My Favorite Magazines

I'm a self-proclaimed magazine hoarder. As a college senior majoring in magazine journalism, reading and reviewing magazines is practically homework for me. I've read most major magazines on the market, and I've even landed internships for two national publications. I don't adhere to a particular genre, either; I enjoy magazines covering travel, fashion, beauty, culture, food, and even celebrity news.

Today, I thought I'd talk about my current favorite magazines in each genre. Enjoy the list and let me know what your favorite magazines are!

_______________

Fashion/Beauty: Glamour has practical fashion and beauty advice, featuring affordable items and looks that can be easily incorporated into your everyday routine. InStyle is also a great fashion-focused magazine that deals largely with celebrity style.

Women's Lifestyle: Marie Claire is my favorite all-around women's magazine, running everything from fashion tips and beauty ideas to career advice and women's issues.

Travel: Afar magazine may be a bit aspirational, but its focus on "experiential travel" advises the reader on how to become fully immersed in the culture of another country. The personal essays are inspirational, while the descriptions of travel destinations make me want to buy a plane ticket ASAP!

Food: Food Network Magazine not only has delicious recipes but also includes fun food, restaurant, and cooking news (and also appearances from Food Network stars!)

Life/Culture: Vanity Fair covers popular culture (movies, TV shows, music, celebrities), fashion, politics, and other current events. The stories are longer and more in-depth compared to most other magazines on my list, but I always walk away from the publication feeling more knowledgable.

Health: Self magazine talks about all things health and wellness with a fun, friendly tone. Since the magazine is transitioning into the "women's lifestyle" genre,  it also features fashion and beauty articles.

Celebrity News: People was the first magazine I ever read, and it continues to be one of my favorites. I gotta have some celebrity gossip! People always has reliable journalism, which differentiates it from most other celebrity tabloids.

Weddings: Martha Stewart Weddings is an absolutely beautiful magazine, filled with great pictures and beautifully written editorial. I'm proud to be a 2015  summer intern for this magazine!

Home Decor: I don't own a home, but I still enjoy reading about home decor/organization. HGTV Magazine is my favorite magazine for anything home-related. Not only does it include articles about design and decoration, it also features fun life tips as well.

Summer Clothing Haul

Today I have my first ever clothing haul post!

Last week, I was rummaging through my summer clothing and realized most of my outfits were outdated or over-worn. I've been traveling non-stop the past couple of years and I simply didn't make time for clothes shopping. That changed last week with a quick trip to some clothing stores! I had a few key items on my list: printed shorts, a denim vest, and bathing suits. I managed to find all of the items on my list and then some.

Here are my favorite pieces from my shopping trip:

I've wanted shorts like this forever. I'm imagining wearing these to summer dinner dates, paired with a cream or black tank.

LC Lauren Conrad Pleated Lace Shorts / $35 / Kohl's

These gray-and-black printed shorts will be perfect with a black tank top tucked into them!

Ethnic Print Cotton Shorts / $34 / Maurice's

A denim vest can add interest to nearly every outfit.

Crochet Top Denim Vest with Pockets / $34 / Maurice's

I love mixing bikini tops and bottoms. This tribal printed top is perfect with the black strappy bottoms.

Bandeau Bikini Top / $17.99 / Target

Strappy Bikini Bottom - Xhilaration / $14.99 / Target

I tend to stick with dark-colored bikinis, so this pink and orange top is a refreshing summer-y change.

Pink Multi Pink Push Up Bikini Top - Xhilaration / $17.99 / Target

Strappy Bikini Bottom - Xhilaration / $14.99 / Target

Rochester Dining: Dogtown

As a child, my dad would take my siblings and I to a teeny-tiny restaurant called Lipuma's Coney Island that sold the best hot dogs in Michigan. I always ordered the same thing: a chili, onion, and mustard hot dog with a heaping side of chili-cheese fries. To this day, I still haven't found a hot dog as tasty as the one from Lipuma's (which we affectionally named "Little Coney Island"). However, Dogtown in Rochester, New York, is pretty comparable.

Jake took me to Dogtown two separate times when I visited him in Rochester. The welcoming red shack is located right downtown. The hot dog menu is impressive; Dogtown prides itself on serving local favorites from across America as well as its own unique hot dogs. You can see the whole menu here. Dogtown has everything from the classic Cincinnati Red Dog (chili sauce and cheddar) to new combinations like the Coyote (salsa, cheddar, sour cream, jalapeño) and the Golden Retriever (bacon and cheddar). The menu also includes fries, burgers, sandwiches, and garbage plates, which you can read about in this blog post.

In an effort to recreate my memories of Lipuma's, I ordered the classic Cincinnati Red Dog with chili and cheddar. The hot dog was drastically different than my childhood favorite – whereas Lipuma's chili was sauce-y, the chili at Dogtown was more chunky due to the the ground beef. The cheddar cheese complimented the chili nicely, though. I just wish the hot dog had some diced onions!

Jake got a simple red hot with ketchup, mustard, sautéed onion, and Dogtown sauce (chili). Note: in Rochester, red hot dogs are referred to as "red hots" and white hot dogs are "white hots." Jake has also ordered the Pit Bull (sautéed peppers and onions, Dogtown sauce, and BBQ sauce). Although he really enjoys the hot dogs, he says they sometimes put on too much chili for his taste. I agree – the chili overwhelmed the hot dog.

The French bread used with Dogtown's hot dogs was interesting since I'd never had a hot dog with French bread before. However, Jake and I prefer the classic soft hot dog bun. The French bread seemed a little too elegant for the greasy hot dog and chili, and the combination seemed off. Soft buns are simply a hot dog staple. Both the french fries and home fries tasted delicious, though!

Jake and I will head back to Dogtown in the future for the cool atmosphere, unique hot dog combinations, and great prices. Hot dogs are typically $3.50 - $4.00 each. While Dogtown gets my approval, I'm still on the hunt to recreate my favorite childhood chili dog from Lipuma's.