Nine Favorite Things.

Welcome to another Nine Favorite Things…on a Monday!

Hoping everyone is enjoying their long holiday weekends! Since the 4th of July landed on a Sunday this year, I thought we’d push the Favorite’s post to Monday. Switch things up a bit to allow everyone a little internet break. Honestly, I hope you’re all off hanging with family and friends and reading this while sitting outside and relaxing.

Did everyone have a fun 4th? Mine was just fine, but I’m so excited to be en route to Mexico today. I’m meeting up with my family for a few days of much-needed family time and time in the sun. Hoping to do nothing but chill for the next few days. We’re in Cabo with plans to visit Flora Farms (because almost everyone suggested it). Then a day on the water, and hopefully lots of tacos and fun drinks.

question: What has been the highlight of your family’s July 4th weekend? I’d love to hear what you’ve all been up to!

The thing I love most about summer is that it’s really such a great excuse to get off our phones and computers and just spend some time outside. Ideally away from technology. I’m horrible at this, but since I’m in Mexico this week, I’m making a point to share a little less content and be on the computer/phone a little less too. We shall see how I do! But don’t worry, I still plan to share lots and lots of Instagram stories, because when in Mexico with the fam, there is too much fun not to be shared. I have to take you guys along with us, so you can expect that 🙂

Anyway, this week! Guys, I am so so so soooo excited because I finally finished up something I’ve been working on for the longest time. Over a year actually and though I’m not sharing any details just yet, I will be very, very soon. I am excited!

I’ll be back this Sunday with a more detailed Sunday Favorite’s post. And with a full recap of our Cabo family vacation too. I’m going to try to take more photos than usual, so I can really sort of bring you guys along. Kind of like a vlog on Instagram, and then a photo recap for the blog!

I also might be sharing about a possible trip to somewhere that I’ve never been before. A place that not many people get to travel to. My brothers say it’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that I have to make time for it. It’s not for sure yet, but any guesses on the destination?

Coming up this week, we’ll have a shortened week of recipes and a quick post today (meaning not a mile-long post). I’ve got to keep it short…or I have to try to…I promised my mom. This week we’ll be sharing some fun tacos. We’ve also got a zucchini dish that’s amazing for using up garden zucchini…and of course delicious. Then an easy skillet dinner for busy nights. Not sure what we’ll be doing on Friday just yet, but more to come!

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

watching…the new Gossip Girl, it premieres on July 8th. It might just be the first TV show I’ve carved time out to actually watch in years…so exited. I’m also planning to finally watch Cruela with Asher this week!

listening to…Kris Jenner on The World’s First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster. this isn’t podcast I listen to, but I managed to come across this rare interview with Kris Jenner and found it incredibly interesting. No matter how you feel about the Kardashians, there is no denying that that family works hard. And Kris seems to be the mastermind behind it all. Super fascinating to hear her take on business.

ordered…SUPERGOOP unseen sunscreen. Unfortunately, I put my order for this in a little late and it didn’t make it here before I left today. But almost everyone has recommended this sunscreen, so I’m excited to eventually try it. full review to come!

thinking of ordering…Cariuma shoes. love that these are classic, but different and that not everybody has them

ordered….the Mason Pearson pocket bristle boar bristle hair brush. picked this up as well as a travel size hair brush. it’s a little bit of an investment for a hair brush, but I have the regular size and I can really say the boar bristles make all the difference when it comes to preventing split ends and an oily scalp. I have super fine hair, so this is really ideal for me.

ordered…the Summer Fridays pool time glowing body oil. I certainly need anything to help my pale skin glow. brought this to Mexico with me.

drinking…hopefully lots of fruit mango drinks.

2. The Most Popular Recipes Of June.

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

runner-up: Spicy Southern Style Shrimp with Lemon Basil Orzo

also have to mention: 4 Ingredient Creamy Fruit Popsicles

and then this one too: Pesto Peach Chicken in White Wine with Burrata

OK, last one: Cinnamon Maple Brown Butter Blackberry Peach Crisp

PS. In case you missed it, we shared The 35 Most Popular EASY Summer Recipes…if you’re in need of ideas. 

3. All the vases I am loving most….

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: what is the biggest misconception people have about you?
a:

1. that I live with my parents…I don’t but we’re close, and both are also a part of HBH, so they’re a big part of my life. my whole family is!

2. that my little sister Asher is actually my kid…she’s not, she’s my sister. we’re just super close.

3. that I’m married…nope, very single over here ??‍♀️

q: which Senreve bag do you have? 
a: I have a few that I love, but their alunna is really great for summer. The brand graciously sent Asher the mini alunna bag and it’s adorable. The perfect on the go vacation bag. if you travel a lot, I’d invest in the maestra bag. it fits everything you need and i love that I can walk out of the airport and head to a meeting with the same bag.

q: where can I buy fresh chamomile flowers? I want to make a naked cake? 
a: I usually grab my chamomile from Whole Foods or my local grocery store (which is a Kroger). neither will always carry them but when they do I grab them every time.

q: what’s your favorite movie?
a: The Harry Potter series! but I can’t pick a favorite from within the series. they’re all so good.

q: biggest fear?
a: losing someone I love. and for myself personally, it’s failure…but I also think that’s what drives me.

q: what’s your favorite Halloween costume?
a: fun fact, I LOVE Halloween so much. it’s always been one of my favorite holidays and the month of October is sooo fun too. but I was usually pretty lame and dressed up as a witch every other year. My favorite costume was when my cousins and I did a group costume and were Oompa Loompas from Willy Wonka. there’s a photo somewhere, I’m going to see if my mom has it!

q: what 3 kitchen items would you have on a desert island? 
a: a good knife, my Staub skillet, and a spatula. truly though, I just need that knife and skillet. If I’m on a desert island, there probably would be some kind of bamboo or wood that I could use as a cutting board. So that’s taken care of. I could probably make some sort of spatula too. So if I’ve got my skillet and knife, I’ve got everything I need to cook and bake.

q: what are your favorite herbs to cook with? 
a: my favorites are basil, thyme, oregano, and cilantro

q: I’ve been following you for about 8 years now and I just really appreciate you!
a: this is everything to me 🙂 people often ask me what one thing pushes me forward. I love that there hasn’t been just one thing. this wasn’t an overnight success story, it’s taken years of work and has been steady growth over the years. I think because of that our HBH community is SO strong. I’m so grateful for you all and I love hearing that some of you have been following for years and years. it’s shocking to me, but amazing.

q: must have kitchen item for our wedding registry?
a: a set of cast iron cookware and a good knife set (more affordable). then also a cutting board.

q: what’s your dream wedding? at home? destination?
a: to be honest, I haven’t thought about my wedding at all. I’m not that girl that fantasizes about my wedding. but I will say it’s going to be very small and either at home or somewhere tropical. and when I say small, I literally mean my siblings and cousins, mom + dad. at least on my side. simple is what I’m about. And now that I’m thinking about it, I’d love to wear the dress my aunt wore at her wedding. it was my grandma’s mother’s dress (I guess that would be my great grandmother). I’ve loved that dress since the day I saw it when I was a kid.

so there we go! I just planned it all out. just missin that one minor detail… ?

q: favorite ways to use lavender?
a: my blackberry lavender naked cake and blackberry lavender white chocolate scones.

5. Chrysalis House Fundraiser.

We’re asking our HBH Family to help us provide support for Chrysalis House, a residential treatment center in Maryland for women dealing with addiction.

Chrysalis House is different from others because they provide long term residential treatment while allowing women to bring their children with them. By donating to their much needed expansion project and kitchen renovation you will help provide nutrition and cooking education, while also providing healthy meals for women in treatment.

A donation to Chrysalis House will automatically enter you to win several prizes from these amazing brands we know and love! Donate here!

6. It’s July…here are some fun things to do!

1. head to your favorite water park…our was always Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. My uncle John owns the parasailing/jet ski business on the beach. Have you ever been?

2. celebrate Bastille Day (French independence day), which takes place each year on July 14. In Paris, they put on a parade along the Champs-Elysees followed by fireworks over the Place de la Bastille. Certainly sounds incredible. I’d celebrate with a cheese and wine style picnic evening followed by reruns of Emily in Paris.

3. buy tickets to an outdoor concert. We used to go to outdoor concerts all the time in Cleveland. My first ever was Toby Keith at Blossom Music Center. Now we head to Red Rocks down in Morrison.

4. celebrate national ice cream month with a new ice cream recipe a week! I certainly have plenty to choose from…which flavor should I make next?

5. read your favorite book, new or old. I haven’t read read the Harry Potter series in the longest time, but thinking this could be fun to do with Asher!

6. plan your August road trip. where are you headed? we might just head to Aspen.

7. have date night once a week. it’s summer, so plan a different date each week…

picnic on the beach. do an overnight stay at your favorite hotel in town. have a fancy date night out. or do a simple dinner and a movie at home. get creative!

8. bake something up with the fresh berries and peaches. currently obsessed with my blackberry peach crisp.

9. get creative and cook dinner solely from the garden or the farmers market. sharing a garden style recipe this week!

related reading: Here Are 23 Ways to Make the Most of July

7. Favorite links i’m loving…

With Travel Restrictions Loosening, Book a Private Home With Hotel-Worthy Amenities…yes, please. I would happily stay in any of these homes.

12 Boutique Hotels Outside Major U.S. Cities That Make the Case for a Road Trip…again with that summer road trip. these all look amazing, but I think San Ysidro Ranch is top of my list.

The 2021 Vrbo Trend Report – we’re using Vrbo in Cabo, but here are the top trends in travel this year!

30 No-Cook Summer Dishes for When You Absolutely Cannot Turn On the Oven…yum! these all sound really good.

Inside a Perfectly Breezy Los Angeles Pad Designed by Jeremiah Brent and Nate Berkus…so stunning. the bedroom looks especially “dreamy”.

8 Paint Colors That Will Give Your Closet As Much Personality as Your Wardrobe…dream closet inspiration.

The 20 Best Episodes of Gossip Girl…which was your favorite?

A Charleston to Savannah Guide…time to plan that summer road trip.

How To Fix Your Brows In Case You Completely Ruined Them…love these tips. I am such a brow person.

Magnesium + The Mini-Bar…6 gut health tips for travel happiness.

The 20 Best Beach Accessories To Complement Your Swimsuit…fun.

Tour an Oregon Home That Features Not One But Two Separate Houses…very pretty and unique. both kitchens are so nice.

Kaia Gerber’s Guide to Face Sculpting and Minimal, Sun-Kissed Makeup…love a make-up routine video.

16 of the Best Sunglasses To Compliment Your Face Shape…finally! I never know how to pick sunglasses.

The 5-Minute Trick to Getting Effortlessly Glowy Skin…the best bronzers on the market.

The First 30 Minutes of My Day with Tone It Up Co-Founder Katrina Scott…love learning about other’s morning routines.

A Peek Into Jennifer Aniston’s Real Estate Portfolio…that’s certainly a lot of nice homes.

8. Summer Vacation Edit…

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats…

Monday: Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad

Tuesday: Charred Baby Bell Peppers with Burrata

Wednesday: Saucy Thai Summer Noodle Stir Fry with Sesame Peanuts

Thursday: 20 Minute Florentine Butter Chicken with Burst Cherry Tomatoes

Friday: Grilled Chicken Shawarma with Golden Butter Fries and Garlic Sauce

Saturday: Firecracker Champagne Paloma

Sunday: Nonnie’s 5 Ingredient Peach Dump