Mary Ann and Cynthia
It is that time of year for remembering the past year and looking ahead to the new one. Last year we did a blog on our 2025 favorite things, and we thought we would do it again for 2026. Maybe it will give you some ideas for 2026. There are a lot of 20,20,20s in that paragraph.
Nest Candles – You may have discovered this line of candles and their delicious smells. I am totally in love with the Birchwood Pine Reed Diffuser. I discovered it for Christmas 2024. It makes the whole house smell like Christmas. It is perfect for the entire winter season. The candles and the diffuser are a bit pricey. However, the products last a long time, and if you watch the website (Nest.com), the Nest company have great sales. After last Christmas, I bought the one I am using this year at a good discount. I am going to do it again this year. The diffuser is well-packed, and if you put it in a dark place, it will be ready when you are ready to use it. They also ran a Black Friday special this year with good prices.
Krebs Christmas Ornaments – I have had these Christmas balls on my tree for years. They are beautifully made in gorgeous colors, unique colors that can transform a tree. They can be found on their website, christmasbykrebs.com, and of course, Amazon carries them. It is a high quality product at a reasonable price that you can enjoy for years.
American Spoon – I shared this company last year and their wonderful Holiday Jam. This year, I tried their Bourbon Butterscotch sauce and Candied Pecans. Use both for a delicious topping for ice cream or pound cakes. American Spoon’s products are just yummy! I don’t think you can go wrong. The website is different from the name – spoon.com
Yo Mama Marinara Sauce – I discovered this pasta sauce this year when I was looking for a healthy marinara sauce with few ingredients and no additives. I tried a jar, and now Yo Mama is part of my pantry. Spaghetti never tasted so good. In preparing this blurb, I found that the company has a whole range of products – alfredo sauce, BBQ sauce, pizza sauce, and a variety of favors for their marinara. I look forward to trying them all. It is always fun to find tasty, simple products.
Egg Omelet Dish – I saw this little pottery item in the Uncommon Goods Catalog. It claimed to cook a mini egg omelet in 45 seconds. What a quick way to have protein in the morning, and it fits perfectly in a bagel or English muffin. Spray vegetable oil in the little dish, whip up an egg and add cheese, bacon bits, peppers, onions, or any other veggie. Pour the mixture into the dish and put in the microwave for 45 seconds. Viola, you have a perfect egg to eat alone or in a sandwich. The Omelet Dishes are made by Holman Pottery. You can purchase them from their website, holmanpottery.com, at Uncommongoods.com, and Amazon carries the dishes as well. They are around $25.
Having sensitive skin I shy away from most scented products. But there are a few I can use without fear of developing rashes. One such product is from Natural Grocers – Lavendar Epsom Salts. I use it once or twice a week while soaking in the bathtub. I keep a canister with a small scoop by the bathtub, so the salts are read to use when the mood strikes. I simply put a few scoops under the warm running water and let them dissolve as the tub fills. Then I step into luxury for a 20-minute soak. Relaxing!
doTerra is an essential oil company that certifies its oils are pure. doTerra means “gift of the earth” in Latin. The company provides work for people across the globe, helping small businesses thrive while growing herbs worldwide. The products are expensive, but well worth the money. I diffuse essential oils in my office and bedroom every day. Two products I use extensively are the Deep Blue Rub to relieve muscle discomfort and the Breathe Respiratory Drops when my throat is scratchy or I feel an allergy or cold coming on. The scents are pleasant and I know I’m getting quality products when I buy from doTerra.
Using stickers activates my inner child. My planner is replete with stickers marking appointments, reminders, and elevating my calendar. I especially appreciate Bloom Stickers. They are fun, colorful, and meaningful. Bloom Stickers come in a variety of themed packages. Often, they accompany Bloom Planners. I have used the Bloom financial tracking planner and stickers in addition to the yearly planners. You can find Bloom products at https://bloomplanners.com/ .
Another favorite is Thoughtfully ( https://www.thoughtfully.com/ ). This company has curated gift sets that are reasonably priced. My favorites, of course, are the Thoughtfully Gourmet. These sets comprise miniature samples of multiple products such as olive oil, salts, and teas. I like these because it gives me a chance to try different flavors without ending up with large quantities of things I may not use again. Another fun use of these mini sets is to use them for advent calendar boxes. The small footprint of the items makes inclusion in the advent box perfect. And, you can use them for favors. This year I made nutcracker shaped breadsticks which I packaged with a small bottle of olive oil to use as a dipping oil. Fun and useful favor from an annual Christmas brunch.
One of my most favorite “things” is Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/ This is a company that has figured out what customers want and how to treat customers. Some people complain about the membership fee, but if you use the company a lot you will actually save quite a lot on shipping alone. The ability to order and receive most products within a few days is satisfying. The return process is easy and customer service personnel are empowered to make decisions about refunds. I am grateful that Jeff Bezos and his associates created a system of ordering, delivering, and returning that makes purchases so much easier.
There you have it, friends. Now you know a little more about Mary Ann and me – the things we enjoy and the products we use. What are some of your favorite things?
Silver Sage Sisters 