Top 5 Best of 2011

It's that time of year when you find lists upon lists of the best books, best movies, most memorable news stories, etc etc etc. So I thought I would hop on the bandwagon, and share what Nate and I think were our best purchases of 2011.

There were more big purchases than I care to remember given all of the baby prep, but surprisingly our #1 purchase was quite inexpensive.

#5:    The BOB


When Nate and I registered for baby stuff, we talked about stroller and decided that the Snap N Go was totally fine for us. We didn't need a big, nice stroller. Nu huh. Not us. Those things were ridiculous for how much they cost.

Fast forward to 4 weeks after Matilda was born, and we have a BOB. You know, one of those big, spendy, "totally unnecessary" strollers.

Oh, I LAUGH at our pre-parent selves and notions.

But the BOB was the advent of runs together around Lake Harriet, and was when Matilda actually started sleeping on walks and not screaming, because the ride was just so darn smooth.


#4:     A New Camera

What can I say? We knew there was a little one on the way, and our little point and shoot just wasn't going to cut it. So we went big--Nikon D90 big. And we are SUPER happy that we did, because it takes awesome pictures. I have no idea how to use it and could really use some pointers, but for now auto is my friend (I know all my friends that actually know how to use a camera will gasp at this sentence), but it takes amazing pictures like these, so for now I am totally happy.

#3:   A Humidifier


It all started when I was still baking Matilda, and got a terrible cold and was unable to take anything for it. The neti-pot just wasn't cutting it, so Nate ran to Wal-Greens in a late-night 'please honey, I"m pregnant' run and picked up a humidifier.

Little did we know that that humidifier would transition to Matilda's room for her first cold, and stay there because the kid is addicted to white noise. And speaking of addicted, this humidifier ALSO made Nate and I in love with white noise so it led to a purchase of a fan in our room so we can have our own white noise.

I know.


#2:   Travel


We adore traveling. And 2011 didn't let us down. We were lucky enough to get to take 3 incredible trips together.

Jamaica in February for our Babymoon (and Nate's Birthday!)

New York City in April as part of an extended work trip (and my birthday!)

**Note: While this trip is remembered fondly, it is indeed when I almost died from some crazy food poison or something like that. It was terrible.

And Hawaii in October for our 4 year anniversary.

This trip made possible thanks to some very generous babysitters :)

We aren't sure what 2012 will hold for travel now that we have a little one, and the little one's daycare expense, but hopefully we will get away a few times to enjoy life outside of MN.

 And...drumroll....

The #1 Best Purchase of 2011:      A Water Filtration System


Oh yes. We are that nerdy. You would think a trip to Hawaii would beat this, but no. It doesn't. We have never drank SO much water in our lives. This one little purchase has been life changing.

No more zillions of plastic bottles of water purchased at Costco. No more zillions of plastic bottles in our recyclables each week.

I think I now drink almost 100 ounces of water a day thanks to this thing (and probably honestly my current state of feeding my child)..

If you don't like your water, and you don't have one of these. Get one. Immediately. We have the GE version from Home Depot and love it.

There it is. I argued that we could have put Matilda on the list since we technically had to pay for her to come out at the hospital but Nate said no. OBVIOUSLY, she would have beat the water system.

What are you must have items from 2011?