Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

I know I say this often, but the first line of the post is always the hardest. I never know just how to jump into things. So, let’s start with…I hope you’re all having a great weekend so far! And, Happy Super Bowl Sunday! Are you watching the game? Tuning in solely for the halftime show? Cooking your favorite game day recipes? Or just having a regular chill Sunday night?

I’m sure my family is watching the game, but I will most likely be hanging at home, catching up on emails before the start of the week. It might not be the best thing for me to do, but I love to set aside time on Sunday night to get through emails, respond to any comments I may have missed throughout the week, and get set up a bit for the week ahead. For me, it’s always nice to start Monday morning knowing I took care of all the lingering emails and tasks the night before. A fresh start to the week!

Question: What are your Sunday routines? Do you do family dinners? Are you a self-care bubble bath kind of Sunday nighter? Or do you binge your favorite shows?

Thank you all for your sweet words of encouragement last week!! I know we all have good and bad days/weeks. I’m really glad so many of you could relate to what I was feeling! This week brought new light however and even more exciting projects…that may or may not happen. I have a good feeling about things and am just feeling excited in general. Honestly, I think the snow falling is helping, it feels warm and cozy. The snow brings all the good vibes as I stand here huddled next to my pizza oven typing away.

I spent some time this week working on a few projects that I’m really excited to share with you guys this spring. I know it’s annoying that I’m not giving details, but hopefully, soon, I can share more. Does anyone want to take a guess as to what could be coming this spring?

Here is a hint, it’s not something I’ve ever done before, sooo that means it’s definitely not a cookbook.

I’ve also been on the hunt for a dress for my cousin’s wedding in March. They’re having a small ceremony in Julian, CA at Sacred Mountain at the end of March. We are all very much looking forward to it. Personally, I’m just excited to have an opportunity to wear a cute outfit. I really want something simple, long, and with long sleeves too. I’m told it can be chilly in Julian at that time of year, so I’m not taking any chances. I’m always cold.

And lastly, Instagram just reminded me that’s it’s been three years since my family and I piled ourselves onto a plane to make a fourteen plus hour flight on our way to South Korea. Eighteen of us gathered to watch my younger brother Red compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. And then go on to win just a few short days later. Do you guys remember when we traveled there? When life was normal and exciting?! I know we’re all in the same boat, but man I do miss the “normal” days.

How crazy is it that it has been a full three years since then? And even crazier that we’re coming up on yet another Olympic year? I have to say, I’m still so proud of Red and how much he’s grown the last three years. Truth is, he was literally just a baby when he won, but he was quickly forced into adulthood and has handled himself incredibly well. He’s stayed that same happy, loving kid I’ve known, but has a maturity to him that most people don’t have until they enter their thirties. But at the same time? He’s still just a twenty-year-old kid and he always manages to bring a smile to my face. And sucker me into making him whatever he wants…even on my hardest, busiest days. Just got to love him!

Since some of you are newer, here’s a look back at my favorite photos from our time in Korea. It’s especially fun to relive these memories since it’s difficult to travel to faraway places right now. Hope you guys enjoy them!!

{Photos via Mark Clavin and Malachi Gerard}

Coming up this week… We’ll be starting the week off with a healthy chicken dinner that’s Greek-inspired, warming, and so delicious. Come Tuesday, we’ll moving onto something sweet to bake up mid-week…because I love a random Tuesday night baking session. Especially during the dead of winter. For Wednesday we’ve got a fun Mexican dinner at home. Then on to a simple pasta bake to keep Thursday night easy and light. For Friday, I’m really feeling like some kind of cookie, but it’s undecided at the moment. Valentine’s Day is Sunday, so maybe I’ll switch things up and create a sweet treat for two!

1. Things I’m Loving, Wanting, and Excited to Try…

watching…Gigi Hadid’s Skin Care and Runway-Ready Contouring. Honestly, I took notes. Love that she uses mostly drugstore products, with a few higher-end products.

reading…Gigi Hadid On Motherhood and Life Beyond Modeling. I loved every line of this story, right down to her home birth this past year.

ordered… this Cropped Collared Henley Sweater from Revolve. It’s even cuter in person. I love the collar detail.

loving…this Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening and Exfoliating Mask. I actually have it on right now and have been using it two times a week. I love the way it feels both on and off.

listening to…Life with Marianna: Bobbi Brown Shares Advice For Aspiring Entrepreneurs. So many hidden words of wisdom within this episode. 

loving…this Gwyneth Ivory Boucle Chair. So cozy. I’d love this for my house.

eyeing…the Heretic Dirty Vanilla Candle. I certainly don’t need it…but I really want it. The vanilla sounds so good!

following…Melissa Wood Health. For her yoga flows, but also, I’ve come to love her positive energy, it’s infectious.

loving…the Augustinus Badar Hand Treatment Cream. I can’t remember if I told you about this before or not, but I don’t think I’ve come across a better working hand cream. I have the driest, driest hands, and this has truly worked magic on them. Their body butter is awesome too. Both are splurge items, but worth it in my mind.

ordered…this set from & Other Stories looks super cozy too. All the cozy clothes these days!

thinking about ordering…the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. Does anyone have this? I have heard such incredible things!

2. Favorite Easy Valentine’s Day Recipes.

Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Pesto Pasta

Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka

Balsamic Mushroom Chicken Marsala

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Tortellini

Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

Garlic Butter Creamed Spinach Salmon

Brown Butter Brussels Sprout and Bacon Fettuccine Alfredo

Salted Tahini Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vanilla Tiramisu Cake

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Lemon Rose Shortbread Cookies

Vegan Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake

Easy Chocolate Heart Doughnuts

Fudgy Avocado Brownies with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Rose Lemon Spritzer

3. New Home Finds…

Also, winter florals…

4. Favorite Questions Of the Week…

q: How long after you started HBH did you start your business/making money?
a: We saw growth within the first year of HBH. But I’m not kidding I was working 24/7 at it…and to be honest, I still am. That was 8 1/2 years ago though, so it was a very different time. Blogs were just starting to pick up momentum. We started making money after that first year and then it slowly grew year by year.

q: How can I make everyday meals feel more exciting?
a: It’s all about the toppings and or sauces. Add fresh herbs for color and flavor, a bread crumb topping for a nice crunch, or a good sauce (I love a good sauce). You will instantly upgrade whatever you’re serving.

q: What’s your favorite charity to support?
a: Right now, it’s Special Angels! This is the adoption agency my parents went through to adopt my brother, Oslo.

q: Where are you from/where do you live now? You have a bit of an accent.
a: Sometimes people say I have an accent and I don’t get it! I’m originally from Cleveland, OH. My family moved to Colorado when I was in 8th grade. Do you guys think I have an accent?

q: What part of cooking do you hate?
a: I do it ALL the time, but I hate searing. The stove is always such a mess after. But a good seared veggie or meat is worth it.

q: What was your photography like when you started HBH?
a: It was bad! If you want to see more, just scroll through the HBH archives and go back to 2012. You’ll see…I wasn’t always good at photography.

q: Does someone help you clean? 
a: Yes! My dad actually! He started helping me way back in the day when I was still living at home and then he just never stopped. So usually he’ll come to the studio at the end of the day and we bang it out together. Both my mom and dad are a big part of HBH. My mom manages the backend and upkeep of the blog along with so many other things. My dad does the “shit” work. Lol. Didn’t intent for HBH to be such a family business, but it’s sure working out to be that way!

5. What You Should Do With Your Spent Candles.

By now you guys all know that my candle obsession is no joke. At this point, I’m burning through a candle a week. I just love them so much. Lighting them every night is something I look forward to all day. Something about striking the matchstick and lighting the candle is so relaxing to me.

Anyway, some of the candles I love most are in the prettiest vessels. Once the candle has fully burned, I always feel bad just tossing out the empty candle jar. Over the summer, I started to reuse the prettier jars as flower vases. My trick for getting the wax easily and cleanly out of the glass jars?

Freeze the jar overnight…the wax shrinks and pops right out. Just place the spent candle in the freezer overnight. Then in the morning, I run a butter knife around the edge of the wax and it pops right out. So simple, easy, and mess-free.

6. Carter Country Meats.

When it comes to meat, I’ve always had really high standards as to what I will cook and feed my family. Since I started cooking for the family, high-quality beef has been a huge focus within my cooking. But living in a little ski town can sometimes make sourcing high-quality meat difficult. Thankfully, we do have a Whole Foods now, but if it’s the busy season…aka ski season, it can be hit or miss. When my family discovered Carter Country Meats this past year, It was such a welcome and needed discovery. My older brothers know the family, so my mom reached out inquiring about sourcing some meat. Once they shipped the first box out, I was immediately sold. The quality of their meats is incomparable.

The cattle on Carter Ranch are all grass-fed, and hormone and antibiotic-free. But the biggest difference between Carter Ranch and others? They only harvest older animals between the ages of four to fourteen. Like a fine wine, their beef gets better with age. Their cattle spend the duration of their lives roaming their forty thousand acres on some of the finest natural rangeland in the world. This cycle ensures that Carter’s beef has a profoundly distilled flavor profile. They also practice regenerative agriculture – farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change.

We asked the Carter Family if they’d provide you guys with a discount so you could give Carter Country Meats a try. They’re graciously offering the HBH family 20% off their entire site. Just the code HBH20 when checking out. Check out some cool pics on their Instagram here!

7. Favorite Links I am Loving…

Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady’s House in Los Angeles…oh my gosh, it is so pretty. I think the staircase is my favorite…and the pool. Actually the entire outside.

30 Non-Boring Recipes to Make With Noodles…when in doubt, always make noodles.

Behind These Streamlined Cabinets Is an Entire Hidden Kids’ Zone…if you want to hide the clutter. Love this idea.

Step Inside Serena Williams’ Striking Florida Home…that pool on the water. Man, I want to go to Florida.

Domino’s 14 New Rules of Reno…if you’re renovating, read this first.

The Best Fashion Moments From Super Bowl Halftime Performers…who was your favorite?

30 At-Home Workouts You Can Do on Your Lunch Break…love the idea of movement to break up the day.

11 Time Saving Kitchen Tools…I think I need a garlic press. Do you have one?

8 Sage Green Kids’ Rooms That Bring Calm to the Spaces That Need It Most…I am so into this color.

Simplest Health Tip Ever…chew your food for better digestion and overall health.

17 One-Minute Habits That Will Change Your Life…#5 is currently my personal favorite.

This Reimagined Garage Is Fit for Nights by the Fire…love this idea. Now I need a garage to renovate.

4 Retinol Myths You Should Probably Erase From Your Mind…just started using this retinol. Do you use retinol?

50+ Valentine’s Day Gifts to Spread Some Love This Year…love a simple, sweet v-day gift. Already ordered this candle, but love these ideas.

How Victoria Beckham’s Facialist Gets Her Skin So Good…I am personally a huge fan of this cleansing balm.

8. This Weeks Winter Style Finds…

9. This Week’s Favorite Dinners.

Monday: Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken and Avocado Rice Soup

Tuesday: Garlic Butter Shrimp Pad Thai

Wednesday: One Skillet Lemon Butter Chicken and Orzo

Thursday: Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas

Friday: Roasted Red Pepper Alla Vodka Pasta with Cheesy Oregano Breadcrumbs

Saturday: Spicy Cucumber Margarita

Sunday: Salted Pretzel Magic Bars

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.