Monthly Muse: May 2023 Favorites

This month, it finally felt like time slowed down. I don't even remember the first weeks of the month and I'm thankful. Time was flying and it was starting to make me nervous. 

May was ok; my social life slowed down after a busy few months and I was thankful for the reprieve. I also went for a dermatology procedure to remove a mole that my doctor was concerned about; I was more nervous about the stitches that I would need afterwards rather than the procedure itself. It has been hanging over my head for months and came to a point the days leading up to it, so when it was over, I felt a huge weight be lifted off my shoulders. 

I'm still waiting for the results of the biopsy but I'm not concerned, though I feel like I should be? 

I'm happy to see May go and say hello to June which is wide open in terms of possibilities. Summer Fridays have started and I'll have an extra day every week to get my life together. 

I've been spiraling in terms of my mental health recently (see this post) and I'm hoping that sunny weather and a clear calendar can help me do some soul searching. We'll see... 

Now, for my favorite items of May 2023. Some are new, some are rediscovered but all made the month a little better.

Longchamp Le Pilage Tote

I've had a Bloomingdales gift card burning a hole in my pocket since my birthday in November but there was nothing that caught my eye. I figured I'd save it for a pair of shoes or a dress but there was still nothing that was speaking to me, even as the seasons change. Then, it hit me: a Longchamp bag. I had one years ago but then it got stolen out of my car and I never repurchased. I've been wanting a new work bag, even though I just got a Ralph Lauren one for Christmas, because I wanted a true tote. I didn't want to use my Neverfulls because they felt too small and cumbersome. As I was scrolling and saw the Longchamp Le Pilage large tote, I knew that I had to have it. 

It's better than I even remembered. Everything stays upright in it, it's very light, distributes the weight of your items evenly, and isn't so overly large that it makes it hard to navigate. It fits perfectly over your shoulder, doesn't hurt even with a laptop and other items inside, and is just the ideal work tote. I would argue it's better than the Neverfull because it is so carefree and the nylon material makes it weigh nothing. 

I cannot get enough of it and it makes me look forward to going to work.

SKKN Exfoliator 

My skin was acting out this month and it felt incredibly dry, scaly, itchy and out of sorts. I realized I hadn't exfoliated in a while so I grabbed my SKKN exfoliator and was reminded why I loved it so much. It's the best exfoliating scrub I've ever used. It's described by Kimmy K as a double mechanical and enzymatic scrub that resurfaces skin to leave it soft and smooth, and that is definitely what it does. It feels so incredible on the skin, has a delectable, light spa scent, and leaves your skin feeling like you just got a facial. It scrubs away all your dead skin, gets into the nooks and crannies of your face to give you a deep clean. It's unlike anything I've ever used before and I need to remember to use it more!

It's the only SKKN product I've tried but it's insanely good and one of my favorite skincare products of all time. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Chocolate Mascara 

Too Faced Better Than Sex is my favorite mascara of all time. I always try new mascaras, don't like them and can't figure out why. It's because I already have the best! I didn't think it could get better until Too Faced released the chocolate brown version of their best selling mascara and my life was changed. It's the same exact formula and wand as the original but in a deep, chocolate brown color. It's the ideal everyday mascara because it lengthens, volumizes and separates lashes while adding a more subdued and wearable brown color versus a harsh black. It's perfect for me because I have brown lashes so it's almost like I'm not even wearing mascara. I have ignored every other mascara in my collection and opt for this every time.

Lucky Brand Emjane Mary Jane Ballet Flats

Ever since it was stated that ballet flats are making a comeback, I was determined to get a new pair. I have my faithful Tory Burch Minnie Ballet Flats but I wanted something slightly trendier and something that truly resembled a ballet shoe you would wear in dance class. After searching, I found these Lucky Brand flats at DSW for $50 and when the time was right, scooped them up. I've been wearing them nonstop for a few weeks and love them dearly. They're extremely lightweight, I almost feel like I'm barefoot, but they're super cute and go with everything. They add a slight casual nature to your outfit because of the Mary Jane style, and they really do feel like the flats I used to wear in dance class. I love them and want more pairs of this style!

xoxo
B