Non-Beauty Hauls: December 2025

[greeneyedgirl107]

'Tis the season for shopping.  What else are you buying besides beauty?  Post here!

[makeitup305]

@Titian06These were on sale for $55 for the set, and in my favorite color, so I just had to. I've never owned a Dutch oven before so I'm intrigued by them and trying some new recipes.

[Ispend2much6]

@makeitup305 It's certainly Dutch oven weather!  What are you planning to make in them?

[makeitup305]

@Ispend2much6 not sure yet. I've never used one but I have a bunch of recipe books that probably have some options. I was thinking of maybe doing a whole chicken with herbs.

[WinglessOne]

In my decades-long journey to reduce insomnia and ease a couple medical issues, I’ve learned I sleep best on an incline, especially if I lie on my left side. My old wedge pillow’s a bit too high an incline and too firm: I often wake up with a cranky left hip and shoulder, and sometimes a neck ache. So I waited for Coop’s Black Friday sale (25% off) to try their adjustable wedge pillow.

It has four inserts: three foam wedge slices of different thicknesses and one baffle box topper that’s kinda like their mattress topper. The small pillow is removable (attaches with buttons) so I’ll repurpose it. I already have two other Coop pillows (a queen size and a toddler size; the toddler pillow’s bigger than the one that comes with this wedge) and love that I can customize ‘em. I figured I might also love their wedge, or at least like it much more than my old one. It’s airing out right now, so hopefully I can test it tonight. UPDATE Dec. 19: passed the test with flying colors! The mini mattress topper inside this wedge pillow is ridiculously comfy, and now I want a full mattress topper for my bed. 😅 Eh, maybe next year during another good Coop sale.

Will this wedge pillow alone cure my insomnia? Of course not. But once I do finally get in bed, it should help me fall asleep and wake up with fewer/no aches and pains. 🤞

[tsavorite]

@WinglessOne ,

Yay for good wedge pillows!  I can't live without mine!  It looks like you got the creme de la creme!

Good mattress toppers are a must if your bed isn't already the most comfortable one in existence.

[WinglessOne]

@tsavorite  Glad you’ve got a wedge pillow that works for you! I need to decide what to do with my old wedge… might keep it for laptop/tablet in bed duty, or try re-homing it.

30ish years ago, I slept on a featherbed (atop my mattress) for a while but eventually realized it was too soft for me. A decade later, I tried a few memory foam toppers and learned the thick ones make my limbs numb. Then I took a Royal Caribbean cruise and slept on the perfect-for-me foam topper. The day I got back home, I searched for that topper and found one very similar. Kept it for years til I bought a more comfy different sized bed. That’s the mattress I still have and really should’ve replaced by now. Eh, my wallet likes the idea of buying a topper to get a few more years out of it, vs buying a new mattress. 😅

Anyway: yeah, a mattress topper can be fantastic, once you find one that’s right for you.

[tsavorite]

@WinglessOne , 

It's amazing how long a good mattress topper can prong the life of a mattress.

A comfortable bed is everything! 

[greeneyedgirl107]

@WinglessOne I will have to keep this brand in mind!

[Titian06]

@WinglessOne - I'm so glad you found something to help you! 😴  Thank you too for posting.  I so need something like this.  I've been propping myself up on multiple pillows for years, and it's not working any more.

[WinglessOne]

@Titian06 @Ispend2much6  A friend and I were just talking about the nightly pillow forts we build around ourselves to sleep pain-free. 😂 A wedge is a big pillow: Coop’s is as wide as a queen size pillow and quite long, so it takes up a lotta room. But for me, the comfort’s worth it.

If either of you decide to try this (or another brand’s) wedge pillow, I hope it works for you! 

[Ispend2much6]

@WinglessOne "Nightly pillow forts."  😂  Perfect description!

[Titian06]

@WinglessOne - I'm so glad you found something to help you! 😴  Thank you too for posting.  I so need something like this.  I've been propping myself up on multiple pillows for years, and it's not working any more.

[Ispend2much6]

@WinglessOne I'm happy for you, and very glad you posted this haul.  I use a regular pillow to prop my right hip when I lie on my left side, and it's the right side of my body that has the most joint etc. issues.  Maybe this will help, as I also need an incline.

[makeitup305]

@WinglessOne I have a full collection of Coop pillows. Right now I'm using a super flat semi stiff pillow from Costco that has been working better for me, but I love the Coop body pillows (and the maternity pillow) and my boyfriend loves their cooling blanket since he's a hot sleeper. My only gripe is that I don't like the covers for the body pillows, they get super pilly after a wash and aren't nice and smooth. I hope the incline pillow works for you!

[WinglessOne]

@makeitup305  I’ve almost bought Coop’s maternity pillow several times, and the only thing that stops me is the lack of pillowcases that’ll fit it. 😂 I know the outer case on most Coop pillows is removable and washable, but I still like to put another pillowcase over it—especially if my head will rest on the pillow (I use silk pillowcases for that). That maternity pillow looks very comfy though! Someday I might try making an envelope-closure case for that pillow, which would make me finally buy it already.

[makeitup305]

@WinglessOne I like that it's long (since I am tall) but the lack of covers for it is a little inconvenient. I passed that one on to my boyfriend for the moment and I'm currently using their cooling pillow instead. I like the feel of it.

[caitbird]

Finally got this sweater from Stitch Fix that I have been eyeing for months - it was recently marked down to half off, so I'm glad I waited to get it after all.

[Ispend2much6]

Adorable @caitbird 

[Titian06]

Gorgeous sweater, @caitbird ! 🥰

[greeneyedgirl107]

@caitbird love it!

[caitbird]

@greeneyedgirl107  thank you!