Things I Like

Hello! I'm finally back from my long family vacation in Northern California (including one of my favorite places on earth, Lake Tahoe!) and finally settling into my life. It's becoming real now that I'm actually not going back to school in a couple weeks and instead have the month of September (and every month after that!) at my own disposal, to do with as I wish. There will be work, there will be weddings, weekends, birthday celebrations with friends (I have SO many friends with September and October birthdays, it is nutty), and more importantly I will get to watch fall descend on New York for the first time in four years. I am very excited and just happy to be back with access to a computer! Here are some things I like:

Origins Ginger Souffle Body Moisturizer
Use this stuff if you want to smell fizzy, spicy and delicious like a Dark n Stormy (ginger beer and dark rum, aka a super delicious cocktail). I bought this for myself in the early spring of this year (along with the Origins GinZing eye cream, another thing I love) and it's just a yummy beauty indulgence that makes me happy. Ginger is a great all-season scent because when it's cooler the spice is nice and warming and in the warmer months its citrusy freshness is really refreshing. Love it.

L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara

This stuff is serious mascara for when you need serious lash-thickening, eye-brightening power. I've been turning to this stuff more lately as I've been losing sleep over figuring out my life (long story) and it means business. It's a little messy, so I use either CoverGirl Volume Exact or LastBlast Fusion mascara first on top and bottom lashes and then use this stuff on my top lashes for some extra "pow." It is seriously darkening, seriously thickening, seriously lengthening...it is SERIOUS mascara. Not for the faint of heart. But very satisfying.

Saigon Grill, Downtown NYC

(Photo: www.eateryrow.com)
I just ate at the downtown location of this Vietnamese restaurant last night with my boyfriend and some friends (whee triple date!). Neil and I had been here once before and loved it but never made it back because we get lazy and tend to just hit up the great restaurants around his area in Chelsea, and this is kind of a long walk away at University and 12th. One of the great gals we were with is Vietnamese and helped us with ordering, and all of the food was just delicious. Such great combinations of flavors, spicy curry and ginger and cool mint and cucumber...yum. I had one of the best chicken curry dishes I've ever tasted, and was dreaming about it all the way home as I rubbed my food baby tummy.

Real Simple Magazine

(Photo: www.ba-reps.com)
Man, I love Real Simple. It's a lifestyle magazine that's practical while still being stylish. I love the combination of beauty, fashion, finances, food, organization...it's just great. Yes it's probably technically targeted to women in their thirties and beyond, but I feel that even their articles that don't pertain to me yet (like how to successfully get your family out of the house on time in the morning) will eventually come in handy. I love their simple recipes that focus on the pairings of great flavors (in the August issue above, they featured 3-ingredient dishes that all sound so delicious and easy). It's just a great guide on how to be a smart, classy, organized lady...which I (and therefore Go Austen) are all about.

Happy Saturday everyone!