I Just Really Like It: Volume 2
Featuring my current favorite cookbook, a romantic beach read, and more.
Just a reminder: I also started an Instagram, where I’ll be sharing product recommendations and extra tidbits. Give it a follow, if you like! Now, onto this week’s list.
I Dream of Dinner (so You Don’t Have To)
Ali Slagle and I worked together at Food52 and I’ve been a longtime fan of her recipes on NYT Cooking. So, you could say I was just a little excited about Ali’s cookbook: I Dream of Dinner (so You Don’t Have To). I’ve been cooking out of it nearly every night and find its recipes to be both inspiring and weeknight-friendly. A couple of repeat favorites are the Sesame Chicken Meatballs and All the Time Chicken Thighs (which will be my go-to grilled chicken recipe this summer). I’ll be trying the Broccoli Bits with Cheddar & Dates next.
The Roughest Draft
Behold: a great, romantic beach read. The story’s about best-selling cowriters who ended their partnership for reasons they’ve never shared publically. However, they have to come together again (and live together, for the summer) and write one final book. The chapters oscillate between the past and present, telling the story of why they went their separate ways in the first place and how their current cowriting and cohabitating is going. It’s sweet, funny, and makes you believe in second chances. By the end, I was fully rooting for and invested in Nathan and Katrina. It’s also written by a real-life husband-wife duo.
Rare Beauty Mascara
This is the mascara I’ve repurchased 3 times. And I have a thing about mascara (the only other one I’ve ever repurchased is the tubing mascara from Thrive Causemetics, which is also fantastic and well worth it). If my lashes fall or the mascara smudges or flakes after a workout, it’s not for me. The Rare Beauty mascara lengthens and curls, is buildable, and doesn’t budge throughout the day. However, it also easily comes off with micellar water, makeup remover, cleansing balm, cleansing oil, etc.
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Sherbet
I own several shades of these NYX pencils, but Sherbet is my new favorite. It’s a matte pink color (that, yes, is very reminiscent of sherbet) and feels like summer. I’ve been enjoying doing a wing with it and its buildable, blendable formula is pretty hard to mess up.
Fenty Strawberry Sangria Lip Stain
This new lip stain has gone viral recently. It may be out of stock, but it’s well worth buying when you can get your hands on it. I have the Strawberry Sangria shade (a light red), but all of the shades are beautiful. It has a glossy formula that dries down to a tint for a light, natural pop of color. I also love its tube, which has flat sides so it can be rested on a sink or countertop without it rolling off. I’ve yet to decide if it’ll top the Sephora Jelly Melt Glossy Lip Tint, which is my all-time favorite lip tint but is now discontinued.
RUFFWEAR Knot-a-Leash Dog Leash
I’ve been a dog owner for about 5 years now…and you only need your dog’s leash to accidentally (and for whatever reason) unclip itself once to be forever wary on a walk, run, or hike. This is why I invested in this dog leash from RUFFWEAR (in fact, every RUFFWEAR product I’ve owned, and subsequently heavily used, is top-notch). Is it pricey? Yes, but it has a carabiner clasp and a cylindrical-shaped fastener that you tighten to ensure the leash stays secure. I have yet to have this clasp fail. The leash also features rugged rope and a comfortable padded handle (essential if your dog pulls…like, ahem, mine).