Things I’m loving now

Seems like it is about time for another list of things I’m loving right now! This time the post comes with a little giveaway opportunity, so make sure to read to the end. 😉

1.) Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Holy cow, guys, this vanilla is good. At some point in the sad, distant past, I believed that vanilla was vanilla, and it mattered little what kind you bought. Let me tell you, this is definitely not true. As with some other products we have previously discussed, you really get what you pay for here. I have tried several of the Nielsen-Massey vanillas and flavored extracts, and all of them are super flavorful and really make your baked goods sing. Do you remember that Homemade Yellow Cake Mix I shared with you a little while back? The real secret to that recipe is using a high-quality vanilla, and my favorite is the Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract. Another of their products that I am presently obsessed with is their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste. You know how one vanilla bean costs the equivalent of your firstborn child? Vanilla bean paste is a handy way around trading your future offspring for those precious vanilla bean flecks. I recently used some of the paste when making a batch of pudding (using my homemade mix), and it gave it the look and flavor of a fresh vanilla bean but with generally less hassle.

Can you tell that I’m obsessed? Really. I’m obsessed.

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2.) This Banana Republic Sweater: I believe that every year needs a nice black sweater. This lightweight pullover is this year’s. I like the 3/4-length sleeves (long sleeves tend to be pretty hit or miss on my long, lanky arms), the weight (it’s nice and light, which means you could still layer or wear with a cute scarf without melting), and the fact that it could be dressed up or down. Wardrobe staple, right there!

3.) Speaking of wardrobe staples, Kendi’s list of 10 essential fall wardrobe pieces is super helpful, especially when you may or may not be the kind of person who relies on several key items of clothing to get you through each and every week.

Now, who is going to pay me to go shopping for the essentials I’m missing?

4.) Infinity scarves: Are infinity scarves like, sooooo last season? Tough noogies. I still love them. Don’t get me wrong, I love pretty much any kind of scarf this time of year, but infinity scarves automatically eliminate the issues of “How am I going to tie this dang thing?” and “How do I keep the ends of my scarf from getting in my food?”

Basically, I need clothing fit for a 6-year-old. Typical.

(The one pictured above is from Gap. I don’t actually own it, but with that cute pop of color, I sure wouldn’t mind if it appeared at my doorstep one day…)

5.) The Lightscoop: I met a representative for Lightscoop when I was at BlogHer ’13 here in Chicago a few months back, after which they sent me one of their products to try out. I have to admit – I was a little skeptical at first. After all, it is a little strange looking and, quite frankly, seemed too good to be true. A mirror that redirects your DSLR’s flash to create a more natural-light effect? Surely it isn’t that easy. But after trying out the Lightscoop Deluxe, I was actually quite impressed with the results!

 The above two photos are of my sweet Alma. Both photos were taken using the same settings, and neither has been edited, but the top was taken using my pop-up flash and the bottom was taken using the Lightscoop. Can you see what a difference that one little change made? And it was so simple to use – it just snaps right on to your camera, no altering to your camera or installation needed.

Since the days are getting shorter and our precious daylight is becoming more of a commodity, the fine folks at Lightscoop want to offer one reader their own Lightscoop Deluxe! Whether you are a food blogger with a job that prevents you from taking your food photos during the day, or a parent who likes to take pictures of your kids, this little gadget could really come in handy this winter. To enter to win, just leave a comment below! A winner will be randomly chosen and emailed at 10 pm on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

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What are some of your favorite things right now? 

Nielsen-Massey and Lightscoop both provided product for me to review, but I was in no way obligated to post a review or host a giveaway. All opinions are, as always, my own.