October Favorites | 2019
Happy Halloween! I’ve never done a favorites post before, but I figured I’d throw one in this month because there are a handful of things I have been obsessed with over the last few weeks! From beauty to books, I’ll cover my most-used and most-loved items of the month. I will exclude pregnancy-related products, however, because that has an entire blog post to itself coming soon. Each item is linked below so that you can shop until your heart is content. Also, my DIY Pooh Bear costume (pictured) is an unofficial part of this “favorites” list—I found the idea on Pinterest while frantically searching for pregnancy-friendly costumes!
Beauty
1. Balm Shell Facial Cleansing Balm | Flower Mill | $42
I talked about this product in my Oh Baby Boxes post last week, but it is worth mentioning again here—that’s how great it is! This all-natural, organic, vegan balm doubles as a makeup remover and facial cleanser. I have never in my life had skin as soft and hydrated as when I used this product. It has quickly become part of my regular skin-care routine. First, I cleanse with Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, then I use the Balm Shell cleanser, then I moisturize with Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30. I’m not sure if it’s the products or the excess of pregnancy hormones, but my skin has been better than ever the last few months! Also, I know this product is a bit pricey, but the Flower Mill website offers 15% off your first purchase when you enter your email.
2. Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Mauve Over | Sally Hansen | $2.99
Desperate for a nail polish perfect for fall, I scoured the shelves of Target and found this beauty! I wanted something less bright and bubbly than my Insta-Dri Petal Pusher go-to summer shade (also Sally Hansen), but not quite as festive as my Revlon Nail Enamel in Valentine. This shade was a perfect compromise, and one I will definitely be wearing through November as well! It was also nice to take some time to pamper myself and do my nails before this baby comes. For some reason, I feel a hundred times more put together when my nails are painted (and a thousand times more when my finger and toe nails match!). Anyone else feel this way?
3. Billie Razor Subscription | Billie | $9
I used to absolutely dread having to stock up on razor heads when my Gillette razor ran out. There’s something about having to spend nearly $30 on razor heads—I could rarely bring myself to do it. As a result, I was using them well after they should have been tossed, all for the sake of saving a few bucks. A few of the influencers I follow on Instagram were promoting the Billie razor, so I thought I’d give it a go. They send you a razor and two razor heads, plus a magnetic wall mount for the shower, for just $9 (and free shipping!). In your profile, you select how often you shave, and they send four refill blades accordingly—I indicated that I shave once a week, so they’ll send my refills every three months for $9 per shipment. What I love most is that the razors are surrounded by charcoal shave soap, so you don’t even need shaving cream (although they sell it as an add-on if you aren’t ready to give it up).
Fashion
4. Fuzzy Fleece Cardigan in “A Pink” | Dokotoo | $35.99
The description says cardigan, but this is pretty much a hooded robe—I can’t see myself wearing it outside of the house. Regardless, this is one of the softest articles of clothing I have ever worn! I thought it would be perfect for wearing around the house once the baby is born because let’s be honest, I probably won’t leave my house for the first three months. Venturing into the North Dakota winter tundra with a newborn? No, thank you. The only downside is that it takes so long to ship. There are other sellers that can ship the same item quicker, but I was set on this deep pink color, and this was the only seller who had what I was looking for. I ordered a medium because I was going for an oversized look, and it is perfect.
5. Long Cardigan in Dark Beige | H&M | $19.99
I’m a sucker for cardigans—they are perfect for baby bumps, and you can still get your pre-pregnancy size! I saw this long lined cardigan while at the Mall of America last month (unfortunately this is our closest H&M, eight hours away…) and couldn’t resist myself. The dark beige color is perfect for fall, and I was seriously impressed at the quality. This is a warm cardigan, and only $20! It is true to size—I got a small and it fits like a charm.
6. Time and Tru Leopard Slip-On Shoes | Walmart | $14.88
I decided to hop on the leopard-print bandwagon, and I knew exactly what I wanted—leopard print quilted slip-on sneakers. I scoured the internet and couldn’t find anything in my price range. While doing our grocery shopping at Walmart, Austin spotted these bad boys and I was in love (with him and the shoes!). I will say, however, that you should wear some heel savers until they are fully broken in—about a week or two. But after that, they are like walking on a cloud, probably because of the memory foam soles! These shoes pair perfectly with a pair of jeans and literally every single cardigan I own. True to size.
Home
7. Flannel 3-Wick Candle | Bath and Body Works | $24.50
I’m not a fan of the ultra-popular Leaves scent from BBW, but Flannel completely takes the cake! It has notes of fresh bergamot, heirloom mahogany, soft musk, and essential oils. Now, I have no idea what those scents actually smell like individually, but that’s what the packaging says, so I’ll take it! I have tried way too many candle brands to count, and BBW is the only one that can fill up an entire room with just one candle. Flannel is the perfect scent for fall, but I have never paid full price for one of these 3-wick candles. Make sure to nab these while they’re on sale, whether it’s BOGO, $10 off, or—and I think this is my favorite sale yet—$10 each!
Books & Entertainment
8. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin | Amazon | $13.39
If you are into YA fantasy and adventure, this is the one for you! I read this book because I was in charge of leading the Barnes & Noble YA book club in October, and I flew through it. I can’t believe this was Shelby Mahurin’s debut novel—it had me hooked from the first page. You’ve got witches, witch hunters, forbidden love, and witty dialogue throughout. I can’t complain one bit, except that the sequel to this duology isn’t coming out soon enough! Obviously you can order it at a steep discount on Amazon ($13.39), but I always choose to pop into my local Barnes & Noble so that I can hand-pick my copy. The ones that come in the mail always tend to be ever-so-slightly damaged.
9. Grey’s Anatomy | Netflix
I’ve been obsessed with Grey’s Anatomy for over a decade. I remember my mom would tune in every week to watch the new episodes, and I would watch right alongside her. When I hit high school, however, my busy schedule prevented me from keeping up. In college, I decided to get caught up by binging all nine seasons in just three months (R.I.P. my grades…). That was the last I ever saw of Grey’s, until Austin and I were looking for a new series to watch on Netflix earlier this year. “Let’s watch Grey’s Anatomy,” he suggested, and I was over the moon. We’re currently on season eight (out of the 15 available seasons on Netflix) and we watch an episode every night while eating dinner. I can’t wait to venture into the episodes I’ve never seen before!
What have been some of your October favorites? Let me know in the comments below!