Recommender: Bethany

Recommendation Posted March 3rd, 2026

Bethany is a Kansas farm girl who has spent the last six years living in Germany, working as a school psychologist and volleyball coach on a military base. Though she originally moved abroad with a two-to-three-year plan, she officially hit her six-year mark this past October.

Her workdays are dedicated to supporting military-connected kids and their families through testing, writing reports, and counseling. Outside of her professional life, Bethany is constantly on the move—whether she’s on the court coaching, weightlifting, hiking, or bouldering.

Living in Germany has provided incredible opportunities for travel, with France, Switzerland, and Austria all within two hours of her home. She is also a passionate photographer and cook. Having married in December 2024, she is currently busy planning a Tuscany wedding celebration for this June with a small group of family and friends.

While Bethany describes herself as "super thrifty," she is learning to balance saving money where she can with spending more on the specific things that improve her quality of life or bring her joy.

Bethany’s Recommendations

  • Coop Pillow (King & Travel Size)

    Coop Pillow (King & Travel Size)

    Let's be honest here—we're not getting any younger. In our 20s, we could crash on a friend's couch with no pillow or blanket after a night out and wake up bright-eyed and ready for brunch. Now? One night on a terrible pillow can leave me hurting for days! These pillows are the Holy Grail of pillows. You can choose your own adventure here—side, back, and stomach sleepers can find the best pillow for them. It's on my road trip packing list, because hotel pillows are not to be trusted. I caved and bought the travel size as well, which compresses down in its own stuff sack and ties onto my luggage.

  • Jean & Len Hand Soap

    Jean & Len Hand Soap

    I first came across this at my hair salon and quickly fell in love. The scents are herbal and intoxicating. I love the rosemary and blood orange. They lather well and look pretty and minimalist on the sink too.

  • Jewelry Cleaner Pen

    Jewelry Cleaner Pen

    This was an immediate purchase after getting engaged in 2024. It's quick and easy to use, and it keeps my ring super sparkly. Great on other jewelry too!

  • Ninja Creami

    Ninja Creami

    Ice cream without the excessive calories? Say less! I use this almost nightly to make protein ice cream at home during warm weather - just freeze a protein shake overnight, pop it on the Creami the next day, add in your favorites (a crumbled Reese's, please), and enjoy a protein-packed, low calorie version of a Dairy Queen Blizzard.

  • Breville Barista Touch Coffee Maker

    Breville Barista Touch Coffee Maker

    This is definitely a splurge, but has been so worth it for us. I love the touchscreen interface- it has multiple preprogrammed drinks (latte, flat white, Americano, etc) and also allows you to customize and save your own creation. It's drastically reduced my Starbucks stops, so it's basically paying for itself, right? They run sales often, wait for the next one to catch it at a discounted price.

  • Large Glass Food Storage Container

    Large Glass Food Storage Container

    Winter means soup season in our house on Sunday night. I double the recipe and use the leftovers for lunches throughout the week. This glass storage container is the perfect size for keeping a big batch in the fridge.

    #ad (Purchases made through this link may earn us a commission, but rest assured — this is a genuine favorite our recommender has used and loved first.)

  • Windshield Cover

    Windshield Cover

    This is one of my favorite purchases for the last year, hands down. I despise scraping my windshield in the morning. This takes 30 seconds to put on but saves so much time in the morning and gets me out of the cold faster. If you don't have a garage, I can't recommend this enough!

  • Toiletry Bag

    Toiletry Bag

    I was on the hunt for a great toiletry bag for years. This is space-saving, well-organized, and affordable.

  • Clever Fox Planner

    Clever Fox Planner

    Anyone else love the thrill of a new planner? I have bought three of these now and absolutely love them. They're thoughtfully designed and I love the pages for goal setting and weekly reviews. They've expanded their line to include topic-specific planners as well - I bought their wedding planner and have been checking out their gratitude and workout planners as well!

  • Magnetic Cable Clips

    Magnetic Cable Clips

    Ingenious. We added these to our nightstands and they've been super helpful in corralling the cord chaos.

  • StudioSmooth Old Navy Leggings

    StudioSmooth Old Navy Leggings

    I love Athleta and Lulu leggings, but I don't love the price. I've been really impressed lately with Old Navy's studiosmooth leggings. They're squatproof, don't roll down, and have multiple length options - a necessity for this tall girl. These are affordable on their own, but I typically wait for 40-50% off sale and stock up!

  • ThredUP

    ThredUP

    My absolute favorite place to shop! I adore a good thrift-store find and ThredUp is the best online secondhand site! I've snagged so many excellent finds here. Their filters and search options just keep getting better. I love the image search- if there's a specific piece I'm looking for, I can save the search and it will alert me when an item becomes available. I've thrifted Madewell jeans, cashmere sweaters, new-with-tags Athleta workout gear, and more.

  • Soma Enbliss Wireless Bra & Bralette

    Soma Enbliss Wireless Bra & Bralette

    After working from home during the pandemic, I refused to go back to wearing underwire bras ever again. I tried multiple styles and brands before coming across Soma and I haven't bought anything else since! Their Enbliss Wireless are incredibly comfortable, smooth under any type of top, and have held up very well over time. Their bralettes are also super comfortable and my summer go-to.

  • Fleece Slippers

    Fleece Slippers

    The absolute best. Warm, fuzzy, cozy. Great with or without socks. You can't beat the price and I've had mine for several years and they're still in great shape.

  • Undershorts

    Undershorts

    A summer lifesaver. One of my best friends recommended these to me, now I'm sharing them with you. Toss these on underneath your dresses during hot weather and thank me later!

  • Clear Protein Powder

    Clear Protein Powder

    We're all just out here trying to get enough protein. This is a great alternative to traditional protein shakes- it mixes well and comes in tasty flavors. I love the watermelon and pink burst.

  • Biodance Collagen Masks

    Biodance Collagen Masks

    I love these masks. They're incredibly hydrating and leave your skin plump and glowing. Excellent for an at-home spa day or just weekly self-care.

  • ELF Halo Glow Liquid Filter

    ELF Halo Glow Liquid Filter

    This is a perfect dupe for much more expensive product. I wear it on its own and mix it in with tinted moisturizer for a bit more coverage. Either way, it makes my skin look bright and glowy in the best possible way.

  • Heatless Curler

    Heatless Hair Curler

    I try to minimize how much heat I put on my fine, thin, stick-straight hair. This heatless curler may look crazy, but it really works and my curls last longer than they do with a traditional curling iron. It may take a time or two to figure out how to position it so it doesn't bother you while sleeping, but I'm here to tell you it is possible! YouTube it if you're struggling!

  • Cadence Capsules

    Cadence Capsules

    These are fantastic for travel, especially when you're trying to travel light. I love that they're magnetic and that the labels can be switched out. The customer service is fantastic - I had a capsule crack and they replaced it for free!

  • Lets Get Deep

    Lets Get Deep

    I love these little card games! They're a great way to connect with either your friends or your partner depending on the edition you choose. Grab a card and spark conversation on fun, lighthearted questions along with deeper topics. We have the couples version and I like it so much that I recently grabbed this friends edition too.

  • Jumbo Hitster - The Music Fun Party Quiz Card Game

    Jumbo Hitster - The Music Fun Party Quiz Card Game

    This is SO much fun for game night! The QR code on the card links to the songs, so crank it up and enjoy figuring out which of your friends has the best musical knowledge.

  • Monopoly Deal Card Game

    Monopoly Deal Card Game

    This is my favorite quick-playing card game; it's all the fun competitiveness of Monopoly in a fraction of the time. It's great for 2 people or a small group and easily playable for all ages. We pull it out at home for rainy weekend game days and I toss it in my travel bag for low-key vacations. Plus, the price is hard to beat!!