We Bought 6 Items from Instagram Ads

We all know how it goes… you’re scrolling your feed or stories, and all of a sudden you’re looking at a product that you are convinced you need. Only to realize it’s actually an ad. But you still need it. Those tech magicians get us every time – they’re watching what we’re searching for, listening to our conversations [is this real?], seeing what we click on, and tailoring our ads to exactly what we didn’t know we needed.

Well, we decided to share our findings. Several of us on the LIY Team hit checkout on some of the items from the ‘gram, and here’s what we thought…

Solo Mesa Tabletop Stove – color: water

I had been seeing this mini Solo Stove all over my Facebook and Instagram feeds and after enough times, I gave in [Merry Christmas, Shawn]. The verdict: we love it. While we’ve only used it a couple of times now here in Florida, it’s the perfect way to add a little ambiance to our back patio without much effort! The best part: it is smokeless. The second best part: you can roast s’mores with it 🤤 We simply bought these fire starters and a bag of pellets [any pellets will do!] She is a cute little thing and I love the different color options! If you’re looking for a fun gift idea, this is a good one!

Pajama Set

If you know, you know! I’ve been seeing these darling PJ sets all over Instagram recently and decided to see what all the excitement was about. I’m not typically one to spend an arm and a leg on jammies [give me an old raggedy t-shirt and I’m a happy girl!] but I love having a nice set to wear when hosting, traveling, and visiting friends. Nothing says “I’m a grown up” like a good pair of PJ’s. 😉 While these are on the pricier end, the fabric quality is dreamy and feels like it will hold up well long term! After about a month of wearing and washing, they’re still in good shape. I love that they’re 100% cotton to keep you cool and comfy! Fit tip: size up! Cotton will shrink [they mention this on the site!] and suggest sizing up. For reference, I’m between a M-L and wearing a large! PS. sign up for LAKE texts to receive 10% off!

Alice Cubic Zirconia Ring

I’ll be honest, I was shocked when this was my first served IG ad scrolling the other day! I’m not a big jewelry person, I barely where my wedding ring! But a deal on jewelry is one I don’t overlook – especially when it’s from the beloved bracelet brand you all have recently loved… and for only $18, screaming at me to add to cart..That is exactly what I did! This ring was $48 marked down to $18, are you kidding me? I couldn’t wait for it to arrive to see what the fuss was about. So here I am, fussing away.. I even painted my nails to show you this dazzling lady! Look at her! Simple, Elegant and Gorgeous! A ring I’ve actually worn more days in a row than my wedding ring! Give her a shot, add some fun to your fingers – you won’t be sorry you did!

Say hello to my newest sidekick! It was no surprise to me that the first ad scrolled across was Calpak! This past holiday, I gifted Calpak products over and over again! I truly love the brand and their products. Their duffel bag is one of my all time favorite purchases… perfect for a carry on! But now let’s talk about this laptop tote bag! Not only does this bag hold your laptop, it has a place for E V E R Y T H I N G! The amount of pockets in this thing is amazing. One of my favorite features of most Calpak bags is the luggage trolley sleeve. If you travel for work or work while on the plane, this laptop tote was made for you! One key feature to this tote is that the laptop sleeve is actually removable! Consider this bag for all things work to play! See all of the features below!

Courant Catch: 3 Essentials

I’ll be honest, I was SO excited to try this wireless charger! I’ve been seeing ads for it everywhere and noticed it was sold at Nordstrom and other retailers I shop, so I was anxious to see if it was worth it. The price on this is a little higher, however it is very elevated and chic and I love that it not only charged my phone but was a place for my nightstand essentials. After using it for several weeks now, I’m not sure it’s worth the hype…. Don’t get me wrong, I love the overall look and that I can set my phone on it to charge. However, it is a little finicky and won’t always charge by just setting it down. You have to move it around a little to make sure your phone is in the right spot for charging. I have tried countless times to charge my Airpods in the case and have had no luck. I’ve also read and re read the instructions and it doesn’t mention exactly how to do it. Overall it’s a nice looking product but I would much rather stick with my cord and have peace of mind that it was fully charged.

Blueland Hand Soap

A brand whose mission is to ‘clean up the planet’ AND keep the germs away…I’m in! I try to limit our plastic use as much as possible, which can be tough with little ones. I’m also probably one of the biggest germ freaks. I always have a hand sanitizer in my purse and you better believe I’m washing my hands for at LEAST 20 seconds. So when I saw this ad I was sold. This bottle is your ‘forever bottle’ and then you just refill with water and the foaming soap pods. I really love the scents they provide and how simple it is to refill each time. I think I’m going to have to try their dishwasher sets next.

Living in Yellow is a life + style brand that provides a fun space for girlfriends to gather and feel empowered through real talk and attainable fashion.