small talk: deals on what I actually buy (and text my friends about)
plus my Prime Day cart just before I hit place order
Our Wednesday small talk is a day early this week because Amazon Prime Day kicked off today, and I wanted to chat while the sale’s still happening. Also, since our Saturday style session was (more than) fashionably late, I figured this could make up for it.
I spent July 4th in bed fighting a nasty cold and didn’t feel quasi human till Sunday. So as much as I love you, getting dressed just wasn’t an option. But that wasn’t the only reason our style session was about handbags (designer dupes, to be exact). In an effort not to overwhelm your inbox (or my life), I’m opening up our Saturday style sessions to all things style. Sometimes we’ll style pieces multiple ways, in classic Styling with Sydne fashion. Other times, I’ll bring in other moms to showcase different body types and cities (super excited about one I’m working on right now!). And sometimes we’ll dive deeper into trends and tips I’ve learned through my journey from fashion editor to blogger to toddler mom in the suburbs who writes Life 2.0.
I hope you like the expansion. And if you ever have requests, just drop them in the comments.
Now… let’s talk Prime Day.
Last week I shared my tried and true strategy for shopping big box sales like this. Today I completed Step #3: smart edit day of (scroll to the end if you want to see what made it out of my cart).
Basically, my theory is: save on things you were going to buy anyway. Skip it if it’s just a deal. I’m definitely not trying to push you to buy anything. I retired my sell-sell-sell influencer days years ago. But if you’re already on the market for something in these categories, these are the deals on stuff I actually use, love and recommend to my friends in IRL…
home
Digital frame: I gave this to my dad preloaded with grandkid photos. I send him new pics every few months. I have one too.
Rotating gallery wall: Such a fun upgrade from fridge art. We rotate Preston and his friend Sky’s latest pieces in wood frames instead.
closet
Velvet hangers: My secret weapon for staying organized and saving space.
Happy hat: I didn’t think I’d love a smiley hat this much, but here we are. Bonus? It makes my son smile.
Grip socks: Cute, affordable, and I wear them constantly for Pilates.
Flattering one-piece: I bought two. Ruching hides the tummy, mesh keeps it cute, and the padding helps the girls.
office / bedroom / bathroom
Selfie light: I use this for Reels and Zoom calls. It has three light settings and smooths your face better than a Paris filter.
Pillow topper: Makes the bed so comfy my friends comment on it every time they stay over.
Drain clog remover: weirdly satisfying to pull out all the gunk
kitchen
Best blender: My Vitamix is a splurge but totally worth it. My friend ditched her Nutribullet after trying it.
Reusable food storage bags: Birthday wishlist level mom move. More space saving than Tupperware and way more eco friendly than plastic.
Adult Easy Bake Wonder Oven: I use this daily…. air frying, reheating, toasting. And it’s super cute on the counter.
Chic outdoor glassware: I use them inside too. My mom friends get the wine glasses, and the kids drink “fancy water” from the short ones.
makeup / beauty / health
Everyday lipliner: Charming Pink glides on, works with most rosey-natural lipsticks.
Go-to sponges: Just as good as beautyblender but a fraction of the price.
Hyaluronic acid: A derm told me about this one. Affordable and works as well as the fancy brands.
Oil makeup remover: Spa-scented, hydrating, gentle. They also have unscented versions.
White strips: I’ve tried them all. Crest is the best imo unless you’re going to the dentist.
Toiletry bag: Hangs on hotel towel racks and keeps everything super organized.
random
Car leather cleaner: Two dogs + a toddler = one messy car. My dad (car guy) swears by these wipes. They’re magic.
Lint roller: my savior during Jack Jack’s biannual shed
toddlers
babies
And last but not least, here’s what I added to my own cart that made it through checkout:
They’re all in my Prime Day 2025 list if you want to click here. Or don’t shop at all and I’ll see you Saturday for another style session!
💛, Sydne