Truly my favorite purchases of the year were adopting Lily, my membership to the pottery studio, and the money we spent on traveling — but I’m not above liking objects, too! 😉 Each year, I like to reflect back on our annual purchases and identify the items that brought the most joy. Here are nine standouts from 2023.

East Fork “The Mug” – A pair of East Fork mugs was actually my very first purchase of the year and I still look forward to having my morning latte in them. It has such a nice weight and I love the satin-finish of the glaze against the clay. I bought a second pair in Henri’s Red, their seasonal color, this holiday season. You can get $20 off your first purchase with this link. (I don’t receive a benefit from sharing this link; it’s just a fun way to introduce you to the brand.) The mug really kicked off a love for East Fork and I bought the popcorn bowl to use as a serving piece and the cake plates for appetizers. They’re just as lovely as the mug, but I’m paying homage to the piece that started the collection.

Margaux “The Demi” ballet flats – I’m a diehard fan of ballet flats and I adore that the classic is back “in” right now. I had read so many good things about Margaux flats and finally splurged on a black pair. Oh my goodness, I had been missing out! These mold so perfectly to your foot and the cord bow is actually adjustable so you can cinch the top to customize the fit and keep your heel from sliding out. They’re just so beautiful and I’m planning on getting another color next year.

Schoolhouse Electric “Bond” lamp – After six years of tiny Target bedside lamps, we upgraded to quality lamps and it immediately made me feel like more of an adult. They’re a great size next to a king bed and, like everything at Schoolhouse, impeccably made. I really like the mix of glass, metal, and wood.

Scrub Daddy sponge – This is the newest addition to my “love list.” Dave’s parents gave us one in our Christmas stocking and it really is kind of amazing. It’s rigid in cold water, but softens in warm water so that it’s gentle on surfaces. Plus, the dopey smile just makes me happy. Big fan.

West Elm classic linen pillow covers in natural/slate – I’m becoming less and less enamored with West Elm. I think that many of their products are cheaply made and aren’t worth the elevated price — and after my “machine washable” curtains shrunk about 12″, I’m no longer going to be a customer. However, I bought these linen pillow covers before the “incident.” They hold up well and I like the contrast stitching on the edges. I use these pillow inserts (22″ square) in them.

Tissue Box Covers (this and this) – I feel like everyone on my Instagram feed got fed up with ugly tissue boxes this year — myself included. The two linked here fit around a Costco-sized box of Kleenex. I like the one with the wood top more, but I use the white woven ones upstairs in the bedroom.

Schoolhouse Electric “Stillwater Floral” quilt in auburn – I fell for this pattern when it was released a year ago and added it to our home in the spring. It’s perfect for summer and doesn’t leave you overheated like a down comforter would. It’s also generously sized so there’s no fighting over the covers! It’s such a timeless piece.

Ruby Coffee Roasters coffee beans – We bought an espresso machine at the beginning of the pandemic and it continues to be one of my favorite items in the house. This year, we started ordering Ruby coffee beans and use them pretty much exclusively. We keep them fresh in this canister.

Thuma bed – Refreshing our bedroom was one of our top priorities for 2023 and it started with a new bedframe. We wanted a platform bed that was made of solid wood and, ideally, under $2,500. After months of research and browsing furniture stores, we opted for Thuma. It’s always a gamble with an online-only retailers, but they had a generous trial period making it feel less risky. The bed is beautiful in person and was easy to put together.

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