Raise your hand if you're ready for another 2024 roundup post. A couple of years ago, I did a roundup of my best purchases for the year. It turned out to be quite popular, and I felt pretty satisfied by the end of writing it. It's a good feeling to be able to say that a purchase you made was a smart one.
Back in 2022 when I wrote the original best purchases post, my life had undergone so many changes -- most notably, we moved into a new home, and I suddenly and unexpectedly changed jobs. Nothing quite so drastic happened in 2024. I completed my alternate teacher certification course in the spring, had an extra long summer off for the first time in more than ten years, and started a course to become gifted endorsed in the fall.
Overall, my purchases for the year were pretty low and had to do mostly with continuing to transform my closet. My casual style and work style are pretty different, and after several years of working from home before heading to the classroom, I had donated almost all of my work staples. It's been an ongoing process, but I think I'm finally starting to see more of a balance.
This list is comprised of purchases I made myself, not items that were given to me. A majority of the items are clothing of some form, including some shoes and accessories, but there are also a few teacher-related things. Each item on this list made a difference in my life in some way, even if it was only because it made me smile a bit more.
My 24 Best Purchases from 2024
Let's kick things off with what is probably my favorite purchase of the entire year -- these super cute black overalls. I've always been wary of overalls because of my height, but I am so glad I decided to give these a shot. They're perfect for teaching. They're 100 percent cotton, not tight at all, and have adjustable straps. They also have pockets at the hips and on the bib, which I frequently drop my phone in so I don't lose it in a random place in my classroom. As you can see in the pictures above, I wear these overalls in a variety of ways, and I love them so much that I got them in yellow, too!
I love how easy it is to dress these up or down. They work with a variety of shoes, which is awesome, and I always feel really good about whatever outfit I style with both the black and yellow. I can't overstate how much I love these. In fact, I've got a green pair in my Amazon cart just waiting for me to click buy right now!
Also featured in the above group are the casual sandals that ruled summer for me. These strappy flat sandals are the Amazon Essentials brand, but they are so good. I normally wear a size 7 and these were exactly right, as in no growing room, so if you're between sizes, I would definitely go up a half size.
The other shoes that dominated my summer were these white sandals, which are still available in all sizes (and currently on sale). These sandals felt so fresh and clean every time I wore them. They were just a step above casual but never felt over-the-top. I wore them so much I'm surprised they're not showing more signs of wear. These are a bit snug in the straps. I had to size up to a 7.5 so they weren't squeezing too much. These sandals come in three other colorways.
Let's keep the summer vibe going with these retro sunglasses that are my number one go to for everyday wear. I love the round lenses and how much coverage they give me from the sun. These come in a three-pack, and so far I still have all three pair in pretty decent condition. I did drop my darker tortoise-shell pair in the barn not too long ago, though, and am still trying to figure out how to clean them without completely ruining the lenses.
While we're on the subject of these sunglasses, I want to mention my 4H hat. This is the most expensive ballcap I own and definitely not something I would typically spend that much money on. However, we were at Tybee Island, and I didn't think to pack something to protect my face from the sun, so I cashed out the money...and so far I haven't regretted it. I wore it every day of our trip and have worn it quite a bit since. It is my go-to hat for trips to the lake, even though it definitely does not match any of my swimsuits. Not only is it a comfortable hat, it is also a keepsake from a trip that I enjoyed very much.
Speaking of that trip, I would be remiss in not mentioning the bag that made it possible. I've been writing about this weekender bag for a long time -- as in I kept putting it on wish lists but never found it underneath the tree. So when I knew I was going on Alexis's multiple-night field trip, I bit the bullet and bought it for myself. Best. Decision. Ever. Seriously, if you need a new carry-on bag or a bag for just a few nights' stay, do yourself a favor and check this one out.
Two other bags that made significant impacts on my life this year are this floral crossbody that I've been carrying since the summer and this belt bag that has been literally everywhere with me from the Tybee trip to the Georgia Aquarium (pictured) and multiple festivals/fairs.
The last three items on this year's best purchases list are all school-related, and I only have a picture of one...well, you can see the corner of another one in the photo. This robot mechanical pencil sharpener was a huge hit in my classroom this year. I got him out of the Bullseye section at Target at the end of the summer for $3, and my students absolutely love him. He lasted much longer than I thought he would, too, and it wasn't because the students abused him. Oh no. They took really good care of him. One class even voted him class president! The plastic gears for the handle just wore out, as plastic is wont to do, so now the robot has a place of honor on my filing cabinet.
Let's talk about the pants that have made a lasting impression in my closet this year. As you know, I have been trying to transition my style back to a balance of work and casual, and if you've been paying attention lately you've probably noticed that my work style has definitely shifted to an academia aesthetic, which is where these khaki-and-black checked wide-leg trousers come in. I fell in love with them at first site and have not regretted taking the chance on their startling-low price tag. I will confess that I haven't styled them many ways yet, but you must remember that it doesn't get very cold where I live and these are wool, so I'm a bit limited on when I can comfortably wear them.
Honestly, when cargos came back into style, I said there was no way I would be participating in that trend again. Look at me eating my words! Seriously, though, cargos have always been tough for me because all the pockets add so much bulk to my already short frame. These olive green cargo parachute pants, however, don't have giant, bulky pockets, so they work for me, as do these black cargo pants that became an instant favorite the first time I wore them.
The shirt in the middle picture gets to join the ranks of this list, as well. I absolutely adore this graphic tee of a fox sitting on a stack of books. I seriously wear it all the time.
Now for a seemingly random collection of things that didn't really fit in any other category...
Up first, this sweatshirt dress that I want in all the colors. Seriously. It's so good, y'all. I've lost count of how many times I've worn this already.
Up next, this corduroy jumper that is making all my cottage-core fantasies come true. It is so perfect and really the only way I can enjoy corduroy without dying of heat exhaustion. I've styled this quite a few ways already and have plans for many more outfits while the cold weather lasts.
In the middle is a seemingly innocuous outfit but it features two contenders for this best purchases list. The first is the super soft, amazingly comfortable pink waffle henley that I honestly haven't had for very long but have already worn so many times that I've gotten my money's worth. It's still available in normal sizes and comes in a bunch of other colors. The second featured item is kind of hard to see -- the belt. This was definitely a practical purchase, but I've gotten so much use out of this three-pack of belts that it definitely deserves to be on this list.
The fourth picture features my black heeled Chelsea boots that have gotten a ton of wear but somehow not much screen time. I'm honestly not sure how that happened because I really did wear them a lot.
And the final picture features a pair of square-toed Mary Janes that I got on sale to see if I liked this trend or not. At first I wasn't sure if these were going to be a keeper because they were so tight and uncomfortable, but once they stretched out they were perfect, and I've worn them quite a bit. Hopefully the square toe will stay in style for a bit, but if not at least I didn't pay full price!
In the bottom right corner of the picture you can see part of my pencil desk tray. This was a spur-of-the-moment buy, also from the Target Bullseye section, that has been such a good decision. When I tell you that I used to lose my keys and board clicker 18 times a day, I'm not exaggerating. This simple little tray gives me a designated space to keep them, and so far I haven't lost either. It's also a good spot for stray paper clips and sticky notes. So overall a win!
And last nut not least is my Clever Fox Teacher Planner. Every year I agonize over what planner to buy and haven't found one to be just 100 percent perfect for my lesson planning needs. This one, however, might just be it. First of all, I love the leather cover. I like the layout and that I get to label all my own stuff. It also came with stickers that I had the BEST time setting up. I especially appreciate that this planner gives me multiple spreads of grid pages for long-term planning, which has been so helpful for laying out the big picture of my units this school year.
That'll do it for 2024. Thank you so much for being a part of my journey with Mommy the Journalist!
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