The first month of the new year is officially complete! In my opinion, it went by in a mix of slow and fast. It feels like New Years was a thousand days ago but also the beginning of the month feels like it was just yesterday. Time is so funny and as I get older I find that it goes by more and more quickly. 

January 2023 was a weird one; I was both oddly calm and then an anxious/depressed mess for most of it. My mental health hit a weird decline over the past few weeks and I've been experiencing a lot of panic attacks and mood swings. It's weird because I haven't felt this bad in months so it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm feeling ok now but it was a weird way to kick off the new year.

Because of that, I don't think I was as strong with my goals as I would've liked to been during the first few weeks but I'm not going to let that stop me. I'm going to just do my best, start from wherever I left off and make every day count.

Maybe I will do a monthly check in on my goals to hold myself accountable...

Anyways, let's dive right into my favorites of the first month of the year!

Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm: When I saw that NARS was releasing a bunch of Orgasm products I knew that I had to have the Afterglow Lip Balm. The orgasm shade in a lip balm? With pretty pink metal packaging? Yes, please! I ordered it the moment it went on sale and have really worn nothing on my lips since. It has a barely there pink color, a little bit of a sheen and feels like virtually nothing on the lips. I'd compare it to the Dior Addict Lip Glow but I like this much better! I had a weird reaction to the Dior lip balm yet I still wear it but this is a nice alternative that doesn't irritate my lips.

Tory Burch Perry Tote: I have been using Neverfull MMs nonstop for work but I wanted to give them a break this month. I switched over to my beloved black Tory Burch Perry Tote and fell in love all over again. It is the best, squishiest leather around, holds a ton and is super comfortable on the shoulder. I think it's a great alternative to the expensive Neverfull so I highly recommend it as a carry-all bag, whether it's for work, school, travel or even every day. It looks like this particular model is discontinued from Tory but it's all over the resale market.

Kate Spade Necklaces: For the past few months (almost a year probably) I haven't been wearing necklaces. I just don't like the feeling of them on my neck and I've been getting irritated with them. Every time I would wear one I would end up taking it off and putting it in my bag. I never, ever wear necklaces during the summer because it's just an extra thing to give off heat. However, I've been wearing my two favorite Kate Spade necklaces lately and have been loving them! They're very delicate, and I don't even feel them on my neck.

Tory Burch Logo Cuff: Talk about loving a piece of jewelry! I have been lusting after this cuff for months, ever since I saw Katey from COF wear it in an Instagram post. I didn't want to spend the $128 on it so I bought it for less than half the price on eBay (eBay has been my SHIT and is an honorable mention favorite). I have been wearing this bracelet nonstop and I am OBSESSED! It's so comfortable, fits perfect on my small wrist because you can adjust it, and looks great with any outfit. I loved it so much I bought the matching ring on eBay as well. Nordstrom just released a silver cuff and I need it so badly!

Boscia Cactus Water Hydrating Cream: When I placed a Sephora order this month I got this gel moisturizer as my deluxe sample and holy crap when was the last time I fell in love with a sample? This is the best moisturizer for summer! I know a lot of people use lightweight gel moisturizers in the summer heat but with my dry skin, I always still use something a little thicker -- until now. It's so lightweight, super hydrating and sinks into the skin immediately. I haven't had an issue with this causing a bad reaction to my skin and my face looks fresh in the morning. I will 100% be purchasing the full size once I run out of this!

What were your favorites this month?
xoxo
B

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