November was hectic, there’s no other way to describe it…

WHAT I/WE DID

November was busy on all fronts… We also had family in town and that kept us on the go with playing guides and tourists. Between that and the holiday weekend, it didn’t feel like we had much time to do things that we had been wanting to do. To top it all, the family decided to surprise us again with a visit so here’s to another weekend planned for us, haha.

We’ve had some cold weather when cozy was the word and mood of the day and thick blankets and hot tea or coffee were the heroes of our lives… Basically, that’s our November on a high level…

NOVEMBER BLOG POSTS ROUNDUP

November was holiday-focused on the blog, of course, though I have been slacking for a few days (or, truthfully, I was just over the sales after a while). Here’s what I published on the blog this past month.

5 things that bring me joy this week. I did not want to skip my weekly series, even if November has been crazy for so many reasons.

J.Crew holiday style picks and outfit ideas. I mean, some of their pieces were just too good not to share!

Holiday styles and sales. More holiday-style finds because they left me with heart-eyes this year.

Luxurious gifts ideas. A variety of luxurious gift ideas for those you want to spoil this holiday season (even if that is you!).

Unique gifts for [almost] everyone on your list. Items that caught my eye and I thought would make great gifts for just about anyone on your list! There’s always more here.

Thanksgiving and Christmas table-setting ideas. Because we should allow ourselves to go festive this time of the year.

WHAT I BOUGHT

Did I go a little crazy this month taking advantage of all the sales? Yes, yes, I did! Here’s what I acquired this past month:

This face serum. It’s good!

The face serum. I can’t wait to try it!

This famous foundation. Why did I wait so long? It’s truly great! It gives me an “airbrushed face”, while also looking natural, which is really, really important to me. I’m so glad I purchased it! I’m in 2N2 Buff.

This skincare and makeup gift set. It was a no-brainer: a value of $615 for only $85 (with any purchase).

This fragrance gift set. This is the perfect way of trying several of their perfumes beyond testing them in a store. Though, in all honesty, I’m still deciding if I’m liking them…

This leather bag. I am so smitten with it that I am contemplating getting it in the black version as well… It’s really well-made, just beautiful in person, and the perfect size for me (note that this is not a work bag — it’s too small for that). Decisions, decisions.

This dry brush. I started dry-brushing this month and I am once again shocked at my silliness of not starting this years ago! It makes such a difference!

This makeup brush set. I have been using makeup brushes by this brand for years and years, and I have been loving them. It was time to get a few more, especially as I was in need of a new makeup sponge.

This double-sided belt in brown/black after purchasing it in white/navy and obviously loving it.

This coin pearl necklace… my obsession with pearls is an old story at this point…

Stocked up on my favorite face and neck contour cream (I reviewed it here).

WHAT WE WATCHED

Ghosts. We finished only what was one of the very best shows we ever watched!

Detectorists. It felt boring at first but it grew on me after a few episodes. Slow-paced, I would describe this show as a calming comedy of sorts. We enjoyed it.

Mandy. I was flabbergasted by this show. Really funny, a little stomach-turning, and just… crazy. PSA: if you’re terrified of spiders, skip episode one — I looked away at those specific scenes.

Black Books. Oh My God — we just started watching it and we can’t stop laughing. It’s a sitcom and it’s over the top — in some ways it makes me think of Seinfeld! We’re loving it so far.

A Haunting in Venice. Pretty good!

Fool’s Paradise. This movie was better than we expected, considering some of its cast and the type of shows they do… It felt like old-school Hollywood comedy, and that’s exactly what we enjoyed about it.

Larry Crowne. I was in the mood for old movies one evening and not finding anything else, we watched this. I enjoyed it!

Men in Black I and II. At my husband’s insistence, I agreed to watch them as I had never seen them before. I mean… they were not bad, but they’re just not my kind of movies, and I’ll leave it at that… 😁

WHAT I READ

You can probably tell that I haven’t been in the mood to read a lot lately, but I wanted to finish at least one book, and I found…

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff.

“1946. One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Inside are a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home.”

War-related books are not necessarily on my reading list, but as I have been into reading books that are based on real people and events, I read the description of this book and I decided that it might be worth it. And boy, was I right! I was conflicted about it at first, but soon after, I couldn’t tear myself from it. A story about bravery, loyalty, and heartbreak, of course (but don’t worry, there are also some happy endings in there)… Recommend.

SONG OF THE MONTH

WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE ON THE INTERNET

2024 Travel: Underrated Destinations to Book, From a Travel Planner.

America’s most historic and beautiful downtowns. Totally agree with Saint Augustine, Florida being on this list. I’d love to (re)visit all of these — we sure have some traveling to do…

The Most Historical Hotel in Every State — you bet they’re haunted, or, at the very least, Hotel Del Coronado is…

10 Ways to Support Small Businesses This Holiday Season (and Beyond).

Goodbye, November! Well, here we are… the last month of this year… How will it unfold?