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    Home » Favourites

    MY FAVORITE THINGS: OCTOBER 2023

    October 7, 2023 by Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food Leave a Comment

    Each year, after September 22nd or so, I am finally ready to accept that it's a new season and I'll (somewhat reluctantly) embrace fall. Don't get me wrong—fall itself is lovely. It's what comes after I don't love so much...

    But regardless of the season, one thing is for sure, I doooo be shopping. And the great thing about having this platform is I can use it to share things with you that are actually tried and true by yours truly. I try a lot of different things on my quest to live forever, and look and feel my best while doing so.

    So, not only am I planning to share a lot of kitchen and food-related items each month, I'll also give you the down low on beauty products, health products (including stuff relating to life after Whipple surgery), pet stuff, home goods...you name it!

    Now, enough of that! Let's get to my favorite things from October 2023 so far. PLEASE reach out if you want more info about any of these things so I can answer any questions you might have.

    And remember, I have a new page on my site with all of my shopable links in one spot, including my Amazon storefront, LTK social profiles, and more. As always, I appreciate your support SO much!

    My Favorite Things: October 2023

    Kitchen Products

    You can see my on-going list of kitchen products and tools I use here, but this month there were a few items that stood out as well as some new additions to my list of favorites.

    I'm pretty sure my mini food processor will always make my list of favorites. I think I use it more than any other kitchen product. The last few weeks, I've been making whipped pumpkin cottage cheese in it every day (no really, every day) and it really is just so lightweight but strong and works so well.

    Beauty Products

    If you've been here since day one, you'll know my whole blog used to actually revolve around beauty products for the most part.

    Here's a video showcasing my absolute favorite lip combo right now...the orangey-red tones of my dreams for fall.

    Don't want to shop through the links? No problem—I get it. The lip liner is "Spice" from MAC and the lipstick is the shade Cabo from Merit.

    a close up of a fall lip color combo in orange red tones

    Snacks

    One of my hyper-fixation snacks this month (along with the whipped pumpkin cottage cheese) might sound silly but it's really just so good: I take Oreo thins and dip them in Cool Whip. It's basically like chips and dip but a sweet version....don't knock it until you try it!

    Protein nachos

    I also love most of the Quest protein products, including the chips, crackers, and the cookies. Lately, I've been using the taco flavored protein chips (the best flavor second to their nacho chips, in my opinion) to make protein nachos.

    I take two bags of Loaded Taco Quest Protein Chips, spread them on a plate, and top them with cheese (and any other nacho toppings of your choice). Then I microwave them until the cheese is melted. Next, I mix Greek yogurt with salsa and or taco sauce for a high-protein dip for the chips! It's soooo good and has so much protein...you need to try that for sure too.

    Best press-on nails

    As someone who has tried at least 100 pairs of press-on nails over the past two years, I can honestly say this pair here is the best of the best. And that's in terms of quality, durability, lasting power, price...all of it. They're less expense than a lot of other pairs I've tried but last so much longer and look better.

    press on nails on a right hand with two rings

    Shop the best press-on nails here.

    And I'll spare you the foot pic, but I'm also a big fan of press-on toenails too and these ones are the best I've tried so far. They stay for about a month!

    COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment

    I've heard people talk about this COLOR WOW Anti-Frizz Treatment for a long time so I finally bought myself the mini version and...holy smokes. I get the hype. You really do need to follow the instructions though to get the full effect...i.e, using heat and tension to activate the product. 

    Sephora is on Rakuten for 2.5 cashback, FYI!

    Health products

    Back to my quest to living forever!

    Magnesium body lotion

    I recently go turned on to magnesium lotion and I don't know how I lived so long without it. It really helps my sore muscles, especially after workouts. And when I use it at night before bed, I SWEAR it helps me fall asleep. I like rubbing it into my feet really well once I'm in bed and know I don't need to get up again.

    This is the exact one I use. It's also the only one I've ever used so I don't have anything to compare it to. Let me know if there's another I should try. 

    Those friendship bracelets are definitely another favorite thing...my best friend made them for me!

    Silicone ear plugs

    Speaking of sleep, I'm also not sure how I lived without silicone ear plugs for so long. I don't even know how those foam ear plugs are still sold when this option exists. They mold into your ear and block sound out better than anything else I have ever tried. Not to mention, they're so much more comfortable than others.

    I've used a few sets of these purple ones and one set of these ones and they are both great but the purple ones are by far my favorite. They're a just a bit more mouldable and comfy.

    IMPORTANT: With the purple ones, your hair can get stuck in the silicone a bit. I was so worried the first time this happened until I realized oil gets it out easy-peasy. So I just take a bit of hair oil on my fingers and rub it in if any gets stuck.

    Breath Pearls

    I've gotten a bunch of friends and family members using these now because I've been talking about them for years! Breath Pearls are actually pills you swallow that have peppermint and parsley in them. The result? When you burp or breathe, you get minty fresh breath coming out instead of anything else. I think they help a bit with upset stomachs too.

    Clothing

    When I'm not in pajamas or sweats (work from home life...) I am in activewear to go to classes at League. 

    I probably have more workout sets than any one person would need in their lifetime but it really makes it so much more fun for me! When it comes to workout leggings, I alwaysss come back to Aerie's Real Me leggings. The material, colors, long inseam options...there's just so much to love about them. I counted the other day and I have 18 pairs...oops! (But in a bunch of different colors if that changes anything)

    But I have several different workout outfits linked on my LTK here. Or you can shop directly from Aerie here.

    I also use Rakuten for online shopping and Aerie is on Rakuten so you can usually get at least 2% cashback on Aerie purchases. Here's my referral code for $30 cashback upon signing up (it's free). 

    Favorite Recipes

    Instead of just one favorite recipe for October, I have a fall comfort recipe roundup I hope you'll check out. It has Thanksgiving recipes, game day recipes, and recipes that just plain suit the season. 

    Tech Products

    Portable Phone Charger

    I recently had a TikTok showcasing this portable charger that got a lot of views which made me really happy because the more people who experience the wonder of this product, the better. This is the exact one I got (pink, of course) but there are tons of options out there that should do the trick. 

    Orange reading light

    This little clip on orange reading light has seeeeriously elevated my nighttime reading game. It makes it so much cozier and more enjoyable. The charge holds for a long time and you can choose the brightness of the light. 

    The book you see is a bonus favorite thing. I've described it as a warm hug with a loving push in the right direction. 

    Okay, anything I missed? Let me know if there's anything else I can help you find or if you have any questions. I'm not trying to get you to buy anything you don't need, but if you happen to be in the market for the specifics I list in my favorites of the month, these should be good choices for ya!

    Until next time,

    Chelsea

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    About Chelsea Kram & XO&So

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    I'm Chelsea Kram! I created XO&So to be your go-to source for vegetarian comfort food recipes. From breakfast to dinner, appetizers, snacks and more, all of your meatless meal ideas are covered. Read More…

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