We are big Ikea shoppers. When we were moving in and getting settled, we were making multiple trips a week. It got to the point where we were a bit burnt out (and couldn’t even LOOK at another meatball) so we haven’t ventured out for a while. But today we felt the need for a shoe rack, so we hopped into the car, braced ourselves, and headed into the showroom.

We finally broke down and bought a Sodastream. It’s life-changing. Got into the Halloween Spirit by catching up on American Horror Story: Freakshow after it was released on Netflix. Liked it way better than Coven, but Murder House is still my favorite. Have you been watching Hotel? I want to wait until it’s all been aired so I can binge watch it! These J Crew Factory sweatpants are super comfy, but the skinny cut feels slightly more stylish than your old sweats, even for just lounging around the house.

How-two: 2 easy steps to doing something just a little bit better… As the weather gets colder, leaving the house with wet hair is not an option. I also hate to sleep with wet hair (damp hair + warm head + pillow = gross things growing where you put your face), so drying my hair is pretty much a necessity. While I’ve been #blessed with hair that dries pretty straight and smooth, I’ve always been thrilled with how my hair looks when it’s blown out at a salon and have dedicated hours and hours to replicating those results at home.

I’m all about easy weeknight dinners, and this southern inspired Shrimp & Grits took literally minutes. Precooked frozen shrimp is one of my favorite food hacks. It requires literally no preparation other than running under cold water for a few minutes. It’s great with cocktail sauce at parties (make your own by mixing ketchup and prepared horseradish), in pasta, on salads, or with grits and okra like we had last night!

The NARS x Steven Klein collection launched with a bang. The suggestive images on the packaging along with the value and novelty of new holiday sets put the beauty world into a bit of a frenzy. The collection is massive and not all of it appealed to me, but when I saw this adorable lipstick set in Sephora I knew I had to have it. The Killer Heels Lipstick Coffret shades are mostly classics from the NARS lipstick range, but in mini sizes.

This month’s Sephora Play! box theme is “Secrets to Dewy Skin”. Before I get into the specific products, I’ll mention that compared to last month’s disappointing assortment, I thought that this box was much improved. First, a Sephora sheet mask in Pearl. I also received a sheet mask in my Birchbox, which isn’t surprising as they’re very trendy currently. This one promises to be perfecting and brightening. I can’t say whether or not it works, but I am interested in trying it.

Five moments from the Wellfleet OysterFest! These lovely shuckers from Sheila’s Oyster Farm (not pictured but present: Sheila herself) This awesome band that managed to change Ring of Fire to Ring of SNOW when it started to flurry (and it even still rhymed!) This handsome man on the beach! This group’s oyster shell mountain. We’re going to go head to head in oyster shell construction next year. I think we can take them.

We decided to buy a 5 lb bag of carrots at Whole Foods (because why not, right?), so get ready for a lot of carrot related food posts. Starting with these muffins. I knew I wanted to make a form of carrot cake because 1) SO MANY CARROTS and 2) our new food processor can shred like a champion. So I searched for recipes using my usual technique and ended up with this one for Gluten-Free Vegan Carrot Apple Muffins.

As the weather gets colder and suntans fade, you’re going to want to make some changes to your routine. Here are a few updates I’m making: The other day, it was pretty clear that it’s no longer acceptable to go outside with wet hair. You could catch a cold (or freeze and damage your tresses)! So I’m pulling out the blowdryer more often, and shampooing as infrequently as possible to make those blowouts last.

Let’s talk about the J Crew Downtown Field Jacket. You might not know it by name, but chances are if you don’t own this jacket, you know someone who does. It’s a classic in every way: cut, color, fabric. It’s simple, but the gold tone hardware and slim but structured shape make it a perfect fall jacket. The only problem is everyone else seems to think so, too. So how can you style it to stand out from the crowd?