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Things That Made 2020 Bearable

 


Last year and every year prior, I like to create a list that sums up my favorite purchases. This year was very different for me and everyone. So instead of my usual Best of 2020, I created a list of things that made 2020 more bearable. For me it was a lot of cozy items. Slippers, sweatshirts, and joggers. Face masks and belt bags. Ever since the beginning of March, I've been working from home like many of you, and there's just no need for a nice leather bag on a daily basis and it kind of makes me sad I haven't used any of my designer bags in 9 months. I no longer needed work shoes. I no longer needed to wear an underwire bra, and let me tell you the In Alignment Bra is AMAZING for work at home days when you only need to show your top for Zoom meetings. 😆

This is my last post for 2020. I can't believe the year is finally over. It started off so slow and then it just sped up like a rocket. I'd like to thank each and everyone of you who have left me a comment and supported me this year. You guys kept me going and I appreciate you all. I hope you've found my reviews helpful and enjoyed reading them. So without further ado, these are the things that made 2020 more bearable for me. I've linked to my review for each one. 


This is the first year that I've ever really worn pullovers. I usually get too hot wearing sweatshirts, but since I never leave the house it's a lot easier to regulate the temperature. I particular love the All Yours Crew in Sandwash. Fabric is soft and comfortable. This exact one is unavailable now, but I've linked to the fleece and terry versions.


Cozy fuzzy slippers! Definitely a must have when you're working from home. I am not a fan of walking around barefoot since my feet are just skin and bone. 😅 I used to be a huge fan of Ugg slippers but lately their quality and craftsmanship has been on the decline and I had to branch out and find new slippers. Right now my favorite are Sorels. I purchased them for my husband too and he loves them!



This wrap is super soft, it reminds me of the same fabric as the Soft Ambitions Cropped Crew that everyone fell in love with. This was one of my purchases from the summer sale. I bought it in black as well. It's like wrapping yourself up in a soft blanket!

Similar- Rulu Rally Wrap 


I am so glad Athleta re-released this sherpa hoodie and updated the fit. I've been rotating this with my Scuba Hoodie Plush all month long. So far the theme for this year seems to be anything cozy and comfortable!



I never did a review on my Apple Watch because there's just so many gadget reviews out there and gadgets are not my forte. As a long time Fitbit user, I finally made the switch to Apple and I'm so glad I did! It's pricer than Fitbit for sure, but if you also own an iPhone, the ability to sync both is a serious game changer. Getting notifications on my phone (texts, emails, etc) means I can quickly scan the notifications on my watch and if I think I need to respond right away, I'll grab my phone or laptop. Having the Apple Watch means I don't have to have my phone next to me all the time. I also love that I can sync Supernatural to my Apple Watch to track my workouts! (More on Supernatural later.) I can also tell Siri to do things like turn the lights on, or set the temperature to 68 degrees. My husband is a geek and turned our home into a Smart Home. It's actually pretty convenient. 



I hardly ever leave the house and when I do it's only on the weekends for errands and such. The bag I've carried with me has been the Everywhere Belt Bag. It has been the best purchase I've made next to Athleta Face Masks. It's big enough to carry your essentials. It has two main compartments. It's also very easy to get in and out with zipper closures. I highly recommend! I just recently bought my second one in deco pink.



By far the best face mask I've tried and I've tried on a lot. Super comfortable. Fits both me and my husband. I have about 20 face masks and 10 of them are Athleta's. 



Another super soft cozy sweatshirt. I've never bought so many pullovers, ever. The good thing is, I put them to good use this year! 


These joggers are Ivivva (RIP) which were my go to during the summer. Super easy to wear and I threw them on when I needed to go out for errands. I bought them in both colors (gray and black). Easily my best Ivivva purchase this year! I'm sad Lululemon decided to end their Ivivva line. 

Ivivva Tranquil Spirit Crop- similar to Align Jogger Crop


Update- I've partnered up with Allbirds! Super excited to share my personal link. Click on my link for a free pair of Trino socks with your purchase of shoes or apparel. Offer will automatically be applied at checkout if socks are added to your cart. Offer valid while supplies last.

I should have tried the Wool Loungers from the beginning because these are awesome to just slip on and off. They're not too hot at all even though they're made of wool and I wore them a lot this summer! I wish I got these in pink too! Of course now the pink color is discontinued. 😔



Even though this is a crop top, it's not too short for petites. I also like to wear a long tank or tee underneath this during the cooler/colder months. This is a very versatile piece and I love the fabric. Maybe Lulu will make a hoodie with this fabric next year?

Soft Ambitions Crop Crew - similar Perfectly Oversized Crop Crew


After Atheta's Face Masks and the Everywhere Belt Bag, Vuori Joggers are probably my next favorite purchase of the year. I have four pairs and a fifth pair on the way in size XXS. I'm hoping the smaller size will be even more petite friendly. I wear them around the house and out and about for errands. They're pretty much the softest joggers I own.



My Nikes that I used for a few years finally needed to be replaced. I went with Allbird's Tree Dashers and love them so much I bought them in merino wool (Mizzles). These got me through every single home workout. 



This bra is hands down my favorite everyday bra. It's because of this bra I basically got rid of all of my underwire bras except for one. 😆 I have four in my collection and will definitely add more in the future. I've also worn them for light workouts and they've performed well. One thing to note, the band does stretch out a little bit, so I would say if it's a little too tight at first, that's the right size. 



Ahhh and finally my favorite hoodie ever! It's so soft and plushy on the inside it keeps me warm and happy. I'm wearing it right now as I type this up. It does pill with every wash, but I still love it. As long as Lululemon will release these during the holiday season, I am buying it! 



My sister bought me the Occulus Quest VR headset back in June. I wasn't getting enough cardio and she suggested I try the Supernatural fitness game. I have to say, it's the best cardio workout I've ever experienced. When I used to jog on the treadmill, I would keep my heart rate around 140 bpm and it would feel like a chore. I don't enjoy running. It's also hard on the knees but it's great for cardio. I would do it 30-40 minutes at a time, but I hated it. Supernatural is a game changer. There's three levels of intensity that you can choose from. Low, Medium, and Hard. I started off with the Ls then worked my way up to Ms and now I'm able to do the H workouts. My heart rate hovers around 150-160s bpm and I love it! Sometimes I will go for 90 minutes before I stop. It's truly an amazing experience to be able to workout in exotic places that I've never been to. This fitness game is only available on the Occulus Quest. I also sync it with the Apple Watch and I can see exactly how many calories I burn. I hover around 300-500 calories per workout depending on duration. I do this 2-3 times a week. Combined with my 2-3 strength training workouts, it's keeping me in shape. 



Supernatural VR workout.


That's all I've got! 2020 is in the books. Here's to a better 2021 for all of us. 

Happy New Year!

💥


I'm taking this Friday off, so see you all in 2021! 

Stay safe! 


Comments

  1. Hi Leslie! We share some of the same best purchases in 2020 - Athleta masks and Lulu EBB. Your blog has made 2020 more bearable to me. I appreciate your content and consistency in posting. Keep up the great work! Best wishes to you and your family for 2021!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! Those are definitely my top two purchases. Thank you so much for your kind words! Happy New Year to you and yours!

      Delete
  2. Your blog has most definitely brightened my year! Thanks for your fantastic reviews and posts.

    I know I'm late to the game, but I really think I need to pull the trigger on an Everywhere Belt Bag. There's a red/gold version released in HK for LNY, so I'm crossing my fingers the US gets it, too.

    Happy New Year! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I appreciate you letting me know. And yes, if there's a red/gold special LNY Everywhere Belt Bag- even I might be tempted to get one! Happy New Year!!

      Delete
  3. Thanks, Leslie, for your awesome blog! I haven’t been buying much from Lululemon lately, and sadly we don’t have Athleta in Canada, but I enjoyed reading each and every one of all your fit reviews. Your blog has definitely made 2020 more bearable!

    Keep up the good work and wishing you and your readers all the best in 2021!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Andrea! I have noticed you haven't bought much from Lulu this year and I totally envy you! I hope for 2021, I really want to try and only add things I really want/need.

      Thank you for sticking around even though Athleta isn't available to Canada. =)
      Happy New Year!

      Delete
  4. your blog was definitely something to looked forward to during long days at home. Hope you keep it up and have a Happy 2021.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm definitely going to try my best to keep it going in 2021. Happy New Year!

      Delete
  5. Happy new year! Thank you so much for your blog during this pandemic. Yours was one I could count on to be there. Great reviews! Thanks again!!

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    Replies
    1. Happy New Year Sherry! I've already got a few reviews planned for January!

      Delete
  6. Thanks for all your fit reviews, Leslie! I also love my Ivivva joggers and leggings! I'll be happy if Lulu brings back the girls' line one day, or at least bring the Asia fit to North America and just call it "petite"! Happy new year's eve and wishing you good health and happiness in 2021!

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    Replies
    1. Haha, yes Asia fit needs to come to North America already! Happy New Year Karen! Here's to a better year for all of us.

      Delete
  7. Thank you for all of your wonderful fit reviews! I always look forward to reading them. We definitely share the same taste in clothing and it’s nice to know that other people share the same love as I do. I hope you and your family have a happy and healthy new year! Looking forward to all of your 2021 fit reviews!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jenny!! Yes we really do have the same taste in clothing! Thank you for sticking around and Happy New Year!!

      Delete
  8. I love reading your blog!! Got the Vuori joggers because of your review and loveeee them! Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Yay! They're my favorite joggers! They're a must have IMO.

      Delete
  9. Happy new years!! I love your picks. I definitely want a Soft Ambitions Crop Crew at some point.
    My favorite LLL items this year are the POC, Scuba 1/2 zip, ancient copper align tank, and EBB (belt bag).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, definitely get a Soft Ambitions Crop Crew if you can. I am sad I missed out on the gray color. I did a lot of damage on LLL!

      Delete
  10. Thanks for staying consistent. Thanks for staying positive. Thanks for being a little escape for my mind on the internet. From an internet stranger/friend who doesn’t frequently comment but has been regularly visiting for a few years, thank you so much for being part of what helped me get through this strange year. I couldn’t see any of my friends IRL and your regular posts made me feel like I was seeing a friend regularly. You helped my sanity and I just wanted to tell you that I’m grateful for you sharing your life + thoughts in a way that is honest and real. It seemed like everyone suddenly decided to be an “influencer” online when the world shut down and I’m still here because you stayed true to your down-to-earth self. Anyways i hope you get a smile out of knowing the joy you bring to strangers’ lives. ❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Reya! Wow, this was one of the nicest comments I've ever received. It was so good I had to show my husband. =)

      I don't think I could ever be an "influencer", have you seen my hair these days? I'm literally begging my husband to give me a haircut. He finally ordered some better clippers from Amazon. So hopefully this weekend I can finally stop cropping my head out of the photos.

      After another crazy day, reading your comment def brought a smile to my face. Thank you for sticking around my little blog!

      Delete

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