What Are Your ‘Worth Every Penny’ Buys?

Now that I’ve reached the wise age of 44, I’ve learned that some things in life are worth investing in, like jeans that feel great and sneakers for long walks. And most of all, lately? A truly comfortable pillow.

For the longest time, I stuck with my old pillows, even though they made my neck kink and I’d toss around all night. Somehow, it didn’t occur to me to replace them? But after hearing rave reviews of Marlow pillows, I decided to give one a try.

My sleep really changed from then on. You can personalize the pillow’s firmness with two zippers, and I like switching it up, depending on what mood I’m in and whether I’m going to sleep on my stomach, side or back. The pillow is also made with cooling-infused memory foam, so you always have the cool side. (I LOVE that feeling.) We now have Marlow pillows on all the beds at home, and the boys and our overnight guests love them, too. Nowadays I fall asleep within minutes, and it’s wild how much more refreshed you are after sleeping with a really good pillow.

Heads up: We loved them so much, we’re now working with Marlow around their annual birthday sale. They’re offering 20% off when you buy two or three pillows, and 30% off when you buy four or more — plus, an additional 20% off when shopping their “buy more save more” deal. Find the pillows here, if you’d like.

Now I’m curious: What are some of your worth-every-penny purchases? I asked the Cup of Jo team, and here were their answers…

Jenny Rosenstrach, food columnist
Best investment: Le Creuset dutch oven. Put it this way: I received my seven-quart Dutch Oven in classic orange as a wedding gift in 1997, and it is still in perfect condition. Nothing quite says ‘fall’ or ‘home’ like a soup simmering or a chicken braising in that pot, and the older it gets and more patina it acquires, the better. It’s so much a part of my life that I made sure it was on the cover of my first cookbook.

Maureen Heffernan, partnerships director
Best investment: Fancy wine glasses. Years ago, my husband Frank and I ate at Pasquale Jones in New York and loved their super thin, beautiful wine glasses so much that we went home and splurged on two. The other night, at home in Seattle, our babysitter canceled at the last minute, so we set our dining table, ordered burgers, and drank wine from these glasses, and the ordinary night felt really special.

Kaitlyn Teer, newsletter editor
Best investment: Stutterheim raincoat. My husband gave me this Swedish raincoat for my birthday, and it’s perfect for the nine months of the year when it’s raining in the Pacific Northwest. Living here, my outerwear is durable but not usually all that stylish (think: a puffer that’s been patched wayyyy too many times). So, I love having something that stands up to the weather but also looks polished. It was definitely a splurge, but it’s held up beautifully for five years, and I’m sure I’ll be saying the same thing five years from now.

Jannelle Sanchez, associate editor
Best investment: Kid’s instrument set. My parents gave our toddler this musical set for Christmas, and over the past two years, it’s been a lifesaver. Our daughter plays with it ON HER OWN, which translates to chunks of free time for my husband and me. Yes, the music can get loud, but, thanks to these instruments, I’ve napped on the sofa and even read a book.

What investments do you swear by? Please share below…

P.S. More fun things, and what small, inexpensive things make your life easier?

(Photo by Alpha Smoot from Joanna’s house tour. This post is sponsored by Marlow. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that support Cup of Jo.)