Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

How pretty is that photo above? I’m happy to say that while our weather is still so all over the place, with plenty of stormy days and dark clouds. We’ve also had moments like the photo above. All signs that beautiful summer weather is on its way. Tallgrass overgrown with wildflowers, big full green trees, and riverbeds filled to the rim with rushing water…this is what I love about summer in the mountains. These bursts of sunshine like I captured above give me much-needed hope that soon it will be here!

And I know I’ve said this many times before, but it really is so crazy how the weather can play such a role in my mental state. Thursday is a good example. All day long I was so anxious and stressed, for a number of reasons. I just couldn’t shake it. It set the tone for the entire day. But the sun finally decided to peek out around six o’clock for the prettiest sunset. I was able to run outside for a minute to catch the sunset and watch Asher help my dad wrangle the goats in from the field (my favorite place in the summer…the sunset views there are the prettiest). Suddenly the anxiousness just melted away.

People often ask me how I deal with my anxiety. I know I’ve expressed before that anxiety has been something I’ve dealt with for as long as I can remember. I’m talking all the way back to kindergarten. It’s been a constant struggle for me and I have good and bad days, just like everyone. Over time I have definitely learned ways to manage it, but some days I’m so on edge. I can’t break out of that anxious mindset. I know so many of you can relate. On those types of days, I usually just call my mom, which always helps. I’m also thankful for the days when simple things like time in the sunshine can be my form of “medicine”. It doesn’t always happen, but when I can get outside and be in the sun, I always feel so much better.

Not sure what all that rambling was for. I guess I just wanted to say that if you’re feeling anxious, try getting out in the sunshine. And if it’s not sunny, just try getting outside.

Speaking of light, something I am really, really excited to experiment with is red light therapy. I just got the Dr. Dennis Gross LED face mask. It’s a hands-free LED mask that targets acne and signs of aging with three types of light therapy. Its main purpose is to benefit the skin. But there’s a lot of research coming out about how light therapy can help with things like anxiety too. So there are several reasons I am so excited to continue testing this out. I’ve only used it a handful of times but I’ll update you all more over the next few weeks. So far, it’s amazing. I love that I can have it on while working at night. It literally requires zero time or effort.

Anyway, in other news, my mom finally made up her mind about the family’s summer vacay destination….we’re headed to Cabo! Not going to lie, I was really hoping for that laid-back Caribbean vacation. But anything with my family will be fun no matter what, and Cabo looks beautiful. Excited to explore the area! Start sending all your favorite spots, please!

Coming up this week on HBH, I’m focusing on Memorial Day and summer party recipes. With everyone getting back to “normal” and entertaining more, I’m excited to share some more summer-inspired dishes. On the menu thus far is a new sandwich that will be great to take on picnics. A recipe that’s so easy to throw on the grill. And I’m thinking a fun pineapple cocktail would be really great too.

question: what summer recipes are you guys looking for the most right now?

Have the best Sunday everyone!

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

loving…my APL sneakers and slides. I’ve re-ordered these sneakers 5 times over the past few years. They really are the comfiest. I love how lightweight, yet still supportive they are. I also finally got their slides. I’ve been wearing them all day long while cooking and I can’t believe how comfortable they are (better than slippers!). I might just grab another pair for “outside”.

ps. my dad loves the sneakers he got too. He sure looks real spiffy in them 🙂

reading…Emma Chamberlain Talks Anxiety, Burnout, and Perfectionism on Vogue. I really enjoyed this interview and was able to relate to so much. I’ve also only recently started following her, but I’m really enjoying her content.

cooking from…Ripe Figs: Recipes and Stories from Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. I stumbled on this cookbook. One, I love the title, and two, I love Greek cooking.

listening to…Sarah Gibson Tuttle On How To Pivot & Adapt When Faced With Hardships on The Skinny Confidential podcast.

loving…the Kosas brow collection. I’m obsessed with their new brow line. I love a good, thick eyebrow and these 3 products make it so easy to achieve. Also, the Kosas golden hour glow set combines two of my favorite products, their oil-based foundation, and their sun bronzer.

loving…this fun Simba t-shirt from Zara. I’ve always loved The Lion King and this shirt just makes me smile. Also, Zara has some really cute summer pieces right now. I love this halter dress and this is the perfect summer white dress.

ordered…an alarm clock, but already returned it. Guys, I can’t find a simple-to-use clock that works. Any suggestion?

loving…almost all TRIANGLE swimwear. They have some of the cutest suits. I love the fun print on this suit, but I also love the solid color and shimmer on this suit.

listening to…How Jenna Rennert Went From Vogue to Instagram It Girl on Lipstick on the Rim. a really fun podcast if you love all things beauty.

watching…Vogue life in looks series. I really enjoyed the episodes on Victoria Beckham and Brooke Shields.

loving…the outdoor collection from Zara.

drinking…Winc Wine. Winc is a monthly wine membership that delivers wine right to your door. I’ve been using their wines for the past year and love them. If you’re looking to try Winc, use my link to grab 4 bottles for under $30 and free shipping! The discount will be automatically applied using my link.

loving…this necklace from Alexa Leigh. So cute for summer.

2. Summer Ice Cream Recipes…

question: what’s your favorite ice cream treat? I love an ice cream sandwich, but my Nonnie’s peanut butter ice cream cake will forever be my top favorite. Well, that and a DQ blizzard of course.

Peanut Butter Mocha Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches

No Churn Fudge Brownie Coffee Ice Cream

Malted Milk Cookies n’ Cream Ice Cream Sandwiches

Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Bars

Fudgy Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pretzel Cake

No Churn Minted White Chocolate Swirled Ice Cream

Nonnie’s 6 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake

3. Outdoor Summer Finds…

4. Favorite Questions of the Week.

q: I remember seeing that you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, what’s your favorite episode?
a: I can’t pick one episode, but I think the first 2 seasons are probably my favorites…but they’re all great.

Are you team Jess, Logan, or Dean. I of course loved Dean all of the first season. But in the end, I’m team Jess.

q: what’s the healthiest dessert recipe you make? 
a: 5 ingredient chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies and this chocolate chunk coconut banana bread.

q: do you ever have recipes that are utter fails? everything you make is so perfect!
a: 100% yes! I have fails all the time. Sometimes I try to fix them and usually end up loving them. But sometimes I just have to throw in the towel.

q: how do you stay so fit with all the yummies you make?
a: I get this question all the time. First, I think it’s really important to note that everyone is different, and our bodies all work differently. What works for me might not work for you.

I hike every morning and am on my feet from sun up to sundown. Most days working in the kitchen. I’m also not shoving down cake hourly. I just try small bites when needed. My day-to-day diet actually consists of eating lots of roasted vegetables and fruits. And I try to keep things pretty balanced between the pizza and pasta. But it’s also clear I have good genes, you’ve seen my mom 🙂

q: how old was your mom when she had you?
a: 27!!! my current age ?

q: why “nine” favorite things? any significance? 
a: it was totally random! One Saturday night I wrote out 9 things I was loving in a blog post. I shared the post on Sunday and it just stuck! I’ve written almost 200 Nine Favorite Things posts now. They’re my favorite post of the week to put together and they’ve really grown over the years. There’s a lot of really fun content within these Sunday Favorites posts each week!

5. Photos From the Week.

(our friendly giant)

(Santa Fe, New Mexico – where my parents are right now)

(the many smiles 0f Oslo)

6. My Morning and Night Skincare Routine.

I talk a lot about my favorite skincare and beauty products with you guys, but I’ve never shared my full routine. It’s a question I get every single Sunday when I do my q&a’s on Instagram, so I am taking time to break it down today.

Full disclaimer, I am not an expert and could be doing things totally wrong, but this is what I do. It’s what I’ve found to work for me. My routine stays pretty much the same all year, but I do love to try new products. When trying something new, I never totally switch my routine to make sure that I am not changing too many things. I usually stick to the rule of one or two new products at a time!

So with that, here’s my simple routine. It’s pretty basic. I like good products, but not a lot.

ps. sorry if this boring to some of you guys, but I do get the question a lot!

Morning

In the morning, the first thing I do is head out for a hike. But before I do, I like to give my face a gentle wash. Since I always wear a hat and have my coat or a scarf up around my face, this works best for me. I use the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex, which I’ve been using for well over a year. Once my face is clean. I use the Vintner’s Daughter Active Treatment Essence. This formula helps clarify the complexion by delivering balancing adaptogens and restoring hydration, something I need, as my skin runs dry.

Next,  I always apply a Vitamin C serum. Using vitamin C in the morning helps firm and brighten my skin while improving the signs of aging. Right now I’m using the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum. It’s one of my favorite products and I’m always careful to be sure I don’t run out.

If my skin is feeling extra dry, I then pat on the Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum as well. Most people would not need two serums in their routine, but as I said, my skin runs dry (I also live at almost 10,000 feet) so sometimes it’s needed…plus I love their serum. I finish with TATCHA Dewy Skin Concentrate. It keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day, but doesn’t feel heavy. This is another go-to TATACH product of mine (I’m obsessed with their body butter).

So that’s my morning, cleanse, serum, and cream moisturizer. It’s super quick, but does the trick.

Night

My nighttime routine starts as soon I get home at night. I’ll usually have makeup on my face, so I love to remove that as soon as I walk in the door. My go-to is the Augustinus Bader Cleansing Balm. I just lather it on my face, then wipe away any makeup using a Resore towel. Their eco-friendly antibacterial fibers kill acne-causing bacteria. Once my makeup is off, I usually pause and finish my routine right before bed. I love to double cleanse with the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex or their Honey Cleanser, which is very warming. If I feel like I need something with more exfoliation, I love a gentle enzyme cleanser since I have super sensitive skin. Once my face is clean, I use a hyaluronic serum, which is great to use at night since hyaluronic acid provides deep hydration and works to improve those fine lines too.

My next step is retinol, which is something I’ve been using the last few months and have ended up loving. I’ve been using Retinol Reform, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, acne scars, and uneven texture. It leaves skin smooth and glowy. And lastly, I always finish with the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream to really help moisture my skin overnight. It’s an investment product, but a little goes a long way.

And that’s my nighttime routine. Nothing fancy, just four steps, sometimes more if I have time for a mask…which I don’t often do. The only step I’ve added recently is the light therapy mask I mentioned earlier. I’m still trying this one out, so more to come!

Lastly, I use my Necessaire products daily. Their Body Exfoliant, Body Wash, and Body Lotion are all go-to’s. Necessaire has the best affordable clean beauty products.

all of my favorites and some I am trying soon below: 

question: what’s your favorite mask? I love Drunk Elephants Babyfacial and Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask.

7. Favorite Links I’m Loving…

Plant-Based Grain Bowls…the perfect way to use up leftovers.

Nutritionists Share Their Secrets for Better Digestion…slow down when eating everyone.

22 Non-Tacky Takes on Summer’s Wildest Nail Trend…I’m not a nail person, but some of these are really fun.

How to Properly Store Food in Your Fridge…what to keep in the fridge versus on the counter.

Learning to Interrupt Anxious Thoughts…if you struggle with anxiety.

Dips, Dressings, and Salads…all great for summer.

Minimalist Workout Sets…I’m a huge fan of this set from Alo.

20 Warm-Weather Hobbies You Can Start Today…summer is so close.

Tour This New York City Home…such a cute home that I wouldn’t have ever thought was in the city.

The Best Trader Joe’s Wines…always good to know.

The Standard Kitchen Cabinet Height for Comfortable Cooking…very good to know.

 HBO Max Movies We Can’t-Wait to Watch This Summer…what’s on your summer list?

8. Affordable Finds For Summer…

bonus: more swim!

I know I linked to swimsuits last week, but there are so many new ones that have already popped up! Love the ones below. What is your favorite suit right now?

9. This Week’s Dinners + Favorite Weekend Eats…

Monday: Sheet Pan Jalapeño Pineapple Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Garlic Sauce

Tuesday: Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Wednesday: Caprese Prosciutto Farro Salad

Thursday: Chicken Souvlaki Bowls with Garlic Fries

Friday: One Pot 30 Minute Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Bake

Saturday: Whipped Ricotta Toast with Marinated Tomatoes and Lemon Thyme Honey

Sunday: Baked Blueberry Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts