I mentioned in my very first post that I have a shopping bug, and that is quite the understatement. Being stuck at home, or as I’d rather put it, safe at home during the coronavirus pandemic, we have had to get much more resourceful and creative. We aimed to buy the items that we needed in order to keep us from going out as much as possible, whether it was kitchen essentials or entertainment, mostly for our hyper active toddler. Here are our top 5 best buys during quarantine:
Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 8 quart ($179.99 at Target) – this bad boy as 11 functions… ELEVEN! It comes with 2 different lids that you use based on your cooking method. The pressure cooker lid performs “wet cooking” functions: pressure cook, saute, steam, slow cook, sous vide (my husband’s new favorite way to cook steak), and warm. What really sold me on this was the AIR FRYER lid! It can also roast, bake, broil and dehydrate. I have been wanting an Instant Pot for as long as it has become a thing, and for some reason could not pull the trigger all these years because I’m always afraid of the “next best thing” coming out. But I truly believe I was meant to have this model. There’s really nothing it can’t do and it saves you from having so many different appliances. We have used it almost every day during quarantine and it is definitely worth the investment. If you already have an older version of Instant Pot, I highly recommend buying the air fryer lid if you don’t have an air fryer already- it is a game changer.
Gathre mats – I am very late to hop on the Gathre train, but I’m on board and can’t stop, won’t stop (lol). I was longing for the World Map to put up as tapestry in Keluna’s playroom because I’ve seen it all over Instagram so that was my very first purchase. As soon as I opened the box, I fell in love with its beauty and quality. I laid it down as a mat first and started teaching her different countries and she became obsessed with jumping from one to another. It was the first thing she would do when she woke up in the morning. She was sad and upset when we put it up on the wall, so I knew I just had to get more for her. I then purchased an Alphabet Mini mat for her to learn and match letters to and she uses it every single day to practice letters and as a “picnic blanket.” It’s so amazing to watch. For their recent Mother’s Day sale, I got my hands on a Tiny Rainbow Micro+ to later use as the new baby’s changing mat and a Mini Floor Cushion in Saddle. I’m definitely addicted to these mats and it doesn’t help that they’re aesthetically pleasing and go with our home so well! Moms, I get it now…
Radio Flyer Classic Tricycle ($59.99 at Target) – Keluna’s first bike! There was no better time for her to learn how to ride one than in quarantine. And in efforts for less screen time, and to get her excited for more than just taking walks, this was the perfect purchase. It took her about a week to get really comfortable riding and pedaling, and it has been such a joy seeing her get better and better every time.
Minnidip Inflatable Pool – if you don’t have your own pool in Arizona, you are SOL (lol). Jokes aside, Luna loves to swim and was asking us to go swimming almost every day. It broke our heart to keep saying no, so an inflatable pool was really our only option. She is growing way too fast for a regular kiddie pool, and I kept seeing ADULTS with these gorgeous “luxe kiddie pools” (again, influenced by Instagram) and I instantly knew that was what we needed so that we could enjoy it too! We went with the Geo Monocroma Luxe Inflatable pool ($45) and it comfortably fits all 3 of us!
Instacart Membership – Instacart is a grocery delivery service, much like Postmates and Uber Eats. In order to limit our exposure to the virus in grocery stores, I signed up for the membership which is $10/month for unlimited free delivery for orders over $35. There is still a service charge plus it’s customary to add tip for your delivery person. The downside is that they up charge for some items, most noticeably for Costco, but for us it was a small price to pay for us to stay safe during this time. The good news is that you can cancel your membership anytime.
What were your best buys during quarantine?
