The Monthly Top Ten: My November Obsessions

It’s monthly favourites time again! That rolled around quickly, didn’t it? Throughout November I’ve been obsessively listening to Taylor Swift’s new album, bouncing around in New Balance 410s and snacking on muesli yogurts (never all at the same time though, I must add). Get the full lowdown on my current lifestyle loves below, and feel free to share your own November favourites in the comments section…

1. Taylor Swift 1989: I can’t remember the last time I bought a physical CD, but I made an exception for Taylor Swift’s 1989 album because I figured it would be perfect for long car journeys. And boy is it good! I’ve been playing it on repeat all month (taking the occasional Blake Shelton break because I’m also obsessed with Neon Light at the moment). Every single track is catchy and amazing, but my personal favourites are Blank Space, Style, Out Of The Woods and Wildest Dreams. I can’t wait to watch her perform at the Victoria’s Secret show in December!

2. New Balance 410s: New Balance 410 sneakers were originally on my Christmas wish list, but a few weeks ago I got impatient and ordered a pair before Santa Claus could act. And I don’t regret it. They’re so comfortable and look good with just about everything – black tights included.

3. Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel: Lush stores always give me a headache, but I love their products in small, single doses. And Snow Fairy shower gel is one of their best. The fragrance is hard to pinpoint – I think it’s marshmallow – but all you really need to know is that it’s sickly sweet and totally addictive. Get a bottle while you can, because it’s part of the limited edition Christmas collection, and once it’s gone it’s gone *sad face*.

4. Aspinal of London 2015 Diary: Ahh! Isn’t it crazy that 2015 diaries are in the shops already. This year has gone by so quickly. The team at Aspinal of London very kindly sent me one of their Slim Pocket Leather Diaries which has been personalised with my initials. For years I’ve used digital calendars only, but it will be nice to finally start keeping a hard copy of everything. Because right now, if the internet broke or my battery died I would have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing.

5. Olympus PEN E-PL7: I’ve been using Olympus PEN cameras since the summer, when I became one of their UK ambassadors, and the E-PL7 is the latest addition to my kit, and probably my favourite too. It’s lightweight and easy to carry around in my handbag, but it still has heaps of manual settings that you’d find on a DSLR. Plus, just like the E-PL5, it syncs to your smartphone via a wifi connection, making it perfect for Instagram.

6. Hot Squash Toasty Toes Socks: Here’s a not-so-fun-fact for you: I suffer from Raynaud’s, so have to be really careful during the winter and make sure my hands and feet don’t get too cold. As a result, I could talk to you about thermal socks all day, but I imagine you’d find that supremely boring, so I’ll keep things brief… Hot Squash do a fantastic range of thermals. Their Toasty Toes are as thin as run-of-the-mill cotton socks, but are made using special ThinHeat™ technology. I love them!

7. Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris: Earlier in the month I mentioned my love of Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, which I read every November without fail. The title essay tells the story of Sedaris’ experience working as a Macy’s Christmas elf, and I promise it’s laugh out loud funny (sample quote, “I am a thirty-three-year-old man applying for a job as an elf”). If you’re stuck for secret santa ideas this makes a great gift, and the audiobook is also amazing. It’s currently

8. Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen: The Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen is a bit of a cult beauty buy, and this month I finally found out what all the fuss is about. It’s a dual-ended liquid eyeliner, with a superfine precision nib on one end and an angled brush tip on the other. At £42/$55 it’s insanely expensive and probably the priciest eyeliner on the market; but it also happens to be the best I’ve ever used, which makes the cost somewhat palatable. The pen is really easy to control and by switching between the different tips you get a nice, even application. I guess it’s proof once again that quality usually comes at a higher price.

9. Aromatherapy Associates Instant Inner Strength: For some reason November has been rather stressful, and I don’t feel like I’ve had a proper chance to relax in ages. So Aromatherapy Associates Instant Inner Strength rollerball couldn’t have arrived in my life at a better time. When I’m feeling a bit frazzled I apply the clary sage, frankincense and cardamom leaf fragrance to my pulse-points and try to have a few moments of calm.

10. Cuckoo Bircher Muesli Pots: Let’s end things on an utterly random note… I’ve finally been bitten by the muesli bug, after years complaining about its “dust like” texture. Dorset Cereals Simply Nutty Muesli is my favourite breakfast treat, and I’ve also just discovered Cuckoo Bircher Muesli Pots which make great morning or afternoon snacks. They’re a yoghurt/muesli hybrid – so aren’t dry or dusty in the slightest – and all five flavours are really inviting. Apple and Cinnamon Spice is my current number one, but Apricot and Madagascan Vanilla also ranks highly.

And now it’s your turn, what are your November obsessions? Leave a comment and let me know…

Photos taken using the Olympus PEN E-PL5. Coco’s Tea Party is a UK ambassador for Olympus.

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