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.

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?

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!