Today is the first day for a new series on CTF! As you can probably tell from the title, it’s going to be all about my favorite things for the month, whether it’s related to style, beauty, home, travel, or anything else! Sometimes they will be solid oldies, sometimes newer stuff, but always things that I’ve been loving lately.

I find that I frequently want to share things with you all, and while I can do so daily on Instagram stories I wanted there to be a place for those favorites to last. So they’ll be on the blog towards the end of every month.

So I’ll share with you some products/things/ideas I’m into, as well as finish the post out with some upcoming trends, podcasts I’m listening to, and other things on my mind.

Enjoy!

DW Home Candles

After receiving all of our things from Germany I was excited to unpack our stuff and make our Richmond apartment feel cozier. And not just with furniture or decorations, but also with sweet scents from our candles! Don’t you feel like they just give a space that something extra that makes it feel like a home?

I also happened to realize that ALL of my candles are from DW Home (which I usually grab at TJ Maxx for a lower price), and the scents are so good. This lavender chamomile one is always burning in the bedroom, and I have some light floral scents I usually use for the living area. I honestly have so many candles that I don’t feel like I should buy any for fall, but I probably will. Basic pumpkin spice lover here!

A few DW Home candles that look super cute (and I’m sure smell great) are linked below.

Nyakio Marula & Neroli Brightening Oil

Remember when I talked about that makeup class I went to and they emphasized moisturizing more? Well, I’ve started doing just that with this Nyakio Marula & Neroli Brightening Oil. It was another TJ Maxx find that I’m so glad I gave a shot.

I generally have oily skin, so to think about putting more oil on your skin seems weird. But after cleansing and using astringent at night, my face really needs a shot of moisture to avoid overcompensating. I use just 4 drops and I feel like it makes such a difference to wake up in the morning to a well moisturized face. I don’t want to say anything too dramatic about it in terms of results, but overall I feel like it is helping with my wrinkles and making my skin look healthier.

I’m definitely more of a budget person when it comes to beauty items (check out my post on my favorite affordable, cruelty free brands here), but with the price at TJ Maxx I felt comfortable trying this product and am really glad I did. If you’re looking for something more affordable there’s a few options rounded up below.

PurSteam Garment Steamer

I bought a PurSteam Garment Steamer a few months ago and was very pleased with my purchase, and now that I’m unpacking all of my clothes from boxes it has been a LIFESAVER! My clothes were in boxes for over 3 months, so those wrinkles and creases were really embedded in there. Luckily this garment steamer has made getting my clothes ready to wear super easy and quick.

I use the garment steamer before every photo shoot, including my latest one with a white button down. The steamer is so easy and I think works better for most items than an iron. I am notorious for ironing more creases into my clothes than getting them out, so it might also just be my crappy technique and frustration with ironing!

NIGHT Tri-Silk Pillows

We splurged on these NIGHT tri-silk pillows (the black one in the back in the photo) for the guest room but thought, “Hey, why don’t we use these for ourselves?!” We don’t have a guest room at our apartment right now anyway, so we’re giving them a whirl.

And despite the seemingly outrageous claims about the black diffusing light to help you rest better, I am now a believer in the silk fabric reducing hair frizz. It really does make a difference in the morning! If you’d rather not have a black pillow on your bed (I think it’s a little ugly) you can do a silk pillowcase instead to get the same results. The famous Slip silk pillowcase is pretty pricey, but there are some cheaper options.

Old Navy Luxe Tops

Last year I posted about Old Navy luxe tops, and I’m raving about them all over again this year. I already have bought two! They’re the absolute softest tops that basically feel like pajamas. This pink one is currently on sale (isn’t everything at Old Navy always on sale?!) and they have a few different styles in this fabric if you’re looking for something different.

I plan on wearing these tops under blazers and with scarves as the temperature cools down. You’ll really want to live in them once you feel how soft they are.

♦ What fall fashion trends have you guys been seeing and loving? I’m feeling animal print, checked blazers, and millenial pink. What I’m not loving? Western wear and the return of logo bags. Maybe I’ll come around…

♦ You guys know I’m a beret fan. I recently pinned this illustrated beret infographic with different ways to wear them.

♦ I just started season 3 of the Serial podcast and I’m loving it! If you haven’t heard of it, listen to season 1, skip season 2, and get on to 3! It’s mind blowing how our criminal justice system actually works.

♦ Even though we just got set up in Richmond, we’re moving to Colorado Springs at the end of the year. I already bought a new pair of hiking boots and can’t wait to see the Garden of the Gods! If you have any recommendations for places to see, restaurants to go to, or things to do comment and let me know 🙂