First Friday Faves December 2019

It’s that time of year again. The time I list my best of the best First Friday Faves. It’s so exciting! Let’s go!

Decembers Faves:

1. Sleeping Mask
2. Craft Paint Storage Rack
3. The Diva Cup
4. Pura Vida Bracelets
5. Nutri Ninja Blender/Food Processor

Sleeping mask

My first fave has been an absolute game-changer when it comes to my quality of sleep. As much as I love this item I understand some people’s apprehension about using one. Some folks think they are or will be uncomfortable to sleep in. I have not found this to be the case. I will admit that mine does have two small metal hook things on the elastic strap that sometimes dig into my head above my one ear but I just rearrange the strap and I’m fine. That’s the only issue I have with my mask.

I think the most important things when choosing a sleeping mask is to figure out what you want the actual mask to be made of, do you want the mask to sit flush on your eyes and what kind of strap(s) do you want? My current mask is flat and sits flush on my eyes which I do not mind. You can find out why I chose it here. This same mask is very silky so it’s comfortable on my face and doesn’t cause creases or other marks on my face. My mask also has two thin elastic bands that keep it in place. I’ve recently noticed they are stretching out a bit but they still hold the mask in place.

The reason I love this item so much is because, as a person who needs the room pitch black to get to sleep, I can go to bed with the lights on and still fall asleep when I have my mask on. And not only can I fall asleep a LOT faster I barely ever wake up during the night. That is huge for me! I am not exaggerating when I say that this item has changed my life!

You can find sleeping masks in stores but make sure the ones you look at have enough coverage, especially below the eye. This is where the light will creep in. Here are a few highly rated masks on Amazon.

Here’s a basic mask with nearly five stars out of 11,000 reviews!

This mask gets 4.8 stars from over six hundred reviewers for a good reason. It does what it’s supposed to do!

750 reviewers can’t be wrong. This mask is like a big hug for your entire head covering your ears for a swaddling effect.

craft paint storage rack

My second fave is the Craft Paint Storage Rack. If you are a craft painter and enjoy having an extensive selection of 2-ounce paints on hand, you need this paint rack. It keeps your paint stash handy while also keeping it from taking over your entire work area.

Your paint bottles are easily accessible and it’s easy to see the colors by pulling the bottle out a bit. I have never had an issue with any paint leakage even though the bottles are stored horizontally. The fact that the rack spins in icing on the cake. It makes storing, finding and picking your paint, easy peasy. There is NO WAY that I could have anywhere near the paint collection I do have without this rack.

And if you’re saying to yourself, “Who needs that rack when I can store my paints on a shelf out of the way?” I hear you. And my answer is this … Do what works for you but I know how much of a pain it is to line up all your paints only to have a few fall over each time you try to pick one out or put one away. Or having them tumble over when you’re digging through them searching for a specific color. I prefer to use the time I’d take setting them back up, painting.

Here is a great option for the serious craft painter. If you’re just starting your collection or have a budding artist in the family this could be a great choice.

the diva cup

My third December fave is The Diva Cup (she whispers). Yes, I’m going there. If you get a period you need this in your life. I really should get paid by them because I preach about this cup to everyone I know. It is wonderful.

What’s awesome about the Diva Cup is that it can handle every single day of your period. And I mean every day. You know how you’re aware it’s coming but you can’t wear a tampon because it’s not there yet and a liner’s okay but what if you can’t get to the bathroom soon enough? And then there’s the last day or two when things are so light that it’s too risky to wear even the least absorbent tampon? This is where the Diva Cup stands out. These are the perfect days to wear one!

But don’t think it’s only for light days. This baby works on even your heaviest days, you just may have to empty it prior to the 12 hours you can actually wear it for. And don’t worry. It holds more than you think

The Diva Cup now comes in three sizes which may make it more appealing to teens and younger women. My daughters will not try one, even though I wish they would, because of the “gross” factor so you must be comfortable with your lady parts in order to be successful in wearing the cup. Yes, you will be hands-on and hopefully not freaked out by blood. Trust me when I say the benefits definitely outweigh these little cons. If you’re curious about the Diva Cup I would suggest getting one and trying it. If you’re not a fan of it put it away and try it another month. There is a learning curve to using it but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be loving it!

pura vida bracelets

My fourth fave this month? Pura Vida bracelets!! As a matter of fact, I just ordered some to use as Christmas gifts. These bracelets are so fun and pretty inexpensive so what’s not to love? There are lots of different styles to choose from meaning there is most definitely a bracelet for everyone on your shopping list. But they don’t just offer bracelets.

Pura Vida has a nice selection of rings, earrings, necklaces and even accessories to choose from, too. And for those of you who may be thinking this company is only geared toward young women, I say phooey! While they do market to that crowd, anyone any age can buy and wear their products. I’m a 40-something stay at home mom and I love the jewelry they offer! And there are items that can be worn by men as well.

What makes me love this company, even more, is that every time you purchase an item from them you are helping artisans worldwide achieve their goal of being able to work to support themselves and their families. It’s a win-win situation to me. You can check out the website here and read about their story. And if you decide to order anything make sure you use my coupon code to get 20% off your order, CLARISSAMILLER20.

nutri ninja blender/food processor

My last favorite for December is the Nutri Ninja Blender/Food Processor. My actual model is no longer available but this one is almost identical. I absolutely love this blender! For those of you who like making smoothies or slushy type drinks, this machine will make your life so much easier. It comes with two personal size cups to make smoothies for one but you can use the full-size blender when making them for a crowd. And this annihilates ice like nobody’s business. That is something my old blender struggled with.

The food processor which is included is an added bonus for me. I never had one before I bought my Nutri Ninja and what I love is that all I have to do is swap out the container. I didn’t have to go purchase a completely different appliance. The only thing I have to store is the processor container and blender jar since I keep my base on the counter. I’m not storing four different appliance parts, just two.

If you’re in the market for either a new blender or food processor I would hop over to Amazon and check this baby out.

So there you have it. My best of the bests for December 2019. Remember to check out my First Friday Faves posts the first Friday of each month to learn about the products and items that I’m loving.