My Monthly Edit

THINKING
This weekend, my parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary – it’s a milestone that very few couples reach & I am so grateful for the incredible legacy of love that they have created for our family. They’ve been through so much together – my dad came back a very different person after Vietnam, my mom suffered 3 miscarriages & they both lost their parents far too young.  But they have drawn closer to God & one another through each heartache, they’ve remained committed to the vows they made and, believe it or not, they are still just as in love as ever.  Their marriage is an inspiration to so many & I’m beyond blessed to have had a front row seat to witness it all.

TRYING
There’s a new breed of face masks hitting the market & I’d heard such good things that I just had to try one for myself.  These come in dry form (so be careful when opening!) – you simply mix 1 tablespoon with a few drops of water to create a thick paste and then apply.  This one gently exfoliated my skin without irritating & left it unbelievably soft and smooth.  It also comes in a Blue Clay version, which I’ve been told is great for acne-prone skin or those with hormonal breakouts.  I also love that this brand is plant-based, paraben-free & cruelty-free.

MAKING
As soon as the weather starts to cool down, I kick into high gear with fall baking.  For me, baking has always been a great stress reliever & anything that gets my house smelling like pumpkin just makes me happy.  If I’m short on time, I’ll whip up these pumpkin muffins & throw them in the freezer so I can pull out as needed for quick weekday breakfasts.  But, when I’m craving something sweet in the evening, these Pumpkin Caramel Pecan Fudge Bars always hit the spot.  They take a little bit of prep time, but they are totally worth the effort & even my non-Paleo friends eagerly devour them.

USING
I’m a big believer that leopard print accessories (when done right) are classic wardrobe staples that you can use over and over again.  I’ve been on the hunt for a small leopard bag for a few years, but it’s proven extremely difficult to find one in the exact shape & price point I was wanting.  Initially, I was searching for a crossbody & was eyeing this one…but then I came across this bucket bag and I instantly fell in love. It’s just the right size for every day and it looks so much more expensive (though it still was a “splurge” for me!).

CRAVING
I tend to gravitate towards neutrals this time of year, but I’m making a concerted effort to incorporate more color into my wardrobe for fall.  I’m loving the pretty eggplant hue of this v-neck sweater (currently 30% off with code SHOPFAST) & I also can’t get enough of the rust shade I’ve been seeing everywhere (like this pullover, this lace top & this dress).  More of my colorful picks include this red shift dress, this emerald sweater & this navy blouse.

LOVING
On a recent visit to the salon, my stylist mentioned that my hair felt dryer than usual on the ends, so we discussed the products I was using and he recommended this hair oil for me to try.  I’m already a huge fan of this brand (I already use their shampoo, conditioner & mousse), so I was eager to test out this new product…and it did not disappoint!  It gave me the moisture & shine I needed without making my hair look greasy (I focused the product on my ends only).  A little goes a long way, so I know the bottle will last me for months + it smells incredible!  Another recent discovery of mine was this volumizing hair dryer.  If you have hair that’s thick or difficult to straighten, this is a total game changer.  It cut my drying time in half and left my strands frizz-free & sleek with no flat iron needed.