November Recommendations

Skimmers, you know the drill. Recommendations are in bold and if it's a different color, you can click on it. Aside from me, this month you get recs from my long time friend Gwen at Confessions of a Gila Monster - today is Gwensday and she did just celebrate her birthday on Monday. Please check her out at her blog and on her other social media channels.

Confessions of a Gila Monster / Facebook / Twitter / Bloglovin' / Instagram

1. Gingerbread Oreos: I’ve seen some strange limited edition Oreos, but I’m addicted to these! Obviously, if you’re not a gingerbread fan, you won’t like them, but otherwise…OMG. 

2. Perfectly Posh products: The daughter of a friend of mine (and Steph’s) sells these pampering products made of natural ingredients and essential oils. I love the Big Fat Yummy hand creams – thick but non-greasy. My favorite scent is Some Like it Hot. I’m obsessed.

3. Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show with James Corden: Don’t get me wrong, I do not stay up late enough to watch this show live, but luckily God made YouTube. Warning: don’t start watching these if you have something else you should be doing. I think the best one is with Stevie Wonder, but there are quite a few that are pretty hilarious!

4. Step outside your comfort zone: Get a funky new haircut (see: my asymmetrical cut that I adore). It’s hair; it will grow back, although I do suggest using a stylist you know and trust. Too drastic? How about a fun piece of clothing? This time of year tunics and leggings are staples for me and I recently acquired some patterned leggings. Still too much? How about a nail color that you thought you’d never try? Totally temporary and inexpensive. Give it a try!

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1. Daily gratitude 365 days a year. You don't have to post it anywhere or share it with anyone, but at the very least take a few seconds to reflect on what you're grateful for every day of the year, not just this month.

2. Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2x Paint + Primer. The coverage of this stuff is amazing.

3. Rust-Oleum High Performance Comfort Spray Grip Accessory. This is the freaking bomb. At only $7, it saves you from trigger finger and makes large jobs a breeze.

4. Tightvac Coffee Sealed Storage Container. It's $16, holds up to a pound, and has a vacuum seal system that lets coffee beans vent CO2 while keeping oxygen out. Food grade BPA plastic. I bought one for the shore and want one for home too. It comes in a bunch of colors and would be a nice gift for the coffee lover. 

5. African black soap. Heather from My Little HEA kindly sent this to me to try after talking about it in her September Favorites post, and I freaking love it. I've been using it on my face and body. It's amazing. It made me break out at first - it literally drew all the crap out of the skin on my face and chest - but it's been awesome ever since. 

Thanks to Queen Gween for joining me this month. What are you recommending?

April Recommendations - Steph Cubed Edition

Skimmers, recommendations are in bold. Anything that's colored text is a clickable link. Aside from me, this month you get recs from Steph at Insert Classy Here and Steph from Not Entirely Perfect.

It's a triumvirate of Stephs. A Stephanie bonanza, if you will.

 Both of these ladies are on my daily reads list, so do yourself a favor and check them out.  Links to their blogs and social media accounts are beneath their photos.

Follow Steph from Insert Classy Here  on

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1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix. It is the cheesiest show that centers around an Indiana girl with a strange background moving to New York City. Ellie Kemper's character is similar to her roles in the Office and in Bridesmaids, so if you like her there, you'll enjoy her in this.

2. A Library Card. Everyone should have one and use one. I feel stupid that I waited a year after moving to get one.

3. The 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge. They run it 4 times a year and will send you an email each week with the next week's recipes and grocery list. It's easy and they all taste good.

Via - disregard the date, I just picked the image out. Go click on the link and read it!

4. Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment. You can find it at Target. This tiny bottle has made the little wrinkles around my eyes disappear. It smells good and feels good and you only need a tiny bit.

via

5. Pacifica Natural Minerals Lipstick. I have tried so many different kinds of lipstick and they all felt wrong. This was my last attempt and I fell in love. 

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Follow Steph from Not Entirely Perfect on 

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1. WalkForADog App. If you ignore all the rest of my recommendations, that's cool, just do this one. Sign up, enter your pet's info (or pick a pet from them if you don't have one), and start walking. This app tracks your walks and donates to an animal rescue organization of your choice every time you walk a mile. They pay out a couple times a year directly to the organization, and they more people walking for your rescue, they more money they'll get. And it's totally and completely free to you. Yes, free. And you can even track your walks around the grocery store. Save all the animals! Think of all the money you'd donate if you hit your 10,000 steps a day. Do good things. (Might be listed under WoofTrax in your app store.)

2. Dandelion Root Tea. It smells and sort of tastes like drinking grass, particularly if you let it get too cool. But this stuff is wonder tea, so it's worth it - helps you naturally lose extra water weight (like icky bloating during that time of the month), cleanses your kidneys, protects your liver, lowers high cholesterol, cures hangovers....just do it, drink the tea.

Via

3. EveryDollar Budgeting Tool. If you read my blog you know I swear by YNAB software for my finances. It's a game changer. But it does cost money. Dave Ramsey came out with a new budgeting tool called EveryDollar and it's totally free. It runs much like YNAB and it also has a phone app. If you're looking to get a handle on your finances, you'll love this option.

4. Tangerine sorbet champagne floats. I may be a die hard lover of winter, but I can get on board with spring/summer if it involves tangerine sorbet champagne floats. Also, there's nothing wrong with just buying the sorbet and pouring champagne over it, if you ask me.

Via

5. Homemade dog treats. Get ready for the most adorable dog site - Doggy Dessert Chef.  So many treats you can make at home for your pup! Healthier, no preservatives, and made with love. And there's options for every skill level. Start with Peanut Butter Banana Pupcakes. P.S. I made my dog the meatballs and my boyfriend ate them. So, this is good stuff!

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1. e.l.f. eyelash curler. The curve is similar to the holy grail of eyelash curlers by Shu Uemura and at $1, the price of the e.l.f. is $19 cheaper.  Find it at Target.

2. Food Should Taste Good Sea Salt and Brown Rice Crackers. I can't believe I like these as much as I do.

3. M-A-C Fluidline liner. I pink puffy heart this. I suck at applying eyeliner and this is super easy even for eyeliner impaired people like myself. Kristi used it on me at Aubrey & Stephen's wedding and I bought it toot sweet after that. I have this black and shade, which is a deep green. Edited to add: you need an eyeliner brush to apply this.

4.  A! Absolute Make-Up Cleansing Tissues with Cucumber Extract. You can get these on Amazon, and the link suggests, but they're like $10 with shipping. Hell no. I grab these at Marshalls and TJ Maxx and hoard them when I find them. They're $5 there. They are great for the nights when I don't feel like washing my face, which is ah, most nights. I have sensitive skin that hates everything but loves these.

5. Centering yourself daily. By your method of choice, but hopefully it's something pure within yourself. We each receive zillions of messages a day and it can be hard to remain present and focused amidst all those messages. Centering yourself helps with that.

Thanks to Steph & Steph for indulging my Recommendations from Steph Cubed dream.

What are you recommending this month?

 Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday