January Favorites
And we’re back! This month I have a lot of favorites because many of my picks are Christmas gifts I’ve been enjoying all month. This blog post also goes perfectly with my post from last week - The 2021 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide. There are lots of good possible Valentine’s Day gifts below. So read my review of each of these items that I love and get shopping!
my picks for this month
The Secret Lives of Colors - So as I mentioned in another post from last week, my boyfriend loves books. So the first day of the new year, we went to Barnes & Noble to pick up some new things to read. I found this book in the art section and I was instantly mesmerized. I have this weird thing about color, I’ve always been fascinated with color theory and the way that color influences our lives. Well if you’re an art nerd like me, pick up this book. Each “chapter” (which is only 2-3 pages) goes over a different color from the color wheel and gives you a little history about it.
Lap Desk - As much as I try to be the type of person who works at a desk, I am not. Even when I was working in the office I struggled sitting in the same place for hours at a time. I really like changing my work location from day to day. And I especially like working while being able to put my feet up. I used to just put my computer on my lap but it would often overheat this way and you’ve probably heard that its not great for you either. So I picked up this little lap desk for myself and wow it has made such a difference! One thing I like specifically about this one is that it doesn’t have a huge annoying bar at the bottom so that the computer doesn’t move around.
Vince Camuto Dasta Block-Heel Booties - One day I was browsing around Nordstrom because I had a $15 coupon that was going to expire and I saw these boots on the sale rack. Unfortunately they didn’t have them in my size, so when I went home I looked them up and ordered a pair. OMG these boots are SO cute, I have gotten so many compliments on them the few times I’ve been out. I got them in the color “Deep Jade” which is a really pretty dark green color. I have a lot of green in my winter wardrobe so these are gonna work with so many outfits. And I love that they are not noticeably green. I also really like that it fits tight around my ankle, I hate boots that leave a lot of room!
Vinyl Record Player with Wireless Bluetooth Speakers - This was actually a gift I gave to my boyfriend Liam for Christmas. He loves music and his first record player was really cheap and would scratch up all his records. I found this one on sale for Amazon Prime Day back in October and I ordered it to his sister’s house because she's a musician so she knows a lot about how music should sound when being played from a device. She has SO impressed with it that she said she’s gonna buy one for their own home! It’s such a good price for the quality. We’ve been playing records all month long and love it!
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe - Back when I ate meat, I used to love buffalo wings. And since becoming a vegetarian, I haven’t found a good substitute for that…. until now. For Christmas we got an air fryer, like so many others, so I decided to try this recipe out that I found online. OMG they are sooooooo good, I’ve made them twice since I got the air fryer and both times I’ve wished I made more! We also makes this amazing homemade buffalo sauce to go on top….. my mouth is watering right now as I write this!
Oxford Pennant - I got this super cute pennant to go above my desk because on the off chance I do decide to be a normal person and work at a desk, I have something pretty to look at. I often opt for easy places to shop like Target but when you buy from a small business like this one, you can’t compare the quality! This saying spoke to me because as an Aries - I naturally have a fiery personality!
Conscious Step Socks - Who doesn't love a purchase for a good cause?! I got these for Christmas from my sister in law and love them!!!! They are so cute and comfy. The Conscious Step website has so many causes to choose from and then from there you can pick the design you want. She got me the two above which support Water (gives a person in need 18 months of clean drinking water) and Mental Health (donates money Nami, the largest mental health organization in the world).
Ultra Repair Lip Therapy by First Aid Beauty - I’m sure like many others this season, my lips have been super chapped. I’ve never really been a chapstick or lip balm type of person but I really was forced to buy something because my lips had gotten so bad. This lip treatment from First Aid Beauty is SO good. It instantly hydrates your lips and doesn’t rub off easily! Also for the price, $12, you can’t beat it!
Electric Water Flosser - If I’m gonna be honest, I never used to floss. And I don’t mean I flossed once a week, I mean I NEVER flossed. Just didn’t care and couldn’t be bothered. Well now that I’ve gotten a bit more wise, I’ve realized I need to actually take care of my teeth. Don’t skip teeth cleanings, brush well, and floss! I got this gift for Christmas and I’ve been loving it! It leaves my mouth feeling so clean at the end. It comes with so many attachments too so you can switch up the “treatment” you want to do for yourself. And its actually not very big, so you can fit it in any bathroom.
Gucci Bree Cross-body in Ivory - This was my big gift from my boyfriend this year for Christmas. I must admit, I have a slight weakness for designer bags. To me, you just can’t compare the quality between that and a bag from Target, Zara, or even one of Nordstrom’s bags under $300. So I was soooo excited to get this one. It’s LARGE for a cross-body which I love because once we’re able to travel again it will be perfect to take on trips. I got it in white because then it can be used all year long as well. Now, I will say he was able to pick this up a bit discounted by purchasing it at the Gucci outlet. Because even on designer items, I want to feel like we got a good deal! This is obviously a splurge item but if you have the means and you’re looking for a good quality bag check out this one. I couldn’t find the exact link but I found a similar one on their website so you can try and hunt it down!