Ever since I could remember I was an avid fan of Bath & Body Works. One of my first memories of beauty products is their 'Art Stuff' line from the late 90s/early 2000s and it was even my first 'real' job for a solid three months until I quit because retail is hard. 

When I graduated college, started making my own money and wanted to create a little oasis for my bedroom, Bath and Body Works is where I headed. I could not get enough of their candles and each one made me happier than the next.

For a long time, they were the only candles I used because why would I try anything else? BBW had the best scents, the cutest candle accessories, and the best names for their scents. Why would I buy anything that wasn't named Maghony Teakwood? 

I have written a few of these Current Obsessions posts in the past but they were always focused on one category... however, over the past few months, I find myself really being drawn to a random assortment of things that just bring me a lot of joy. 

These are items that I can't stop using and can't stop talking about; they are all great in their own way and truly cannot get enough of them! 

Let's get into it... 

Glossier Cookie Butter Balm Dot Com

Balm Dot Com is my favorite lip balm of all time and when the band announced that they were launching a Cookie Butter scent for the holidays, I rushed to the website. I was so excited because I love anything Cookie Butter scented/flavored, and it was the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. I don't know what I was expecting when I smelled this but I was shocked. It smells exactly like Cookie Butter... like exactly! It smells so delicious, so perfect and it adds the slightest nude tint to your lips, while still having the same, great moisturizing formula of regular Balm Dot Com. Whenever I use this balm, I am transported to the North Pole and it puts the biggest smile on my face. 

Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte 

Hotel Lobby Candles

Stoney Clover Flat Pouches

I don't think I really have to explain this one. I am Stoney Clover's biggest fan and a huge fan of their discontinued, once in a while, vegan leather flat pouches. I have a handful of flat pouches and just purchased another one from their American Girl collection. I love using them as clutches but I've been using them as iPad cases for the past few weeks and I love it! With my new iPad, I like to have it case-free... I just like the way it looks and feels, but I don't want to have it out in the open all the time. The SCL flat pouch is perfect for that. 

The vegan leather pouches are only available at select times, in select collaborations now (a few from the American Girl collection are still available) but you can also use the clear flat pouches for this! 

Replica Fragrances

For the past year or so, I have been really into perfumes. I don't know what came over me but I am simply obsessed with buying all different types of fragrances; it's a little luxury that really makes me so happy. One of the brands I have come to really love is Maison Margiela Replica fragrances. Years ago, I fell in love with By the Fireplace and Under The Lemon Trees. This past spring, Bubble Bath was my go-to and then, I discovered the scent Autumn Vibes. I haven't touched any of my other perfumes in a good two months because these take the cake. Each one is so unique and light... the scent lasts a long time but they aren't overpowering. These are my new go-to! 

What have been your current obsessions lately?
xoxo
B

If you thought March was slow, April beat you to it. I feel like it has been April for 100 years. It was an exciting month though; lots of fun stuff at work, a few great family get-togethers, and finally the arrival of Spring.

I'm writing this on Saturday afternoon after running hours of errands and it was such a delight because it's so gorgeous outside. Is Spring melting my cold, winter loving heart? It just might!

As we're nearing Summer, I'm starting to think about new clothes and fun summer activities to do. I never do anything in the summer and every year, I vow to do something but it always falls through. Maybe this year will be the year I keep that promise.

I tried a lot of new things this month, from accessories to skincare to beauty and I've been loving a lot of them!



1. Cuvee Beauty Protective Treatment: I ran out of both my detangler/protective sprays this month and I've been meaning to try this Cuvee Beauty one. It's not necessarily a detangler but it gets the job done. I have the entire Cuvee Beauty line which I want to do a post on eventually but the story behind these products is that they are made with Champagne (how awesome?) for better, stronger hair. I've been loving this treatment! In the beginning, I felt like it made my hair a little greasy but that's not the case anymore; I guess it was something else or my hair has gotten used to it. I've been using it all month and my locks feel a little stronger and look better. It's an awesome product!



2. Slip Silk Scrunchies: I saw these everywhere last month and immediately fell in love with them. I love that all the 90s trends are coming back and I'm so into scrunchies being a thing again. Slip is also known for their silk pillowcases being good for your hair so if I was going to buy from anyone, it was Slip. The price is nuts; $40 for 3 scrunchies? It's insane but I had to have them because I'm a sucker. I've been LOVING THEM. I love my Invisibobble scrunchies that don't leave dents in my hair but these are even better. They don't give me a headache, they definitely don't leave dents and they are so comfortable. They are also adorable -- I especially love the pink one, obviously.



3. YSL Card Case: Last month when I got my promotion at work, I treated myself to this gorgeous YSL Card Case. I've been wanting it for years and finally took the leap (I also got a discount from SAKS from one of my friends) and it's awesome. It's large enough to use as a regular wallet with 5 card spaces but is also a little stiff (probably because it's still new). It is so luxurious and feels so nice, I'm pretty obsessed. If you've been wanting one of these, I highly recommend getting your hands on it. It's even better in person and well worth the $250 price tag.

4. St Ives Cleansing Stick: It's not a secret how much I love my Tarte Frixxtion Charcoal Cleansing Stick and I ran out last month. I was going to repurchase but then I remembered that St. Ives had come out with their own cleansing sticks and I had been curious to try them. I've been trying to explore the drugstore a little more and I've found some new gems that are hiding there. These St Ives Cleansing Sticks are just them. I have the honey one and it is so nice. It cleanses your skin and leaves it feeling super fresh. It's not an exfoliator so it doesn't feel the same as the Tarte one but St. Ives does have a charcoal one so I may try that next. If you want to get in on the cleansing stick trend, I highly recommend going with the St. Ives one.

What did you love this month?
xoxo
B

I always used to think of candles of a Fall and Winter item. I never burned candles in the Spring and Summer because I didn't like the scents as much and obviously they gave off more heat than I needed.

Beauty and books are the two things I religiously review here so it was easy to put them in their own category for 'best of 2017'.

This post is all about my ultimate favorites of the year... the items I couldn't live without and just loved to the moon and back.



These are the items that made 2017 a standout year, the items that I used the most, the items I talked about the most and the ones I just couldn't get enough of!



1. Kate Spade Olive Drive Bridgette: When I saw this item in late summer, I knew it was a bag that had to be mine. I can say that this was my favorite purchase of the year, my favorite handbag of the year for sure. I bought it off Ebay because $400 was just a little too much for me and the leather on the 'older' version is pebbled but I love it all the same. It's a bag that can be an everyday bag or a work bag; it's chic, roomy, and very comfortable. It's the ultimate bag for any gal!



2. Evil Queen Candles: These candles (and essential oils) took over my life in 2017. I loved them at the end of 2016 but this was the year I had them for every season. These are the candles that I burned in the Spring & Summer and really made me a 'candle' person all year round. I love that they're a small company, that they're handmade candles, and how sassy the brand is. Also, Ida Sofia (the owner) is the sweetest person ever. She really cares about her customers and even sent me my favorite essential oil (free of charge) after my bag got stolen.



3. Louis Vuitton Cosmetics Pouch: This was the year of the pre-loved items and my favorite was by far my Louis Vuitton Cosmetics Pouch in the multi-color noir. The exact color is no longer available from LV but you can find it on the pre-loved market. However, I really loved this pouch. It's high quality (obvi) and held everything I could ever need. It made me so happy to use it and have it displayed in my room, it was just such a good purchase!

4. Weight Watchers: This isn't a tangible object but this was the highlight of the 2nd half of the year for me. I've lost 23 pounds (the holidays are kicking my butt) on Weight Watchers and I truly never thought that was possible. It has changed my life and really made me happier than I ever have been. I am so proud of myself that 2017 was the year I finally decided to take control of my body and Weight Watchers helped me do that.

What were your favorite products of 2017?
xoxo
B

With the entire blogosphere in the blogmas/vlogmas spirit, I figured I'd try to join in as much as I can. Most of my content this month will be Christmas & winter related so I figured I could name it blogmas and just do as much as possible.

This post is a little past due because of my personal stuff that happened last week. A little update on the robbery... the police are going to be looking further into it because it's something that's been going on in my otherwise safe neighborhood.

Unfortunately, my insurance company doesn't cover stolen goods so I'm out of luck on getting any money from it. I've begun to repurchase most of the stuff that was in the bag that I actually need, like planners and wallets but other things like the makeup bag, Henri Bendel and Louis Vuitton notebooks won't be repurchased as of now.

All of that aside, I'm happy November is finally here. Aside from October, November is my favorite month because of my birthday, Thanksgiving, and the start of the Christmas season.

I was happy with the October that did just pass, though, because so much good stuff happened. I was very busy every weekend with fun things with family and friends, hence why I took a break this past weekend and just relaxed. I had a lot of blogging, writing, and catch up to play; plus I had to get my butt to the gym because I didn't go once in October.

I did some shopping this month and would've been including some of the items in this post but most of the stuff was in my stolen bag. (LOL). This notebook and this (similar) makeup bag were my two favorites,
but for now here are the things that I currently have and have been loving.




Evil Queen Fall Candles: I was ready for Halloween on October 1st and one of my favorites was definitely Hocus Pocus. My favorite thing to do was to light one of my Evil Queen fall/Halloween candles and watch Hocus Pocus every.single.day. I went through three of them this month: Bitches Brew, Resting Witch Face, and Squad Ghouls. They smelled so good, weren't overpowering and the fun colors added to my Halloween decor. They're AWESOME.


Free Spirit Fringe Notebook: I got this in a past POPSUGAR Must Have Box and when I got it, I was equally excited and disappointed because  I did not need another notebook. It wasn't getting much use until I realized how I could utilize it. This is now my every day, everything notebook. I've been making list after list, doodling, and just writing everything I could in this notebook and it's been keeping me super organized. My Henri Bendel notebook that was stolen was supposed to replace this but I figured that I'd just use this in place of that for now. It's so nice to have a normal size notebook (and not a mini Louis Vuitton) to really write things down and flip through pages.

Below are a few other notebooks that could make great 'everything' notebooks:




Kate Spade Noveau York Travel Mug: I didn't need a new travel mug but I couldn't pass up this new print from Kate Spade. I bought it late September and have been nonstop using it ever since. It keeps my coffee really warm and doesn't spill (as long as you put the top on correctly), so I've really been enjoying it.



Kate Spade Cameron Street Perforated Lane: I have been wanting this bag since it was released and when it went on sale, I finally got it. This bag is probably the most beautiful one I have in my collection and the light pink 'dolce' color is perfect and so different. The bag is rather large but feels small and fits everything! It's very lightweight so even when it does have a lot of stuff inside, it doesn't weigh down my shoulder. I did a reveal and mini-review in one of my videos this month so take a look. I'll be sure to do a full handbag review soon!

*If you want the perforated version, I recommend going ASAP because there is only Black and Deep Plum left!

What did you love this month?
xoxo
B

I have the interior design gene and I get it from my mom. She's always decorated our houses with such detail and beauty. I remember when I was little, we'd constantly be in furntiure stores or Home Goods looking for new pieces to add to the home.

Sometimes I'd come home from school and the living room and dining room would be rearranged, sometimes the living room ended up in the dining room and vice versa. I always loved to rearrange my own room and see what layout gave me the best floor space.

I never minded moving so much (I've lived in 7 houses in the same neighborhood in my 24 years of life) because it meant I got to pick a new paint color, new comforter, and a new feel for my room.

As I've grown up, I've taken that love of decorating with me. With the rise of 'living' content on the internet, Pinterest, and internet based design companies, there is so much inspiration online and at our fingertips.

When I moved last summer I was ready to decorate my room the way I wanted too. I was ready for a mature bedroom with all the Pinterest elements you could image. Well, that's what I got and you can see the full tour here.



I've changed things up a little bit, added a dresser and a hangbag organizer but today I want to talk about my favorite, current decor that I either have or is on my wishlist.

Throw Pillows: I LOVE throw pillows and have so many. I think they really add something special to the room and you can have fun with them; they can reflect your personality and your mood and I love that. It's like having a graphic t-shirt with your favorite saying. All my pillows are from Dormify, which is a great website that always has a good sale and is great for young adults on a budget.



Gallery Walls
Coffee Table Books
Bedroom Update
New Room Tour

What are your favorite decor pieces?
xoxo
B

I am a huge candle person. I don't know when it started; I've always liked candles but was never as passionate as I am about them right now. I probably had a few in college but it wasn't until post college that I truly fell in love.

I loved how they make my feel; calming, ethereal, and soothing. They make the entire house smell good and I'm immediately happy whenever I light one.

They are definitely more of a fall/winter thing for me. Is there anything better than Bath & Body Works from September-December?

I usually strictly buy Bath and Body Works candles because I personally feel that they smell the best, last pretty long, and I love the kitchy names and scents. Also, you never have to buy them full price. There is always a sale and always a coupon.

I was die hard BBW fan... until I somehow discovered Evil Queen. I'm pretty sure I've talked about it here before but I feel the need to dedicate an entire Brand Buzz post to ShopEvilQueen & their candles.

I discovered the company this past Fall and loved their fall/winter collection, and lusted after a few staples in their collection.

All the candles are very sassy, sweet, and cute. I love anything with funny meanings and sayings and that is exactly what Evil Queen is. I mean, with a name like Evil Queen what else do you expect?

What sparked this post was that I recently ordered two more candles from the company last week and the packaged arrived yesterday. I always get confused during the pre-spring/spring season as to what kind of candles I want. I don't really like spring or summer scents so it's very difficult to find scents I do like; I usually go with something musky but not too wintery.


Now, that problem is something I no longer have to deal with because Evil Queen has candles that don't really fall within a seasonal category so it's nice to have options.

The candles that I recently ordered are Bitches Who Brunch, which have scenes of mandarin, champagne, and hangover (LOL) & Magic Meditation, which is filled with frankincense, rain, and crystals.

Another one I purchased a few weeks ago but have not burned yet is one of their most famous and well known candles called Boss Babe, that has bergamot, cardamom, and goals!

She's started selling cute little bundles that come with a candle and a soap, scented to match. I think that's so adorable!

Evil Queen uses soy wax and is totally vegan so the candles are better for you than something else on the market!

I love small businesses and this is the type of company that speaks to me on a really good level. It's not just the product but the lady behind the product. All the packages come with sweet little messages like "This is the sign you've been waiting for" and "Kick ass today!" The candles also come with a little care sheet, but if you need more information you can head to the Candle Care Section of the website.

After this most recent round of candle shopping, I think they've officially made my list for favorite companies (and candles!)

Have you ever purchased from ShopEvilQueen?

We're in the full throws of the fall season and this past weekend, I felt the true feeling of fall. Saturday, in NYC, we had shitty weather and it was very humid but Sunday & Monday it made up for it. It was raining Sunday but the perfect fall rain, with the perfect chill in the air...

I was so in my zone; windows open, candles lit, and I watched Halloween movies all day. It was truly the perfect fall day... and it got me thinking about this post. I have so many opinions about this lovely season, and I pretty much mention the fact that I love fall in every single post (I'm sorry!)

There are so many things that are my "favorite" on a daily basis, but particularly during the fall season, my love of items comes out to play pretty strongly.

I wanted to do a round up post of the best fall items to have for the season, and what my favorites at the moment are. Everything from beauty to home to fashion, these are my must-haves for the season.

A few special callouts:

ShopEvilQueen Candles (I mentioned these in my Monthly Muse post) Bath and Body Works Candles -- Pumpkin Pecan Waffles is my FAV right now Kittenish by Jessie James Decker Chunky Beanie Pumpkin Spice Granola Hocus Pocus

Goodbye September, hello October! I talked all about my love for the fall season & the month of October in last week's Weekly Wrap Up, so I won't go on another rant.

September was an odd month; I had a lot of motivation for the things I love, and struggled in some other areas. I made some strides with the blog, some freelance work, and got to attend some fabulous blog events. I've seen what could happen when I put in time & effort into my "side hustle" and it's pretty awesome!

I have high hopes for the rest of the year so cheers to that!

PS: I did a thing and started a podcast. Go listen to it! You can click that link & download, or just head to the iTunes store and search "Basic Bri" -- yup, real original name!

Let's get into the things I loved this month:



1. Estee Edit Beam Team Hydrate & Glow: Ever since The Estee Edit was released, I've been intrigued by the brand. They are supposed to appeal to millennials so I guess they're doing a good job. I had only tried one product from them, the Pore Vanishing Stick, and I liked it a lot. I needed more though, so when I saw this Holiday kit, I jumped on it. Since then, I've been using the Beam Team Hydrate & Glow every single day instead of regular foundation and have LOVED IT. I've gotten so many compliments on my skin and it's so nice. It's light coverage, but gives a really nice & natural finish to the skin. It's so easy to blend with your hands and perfect for those morning rushes. I definitely recommend trying it!

2. Orly Flash Dry Drops: I placed a hefty Ulta.com order this month and I wanted to try out the Orly Flash Dry Drops. I don't get manicures, I do my nails myself at home & have gotten so good at it... I mean if you read Manicure Mondays, you know what I'm talking about. I was really in the market for these types of drops. They really do work & make all the difference in how my manicure looks. It doesn't make it last longer (but it's not supposed to) but it does really make it dry faster. I will never be without these drops again.



3. Shop Evil Queen: Oh, you bet your butt we're talking about candles! I haven't made my annual  Bath & Body Works trip to get my pumpkin/fall candles, but in the meantime, I've been LOVING these candles from Shop Evil Queen. She has the cutest candles, and they're SUPER sassy! They are some of the strongest smelling candles, and the packaging is adorable. I have "Dam It's Early" which smells like coffee, "Pumpkin Spice Life" which is obviously Pumpkin Spice and "Sweater Weather" which smells like cotton. They're soy candles & chemical free, which is fabulous. It's not something that's uber important to me but it's a nice addition. It's just a great candle site and I need to purchase more.

4. POPSUGAR: I know I mentioned this in my Little Loves post but I needed to do it again. I don't know what it is but I've been obsessed with the company this month. Maybe it was my POPSUGAR Must Have Box, or the event I went too, but I just feel like I rediscovered the company. I downloaded the app and have been obsessively reading all the articles they post. They just launched their Career & Finance section and I've been LOVING it!

What did you love this month? Let me know in the comments!

Why is it June? Seriously, where is time going? Is this what happens when you get older...time just flies by and you don't know what to do with yourself?

I'm just in awe that it's June. It's been over a year that I've been out of college (I know I keep mentioning that) and it's just like, this is real life now. I'm still going through a quarter life crisis and I think it's going to be like that for a while. The joy of your 20s!!

Whenever I think things are getting better, the universe flips me off and throws me back in my seat, where I started. Did that make sense? Probably not--I'm rambling about nonsense.

The point of this post is my May Favorites!

I have a lot of things I've loved this month--more than any other month I think and I don't know why. Have I had a lot of time on my hands? Maybe.

Most of them are beauty products because what else do I "favorite" all month? No seriously, like what else should I put in my favorites? I'll think of something.

I do have a few random things and I'll be sure to keep better track of "random" favorites (like clothing maybe?) next month!



PUR Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup: I got this when I went to my Chicago work trip and I've kind of been obsessed. I've been wanting to get into powder foundations for a while because they're easy to apply when you want a light layer of coverage (and are too lazy to get your hands dirty with a BB cream). This gives great coverage and applies on the skin smoothly, for a natural finish. I put a primer underneath, then concealer, and then this foundation and it's been my go to all month. I apply it with my next favorite which is ....

It Cosmetics Airbrush Smoothing Foundation Brush: I also got this in Chicago and OMG I am OBSESSED. I am actually willingly to spend $50 on this brush set from Ulta because these brushes are giving me life. I don't use brushes for liquid foundation, I'm too addicted to my beautyblender for that nonsense, but for a powder foundation, this buffing brush is perfection. It applies everything evenly and smoothly for a truly airbrush finish. I am beyond in love.

Porefessional Primer by Benefit Cosmetics: ANOTHER Chicago item (I'm sorry but a beauty conference leads way to lots of products). I had a sample of this product years ago and I was obsessed. It was the first primer I've ever used and I changed the game for me. I've been trying to find primers that live up to this one because I can't bare to spend $30 on a primer, but, after I got this bad boy back in my life, my make-up has not been the same. I notice a severe difference in my skin and how long my make-up lasts when I have this on. I get a lot more compliments on my skin as well. So, naturally, I haven't been wearing any other primer this month. Oh and I will shell out the $30 for this once I run out--it's THAT good. There's a reason it's a cult favorite.

Covergirl Intensify Me Liquid Liner: When I blogged about the new CoverGirl products a few weeks back, I mentioned that I really loved this eyeliner (and hated the mascara) and the love has stood the test of time. I've been wearing this like crazy and it has reignited my love for liquid liner. It's easy to apply, super black, and stays on all day. The brush is so unique and I think that is also a major reason I love it so much.

Nivea In Shower Body Lotion: I've gone through three tubes of this lotion in the past 3 months and I'm wondering why I'm just mentioning this now. When I heard about 'in shower' body lotion, I was stunned and curious. It just washes away? I apply it in the shower? How interesting! I got a sample of this in a magazine or something and immediately used it. I went out and bought it the next day. I hate applying lotion when I get out of the shower. I just hate the process of it but I know it's necessary. This makes my life easier. I apply it in the shower, wash it off, and could get out and go about my day. I don't have to wait for it to dry or absorb into the skin--it's fullproof! It also lasts forever on the skin and really makes a difference. My skin is always super soft and smooth after using it. The one downside is that I need to control how much I'm using because like I said, I've repurchased this three times already and usually regular body lotion lasts forever. I will always repurchase though because it's that good!

Mahogany Teakwood Candle from Bath & Body Works: My little had this in her room up at school and whenever I visited, I would spend a good amount of the day smelling this candle. IT SMELLS LIKE FREAKING ABERCROMBIE!!!!!!!!! I am not kidding you--it smells like Abercrombie cologne, it smells like a hot boy and I almost cried tears of joy when I finally ordered it. I haven't been using any other candle in my room/house the past month and I'm addicted. I will have this candle forever and ever--I will spend any amount of money on it. It is INCREDIBLE! GO OUT AND BUY IT AND MAKE YOUR HOME SMELL LIKE HOT MEN.

(Was that aggressive? I don't even care. I'm obsessed)

Horoscopes: I've been obsessed with horoscopes and astrology for a while but this month, I became obsessed. Maybe because I'm just looking for answers to a question I don't even know but I was addicted this month. Maybe because Mercury is in retrograde and I just became fascinated with astrology? I don't know but I was googling everything this month having to do with my horoscope. I use the Daily Horoscope app on the iPhone and I have to say, its scary accurate sometimes. (PS I'm a Sagittarius)

So that is it! My favorite for the month of May! What did you love this month? Tell me in the comments!

Also, are you obsessed with astrology? Lets talk about it :)