Well hello, monthly favorites, we meet again. Two years at these posts & I'm still never quite sure how to intro them. 
I suppose I could just dive right in? Yeah, lets do that. Here we go:
I've got two essie colors I'm dying over right now: in the lobby and now & zen. I wrote about in the lobby last year (this might even be a repeat favorite... oops) & it looks like it's standing the test of time. & as for now & zen, there's something about matte grey nails and this color is PERFECT for the matte about you top coat.  
OK y'all, confession. Up until about a month ago, I hadn't had a bubble bath in a good oooh, fifteen years? My eczema never really let me, but I was looking for ANY new things to help with anxiety & a good bubble bath was on the list. (full post on the perfect bubble bath coming MONDAY) So I went on the hunt for some bubbles that wouldn't irritate my skin & settled on this one. I've got good news to report: it's earned the WDAC seal of approval. & it's orange vanilla... kind of an unexpected but dreamy combo?

As much as I love a good choker or statement necklace, my true allies lie with a simple, delicate pendant like this little gold one. Even better? Layering it with a longer necklace. 
I'm actually kind of obsessed with my lace-up flats. (regular size version found here) Lace ups are a very big trend this season & I adore the look of them. & they're actually incredibly comfortable too, which I was pleasantly surprised with. (the idea of string wrapping around my ankle wasn't super appealing in the beginning) Now I'm SURE there's nothing better than your fave pair of jeans & black lace-ups. I'm here for it.
OKAY, your turn to tell me what your favorites have been this month. 
Happy Friday! (I actually have the weekend off.... I'll drink to that)
xo,

LACE UPS + WINE STAINED DRESS

LET'S TALK DRESSES. I love a good wine-colored dress for autumn, especially paired up with a cosy plaid/ flannel. Long necklaces break up the length of the dress & add a simple touch. 

LACE UPS. Obsessed with this trend & I hope it's not going anywhere. As much as I love booties, these are a nice alternative for when you want a change. And this pair is so comfy, what could be better?

dress | francesca's (can't find online but it should still be in stores! similar found here) flannel | mudd lace ups | stevies (similiar here) necklace | francesca's 

xo,

Bits & Baubles

first day of autumn leaf action. {tee found here}

Oh hey, hi. HOW'S IT GOIN? Thought I'd pop in for a little b&b/ chat. It's been awhile.

FIRST, Camera update. Still not fixed. Still haven't taken the steps to get it fixed. Do I blame life or laziness? Hmmmm, life. Life happened. SO still kickin it old school with my point & shoot. #throwback #sovintage

Grey's & HTGAWM are back & we need to talk about for it for a sec. Seeing alex karev revert to his season one self is heartbreaking and I think he needs a hug. & you're telling me we gotta wait the entire Murder season to find out WHO DIED???? How is that okay? I get enough of that with pll, thanks.

{shades // choker} 

{bff} 

Operation Meditation is still in full swing. I never knew what even five minutes can do. VERY good for an anxious mind. Next up I'm gonna try & start this mindfulness book I've been meaning to get on for aaages. 

SO, what about you? What's new in your world?

xoxo,

Autumn Essentials

OH HI. Autumn is FINALLY, OFFICIALLY, here, & even if you're like me and somewhere too warm for your own good, there are still things you should get ready to have on hand all season.
HERE WE GO:

// Candles & autumn go together like lucas scott & literary quotes. (where you at, OTH fans) My favorite line is still the signature soy collection from Target & this season I'll be reaching for these two scents. COZY.
// Another classic fall pairing? Flannel shirts and a pair of grey booties or lace-up flats. Leggings are a classic way to tie this look together. 
// Wine/ burgundy is a fall staple color & right now I'm loving a simple burgundy dress. There are so many ways to wear it, like with a flannel tied around the waist or with a cardigan. Voila! 
// My favorite way to accessorize is with a good nail & lippie and for me, it's gotta change with the seasons! Dark nails are so dreamy, and this rimmel kate color is ALWAYS my go-to.
// PUMPKIN COFFEE. That is all.
// Oh & one last thing: every season needs a good playlist. Here's autumn's.
OKAY your turn: tell me all your autumn essentials! Anything I missed?
xo,

September's Embrace

The yearning for crisp days and cosy nights wrapped in blankets of warmth and crackling records, the comfort of pumpkin coffee and burning candles.
The yearning for autumn's crisp warm embrace.
xo,
 

Monday Inspiration

{via}

Monday reminder to put yourself first.
xo,

Link Love || 9.16.16

Alright alight alright, it's been a hot minute since I've rounded up some of the best links around for ya (& done a Matthew Mcconaughey impression, apparently) 
SO, anyway, let's read, shall we:
// BRB, pulling this cheat sheet out for my next interview. (whenever that is)
// Denim skirts are my go-to. Always.
// This channel is my fave way to catch up on NYFW. Coffee & a serious case of fomo, CHECK.
// Newest sunnies addition. Need I say more?
// A lovely article on why asking for help is not a crime & why you should always put mental health first.

OKAY, your turn. Got any juicy weekend reading material?
xo,

Patterns

dress | xhilaration wedges | stevies (similar here) sunglasses | target

xo,

Mood Board Vol. 7 | Autumn Vibes

Today was meant to be an outfit post, (don't worry, it'll come) but I'm into mood boards as ever & the autumnal vibes everywhere are making me feel some type of way. (is that still a thing we say??)
I love the warm taupe-y colors of the season & the comfort of a pumpkin latte & a record spinning. 
HOW GREAT IS IT?? 

{images via, via, via, via, via, via}
xo,

Let's Talk Meditation

I've been reading too much buzzfeed & was tempted to title this something like 'I tried meditation for a month & here's what I found.' Because well, I did try meditation for a good month (and counting) and I've discovered quite a bit. 
LET'S CHAT.
WHY MEDITATION
I'm always looking for anything helpful for my anxiety, but for some reason was resistant to full-on mediation. Guided practices have never seemed helpful and the most meditating I'd done was shavasana practice at the end of a yoga session, & that worked for me..... but I needed something more. The benefits of meditation were not lost on me; of course I wanted reduced stress, better sleep & an amped immune system, among other things.
SO I turned to the app store for some meditation (has anyone started taking shots every time I say that word?) help and found Calm. (<== not sponsored, just love) SUCH a helpful app for anyone looking for a routine. I won't go into crazy detail- just let you see for yourself- but there are so many practices to choose from & every little bit helps. Of course, what works for me isn't going to work for everyone & there so many books and apps and if you wanna go really old school, tapes to get you started. 

WHAT I'VE FOUND My goal was to keep at this enough to make it routine, & I have, although some days are inconsistent because, LIFE. Ideally I practice twice a day; once first thing in the morning & once right before bed. I prefer to leave shorter practices for the morning since my brain is still only half functioning. But even with short sequences I've noticed how different it makes the start of my day feel. I'm better concentrated & I feel like I can take on the day better.
Same with night practices; I've actually had to force myself awake to finish the routine, HA! I've found I can fall asleep a lot better if I'm relaxed (who knew?) & the nights I decide to skip meditating are regretted right away. 
WHICH brings me to the conclusion of my findings: that just one month with (mostly) consistent mediation in my life has been successful. I've noticed myself keeping my cool more & obviously my anxiety hasn't just disappeared (if only) but with guided practices I'm learning how to better manage & be mindful. BEING IN THE MOMENT is such a tricky concept for me, but it no longer seems totally of reach. With mindful & consistent practice meditation really can work. 
Looks like I proved myself wrong. 
OKAY, your turn! If you've ever tried mediating let me know your experience!
xo,

Four Things Anyone Obsessed With Fall Understands

With the return of sweaters, September & the pumpkin spice latte, it's truly autumn in blog land. I don't know what it is about the season that's so appealing; is it the crisp feel of the air? The scents & the colors & the fashion?
Whatever the case, anyone who's obsessed with fall can understand the following things:
1// Pumpkin spice is more than just a latte. The return of the beloved PSL signifies the new season in the air, right on the cusp of our lipstick-stained drink lids. 
2// The fashion is just better. There's no real rhyme or reason for this fact, it just is. Maybe it's the scarves. 
3// Target becomes even harder to resist. Where are the candles? GIVE ME ALL OF THEM.
4// It's okay to be basic. Every time I think we've finally retired that word, fall rolls around & there's a new string of  'basic' girl jokes that no one laughs at anymore. If being basic AF is your game, roll with it. It's all in the form. 
xo,

Bella Hadid's Two Minute Makeup Routine- WDAC Style

Nothing like a clean cut, simple makeup routine, especially when you've woken up to discover you hit the snooze button oooone too many times. LUCKILY in times of trouble, we've got Bella Hadid to help us out. I did all the dirty work & timed it to see if it actually is only a two minute situation.
The result? In realistic terms, depending on how much of your own spin you put on things, you'll add about five minutes, (total time was about 7:31) but that's still better than half an hour, I must say. 
SO. Let's break things down a bit, shall we:

CONCEAL: Dot any problem areas & under the eyes, then blend with a beauty sponge.
BROWS: I went in with an accelerated version of my normal brow routine, filling in sparse areas and brushing UP.
CONTOUR & HIGHLIGHT: A necessity for looking awake & alive, I used my contour palette for a simple look, then got my highlighter stick out for the cheekbones and a little under the eye, as well as on the eyelid for added glow.
SHADOW: Next comes a dust of gold shadow (I love unleashed from this Lorac palette) onto the lids & inner corners. 
MASCARA: I like a good curl, but you can skip straight to the good stuff if need be. With this mascara, two coats does more than the trick.
LIPPIE: Since the rest of the face is simple, I like finishing things off with a nude or blush matte lip. Just a brush of color, not too much, adds a bit of depth and glam. 
AND BAM, things are fin. I think Bella's onto something; even with the extra time added this look is under ten minutes, perfect for early mornings or days you want to look like you spent half an hour more on things than you really did.
So it's your turn to try it & tell me how things went. Any adjustments you'd make? 
Happy Labor Day!
xo,

What To Watch Next

WELCOME TO FALL! I don't know what it is about autumn that inspires all the binge watching ever, but it is real. What sounds better than snuggling in bed with a PSL & netflix (& maybe some pizza)?

Anyway, I was reading Hannah's post on all the shows she's watching currently & it inspired me to do one of my own. SO if you're in need of some help choosing your next binge, read this list. Because there's so many shows, so little time, right?

How To Get Away With Murder
I got all caught up on this a couple weeks ago & can I just say WOW. I love this show because it's not your predictable crime show; something new is always happening that keeps you on your toes. The new season starts this month (along with Grey's- eep!) but there's still time to catch up if you start RIGHT NOW. Seriously. I'll wait.

Teen Mom OG
I'm sure you're thinking "why would I ever watch this" but lemme tell you, it's good. Back in the day I kind of watched both 16 & Pregnant and then Teen Mom religiously, and then somewhere along the way I just stopped. Maybe I had too many other shows to watch, maybe I was just over it, I'm not sure. There's no excuse. Anyway, I've been watching the new season that just started and it's just like old times. New drama every episode, weird exes.... it's all there & it's all great.

The OC
I vaguely remember watching reruns of this show when I was younger but I had never seen it from the beginning, and what time is better than now? I'm kind of only two episodes in (LOL) but it's SO GOOD and Seth Cohen is such a blessing to this cold world.

The Fosters
I had never seen an episode of The Fosters up until a few weeks ago & I knew I had to go back and netflix it. Y'ALL. This show gives me all the feels. It's got all the ingredients for success... diversity, good storylines (or at least I hope, still on season one!) a good soundtrack, & good chemistry. It's perfect.

Gilmore Girls
This actually wasn't going to go on the list because it's kind of a no-brainer, but with A Year In The Life a mere two months away (AHHHHHH) I thought it necessary to add. One thing: if you've never seen at least an episode of GG I'm not sure I know how to talk to you. What have you been doing all your life? It's also a great autumnal show with the vibe of Stars Hollow & all the pretty festivals they have. SO on the next rainy day I suggest you queue this one up.

OKAY, your turn! Which of these shows would be your next binge? Any of your own going on at the moment? Spill!

xo,