Here at Bandd we are all in different stages of our lives. Sara is a mom to two daughters running an interior design business, Mackenzie is a new home owner with an adorable pup named Elsie and Hannah is recently engaged living in an apartment with her fiance and border collie, Lottie. We are here to share the necessities we use in our daily lives in the stages we are currently in!
Sara
Whether I’d truly like to admit it or not, when you add a husband and kiddos to the mix, your needs at home change. I’m a big believer that having little kids running around doesn’t mean your space can’t be beautiful and I don’t think you need to change the way you live in your home. Our pediatrician once told me that you should work to fit your child in to your life and not the other way around. Amen to that! That said, when it comes to small items around my house, durability and replaceability is key. Here are some of my favorite Amazon finds that work perfectly for me and my young family (and their dirty, sticky fingers!)
I’ve said it before but this is hands down the absolute best purchase I have ever made on Amazon. Not only is durable, soft, wrinkle-resistant and hypoallergenic but it’s so inexpensive that if it gets ruined, replacing it is a snap. I don’t know what’s in this magical duvet cover or if it’s truly too good to be true but it’s a big thumbs up in my book.
My 8 year old is an avid reader and usually reads herself to sleep each night. Once she took up the habit, I added this little cutie next to her bed so she can read at her leisure. It’s a plug in and installs so easily with a few screws. It has a swing arm and a swivel head so she can find just the right light for late night page turning.
I used this exact ladder when we installed the 3D printed house earlier this year and I just love it’s versatility. It’s good for us we because can stack the never ending pile of throw blankets on it to get them off the furniture and put away. We can also use it for the many magazines that are delivered each week. This is one I particularly think is great for all stages of life!
Ok yeah, kids come with (or rather, you have to buy them) lots of stuff! How much is entirely your call but most of it is unsightly. I have learned that kids will be more inclined to clean up their toys if it’s easy for them. Like one big general basket. If you make the storage solution too complicated they’ll say no thanks and leave it to you to tackle. If you have one — or several — big baskets like this one, they can clean up in a matter of seconds.
This is my most recent purchase on Amazon and yeah I am so late to the game here, but this is a life changer. We are a busy family and now as my kids get older, are always scooting around from activity to activity, so we need solutions make meals faster without compromising quality. We live and die by our toaster oven and with the addition of this air fryer, our get fed quick abilities have just broadened. Funny how the two appliances we use the most are the two that aren’t built in to our kitchen!
Mackenzie
Mackenzie here. I’m a late twenty-something currently trying to wade through the struggles (and excitement!) of home ownership. I bought my first house a couple years ago and love that I’m able to do whatever I want to it since my dog and my credit card are the only things that have a say. And while most things for the home are worth the wait, sometimes you just need that one thing to be delivered to you for free and in two days. You can Prime some of my fave Amazon finds too, check ‘em out below.

My little house can’t handle how much dog hair my not-so-little pup, Elsie, produces. And since my house is small, any sort of mess makes me lose my mind. This is one the best things I’ve EVER bought on Amazon. And that’s saying a lot if you were to check out my order history. You can set it on a timer, control it from your phone, have full on conversations with it through Alexa – it does it all.
There’s a lot of things I’d like to change at my house, but I’m not quite ready to do a full on renovation. The bathroom definitely needed some love. One of the simplest ways I upgraded was to swap out the ugly, zero-personality frameless mirror. This round one is simple and modern, but classic enough to go with any other upgrades I decide to make in the future.

Since buying a home, I’ve been dabbling in the very unfamiliar world of gardening. Because, until recently, I’ve only just pinned pretty outdoor lounge spaces and gardens on Pinterest. Most plants come to my house to die, RIP, but I’m getting better and enjoying the learning curve! At least buying fun planters like this “face vase” gives them a pretty home to live in during their last few weeks on earth.

I never realized how much I needed this until I installed this easy home upgrade. Because I live alone, it’s great to be able to give the code to anyone that needs to get inside while I’m not there. Whether it be my housekeeper, my handyman or my friends going to let Elsie out.
Hannah
Living in an 800 sq ft apartment with my fiance and border collie, Lottie, there isn’t much we need for such little space, but there are major necessities we do need and I am here to share them with you! From cleaning supplies to weekender bags keep reading to see what gets me through my weekly routine.
Miele is one of the best vacuum cleaners I have ever used. It is light, the filter is quick and easy to change, and it can easily get under all of my furniture (which is a make or break deal for me)! Especially with a long haired dog having a light vacuum cleaner that I can pull out everyday is ideal.
If you know me you know I love a good weekender! I have a few like I like to put on rotation either a canvas or leather depending on the destination. This leather weekender is definitely at the top of my list.
The Bling Brush is an easy way to clean your ring on-the-go. Throw it in your purse and you’re ready to head out the door.
For summer pool hangs or late night drinks with friends, we have many of these on hand. Since we live in an apartment we can’t take glass by the pool so these are a must have!
Dinner: Changing the Game Cookbook is my most recent go to (or Bon Appetit) for cooking. Not going to lie, I bought this book for the looks (guilty) then fell in love with every recipe! Melissa Clark makes her recipes simple and to the point.
Leave a Reply