Chrisi’s Home & Life Favorites: Things That Make Home and Life a Little Better

After more than a decade in real estate, thousands of homes, plenty of staging, organizing, traveling, technology—and learning that life after 50 should get easier, not more complicated—I’ve developed some opinions about what’s actually worth buying.

And believe me, I have opinions.

I've walked through beautiful homes where a $20 change could have made a room look completely different. I've helped people sort through decades of belongings as they prepare to rightsize. I've staged homes, packed for more trips than I can count, spent countless hours in my Jeep, experimented with more technology than any reasonable person probably should, and bought a few things along the way that definitely did not deserve the space they took up.

But I've also found some gems.

That's why I'm starting Chrisi's Home & Life Favorites.

I Don't Want More Stuff. I Want Better Stuff.

At this point in my life, I'm becoming much more selective about what earns a place in my home.

I don't need another gadget simply because someone on social media says it's a "must-have." I don't want five products that accomplish what one good product can do. And I'm certainly not interested in filling a house with things just because they're inexpensive or cute.

I want things that solve problems.

Things that save time.

Things that make a home function better.

Things that make traveling easier.

Technology that simplifies something instead of requiring a 47-minute YouTube tutorial to figure it out.

And occasionally, something that simply makes me happy.

That's the philosophy behind this new collection.

What You'll Find in Chrisi's Home & Life Favorites

I'm organizing my recommendations into six areas that already overlap with my real estate business and my actual life.

🏡 Stage & Sell

After years of helping sellers prepare homes for the market, I've learned that spending more money doesn't necessarily make a house show better.

The right changes do.

I'll share staging products, lighting, bedding, accessories, cleaning tools, curb-appeal finds and other items that can help a home photograph and show its best.

And I'll also tell you when I think you should save your money.

Because sometimes the best staging advice is to remove something rather than buy something else.

🧺 Organize & Rightsize

Rightsizing isn't simply moving into a smaller house.

It's deciding what deserves to come with you into the next version of your life.

I'll share storage and organization products I think actually help—as well as ideas for closets, kitchens, garages, bathrooms and those mysterious cabinets where things disappear for approximately eleven years.

The goal isn't finding clever ways to store more stuff.

It's creating a home that works better for the way you actually live.

🔨 Homeowner Essentials

There are certain things you don't realize you need until something breaks at 9:42 on a Sunday night.

This section is about being prepared.

Basic tools. Home-maintenance products. Safety equipment. Smart-home devices. Emergency supplies. Simple fixes.

I'm particularly interested in products that help women feel more confident handling the everyday realities of homeownership.

You don't need to become a contractor.

But you should know where your water shutoff is—and owning a decent drill isn't a bad idea either.

💻 Tech Made Easier

I love technology.

I do not love technology simply for technology's sake.

If something takes longer to set up than the amount of time it will ever save me, we're going to have words.

I'll share smart-home products, chargers, phone accessories, gadgets, video equipment and other technology I've discovered through both my business and personal life.

The standard is pretty simple:

Does this actually make something easier or better?

If the answer is no, it doesn't make the list.

✈️ Travel & Adventure

Anyone who knows me knows sitting still isn't exactly my specialty.

Between road trips, Jeep adventures, family travel and exploring new places, I've learned that a handful of good products can make traveling significantly easier.

I'll share road-trip gear, packing and organization products, Jeep finds, travel accessories and some of the things that have earned permanent spots on my packing list.

Because life is supposed to have some adventure in it.

💙 Life 50+

This may become my favorite category.

Life after 50 is different—and I'm finding that's not a bad thing.

I'm less interested in accumulating things and much more interested in creating a life I genuinely enjoy.

So this category will be a little broader: home, entertaining, hobbies, comfort, organization, travel, technology and those little discoveries that make everyday life better.

Some will be practical.

Some will be fun.

And some may fall squarely into the category of "Where has this been all my life?"

One Important Promise

I'm not interested in becoming the person who suddenly tells you that you desperately need 37 Amazon products every week.

That's not what this is.

When I've personally used something, I'll tell you.

When it's something I've researched and recommend but haven't personally owned, I'll tell you that too.

And when something isn't worth the money, I reserve the right to say that.

My goal is to build a useful collection of products, tools and ideas that I would actually recommend to a friend, family member, client—or one of my kids when they call asking, "Mom, what should I buy?"

That's a pretty good test.

Home Changes as Life Changes

There's another reason this feels like such a natural extension of what I already do.

Real estate has taught me that our relationship with home changes throughout our lives.

The house that's perfect while you're raising kids may not be the house you want ten years later.

The things you once thought you needed may become things you're ready to let go of.

Convenience starts meaning something different. Maintenance matters differently. Travel may become more important. Technology can help us stay independent. And sometimes we simply decide we're ready for something new.

That's why I talk so much about rightsizing instead of downsizing.

This isn't about having less simply for the sake of having less.

It's about creating a home—and a life—that fits who you are now and where you're going next.

And sometimes the right product can help make that life a little easier.

Welcome to Chrisi's Home & Life Favorites

Over the coming weeks, I'll start filling these categories with things I actually think are worth knowing about.

We'll talk about the home tool kit every woman should own, what I keep in my Realtor and Jeep emergency kits, my favorite staging finds, products that make rightsizing easier, technology I actually use, travel favorites and plenty more.

Some things will cost $10.

Some will be bigger investments.

And some of my best recommendations may be things I tell you not to buy at all.

That's part of the fun.

So welcome to Chrisi's Home & Life Favorites.

Homes change. Life changes. We change.

Let's make sure the things we're bringing along for the adventure actually deserve the ride.

Shop My Favorites

🏡 Stage & Sell
Products that help homes photograph, show and sell better.

🧺 Organize & Rightsize
Storage, organization and practical solutions for creating a home that fits your life today.

🔨 Homeowner Essentials
Tools, maintenance, safety, smart-home products and those things you don't realize you need until you really need them.

💻 Tech Made Easier
Smart-home technology, chargers, gadgets and content-creation tools that actually make life simpler.

✈️ Travel & Adventure
Road-trip essentials, Jeep gear, packing solutions and travel finds for getting out there and enjoying life.

💙 Life 50+
Home, entertaining, organization, comfort, hobbies and discoveries for making this chapter of life a good one.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I believe are worth considering.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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