Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

Just one full day left till December first!! My excitement for the holiday season is beyond this year. I think it’s the year we’ve had, it’s been such a mix of so much. I know so many are calling 2020 “the dumpster fire” year, but for as weird as the year was, I personally have so much to be thankful for.

2020 was a huge year of growth for HBH. We’ve seen our community more than double in size and that alone is something to celebrate! It’s incredible actually, and I was reminded just how incredible over Thanksgiving.

Wow. You guys! I’ve never, ever seen so many HBH recipes being made in a matter of two days than I did this past Wednesday and Thursday. Instagram was on fire with direct messages and posts full of Thanksgiving recipes. The four most popular recipes? The butter soaked Herb Butter Roasted Turkey, Salted Honey Butter, Parker House Rolls, the Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and the Molten Chocolate Crackle Pie. OH!! Geez, and how could I forget the cocktails! So. Many. Cocktails. The Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned and Vanilla Espresso Martini were favorites of the night. Getting to be a part of so many of your Thanksgivings is the most special and amazing thing. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Honestly, your support and the love you show HBH really shines and makes me want to work even harder for you guys.

Twas’ our best Thanksgiving yet!

Question: what was your favorite recipe you enjoyed this Thanksgiving?

Question: what was the highlight of your Thanksgiving?

And lastly, shout out to my cousin Maggie for working countless hours over the holiday to help get back to everyone. She for sure wins the most valuable HBH team member award this Thanksgiving. Grateful for her. Grateful for you all!

Ok, ok, onto Christmas, my favorite time of year. I have so many things I want to check off my holiday list this year. It feels exciting that we still have all of December ahead of us, but I know it will go so fast, so my biggest goal this holiday season? Enjoy it! That means…blast the Christmas music while cooking, light my favorite holiday candles at night, and watch every last cheesy holiday movie I possibly can…even if it means I’m half working, half watching…I’m going to get them in. And most importantly, make time for little sister Asher, new little brother, Oslo. And of course, the rest of the fam too, once they all start to roll in for Christmas. Ambitious goals…but I’m putting them out there into the world, which always makes me feel a little more committed.

Aside from all that, I also have so many exciting posts to share this month. It all started with Friday’s The Santa Clause Cookies, which are currently my favorite thing I’ve baked up for the holidays. So yes, as you can see, I am very excited and have way too much energy. It’s weird but good!

Below we’ve got some really great Cyber Week sale picks and other fun holiday things. Hoping you guys have fun reading and clicking through it all!

Coming up this week on the blog, we’ll be sharing some easy dinners including a new veggie-filled cozy recipe. We’ve also got a slow-cooked dinner that will be perfect for upcoming small holiday dinners at home. And lots of sweets for holiday baking. And for Cocktail Saturday, of course, a festive new holiday drink.

Question: What are you all hoping to see most this coming month? Dinners? Appetizers? Are you looking for holiday desserts? Lots of cookies? Or would you love to see more lifestyle posts like decorating ideas, tablescapes, and homemade Christmas gifts? Please let me know!

1. All The Christmas Movies We Need to Watch.

Netflix Picks

1. Holidate – been on my list for months
2. The Holiday Calendar
3. Christmas Inheritance – I don’t know why, but I watch this every year.
4. The Knight Before Christmas – so I watched this last, it’s OK, but some might love it!
5. The Princess Switch– watched this last year (and the year before)…it’s cheesy, but you know I loved it.
6. The Princess Switch, Switched Again – I obviously need to watch the follow up.
7. Christmas with a Prince
8. A Christmas Prince
9. A Christmas Prince Royal Baby
10. Midnight at the Magnolia
11. Christmas With A View 

Read: 19 Thoughts I Had While Watching The Princess Switch: Switched Again

Hallmark Picks

1. Chateau Christmas
2. A Nashville Christmas Carol
3. Good Morning Christmas
4. Christmas Comes Twice
5. If Only I had Christmas 
6. The Christmas Calendar 
7. The Christmas Club
8. Christmas at the Plaza

Read: Check out all the 2020 Hallmark Christmas Movies

Amazon:

1. Christmas Contract
2. Christmas in Mississippi
3. Almost Christmas
4. Twinkle All The Way
5. The Rooftop Christmas Tree
6. The Spirit of Christmas

The Classics (which will forever be my favorites)

1. The Grinch
2. Miracle on 34th street
3. The Santa Clause (all of them)
4. Elf
5. Home Alone (all of them)
6. Eloise at Christmastime
7. The Polar Express
8. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Question: what are your favorite Christmas movies?

2. The Most Popular Recipes of November.

Most popular: Molten Chocolate Crackle Pie

Full disclosure, our 2020 Thanksgiving menu and guide was the most popular post of the month, then the Herb Butter Turkey, BUT this pie is third in line and the most popular new recipe of the month! And it deserves the title. If you’ve not made this yet, please make it sometime soon or for your upcoming Christmas festivities. It’s warm, fudgy, and very molten-like with the perfect “crackle” crust. It’s a roll your eyes back, go for that second slice kind of pie, SO GOOD.

Runner-up: Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

So thrilled you all loved these potatoes! They happen to be my family’s favorite too! Each bite is perfectly smooth, creamy, and so delicious. The secret? Cooking the potatoes together with the cream. This method makes for the creamiest and most flavorful mashed potatoes.

Also have to mention: Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned

If the holidays had a signature cocktail, it’d be this. It’s all about that honey syrup. It’s sweet, spicy…a little naughty, a little nice, and when mixed with a splash of bourbon? Delicious 🙂

3. My Favorite Cyber Week Holiday Home Finds…

All My Favorite Candles 

4. Favorite Questions Of The Week.

q: How are you able to spend so much time with Asher? How is your little sister able to hang around so much? It’s so nice!
a: Well, since I’m neighbors with my parents, that makes it pretty easy. Asher’s doing full online school so whenever she’s got extra time she just comes to the studio. Especially when she wants to make brownies.

q: What are you most thankful for?
a: My fam!!! Everyone from my parents, to my brothers, to my little sis, and my cousins! We’re all really close and you always know someone’s got your back when you need a little help.

q: If you were building a home and designing a kitchen, what would be most important?
a: For the kitchen, lots and lots of counter space, the range against the wall, and a farmhouse style sink are all must-haves for me! And for the home, lots of light and cozy corners! I’d never want it to feel stuffy, just relaxed and inviting!

q: New Favorite TV show? 
a: Finally watched Emily in Pairs after so many of you said I had to watch it! It’s cute! But…I love the shows I grew up watching. Hello Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Buffy…all the oldies but goodies!

5. 25 Days Of Christmas.

Everyone seemed to really love our Thanksgiving tip series, so I thought I would continue it on into December. I’m thinking I will share something fun like a tip, a movie I love, decoration ideas, crafts, and just anything holiday-related.

Question: do you guys have any tips to share? Any traditions you love? A gingerbread house making day? I’d LOVE to hear what makes December special for you and your family!

Since I don’t post Favorites to the blog every day I’ll share December 1st below!

25 Days Of Christmas: 25 – Have Fun Family Games on Hand

The days can get long cooped up inside over holidays. Have fun board games on hand or craft supplies for both the kids and adults. My fam loves Uno, Heads Up (a game played from an app on your phone), Loaded Answers, Monopoly, Scattergories, Scrabble and they love Catch Phrase.

Question: what are your favorite games to play with family and friends?

6. Inspiring Me This Week…the Holiday Decor Edition.

(all above via Zara Home)

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7. Favorite Links I’m Loving…

82 Sales on Furniture and Home Decor to Shop Now…shopping Lulu and Georgia vintage rugs.

Step Inside Coif Queen Jen Atkin’s Serene L.A. Home…adore this laidback home and am very jealous of the office set up and shower.

39 Outdoor Christmas Decorations…who’s lighting up the street this year?

The Best Beauty Gifts You Can Buy for Someone…I am such a fan of all Kosas products. I especially love their Tinted Face Oil.

5 Things We Learned Watching Taylor Swift’s Surprise New Folklore Documentary…for all the T-Swift fans out there.

Why You Don’t Need a Thanksgiving Detox…and what you do need instead.

Tour a SoHo Loft Filled with Custom-Made Gems…love the moody tones and that dining room.

17 Holiday Gifts Home Bakers Will Love…for all the bakers out there.

Holiday Greenery Ideas That Look Like You’re Trying..but not too hard.

18 Kitchen Tools and Gadgets Worth the Investment…plus, they’re all on sale.

Lily Collins on Netflix’s New Oscar Contender Mank...and the second season of Emily in Paris.

15 Hands-Off Dinner Recipes to Make During the Holiday Season…yum, these all sound great.

Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With The Queen’s Gambit…have you seen it? Do I need to watch it?

8 Things We Can All Learn From “The Queen’s Gambit”…I’ve actually never seen the show, but these are all great things to learn.

5 Healthy Habits to Strive for When Feeling Unmotivated…such good tips, I especially love #3. Nothing better than getting outside.

27 of the Best Sales Happening This Week…so many places to shop for great holiday deals.

Jaclyn Johnson Opens the Doors of Her Remodeled L.A. Sanctuary…if you need doable, affordable home ideas, read this.

4 Reasons to Ditch Your Perfectionist Streak for Good…I needed to read this today.

11 Beauty Products That Work Overtime While You Sleep…they say multitasking isn’t efficient, but self-care while sleeping seems very efficient.

8. My Favorite Cyber Week Beauty/Style Finds…

Style 

Accessories 

Beauty

9. this week’s dinners…

Monday: Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup

Tuesday: Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch

Wednesday: Cheddar Pierogies with Caramelized Onions and Bacon

Thursday: Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Friday: One Pot Spicy Pesto Cheese Baked Rigatoni

Christmas Drink Saturday: Pomegranate Champagne Mule

Sunday Baking: The Santa Clause Cookies

Check out all the past Nine Favorite Things posts here.

Lastly, 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.