Lifestyle Trend: Monthly Subscriptions

Remember back to when you were a kid and you would go to a fair or a flea market and you came across something called a "grab bag". You had no idea what was inside but you still begged your mom for a dollar so you could buy one just for the sheer pleasure of opening it to find a surprise. In your adult life it is still exciting to open something when you have no clue what is inside. Monthly subscription services are just that. You pay a certain amount of money each month and you receive a special surprise in the mail.
These services have been around for a while, for example, "wine of the month club", and things of that nature. Nowadays, the new obsession is a subscription for beauty and skincare products. Two of the most popular would be Ipsy and Birchbox. Many YouTubers post videos comparing the two while opening them for the first time. Both of these services cost $10 a month and provide personalized beauty and skin care products to you each month and are catered toward your needs/taste.
I strongly recommend signing up for at least one of the two because its a great way to learn about new products, up and coming brands, and expand your collection. You may not like every single item in your bag but this can be such a great way to have some "stocking stuffers" on hand for the holidays around the corner, or to just give them away as part of a birthday gift.
The best part about it is the element of surprise. Picture yourself coming home from an exhausting day at work and seeing a package for you and not knowing what's inside. It's almost like receiving a present from a distant relative and if you don't like what's inside you can re-gift it to someone else.
These services are such a great value because for only $10 a month you can get full sized products as well as deluxe samples.
Other than Ipsy and Birchbox, there are other services that cost a bit more but you definitely get more for the higher price. BoxyCharm is a $21 a month service and you get all full sized products from well-known brands. Walmart and Target also have created their own services. You can find a monthly subscription for so many different needs not just beauty. They even have a service called BarkBox for dogs. These services can also make a great gift for someone else because they do allow you to pay for a full year upfront.
If you're iffy about adding an extra cost to your monthly bills, cancel something you don't use very often. Split your Netflix with a friend (if you go months without watching anything until the new season of Orange is the New Black comes out) and sign up for a subscription that suits you and will be worth every dollar.
I personally am an Ipsy subscriber and below is what I received in my bag for November:

To join Ipsy click here
To join Birchbox click here

Fall Shoes

The cold weather is just around the corner, and it's probably about time you put away those flip flops. If you're anything like me, you probably struggle when it comes to what to put on your feet on colder days. Especially after the ease of slipping your sandals on and off for four months, it's hard to transition into cold weather shoes that require lacing, zipping, etc.
Another problem I have in the fall is that I end up wearing the same shoes multiple days in a row because the majority of my shoes are summery or wintry. By the time the season is over I never want to wear or see these shoes again!
If you're anything like me, let's get out of this fall shoe rut by investing in these fall trends. I call it an investment because shoe trends don't change very drastically and you're always going to need something to put on your feet. As long as you keep the style simple (versatile for many occasions) and keep in mind colors that will match the season and you can have shoes for many falls to come. Also, some fall boots/booties can be transitioned into winter, making them an even better investment. Below are a couple different occasions and some examples of the shoes that would be appropriate for each.

Work (Business Casual): pair with dresses, blazers, ponte pants, or skirts.
Booties/Shooties- Keep colors neutral, heel or flat, ankle height. Click here for lots of ankle bootie inspiration. There are so many different kinds which can be overwhelming. Pick the style that suits your needs and will be the most practical to do your job in.

Flats-  Can be embellished with studs, print, texture, etc. Flats are multi-seasonal and to make them more fall appropriate, look for darker colors like olive green and burgundy, or prints like leopard and plaid.

Photo cred Forever 21

Photo cred DSW

 
Everyday/School (Casual):
A hot trend for this fall is the fashion sneaker. These can be worn to give some edge to a more feminine look, to dress you up on your most casual days, or to simply turn your footwear into a conversation piece. Below is some sneaker inspiration to spice up even your most casual days.
 

Photo cred Macys

Photo cred Zappos

Photo cred Steve Madden

Combat Boots:
An absolute must have for fall footwear is the combat boot. I honestly cannot get enough of these shoes. They can be worn with so many different styles and will instantly add an edginess to any outfit. You can wear them with a skirt, dress, chunky socks, leggings, or denim and they will look amazing. They tend to be on the more casual side, but will be perfect if your office has casual Fridays, wearing to school, or anywhere on the weekends. Not only will these shoes be the perfect compliment for a flashback to the grunge era, they can also look so modern when paired with more feminine silhouettes.

Photo cred gojane

 

Photo cred Charlotte Russe

There are so many different kind of shoes for the fall, too many to talk about, but get started with a few investments that suit your needs and will last you many wears and falls in the future.