Top 5 Things I NOW Can't Live Without

We all have products we love and simply can't live without, and sometimes we come across something new and think "How have I lived without this all my life?". This is MY list of the top 5 things I NOW cannot live without. I'm sure the list will evolve as I grow older, but right now-in my current situation, this is it! As you read down the list you'll notice that every single one (unsurprisingly) revolves around life with kids and making life easier as a parent. These items are great for the single life as well, I simply discovered them on my parenting journey.

The good news for you? Amazon carries all of these items at fairly cost effective prices-that's how I get a lot of things these, days! Between lower prices and Prime shipping, it really makes life easier. If you know of a cheaper place, please comment below, because I really do LOVE these products and want everyone to have the best access to them. :D

1. Wet Bag

What is a 'wet bag' you may ask? It is a small to large bag with a zipper close that can hold wet clothes without leaking and is machine washable. These are commonly used in the cloth diapering community to hold used diapers/wipes. I've also used them for when my kid has peed through everything or to hold wet swimsuits after swimming. I'm thinking to get one for my kitchen as well, to put dirty cloths in instead of them accumulating on the counter or in the sink. They really do come in handy!

2. Aromatherapy Animals

Aromatherapy animals like this super cute hedgehog are fabulous for kiddos! You zap them in the microwave for a minute and they have a warm buddy to cuddle. My boys love to hold them on cold days while watching a show or when traveling in the car. The heat is comfortable and helps lull a hard-to-put-to-bed kid to sleep. Seriously a life-saver some days!

*Word to the wise-NEVER put it in the microwave after you've burnt popcorn...the smell Never. Comes. Out. :/ (We found this out while staying in a hotel...we had to throw it away it was so bad. Totally worth replacing though!)

3. Dyson Pet Grooming Tool

So I have a fabulous chocolate lab...that sheds like CRAZY! I've lost several slicker brushes over the last 3 years and honestly, they are such a pain! I'd have to empty the brush after every stroke, gather all of that hair so it didn't get everywhere...and then? Repeat nearly every day, and then weekly. Who has time for that? Not me. So when I came across this Dyson slicker brush attachment I just knew I had to try it! I had it on my wishlist for about a year and after moving to a new home and having the dog indoors more, I bit the bullet and got. I'm so glad I did!! The slicker brush pulls the loose/dead hair out and the vacuum sucks it up! The pup acts like he's getting the pampering of his dreams, and I have WAY less dog hair everywhere. Win-Win!

4. Essential Oil Box

So, As you know, I use Essential Oils almost every day at our house. My collection started small and I was able to keep it fairly organized, but as time has gone on it has slowly taken over my cupboard. It was getting harder and harder to find the oils I needed quickly and older items kept being pushed to the back so I have several bottles of the same oil opened with only a few drops used. It was time to get a container! I liked the idea a wooden box, but all of the ones I found were either döTERRA branded or too small. After searching for about a year I found the solution! This wooden box holds 56 essential oils 5ml-15ml bottles and 12 roller bottles. It holds all of my oils (for now) and sits nicely in the cupboard or on the counter. LOVE IT!

5. Dyson Absolute

This last one is a bit more pricey, but it is something I use several times a day so I am inculding it on the list! The stick vacuum is pretty genius in and of itself, but what sets the Absolute apart is a special head sold exculsively with this model. It has a large and small felted roller that pics up everything from dust to partial pretzels and goldfish crackers! I don't have to tell you how useful this is after every snack and meal with littles. It also comes with a head for carpets, which comes in handy for the quick "people are coming over in 5 min" vacuum frenzies or picnics in the family room. It is lightweight and cordless. The battery only lasts about 15 min on straight use, but I've only run out of power once-and that was vacuuming my whole first floor and stairs. It mounts beautifully to the wall in the cleaning closet and takes up relatively little space. If you can't get it now, be sure to look for it on Black Friday-a lot of places offer slammin' deals on these vacuums.

And that's that! These must-have items have made my life so much easier and have saved me so much time and energy, which gives me more time to spend on the things I really enjoy. :) What's on your list?

Smiles,