After giving this J. Crew merino V-neck sweater to my sister for her birthday, I think I’m going to have to order one for myself. The wool is delightfully soft, and it’s currently available in a wide variety of fall colors. Of course, a monogram adds that extra special touch.

Of all the great options this year for getting your pumpkin fix, I’d say my favorite is The Cheesecake Factory’s pumpkin cheesecake. It’s not even fair. Nothing stands a chance against cheesecake.

I’m not a big makeup person. Though I’m a fan of “natural beauty,” I mostly just hate spending more time than necessary to get ready each morning. Usually, I’ll buy a makeup product because it was recommended or looked fun, use it once, never touch it again, then finally throw it out a few years past its expiration date. So the fact that Fresh Sugar is the only product I’ve ever completely finished should tell you how amazing it is. Imagine licking your lips and then having them remain that dewey (not sticky or waxy!) for hours. This stuff of miracles revives even the driest lips, while protecting them from sun damage and giving them a natural shine. It’s available in a bunch of colors, but Rosé (a subtle tint) is the way to go.

The greatest M&M’s (yes, better than coconut, pretzel, and mint) to ever grace the earth, this White Chocolate Candy Corn edition will be responsible for my imminent diabetes. A festive candy shell encloses the white chocolate (the only chocolate that matters, even though it’s not real chocolate) core. Basically, these little guys are nothing but sugar, milk, butter, and an unnoticeable trace of candy corn flavoring… Perfection! I may or may not return to Walgreen’s post-Halloween to clear out the shelves of my new favorite candy.For all those times when a Facebook friend posts an article with an interesting title, but you don’t have time to read it at the moment because you’re actually supposed to be doing something else… There’s Pocket! Formally known as Read It Later, Pocket stores all of the articles, videos, etc. that are found past your procrastination limit. Its interface is neat and simple, and the app is available on most popular devices, so you’ll always have your collection handy for when you finally get a free moment.

Well, it finally happened, the moment everyone’s been waiting for: I got an iPhone. After years of people hounding me about still owning a Blackberry, I made the switch last week. And so far, I haven’t been disappointed! The best thing about the iPhone 5S is its speed, which is truly impressive. I’m also amazed by the camera’s quality and, of course, the fingerprint ID. The gold color, which is closer to champagne than the hue shown above, is stunning in its subtlety and worth the longer wait. If you’re eligible for an upgrade, I’d recommend the 5S over any other phone, including the iPhone 5C, the Samsung Galaxy, and, obviously, any Blackberry.

When I studied abroad in France, I ate out for basically every meal, so I never really needed to go to a grocery store. Still, my friends and I would always find ourselves at the nearest Carrefour, in order to grab yet another jar of the most wonderful spread in the world. Speculoos is a type of European spice cookie, which you’ve probably had before as a complimentary airline snack. And speculoos spread, also known as cookie butter or, as I like to call it, Christmas in a jar, is literally made up of crushed cookies. This magical substance goes on anything, but I think it’s best to dip pretzels straight into the jar. Apparently, I didn’t get the memo when speculoos began making an appearance in the U.S., but Trader Joe’s seems to have started a following for it. Their version isn’t the best I’ve had, but it certainly gets the job done and blows boring peanut butter out of the water.
I generally avoid Forever 21 because it’s the most stressful place on earth (except maybe the trenches of Afghanistan or a tightrope strung across two skyscrapers). But when I saw through a store window my favorite wild animals parading around, I had no choice but to go in. These pants are incredibly comfortable and surprisingly flattering. However, when I wore a coat that hid their cut, I did get asked if I was wearing pajamas in public…

I think the last time I’d had a POM Wonderful drink was in high school. Fortunately, a friend recently recommended POM Coconut, and now I’m so glad that POM has returned to my life. I was already the biggest fan of coconut water, but this is a great alternative for those who want its benefits, but can’t stand the taste.

Even though I haven’t been to a haunted house since high school, I remember how much fun they were. Something about being scared to the point of crying is actually hilarious. So this video of Ellen DeGeneres sending her staff members to a haunted house is simply hysterical. (Note: If you’ve ever been to the Haunted Hoochie [whose website I won’t link because it’s fairly graphic] near Columbus, you’ll probably find the “haunted house” in this video to be tame.)

I’m generally not a huge fan of animal prints. But when I saw the Steve Madden Madee two years ago, this pair immediately joined my wardrobe. The combination of the leopard print, calf hair, and smoking-slipper style make these perfect for fall. Fortunately, the Steve Madden Croquetl is similar and currently on sale!

Chrysanthemums are the ultimate autumn flower, and I’m happy that they’re decorating our house at the moment. My mom also bought pots of the most radiant yellow mums for our front porch that stand out beautifully against darkening leaves and overcast skies. By the way, was the picture book Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes, a favorite for anyone else as a child?

Sometimes, a hair accessory can pull together a look even better than jewelry or makeup can. For those times when a headband might be a little too much, even a small detail, like one of these knotted hair ties, can make a big difference. Right now, I especially love these fun prints in the girls’ section of J. Crew.

Every fall season, I’m all about enjoying pumpkin-flavored everything. And I’m not ashamed to admit that the Dairy Queen Pumpkin Pie Blizzard is probably my favorite. There’s just something about the “pumpkin pie pieces” that are mixed in!

Though Feedly isn’t technically new, it’s new to me. And it, as well as other RSS feeds, has experienced a surge in popularity since Google Reader was discontinued this summer. I especially like Feedly because of its organization–each blog and news source I follow is laid out in a clean, logical format. Every morning, I can quickly go through all of the articles that are important to me. Throughout the rest of the day, rather than wasting time by searching for interesting content to read on a break, I can always choose a few of the posts that are constantly added to my feed.

My drink of choice at Starbucks or any other coffee shop is typically a chai tea latte. But I’ve always considered the one that’s served at the little coffee bar inside Nordstrom to be my favorite, even compared to the drinks at foreign-owned tea houses. So when I noticed that the mix Nordstrom uses was being sold in its coffee bar, I jumped at the chance to enjoy it at home. Big Train’s Spiced Chai tea latte mix has a perfectly proportioned blend of spices and sweetness. It’s equally great hot or iced and, if you’re making it yourself, tastes amazing with almond milk.

A few weeks ago, my mom’s friend, who is a dentist, gave her a Philips Sonicare DiamondClean HX9340 toothbrush as a gift, and since I’d already been considering an upgrade from my drug-store, AA-battery-powered model, my mom was nice enough to let me try it. A single brush was all it took for me to know that I would never look back. Who was brushing my teeth before, a sloth? Every time I brush with this magic wand my teeth feel like they’ve just been cleaned at the dentist’s, and I’ve noticed that they look brighter, too. Though the price on these babies is pretty hefty, I’d be willing to go for it whenever mine needs to be replaced. It’s that good! But I’ll bet the lower models also get the job done. (Also, my particular model might be a prototype, since I was unable to find it for sale.)

My friends are probably tired of receiving my Snapchats featuring candy, but come on! How could anyone resist Caramel Apple Sugar Babies? These are officially my favorite Halloween candy, and I wish this season never had to end!

Despite this Indian summer, it’s probably not socially acceptable to wear a tank top and shorts in October. As a Northerner currently living in the South, I always feel like the first person to wear summer clothes when the season begins and the last to continue doing so when it ends. (Wait. I’m that person in Ohio, too… I just don’t like pants!) This is where the Saint James Naval II tee comes in. Lighter than a sweater, but thicker than a shirt, it’s a flawless combination of New England casual and French chic. I’ve pretty much been living in mine, as I tell myself that it justifies my wearing shorts out.

If you’re like I am and are more productive while sitting in a coffee shop or some place similar, you really need to try Coffitivity! The streaming “hum” of a public place has been a huge help in keeping me focused, while also unleashing my creativity. Such a genius idea, and now available to download are apps that can be used offline.

Did you know that Panera recently added cupcakes to its menu? I already go there at least once a week, but this changes everything. So far, I’ve only tried the red velvet. (Vanilla and chocolate are also available.) Was it the best cupcake I ever had? No. Was it the best cupcake I ever had for 99 cents (with a meal)? Definitely. Plus, it was a nice change from my usual flower (now jack-o-lantern) cookie. (Warning: Do not look up the nutrition information for any of Panera’s bakery items. It will make you cry.)

Living in a sorority house, I was introduced to the Clarisonic a long time ago, but I never really bought into the craze. I’ve always had fairly clear, even skin, so I didn’t think a Clarisonic could make any significant improvements. However, living in a Georgian village (where I walked to and from my school on dusty paths and frequently found it too cold at night to walk outside to use the sink) did not do my skin any favors. So after seeing a ton of rave reviews, I decided to give the Clarisonic a try. I got the Mia 2 model over a month ago, and I’m already extremely impressed. Using the brush feels like getting a mini facial and leaves my face much softer. The fact that it motivates me to actually wash my face every day is an accomplishment in itself. If you’ve been on the fence about trying a Clarisonic, go for it!

Similar to my Clarisonic story, even though everyone seems to wear the Tory Burch Reva ballet flats these days, I’ve had a skeptical attitude towards them. I mean, really, how are they different from any other flats? Well, I can tell you because yesterday, I tried them on for the first time. They’re actually a gift for my sister’s birthday next week (don’t worry, she already knows about it!), but I thought I’d test them out for her, just to see what all the fuss was about. To say that they fit like a glove would be an understatement. Not only do they look perfectly shaped, but I’ve never worn more comfortable flats in my life. Now I need to get my own pair ASAP.

And the obsession with Halloween candy continues… Halloween is fantastic for many reasons–costumes, decorations, parties–, but absolutely nothing beats the candy! Normally, I’m not a huge fan of apple-flavored candy. But combine it with caramel, and it’s a whole different story. I’m not familiar with Melster Candies’ other treats, but their caramel apply taffy does not disappoint.

I’ve recently discovered Songza, and I really can’t say how I’ve been able to live my life without it. Pandora, Spotify, Grooveshark, and other music streaming services have got nothing on Songza and its “music concierge.” The fact that each song is handpicked by “music experts,” which are actual people, rather than algorithms, is what truly makes Songza’s playlists stand above the rest. My personal favorites? “Music from Wes Anderson Movies,” “’60s French Pop,” “At the Farmer’s Market,” “Cooking with Walter White,” and the playlists for each of the Girls characters (minus Shosh). Yes, Songza has created a playlist for literally every imaginable situation, so start listening on the website or the free app.