Hi friends - happy Saturday! I am back with my my next monthly favorites post and this one is definitely my favorite one yet. I am totally obsessed with fall and the holiday season - AND my birthday is on Halloween! So, I am always extra festive during this time of the year and am excited to share my recent favorites with you all. Keep reading to see the top 10 things I loved during the month of October!
1. Dawson and I’s Halloween Costume
The theme for Dawson and I’s Halloween costumes this year was ‘The Greatest Show on Earth!” I was a circus ringmaster and Dawson was a snack boy. I mean come onnnnnn… look how cute he is!!! I can’t take it!! My costume was from Spirit Halloween and was actually a children’s large (the sleeves were tight but everything else squeezed in okay). I got the top hat and show stick from Spirit Halloween, as well. I made Dawson’s snack boy box out a recycled Nike shoebox. I spray painted it black, added on gold stars, a gold strap, and all sorts of goodies inside - including snow cones (painted styrofoam balls), peanuts, popcorn, and candy. I also made his hat, which only required cardstock paper and tissue paper. Anddd to top it off, I found this super cute stuffed elephant dog toy at Home Goods! Get it? It’s the elephant in the circus… holding a peanut… that it got from Mr. Dawson the snack boy!!
2. The Sweetest Birthday Card in the Whole World
I woke up on the morning of my birthday and walked outside to the sweetest birthday card in the entire world… and cried. Literally, I have the best friends ever. My friend Emily and her mom had this ginormous card made with pictures of my friends and I and got all them to sign it. She came over to my place after I went to sleep and I woke up to the most thoughtful surprise ever. Emily Conrad if you’re reading this… you’re amazing and I love you and I will cherish this card forever. P.S. it’s hanging up in my room and made the perfect addition to my picture collage! :)
3. Pumpkin Farms/Patches
Visiting pumpkin farms and pumpkin patches are one of my favorite parts of the fall season… and I swear it’s impossible for me to pass one without stopping! I love everything about them - the pumpkins, mums, apple cider, baked goods, homemade ice cream, decorations, and so much more. Here are my top three favorite ones I visited this year in Virginia, along with some photos I snapped at each one!
Nall’s Farm Market (Berryville, VA)
4. Spooky Mug
Alright y’all… I couldn’t help myself with this mug. How adorable is it?! A skeleton riding a bicycle with a pumpkin tagging along for the ride?! Ugh… yes please. Come to mama. I got it from TJ Maxx for just $2.99 and drank out of it pretty much every day for the whole month!
5. Barista-Style Whipped Foam Topping
These barista-style whipped foam toppings from Skinny Syrups have got to be one of the best creations ever! They have zero calories and zero sugar, but come in so many different yummy flavors that instantly add a sweet, fluffy, barista-style topping to your coffee! I have tried the french vanilla, mocha, and salted caramel flavors and 10/10 recommend all 3 flavors. I got mine at Home Goods, but have also spotted them at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s.
Barista-Style Whipped Foam Topping from Skinny Syrups
6. Floor Length Mirror
I got this floor length mirror from Walmart and am absolutely IN LOVE with it! It’s the first actual ‘nice’ mirror I’ve ever owned and I was super excited to upgrade from my really sad previous one that was hanging on for dear life. It can be hung up on a wall, but I just decided to prop it on the floor in a corner of my bedroom. It’s bigger than me… 66”x32” to be exact and was only $50! I had trouble finding it on their website to link for you all. However, I’m sure it can still be found in stores and comes in other colors like white, black, light wood, and dark wood. P.S. - it’s a bomb selfie mirror!!
7. 2-in-1 Facial Cleansing Brush
I’m totally loving this 2-in-1 facial cleansing brush by Precision Beauty! I snagged it at TJ Maxx - it is double sided, with one side to cleanse and one side to exfoliate. My faces feels SO soft and clean after every use and my pores are the clearest they have ever been. It really makes a difference in helping your skin care products be worked deep into your pores, instead of just being rubbed on top of superficial skin with your hands. I cannot recommend it enough!
8. Instant Pot
Two words to describe the Instant Pot - GAMEEEE CHANGERRRRR!! This thing is my new best friend. I wish I could cook every single meal in it. So far, I have made buffalo chicken dip, sweet chili meatballs, and garlic mashed potatoes - which have all turned out SOOOO good and have been a total hit with my friends and family! It’s very easy to use and perfect to cook hot, yummy meals without using tons of dishes or requiring a lot of time. I can’t wait to try new recipes and use this thing all winter long - I’m especially excited for soups and chilis! It’s on sale at Walmart right now for 50% off, so go snag yourself one while you can!
Instant Pot from Walmart (50% off!!!)
9. Music
This is some of the music I am loving right now. I have been playing this ‘Reading Soundtrack’ playlist non-stop while studying and loveee how productive and in the zone it makes me! I’ve also included my top favorite songs that I just cannot seem to stop playing on repeat!
Reading Soundtrack Playlist // Jerry Sprunger (with T-Pain) by Tori Lanez // Hands on Me by James Hersey // Bigger Than by Justin Jesso and Seeb // Fav (feat. 6LACK) by Quin // Help Me Lose My Mind by Disclosure // Dancing Under Red Skies by Dermot Kennedy
10. Physical Therapy Spanish App
This app is amazing and I think it is something that every physical therapy student and practicing physical therapist should have! It is free and only $2.99 to remove the advertisements. The subcategories include introduction, admission, expression and commands, basic exam, neurological, pain assessment, muscular, treatment questions, machine treatment, physical movements, post-surgery, family discussion, and color test. Under each category, it lists common questions, comments, and concerns such as, “Do you have any chest pain?” With each question, comment, or concern, it lists the Spanish translation. This app was very helpful for me during my clinical rotation this past semester. Part of my rotation was spent at an outpatient pro-bono clinic, where a large majority of the population was Spanish-speaking. Although a translator was on site, they often had to rotate back and forth between PA, OT, and pharmacy. I took 5 years of Spanish from middle school to high school, but have gotten quite rusty with a large portion of my Spanish vocabulary. So, this savvy little app was a life saver when I needed to quickly translate important information and it helped make my communication with patients that speak Spanish much more efficient!
Thanks so much for reading - I hope you enjoyed this post! Stay tuned for the next one :)