January is officially over! Does anyone else feel like January was the longest month ever? The past couple of months flew by but it felt like January lingered around for way too long. So far, the month has been incredibly eventful – or at least that’s how it felt as I attempted to fill out my planner so that I can pretend to be a fully functioning adult.

I also turned 25 on the 7^th so that’s a thing. The only thing I asked for was IT on DVD so it’s safe to say that my birthday was pretty great.

Now, let’s get on with the things that I was obsessing over this month.

Beauty & Style:

ABH Modern Renaissance and Subculture Palettes – I honestly wasn’t expecting to love these as much as I do. As far as the Modern Renaissance goes, I knew I had to have it the moment I saw the colors (I mean, as if I needed another warm-toned palette) but as soon as I used it for the first time I was hooked. The colors are incredibly pigmented and they blend so nicely, I can now see why it was so loved. I went out on a limb when I picked up Subculture because I was well aware of how much flack ABH received for this palette but I’m honestly in love with mine. The shadows are actually quite nice, I haven’t had many issues with blending them out or with patchiness so that’s a plus. The fallout is minimal because I’ve seen enough reviews to know to go in with a light hand. The shade Cube has been my go-to for highlighting the brow bone and inner corner. If you’ve been hesitant to try it out but are still obsessing over the shades – I say go for it.

NYX Brow Pencil in Black – On days where I don’t feel like busting out the brow cream, this pencil serves as a quick fix. Whenever I feel like doing a more natural brow look for days when I’m not wearing at eye makeup, this pencil is perfect. It’s the perfect shade for my brows because it’s not too dark or warm and its creamy consistency allows the product to glide on without tugging so you get a precise look. It’s affordable and effortless.

Studded Faux Leather Backpack – This was a Christmas gift from my mother and I’m absolutely obsessed. I had been on the hunt for a faux leather backpack to take with me to shows and festivals but everything I found was either too big, too small, just not my type at all. I spotted this backpack at TJ Maxx and as soon as I saw the studs I knew it was meant to be. It’s the perfect size so it’s not too bulky and it has a bunch of compartments for all of my things.

Denim Jacket from Boo Hoo – Another item I was on the hunt for was a distressed denim jacket. I love shopping at Boo Hoo because they always have cute things and they’re always having a sale – like 50%-80% off all the time. I saw this and had to have it. It’s comfortable and it has just the right amount of stretch to it so it’s easy to move around. It’s also not too distressed or bulky which I appreciate. I lucked up on this when Boo Hoo has 80% off plus I managed to get free shipping. They are a blessing and a curse when it comes to treating yo self.

Skeleton Crop Top from Fashion Nova - So, I finally caved and had to see what the fuss was about with Fashion Nova. I was skeptical because I had never ordered from them before so I had no clue on how the items would fit or look on me but I couldn’t be more pleased. The material on the top is so soft and stretchy and it fit great. It’s a bit longer than my other crop tops, which I don’t mind because I wear it as is or I can tie it in a knot in the front. I ordered another crop top with bell sleeves and even though it’s a bit roomy, I’m still obsessed with it. I love anything black with long bell sleeves because it makes me feel like an extra in The Addams Family. I might include that top in a future look book so stay tuned for that.

Velvet Heels- This was probably one of the most random purchases I’ve ever made. I went shoe shopping with my best friend, not intending to buy anything and I spotted a pair of purple velvet heels. They were cute but I’m not too big on purple so I jokingly said “if only these came in black!” My friend then comes over to me not even 30 seconds later with the same velvet shoes in black. Naturally, I took that as a sign and I walked away with a pair of velvet heels. I’m not big on heels but these were just too cute to pass up. The heel is a bit chunky so they’re pretty comfortable to walk in.

Entertainment:

Ice Nine Kills & The Used Vinyl – My collection recently grew by two when I received these babies in the mail. I adore these two albums more than life itself so I couldn’t pass them up. When Ice Nine Kills announced they had 500 of these limited edition green copies of Every Trick in the Book I immediately added one to my cart. Lo and behold, I already had a copy of In Love and Death sitting in my cart just waiting for me to click “checkout”. I couldn’t let them down so I gave them a nice little home by my record player.

Black Mirror – I recently started re-watching Black Mirror so that I could get my mother caught up before we start the new season and It’s basically been destroying my life all over again. I’m about to put tape over the webcam on my laptop again and now I’m even more paranoid than usual. It was all fun and games until we got to the "San Junipero" episode and I was once again reduced to a puddle of tears. I’ve never felt so attacked before in my life, how dare you make me feel things?

Happy Death Day – I finally saw this film and I know I’m a bit late but I loved it! I’m a huge fan of slasher films and this film was reminiscent of those classic, cheesy slashers from the 80s - Like Groundhog’s Day meets Happy Birthday to Me. It was clever, funny, and incredibly entertaining. I appreciate films that make me want to know more, and this film did just that AND it didn’t disappoint me in the end.

That’s it for this month! I didn’t include any specific music favorites because I have way too many so they’re getting their own post. What did you love in the month of January?

My favorite month has come to an end. While many are officially breaking out the peppermint mocha and decorating Christmas trees, it’s still Halloween in my soul.

I’ve gathered quite a few favorites over the past few weeks so grab a pumpkin spice latte, cause we’re about to get started.

Hair Care:

Maple Holistic “Tea Tree Oil Shampoo”: I recently collaborated with Maple Holistic and they sent me their Tea Tree Oil shampoo to try out and I’ve been using it frequently ever since.  The brand has all-natural products and they’re cruelty free so know I was all over that. The shampoo contains natural tea tree oil to help improve the health of your hair and scalp, promote growth and help with itchiness and dandruff. Now, I don’t really suffer from dandruff but because we wear hats at work, my scalp sometimes itches like crazy. I use this shampoo whenever I do my mid-week wash to help relieve the itchiness and it's been a lifesaver.  At first, I was hesitant because many products tend to dry my hair out so I was concerned about the tea tree oil but thankfully it worked out! They also have other special formulas to target specific hair needs so definitely check them out. If you’re curious about which product is right for you, they also have a free product program where they’ll send you a free full-size product for you to try.

Bella Curls “Coconut Whipped Crème Leave-in Conditioner”: I had been searching for a good leave-in conditioner and I randomly picked this up while I was at Target and I’m obsessed. First off, it smells amazing so that’s always a plus. Second, it helps keep my hair hydrated and smooth. After I’m done washing my hair, I apply a generous amount while my hair is still slightly damp and then I tie it up. My hair is so soft the next day and it’ll still smell like heaven so if you enjoy the smell of coconut, you’ll love this. It’s helped keep my hair moisturized and has definitely improve the overall texture so I highly recommend it.

Skincare:

The Ordinary “Niacinamide”: So, I was hesitant to try this brand for long because of how potent their ingredients are and how sensitive my skin is. Naturally, I’m kicking myself now for depriving myself for so long because now I can’t live without this serum. I was on the hunt for a serum that would help improve my skin texture and complexion and this has dramatically improved my skin.  The Niacinamide is essentially Vitamin B3 and helps improve skin blemishes and congestion. It also contains 10% zinc, which helps control sebum so if you have oily or combination skin (like I do) then you’ll love this. I use this twice a day, after I apply toner and before I apply moisturizer. My skin has been glowing ever since.

VTMN Organics “Facial Glaze”: Speaking of “glowing”, my skin has been loving this moisturizer! I’ve been dying to try VTMN Organics for a while now because I’ve heard so many good things about their products. I ran out of my other moisturizer so I ordered the Facial Glaze and I’m so shook. I have combination skin so I was a bit worried about using an oil based moisturizer because I didn’t want to make my skin any oiler but y’all, this stuff is amazing. It’s formulated for oily, combo, and sensitive skin types so basically it was made for me. It doesn’t clog pores, helps soothe redness and irritation, it’s gentle and its vegan and cruelty free. I feel like a glowing goddess when I wear this. It’s currently out of stock so make sure to stalk their social media to find out when it will be restocked because everything is handmade.

Beauty:

Violet Voss x Nicol Concilio EyeshadowPalette: I’m obsessed with warm eye looks, this is nothing new. I first saw this palette when Jackie Aina used it in a tutorial and I pretty much had to have it. I’ve used this palette almost every day since I got it, I can’t put it down. I take it everywhere with me. The shadows are infused with jojoba oil so the blend like a dream and the pigmentation… Let us just take a moment to appreciate how blessed we truly are for the pigmentation in the palette.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in “NahzFur Atoo”: I finally found the perfect blood red liquid lipstick. I’ve used this all month and I can’t get enough. I love the formula of the KVD Everlasting Lipsticks so I’m not surprised that this ended up being a favorite of mine. My signature shade is “Hawkwind” and now I have this baby to obsess over.

Clothing:

Wicked Clothes “Pryokinesis for Beginners”Tee: I’ve been lusting after this tee for a while now because it’s constantly on my Instagram feed. I caved a finally bought it and It’s so nice. It’s soft and it fits perfectly. Plus, as someone who loves the film Firestarter, I just couldn’t pass this up.

Vera Eye Candy “Chucky and Tiffany” Top: For those that know me, they know I love Bride of Chucky so naturally, I had to have this shirt. Vera Eye Candy is one of my favorite brands, they have so many items for those that love horror and music, like myself. I was Chucky for Halloween so obviously, I had to throw this top on to complete my look.

Boots (Target): I spotted these boots at Target and almost passed them up but then my mother looked me in the eye and said “treat yo self.” So, I did and I’ve been wearing them ever since. They’re the most comfortable pair of boots I have. The heel is chunky so they’re easy to walk in and they complement so many looks. I wore this all weekend at Homecoming and if I can survive dancing to “Gasolina” walking all over campus in these, that’s a win in my book.

Entertainment:

All Time Low “Good Times”: I already loved this song, but then All Time Low released the music video and I feel deeper in love. The music video touches on a lot of the issues that we face in society that some don’t want to talk about. It’s so important and I think everyone needs to see it.

Waterparks “Dizzy”: Since their debut album Double Dare just turned one, it felt appropriate to include this in my favorites. I’ve been listening to this song on repeat since I saw them during All Time Low’s Young Renegade tour. I felt this song in my soul, I can’t wait to hear it live when I see them again in December.

Grayscale “Love Yourself” (Justin Bieber cover): I’ve been bopping to Punk Goes Pop 7 since it’s release and this song has been at the top of my list of favorite tracks. If you’ve been sleeping on Grayscale, wake yourself up and check them out. Their album Adornment is absolute fire and deserves to be appreciated.

Stranger Things: So…I’ve watched the new season of Stranger Things twice since its release so clearly – it was a favorite in October. The gang is back and facing new evils from The Upside Down including a shadow monster and “demodogs”? We were also introduced to a few new characters including Max and Billy Hargrove (Billy is a human garbage disposal. Max, you’re doing amazing sweetie), and Bob Newby – the superhero we truly deserved. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll fall in love with Hawkin’s #1 babysitter, Steve Harrington. Watch it.

Okay, I’m going to stop there because we’ll be here all day. Tell me what you’ve been loving in the comments below!