Nine Favorite Things.

(beautiful roses from Grace Rose Farm – Nine Favorite Things)

I have been looking forward to this post all week, so many fun links today! I’ve definitely mentioned this previously, but I really enjoy putting these posts together. Though they are a lot of work to create, they slowly come together throughout the week. It’s a really nice change of pace for me. I share so much food content and work to create new recipes pretty much every single day. So in a way, these posts save me from burning out on food, I love that!

I know that some of the designer things I’m excited over, or the beauty products I love, or what’s inspiring me, or even all the family stories I tell, may not be of interest to everyone (they’ve gotten so long), but hopefully, there’s a little something for everyone! My hope is that these posts are a bright spot in your weekend. Especially with all that’s happening in our sometimes scary world. Maybe a place to escape some of the realities of the moment.

Moving on here, I’m really excited about some upcoming travel. Travel is tricky for me with all the content I create daily. But it’s nice to get ahead of things blog-wise and then be able to travel and do new things. We’ve been working a lot on the HBH Every Day cookbook book tour schedule. I can’t wait to kick it off at the end of the month. I’ll be sharing the locations, dates, and times this week, so look for those on Instagram and then here next Sunday. We’re just finalizing the last few details!

Spring is not my favorite time to be in Colorado, so it will be nice to have a change of scenery soon! Heading to LA next week for a shoot. And then all of the cookbook travel will begin on March 29th, the day the book is released. It’s going to be great!

On the family side, nothing too exciting to share. My parents, plus Asher and Oslo, are heading to LA this week to meet my nephew, Bud. Creighton and Kai are heading back to southern California as well. So the family will all be getting some Cali sunshine this week + next. For my last trip to LA, I stayed at my home away from home, 1 Hotel West Hollywood. That hotel is like an oasis in the city. Their rooms are so cozy and comfortable and the design of the hotel is stunning. The food at all the restaurants is delicious too! You basically don’t even need to leave the hotel, it’s amazing. I love staying there!

What else, Oslo is now walking! He is just the cutest, sweetest little guy. It took him some time to get the whole walking thing down, but now that he’s got it, he’s on the move! Fun fact, he also loves any kind of citrus, oranges, lemons, limes – all of it. I made a lime crema for a recipe and he just spooned the stuff in like it was yogurt. It’s so fun to be watching him grow into his own little personality.

I think that’s all from me today. Some fun things to read below!

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

donating to…CARE Ukraine Crisis Fund. They are prioritizing aid for women, girls, families, and the elderly. Also, Melissa Wood Health is hosting a zoom fundraiser for Ukrainian refugees. She’s doing a 30-minute workout and meditation session this morning at 12 pm EST. 100% of proceeds will be donated to International Rescue Committee.

watching…Shrek 2. I cannot believe I have not seen this yet. I love Shrek growing up.

loving…this RH sheepskin sofa. These are not usually my kind of sofa, but this looks super put together and cozy at the same time.

loving…Revolve. I purchase from Revolve all the time. The pieces they carry are always so cute and the most up-to-date on fashion. What also draws me to their site is their customer service. They have free 3-day shipping, there and back, and always provide the return label. Which for me personally is huge when ordering anything online. I love scrolling their site and have definitely spent too much money there. But they really do have an incredible company and the best clothing selections.

listening to…Friend of a Friend. Finally, a new to me fashion/business podcast! I just discovered this podcast with Olivia Perez. I’m especially excited to listen to these interviews: Tan France, Josephine Skiver and Jasmine Tooks on Victoria’s Secret rebrand, and Summer Fridays’ Marianna Hewitt. I love learning how different brands are built.

dreaming of going to…Palm Beach. I miss this place so much. It holds so many special memories for me. My grandma and I spent a lot of summers strolling through Palm Beach and I miss those days with her. It was on a trip to my grandparent’s home in Jupiter, Florida, that she made me my first ever Dutch baby.

loving…Éterne clothing. Someone asked me what my favorite basics are recently. I have to shoutout Éterne. They have the softest material, like really the softest. They weren’t cheap, but the price is worth it. I wear their basic tees every single night, they’ve become wardrobe staples.

ordering…some new beauty products I’m dying to try. The Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation is new! It’s meant to look like your everyday skin, just dewier. I already ordered the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation. It has SPF25 but also is made with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, so it’s kind of like skincare + makeup. Dying to try the Peter Thomas Roth gold eye patches as well as their Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches. And the Merit signature lip too.

ordered…this leather laptop sleeve from Cuyana. I’ve been looking for a protective sleeve for the newest 16-inch MacBook I have and I’m excited to try this. Hoping it will be great for upcoming travel. This sleeve from Urban Outfitters looks nice too, plus fun patterns. 

wish list designer products…love these Gucci platform slide sandals and these Chanel braided knit slides are cute + cozy. Lastly, I love this Gucci leather jacket, but I’d get this Free People jacket instead.

loving…mini bags. This yellow Staud bag and this cute Nanushka tote are fun for spring. Adore this blue Alexander Wang bag and then this Anine Bing bag is a great basic.

in the mood for flowers…I’ve hit that point in winter when all the white and brown colors outside leave me craving fresh blooms all around. Wishing I had some dahlias, poppies, anemones, or roses. Really anything from the Terrain flower shop. Branches would be amazing too.

shopping…The Little Market. I’ve always loved all Little Market products, but their spring collection is especially beautiful. This vase is perfect for spring flowers, their eucalyptus bath salt is a tried and true favorite, I love this stationery for handwritten notes, and then their new blush marble serving board is so pretty.

baking…Easy Vanilla Earl Grey Crème Brûlée.

2. The most popular recipes of February.

Most popular: Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Runner-up: Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup

Also have to mention: Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros with Feta Tzatziki

My personal favorite: Sheet Pan Greek Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes

Ok, last one: Retro-Style Chocolate Sheet Cake

3. Fresh spring flowers you can order.

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: do you have any must-have eye cream recommendations?
a: I love Tata Harper skincare restorative eye cream.

q: please share the candle jar cleaning trick to remove the wax?
a: 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.

q: if you had a second home anywhere in the world, where would it be?
a: anywhere tropical – Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean. or somewhere in Europe. but I haven’t been to enough places to really make that call yet! 

q: what are your favorite shortcut ingredients?
a: pesto, curry paste, and chili oil, oh and jam is great too! 

q: didn’t realize your brothers are all in Cali?! do you seed them often?
a: all the time. they travel back and forth a lot. 

q: how do you record and keep track of what you do for new recipes?
a: I use the notes app on my phone for recipe ideas. My account is linked to my computer too so I can access it from both devices. I have notes for sooo many things – favorites posts, to-do lists, shared notes with team members, etc. The notes app is so underrated. I use it every day, all the time.

q: not a question, but I saw Red on NBC talking more about you than snowboarding. it was so sweet!
a: told you guys, it’s his personality that makes him the greatest. he doesn’t take himself too seriously and he’s the kindest kid around. he’ll call me while I’m in the middle of working and ask for a quesadilla. I’ll drop whatever I’m currently cooking and make him a quesadilla ? I just can’t say no. he’s also the reason for all the poke recently. 

q: is there a designer purse/item that you want to splurge on?
a: all of them. fun fact, I’m very into that stuff. Asher and I could go on and on talking about designer bags ? Prada, YSL, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, all of them.

q: do you like to read?
a: well, I don’t love physical books, but books on tape or podcasts I do love. I love to learn from books/podcasts, but reading hasn’t ever been something I’m strong at. plus, I like to be able to have something in my ears while doing a mindless task. I feel like it’s effective multi tasking. 

q: what facial moisturizer do you recommend?
a: I have a few that I really love, but right now I’m using  Dr. Barbara Sturm face cream and it’s super moisturizing. Augustinus Bader and Tatcha have incredible face creams too. but I always use a serum first. Dr. Barbara Sturm hyaluronic acid serum at night and Is Clinical advanced pro heal serum in the morning (it has vitamin c).

q: are you a Swiftie?
a: love a little t-swift!

q: what is your favorite memory?
a: I have so many, I’m lucky. but I think it’s the memories I’m making right now, both with my family and in my career. they have been some of my favorites. I’m not sure anything will ever top watching my brother compete though. the happiness I feel for him isn’t something I can put into words, but I love watching him grow. also have to shout out Miss Asher because I’ll never forget the day she was born. 

q: how much time does it take to pull together your favorite links for the week?
a: wow. no one has ever asked this!! haha. the nine favorite things post really takes all week. I’ll start gathering new links and ideas after hitting publish on the current week’s post. I have a notes tab on my phone just for that post. I gather ideas/links all week, then take a day to put it all together. I’ll spend another few hours at night to add photos. Finally, my mom copy edits the post (she copy edits all the posts on the site). So it’s really kind of a process to get that post up. 

q: what semi-expensive kitchen item is worth investing in your 20s?
a: it depends on what you love to cook, I use my food processor every single day. But the most important items to me are good knives and a cast-iron skillet. 

5. Some questions for you.

1. What’s your favorite Netflix show/movie right now? Let’s hear your top 3?

2. What’s your favorite streaming platform? I usually watch Netflix, but recently have been watching a lot on YouTube. 

3. What are you looking forward to most right now? Travel, springtime, and launching the HBH Every Day cookbook are on my list. 

4. What’s your favorite flower? My favorites change with the seasons, I love dahlias.

5. What is your favorite place to vacation? Tropical vacations are my favorite – as you know.

6. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?

7. When you read the Sunday Favorites post, what are your favorite sections?

6. Following + inspiring me.

Makeup by Kelli Anne is honestly one of my favorite Instagram follows right now. I can’t do makeup. Like I really can’t, I blame it all on growing up with 5 brothers and a mother who to this day barely even knows what mascara is, let alone contouring (she has a face that honestly looks best makeup-free). So, needless to say, I love watching her stories for products and tutorials. She’s slowly going to teach me how to properly do makeup. I cannot wait to have her do my makeup when I’m in NYC. Already looking forward to it.

All my beauty people out there, if you love awesome video tutorials and product recommendations, I fully recommend Kelli Anne.

Also, and this is probably obvious to you guys, I love anything interiors. Architectural Digest is my favorite. I always find some new inspiration there.

inspiring me

(via Pinterest)

(Twin Lagoon in Coron, Philippines via Pinterest)

7. Favorite links i’m loving.

Sweet Southwestern Escape…a long weekend in Phoenix, Arizona.

11 Hotels in Mexican Small Cities You’ve Never Visited…but Should.

Disneyland Paris’ Sleeping Beauty Castle Gets a Make-Over…so cute and pretty.

12 Architectural Gardens Around the World to Visit…I was lucky enough to walk the grounds of The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort in Nassau, the Bahamas and it really is so pretty. Would love to go back. 

Gigi Hadid Is Bringing California Cool to Paris Fashion Week…love these looks.

Saie Beauty Makes Makeup for Skincare Lovers…their slip tint moisturizer

is my daily go-to.

When to Start Thinking About Freezing Your Eggs…very informative.

22 Places to Travel for Spring, Summer and Fall…who’s booking tickets?

The Night Creams to Prioritize…I use the Tatcha dewy skin cream.

Buy Every Splurge Item on Your Beauty Wish List…so many products on sale.

Healthy Condiments For The Stay-At-Home Foodie…we love condiments.

 5 Surprising Benefits of Cold Water Therapy…not sure I could do this.

New Shows and Movies to Watch this Month…what are you excited about?

Palm Beach Penthouse Atop Tiffany’s Store Is Going to Auction…I used to walk through this store with my Nonnie.

10 Ways to Balance Your Hormones, Naturally…love a natural approach.

Under-$100 Items that are Chic and Trendy…some cute finds for spring.

13 Mistakes When Renovating Your Dream Kitchen…good to keep in mind.

8. Spring sandals/slides and loafers for spring.

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: Crockpot Crispy Chicken Tinga Tacos with Avocado Jalapeño Crema

Tuesday: Parchment Baked Roasted Red Pepper Salmon

Wednesday: Spicy Orange Sesame Chicken

Thursday: Roasted Cauliflower Pitas with Zhug and Garlic Tahini

Friday: One Skillet Saucy Chicken Tortilla Enchilada Rice Bake

Saturday: Cinnamon Sugar Brown Butter Popovers

Sunday: Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars