Merry Christmas Eve! I feel like the day before Christmas is the perfect time to explore all of great things that I’ve discovered this Winter (also can we please just appreciate that this winter I’ve actually been able to wear sweaters in Texas and not roast alive). I feel like this holiday season has been a change up from ones in the past; it’s my first in a place that’s just mine and my significant other’s, no roommates or parents really making me compromise on my taste in decorations (so as you can guess, the majority of them are black and white). I still feel like I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone this season and tried a lot of different things that I haven’t in the past. So here’s just a few things that I’ve fallen in love with this winter.
Starbucks Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
It wouldn’t be a winter favorites without talking about a Starbuck’s holiday drink. Can we just appreciate this year that I don’t have to sub out the milk for once in this seasonal drink?!?! I am obsessed with this latte, and I love it hot AND iced (which is saying something since I’m an iced coffee all year long kind of girl). The sprinkles are just adorable in it, and it makes up for the fact that my eggnog latte didn’t make a comeback this year. I am not ashamed to say that if you look in my order history, it’s basically just this drink for the past few months.
Target’s Opalhouse Eggnog Latte Candle
So Target has been knocking it out of the park lately with all of their season scents (which are literally half the price of Bath and Body Works, so I haven’t been in once this season which is very impressive if I do say so my self). This one was a bit of a compromise in our house; personally I love the Tree Farm candle while my boyfriend is more of the Orchard Cider/ Sugared Cinnamon taste, so this was the the middle between us. It does smell really festive but it’s super light and not overwhelming at all.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
Reading used to be a big pastime of mine when I was younger, but honestly reading for pleasure kinda just flew out the window with university. The last few months, I’ve been trying to get back into it, and after seeing this series all over Tiktok, I decided to give it a try. Needless to say, I read the entire series in a week, and am now on a first name basis with several employees of my local bookstore. I don’t want to spoil the books for anyone who hasn’t read her yet, but let’s just oh my.
Olaplex Bonding Oil
Now due to the fact that I’ve been bleaching my hair for a solid four years, it’s safe to say that my hair is pretty dry most of the year, but winter just makes the issue ten times worst. Enter the bonding oil; now I’m not saying that this is the best hair oil on Earth, however it will be the only one I purchase from now on. I absolutely love how it leaves my end smooth and soft, but doesn’t weigh my hair down.
Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick
Again with the Tiktok trends, though I will say that my friend who works for Clinique has sworn by this lipstick for as long as I’ve known her so I had to give it a try. I now see why this is a must in so many Hollywood makeup artists kits and why it’s been around for over twenty years. It gives you just a beautiful amount of color on the lips with some hydration (are you noticing a trend here). I love it so much in fact, it’s actually the lipstick I’m wearing in my senior photos.
YSL Black Opium Extreme
I have long held that my standard fragrance is some sort of fresh floral, but this season it was time to find something a little darker and spicier to match the shorter days. Despite my love affair with coffee, the original Black Opium is not my cup of…well coffee. However the vanilla in this fragrance (which is a bourbon vanilla fyi) just balances out the coffee accord so much better in my opinion, and it has jasmine which is just one of my favorite flowers instead of the simple “white flowers” that the original features. I’m not the only one who likes it, as the first night I wore it my boyfriend declared that it’s his new favorite of my perfumes.
So those are all of my winter favorites! I always love this time leading up to the new year since it’s a good time to experiment. I hope you enjoyed this week’s post, and check in next week to see what’s new. All of my socials are linked if you want to give them a follow, until next time!
Blonde With Coffee 