~ September Favorites ~

Where did time go? Suddenly it is October already – fall is officially here.

I have been so busy past weeks on this engagement with a new client and did not even get a chance to sit down, and just write until now.

September is probably one of my better, or just more productive months in 2018 and here I would love to share with you what are some of my favorites this past month.

~ Makeup Favorites ~

I tried out many new products thanks to the Sephora sale at the end of August this year (check out what I bought in my last post!) and the new Pillow Talk line from Charlotte Tilbury (you can see my first impression review by clicking here <3) I am very pleased with many makeup products this month but I just decided to pick my top 3 in this post.

• Pillow Talk eyeshadow quad

More detailed review I already wrote about in my post on this palette (First Impression – Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk) but this has become my go-to day makeup palette. It is perfect for work – looks clean, natural, pretty but not too much.

• Hourglass Ambient Light Palette

I have been using this palette almost everyday since I got it from the Sephora sale. I don’t use it as just pop-on-cheekbone highlight either – I just dust it over (pretty much just all over) my face. I don’t have to worry about going light-handed because it is just gives you such a beautiful glow (looks like your glow is from within <3). And the bronzing color has been amazing for day-time makeup as well. Love love love!

• GA waterproof mascara

I will have to be honest, it kinda shocked me how much I am in love with this mascara – it made my lashes look super long, gorgeous but very natural at the same time. I always prefer a more lengthening, separating not those that make your eyelashes super thick and ended up looking like spider legs (sorry!) Not to mention this mascara has awesome staying power. I have gone to Soulcycle after work (when I have my makeup on) and my makeup would still look fine after that! Hella impressive.

~ Lifestyle and Habits ~

• Sunday workout Routine

Since my normal work schedule has changed quite dramatically, it became a lot harder to go to the gym on workdays. So I decided to workout more on the weekends. I have all access equinox (it costs an arm and a leg but I am just in love with equinox! Their gyms are simply gorgeous) so I have been doing this set of Sunday workout routine at SoHo Equinox this past month:

‘Best Butt Ever’ with Lindsay at 1130AM which is a 45 minutes workout – then I would take ‘Vinyasa Yoga’ with Yanik for an hour. Lindsay’s class was super fun but really hard! If I don’t properly stretch afterwards I will be so sore the following days! Yanik’s yoga class is open to all levels but I really like his flows and it is challenging but not impossible. Even though is not hot yoga but felt like I was sweating a lot in this class which is a perfect way to detox!

• Meditation

Everyone has been talking about the importance of meditation for a really long time now and I finally started it by including meditation in my morning routines. I have been getting up early on workdays (530 – 6AM) because I would want to get to work early to prepare and work in peace and quiet for a while before all of my meetings start :3

This client/engagement that I am currently on is very understaffed because it was handed to us the very last minute – therefore, we had a LOT to catch up on. The staffing situation was not ideal either which would normally lead to a lot of stress. So I thought might be nice to add 10 minutes meditation session (I used the app ‘Calm’ and everyday they have a 10 minutes Daily Calm series) to my morning routine, right before I head out for work.

And wow. I have noticed a lot of difference in my attitude and mental state ever since I started meditation – it made me more calm, more open minded, and won’t get frustrated with difficulties or miscommunication at work as easily. Moreover, I am more mindful on how my other colleagues feel and more focused on how to resolve and handle a situation rather than just “freak out” or complain.

If you have not tried meditation before, I would highly highly recommend that you start with one of these apps – headspace, calm, etc. Or if you have class pass, you can use the credits from class pass to take a guided meditation class at one of those Mindful Studios (I live in NYC and MNDFL has a couple of locations available)

• 5 Second Rule

I came across this book – or the idea of it from watching Amy TV’s youtube videos (click here) and I instantly fell in love with this practice. Five second rule is first introduced by author Mel Robbins – the concept is quite simple, according to Mel, we only have five seconds to act on an instinct, impulse or idea before we start to question ourselves. If we wait more than five seconds, we are more likely to find (or try to find) reasons that we should not do it, and we would end up never take the actions. I have not yet read the book but I can stand by this concept – take one simple situation for example, when you are in class, professor mentioned something, and you have this question you just wanted to ask, I can basically speak from personal experience that if you don’t raise your hand right then and there (or, in five seconds according to Mel Robbins), your brain will start to make you hesitate and gradually kill this impulse. So, if you are thinking about asking a question, just count down from 5, then do it 😀

I particularly like that Mel Robbins has brought up this in her book as well – motivation is merely an illusion. Because the truth is, you are never going to feel like it. Not all the time at least. And that is why the five second rule works, it will push you to count down and start taking actions/moving when you do not feel like doing something, but know you should do it. I believe it is a wonderful practice for everyone to start applying to their day-to-day life and this practice is especially useful when you are trying to break the habit of hesitating, self doubting and procrastinating.

If you do not have the time to read this book (check out here on Amazon) or listen to the audiobook, Mel Robbins also has many youtube videos online when she was giving speeches about the five second rule – click here.

~ Vegas Trip on LDW ~

I decided to take a pretty much last minute trip to Vegas with Veronica on LDW before she headed back to Chicago for school. I probably had THE best time in Vegas – amazing weather, amazing food. But, in the end, it is about the company ❤

Think I might do a separate post on Vegas.

Note to self: next time will stay at Wynn – not for anything else just because it is so beautiful there. Perfect for instagram ^_^

So this is it! All of my favorites in the month of September. What did you do this past month? What were some of your favorites? Leave a comment below and I would love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading! ❤ Hope to see you next time.

Xoxo,

Rae