WOW…what a month. October whooped our butts + rocked our worlds in more ways than one. First off…having a baby. Like, whoa. That was unexpected. Second…we had an immediate family member pass away unexpectedly this week, too. So like, double whoa. We’re really just floating around lately, it feels like, in a total emotional sea. From the highest highs to lowest lows, October’s had ’em all.

That all explains my total scattered-ness around CUR lately, why I’ve been quieter on Instastories, etc – it’s really just been a lot in every sense of the word, so I’m hoping + praying that things come back down to earth at some point to feel a *bit* more normal-ish amidst the chaos.

On a happier note, it’s MONTHLY FAVORITES TIME.

P.S. Excuse my shotty manicure in this shoot – it was HIGH TIME to hit up the salon. Girlfriend’s had a lot goin’ on. Don’t judge. 😉

1.) OLIVIA GRACE GWYNN

The biggest favorite of all time, ever. Our daughter. HOLLAH. She came nearly two full months early, but she’s here to stay + shake up our lives completely, as she already has. Olivia is *thriving* so far, thank the sweet Lord baby Jesus – and I know it’s entirely because of the sheer volume of PRAYER that’s been coming her way from all over the place.

I’m still getting through all of the DMs, comments, + messages from all of you after sharing what was happening in the hospital + her birth story (here’s part 1, here’s part 2) – really, THOSE should be a favorite here, too. We’ve been blown away totally by all of the kindness + prayers + lovelovelove. And besides that, SO many of you reached out to share your own stories, be they of your children or of yourselves, being premature babies that blossomed into badass kids/adults. It’s been such a source of strength + peace for our fam through it all, so I really cannot thankyou enough. I’m sure it sounds like a broken record at this point, but it still feels insufficient. So, thanks. 🙂

2.) “Olivia” necklace

Could actually not be more obsessed with this necklace from The Sis Kiss! The sisters behind the shop are the actual SWEETEST; when they heard about Olivia’s birth story, they kept checking in for updates and to just send good vibes our way, which was/is SO appreciated. So the necklace – it’s .925 sterling silver gold, plated with crystals. And they’re 100% customizable, with anything from a name, to a fave saying or word. Totally versatile + totally personal.

It’s absolutely beautiful and such a unique piece; I lovelovelove how dainty it looks while still being a statement. And lovelovelove how it lets me feel like I always have my daughter with me, even when she’s still cooped up in the NICU for a bit longer.

ALSO ALSO ALSO, discount code erica15 will get y’all a sweet little CUR discount at checkout! 😉

3.) Halogen cashmere poncho

This year was the year – I knew I wanted to add a true, classic cashmere piece to my closet. Granted, cashmere ain’t cheap – but it’s timeless and such a staple for fall/winter wear. I picked up this poncho as a last minute NSale buy in July, and I’m SO STOKED that now is the time to bust it out. (It’s only available in solid color now, but what I linked is the exact same poncho/style – just the different color option!) I’m picky with ponchos since an ill-fitting style can have ya lookin’ like you’re straight outta the 90’s – but when it lays justright, it’s a gorgeous layering piece and a great final touch to a cute fall look.

It’s also the *softest* piece – so well made, and 100% worth the investment as something you’ll have + wear season-after-season.

4.) Glow For a Cause body butter in Wish

I first tried this brand *years* ago in a PR sample, and I’ve been *obsessed* from the start. Now granted, I’ve tried a TON of body butters/lotions in life, so to have a diehard favorite that I actually repurchase consistently is pretty rare (because I’m not even typically in the NEED for a new one, since I’ve got a stock always in my drawer!). This was a recent repurchase (hence, the full tub) because it’s just. that. good.

First thing’s first: it’s SO insanely creamy + thick + luxe. The oil-blend inside is coconut, jojoba, sunflower, + vitamin E, so it’s packed with good ingredients! It’s not greasy at all – just feels truly nourishing on your skin, and so good after a shower. Second thing’s second: THE SMELL. Wish in particular is my favorite. It’s a blend of light florals, white tea, + bergamot. Third thing’s third: Paraben free, phthalate free, cruelty free, gluten free, USA made. Fourth thing’s fourth: The brand has such a good mission behind it! They’ve got quite a few non-profit partners, from mentoring/tutoring groups for disadvantaged kids, to breast cancer research, to no-kill animal shelters.

Makes for a FABULOUS gift, whether it’s for Christmas, your bestie’s birthday, or a hostess gift for your girlfriends.

5.) Trader Joe’s Thomcord grapes

OK Y’ALL. THIS IS IT. ICYMI, I shared on my Instastories recently about how friggin’ fabulous Trader Joe’s Thomcord grapes are. In terms of grapes, they’re the lifechanging kind. Literally.

Turns out – these bad boys are not exclusive to TJ’s. They’re an actual type of grape – a blend of the Thompson seedless grape and the Concord grape – and we’ve found ’em in other local grocery stores + farmer’s markets. Who knew?!?!

This is how good they are:

For this photoshoot, I needed to run out and grab more, since J + I devoured the last two tubs within 3 days of buying them. My mom came with me – we first hit up the local produce stand that has them. Sold out.

We drove up to Trader Joe’s. Sold out.

We drove to a final grocery store (after one hour+ driving around in the rain, at this point)…no Thomcord. BUT, they did have concord, so we picked those up instead – as well as Moondrop grapes, which look straight up like gerkin pickles, and Cotton Candy grapes, which taste straight up like ACTUAL COTTON CANDY. I kid you not. So now our household is on a major grape kick, and will be for the foreseeable future.

6.) Phone stand + Monitor stand

In trying to get + stay as organized as possible before baby girl’s arrival, I picked up a few tech stands to keep my office space organized + keep my head screwed on straight. 😉 This phone stand has been fabulous; it’s also iPad compatible, but I lovelovelove for keeping my phone in one place, in eyeshot if/when I need to see incoming calls/texts, and also at a moveable angle for Facetiming hands-free.

This monitor stand is currently unavailable, but I’m linking the exact one I got for y’all – it’s made SO WELL + works beautifully on my desk to keep my monitor raised a bit above the action, and to keep everything else organized nicely + neatly beneath it.

7.) Fleece wubby Pullover

Chances are, you’ve seen some sorta furry fleece “wubby” on your Instagram feed between last year and now. 😉 Last fall, this pullover went viral + sold out at Nordstrom, mutiple times. So when I found this lookalike for around $30 instead of $78…girlfriend freaked the freak out and hit #AddToCart. And sure enough, it’s soft as can be and looks exactly the same. Hollah!

I lovelovelove that it’s so cozy while still looking cute over athleisure or other comfy clothes. It’s not a bulky fit, even though it’s a furrier fleece material, so I think it’s a pretty flattering outerwear that works especially well in transitioning seasons, or when you just don’t yet feel like busting out a winter coat.

8.) Girl, Wash your Face!

OK OK…I’m torn here, folks. I picked up this book because the internet told me to. Basically, it went totally viral, and everyone was talking about it. And I’m a sucker for being in the know. 😉 BUT, I also saw some really good dialogue happening on how even though the author is Christian and shares some Bible/Jesus talk inside the book, it might not be/isn’t the most scripturally accurate Jesus talk. I read this before reading the book, so I went into it knowing this info and knowing that I very well might not agree with every single thing she says. And sure enough – while I could vibe with a lot, there were definitely points that raised little red flags, because of what I had previously seen in blog posts picking apart what is more feel-good than feel-God.

All that being said, I just really lovelovelove Rachel’s writing style. Girlfriends makes me LAUGH. OUT. LOUD. I’m a huuuuuuge fan of writing styles that just pull me in and make me jealous that I’m not them. And Rachel is one of those writers. The girl has got a way with words, and I so appreciate it – I breezed through the book in 3 days because I couldn’t wait to see how she’d piece together phrases that simultaneously made me bust a gut and feel the feels. I’ve got her next book on my desk right now to give a read, so the jury’s out on that one – stay tuned…!

9.) Crest Whitestrips 3D Glamorous White

I’d be so totally remiss to not include Crest Whitestrips in this month’s favorites. ICYMI, J + I did a 14-day challenge with ’em to see what sorta before/after we’d get with consistent, 30-minute daily usage. The strips claimed to eliminate years worth of surface stains and work after 3 days only, so with a 14-day commitment, we were optimistic.

…and rightfully so.

We both saw AWESOME results. My teeth have never felt whiter, and I notice it very obviously on myself. Same with J – we just have little confidence boosts now when it comes to our smiles. I was strongly considering professional whitening at my dentist post-baby, justbecause I’m SO picky with my teeth and reaaaaaaally want/need ’em to be as white as possible for my own sanity. 😉 But now, I have literally no need to spend the big bucks on pro whitening, when this little box from the drugstore works this well. I’ve had other folks take notice about how white my teeth are now, and SO MANY OF YOU have reached out saying you’ve picked up a box and/or already did a challenge and have seen results after following our journey. So, that’s awesome!

10.) Leopard print baseball hat

Always a total sucker for leopard print. Here, here…literally just always. When I found this hat online, I literally gasped – leopard print to wear even on my worst hair days, or when I haven’t washed my hair in a week?!? SIGN A SISTAH UP. It’s such a cute + classic way to upgrade a look effortlessly. Looks great with everything from athleisure for running around town with errands, to a more put-together look. Pair with great denim, boots, and some fall layers up top for a casual cute daytime look.

How much leopard is too much leopard? …the limit does not exist.