october favorites

You know at the start of quarantine, I thought I would save so much money by staying at home. And I guess I did for certain stuff. I have bought very few clothes and beauty products. I don’t even think I’ll make Rouge this year. Last year, I didn’t want to make Rouge and made it by June. Now, there are two months left to the end of the year and it’s doubtful I’ll be spending the amount required. We’ll see. But while I may not have been purchasing a lot of products, my grocery bill has tripled. Has it been the same for you?

Unicorn Onesie

How was everyone’s Halloween? It’s usually one of my favorite holidays. What can I say? I’m a basic bitch. But of course this year, everything is different. It’s probably the first time that I didn’t get dressed up or party. Instead, I stayed home, drank wine, and watched scary movies. I wasn’t even planning on dressing up – I was too lazy to go dig up my costumes – but then I saw my unicorn onesie in my closet, so of course, I had to throw it on.

Olly Bedtime Beauty

This one has a lot less melatonin than the other Olly melatonin gummies, but it was enough for me. I like that it has other beauty benefits in it like ceramides. But I don’t know which one I’ll be repurchasing, this one or the other melatonin one. 

Mavogel Eye Mask

This purchase was entirely influenced by Eva Chen. And like most things Eva recommends, this one was great. It looks and feels luxe. It’s super soft. It feels like a cloud. And it blocks out light well.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

I’ve tried a couple of facial oils before, but none of them really impressed me. They were usually too thick. But this one doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. I can see why it’s a cult favorite. Whenever I use it, I wake up with plump, hydrated, and refreshed skin. 

Nyakio Baobab Youth-Infused Daily Defense Creme

A great moisturizer that is reasonable priced from a Black-owned company. This moisturizer just about ticks every box. Will definitely be repurchasing this. 

Lucy Foley’s The Guest List

Quarantine life has messed with my attention span. I haven’t been reading as much as I usually do. But Lucy was Foley managed to capture my attention with her latest book. It was easy to read and entertaining. But there was one plot hole that bugged. After finishing this, her other book has moved to the top of my TBR list.

The Queen’s Gambit

I’ve already seen this twice. It’s cinematically beautiful and wonderfully performed. If you’re looking for something to watch, definitely give this a try. 

It also made me want to try to play chess. I know a little. I’m not a great player. I wonder how many people bought chess boards because of this show.

I am a Voter x Evolve Mask

You’ve probably seen these Evolve masks everywhere. It’s pretty ubiquitous. And I can see why. They’re very comfortable. It’s light and breathable. It has an adjustable nose-bridge and the elastic doesn’t tug at your ears. The three-ply construction feels sturdy, so you feel protected. It’s also very affordable. The downside, though, is that they are single-use. So I feel guilty about the environment and I’m not sure if I’ll be repurchasing. 

Michael Stars The Tee in Vote

Since it’s a presidential election year, there was plenty of vote gear benefiting various causes. I picked up this one with an embroidered face of feminist icon and activist, Gloria Steinem. It comes in either black or white, but I got it in suffragist white in honor of the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment, that gave most women the right to vote in the United States. 

Ray-Bans Rounds

These sunnies are a staple in my closet. They’re classic for a reason. They just work. 

Podcasts

I’m jumping on very late to the bandwagon. I’ve resisted podcasts for the longest time. I think because I assumed it would be like listening to talk radio, which I loathe as a kid. Sometimes on family road trips, my dad would switch to talk radio. And I hated it, I just wanted to listen to music. 

But after the BLM marches, I wanted to better my anti-racist work, so I listened to my first podcast ever, 1619. After 1619, I was hooked. Now every time I laced up my shoes for a little cardio, I would alternate listening to podcasts or my usual playlist. Lately, however, podcasts have been winning over music. Gasp! I don’t even recognize myself. 

After I finished 1619, which I genuinely recommend everyone give a listen to, I tuned into the This Land and Code Switch. I’ve always loved following the Pod guys on Twitter, so it wasn’t a surprise that I would eagerly await a new Pod Save America or Pod Save the World episode every week. Ben Rhodes’s nine-part limited series, Missing America, was also great. I’m bummed it ended. Michelle Obama’s Podcast is another excellent one. I really liked the episode she did with Conan on marriage. And if you’re interested in some presidential history, Very Presidential is very informing as well as very intriguing. 

And if I’m in the mood for something funny, I usually tuned to Off Menu. If you’re a foodie and a fan of British comedy, it’s a can’t miss. And of course, you can always count on Conan for some laughs. I just have to say that sometimes I do listen to podcasts when I go grocery shopping and thank god for masks, cause if I’m listening to Off Menu or Conan, I would look like a deranged fool who keeps smiling and laughing to herself. lols…