I've been doing these posts for the past few years and it's a really nice, public reminder of everything that happened during the previous 365 and what hope I have for the year ahead.
Truthfully, 2021 wasn't so bad for me; lots of things happened and I feel like I grew into myself a little more than in previous years.
One thing about me that is consistent year after year is the fact that I am obsessed with the stuff. Each year, I never learn my lesson and I continue to impulse shop and make unnecessary purchases... that I believe all enrich my life until they don't.
It's time for another giveaway! I have lots of fun beauty and lifestyle products waiting to be given to one of you. The prize includes items from LUSH, Bath & Body Works, Too Faced and even a little Stoney Clover Lane!
I cannot believe we are only a few days away from 2022. It feels like this year has completely flown by; where does the time go? It feels like each passing year gets faster and faster.
I love nothing more than a themed moment. I love when items fit with a specific moment or season in time and it brings me a lot of joy to have specific times during the year where I exclusively use some of those products.
It helps that a lot of brands cater to this specific niche so I always have lots to choose from to satisfy my themed needs. One of my favorite themes is, of course, winter. I love all things winter; from peppermint to sugar plum to apres-ski to all things Christmas.
Over the years, the industry that caters most to this niche is beauty. There are always so many beauty products that scream winter and this year, more than ever, I feel like there's a ton of winter-themed beauty products to put yourself in the spirit.
I mentioned last week that Olive & June is quickly becoming my go-to nail polish brand and one of those reasons is the adorable nail art stickers that they are very well known for. I started experimenting with them last year and even did a blog post about them fairly recently but today I wanted to talk about the Christmas and winter-themed stickers from the brand.
Last year, O&J released a few different sets of winter-themed stickers: Christmas, Hanukkah, and non-holiday winter. They sold out within seconds but I scored the Christmas and winter stickers... but, they got lost in the mail and Olive & June refunded me. But then, around March, the stickers showed up at my house and I was so excited and vowed to save them for this holiday season.
Well, right after Thanksgiving I couldn't wait to apply these stickers. I chose to use the Christmas stickers, on a red manicure and it was such a fun way to put myself in the Christmas spirit. I applied them the same way I've applied Olive & June stickers in the past... by letting my nails dry completely, using a tweezer to peel them off the film, and placing them on my freshly painted nail. Then, I top with the Olive & June Glossy Top Coat and we're all set!
We are now fully transitioning to the winter nail polish season which means I'm saying goodbye to the mauves, pumpkin oranges, and browns. I'm now saying hello to reds, golds, silvers, glitters, and anything that reminds me of winter.
I recently went through my entire nail polish collection and got rid of a lot of old, expired polishes so I was in need of a few new colors. During the Sephora sale, I spotted this gorgeous peppermint-themed/scented nail kit from Nails INC and knew I needed it. I love when polishes come in sets that have a built-in ombre.
The set comes with four full-size nail polishes, for $22 which is an unbeatable price. It's peppermint scented, which is interesting but also peppermint-inspired because it comes with a dark red, neutral red, baby pink, and light pink polish. All the polishes also have candy-inspired names which are so sweet. It truly puts me in the Christmas spirit.
As soon as I received this set, I immediately had to try out one of the red shades. I used Peppermint Place which is classified as deep red and I was in love. It's a beautiful, true red color that screams Christmas and winter. It also pairs perfectly with the other colors if you did in fact want to do an ombre manicure which I am sure I will do at some point.
The polish applies easily and is not too sloppy, though it is a red polish so it did get a little messy at times, however, I've definitely had messier.
I loved how the polish dried very shiny and just looked beautiful on my nails. It's been a while since I had a decent red polish in my collection and I'm very happy with this one.
One thing aside from being a little messy is that since it's a red polish, it chipped a little faster than other polishes but I will have to put the other colors to the test before I decide if it's the color or formula.
Even if the polishes are a little messy and chip a little easier, I'm still very into the collection and happy I have it! I mean, the polishes are still high quality and worth every penny, especially for the $22 price tag. I think that if you're in need of new winter polishes and want something with a Merry twist, this is a great set! I think it would also make a fantastic gift, especially for a Secret Santa that might have a price limit.
What's on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B
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...
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.
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!
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
It was only right before the pandemic that I purchased my iPad Mini 5. I was feeling sorry for myself because my boyfriend was breaking up with me and I had gotten my tax return so why not treat yourself? It was a great purchase because who knew just a few weeks later we would be locked in the house for months?
That iPad kept me sane and really opened my eyes to what a good iPad can be used for. I raved about it over the past *almost* two years but I had been contemplating getting an additional or a different iPad. I wanted something bigger, but I'm not really sure why? I was just kind of bored I guess.
I wrestled with the idea of a new iPad for a while but then when I found out Apple was holding a September event for their new launches and new iPad were part of it, I knew I had to wait it out. I watched that event live and when I saw the new iPad Mini 6 and how upgraded it actually was, I knew that that was the way to go.
The Apple event made it look too good to pass up and I had to have it immediately.
I ordered the iPad Mini 6 in 'Pink' the moment it was available for purchase and received it on September 24th. I was giddy with excitement and honestly do not remember the last time I loved a tech purchase so much... I guess it was my Macbook Air I purchased in January 2021. Man, Apple products just speak to my soul!
Anyways, as soon as my iPad arrived in the mail, I was obsessed. It is really sleek, very fast and so lightweight. It feels so different from the other iPads also, because of the very rectangular design. The corners are sharp and it feels much more tech-like than anything else I have.
This iPad also comes with iOS15 already installed so you have the most up-to-date Apple technology which I think makes a huge difference. I love iOS15 and think on the iPad it looks and runs even better. I mean, the iPad is also fast because it's brand new but I just think it's a big difference.
Another big difference is also the size; this iPad mini is slightly bigger than the iPad Mini 5 but there is no home button, therefore, the screen is so much bigger, which I love! I think having a bigger screen makes using the iPad a lot easier and more user-friendly. Having everything be slightly bigger gives the illusion that the iPad itself is bigger.
The home button is not removed completely, it's now located on the top right of the iPad, and Touch ID is now enabled, which I love. It makes everything so much more convenient.
As for the color, I got the shade Pink but it's hardly a color at all; it's super light and very reflective. That doesn't necessarily bother me but I wish it was a touch darker so you can actually see the fact that it's pink. Though
I am still using my iPad the same way that I have in the past but I think I use it more than my other iPads, solely because of the weight and size. This iPad feels so different in your hand and in a way, it makes using it a lot easier.
There are days where I use my iPad more than my phone. I have my messages hooked up to it for now (I might change this in the future) so I can be laying on my living room couch, my phone charging in my bedroom, and be fine.
I have been reading a lot on my iPad; I have both a Kindle and Nook and stick to reading exclusively on those. I usually hate reading on an iPad because of the screen but now, I can adjust brightness and coloring on both apps and my iPad is faster than both. Also, for certain books I like that there is a bit of color in the screen; I like reading self-help books on the iPad because it feels more like a regular book to me. Because of the large screen, the nature of the fast processing, and the fact that it's so easy to get to, I like to be able to reference things in these books faster than I would be able to on a normal e-reader.
In addition to reading books, I use my iPad to read articles and blogs, a lot! I like reading on here more versus my computer or phone because it feels more natural.
Another way I use this, and probably my favorite way is to use it as a double screen for my work computer. I couldn't do this with my old iPad because of the outdated tech but with this one, ah it's so nice! I use a software called 'Duet' that allows me to hook up the iPad to my work computer and viola, double screen! It's such a huge help when it comes to managing a heavy workload and it makes me feel super professional, which I love.
All in all, I definitely think if you just want a simple iPad and aren't someone with a business, someone who's in school or is an artist, I think an iPad mini will suit you just fine. I think iPad pros and regular iPads are better for those who utilize an iPad more than a computer, or who need a bigger screen for creative purposes.
There are enough differences between the iPad Mini 6 and the older models to make a case for upgrading; it feels totally different from the other iPad minis I've had and I'm simply obsessed!
What are your thoughts on iPads?
xoxo
B
When I discovered Book of the Month, a book subscription service, a few years back I was immediately taken with it. Book of the Month has been around for a little bit and it is a book-based subscription service that costs $15 a month.
The basis is that they have 4-5 books available and you choose one... the books are different genres, different authors, and most of the time they are very newly released or even unreleased! I've gotten books before they were for sale at bookstores by a week or so because it was a BOTM option.
You can also add on up to two books, for $10 each, that BOTM has in their library. All of the books are hardcover and have a BOTM cover which is pretty cool!
As I said before, I've been subscribed to BOTM back and forth over the years. I signed up in 2018 for a few months, then again at the beginning of the pandemic, and then again in January of this year. The reasons I've stopped in the past is because I was trying to cut back on spending and because I felt like I had too many books.
Winter is here and my candle selection reflects that. I love fall candles more than life but my 2nd favorite is, of course, Christmas & winter candles. The merriest season of all came and went but I still burn a lot of Christmas scents until about March when it becomes socially unacceptable to be excited about winter.
There's still plenty of time to enjoy a nice, flickering wick that makes you dream of a log cabin up in the mountains so I figured let me share my favorite scents while I still can!
Most of these are Bath & Body Works but I have to give a shout out to my favorite 'small business', Evil Queen candles. I've talked about them for years but they just keep getting better & better! I also have been loving the fact that I can burn candles while I'm WFH all day long. It made the season just a little bit easier.
If you haven't tried any of these scents, you need to run to the store and get them!
I have this burning as I write this and I think this is my most burned candle, ever. I buy one every season and always have to keep myself stocked. This is also the most versatile scent because I feel like it's very woodsy and cozy, but not overly wintery. If you're having a bad day in May, I think you can light this up and instantly feel like you're somewhere else. It's not an overly sweet scent and has that fire crackle after smell... it's pretty wonderful and I think even if you don't like candles, you would like Marshmallow Fireside.
*For some reason, this isn't available online but I'm hoping BBW restocks soon.
Am I cheating if I say that this is a new scent and I haven't burned it yet? I am simply obsessed with this candle from Evil Queen and I'm saving it for a rainy day. It is described as a gingerbread, vanilla candle but I definitely get a hint of spice throughout it as well. "Snowed In" is sweet but I get a really great hint of a smokey undertone which is what I really want out of a winter candle. I'm also obsessed with the blue color and that it symbolizes the fact that we've been stuck inside all year long! I would scoop up this candle before it retires for the season.
This is a scent that I have loved for years and it really turned me onto peppermint scents in general. It is classic peppermint without being overly sweet or minty. It has hints of balsam and vanilla to balance out the mint and I think that's what makes it super special. I already burned through one of these this season but I need more.
This isn't technically a winter candle because it's available at BBW all year round and I've burned it in the heat of July but it feels like a winter scent. It smells like the hottest member of the male species you can find.... truly. It smells like an attractive male wearing cologne or better yet, it smells like Abercrombie and Fitch in 2005. It's warm, sensual, and true perfection.
This is another one that is currently sold out online but check your stores because Fresh Balsam needs to be burned at least twice during the winter season. It smells like the most beautiful Christmas tree with a hint of warmth. There is eucalyptus in this candle which cuts the strong fir scent and really adds a touch of calmness to the smell. This is probably the most 'Christmas' scent on the list but I truly believe you can burn this from September-April.
What are your favorite winter candle scents?
xoxo
B
In 2016, my dad passed away and my world was changed forever. When I think about it, nothing has ever felt the same, felt as happy, or as good as it did before 2016. The one thing that definitely didn't feel the same was the holidays, or any celebration, including my birthday.
At the beginning of this year, my family was dealt with another hard card when my aunt passed away and we've been dreading the holiday season ever since January. It's also the first holiday season I'm single in a few years, so there is loss all around because loss doesn't just mean death.
I've been thinking about this post for a while and in a way, this is the perfect year to talk about it. We're all going to be celebrating the holiday differently and you might find some comfort in having to deal with your loss in this vastly different holiday season rather than if everything was merry and bright.
These are the tools that have worked for me over the years when it comes to celebrations and the holiday season. I'm not an expert nor am I a doctor but wanted to just offer advice to anyone who needs it. I am also someone who loves the holiday season, despite everything, so I am pretty good at dusting myself off and powering through... if you are not that kind of person, please don't take offense to any advice offered.
The first Thanksgiving without my dad, I woke up crying. I could cry thinking about it now. I cried for the majority of the day and would sneak away into my room to sit and cry, thinking about how everything was different and how much I missed him.
I think my mistake was trying to make the day feel normal. I did all my normal things: woke up, had coffee, snuggled up to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade but at some point, it hit me that nothing was normal and that I was suppressing my feelings.
Your feelings are valid, always remember that, but when it comes to personal loss, your feelings are more than valid -- they're raw and real and warranted. In the days leading up to the holiday, let yourself feel those emotions. Try your best to not push them down or distract yourself... feel them and let yourself cry. Throw a tantrum, scream into a pillow and let it all out. You will feel so much better afterward and it is your gateway into 'normalcy'.
I'm working on another post dedicated to journaling but wow, writing out your feelings really does wonders. When I'm feeling down about my grief, I write it in my journal. I might frame it as a letter or just let out my frustration about how they aren't here anymore.
I like to take a few personal moments to honor my dad (and this year, my aunt). Whether that's just saying a prayer, talking out loud to them, or wearing something that reminds me of them, it helps me feel close to them and helps me channel my grief in a physical way.
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| My dad & I |
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| Gross picture of the scabs on my arm from scratching/dry skin |