These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (lately!)

I’m happy to have a lighter post today…I’ve been pretty darn emo the past couple of months and I’d like nothing more than to post a few fun things and some food!  I’ve got to get back in the habit of blogging recipes…that was one of my favorite things to do here :)

Back, by popular demand (I’m looking at you Aunt Becky!) is a list of what I’m loving lately…

This FREE fall printable that I stuck inside one of my new IKEA frames.  Click HERE to print it for yourself!

Here it is on the shelf I just bought and hung the other day :)

I’m also loving that cute little evergreen in the white pot (also IKEA)…it smells like Christmas!  That is until I kill it! #blackthumb

Fall sights are best accompanied by fall scents and I’m thrilled to have a safe way to make our home smell great now that I’m using essential oils!  I love a good vanilla or pumpkin spice candle as much as the next gal, but my asthma is really aggravated by fragrance, so I’ve either gone without or tried to use scented candles sparingly.  This year I can pump the house full of awesome fall scents and not be negatively affected at all.  Double bonus!

These two combos have been my favorites lately!

L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation

My sister has slowly been converting me into a makeup junkie! I’ve always had fun wearing a little makeup to spruce things up, but I never knew about high-end products or the latest and greatest drugstore items until she got me hooked on a few makeup YouTube channels.  Now I’m in and it’s been fun to discover new things that work for me.  I really love this foundation.  It has good coverage without being too heavy.  It’s very matte, so if you have really dry skin this probably wouldn’t be great for you.  In fact, I’m already bumming out that I might have to switch to something else over the winter when my face gets super dry!  This formula goes on very nicely, especially when I dot it around my face and tap it in with a damp Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge to blend and cover everything.  This little sponge is awesome.  No cake face or harsh lines near your neckline when you use it to apply your foundation!

That beings said, I also highly recommend this cleanser to keep the sponge in tip-top shape!  It’s incredible how it unlocks all the foundation built up in the sponge.  I wash mine about every 3rd day.

This Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in Very Black.  Oh my goodness I love this mascara!  I know that mascara is one of those things that everyone seems to have their preferences about.  I really like lengthening mascara since my eyes are extremely hooded.  I just want my lashes to be able to peek out from under my hoods! That being said, I also like to have extra volume too.  This mascara delivers both for me and even adds a little curl from the shape of the wand.  It’s not waterproof but wears very well and has withstood some pretty serious tears!

These Gubbrora rubber spatulas from IKEA.  They are so awesome!  They don’t come apart, so you don’t get nasty build up in the rubber part from not drying properly.

They are also heat resistant so you can use them to perfectly cook scrambled eggs without losing any egg to the edges of the pan or melting the tip of the spatula into a gooey mess!  That’s my #1 favorite use for them and I may have stocked up during my last trip to IKEA.  At $2.99 each, you can’t go wrong.

I’ve mentioned before that I hoard cutting boards.  I also hoard rubber spatulas!  I’m forever scraping yogurt out of the tub or peanut butter from the bottom of the jar or my scrambled eggs out of the bowl or around the pan.  Ain’t nobody got time for washing between each use, so I just have a bunch on hand :)

This t shirt from Target.  You cannot tell from the photograph at all, but this shirt rocks.  It’s soft and drapey and the neckline is flattering without being too low, and the slouchy pocket adds a casual yet trendy flare.  It doesn’t cling to your midsection and it’s long enough to cover my booty so I can wear it with leggings.  I’m obsessed.  I have 2 right now (smoked plum and teal wave) and it’s taking everything in me not to order two more (probably oatmeal heather and dark gray).  I noticed that some of the colors have a v-neck, but I prefer the scoop neck!

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Coffee

I was skeptical about this one, but the newsletter mentioned that it sold out every year so I was intrigued enough to grab a can!  Nothing like a little supply/demand drama to get a girl to run to the store.  LOL

It’s a medium bodied coffee ground with pumpkin spices and it’s really tasty.  Whole30 converted me to taking my coffee black, and this is a fun way to be seasonal without crap laden creamer!  Woo hoo!

While we were at TJ’s stocking up on pumpkin foods (thanks to the convincing seasonal newsletter and the absence of Dr. Gould who is not a fan of pumpkin foods) I also impulsively grabbed a jar of their Pumpkin Butter. As I grabbed the jar, I honestly thought it might be a total waste and end up dying in the fridge for 6 months before getting thrown away, but NO!

It’s good!  Like really super yummy on top of the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread.  I like to make pumpkin bread from scratch, but the box was super easy and didn’t contain creepy ingredients AND came together in no time flat.  My girls LOVE having “special breakfasts” like pancakes or cinnamon rolls or sweet breads, so this was a big hit with them.  The bread on it’s own it fairly subtle and not overly sweet (which I appreciate) but a light slathering of this pumpkin butter takes it over the top!  YUM!  I imagine it would also be good on toast.

My fall porch decor…especially the new IKEA lanterns!

This is not my porch, but I kind of wish it was my winter porch,  so I’m including the picture!  Also, to include both lantern sizes.

This is our last fall in this house ::insert overly emotional sobbing:: and as much as I ADORE fall, I’ve only decorated outside for it once or twice in the 9 years we’ve lived here.  Although we are well into October, I had to go for it this year and I’m so happy I did!

The hay bale, pumpkins, mums, and gourds were purchased from a roadside tent.  The pewter lantern was hanging under our back patio all summer, and the two black lanterns are from IKEA.  Yes, I might have an IKEA problem…what’s it to you?! Lol

I could honestly sit here all night long posting favorite things, but I’m gonna wrap it up here and post again soon :)  As always I’d love to hear your recent favorites in the comments!

Happy Fall, Y’all!