October 2019 Favorites + Happenings

I cannot believe today is November first; where on earth is the time going?! It’s so crazy to think that we’ll be ringing in 2020 in just two months. October has flown and dragged all at once. The days and weeks fly by here, but looking back October first feels like a century ago. So much growth and change has occurred this month… all while acquiring some new favorites. It’s about time we sit down and recap October. So, grab a snack and take a seat— per usual, it’s going to be a long one.

Fashion

When trying to choose some of my favorite outfits from the month I felt kind of stuck! I feel like nothing in specific stuck out to me. It’s not that my outfits here are bland it’s just that a) I feel like I don’t know what clothes I have here and b) there’s so many new clothes I can’t keep up with what I have! Not to mention, I don’t stay in my ‘school’ clothes all day the way I used to in high school. I find myself changing for the gym at random times throughout the day or showering and putting pjs on so I don’t spend as long in my “regular” outfits. Anyways, that’s all beside the point. The beginning of this month started off sunny and seventy and last night we got our first few flakes of the season! Needless to say, the weather here has been a whirlwind so naturally my outfits have followed suit. I have loved dressier piece this month like the cute dresses and rompers I got to wear for sorority recruitment but have loved a good ole sweater and jeans combo for class too. My black heeled booties from SheIn have quickly become a go-to of mine— they are super comfy and work really well for going out or for a typical day on campus. I love a shoe that can do both. I’ve also been really into styling graphic tees with fancier pieces. I’ve been on quite the midi skirt kick and think they look super cute paired with a tee. I’ve been getting so many sorority tees this month and think they are so fun to style in a more fashionable way. However, I have a feeling skirt season is past us here in Ohio. Oh, and my black sip on mules from Target have been an absolute must have for me this fall. They go with everything!

I had some awesome brand deals this month too which meant I got to style some fun pieces. One of my favorite parts about being in college is all the new locations I get to shoot at. If you remember my monthly favorites from the summer, I was so concerned with photographing items once I came to Kent. It’s actually been the easiest part of the whole “influencer” process. There are so many cool locations which makes shooting content for brands even more fun. But of course, there are some days like Halloween weekend where you have to snap a picture of your super cute costume in your dorm room. It happens. Can’t say I haven’t loved Halloween though. It’s been super fun getting to wear some of my more “out there” pieces. I was a flapper girl last night and will be a cowgirl tomorrow- yee haw!

Accessories

My accessory game hasn’t changed much since last month, if I’m being honest. I want nothing more than to go to Walmart so I can pick a few new pairs of earrings but I don’t have a way to Walmart nor do I have clip-on backs here at school. So, in the meantime, you can find me sporting my favorite SheIn + Walmart earrings. I will admit, I have started wearing some of my other pairs of gold earrings instead of sticking to the same two pairs but I haven’t really touched my fun, colorful pairs since I have been on a big neutral kick.

Hair accessories on the other hand, are starting to become my thing. I don’t know, my hair is just so boring! There are not a lot of ways I can style it since it’s so short and thin but I feel like adding a hair clip, fun scrunchie, or something of that sort spices things up a bit! Romwe has had the best accessories. Oh, and here I should mention belts too. I have like 20 now and people are constantly coming over to borrow mine! I find that they are such an easy way to add character to your outfit. I especially love them for going out or with an all-black outfit.

Workout Wear

Wohoo! Two months straight of being on my workout grind. I can’t say I’ve lost any weight but I don’t really care since I finally have a purpose for all my adorable workout clothes. As per usual Lilybod, Joy Lab, and Yogalicious sets are my favorites. I’ve been wearing workout zip ups like crazy too— TJ Maxx is the best place to find them for cheap! My mom bought me my white New Balance sneakers last month and they are one of her best gifts to me. I love these bad boys so much— they are comfy, cute, and go with everything! However, I have been trying to show some of my other sneakers some love since I’ve realized I have so many cute pairs here. I broke out my yellow sneaks and my baby blues a few time this month too. Oh, and how could I forget?! If you watched my vlog from when I was home for fall break, you saw that I picked up a two pack of 90 Degree By Reflex sports bras (one navy and one black). They are so good and I have been wearing them like crazy. I would grab them in every color possible if I could find them again! Such a steal too.

 Beauty

• Adapalene Gel— My skin has been awfulllllll since returning to school and I just can’t seem to get a hold on it. This isn’t really a favorite (yet), more like an update on what I’ve been using. I received this for a future collab and started using it this week. It dries your face out like crazy but with most acne medications once the peeling stops you’re left with really clear skin. Hoping that’s the case but so far it has helped my skin simmer down a bit.
• Peter Thomas Roth Mask, Mix, Hydrate Kit— I got a Peter Thomas Roth face mask kit in the mail a few weeks ago and have loved getting to try so many different face masks. I haven’t used them all but there are so many good ones in this set that I have loved trying!
• Tanologist Face Drops— Can’t say I haven’t started self-tanning already. Mostly my face since it’s so scary pale. These drops work wonders! You add just a handful of them to your face moisturizer and wake up looking sun kissed. So easy and doesn’t make me break out.

Entertainment

Okay fine! I admit! I am that person. Yep, you know the one. The person who likes a song so much it’s the only song they play the entire day for two months straight. Yep that’s me with Cowboy Hat and Heartache Medication by Jon Pardi. I just can’t help it; they both are so good! However, it’s November 1^st so today I’m guilty as charged for listening to Christmas music while I cleaned our dorm. No tv again this month but I did rewatch A Star Is Born and it got me in my feels (and made me cry because I missed my mom but hey, that happens to everyone, right?!).

Looking Back at October

I’m so proud of myself. I really am. In September, I made it my goal to hit 1,000 subscribers by the end of the year. I hit 1K just two weeks into October and man did it feel good. I never thought that my YouTube channel would grow the way it has or that anyone would bother to watch my content but this month has shown me otherwise. I’ve always hoped my blog would remain my dominant platform but I’m becoming more open to the thought of my YouTube being just as influential for me. Don’t worry, the blog isn’t going anywhere! I could never give up writing or this platform I’ve built for myself. I gained a good chunk of Insta followers too and am sitting just under 5,650 which is big for me!

Once again, I kept up with my posting schedule on the blog (four times a week) and twice a week on YouTube! Woohoo. I freelanced my heart out and managed to post on my Instagram stories every single day (you’re welcome, mom!). Speaking of my mom, she has been my biggest cheerleader this month. Constantly listening to me talk about the struggles of maintaining it all while reminding me why I started this platform in the first place. She has kept me grounded and made me realize why I love what I do so much. I always say the only thing you need to start a business is yourself and passion but I’ll admit, you need your mom too. She will be there for you to remind you that your hard work isn’t all for nothing.

Looking Ahead to November

I’ve got goals for November, sure— I want to keep the some posting schedules, get an Instagram photo up each day, line up some brand deals for the holidays, and host two giveaways. But no goal as big as wanting to love my brand the same way I have since getting to college. I’m not sure what it is but coming to college has changed my perspective on what I do so much. Perhaps it’s going to school and learning in a classroom setting about things I’ve already been doing for nearly four years or the way that things have seemed to pick up all at once but I have fallen more in love with StyledbyMcKenz than ever before. There is a passion, an excitement so deep for what I do that I can’t quite put into words. I hope it never leaves because it’s truly been the most rewarding few months.

In fact, Monday I speak on a panel of five influencers in the Fashion School about starting your own business as a college student. I just finished getting reported on via a follow me around video/interview centered around the day in the life of an influencer/student. And, I was recently interviewed for a story in one of my school’s magazines on my life as influencer. It’s really awesome watching my vision come to life and getting to share my story with so many other people my own age.

My Month at A Glance

October has been the craziest month in the world. The month started off with me going through sorority recruitment. It was a long process but I ended up accepting a bid from Alpha Phi which is exactly where I felt I belonged. I’ve spent the month getting to know some of my “sisters” and participating in events across campus. This past week has been especially fun since I’ve been getting baskets from my Big! I find out whose Little I am on Sunday and am so excited/curious to receive my last few clues leading up to reveal. I’m thinking about applying for a position in my sorority since I just can’t seem to say no. It only feels right to be involved in everything so I’m taking my chances and will likely be applying for a position in the Marketing area to help boost my resume and help me get more involved. I also have my first date party tomorrow which is country themed and I couldn’t be more excited.

I also went home mid-October for my fall break and although I wish I had gotten to spend more time with my parents, it was really good to just be home for a few days. I headed to the baseball field, went to the football game, and got to spend some time with my second families. Being away from home has given me a whole new appreciation for where I’m from— I’m not homesick but I do miss it every day.

The last two weekends have also been full of Halloween hoopla! So many fun festivities going on around campus! I’ve gotten to dress up and go out with my friends a bunch which has been lots of fun. So far, I’ve been Barbie, a disco ball, and a flapper girl! Getting to wear costumes has been a blast and I’ve loved helping my roommates choose outfits amongst all the fun mail I’ve been receiving recently.

My classes are great! As of right now I am just shy of a 4.0 and am loving my classes! I have learned more in two months than I feel I learned all of high school. And the best part is, it’s about stuff I love and am excited to be learning about.  There is so much to the fashion industry that is overlooked if you’re not a part of it. Classes make me so excited to have a future in the fashion industry and leave me feeling eager for more information. I don’t think I could have picked a better degree for me. I love it.

I won’t lie though, not everything about college life is perfect. My dishes pile up a little too fast and you can’t even move the hangers in my closet. Our trash could use a taking out more than it is and there are days I stay up too late talking to my roommate. I somehow end up crying to my mom on the phone every time we talk and I find myself emotional over the dumbest of things. I don’t eat enough vegetables and my sheets could probably use a washing. But I’m alive and well and really appreciating this stage of life and all that it has to offer. But more than anything, I’m grateful for this platform to share my days with. I can’t imagine who I’d be without it.

So, cheers to one of the best months and here’s to a (hopefully) just as good November.

With love, McKenz

This Month on The Blog

• Fall Haul + October Outfit Ideas
• Comfortable Shoes For Fall
• Weekly Wrap Up #40 2019
• Sorority Bid Day 2019
• What To Wear: Sorority Recruitment
• Honey I’m Home
• Weekly Wrap Up #41 2019
• Fall Looks On A Budget
• Feeling Festive For Fall
• Halloween Costume Haul
• Weekly Wrap Up #42 2019
• Matching Workout Sets
• Fall Hues With Express
• October Discount Glasses
• Weekly Wrap Up #43 2019
• Feeling Edgier
• Fall Outfits To Wear Now