Being a frugal girl, finding products that are worth the money you spent on them can be a challenge.  How many times have you purchased something, used it, and then said “Now that wasn’t worth it!”.  Well, here are my Top 10 products of 2009 to help combat that! I’ll be doing full reviews on these products over the next few weeks, so here’s a glimpse of what’s to come!

• #1 is easy.  My Keurig B40 Coffee Maker.  I’ve always had a weakness for Starbucks, and with battling the fatigue of a newborn, 4 other children, running a home and business-that was becoming an expensive habit!  Enter the Keurig-I can make one cup at a time throughout the day, so I never have to deal with reheating coffee or wasting the half a pot I didn’t drink .   And this leads in to product #2…
• Caribou Blend K-Cups-These are my favorite of all the ones I’ve tried so far.  Nice and smooth, very yummy!
• Brother 1034d Lay In Serger.  I bought this model to replace my Singer serger I’ve been using for the last couple of years-it’s much more user friendly and I look forward to exploring all the options.
• Wish Garden New Mother’s Repair Salve.  This stuff is AMAZING.  At first I was hesitant because $8 for 1 oz? But just wow.  My daughter has a skin condition called icthyosis, and the general treatment for infants is simply hydrocortisone ointment.  Keep watch for my full review on this one-it’s not just for nipples!
• Nutella-ya I think I’m late to the party on this one!  I remember watching a show on Food Network a few years ago where Giada De Laurentiis made Nutella ravioli, I didn’t get it then, I do now!  This stuff is SO decadent and delicious-quite rich though, a little goes a LONG way!
• Babylock Ellageo Embroidery Machine.  Yes, 2009 was a year of sprucing up my sewing tools as I ramp up my small business.  I LOVE this machine!  I wanted something I didn’t have to have near my desktop computer for transferring designs, and the onscreen editing were serious selling points for me.  I’ll delve into this deeper with my full review of course, but this is a really great machine for the home embroiderer.
• Sulky KK2000 Temporary Spray Adhesive.  I bought this brand on the recommendation of some friends who had more experience with embroidery and applique than I did, and I’m glad I did!  I tried the 3M brand temporary spray once when I ran out of the Sulky, and it was HORRIBLE-live and learn.  I now keep a good backup supply on hand!
• Totino’s Pizza Rolls.  Ugh, I know..not organic, natural or healthy by any means, but ever since I was pregnant with Ree I eat them all the time.  My husband teases me and says I’m going to turn into a pizza roll!
• Target brand Up & Up diapers.  I know Ema really likes these too, and I can’t remember which one of us recommended them to the other but really, both of us loving them should tell you something.  I have 2 in diapers, and my 2 yr old is a super soaker (seriously, its major).  We’ve NEVER had those nasty gel thingies as long as we’ve used these.  And they don’t have that stinky “day old wet cheerios” smell that other diapers do. Oh, and just a note, price per diaper on these is cheaper than Walmart or any other store I checked pricing at (CVS, Walgreens, etc.).
• Walmart/Parent’s Choice wipes.  I haven’t been able to manage to convert to cloth wipes all the time yet, we’re still adjusting to the “ick” factor here, but the Walmart wipes are my favorite disposable wipe out there.  They feel like cloth (and not in that marketing way that companies say…I mean for real), and they don’t stink like chemicals even though they’re unscented, they really don’t smell like much at all.

So there ya go, Mika’s Top 10 products of 2009.  Your turn..tell me about something that you use and love, and maybe we’ll pick it up and do our own review!