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Nine Favorite Things.
Welcome to 2022!! This is the first post of the New Year! I hope you all had an awesome New Yearโs Eve and New Yearโs Day. We donโt usually do anything that unique for NYE, just hang out and have a nice dinner in. It was dumping snow, so we built a fire and hung out outside for a bit before dinner. It was nice that New Yearโs Day fell on a Saturday this year. This gave everyone one more day before heading back to reality after the holidays!
So, I feel like I should recap on Christmas a bit since we really havenโt chatted in a while. Everything feels like such a blur, the holidays go so fast! Letโs see, Christmas Eve, I think I cooked myself to death. But we had an awesome dinner (thank you Five Maryโs for the incredible steaks) on a snowy night. Christmas Eve is always so special.
It was so nice to have everyone all together. My cousin Maggie and her husband Tom arehere with their new little one, Walker. This was (mostly) everyoneโs first time meeting the little guy, heโs such a little peanut. I remember when Oslo was first born, he was obviously small, but nothing like little Walker. My mom said Oslo was 6 pounds on the nose when they brought him home. I just donโt remember him being that small, they grow SO fast. Anyway, Walker is the sweetest little guy.
Christmas Day was a nice, slow, easy going day. We always do gifts in the morning with cinnamon rolls (or momโs monkey bread) and dinner. Nothing fancy, but itโs always special. I loved the gifts I gave and received. My favorite was a necklace that Asher got me with a picture of the two of us inside. She really put some thought and effort into it, and I loved it.
I kind of spoiled her in gifts. Sheโs just my favorite and I canโt help myself. I got her this North Face coat and it looks so cute on her. Sharing lots of photos from the last two weeks below!
Most of the holidays were spent just hanging out at home and enjoying each otherโs company. Everyone did a family snowmobile day and a day or two over at Copper Mountain. I attempted to get a heard start on all the January recipes (new recipes tomorrow!).
Entering January can be a bit of a let down in comparison to December. But weโve been getting tons of snow, so thatโs fun and cozy. And thereโs also a month of fresh new Healthy January recipes to loook forward to. Iโm also excited for my sister-in-lawโs baby shower on the 10th. And then thereโs also preparations for the new cookbook tour in February!
Lastly, this past week I shared the 25 most popular recipes of 2021 โ as picked by all of you. I also shared my Favorite Healthier Recipes in prep for this weekโฆlots and lots of recipe inspo for you guys!
1. Things iโm loving, wanting, and excited to tryโฆ
lovingโฆmy iPhone 12 Silicon Case. I have the black but it comes in so many colors and does a really nice job protecting your phone without being bulky (which I hate).
watchingโฆ14 Peaks on Netflix. The clips from this are stunning.
lovingโฆthis Holden Cashmere beanie (mine is brown). Never thought I needed a cashmere hat, but man it sure is warm and cozy (and cute).
listening toโฆLisa Moskovitz on Intuitive Eating, Why Most Diets Fails, & How To Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food. Such a great podcast to start off the new year.
dreaming of goingโฆSt. Barts. Not just yet, but would love a winter trip to paradise. Also, any of these waterfront retreats would work wonderfully too.
readingโฆAtomic Habits โ by James Clear. I forget who recommend this, but a great book for starting the new year.
lovingโฆMoncler Down Hooded Jacket. The price is craziness, but itโs cute.
orderedโฆnew Golden Coil Notebooks for the New Year. These are my favorite notebooks for daily planning and list making.
travelingโฆto NYC in February for the books release and would love to stay are the new The Fifth Hotel. Itโs not going to be open yet, but it looks like it will be cute.
followingโฆMelissa Wood Healthโs January Plan. Not exactly, but I wanted to share in case you need a good January workout schedule.
lovingโฆOlive & June press on nails. For anyone who canโt do their nails (hello โ me), these are awesome. Asherโs playing around with them and loves them.
drinkingโฆsmoothies with fruit, spinach, ginger and spirulina. New year, you know?
watchingโฆEmily in Pairs. They released their new season and even the though itโs not โthe bestโ show, itโs cute and easy to watch.
cookingโฆSoft Pretzels, White Chili, and Penne. This was NYE dinner.
2. The most popular recipes of December.
Most popular: Christmas Monster Cookies
Runner-up: Spicy Sesame Chicken and Ginger Rice
Also have to mention: Creamy White Chicken Chili
My personal favorite: Crispy Chipotle Sweet Potato Tacos with Lime Crema
Ok, last one: My Familyโs Favorite Pesto Pasta Bolognese
3. All my 2022 skincare favoritesโฆ
4. Favorite questions of the week.
q: how is it that your entireย family members are foodies?
a: actually only a handful are really into GOOD food and trying different dishes. Theyโre getting a lot better though, especially my brothers! They used to be so picky and now they eat pretty much whatever I make ๐ย
q: Do you like your hair best straight or curled?
a: I love it with a wavy but itโs naturally very straight.
q: do you ever finish cooking and drop the final product before taking photos?
a: I donโt think Iโve ever done thisโฆbut this is 100% something I would do.
My brother, Brendan, kindly pointed out the time I made a jumbo size lasagna for like 10 people, some of them huge eaters. I was pulling the pan out of the oven when my dad walked around the corner and bumped me. I dropped the entire extra large Pyrex pan and it shattered everywhere ?. We ordered pizzaโฆit was so sad
q: recently you had someone ask you about lip filler, I know I am extremely sensitive, are you?
a: I can be, but this didnโt bother me, mostly because I thought it was just so silly. I mean, who says that to someone theyโve never even met ??? Plus I have so many other insecurities, my lips have just never been on of them. Sure theyโre small, but that doesnโt really bother me. Again embrace what makes you different and unique. Being and looking like everyone else is boringโฆbe you!
q: When you meet someone for the 1st time, how do you describe your career to them?
a: I am the worst at this. Itโs different every time and never good. I feel like it depends who it is. Sometimes I just say photographer so I donโt have to keep going into detail.
q: pavlova recipe please?
a: Everyone always ask if thereโs a recipe that I just canโt get right. Well pavlova is one of those recipes I just canโt get right! Sorry, I donโt know if I can ever create a good pavlova recipe.
q: which came first? the recipes or the photography?
a: The recipes!! I definitely started with the cooking and then grew into the styling. Now Iโm able to be even more creative because I use my styling ideas as inspiration for recipes. Sometimes Iโll start with how I want a dish to look and then work backwards from there.
q: best chocolate for dipping things?
a: A chocolate bar, not chocolate chips. I using Loco Love Chocolate, Choco Love, and Hu Chocolate.
q: if you could cook for anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be?
a: my grandma! I miss her so much. She taught me a lot about entertaining and being a good host!ย
q: whatโs the longest time youโve ever gone without havingย a new blog post?
a: Over Christmas! I donโt usually post Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
q: how are you able to cook something and film it at the same time? Does someone help?
a: Iโm making the recipe more than once, so I photograph and film separately for the most part.
q: how do you have time for everything? Do you wish you could focus on one part only?
a: haha, trust me, I donโt have time for everything ?. But thankfully weโve slowly started to build out a team. Itโs been the best thing (shout-out to Margaret, Taylor, McKenzie, Maggieโฆand my family too). Iโm able to focus less on the stuff Iโm not good at, and more on the stuff I am. Thereโs still just never enough time!! But also, know that I do have help!
5. New year, new intentions.
I donโt love new year resolutions mostly because I think we set way too ambitious resolutions and then end up breaking them and being disappointed a month later. Instead, I like to set loose goals, some do-able, and then something ambitious that could take a year or even longer to achieve.
Marianne Hewitt talks a lot about goal setting and how to create a vision board on her podcast. If youโre looking for tips on creating achievable goals and how to create a vision board checkout her site. You can even get her free printable goal setting chart.
Sharing my intentions for the year below, but would love to hear some of yours in the comments!
personal intentions
โ start weight lifting 2-3 days a week
โ stay consistent about getting more sleep
โ make more time for family + chill time
โ complete both studio + home interiors
profession intentions
โ create and launch HBH product
โ travel more for work
โ stay consistent on TikTok
โ share more non food content Instagram stories
โ always be at least a week head on blog content
dream big
โ keeping a little quiet on this one because I want to keep you guys surprised!
inspiring quotesย
6. Photos from Christmas break.
(my favorite little guy on NYE)
(the boys watching the Browns game on Christmas)
(Red and Hailey)
(mom and Oslo)
(little Walker)
(Tom, Maggie and Walker)
(Hailey and Oslo)
(Asher and Walker)
(Dad and Red)
(Abby and Oslo)
(Oslo checking out Walker)
(no idea whatโs happening here, but itโs Red)
(Uncle Matt and Walker)
(Red and Asher)
(Abby and Asher)
7. Favorite links iโm lovingโฆ
Why 2022 Should Be the Year You Start Weight Lifting
A London-Inspired Victorian Terrace With โNew Classicโ Charmโฆ
Ready Your Reading Nook: These Are the Best New Books of Winter
How to Set Resolutions Youโll Actually Keep
60 New Yearโs Resolutions To Set This Year
Supermodel-Favorite Swimwear Line Frankies Bikinis Just Launched Recycled ActivewearโShop It Here
24 of the Best Foundations for Dry Skin to Try This Winter
50 Things You Can Do to Be Healthier and Happier in 2021
5 Things to Keep in Mind When Everyone Around You is Getting Engaged
9 Kitchen Cabinet Color Ideas That Outshine Classic White
Mental Health + Social Media Rollercoasterโฆ
Kimchi Products To Stock Up On for Maximum Gut-Healthy Benefitsโฆ
Scaling Your Business, Podcast & Leaning In To What Makes You Uniqueโฆ
8. Cozy everyday winter styleโฆ
9. This weekโs dinners + weekend eatsโฆ
Monday: 30 Minute Creamy Thai Turmeric Chicken and Noodles
Tuesday: Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme
Wednesday: Indian Inspired Coconut Butter Cauliflower
Thursday: Super Green Sun-Dried Tomato Herb Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
Friday: Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Pesto Pasta
Saturday: Eggs in Purgatory with Chile Butter and Feta
Sunday: Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts
This post was originally published on January 2, 2022
Oslo is so stinking cute!! Love this pic of him! I really enjoy your recipes and family!
Awe thanks so much Paula!!
It makes me so happy to hear you talk about your relationship with Asher. My oldest and youngest are 13 years apart. I was so uncertain when we brought her home to three brothers (through adoption with the smallest age gap being 6 years), but all of their relationships are so sweet and I canโt wait to see them all interacting as they get older.
Love all that you share!
The boys watching the browns game is my fave pic youโve shared. Love it!
Hey Shellie,
Awe thanks so much for sharing your sweet story! I absolutely adore Asher as I am sure your boys do with your youngest. Wishing you a very happy New Year! xTieghan
Tiegan,
First off, thank you so much for your amazing recipes. They bring my family so much joy and they have made cooking/baking so much fun again. Which leads me to my question, I would love to hear your thoughts on new years resolutions for beginner cooks. Maybe even a monthly series โ perfecting pancakes in January, fish tacos in February, etc etc. I work at a Childrenโs Hospital 70-80 hours per week, so donโt have too much time on my hands, but I think it would bring me a lot of joy (and Iโm sure a lot of other people joy!) to learn new skills in this arena!
Thank you so much!
P.S. Even my 89 year old grandfather felt like your baked gruyere was better than the baked brie weโve made for years!
Sarah
Hey Sarah,
Thank you so much for your kind message and reaching out. I am so glad you have been enjoying the recipes and truly appreciate you making them. Thanks for sharing your suggestion for beginner cooks, definitely something to consider. Happy New Year! xTieghan
Hi Tiegan,
Happy New Year! This is a little random, but I just wanted to quickly let you know how grateful I am that you mentioned intuitive eating in this post, and how much I appreciate your overall approach to food. Iโm recovered/in recovery from an eating disorder and I canโt tell you how often I avoid certain cookbooks or blogs because of how they talk about dieting, calories, โgood/bad foods,โ etc.
Itโs difficult to be in recovery in a world that often has diet culture so thoroughly engrained everywhere. I am so, so grateful for a cooking space that focuses on variety and flavor, with an โall foods fitโ approach. Transitioning to intuitive eating and approaching foods neutrally has been so important in my life, as well as the lives of many others.
I happily use one of your recipes most nights of the week, and I look forward to buying your next cookbook this year!
Hey Savannah,
Thank you so much for your kind message and reading along! I love to hear that you have been enjoying the recipes, I totally understand where you are coming from with the diet culture in our society today. Wishing you a very happy New Year! xTieghan
Iโm not generally a fan of pavlova, but I went and married a Kiwi, so Iโve kind of had to figure it outโฆAnnabel Langbeinโs recipe for the pavlova base works great, itโs best made in summer so it can be topped with berries. My go to is pavlova base/lemon curd (made from the leftover egg yolks)/unsweetened vanilla whipped cream/all the berries. Sometimes Iโll swap the lemon curd for lemon ice creamโฆIโve also been known to put some gin or elderflower liqueur in the lemon curd. For years I couldnโt make key lime pieโฆlike even a frozen version never set (how?), so I understand the struggle!
Thanks so much for sharing Deanna! xTieghan