November managed to come and go in the blink of an eye. I have been super busy and pretty stressed with finals, but luckily I only have one more paper to go and one exam this Saturday and then I have about a month off to relax and enjoy the Holiday season!

Anyways, I figured since we are already a week into December it was about time to share my fall favourites! So, here we go!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in ‘Clearly Quick’ I’ve been on the hunt to find an affordable top coat that dried my nails quickly, as I have no patience when it comes to waiting for my nails to dry. Seche Vite was my previous go-to, but I felt like it just made my nails chip so fast. I decided to try this one by Sally Hansen on a whim and I have really been enjoying it. It dries quickly, gives my nails a lot of shine and it’s a total dupe for the Illamasqua Nail Top Coat, which I love, but at a quarter of the price.

Rosebud Salve I used to be obsessed with this stuff in high school, but I always had it in the container, which was a greasy product to always be applying in public with my fingers. The tube is such a better, more sanitary option and was an absolute saviour when I got hit with a bug after Thanksgiving. This not only hydrated my lips, but it also relieved the painful dryness I got around my nose from blowing my nose every two seconds. Plus, I love the rose scent.

Vasanti Wonders of the World Concealer* This amazing, oil-free concealer has now popped up on my blog a few times, so of course it was going to end up in my favourites. I love everything this concealer has to offer—I love that it covers up the discolouration around my eyes, that it hides any blemishes and that it does not crease or cake. The cream formula blends perfectly and the two shades allow you to blend together your perfect shade. Plus, it is paraben-free, cruelty-free, vegan and made in Canada!

Bath and Body Works White Barn Vanilla Bean 3-Wick Candle I have been so obsessed with this candle the last couple of months. It is seriously my perfect vanilla scent, as it does not smell artificial or too sickly sweet. It burns evenly and slowly and I just love how much it fragrances a room. Even when it’s not lit you can still smell the sweet vanilla scent and it has just been a treat to light in the evenings.

Decaffeinated Orange Pekoe Tea This is a bit of a random favourite, but it’s definitely been a favourite nonetheless. Since I have a caffeine sensitivity I try to limit caffeine to when I really need it. However, having decaffeinated orange pekoe tea seems to trick my mind into thinking I had caffeine and the placebo effect leaves me feeling more awake and alert. I know decaffeinated tea still tends to contain a small amount of caffeine, but I’ve been drinking this stuff regularly and have not had any of the side effects that I usually get.

Lastly, I have three things in the television and film category that I have to mention, but to keep it still to six favourites I grouped them all into this one category:

The Walking Dead I wanted a new show to watch for the fall and seeing that Netflix now had all six seasons of The Walking Dead I decided to finally catch up (I had only seen season 1). I am over halfway through the sixth season now and I am obsessed—it has been so intense and has kept me gripped right from the start. And what makes this show so intense is the fact that the humans are more terrifying than the walkers. My favourite characters are Daryl and Michonne—Michonne is such a badass, female character and Daryl, well, I now totally understand the “If Daryl Dies, We Riot” quote that’s everywhere.

Black Mirror Another Netflix obsession has been this dark and satirical anthology. After hearing everyone talk about this show my boyfriend and I decided to give it a go and we were instantly hooked. It is so smart and cleverly done and examines today’s society and the issues surrounding new technology. Each episode stands alone with a different cast, different setting and different issue and they all play like a full-length film. Each episode has stuck with me for days after I’ve watched it, as it really makes you think and question things about yourself and society.

Arrival Finally, I have to mention this sci-fi film my mum and I went to see in theatres a couple weeks ago. We were both blown away with this film and I can’t remember the last time I went to the movies and saw a film that left me feeling that way. Sure, I’ve gone and seen a ton I have really enjoyed, but this film was—dare I say it—a total masterpiece. It’s about a linguistics professor who is recruited by the military to help communicate with extraterrestrials and it really is incredible from start to finish. I’ll definitely be rooting for it at the Oscars.

What have you been loving during the fall season?

ellerow.