessary. But I absolutely love these capsules. After seeing them everywhere, I took the plunge for “research” and wanted to share my findings with you guys. I originally bought them for traveling, and that’s definitely a big reason why I love them, but I actually use them on a more everyday basis when I go to the gym. As nice as it is to have my personal shampoo and conditioner with me, being able to bring my entire skincare lineup with me is what sealed the deal and made them a favorite.
Stanley Cup // Surprise, surprise…. But also not really. This is my favorite and like 80% of American women’s favorite too. I went into extreme detail on why I love the cup so much here!
Kindle // Again, not much of a surprise here. My Kindle is now one of my most prized pocessions and something I’d try to figure out how to bring with me on a deserted island. It’s been a game changer for my reading productivity, especially as a mom. I LOVE it and here’s more reasons why.
Bluetooth Page Turner // I know this sounds like such a “lazy” thing to buy, and I get it, it sounds lazy….. but I don’t know, if it helps me read more comfortably is it actually that lazy?! I love being able to prop my Kindle up on the treadmill and easily click through pages safely while holding the page turner or just have it in a more comfortable position while reading in bed. It’s a 10/10 for me.
Hatch Alarm Clock // Kind of a surprise to me. Who knew an alarm clock could be a “favorite” purchase. But here we are. (I guess this is what it’s like to be 33.) I bought the Hatch Alarm Clock after being influenced from a bunch of ads on social media. And let me tell you. I love this thing and don’t like to sleep without it now. I love my evening routine I have set up and the actual alarm feature is great too. My favorite part is the pink noise I have going all night. I sleep so deeply with it!!!
Everlane Turtleneck // This was a gift from Everlane and not something I personally purchased, but let me tell you I would buy it 1,000x over. It was one of my most worn articles of clothing this fall. I felt so chic and comfortable in it!
Minnow Swim Bathing Suit // Another gift from a brand, but again, another thing I would buy myself 1,000x over. When they sent this to me and I put it on, I felt so good in it. Putting a bathing suit on is daunting enough, let alone putting one on postpartum. I lived in my Minnow Swim smocked one piece. I felt amazing in it. We had a very water-focused summer (between the Bahamas trip, going down the shore, a vacation on Nantucket, and endless hours at our pond club), so having a bathing suit I reliably felt good in was KEY.
I love reading year in reviews and favorite posts! Such a fun way to look back on the year.
http://www.Elspethsdaybyday.com
Hi Carly,
Just wanted to say that I love being able read your blog everyday and I hope you do a Spring Capsule wardrobe!
I’m not on social media, so I appreciate the bloggers who continue to blog 🙂 thank you!
Hi Carly–I’ve been reading your blog for ten years now, and love your writing! Thank you for your honesty, openness, and humor. Looking forward to all that 2023 holds for us!
Oh I read you every day! I think I started back in 2013!
I love these recap posts! Such a great way to look back and recall what happened!
thanks for sharing!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
good morning! i think there’s been a link mix-up. this post from january 11 is the only thing that comes up on all the links for the january 25 post. tbh i tried everything to find the january 25 favorites post, but it’s not here.