Although our financial guy won't be thrilled, I'm back with another list of my top Amazon buys - Haha! You can check out my post from the summer HERE.

{1} Yeti Mug - Like many other brands, I never want to believe the hype surrounding them. Well, here I am again falling on the sword because I am obsessed with these mugs! The larger 20oz tumbler is a fave for water, and the 14oz handle mug (SNAG IT NOW FOR $18-22, depending on color) is ideal for tea or coffee. Both have become essentials with pregnancy brain being a very real thing, but anyone would love them. For that reason, they truly make amazing gifts. 

{2} Rug Grips - You know you're an adult when something like this brings you joy. We've struggled to keep our kitchen runner in place for MONTHS, but these $12 miracle workers changed that in a matter of minutes. Neither my husband's heavy step nor my crazy dog's zoomies have moved it, and that's saying something. Highly, highly recommend! We'll for sure be ordering more. You can get either a 4-pack or 8-pack, but in hindsight, the 8-pack is a much better value. 

{3} Water Bottle Cabinet Organizer - I'm a sucker for clear, acrylic organizers, but stopped myself from buying these water bottle organizers time and time again. I really don't know what took me so long, but I was just hesitant. Did we really need them? Would they make a substantial difference for us? Answer: YES and YES. I wish I took before and after pictures because I was honestly floored. Now, these may not fit perfectly in every cabinet, so I recommend measuring before ordering. I initially got the 4-pack, and have now ordered an additional 2-pack to complete the system. Maybe it's my nesting phase kicking into high gear, but I think we can all find great peace in an organized space. 

{4} Faux Leather Placemats - Talk about a dupe! William-Sonoma sells nearly identical placemats for $25 a piece. I love the look of these placemats, but more importantly, how easy they are to clean. For a while, we were using round placemats and I just felt like they weren't cutting it with the crumbs. They were basically too small for our plates, resulting in a constant state of countertop mess. I'm actually thinking of ordering the white set next for a lighter, brighter look for Spring.

{5} Essence Mascara - To round out my picks, I'm changing categories and switching to beauty. I'll be honest, I rarely, if ever, recommend cosmetics from Amazon because there are so many counterfeit products out there. Essence is a drugstore brand that sells directly through Amazon, so I feel more comfortable purchasing, which is why I'm sharing it with to you. So, this mascara is $5! Yes, you read that correctly. It's amazing for the price. It's not an exact dupe for my beloved iTCosmetics Superhero mascara, but it's pretty damn close. My only compliant is that it transfers when I apply it to my lower lashes; otherwise, it's my go-to work-from-home mascara. 

Bonus buys for all my soon-to-be mamas! I personally cannot live without these products, and I know I'll love them just as much once the baby comes. For more pregnancy content, click HERE and HERE.

ALSO, if you're on Instagram, be sure to give me a follow (@thesassysuburbs) and check out today's post to win $150 Amazon gift card! 

Top 10 Amazon Buys: Summer 2020

pin me!

Quarantine's catch phase should be "Wine & Amazon Prime" because, let's face facts, that's been the only upside to 2020. With that, like many of you, I've done quite a bit of exploring/shopping during the pandemic on everyone's favorite site. Last year I shared my first post about top Amazon buys, so I figured this was the perfect time to do it again! 

{1} Mora Ceramics Mug (gifted): This fabulous mug keeps your coffee nice and warm for up to an hour, thanks to its classic ceramic design. It's dishwasher safe, which I absolutely love, and to round out the trifecta, I'm obsessed with the modern, white speckled option; however, if you'd prefer a little color, they have lots available. Mora, which means to "take pause" in Latin, is a small business, so be sure to follow them on Instagram and feel free to reach out to Alix, the co-owner, with any questions. 

{2} Criss-Cross Indoor/Outdoor Slippers: These beauts are all over social media, so with the stay-at-home order in place, I finally pulled the trigger. To my pleasant surprise, I absolutely love them! My husband, on the other hand, thought I looked like an old biddie, so one of my blog friends nicknamed me/them "Gertie"...Now, going off of that, the little Italian woman in me has to share....it is important to note that these are slippers, not shoes. They're great for knocking around the house, but they are not super tight on the upper part of the foot, especially if you're petite, so make sure to change into sneakers in you're going on a step stool or ladder (I speak from personal experience haha).

{3} Laundry Room Lint Bin: This novel item has come in so handy! It's got magnetic backing so it attaches to either your washer or dryer for easy convenience. You could, in theory, use it to hold whatever you'd like, but I've found it life-changing on those long laundry days (e.g. lint balls out the wazoo). 

{4} Glass Nail Files: Whether you're heading back to the salon, doing regular manis are home or you've ventured into DIY dip powder nails like me, you need these nail files. They are truly like no other. The glass helps to close the nail's outer edge when filing, which lessens the likelihood of breakage. I've found them to be a total lifesaver during the pandemic. 

{5} Magnetic Garage Door Hinges: So, truth be told, I was hesitant to buy these things. Were they going to look gimmicky? Was I making the house looked older than it was? No and no - I was totally wrong about them! So many newer homes have gorgeous, detailed garage doors, which can come at a hefty price tag. The exterior of our home is very nice, don't get me wrong, but its definitely a bit dated (it was built in 1999), so the extra detail added a modern touch and made it look as if we put in new doors entirely...for under $25.

{6} Stove Guard: If you've been a follower since last year, you know we went through a hellish kitchen reno, so when it came to protecting our investment, I was paranoid Patty. Enter: Stove Guard...a nifty plastic cover that's cut to match your range's make and model. The custom cuts make for a perfect fit, which is the main reason this works so well. While not on Prime, it's a worthwhile buy because it's kept cleanup to a minimum. I simply wipe mine down after each use and rinse in the sink when it needs a deep clean. 

{7} Petite-Friendly Maxi Dress: I'll be honest, I've never really been one to buy clothes on Amazon. I learned many, many years ago to seek a bargain but try to ensure some level of quality. This dress has been a total win for me. Although I *technically* ordered it last year, it's become a quarantine staple with it's effortless, great-fitting ways. Highly, highly recommend for anyone closer to 5'0, like myself. 

shop this entire look here // click here for necklace

{8} Pillow Covers: Being stuck (I mean, safe) at home for months on end can really start to wear on your opinion of your home. One day, you wake up and everything just looks like crap, so then you want to re-decorate the entire house. With old faithfuls, like Home Goods, closed, I turned to Amazon to snag a few new pillow covers to give my couches a refresh. I've been very impressed with the quality and pricing of the covers! 

{9} Ahmad Teas: I'm a sucker for a good holiday gift basket, so when my office received a bougie basket from one of our centers of influence this past December, I quickly snagged the fancy box of teas. First, I LOVE tea...all types of teas, for that matter...and actually only started really drinking coffee about 4-5 years ago when I was in law school. Second, I knew it would go to waste, as so many of those random basket items do. I'm thrilled I did because I discovered this AMAZING tea brand, which thankfully, is available on Amazon with every variety imaginable. My top 2 choices would be English Tea No. 1 and Earl Gray. Delish! 

Featured on my IG stories April 2020

{10} Acrylic Makeup Drawers: During the first few weeks of quarantine, I was cleaning house like a mad woman. Once I dialed back my makeup collection, I still realized how much stuff I had...hello, 9000 variations of nude-pink lipstick. This drawer was the perfect addition to my extra large, multi drawer organizer because it took up far less real estate and gave me the ability to put my mirror on top of it, while still having ample storage. The drawers are described as stackable, although I have not done that, but it is an option if you're looking to "build your own" acrylic set.

Top 10 Amazon Buys: Summer 2019

I've been an avid Amazon Prime shopper for several years now, and I must say, they continue to improve their product selection daily. I've rounded up my top 10 buys from the last two years of orders These items are well-loved in our household, so I hope you enjoy them as well.

{1} Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner - This easy, small-scale cleansing machine keeps both real and costume jewelry sparkling, especially my beloved engagement ring and wedding band. I discovered this shortly before our wedding through Megan from Holy City Chic, and have been using it on a monthly basis (sometimes more frequently) ever since. I use it in conjunction with this liquid cleanser.

{2} Packing Cubes - I swore these things were a gimmick, but after packing with them for a two-week honeymoon in Hawaii, I can affirmatively share that they are not...they are a lifesaver! I've never been so organized while on vacation. All my clothing and accessories remained sorted and easy to identify for the entirety of the trip, which was a rare occurrence previously. I even use them for short, weekend getaways. Highly, highly recommend!

{3} Fabric Shaver - For years, I used this wacky thing called a "Gleaner" that was supposed to remove piling from clothing, but it never really did the trick. Then, this little miracle gadget came along! My clothes have never looked better, especially my sweaters. We invest so much in our wardrobe, and this shaver helps keep them looking new.

{4} Plate Storage Protectors - This product is for any newlywed or new homeowner. After my bridal shower, I had received more dishes than I could count. I love seasonal living, so most sets were holiday-related and needed to be stored away while not in use. Enter these amazing storage containers! I have all my dishes labeled and safely protected in our basement. It's made entertaining effortless because it's so organized.

{5} Countertop Vacuum - I don't know where this tiny miracle has been all my life, but once I found it, I never looked back. There's nothing more annoying then crumbs all over the counter. Sometimes, no matter how often you wipe the surface down, they just keep reppearing. This palm-size vacuum helps curb cleanup time, and keeps our space tidy without wasting cleaner or paper towels.

{6} Makeup Brush Cleaner - I've tried many, many makeup brush cleaners throughout the years, but NOTHING compares to this one. It's definitely on the pricy side, but it's the quickest and cleanest way to keep your brushes looking spotless. If you're someone like me who wears makeup every day, particularly foundation, this will be a lifesaver. Clean brushes make for a flawless finish and ensure sanitary application (i.e. bacteria won't be spread to your face)!

{7} Divided Lazy Susan - If you've followed me for some time, you know that I've been on an organization kick thanks to The Home Edit! This book, and the lifestyle it promotes, made me completely rethink the way I use lazy susans. I've found so many uses for this household staple, especially in the bathroom. All my hair products, for example, are accessible, organized and useable.  I also know exactly what I have, which prevents overbuying and duplicate purchasing.

{8} LV-Inspired Bag - How many of you covet the iconic "Neverfull" tote from Louis Vuitton? I know I sure did, and it took me years to save up enough to purchase my own. Thanks to Amazon, you can now get the designer look for less. As I recently shared on Instagram, this is not a counterfeit piece, but rather a true dupe. The colors are not exact, and there are no "LV" markings or other faux indicators. Further, the legal protections surrounding the well-known checkered pattern have been struck down in various court proceedings, so you can purchase without reservation. Plus, it comes in two additional color options and is made of vegan leather.

{9} Lululemon "Align"-Inspired Leggings - If you've been blessed to wear anything from Lululemon, you know the quality is unbeatable. Last year I purchased a pair of "Align" leggings for $98 (ahhh!)...Frankly, I do think they're worth every penny, and I do wear them weekly, but I would be hesitant to invest in another pair just because of the price. Again, here comes Amazon to the rescue. These leggings are pretty close to the "Align" for a quarter of the price. They are not exact dupes, and I do reach for the real deal more often than not, but this brand is a great alternative. They wash well and held up in the "squat test".

{10} Carpet Cleaner - This was recommended from one of my favorite OG bloggers, Katey, from Chronicles of Frivolity. I believe it was originally a recommendation from a mom of 3 boys...Need I say more? It's fully cleaned a variety of stains, without the harsh chemicals of traditional cleaners. We're really loving it!

Feel free to message me with any questions. Be sure to follow along with my weekly Instagram posts to stay connected!

Lauren xo