Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things.

Wow, what a beautiful week it has been here, it really has felt like summer and I am enjoying every waking second of it. Yesterday and Friday were especially gorgeous with warm temperatures, the perfect light breeze, and almost no clouds in the sky. Just so pretty and perfect. I tried to sneak away to be outside as much as possible taking a few more trips out to the garden than really necessary. What can I say, is that the time in the sun just makes me happy, it energizes me.

Not going to chat your ear off about the weather again, but just had to start out by staying it’s been so nice and I love it. The downside is that with the sunshine and no rain, our fire danger skyrockets. The wildfires in the area have already started burning. We had water helicopters flying low all morning on Friday. I’m so incredibly thankful for those helicopters and our firefighters. It is amazing all that they accomplish. But having them fly through the air is always a little nerve-racking. It’s never a good sign when the helicopters are running non-stop back and forth from Lake Dillion to the fire. But again, we couldn’t get through a summer without them. So a big shout out to all the firefighters in the world.

In other news, I discovered we have a butterfly nest in the tree outside the studio and I am so excited. From what I read online, I think they’ll be hatching and going through a metamorphosis, changing from a caterpillar to a butterfly, over the next few days. Not sure if I can really be able to watch this happen or not. But I sure will be checking back on them daily to try to catch any of the transformations take place. I love butterflies, I always have, something about them is so calming and pretty. This is probably why I love the butterfly jewelry trend so much.

In other news, I’m starting to think about packing for Cabo and wanting to bring really low-key easy outfits. So looking at flowy summer dress, jean shorts, and trying to find that perfect bathing suit…never an easy task. I will say that I am loving the look of a one-piece with a deep back cut. So pretty.

And aside from that, nothing too new to share. Oh, my brother Red stopped by for a very quick visit. It’s always so nice to see him. And then the rest of the family is back in Cleveland. They’re taking time to visit with family they haven’t seen in a while and soak up some of those midwest summers we all love. It’s also the first time my grandpa has gotten to meet Oslo, so all in all an exciting trip for them.

Coming up this week, I’m really celebrating summer with quintessential summer recipes. Quick and light dinners, berry pies, and a special dessert come Friday. Question for you all…I’m starting to think about 4th of July recipes, what is everyone looking for this year? Drinks for sipping? Appetizers? Easy sides? Dinners for the grill? Desserts? Please let me know!!

1. Things I’m Loving, Wanting, And Excited To Try…

watching…A Life on Our Planet. a recommendation from my brother Brendan that is so good. have you watched it?

loving…the flowers I picked from the yard (photos above and below). we all know I love flowers (and candles) more than anything. So when the grocery store had slim pickings this week, I decided to take a stroll through the fields and clip a few branches. they ended up being so pretty and I love them.

loving…the butterfly necklace The Sis Kiss sent. it is the only piece of fine jewelry I own and I am obsessed. if you’re not familiar with The Sis Kiss, they are a Cleveland-based jewelry company that ships worldwide. they have some really cute, fun, and super affordable pieces. their custom jewelry makes a great gift too. they were really nice and are offering all HBH readers 15% off using the code HBH15 at checkout.

reading…The Best Self-Tanning Products To Buy This Summer. I need help in the tanning department. so taking notes and picking up a few of the products.

also reading…10 Exfoliating Tools That Work. ordering somebody exfoliating products too because the #1 rule for a good self-tan is to remove any dead skin before application. going to try out this washcloth and then ordering using my Necassaire body exfoliator.

listening to…Rachel Parcell on Life with Marianna. many of you probably already follow Rachel or have bought a Rachel Parcell dress on Nordstrom. She is what they call an “og blogger”. But while I have always followed, I never knew everything that she’s accomplished in such a short time. I loved hearing her business story and how she started her company from the ground up. inspiring no matter what your career path is.

reading…Simone Biles claims seventh U.S. gymnastics championship. so impressive.

ordered…these glass food storage containers with bamboo lids. perfect for packing up summer berries on picnics or saving leftovers. I love that the top also doubles as a cutting board. 

ordered…the Diptyque lavender candle. I have been wanting this for a while and finally ordered it the other day. I’ll update you next week on how it is. I love lavender, so I’m excited to try it.

drinking…a nutty chi chi. a fun twist on a pina colada that uses vodka. my brother Brendan is very into it. should I share the recipe?

2. My Favorite Summer Appetizers.

Peach Thyme Tarts

Pastry Wrapped Baked Brie with Thyme Butter Roasted Plums

Whipped Ricotta Toast with Marinated Tomatoes

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Burrata

Marinated Goat Cheese Strawberry Crostini

Garlic Parmesan Herb Butter Polenta Fries with Lemon Aioli

Pan-Fried Feta with Peppered Honey

No Fuss Farmers Market Mezze Platter

Everything Ranch Cheese and Pretzel Snack Mix

3. Summer Picnic and Backyard BBQ Essentials.

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: when did you realize you were a chef? you’re amazing. we love you from Brazil! 
a: high from Brazil!! so cool 🙂 I’d never call myself a chef. it’s too fancy. I’m just a girl who loves to cook and share with others

q: do you use any app or program to edit your photos?
a: for IG stories I love to use the Tezza App. they have really great features and you can really play around with your photos and videos, so it’s fun to get creative. For food photos…taken with my real camera…I always edit those in Lightroom.

q: if you could be 2 animals what would they be? 
a: I had to think about this. I love horses, so I think one would be a horse. and then the second would be a monkey because I could really use some of their “laid back” qualities and they live in tropical places ?

q: where do you buy your vases? 
a: from all over really, but I get a lot from Zara home, Terrain, and also Pottery Barn too. Crate and Barrel and Anthropologie have nice ones as well. And of course, Good Livin’ finds me all my favorites.

q: when you are cooking do you normally listen to music? 
a: I have been listening to music lately! either music or a podcast, but I’ve been having a harder time with podcasts because they require more attention (but I loveee podcasts).

q: Any baked cookies with lavender?
a: lavender lemon sugar cookies…a summer favorite.

q: what is your favorite summer candle?
a: the the Boy Smells Les candle is great. the peach blossom and jasmine together are soo summery. this is their magnum size, but it also comes in a smaller jar too. I have this burning right now and it’s summer in a candle with jasmine, magnolia, orange blossom, and lily.

Last one because I just got this Diptyque Red Tubéreuse candle. Though I have not burned it yet, it smells incredible. Update, it is one of my favorite candles now!

q: how do you keep corn tortillas from ripping? 
a: you’ve got to warm them or they’ll ripe. I highly recommend roasting them on a gas burner if you have one.

q: when does summer come to your area? 
a: June, but it really gets nice in July and August…then sometime around the 3rd week of August it’s suddenly fall

q: have you ever had any kitchen fires?
a: shockingly none aside from me occasionally setting fire to a kitchen towel.

q: what has been the highlight of your career so far?
a: I have done so much and feel so lucky to have the opportunities I have. everything from getting to work with incredible brands like The Little Market, to meeting such talented people like Kristen Kilpatrick (who snapped this photo), to traveling, GMA appearances, NYT and Amazon bestseller lists, and more. but honestly, the highlight has and always will be getting to share what I love with you guys. I say this all the time, but you all feel like family, and it’s so insane we’ve grown so big. I love sharing here and on IG!!!

5. A Note on Favorites Posts and What They’re Meant To Be.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten a handful of comments with some feedback on these Favorites posts and some of the links I share within them. First, these blog posts are meant to be fun and a place where I can share my life outside of cooking. The things I love most…family photos, fashion, and beauty finds. After writing about food all week, these posts are a nice break where I can express my other interests. I think most of you enjoy them. But I’ve had a few comments regarding certain swimsuit styles or sharing a designer bag that’s way overpriced…that I find beautiful (but didn’t buy). These are just the things I love and that I personally find inspiring.

I try really, really hard to share a wide range of product links with high and low price points. I try to provide different content each Sunday, and to be honest, these posts are a lot of work. But because they contain such different content from regular daily posts, for the most part, they’re pretty fun to write.

So while I know many of you come here for the food, these posts aren’t meant to be food-related. Though numbers 2 and 9 are always food links for you guys to check out.

The one thing I will say is that I do have pricy tastes. I rarely buy these things myself, but I do appreciate some really nice pieces. It can be hard to find affordable pieces that are similar, but that’s definitely something I’m working on. I know most of you guys would really appreciate that! The other thing I want to say is that none of the products I talk about within these posts are sponsored. Everything is my own opinion. Yes, brands do send me items to test and try out. Especially lots of beauty products, but I only share the products I LOVE with you guys. And if I can, I always try to get the brand to offer a discount code too. Like The Sis Kiss did in today’s post.

I also hope that if I share something you don’t care for, you just move onto something that you do. With nine sections and endless links to click through, I certainly hope there is something for everyone.

I just wanted to refresh everyone on what these posts are meant to be. I know some readers might be newer. They are really about what is inspiring and exciting me most!

With that, I LOVE LOVE to hear about the things you all would like to see shared within these favorites posts. I will always try to incorporate your requests, so please, remember to share them in the comments!!

And as always thank you guys for reading these every week. They are often the most popular post of the week, so that’s pretty exciting to see!!

6. My Favorite Photos From The Week.

picking flowers

love these flowers so much

the butterfly nest that Instagram is telling me is actually a moths

nest and it’s going to kill this tree 🙁

so obsessed with these Moon Juice snacks

always smiling

my butterfly necklace and earrings from The Sis Kiss

rain and sun…at the same time

wiggles is getting so big

Bren, Lyn’s and Oslo

Mom, Creighton, and Oslo…and Merle

I just can’t get over how pretty it is right now

7. Favorite Links I’m Loving…

Tour an Oregon Island Property That Features Not One But Two Separate Houses…so pretty, love the earthy vibes.

Inside the Kardashian-Jenner Real Estate Empire…wow so interesting to read.

At-Home Pedicure Tips….I never do my nails, but it’s sandal season and I’m taking notes from this article.

The Best New Affordable Hotels in the World…because it really seems to be the summer of travel.

6 Destination Hotels Near National Parks…if you’re looking to do some exploring this summer.

Tour a Modernist New York City Apartment That’s All About Brazilian Design…love the outside patio.

10 Spectacular Private Villas to Rent Now for Summer Travel

Eight Farmhouses on Airbnb That Will Make You Want to Abandon City Life

United Airlines Has Big Plans With Their Supersonic Jets

These 7 Stunning Mexico Resorts are a Must-See

The Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2021

This Is What It’s Really Like to Move Into a Medieval French Castle

5 Unexpected Watermelon Recipes to Keep You Hydrated…yumm!

23 Healthy Recipes to Make This Week…yum. some of these sound so delicious.

38 Impressive Travel-Sized Beauty Products…again, because we’re traveling this summer!

Father’s Day Gift Ideas…love some of these ideas.

Women Need 18mg of This Essential Mineral Every Day….are you getting enough iron?

8 “I’ll Never Tell” Cooking Secrets We Learned From a Viral Reddit Thread…these are fun! do you have any “cooking secrets”?

These Are the Best Breakfast Spots in Austin…all the more reason to take that summer trip to Austin.

Why Rest Days Are Crucial For Your Workout Routine…I need to follow this more.

8. Favorite Wedding Attire.

9. This week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats…

Monday: Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Avocado Orzo Salad with Honey Mustard Bacon Dressing

Tuesday: Taco Stuffed Avocados with Chipotle Sauce and Cilantro Lime Ranch

Wednesday: One Pot 30 Minute Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Bake

Thursday: Cajun Pepper Shrimp with Creamed Corn Orzo

Friday: Garden Greens Goddess Pizza

Saturday: Marinated Goat Cheese Strawberry Crostini

Sunday: Cinnamon Maple Brown Butter Blackberry Peach Crisp