Unpacking: November

November was a lot…but also exactly what I expected

The last few months have been kind of busy….November was no exception. It was one of those months where everything landed at the same time…family visiting, events, work deadlines, back pain making an unwelcome appearance…the works. I went into it knowing it would be chaotic, but even then, November still managed to surprise me. So here’s everything I unpacked this month, from the highs to the “how is this my life right now” moments.

I knew this month was going to be full on. My sister was coming to visit, so I made sure my diary was clear for when she was here….which basically meant working nonstop beforehand and squeezing four weeks of work into two. I can’t even explain how much filming I did. Between that and prepping for my upcoming trip to London, I already knew November would be chaos.

This is also the month of SephoriA, the three day beauty extravaganza where every brand under the Sephora roof comes together. Think of it as a beauty fair with brand founders, new product launches, and about a million people who love beauty as much as I do. It’s always exciting but also completely exhausting.

So first…good news. My back isn’t as bad as I thought. What I assumed was another herniated disc (same disc as before) turned out to be aggravated rather than herniated, which explains the pain without the complete nightmare of a full relapse. Honestly, it was such a relief even though it was painful.

It’s always fun when my sister is in town, because we go to all the random places we want to see….like Sea World! I don’t know why, but I love stuff like this. Little adventures like this kind of make me happy. We also went to Carbone for dinner…which was the most rushed getting ready process before hand, so it was one of those nights where you looked forward to it but then didn’t have enough time to get ready so then you feel a bit meh.

As for SephoriA, it was amazing as always, but so busy. I was invited as part of media, but I don’t think anyone anticipated how many people would show up once they invited all the Gold members on the same day. The queue was insane, it felt like trying to get into a concert. It took forever to get in, but once I did, it was worth it.

My highlight this month was being handpicked by the Makeup By Mario team and Mario himself, to film one to one content with him! I somehow wasn’t nervous, which I think came down to how much I had going on already. When your mind’s been running at full speed for weeks, there’s literally no room left for nerves. He was genuinely kind, humble, and so down to earth, it was such a nice experience and a real career highlight for me. I still can’t believe he actually did my makeup! The video is up on both my YouTube channels! Theres a behind the scenes look on my fashion and beauty channel and the full masterclass on my beauty channel.

I finally went to see a chiropractor for my back, which helped a lot. I’m always nervous before going, it’s the neck cracking that gets me…but it made a noticeable difference. I’m still walking, so that’s good news.

I signed up with a new PT this month, she’s actually from the UK. She’d reached out to me a while ago, and after doing my research, I found out she was visiting Dubai for a vacation, so I met her in person to see if it would be a good fit. She was lovely, really knowledgeable, and she took my back issues seriously, which was a big deal for me. I’ll officially start training with her in mid December, once life slows down a bit. This month has been too hectic to fit in consistent gym sessions, but I’m ready to get back into it.

Shockingly, I don’t have much to rant about this month. Maybe I’ve been too busy to notice anything annoying. Other than the usual….people who somehow believe they know absolutely everything…I’ll leave it there for now.

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I went on a bit of a Zara spree this month. Nothing wild, just restocking on basics that have become too big for me. I also bought a new leather jacket from Source Unknown, and I’m obsessed. It’s one of those pieces that just pulls everything together.

The YSL Jeanne slingback pumps are sitting in my cart, I keep checking if they’re still available. They might have to come home with me soon, but I still haven’t plucked up the courage to spend that amount on shoes.

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I cut my Frankie Shop jeans into jorts. Honestly, I don’t know why it took me this long to accept that they were way too long for me. I finally grabbed scissors and did it myself. It was a whole mission, took ages, and the denim was tougher than I expected. At first I thought, “okay, these could work,” but now I’m not really feeling them. It’s fine….you live and you learn!

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The new Laura Mercier Blurring Setting Spray is beautiful. It gives that soft glass skin look without feeling heavy. I’ve also been loving the Armani Beauty Skin Tint, it’s lightweight, natural, and makes your skin look healthy rather than too much.

But my absolute favorite this month is the Makeup By Mario Surreal Skin Natural Finish Foundation. It’s bouncy, smooth, and stays fresh all day, even in the Dubai heat. It gives that healthy skin glow that still feels breathable, but with great coverage.

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I watched a movie called Sharper…really good! I’ve also started The Beast In Me, a thriller that’s keeping me on edge so far. I haven’t finished it yet, but hopefully the ending doesn’t disappoint!

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So that’s November….busy, blurry, full of great moments, a few stressful ones, and lot’s of beauty discoveries! I always feel like these monthly recaps remind me how much can actually happen in a few weeks. December is already looking intense in its own way, but I’m going into it feeling a bit more grounded and ready for whatever’s coming. If you made it this far…thanks for reading. Let’s see what next month brings.

Until next month…

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