Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

Hey all, happy Sunday. The week ahead is feeling bright and springy and I’m so very excited about it! We have an almost perfect looking forecast of sunshine and mild temps, which is so welcomed after our long winter. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to finally feel the warmth of the sun. The longer, warm days have been so nice. Watching our surroundings slowly (read, very, very slowly) start to turn green is a sign that summer is on its way. We don’t have blooming flowers yet, but I’m still enjoying my bouquet from Grace Rose Farm and attempting to keep them fresh for as long as possible. If any of you people with a green thumb out there have inside secrets, please, do share!

In other news, this week was all over the place. From creating new recipes, working on a few fun projects, some exciting zoom meetings, and even a couple of live cooking streams. If you missed it, I was live with Amazon Live this past Thursday baking for Cookies for Kids Cancer. I made the yummy chewy browned butter chocolate chip cookies from the Half Baked Harvest Super Simple cookbook. While I can’t say I was pleased with my appearance (my hair, eek). I had a lot of fun baking and answering everyone’s questions. You can watch the reply here. And again, please don’t judge my at-home hairstyling.

Fact…I can not do my hair or makeup if my life depended on it. Yes, I love skincare and I love beauty products, but actually applying the beauty products without the help of a professional? I am lost. I just can’t do it. That’s what you get for growing up with five brothers and a mom who’s never ever put on more than a swipe of bronzer and fun lip color. Maybe I should try watching some YouTube videos?

Coming up this week on HBH, I’m still undecided on whether I’ll share a new Mexican recipe for Cinco de Mayo on Monday or a fun new chicken dinner. Either way, it’s going to be good. Do you guys have a preference? Tuesday is a new baking recipe that’s simple. It’s a recipe I know you will all be coming back to time and time again. On Wednesday, we have a fresh new springtime gnocchi recipe, then on to a delicious Thai inspired meal for Thursday. For Friday, I’m thinking a sweet cake…just in time for Mother’s Day.

As for Saturday, I wanted to check in with you all. Are you guys still wanting to see Saturday drink posts? Personally, I love these fun drink posts and you all seem to LOVE them too. But as we head into a new month, I wanted to check in with you all. More drinks for the warmer days ahead? Or save the cocktails for the holiday season?

If you’re catching up on blog posts from the week, be sure to sign up for our daily newsletters. They’ll help you to stay up to date with everything that’s happening here, as well as fun content you’ll only get via email. And of course, if you’re meal planning today, don’t forget to check out my menu below (it’s # 9 on the favorite’s list).

Hope you all have a beautiful (hopefully sunny…and maybe even flower-filled) Sunday. Oh, and tell me, what’s everyone cooking for Sunday night dinner?

1. Working on that greenhouse + inspiration photos.

With more sunny warm days ahead, my dad and I have been plotting the possibility of a new larger greenhouse. We’re thinking the best place for it might be right next to the studio. Living so high up in the mountains means that it gets too cold overnight to grow anything without protection. We’ve been using a greenhouse the past couple of summers to grow herbs. But this year I want to up our “garden” game with a REALLY nice greenhouse. I’ve been scrolling Pinterest for ideas and looking at companies online. Here are some of my favorite photos that are inspiring me.

*all photos found via Pinterest. Exact sources are unknown. 

Excited to share more once we get the greenhouse up and running. Again, if any of you gardeners out there have tips, tricks, and words of advice, both my dad and I would love to hear them!

PS. this is my dream garden. Maybe someday.

2. Mother’s Day Recipe Ideas.

Recipes for A Simple Brunch:

Blueberry Lemon Thyme Smash

Ultimate Spring Brunch Board

Berry and Cream Cheese Croissant French Toast Bake

Crispy Breakfast Potatoes with Chili Garlic Oil and Herbs

Asparagus and Brie Puff Pastry with Thyme Honey

Bursting Blueberry Lemon Thyme Tarts

The Best Strawberry Shortcakes

Recipes For A Garden Inspired Dinner:

Pan-Fried Feta with Peppered Honey

Peach Caprese Salad

Herby Everything Cheddar Swirl Buns

Lebanese Chicken with Charred Lemon Cauliflower

Lemon Parmesan Salmon with Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

Lemon Butter Cheese Ravioli with Garlic Basil Breadcrumbs

Skillet Strawberry Bourbon Cobbler

Lemon Coconut Naked Cake with Whipped Vanilla Buttercream

Crinkle Top Chocolate Peanut Butter Skillet Blondies

3. A few last minute Mother’s Day gifts.

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: How do you film your Instagram stories?
a: So many of you are asking about this. I just use my phone! And to get the overhead videos I just place my phone on a chair that I put on the counter. It’s sooo professional…?

q: How do you keep your clothes so nice while cooking? I am always a floury mess!
a: Trust me, I am a mess while cooking. Chocolate, flour, etc., I get it all over the place and me too. I just started wearing an apron to protect my clothes because I was ruining everything I own.

q: Is your house and studio space on the same property?
a: Yes! Very lucky to have my house and our studio/office space all on the same property.

q: What type of countertops do you have?
a: The kitchen island is quartzite and our black countertops that run on the outside walls of the kitchen are soapstone.

5. Latest recipe videos.

6 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Chia Mousse…Sunday chocolate, but the healthy kind.

And on Instagram stories…

Crockpot Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Lime Garlic Sauce…plus Mexican inspired “street” fries too.

Homemade Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts…flaky, perfectly sweet, and heavy on the cinnamon.

Artichoke and Broccoli Pesto Brie Panini…with a drizzle of salty, sweet thyme honey.

30 Minute Butter Chicken Meatballs…an oldie, but always such a (delicious) goodie.

(extra) Dirty Horchata Tres Leches Cake…my favorite of the week.

6. The littlest thing that make me so happy.

I’m one of those people that has a really hard time buying things for myself that are not 100% NEEDED. Whenever I order clothes, it takes me forever to finally pull the trigger on my purchase. And in the end, I end up returning most of the items. Not because I don’t like them, but more because of the guilt I feel for buying something for myself that is not necessarily a NEED.

I am slowly working to get past this. To illustrate, this week I made a very small purchase and ordered this candle. I love candles and lighting a candle nightly has become something that really helps me to relax. I’ve been burning the same Little Market candle now since before Christmas. It’s not that I don’t love that candle, because I do, it’s a favorite. But I needed to change it up (don’t we all right now?)

I’ve been lighting this candle for that past three nights and even though it’s the smallest $32 purchase, it’s brought me a lot of happiness. I feel so “silly” writing this all out, but I wanted to share that sometimes it’s OK to make purchases for yourself. Buy that candle, or even that designer bag you’ve been eying. If it’s going to bring you extended happiness, it’s probably worth it!

Question: what’s on your list? Anything I should add to mine?

7. Favorite links i’m loving…

The 5 Recipes I Currently Have on Repeat…excited to try a few of these.

It Took Me 6 Weeks To Understand the Sourdough Hype…I’m thinking it’s time to make some sourdough?

Histories Lead the Decor in a Downtown Manhattan Home…what a pretty home.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide…love so many of these thoughtful ideas.

A Seed Based Salad Dressing…you will want to make again and again.

Why Zurich Should Top Your Future Travel List…noted…and added to my list.

The 30 Most Anticipated New Books Of Summer 2020…if you’re in need of a good book.

Our Favorite Games To Play Right Now…with or without kids.

Need Decor But Don’t Know Where to Shop…a complete online resource shopping list.

My (Beginner) Plan To Grow A Backyard Garden…with key tips from some experts.

13 Ways to Look Pretty at Home…without being too extra.

Leanne Ford’s Secret to Textured Bathroom Walls…without a gut reno.

Amazon’s Best Mother’s Day Gifts…if you need some new ideas…and quick.

Tried This New Beauty Supplement for 30 Days…and it replaced my makeup routine.

The 20 Greatest Recipes of All Time…well now I’m curious to test all these out.

If You’ve Been Sleeping on Apple TV+…these shows will change your mind.

Free, Printable Mother’s Day Cards…love these fun cards for mom.

How to Make Ice Cream at Home + 20 Recipes to Try…summer is almost here.

James Van Der Beek’s Home Is the Ideal Family Haven…such a cozy family home.

8. A brand I am loving, Tory Sport…

9. This week’s dinners…

Monday: Artichoke and Broccoli Pesto Brie Panini with Thyme Honey

Drink: Spicy Cucumber Margarita

Appetizer: Crispy Chicken Tinga Taquitos with Salty Lime Avocado Crema

Dessert: Easy Cinnamon Churros with Chocolate Sauce

Tuesday: Crockpot Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Lime Garlic Sauce

Wednesday: Saucy Coconut Curry with Rice Noodles and Garden Vegetables

Thursday: One Skillet French Onion Tater Tot Casserole

Friday: Oven Fried Southern Hot Honey Chicken

Saturday Drink: Watermelon Rosè Paloma

Sunday Baking: Homemade Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts

Finally, check out all the past Nine Favorite Things posts here.