September Favorites, Spooky Season & Where I’ve Been

So… I missed last week’s post.

I wish I could tell you it was because I was doing something exciting. Maybe taking a spontaneous fall weekend away. Perhaps reading by a fireplace in an oversized sweater while someone brought me coffee.

No.

It was migraines and exhaustion. Very glamorous.

September was one of those months that somehow went by incredibly fast while also lasting approximately six years. Between getting back into the school routine, sports, work, commuting, everyone’s schedules and just general life, I feel like we spent most of the month trying to remember where everyone needed to be and at what time.

And the constant weather and pressure changes have not been particularly kind to my head.

But we made it. And now it’s October.

My time has come.

I love spooky season. The house is decorated, the skeletons have emerged, the evenings are getting darker, and I can finally lean fully into my preferred aesthetic of slightly haunted woman who owns too many candles.

So instead of pretending last week didn’t happen, I thought we’d catch up with some of the things I loved throughout September—and, naturally, some of the Halloween décor that has already found its way into my house.

What I Read in September

Apparently I’ve entered my dark romantasy era, and I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon.

I finished all of the currently available books in the Empyrean Series, and then moved on to the Fae & Alchemy Series.

I loved both. There is something about curling up with my Kindle, putting on classical music or café jazz in the background, and disappearing into a world where everyone’s morally questionable, someone probably has a sword, and there’s a decent chance we’re going to encounter a dragon. It’s soothing.

I’ve also since finished the Wolves of Ruin Series, so now I need your help.

If you have a dark romantasy series you absolutely love, PLEASE leave it in the comments. I’m looking for my next obsession.

The Beauty & Skincare Products I Keep Coming Back To

September wasn’t really about reinventing my makeup routine. If anything, it reminded me that sometimes my tried-and-true products are tried-and-true for a reason.

L’Oréal Lumi Glotion
One of those products I continually come back to. I love anything that makes my skin look healthy and glowy without making me look like I dipped my face in glitter.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Affordable, reliable and one of those makeup-bag staples that just works.

Armani Eye Tint
I love these for an easy eye look, especially on work mornings when I do not have the time—or emotional capacity—for an elaborate eyeshadow situation.

Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint
Another favorite. Beautiful color, easy to blend and gives that effortless flushed look.

Armani Dolci Blush
Listen. I am obsessed with this blush. I would like to be buried wearing it. That’s the review.

Anua Azelaic Acid
This has become one of my skincare staples, and my skin seems to really like it.

I’ve also recently started using Prequel Gleanser and Differin Gel. It’s only been a few days, so I’m not declaring any miracles yet, but I’m already noticing a difference in my skin and I’m very hopeful.

St. Tropez Self Tan Face Mist
Because by this point in the year my summer color is beginning its annual disappearance, and my olive skin and I would prefer not to discuss what happens next.

L’Oréal Feria in Intense Medium Auburn
At this point, the dark red hair is simply part of my identity. I literally get yelled at by everyone around me if I ever try to stray from it. 😂 We have collectively decided this is my hair color now.

Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Body Wash + Lotion
When I tell you I am OBSESSED with this scent…

The only problem is that I now have to hide the body wash from my youngest because apparently I am raising a very bougie child who would happily use the entire bottle.

Sir.

You are a child.

Please use your own body wash.

And speaking of Salt & Stone…

New September Favorites

Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Hair & Body Mist
Naturally, I bought the hair and body mist in the same fragrance as my lotion and body wash.

And I LOVE it.

Apparently even my dog approves because he seems extra snuggly whenever I’m wearing it. So if nothing else, it has passed the German Shepherd quality-control test.

Touchless LED Kitchen Lamp
This was such a small addition to the kitchen, but I love it. Sometimes I want to walk into the kitchen at night without turning on THE BIG LIGHT.

You know the light. The one that instantly makes your cozy house feel like you’re being interrogated.

This gives me just enough soft light in the kitchen without ruining the mood.

Wooden Cable Management Box
Not exciting. Extremely satisfying.

We use ours on the kitchen island to hide cords and chargers, and it makes the whole area look so much cleaner.

Sometimes adulthood is getting genuinely excited about cable management.

PAVOI Classic Ball Studs With Flat Backs
I have four piercings in each ear, so flat-back earrings are a game changer.

They’re simple, classic and—most importantly—I can actually sleep in them without feeling like an earring post is trying to puncture my skull.

Ocean Wave Light Projector
Instant cozy atmosphere.

Turn off the big lights, put this on, light a candle and suddenly the room feels completely different.

Makeup Vanity Case
Super cute, practical and makes my makeup feel much more organized than I actually am.

I’ll take the illusion.

Faux Fall Flowers
These look surprisingly realistic and are such an easy way to bring some fall color into the house without having to remember to keep anything alive.

Frank Mully Women’s Pointed Flats
These have been great for work but are cute enough that I’d also wear them out. They’re comfortable, stylish and easy to pair with trousers, dresses or jeans.

One caveat: there isn’t much arch support. That’s something I’m personally used to with flats, but if you need a supportive shoe, definitely keep that in mind.

And Then Halloween Happened

Obviously, September favorites can’t lead into October without talking about Halloween décor.

I have a very specific vision for Halloween inside the house this year:

Moody vampire lair.

Lots of black. Skeletons. Gothic books. Candles. Moody lighting. Things that look vaguely cursed.

You know. Cozy.

New Halloween Finds

Black Creepy Cloth
You can never have enough. I don’t make the rules.

Throw it across a mantel, table, bookshelf or basically anything else and suddenly it’s Halloween.

Set of Three Reading Skeleton Figurines
Skeletons AND books? Obviously they needed to live here.

Black Round Placemats
These are one of those simple pieces that make the more dramatic Halloween décor feel intentional instead of looking like a seasonal aisle exploded in your dining room.

Black & Gold Chargers
Creepy, dramatic, black and gold. There was really no universe in which I wasn’t buying these.

Skeleton Martini Glasses
Were these necessary? Yes.

Because I already own skeleton stemless champagne flutes, and apparently the skeleton glassware collection needed to expand.

I don’t see a problem here.

Set of Three Black Hands With Tea Lights
These are technically wall-mounted hands, but instead of mounting them, I put them on my mantel among black gauze so they look like creepy hands crawling out of it holding candles.

And I LOVE them.

Halloween Décor I Already Own & Still Love

Some Halloween decorations come and go. Others become family.

My Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Candelabras definitely fall into the second category.

My father-in-law bought them for me while we were in Disney as a thank-you for handling Lightning Lanes and the approximately 4,372 other logistical decisions involved in planning a Disney vacation.

Which, actually… Maybe I need to write a post about that.

I also bring out my faux black baby’s breath, which is such an easy way to make existing vases and arrangements feel Halloween-y without covering every available surface with pumpkins.

Although let’s be clear: I also like pumpkins.

My gold skull planter doesn’t technically get “brought out” because… I keep it out year-round.

Same with my skull glasses holder.

Some people have neutral transitional décor; I have skulls. We all have our thing.

Then there are my ghost throw pillow covers, Hocus Pocus Book of Spells, and Welcome Foolish Mortals neon sign, because apparently Disney’s Haunted Mansion has become a recurring design influence in this house.

And finally, my three gold skull wall planters. These occasionally stay up through Christmas. I just put Santa hats on the skulls. ✨Festive✨

Outside: The Pumpkin King Graveyard Returns

Inside may be moody vampire lair, but outside we return every year to our Pumpkin King Graveyard.

We change the layout a little each Halloween because I never want it to feel like we’re simply dragging the exact same display out of storage and putting everything back where it was last year.

There are tombstones and skeletons everywhere, giant light-up jack-o’-lanterns and skulls scattered throughout the yard, zombie heads, shrunken heads, black cats and witches gathered around a cauldron filled with bones.

You know. Subtle.

The only thing currently missing is our giant handmade Pumpkin King. He’s an old man now; he needs his hips replaced.

After years of Halloween service, he’s in need of some repairs before he can return to his rightful place towering over the graveyard.

We’re hoping to fix him up and get him outside this weekend… Sometime between our youngest’s soccer tournament.

Because nothing says spooky season quite like repairing the joints of an enormous homemade Pumpkin King between soccer games.

My Least Favorite September Favorite

Can something be a favorite if you hate it? No? Fine.

My September unfavorite was the weather and pressure changes.

My migraines have been rough lately, and between the changing weather, exhaustion and general September chaos, there were days when I simply didn’t have anything left to give.

Hence the missing blog post.

I’m trying to get better about accepting that sometimes something has to give.

Sometimes dinner isn’t elaborate. Sometimes the laundry stays in the basket. Sometimes the blog post doesn’t go up.

The internet survived. And so did I.

Now Give Me October

Despite all of September’s chaos, I’m genuinely excited for October. I want cozy nights on the couch with my husband, reading my Kindle while he watches or reads something next to me.

I want scary movies.

I want candles burning and the house glowing from lamps instead of overhead lights.

I want hot tea when it’s cold outside.

And I also want blood-orange margaritas poured into my completely unnecessary (and completely necessary) skeleton martini glasses.

October is one of those months when I’m reminded how much I love being home.

Give me the spooky house, the cozy couch, a good book, my family nearby and something delicious to drink.

I’m happy.

And hopefully this month I’ll even manage to post every week.

No promises.

Now I need recommendations from you: What did you love in September? And more importantly, if you’ve been reading dark romantasy, what series should I start next?

Because my TBR apparently isn’t long enough.

xx Valerie
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