Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

(photo by Kristen Kilpatrick for a fun project coming soon)

Happy Sunday! Happy autumn…and happy last Sunday of September!! I hate to see another month go by, but I do have to say that I’m so excited for all things October, and all things Halloween! Christmas will forever be my favorite holiday, but I do think Halloween comes in at number two. Yep, even beating out Thanksgiving!

I’ve just always had fun with Halloween. And ever since we started HBH, I’ve always had (way) too much fun creating Halloween themed desserts and cocktails. They’re some of my favorite recipes that I have shared! Like these milk chocolate stuffed Jack-O-Lantern cookies. I made those cookies two years ago and they are still one of my favorites. Time is a little bit of an issue this year, but I’m still going to make a huge effort to share some fun Halloween desserts and cocktails. I just have to, these fun recipes are just too important to me!

And speaking of cocktails, I’ve been reading through everyone’s comments on last Sunday’s Favorites post. I’m pretty excited to see that so many of you said you love my fall cocktails. This was certainly awesome to hear this! Sadly, I didn’t have time this week for a new drink, but I’m making it my goal to have one up for you all next Saturday. Until then, I’m suggesting either my smoky harvest apple cider margarita or my apple butter old fashioned. Both are delicious and tried and true autumn favorites.

Oh! And if you have the HBH Super Simple cookbook, you must try the honeycrisp apple bourbon smash. That is one is extra special.

Question: what’s the one thing you’re looking forward to most this October? Do you decorate for Halloween? Are you planning a weekend road trip to see the fall foliage?

As I mentioned above, this fall/holiday season is going to be a busy one and time is once again an issue…there never seems to be enough! I’m hunkered down at home pretty much all fall. We’re working on a couple of projects that are very time-consuming, but all so exciting!

In other news, my mom and little sister Asher just stopped over with a couple belated birthday gifts. I have to say, their gifts really made my week. If you know me well, you know that I despise my birthday. I’m just that odd person that wholeheartedly does not like to celebrate or receive gifts. It’s weird, but I just don’t love my birthday. Something about receiving a gift makes me so uncomfortable. That said, there are a few things that I can really love and the two of them nailed this year’s gifts.

My mom took the time to do a deep dive into some of my favorite candles. She found a Spiced Pumpkin Latte candle I’d never tried before, but guys, it’s good! She gave me the large size, but there’s also smaller sizes…and even a giant size!

But the best part of this gift? Asher wrapped the candle up in craft paper and then decorated it with my name and the cutest little notes all around the box. It’s probably my favorite gift I’ve ever gotten. It might not have been a huge birthday gift, but it was the only thing I could want. Feeling grateful for those two and so lucky to have my family so close by.

Coming up this week on HBH, more autumn recipes! Starting the week off with something Italian, but made with a fall twist. We’ll then be moving on to a fun game-day recipe that’s made a bit healthier. Then we’ll have the perfect Sunday night dinner to pair with these rolls. And on Thursday we’ll have a special post (can’t wait, see more on this below!). On Friday we’ll finish up the week with our first sweet pumpkin recipe of the season. Delicious things coming your way soon!

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. If you’re meal planning today, don’t forget to check out my menu below (it’s # 9 on the favorite’s list). You can grab the full grocery list for this week’s menu in our special Sunday newsletter.

1. We have something fun coming this week!

If you guys follow on Instagram, you may have seen my post teasing this, but I’m so excited to finally share with you guys a project we’ve been working on for months. All the details to come this Thursday, October 1st!

Hint, it’s not a new cookbook and it has something to do with the holidays!

Any guesses?

2. Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Fall Dinners.

Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana

Healthier Instant Pot Coq au Vin

Slow Cooker Red Wine Sunday Ragù Pasta

Slow Cooker French Wine and Mustard Chicken

Crockpot Three Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Slow Cooker Vodka Bolognese Pasta

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili

30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen

Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup with Roasted Mushrooms.

Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar and Zucchini Soup

Red Wine Cranberry Braised Short Ribs

Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice

3. All the fall candles you need the most…

4. Favorite question of the week…

q: I hate cleaning the kitchen, what are your tips?
a: Start listening to podcasts while you clean! I recently started doing this and it’s made me actually look forward to cleaning. Just find a few podcasts you really love listening to and make the process something you enjoy doing. Or if you don’t enjoy listening to podcasts, try calling a friend or listening to new music. Just something to make the cleaning not so bad 😉

Two of my favorites are The Skinny Confidential Him and Her Podcast (always learn something new), and The Lady Gang, (completely guilty pleasure…but it’s always good and takes your mind off of things).

q: Would love to hear your cold-weather hiking tips/apparel!
a: Layer, layer, and bundle. Haha! No, but really, I do layer! It’s COLD here, especially at the time I hike, so layering is key. Leggings under snow pants, thermal tee, light down jacket, then a windbreaker over top (which surprisingly keeps you really warm).

If you get warm you take a layer off. But I’m the type of person that never wants to be cold so I always bundle ??‍♀️

q: What’s your favorite fall meal (with all the fixings) to serve family and friends?
a: That’s honestly the hardest question. I have so many!! If feeding my fam, probably Crockpot Cider Braised Short Ribs with Sage Butter Mashed Potatoes, brioche rolls, or popovers, and my harvest kale salad too. The cocktail would be my apple butter bourbon smash (HBH Super Simple cookbook) and for dessert, my jack-o-lantern pumpkin cookies ?

q: Where do you get your inspiration from for your recipes?
a: Mostly from the seasons and my family. The seasons inspire me the most because I love switching things up and creating recipes based on what’s in season, upcoming holidays, and the weather. BUT my family is a huge source too. There are a lot of us and everyone is doing their own thing, traveling, eating out, etc., so they are constantly giving me new ideas. I’ve always loved to cook for others, so

It’s fun for me to take their suggestions and recreate them into something they love.

q: What is your one “can’t live without” Staub pan/pot?
a: 100% my 11-inch Staub Skillet. I have 3 and I sometimes use all 3…in a single day. They are certainly my favorite pans.

5. Everything I just order from Zara Home…

I love shopping Zara for clothes, but I think I love Zara home even more. Here’s what I just order for fall!

Glazed Stoneware Coffee set…ordered all three mugs. Such a pretty color.

Crackled Vase…excited to put fall flowers in this.

Recycled Glass Vase…love this shape.

Crystal Gold Rimmed Tumbler…for all the fall and holiday cocktails to come.

Flora Napkin Set…love these moody colors.

Knit Blanket…can’t wait to wrap up in this.

Cashmere Blanket…this looks coy. Honestly, I might order it.

Woven Banana Leaf Basket…I really want this.

Velvet Throw Pillows…these are so pretty.

Stripped Throw Pillow…love the fall colors.

3 Piece Gold Flatware Set…I have a set like this, but if I didn’t, I would have ordered this.

Stoneware Tableware…so classic, so pretty.

Two-Tone Pitcher…autumn flowers would look so pretty in this.

6. Autumn…from Colorado to Pennsylvania.

My brother Brendan, and sister-in-law, Lyndsie, have started an online vintage shop. They’re traveling around the east coast sourcing beautiful handmade ceramics, vintage furniture, rugs, and every little thing in between. They’ve been sending me photos of their travels and they’re just so perfectly fall. I had to share them with you guys.

You can follow along with them on their Instagram account, Good Livin Co, where they are also selling their products!

And some photos of my own. It’s just so pretty here during our autumn days. I want them to last forever!

7. favorite links i’m loving…

Everything New on Netflix You Need to Watch…Emily in Pairs is on my list. What are you watching?

Trader Joe’s Fall Arrivals…here they are ranked from best to worst.

The Top Kitchen Cabinet Brands We Always Recommend…Devol cabinets are my dream kitchen cabinet.

This is What Travel Will Look Like in 2021…personally all about this kind of low key travel.

Inside A Restored, Preserved Farmhouse in Pennsylvania…such a beautiful, cozy home.

What’s the Nicest Thing Anyone’s Ever Said to You…loved this. Read the comments!

The Coolest Fall Activewear and Loungewear on the Web…eying this Reformation set.

Gluten-Free Baking and Alt Flours…everything you need to know.

Small Changes You Can Make If You Gained Weight…love these healthy, practical tips.

The Everygirl’s Fall 2020 Bucket List…I’d really like to check everything off this list.

4 Lessons Learned From Grief…such a well written and thoughtful story.

6 Natural Supplements That Knock Out Migraines…good to know.

10 Ways to Revive a Workout Routine…if you’ve totally given up.

How I Find the Best Vintage Rugs on a Budget…I certainly love a vintage rug…and these tips.

Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman Reveal Their California Country Home…her kitchen is perfection.

How to Turn Jealousy Into Productivity…love this. Use that jealously as fuel to push forward.

8. New for Fall…

9. this week’s dinners…

Monday: Herbed Ricotta Stuffed Chicken In White Wine Pan Sauce

Tuesday: One Pot Broccoli Cheddar and Dumplings

Wednesday: Fall Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Kale Salad

Thursday: Prosciutto Apple and Sage Butter Chicken with Cider Pan Sauce

Friday: Pumpkin Cheese Stuffed Shells Bolognese Bake

Saturday: Everything Ranch Cheese and Pretzel Snack Mix

Sunday Baking: Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins with Cinnamon Honey Butter

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