one. over the knee boots | two. duo chrome eyeshadow | three. little velvet dress | four. luxie makeup brushes | five. whispy false eyelashes (out of stock- but here is a similar pair)

Hello, hello! Sorry I have been a little behind on posting. We are currently having final exams, and I’ve been swamped with studying. I decided to take a little study break from Accounting to share a few of my favorite things from the month of november. November was such a fantastic month because I got to enjoy some much needed time with my family. It was great to finally have a week at home after six long months away, and Thanksgiving break was such a huge blessing.

Now that it is December, I decided it would be fun to share my monthly favorites this past month. I have shown most of these on my public snapchat, which you can follow at @mackenzieken. Without further ado, friends, here are some things I have been loving this past month:

When you’re 5’0 tall, it can be hard to pull off every single fashion trend. I’ve always loved sky-high suede boots, but I have been hesitant on trying them out because of my height and short legs. Over the break, I went shopping with my mom and sister in Nordstrom at North Park Mall in Dallas. I walked by these gorgeous, suede over-the-knee boots and decided to try them on just for fun. As I walked across the store to find a mirror, two different strangers approached me and told me how much they loved the boots. These boots actually were surprisingly flattering- and super comfortable. I would definitely say they fit true to size if you nervous about deciding on a size to order. I love that they are higher in the front, and that they have subtle stud embellishments. I couldn’t resist buying myself a little early Christmas present as shows are definitely my guilty pleasure. I am so obsessed with these suede boots, and I get compliments every single time that I wear them. If you are looking for the perfect pair of over-the-knee boots, especially if you are petite like me, you have to check these out!

I mentioned these stunning Moondust eyeshadows in my mini sephora haul (which you can see here). These mega-shimmery shadows have had my heart these past few weeks, and I just ordered a few more to give as gifts! There is something so special and unique about them, and I absolutely love the shade selection as well. I definitely plan on buying this little ‘build your own palette’ so I easily take my Urban Decay shadows on the go!

I had a formal a few weeks ago and was struggling finding the perfect dress. My sister found this velvet bodycon dress online for me, and I ordered it nervously. I usually opt for fit-and-flare style dresses, so bodycon dresses tend to be a little out of my comfort zone. When the dress arrived in the mail, I was so excited that it was actually flattering and the right size. I decided to order an XS, and I definitely think it does run pretty true to size. I like that it has a bodycon fit and a fun cutout at the top, but it is still a little conservative with the high neckline and long sleeves. This little velvet dress a great mix between sexy and classy, making it the perfect go-to piece for a multitude of versatile occasions. I would recommend using fashion tape if you have a larger chest because it does tend to gape open a little in the front. I enjoyed the velvet dress so much in royal blue, that I ended up purchasing it on Cyber Monday in the burgundy color (because it was half off). I wore the burgundy one last night for another Christmas formal, and I was very glad I ordered it in another color! When I really love a specific clothing piece, I always purchase it in more than one color. I really love both the royal blue and the burgundy versions of the dress, and it also comes in black too!

Luxie Beauty, a paraben and cruelty free company, reached out to me over a month ago about trying out a few of their new makeup brushes. I do get sent productions to try out pretty frequently, but I only mention the ones that I actually do really, really love. I always give y’all an honest opinion on what I think about each product. Luxie sent me five different brushes from their new Luxury collection called ‘Onyx Noir’. In addition, they did send me a few eyeshadows, but I did not love them as much as I do the other eyeshadows in my collection. I’ve been trying out these Onyx Noir brushes for several weeks now, and I can honestly say that I really enjoy them (and prefer them over my MAC brushes). My very favorite brush is the Tapered Highlighter Face Brush. I love to apply my MAC ‘Soft & Gentle’ highlighter with it! I also really enjoy the Tapered Face Makeup Brush. I use it to apply setting powder and blush. It reminds me a lot of my MAC 150 brush. I actually prefer the Luxie Tapered Face brush over the MAC 150 because the Luxie brush doesn’t shed whatsoever. The MAC 150  sheds like crazy, and I find myself never reaching for it anymore. Also, the Luxie brush is cheaper as well! If you’re looking for a new makeup brush brand to check out (that’s also cruelty free), definitely check out LuxieBeauty. (P.S. You can use the code ‘mackenzieken’ to get a discount on these fabulous Onyx Noir brushes).

I was unfortunately not blessed with dark, long, or voluminous lashes. But I can definitely fake it with the help of some glam false eyelashes. False eyelashes can be intimating at first, but it definitely helps to watch youtube tutorials and practice. You’ll get the hang of applying them before you know it! I find that they make any makeup look pop and really open up the eyes. After trying tons of different styles and brands, I’ve really fallen in love with the whispy stye of false lashes. I’ve been obsessed with these affordable whispy eyelashes from Walmart. I picked them up on a whim when I saw them labeled with a sticker that said ‘blogger favorite’. They are reusable too, which is great because you can get tons of uses of out them. They are currently sold out online, but they are available in Walmart stores. In addition, I love Ardell ‘Whispies’. You can get them at any drugstore or Ulta, and they look so glamorous, but still natural. I recommend applying false eyelashes with Duo glue. It’s my very favorite, and I find that works very well (while still being very affordable)! If you love false lashes, let me know what your specific favorites are!

I decided to narrow down my favorites to five for the month of November. Some other things I loved this month included the Soapy South Wash House ‘Charcoal Facial Detox Soap‘ and ‘Shave Soap Tablet‘, Neutrogena Triple Age Repair Moisture with SPF 25, Milani Lipgloss in the shade ‘Nude Touch‘,  and Chi Silk Infusion. I thought all of these products were awesome and are all things I would definitely repurchase in the future!

I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend so far! Let me know what your favorite things were during the month of November!