This is a list of some of my all-time favorite purchases; in no particular order.
- 14″ BacBook Pro M1
The jump from Intel to Apple Silicon was so significant, and Apple added back all the ports I love. This laptop has been well worth every penny.
- Yeti 30oz Rambler with rugged lid
I had a cheap knock-off for a while, but then Luna got into those Stanley thermos cups that are popular with the instagramers and I was so shocked at how much longer her cup still had ice while my drink was warm. I upgraded to a yeti and it’s way better. Made me rethink the line between “overpriced hype” and “you get what you pay for”.
- Gerber Gear Curve Multi-Tool
It’s only like $14 and I carry it every day because it’s so small, but has everything I need. I wanted to carry a larger pocket knife, but it always seemed like overkill and almost as if I was compensating for something.
- Air Fryer by Drew Barrymore
Air Fryer’s are great. It took me a while to sell Luna on another appliance that’s going to clutter her precious countertop, but it now gets a lot of use and has proven worth it. This specific model is nice because it doesn’t “pre-heat” like some models.
- Door Frame Pull-up Bar
I cancelled my gym membership almost two years ago and moved to just calisthenics. It’s the only piece of equipment I need to do my workouts.
- Magnesium supplement
After college I started getting terrible migraines. I found out I had a magnesium deficiency, so an inexpensive vitamin supplement saves me from a world of pain.
- Amazon Kindle HD (from 2015)
I bought it on sale for ~$30 and it’s been my e-reader for nearly a decade. I combine this with a fantastic digital library catalog that can be browsed and checked out remotely for incredible value.
- Shoe Insoles
Maybe this is because I’m getting older (my beard has flecks of grey). But I bought some expensive insoles from a board (skate boarding and snow boarding) company and they’re fantastic. I don’t recognize it until I put on a pair of shoes that don’t have them in it.
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
The one with the really short edge. Mexican’s would call it a comal. I use it everyday and I never have to wash it. It’s my favorite piece of cookware.
- Wahl Hair Clippers
I bought electric hair clippers back in college and have only paid for 5 haircuts since (14 years).
Honorable Mention:
Apple Watch & Apple Air Pod Pro. Since I’m fully bought in to the Apple ecosystem these items interact seamlessly. Is there a better fitness watch? Absolutely. Nicer headphones? Probably. But these play really well with my other devices and so I get a lot of use out of them.