#and also the white looks so bad so i opted for a more cream ish color to complement his hair

[mxi-88]

mika is sooo cute in my head but not in reality. so here are some design tweaks

[le-sejour]

Just Like You, Only Sweeter

Words: 1976

Pairing: wouldn’t u like to know jk it’s Thomas Jefferson x Reader with a surprise

World: Modern AU

Warning: Sexy, sexy things in here mhm (not smut tho, but pretty suggestive), also profanity and actual dickbaggery, angst

A/N: Hey hey hey hey hey so on this episode of “shouldn’t be writing this because I have requests to fill but still wrote it anyway” So I’ve been listening to my old music playlist back in 2010-ish? and ya kno how teenagers are w their edgy music and #Relatable lyrics. This fic was the love child of listening to All American Rejects and Fall Out Boy. Points if you can guess which songs inspired these lmao

Thomas groaned in pleasure, his hands gripping your hips tightly as you peppered kisses down his jaw to his neck. God, you were beautiful. So, so beautiful.

“Who has to know?”

You murmured against his skin as you mounted him, your black-lined eyes half-lidded and the stink of alcohol unmistakably heavy on your breath.

He knew this was just a one-night stand. A rebound. And he was perfectly fine with that. Your ex, Alexander Hamilton, had actually grown a pair big enough to come crawling back to Eliza, the woman he cheated on, leaving you to rot in your head for weeks on end.

You had planned on sulking around your apartment watching Friends reruns and binging on ice cream. Thomas had suggested getting drinks.

“He told me he would make it right with me.” You had sobbed into your multicolored drink, tears smudging your mascara somewhat. Your dark-skinned companion tried not to stare too much, but found that he couldn’t help it. You were mesmerizing even when you looked like a blotchy raccoon. His heart clenched. “He said he envisioned a future with me! A family an-and kids!”

“Hamilton’s an idiot, [F/Name].” He murmured matter-of-factly, instinctively using his thumb to wipe your tears away. He felt her skin jump at the contact. “He had the most scintillating woman in New York City, and he let it go. It’s his loss.”

His breath hitched when you looked up at him through damp lashes, still managing to look enticing despite crying for over three hours. His mind went into overdrive, desperately trying to keep the trickle of feelings at bay.

He watched with controlled interest as you worried your bottom lip, his heart beat pounding loudly in his ears. He can’t allow himself to give in. It was better this way, he chanted in his head like a mantra.

But oh, how her eyes shined iridescent against the dark.

“Would you have done the same, Thomas?” You whispered, leaning into him ever so slightly. His control was hanging by a thread. “Would you have left me like he did?”

He stared into your eyes once more, losing himself in them as he all but gave in to his desires.

“Never.” He whispered, voice strained and thick with want.

You closed the gap between you two, pressing your lips hungrily against his. You needed the friction, the intimacy. You wanted to feel wanted. And when you reached completion late into the night, your head thrown back in bliss as his hands still gripped your hips tightly, you’d like to think you were.

You never saw him around in the weeks following your drunken tryst. It was as if he never existed. He wasn’t in his apartment, or his favorite bar, or the library. You even tried visiting his workplace, but all you got was his secretary telling you he had opted to work from home.

Oh.

The silent walk back to your apartment was filled with sniffling and attempts to choke back your sobs, going through your memories of that night.

Did you say anything wrong? Was the sex bad? He had seemed so eager to bed you, and the morning after was spent lazing around and cuddling his apartment. What did you do? What changed that night after you went home?

You tried to ignore the tightening in your chest as you reached the front steps of your apartment building, but there was only so much you could do to reign in your emotions. Collapsing onto the steps, you sobbed uncontrollably into your hands.

Why is this happening to you? Didn’t Thomas like you? Didn’t Alexander like you? Did anyone like you?

“[F/Name]?”

You looked up from your pathetic, curled position, tears still streaming down your cheeks. Your heart seemed to heal instantly as you recognized those head of curls.

“Thomas.”

Thomas Jefferson was not an emotionally intelligent man.

He was cunning, and crafty, and wise beyond his years. But you’d be damned to think he was, in any way, in complete control of anything that doesn’t involve his head.

After your pity romp, he was a mess. The moment you kissed him had opened the dam that held all the things he felt for you at bay. It flooded out into every kiss, every stroke, every breathy moan he made because of your ministrations. It seeped into everything he touched.

And he was terrified.

He wanted to be with you every second of every day so badly it hurt. He wanted to care for you, support you. Be the reason for your smiles and laughter. The need to be yours never used to be this intense. It was jarring.

So he left.

It was much easier to be your friend. He could occasionally flirt with you without consequence, and you could spill every thought and opinion to him when even Alexander had trouble wheedling it out of you. Nothing was complicated, nothing was at stake. You both worked better that way. It was better that way.

Wasn’t it?

A month had passed, then two, into his self-imposed isolation and he began to doubt himself. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he had let himself overthink your situation. But…

God, he was a jackass.

He had left you. You came to him in your hour of need and he took advantage of it. He left you for dead after being so intimate with you. You needed him, you were in pieces. And he left you.

You probably hated him. No, he was sure you hated him. With everything he’s done, he wouldn’t be surprised. He left you after explicitly saying he wouldn’t.

He’s definitely fucked up this time.

Grabbing his jacket, he made his way to the door. He didn’t know what he was going to do, or how to do it, he just knew he needed to make this right somehow.

You nervously picked at the assortment of flowers on your lap, your stomach churning with anticipation and nerves. Of course, you’ve practiced this whole thing plenty of times before. But actually being here, today, was definitely more than you bargained for.

“Hey,” You turned your head to acknowledge the voice, smiling slightly as you see the familiar face of James Madison. “It seems like almost everyone is here.”

The smile on your face was shaky at best, the anxiety in your eyes shining through. “Yeah? That’s-that’s good…”

James smiled at you reassuringly before stepping into the backseat with you. His warm presence enveloped the car, giving you a slight confidence boost. “You’re nervous.”

You laughed. “Is it that obvious?”

“It’s normal.” He answered, taking the bouquet from you before you pluck all the petals out. “What’s worrying you?”

“God,” Exhaling, you looked up, tears inexplicably welling in your eyes. “I don’t- This is insane. I never would have thought…”

The man beside you simply nodded in response, letting you have the moment to express yourself.

“Two years ago, I never would have imagined…” You trailed off, fanning your face in an attempt to blink back tears. “He’s everything I’ve hoped for and more, James. I-I’m scared that I’ll wake up and find myself on the front steps of my old apartment again…”

You were seated on a park bench, sun shining like a halo on you, as Thomas watched you laugh. Your hair fluttered gracefully as you threw your head back. He smiled, memorizing every curve and hollow of your face. He reveled in the fact that he was right. You were beautiful through and through.

His hand wandered slyly to your thigh, making you turn to him with an unreadable gaze. He smiled innocently, those pearly whites of his shining unabashedly. You rolled your eyes as your hands found his and laced your fingers together.

How could he have been that lucky?

He leaned over and whispered in your ear, causing you to turn red and shift in your seat. He pulled away to look at you, his eyes darkening with desire. Oh, how he wished to be the friction in those jeans you wore.

You leaned in to press a passionate kiss on his lips, your hands coming up to cradle his cheeks. He pulled you closer by the waist, nibbling on your bottom lip gently before separating.

With the grace of a cat, he pulled you up with him and brushed a stray lock of hair away from your face, murmuring how he wanted to get you home and in bed as soon as possible.

How could you have been this lucky?

James led you to the huge cathedral doors, your gown flowing easily around you, while the veil you wore drifted to and fro at every move you made.

“Are you ready, [F/Name]?” You looked up as a fresh pool of tears made its way to your eyes.

“Thank you, Jemmy… For everything.” You whispered, throwing your arms around him in a tight, tearful hug. He returned the hug just as fiercely, your head tucked under his chin.

“I would never leave you alone like that, [F/Name].” He murmured, his voice thick with emotion and an edge you couldn’t describe. “Now go, Mulligan is waiting to walk you down the aisle.”

Nodding, you reluctantly let go of the man you had quickly considered a best friend within the two years you’ve known each other for. Straightening your back, you walked through the cathedral doors, entering the small lobby just before the main hall.

“And [F/Name].” James called out, causing you to turn slightly while Hercules fussed with your gown. “Remember, this is real. It’s real, and you deserve this.”

You beamed at him, watery and emotional, before being led away.

James stared into the cathedral, watching you float down the aisle like a cloud. Your back was turned to him but he could feel the happiness radiating from you as you passed friends and family.

A few seconds later, without as much as a turn of his head, he called out a name that hasn’t crossed his lips for a while now.

“Thomas.”

Without missing a beat, a figure loomed behind the smaller man before taking his place beside him.

“James.”

The Virginian, like his companion, stared straight into the cathedral, watching you finally reach the man who had helped you pick up the pieces. The man he saw making you laugh that day at the park. The lucky bastard who now gets to spend his days with you, build a family with you, grow old with you. All the things Thomas could now only dream about.

“Gilbert will make her happy.” James said, as if hearing the other man’s thoughts. They always did have an unnerving knack for reading the other. Thomas rolled his eyes.

“He has the most scintillating woman in New York City. Of course he’ll make her happy. He’d be an idiot not to…”

The other man said nothing, merely coughing into his handkerchief as silence fell over the pair of them.

“You know why she’s taken such a liking to him, right?”

Thomas opted not to reply, instead choosing to watch you recite your vows. He knew you were beautiful even on a normal day, but today you were simply breathtaking, even from his perch by the large, ornate doors. What he wouldn’t do to be the man standing at the altar with you.

“You left a bad taste in her mouth, Thomas.” They continued to watch the wedding, watched as you exchanged rings, watched as the priest gave people like Thomas a chance to speak. “Gilbert… He’s just like you. Only, sweeter.”

Silence filled the air of the cathedral as they waited for anyone to protest the union.

Thomas finally turned to James, his eyes brimming with tears as a few already trailed down his cheeks.

“I know.”

[dontmindifidontt]

EARLY MORNINGS AND OVERTIME | Chapter 2: A Healing Meal

Pairing: Nanami Kento x Reader (fem, first person pov) Word count: 1851 Fic Summary: A smutty fic in which Nanami Kento brightens up the mundane, flour-dusted life a college dropout working in a bakery. Chapter Summary: Friday night post-work dinner and drinks with Nanami find our baker enjoying herself more than expected. Warnings: None yet.

Read on AO3. Masterlist. Please feel free to ask me to correct anything in the above info, this is my first fic and I want to be sure I'm following all fic-posting etiquette. Ty!

5 pm. That day.

Tank tops, cardigans, and dresses are strewn over my shoulders as I rummage through my overcrowded closet. I continue to pull fabric off the various hangers, pausing to press my thumb and middle finger against my right wrist each time it begins to ache from the movement. Every shirt I swipe a glance at is either too patterned, too plain, or somehow a mix of both. I try to shake the indecisiveness from my head as I wonder, Why are my nerves so high? Is this what it feels like to have a crush again? Wait, is this a crush?

Since I presume he will show up in the same grey pinstripe suit he wore earlier, I opt for a dress that's both appropriate for work and after-work dinner + drinks attire. For this I choose a simple navy blue snug yet professional sleeveless dress that rests halfway down my thighs. Helping my confidence is the fact that said thighs, and calves, are accentuated by the pale pink pumps on my feet. I add a few simple gold rings, tiny hoops that cuff my earlobes, and put my hair in a high-ish ponytail. I brighten my eyes with concealer, blend bronzer along the crease of my eyelids, and dab highlighter in each inner corner. A few extra coats of mascara, some liquid blush, and a matte nude cream lipstick completes my look. I haven't put this much thought or time into my outfit or makeup in months. Maybe Mei Mei was right, I deserve to have some fun on another person's dime.

One look at the clock and I know I have to leave now if I don't want to rush on my walk and end up sweaty. It kind of feels good to leave on time for once.

I walk back towards the shop at a leisurely pace, not even minding that I'm taking the same steps I usually dread on my daily commute. This feels different, maybe because I'm actually looking forward to what waits at the end of the walk.

I round the last turn before I reach the storefront and although I don't know this man at all (including his name), I'm not surprised he beat me there. I take a quick glance at my phone, his timing was exact.

"Hi, you mean it when you say 6 o'clock, huh?" "I take my working schedule very seriously," he quickly replies.

"Yeah, I hear that," I respond, recalling every single morning I clock in at the last possible moment and leave the second it's quitting time. "So, what's your name?"

"Kento Nanami."

"Nice to meet you Nanami, you can call me _____."

"The pleasure is mine, ______. Let's get to it then." He turns on his heel and gestures for me to follow his lead. Without thinking I follow, seemingly forgetting every instinct that would normally prevent me from blindly trusting any stranger. Well, former stranger may be more accurate.

"So where are we headed?"

"I figure since you likely spend most of your time in a bakery, you'd prefer something a little different for tonight." Still doesn't answer the question. How can he be both so straightforward and vague at the same time?

"You guessed right. What's the opposite of baked goods? A sushi bar?"

"Now you've guessed right. It's just around the corner here." He's still sporting a serious, though kind, look on his face, though he did seem to quicken his step as we round the corner to the nearby sushi bar. I'm familiar with this one since it's not far from work, though I've never actually eaten here due to the unaffordable pricetag on most of the menu.

With one hand Nanami pulls open the door, using his other to wave me in in front of him. I shuffled past, noticing the subtle yet alluring scent of his cologne. A perfect mix of sweet like vanilla and a little bit dark, like tobacco.

The hostess at the front of the restaurant looks up at him and immediately begins to smile, greeting him as if they are familiar with each other and wasting no time to walk us to a table by the front windows. If he can afford to be a regular here maybe I won't feel so bad about ordering from such an expensive menu.

As I lower myself into the soft leather chair Nanami had pulled away from the table for me, I looked around. Nearly every single person at the bar or in the surrounding booths and tables were dressed similarly in suits or dresses with heels. The restaurant was dimly lit but far from dark, I could still make out the intricate overhead light fixtures and beautiful finish of the wood on the bartop. It was somehow both fancy yet cozy, I can see why he may frequent this spot.

It also happened to be slightly more romantic-looking than I expected. I thanked my past-self for choosing a dress that fit my body a hell of a lot better than my apron did.

After taking a moment to observe my surroundings, I turn my attention back to the quiet man across the table from me. I guess it's up to me to make conversation. I figure I'll start with the lingering question I'm a bit nervous to get an answer on.

"So, how exactly do you plan to heal the ache in my wrist, Not Dr. Nanami?"

He smirked at that title and opened his mouth without letting the smile fall. "By means of distraction," he replied matter-of-factly.

"So you're saying it's all in my head?" Defensiveness begins creeping in and his smile dropped.

"No, not at all. Why don't you tell me three things about yourself, and when you're done I'll do the same."

Slightly caught off guard, I began to think, reflexively averting my eyes from his gaze and looking to the side. I quickly wracked my brain for interesting things to say about myself.

"Three things, okay. Well most importantly I'm not actually a baker or anything like that, I just happen to work in a bakery. I'd much rather spend my time reading or even cooking, but I needed the job ever since leaving school." I was already rambling. "Second thing is I don't usually take strangers up on their offers to mysteriously heal my-" I paused. My wrist - it felt... lighter all of a sudden.

He stared back at me, patient but with knowing eyes as if he knew what I was going to say next.

"It feels better, doesn't it?" he asked. Was that a grin slowly lifting the corners of his mouth? I stared a second too long.

"It does. It doesn't hurt at all anymore. What did you do?" "I told you, just a distraction," he said in a casual manner while slowly leaning back in his seat. I sensed there was more to the story than this, but didn't press for more. The relief I feel is enough for me not to ask another question.

"So you never finished," he went on.

"Never finished what?" I stared back.

"Telling me three things about yourself."

Oh, right. I got distracted at two. Was it really just a distraction, or does he genuinely want to know?

"I guess the third thing about myself is that I hate mornings. I really love sleeping in."

"And yet you work in a bakery?" he mused while I shrugged my shoulders.

"Yup, kinda relates back to thing 1, I need the job," I said while slouching a bit in my seat.

"Well I feel the same way, if I had it my way I wouldn't start my workday until 10am," he began as my ears perked, "Technically I wouldn't work at all if I truly had it my way."

"Cheers to that," I say in a joking tone yet with full sincerity behind my voice as I raise the stemmed glass of champagne the server seemed to have brought without prompting. Another perk of being a regular?

"Cheers," he responds while raising his own champagne flute.

I held his gaze, not breaking eye contact until the bubbly sip worked its way down my throat, warming my chest.

After setting my glass back down I scanned my eyes over the menu, one thick page of rough paper printed onto the front of sturdy leather back.

"I suggest the wasabi tobiko with qual egg," he shares as I skim that portion of the menu. He's suggesting caviar? Guess I know my next question for him.

"So it's your turn, tell me three things about you. Why don't you begin with what you do?" I internally laugh at my lack of subtlety.

"Simply put I take money from the wealthy and make those people even more wealthy. Can't say I enjoy it, in fact I've grown to hate everything the corporate culture represents. I'd much rather spend my day making people happy with baked bread than money."

I opened my mouth to interject with a joke but quickly shut it when I realized he was being sincere.

"Second," he went on, "I actually enjoy a few of the things you listed yourself. Reading, cooking, enjoying a drink after work," he gestured to the table between us, "are all the simple pleasures in life I like to occupy my time with." I stared, wondering if he truly meant it or if he was just saying that to copy my own admission. Though so far he has been nothing but genuine. "And third," he continued, "I don't normally help other people the way I did with you today."

"Oh?" I couldn't help but prod involuntarily.

"I tend to stay out of other people's business," he explained while sipping his drink. At that moment the server returned to ask for our orders. I chose his earlier recommendation while he ordered a bottle of white wine for us to share. Maybe I can see the fun in letting others buy me things after all...

"So you stay out of people's business, and yet here you are providing unsolicited help to me along with asking me to describe details about myself over dinner?" I couldn't help but poke at the obvious.

He continued to hold his relaxed posture, but let out what I assume is the faintest chuckle at my question. "Both of those things are correct, yes," was all he had to say on the matter. Again with the straightforward-meets-vague.

I guess two can play that game. "Well like I said I don't typically take strangers up on the offer but here we are."

He continued to stare. I stared back. Oddly enough it wasn't uncomfortable. By now the wine had been poured and I found myself simply enjoying the moment, savoring the taste of each sip, and peering over the top of the glass to the polished, though still mysterious, man sitting across from me. As tired as I was from the workweek behind me, I could begin to see why most people look forward to spending Friday nights anywhere but home.

.....

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[maramkirkman]

September Favorites

I feel like I just wrote my August Favorites the other day - it’s crazy how quickly the second half of the year is flying by after the first half dragged on forever. This month I saw an extreme improvement in my mental health after going off my birth control pills for the first time in nine years, and I think it showed in how I started putting more effort into how I presented myself - I started really finding my true personal style in terms of fashion, and I also started wearing more makeup again. It seems like this month I’ve really started to feel confident in myself. Indie Lee Clearing Mask I bought this mask at the end of July to hopefully help the breakouts I was expecting from stopping birth control pills. Fingers crossed, but they haven’t actually been too bad. I’ve still been loving this mask as a once-a-week treat to get my skin feeling super clean and fresh. It’s a thick cream texture that uses salicylic and glycolic acids to remove dead skin cells, bentonite clay and colloidal sulfur to draw out impurities, and chamomile and red seaweed extracts to keep the skin soothed and hydrated. I normally avoid using clay masks too often because they leave my skin feeling dry and tight even days later, but this one doesn’t. It never totally dries down on my face before I wash it off, which I think is the key. On the occasion I have had some blemishes pop up on my chin, I’ve noticed this mask literally flattens them by the next day. I’ve been so impressed, and I even squeezed out a bit into a small sample pot to have my sister try it out, too. Neocutis Lumiere Illuminating Eye Cream I didn’t really need a new eye cream, but I ended up grabbing this much-raved-about one during the Dermstore sale when I ordered the Indie Lee mask. This has blown all my other daily eye creams out of the water. I’ve been sleeping quite terribly lately (the dogs have started waking me up every half hour from 3am-5am almost every night), but this is keeping me looking wide awake and healthy. It uses an advanced complex of PSP growth factors to help cells’ ability to rejuvenate the skin, aiding with wrinkle reduction and firmness. I’m only 28, but I was noticing some fine lines under my eyes at the beginning of the summer (which my concealer kept creasing into), but now they’re totally gone after about a month and a half of consistent use. It also contains hyaluronic acid to help plump the skin and antioxidants for protection against environmental stressors. It’s just a simple-feeling, hydrating eye cream that sits well under makeup and has been really making a subtle but noticeable (to me) difference. Worth the price tag for sure! Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment This is another pricey product that I think is 100% worth the money (It’s worth noting that this was sent to me by the brand, but I will without a doubt repurchase with my own money when it runs out!). Formerly their “All-Day Pollution Repair Mask,” I simply use this as my daily moisturizer , and it’s become my favorite one to reach for. The texture is absolutely beautiful - a perfect midpoint between rich and lightweight as well as between velvety and glossy. It contains peptides, brighteners, antioxidants, and repairing ingredients to heal damage, tighten, hydrate, and brighten the skin. I’ve noticed a difference in how “bouncy” and smooth my skin feels lately, and I’m attributing it to this. Despite containing such a powerhouse group of ingredients, it feels incredibly gentle and soothing - I’ve had another bout of eczema on my eyelids this month, and this is one of the only products that hasn’t caused any stinging. It’s helped with irritation and redness that comes along with the changing seasons for me, so it’s something I always want to have in my rotation from now on! Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation I had a whole review of the products I tried from Rare Beauty, and I’m still continually impressed with the foundation . It’s incredibly lightweight, like the name suggests, and it has a beautiful natural finish on the skin. My skin just looks totally perfected when I wear this, but it never looks like I’m wearing makeup. It also lasts on me really well, and I’ve noticed it doesn’t rub off into my mask much. I stopped wearing foundation in the spring because I was breaking out from wearing foundation under my mask, but I haven’t had that problem with this foundation. If I had to choose one favorite from the line, it would probably be this! Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in ‘Grace’ But if I could choose just one more favorite from the line, it would be the Liquid Blush in ‘Grace.’ I mentioned in my Rare Beauty review that when I was trying the dewy and matte blushes, I assumed the dewy ones would be my preference, but the matte formula as well as the shade ‘Grace’ really captured my heart. It sets down to a powder finish, but it doesn’t look dry whatsoever. Like the foundation, if you have something glowy underneath, that glow will show through, so it doesn’t have to be a true matte finish if you don’t want it to be. These blushes blend effortlessly, though they’re extremely pigmented, so you have to be careful how much you dot on your cheeks before blending. The shade ‘Grace’ is a cool bright pink that seems to be quite similar to my natural flush. It gives me a true “I’ve been frolicking in the snow” look that I really, really love. I could honestly throw out all of my other blushes and only use this one forever. Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint A few months ago, I was skipping lip products and opting for clear lip balms on the daily, simply because I was sick of them all rubbing off inside my masks. But one weekend when I was cleaning out my closet and emptying out my handbags, I found my Victoria Beckham Lip Tint that I had fallen in love with last fall and then promptly forgotten about. I tried it on (I had the original shade, ‘Bisou,’ although there’s now a new shade I love as well!) and instantly fell back in love. It has a thin, gel-like formula that feels cooling on the lips and coats them with a sheer, watercolor-like flush. The shade ‘Bisou’ is described as a nude-berry, which makes it perfect for fall and winter. It’s a really natural-looking berry flush - more “my lips have a natural berry hue,” and less “I’ve just gorged myself on blackberries.” I love that it actually seems to sink into the lips and truly tint them, so the color lasts for hours and never comes off inside my mask. It also never feels drying, it simply feels like I have nothing on my lips. The new shade, ‘Cherie,’ is a warm pink that’s a true “my lips but better” color on me, so I’ve been wearing it every day since I got it and using Bisou when I want something a little more noticeable. It’s truly an incredible formula that I highly recommend! Madewell Oversized Trucker Jean Jacket I haven’t even had a chance to wear this jean jacket on more than a couple occasions yet, but I’m already positive it’s going to be a staple in my closet for years. I love a good jean jacket, and when I decided this year that my old (we’re talking over 10 years old) jean jacket was too cropped and fitted, I fell for this oversized version instead. I ordered it online, a little wary of how it would actually look on me (would it look like too much on my 5’3” frame?), and when I tried it on I was so glad that it fit exactly the way I was picturing. it’s perfectly oversized and not too baggy, and I’ll still have room to fit long-sleeve shirts and sweaters underneath when the weather cools down. It’s a really nice, sturdy denim that has good structure but still feels comfortable. Catch me wearing this with every outfit this fall. Allbirds Wool Runners in ‘Natural White’ I just did a whole post that was pretty much an ode to my new Allbirds , so obviously they’re a favorite for the month. They’re comfortable, versatile, and they’ve been the shoes I’ve worn the most all month. I’m so glad I filled the “sleek white sneaker” gap in my closet with these, and I’m even eyeing the gray shade now. Target ‘A New Day’ Tank Tops I’ve been getting more into upgrading my wardrobe with higher-quality pieces lately, but I got a few of these basic tank tops from Target recently, and they’ve become such a staple! I wear them all the time. I love how it has the slight halter-ish neckline (if you’re wearing a normal bra the straps will show), and they’re really soft and comfortable. I already stained one of mine with bacon grease while cooking last week, but since they’re so cheap I don’t mind just picking up another one next time I’m at Target. J.Crew Striped V-Neck Cardigan I got this cardigan during the same J.Crew sale as my slip skirt , and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned it yet! I’m all about a cardigan in the fall. This one is a great medium weight and has a boxy cut that I love. I find it looks good both worn open and buttoned up, and the cream and navy stripe is such a good combination I know I’ll get a lot of wear out of. I instantly feel more pulled-together when I throw this on over a t-shirt and jeans, and I can’t wait to wear it with a pair of corduroys for an even more “fa September Favorites published first on https://healthandstyleinstitute.blogspot.com