Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

Well guys, we made it through the first full week of 2021…back to work, back to life. There’s no sugar coating it, it wasn’t a great start. It came with sadness, anger, and hate. I’m not going to go into details here on any of the negativity happening. I want this post, and HBH in general, to be a space you can come to for a smile, a laugh, and of course delicious food. There are plenty of other sites to go to for news.

To be honest, it feels very much like we are living in a movie right now. My hope is that HBH can somehow be a bright spot in it all. You guys know I love putting together these Sunday posts. On average they take two to three days of on/off work. They are a lot to put together. But I try to find everything that’s happy and joyful! Even in hard times, we need to try to smile, we need to stay positive, and most importantly, we need to be kind to others.

I don’t mean to be a complete cheese ball, but it’s really just how I’m feeling right now. So with that in mind, I’m making today’s post about all the fun and happy things we can focus on right now. It’s going to be a good one.

First up, this last week! Yes, it was hard, but it also had some good. For me, it was a very productive week. I’m currently working on that large project I’ve been hinting about. And we are finally making progress, which feels amazing and exciting. Still so much to do, but it really feels good to be making leaps in the right direction.

It was also a good week in the kitchen testing new recipes, I’ve already shared a good handful of new recipes that I know will be favorites throughout the year. The Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme has been the biggest hit of the week. But my personal favorite? 100% the Salted Tahini Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. If you guys have time to bake today, bake these cookies! They are healthy, so easy, and just absolutely delicious. If you don’t bake with almond/coconut flour, you can easily use all-purpose flour.

On an even more exciting note, my litter sister, Asher and I got my mom the most perfect birthday gift. We are so excited to give it her. Mom’s birthday falls on January 11th and every year it goes somewhat unnoticed since it’s so close to all the Christmas festivities. I mean, we always do something to celebrate, don’t get me wrong, but gift wise everyone is at a loss…because we’ve (err….I) spoil her over Christmas. But this year Asher and I came up with something good. Mom is reading this right now wondering what on Earth it could be, so I’ll share more details next Sunday!

And speaking of what’s coming up next. We’ll start the week strong with a healthified pizza. We’ll move onto a breakfast recipe that can easily double as a lunch or dinner (it’s so delicious). Then onto an easy soup that everyone loves to order out, but I’ll show you how to make it even better at home. We then have a really fun Middle Eastern-inspired dish that’s so full of color. And for Friday…a vegan version of everyone’s favorite candy. Any guess what it could be?

Question: what was one GOOD thing that happened to you this week? Or one thing that you are excited about for the week ahead?

Enjoy this week’s favorites! And as always let me know if there is anything recipe wise, product wise, or anything in between that you would love to see!

1. Things i’m loving, wanting, and excited to try…

road tripping it to…Crested Butte, CO. More photos next week. My family always loves a visit to Crested Butte. Fun fact? My older brother Brendan went to high school there and it’s one of the reasons my family finally moved out to Colorado.

watching…absolutely nothing. I need Netflix recommendations. I’m not sure I can get into Bridgerton though.

cooking… this Artichoke Pesto and Burrata Pizza tonight. It’s COLD, so using the pizza oven is a must today. Can’t wait!

loving…these Midi Heirloom Claw Clips. Throwing my hair up is even easier with a giant claw clip. This one is so cute.

reading…The 7 Cs of Success: How To Be a Successful Badass. So many valuable takeaways.

loving…this Rag and Bone Hat. I got this for my mom, but I really want to steal it. It is so cute.

thinking about ordering…a Weighted Blanket. I read this story on all the benefits of sleeping with a weighted blanket and now I am convinced I NEED one.

ordered…the Olive and June Mani System. This kit looks so fun! I mostly looked for Asher, but I shockingly, I really want my nails painted CN Dark Brown.

drinking…this Fiery Golden Mango Tonic. Well and hot cocoa too because it’s cold.

reading…Oh She Glows Cookbook For Dinner. For a healthy, more plant-based start to the new year.

2. My 11 Favorite Sunday Winter Dinners.

Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

One Pot Spicy Alla Vodka Pizza Pasta

Creamy Gnocchi Soup with Rosemary Bacon

Slow Cooker French Wine and Mustard Chicken

Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Chicken Marsala

30 Minute Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs with Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes

One Skillet Cheesy Cuban Chicken Rice Bake

Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas

Roasted Garlic Butter Chicken with Lemon Olive Dressing

Slow Cooker Saucy Sunday Bolognese Pasta

One Skillet French Onion Tater Tot Casserole

3. Work From Home Office Refresh.

4. Favorite Questions of the Week.

q: Why do you always have so many bruises on your hands?
a: They’re burns and cuts. I use my hands SO much while cooking that they just get really beat up, especially in the dry climate we live in. Keeping them moisturized is hard when I’m constantly washing my hands. And as for the burns, I really just need to pay attention/be more careful while cooking ??‍♀️

q: Where do you get your glasses for drinks? They’re all so beautiful! 
a: Anthropologie is my go-to source for glasses (but you have to get them fast, they always sell out). Also Williams-Sonoma, Roman and Williams Guild, and Crate and Barrel. I shop high and low for unique pieces, especially my cocktail glasses…it keeps things fun for me!!

q: What was your job before HBH?
a: High school! Ha!! I started HBH just after my high school graduation where I graduated early with an Associate’s Degree. I was going to go to school in LA for fashion (I’ve always loved fashion/clothes and wanted to be a stylist). But I threw myself a curveball and started HBH instead. Best move I could have made. I’ve been working on HBH full time ever since…8 1/2 years now!

q: Is there anything you avoid cooking/trying?
a: Sandwiches. I hate photographing them so much ?

q: What’s Oslo’s story?
a: My parents tried to foster to adopt for over two years. It’s something they’ve wanted to do for a long time, as they wanted to take in an infant that was a product of the opioid crisis. Anyone who knows my mom knows she’s the most loving, caring woman out there. She truly loves raising her kids. So about 9 months ago they decided to go right to adoption, vs foster to adopt. In October things just seemed to align like they were meant to be, and we received newborn little Oslo.

They worked with several agencies, but their favorite by far, and the one they ended up receiving Oslo through, is called Special Angels. I encourage anyone looking to donate to an organization that benefits children to look into Special Angels. The agency is run by truly amazing people who create beautiful families. We are all so happy and excited to finally welcome our little brother. As you can tell he’s already just very much a part of the fam. We couldn’t love him more!!!

5. Notebooks and Pens.

I plan out my days every morning and just finished my last notebook. Normally I’d just buy a very basic notebook, but I’m looking for something a little cuter for the New Year. I asked you guys on Instagram what your favorites are, and these were the top 9 picks!

1. Moleskine
2. Golden Coil
3. Passion Planner
4. Rhodia
5. Erin Condren
6. Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook
7. Leuchtturm1917
8. Shinola
9. Ban.do
10. Appointed – thinking I might order this notebook. It looks simple and clean!

Question: how do you keep your day, weeks, and to-do list organized? What’s your favorite notebook?

6. Negativity and Rude Comments.

I know said this above, but this week has been hard for everyone. The past year was hard. I fully understand everyone is a bit on edge, but the amount of negativity and anger we are seeing is truly so sad. Our HBH community is the KINDEST community. We don’t see much negativity or hate around here. In fact, I would say it is rare. When a recipe doesn’t work, or something goes wrong for one of you, or you disagree with something I’ve shared, more times than not you’ll all kindly let me know. It’s almost never in a hateful way.

Acknowledging that we’re all human and we all make mistakes…of course, including me…is a necessary part of life. The amount of support and love you all show me and my family is so incredible and we’re grateful for you all. As I always say, you guys feel like family!!

This past week I noticed a few more mean comments and Instagram messages than usual. Absolutely nothing major and really nothing to stress over. I’m only talking about a handful of messages, I know others in my position receive much worse. But I wanted to address negativity and something my mom has really instilled in me since I was a kid.

Putting others down, for truly no reason at all (or actually even if there is a reason), will not make your day better. It’s won’t fix your problems, or the problems of the world. It will not brighten your mood or make your day any better. It will only make things worse. And believe it or not, will probably make you feel worse. The only result will be that there will be more people who feel bad.

The only thing that will make your day better? Kindness. I know this is the cheesiest thing to say. And I know that if you’re having a hard day that reading/hearing this can be incredibly annoying. Trust me, I have been there. Kindness can actually be hard. It’s something I can struggle with too, but I’m finding more and more that it’s the key to happiness, even in the most stressful of times. My mom always says, be kind and you’ll receive kindness in return. No, it’s not going to solve worldly issues, though I do believe that if we could all be a little kinder to each other, the world would be a better, happier place. Kindness will make you and others around you happier and that’s something we should all be striving for.

Be kind, bring others up, give back as much as possible, do something nice for someone. Trust me, you will be happier.

I only share all this because I really, really believe this is something we can all be working on. It’s always nice to have a reminder…or I hope it’s nice! Especially when you’re stressed, overworked, and feeling overwhelmed. But it’s during stressful times that kindness is key.

Also, everything I’ve written above makes me sound like I’m the sweetest. Trust me, I am not. I am human, and I slip up too. My mom usually gets the brunt of my frustration. Thankfully no matter how mean I can be to her (and I’m telling you, I have my moments), she’s always there to remind me that taking my frustration out on her does no good. So I’m learning, little by little, and I thought I would share this with all of you.

And lastly, if you really need a pick me up, baking always helps.

And that’s my little pep talk for the day. I have no idea if this will help any of you or not, but I figured it couldn’t hurt. With that, I’ll leave you with a few quotes that I found especially inspiring.

 

7. Favorite Links I’m Loving…

A Vibrant Retrofit Breathes New Life Into a Dilapidated 19th-Century House in Paris…the cutest little Paris home.

33 Finds From Zara, H&M, and Mango I Want You to Know About…I adore a good Zara find. Eyeing this.

This Was the Most-Liked Bathroom Feature on Instagram in 2020…it’s stunning. I’d love a shower like this someday.

An Architect’s Dream Kitchen with Homey Materials…I LOVE this kitchen. The black is SO PRETTY.

Top-to-Bottom Kitchen Cabinet Storage Ideas Straight From an Expert Organizer…I need to follow this.

DIYer’s Dream Nightstand Cost $3,400, So She Hacked an IKEA One for $115…and it is identical.

Honey, They Shrunk the Ugg Boot…these are the boots I got my mom and I really think I might need a pair too. She loves them!

The Best Makeup for Dry, Winter Skin…I am such a fan of all Kosas products.

Olivia Culpo’s 40-Step Guide to Dewy Skin and Winged Eyeliner…that is a serious routine.

I Was Skeptical of Clean Makeup, but these Brands Changed My Mind…Kosas, Saie, Ilia, and RMS Beauty are personal favorites.

14 Mantras for Your Best Self Ever, and When to Use Them…making note of a few of these myself.

13 Wellness Practices You Can Do in 5 Minutes…warm water in the morning is key for me. It’s how I always start my day.

The One Trick That Helped Me Reach Every Goal Last Year…I love this. Notebooks are KEY.

These 5 Months Are the Most Important for Your Career…if you’re looking to make leaps in your career in 2021.

8. Everything for That Winter Weekend Road Trip…

9. this week’s dinners…

Monday: 30 Minute Creamy Thai Turmeric Chicken and Noodles

Tuesday: Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme

Wednesday: Easiest Coconut Cauliflower Adobo

Thursday: Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Pesto Pasta

Friday: Persian Inspired Herb and Beef Stew with Rice

Saturday: Salted Tahini Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sunday: Eggs in Purgatory with Chile Butter and Feta

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.