September 2021 Favorites

September is over and fall is finally here. However, September was a fun-filled month for me. From discovering new foods to changing hairstyles, I had a lot of things to enjoy. Read on to see my September 2021 favorites!

September 2021 Favorites

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Little Saigon Night Market

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A post shared by Valerie Nguyen (@valnguyen)

First of all, the Little Saigon Night Market was one of my September favorites.

During Labor Day Weekend, my parents came to visit me and my boyfriend. Coincidentally, it was also the last weekend of the Little Saigon Market. My mom had been wanting to go. So it was the perfect opportunity for us.

If you’re unfamiliar with night markets, they’re basically mini fairs full of street food and vendors. The most popular one in California is probably the 626 Night Market. However, Little Saigon in Westminster also has a summertime night market. It’s not as large as the 626 Night Market but it’s still packed with delicious Vietnamese food. My personal favorites were the grilled squid and sugarcane drink.

Whenever you have the chance to attend a night market, you should definitely check it out. It’s guaranteed to be a fun night filled with food, music, and culture.

American Horror Story: Double Feature

Next, American Horror Story: Double Feature was one of my September favorites. I’ve been a fan ever since season one.

Unlike previous seasons, American Horror Story: Double Feature has two separate themes. The first half of the season is titled Red Tide, while the second half is titled Death Valley.

So far, we have only seen the completion of Red Tide. The first half of the season focused on a family who moved to the outskirts of Cape Cod during wintertime. Essentially, the premise of Red Tide focuses on artists thriving for excellence and success. Some of them will do whatever it takes. And those who don’t make it will pay the ultimate price.

This latest season stars familiar faces such as Finn Wittrock, Lily Rabe, and Evan Peters. Additionally, this season features unexpected faces such as childhood star Macaulay Culkin.

If you’re a fan of horror, sci-fi, or thrillers, catch American Horror Story on FX. The show airs on Wednesday nights at 10 pm.

LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn

Then, LesserEvil’s Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn was one of my September favorites.

While shopping at Whole Foods one day, I randomly stumbled upon some LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn. I was drawn to the popcorn because the packaging featured a cute, glowing Buddha.

Also, I was surprised by the minimal ingredients in the popcorn. Moreso, the popcorn is processed with extra virgin coconut oil. The extra virgin coconut oil adds a subtle sweetness to the Himalayan pink salt. Best of all, LesserEvil’s Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn is the perfect, clean snack for any time.

I would recommend LesserEvil’s products to anyone who is conscious about the food they consume.

Paradise Dynasty

Another one of my September favorites was Paradise Dynasty.

Paradise Dynasty is a Singapore-based restaurant that serves soup dumplings or xiao long bao. Recently, they added their first US location at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.

I only knew about the new restaurant because it appeared on my Yelp. So one night, my boyfriend and I decided to go to Paradise Dynasty for dinner. We didn’t realize they had just opened, so we ended up waiting an hour to be seated.

Even for a Wednesday night, the restaurant was full. We only saw our server three times. So we had to stop other waitstaff for requests such as chili oil, utensils, and extra napkins.

But it was well worth the wait and the experience. We got one order of Paradise Dynasty’s Specialty Xiao Long Bao, as well as two orders of their original Kurobota pork dumplings and a Tsingtao beer. The Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao featured a variety of flavors that were to be eaten in a specific order. The specialty flavors featured the original Kurobota pork, luffa gourd, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, and Szechuan.

Compared to the famous Din Tai Fung, Paradise Dynasty’s soup dumplings are much larger and soupier. And I can’t believe my first time eating foie gras was in a soup dumpling!

All in all, it was a wonderful dining experience. My first time at Paradise Dynasty left me craving more soup dumplings. And we will be going back soon enough.

Ash Balayage

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A post shared by Valerie Nguyen (@valnguyen)

Lastly, ash balayage hair was one of my September favorites.

In March, I got my hair cut and dyed for the first time in a year and a half. Especially since I moved to Orange County, I had to look for a new stylist. But I finally decided to take the risk and go ash, as I’ve always wanted. Ash is a difficult color to accomplish. But my hairdresser achieved it!

I love that he’s attentive to detail and gentle with my hair. Not to mention, he always styles my hair and sends me pictures at the end of the session!

I’m so happy with the result. For sure, I feel ready for fall.

What were some of your September 2021 favorites?

Let me know in the comments! You can also connect with me on social media.

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