Recently some of my favorite bloggers (Katy, Marsadie, and Janine) have all posted entries of things they love right now. I’m always curious about what others are into. It’s a great way to get introduced to new items or to be reminded of something you have laying around in your closet/jewelry box/makeup bag. So, here’s my Things I Love Right Now.

• Estee Lauder Turbo Effects Mascara : I recently had to hit up an Estee Lauder counter for an in depth consultation with one of their Beauty Advisors for my Glambassador gig with Glamour magazine. Prior to this, I had never tried a single Estee Lauder product. Not only did I receive a lot of great products to try (both full size and samples) from Glamour and Estee Lauder, but I picked up this mascara. I have lots of long but fine lashes, and this mascara gives me the volume I want while still looking natural. A bit pricey for a mascara, but I have to say it’s the best I’ve ever used.
• Slouchy Knit Beanies : I have this exact one from Forever 21 and have been wearing it every chance I get. I’m extremely picky when it comes to hats, so I was surprised that I loved this one so much. I tried it on a few weeks ago, then went back 2 weeks later to see if it was still there. I suppose it must have been fate because it was still there, and we all know how rare that is with Forever21.
• Cheap Sunnies : My all time favorite pair of sunglasses recently broke, and this pair is their replacement. I’m a sucker for aviator style sunnies and I love cheap sunglasses in general. I just don’t see the point in dropping more than $10 on a pair that I am going to throw around in the mess I call my purse. Plus, they allow you to try out any trend, color, or style without feeling guilty.
• SoftLips Sugar & Spice Lip Balm : I love seasonal beauty items, and this lip balm set is no exception. In high school I was addicted to this stuff and have become addicted again. This set contains a tube of the classic Vanilla SoftLips as well as a tube of Sugar & Spice, which smells just like a Chai latte. Too yummy to resist.
• Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss : I don’t eat dairy, but I do have to say that a lot of the non-dairy deserts don’t taste the greatest. I love Tofutti products, but most other brands I try usually end up in the trash before I hit the bottom of the container or end up being smothered in Hershey’s chocolate syrup to make them tolerable. This coconut milk based desert is delicious. I prefer the Cappuccino flavor because coffee ice cream is one of the things I’ve missed most since I cut out dairy.
• NARS Lip Gloss in Orgasm : My tried and true all time favorite gloss. This shade is incredibly flattering and is the perfect go-to gloss for everyone. Some people find the price ridiculous but, trust me on this, it’s worth it! The tube will last you forever.
• Steve Madden Intyce Boots : Okay, so I actually have the Target version of these boots (which were only $30 compared to $170), but I love them just the same. Good boots that are both stylish and functional are really hard to find, but these are a great mix.

What are some of your current favorite items?

I realized that is has been way too long since I last did a Freebie Saturday post. For a while I was checking around the web on a weekly basis, and just not coming up with a whole lot. After that, I just got busy with other things and completely forgot to stay up to date on possible freebies. There still aren’t a whole lot out there but, anything is better than nothing, right?

+ Dove Intense Damage Therapy Haircare
+ Aveeno Tote Bag
+ Dove Intensive Lotion (UK only)
+ Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee Dark or Original Blend
+ Elizabeth Arden Pretty Fragrance
+ Lacoste Challenge Fragrance
+ Playtex Sport Tampons
+ Splenda Hazelnut or Mocha Sweetener
+ Tasters Choice Coffee
+ Twinings Tea Samples (UK only)

Like most people in today’s busy world, I love my coffee. I have my regular coffee pot, an espresso machine for making homemade lattes (which my wise boyfriend bought me last year), and am saving up for a Keurig. While I sometimes drink lattes (the Starbucks Seasonal Lattes are a weakness of mine), I actually prefer slightly sweetened black iced coffee to anything else. However, it’s a huge pain to make at home. Most iced coffee recipes I found suggested making ice cubes with coffee and adding those to lukewarm cups of brew. But, the end result was still bitter tasting and I ended up with stained ice cube trays too. One day, bored on the internet, I decided to find the best way to make iced coffee.

Site after site recommended learning How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee as the best way to get better tasting iced coffee. This form of brewing doesn’t even require you to turn on the coffee pot. You mix coffee grounds with cold water and let sit for hours to create a concentrated brew. I tried making it for the first time last night and am quite pleased with the results. Here’s the combination that worked best for me.

Ingredients :
1 cup coffee grinds
4 1/2 cups cold water

Mix the grinds into the water in a large glass container. Cover with a lid or foil, and let sit for at least 12 hours. Some recipes suggested putting it in the fridge, but I left mine on the counter since I’m a bit accident prone when it comes to open containers in the fridge. After it’s been allowed to sit, strain the mixture. I took the filter basket out of my coffee pot, set it over a large cup, tossed in a filter, and let that do it’s thing. The end result is a very dark and rich concentrated brew.

Mine turned out a bit bitter, but only because I used espresso beans instead of a medium roast coffee like I probably should have. This brewing method brings out the richer and sweeter undertones in the coffee. I mixed 1 cup of the concentrated brew with 1/2 cup soy creamer and a spoonful of sugar and ended up with a great tasting coffee treat. It would be great black as well, with a little ice to tone it down.