Nine Favorite Things.

Nine Favorite Things – sweetest photo of Asher + Oslo 

Y’all happy spring! I know it’s been spring for a few weeks, but it finally, finally showed a glimpse of warmer days here this week. Of course, those days are long gone and we’re back to the snow that we get this time of year. But regardless, I’m super thankful for the sunshine we ended up seeing (and that’s supposed to return next week). It was very, very refreshing and much needed.

So it’s safe to say that I’m looking forward to heading to California this week. We have our last two cookbook events, one down in Orange County, and the last one in LA. It’s going to be so much fun and I’m looking forward to getting to meet more of you! I fly to LA on Tuesday for some other events, meetings, and a shoot. Really looking forward to the change of pace after being home for a minute. And of course, sunshine…really, really looking forward to sunshine and blooming flowers.

Also while in LA, I’ll be meeting with our interior designer, Katie, for the studio and home renovations we’re working on. So that’s exciting!!

How about you all? It’s crazy that we’re already heading into May, but I think we’re all getting excited for summer. My family is planning a little travel in May and mid-summer, so I’m looking forward to that for sure. And speaking of the family, when I leave Colorado, they also try to head out and do fun mini-cations. Some of the crew is going to Arizona for my cousin Abby’s 30th birthday. A little sad I’m missing that celebration, but so happy they’ll all be together for Abby’s b-day!! They’re staying one night in Phoenix and then heading to Sedona for a few nights.

I’ve been cooking a lot from the new cookbook, HBH Every Day. It’s so incredibly fun to see you all recreating the recipes (and thankfully loving them) and to see your pics on social. Sharing many of your photos below! Y’all are so sweet about how you style your dishes! If you’ve been cooking with the book, please, please share your recipes with me. Leave a comment, send photos, whatever works, but I love to see them!

We had a good team meeting on Friday, plus a call that I am so very excited about! Feeling really good and optimistic at the moment, which is always nice.

I think that’s all I have for you guys update-wise! All good things, and definitely some much needed excitement in the air! Hope you all are feeling that same wave of happiness. Enjoy this week’s favorites – some good links for sure!

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

loving…Aureum Collective. I’m all about their jewelry right now. They have amazing staple pieces that will never go out of style. Basic, but elevated! I ordered the sage necklace in white (love the black too), jessie ring in white, helena bracelet, and then the claira hoops are the perfect everyday hoop.

ordered…the Farrah Glass. For fun cocktails. I got in both clear and green.

wanting…Evolve Organic Beauty Bio-Retinol Gold Mask. Read all about this and am really excited to try. Retinal-based products target anti-aging. Also want to try the Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm & Makeup Remover (sounds amazing). And the OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Crème (which, I’ve heard is wonderful too). 

listening to…Scarlett Johansson on the Power of Perspective on theSkimm.

reading…Hilary Kerr’s newsletter. So, so, so many good letters each week. This week’s newsletter is particularly awesome, I Cut My Social Media Time in HALF With One Easy Trick. Also, last week’s letter, I’ve Tried 53 New Beauty Products in the Last 2 Months, and These 7 Are My Favorites (I too love the Kora Organics Noni Glow Sleeping Mask.

ordered…the lymphatic drainage tool kit. I’ve been dry brushing regularly, so the hope is that this is an easy addition to my nighttime routine.

loving…Cymbiotika. I know I have been talking about this supplement brand every week, but it really has become such a favorite. I’ve been taking the Vitamin B12 + B6, Vitamin D3 + K2 + CoQ10, and Golden Mind. And most recently added the Magnesium L-Threonate, which I take in the morning and tastes so good. I’m excited to get the Omega and then try out their new plant protein.

ordered…Chamberlain coffee. I’ve been following Emma Chamberlain for a few months and finally order a few bags of Chamberlain coffee, the coffee brand she founded. I got the Early Bird Blend, Social Dog Blend, and then the Fancy Mouse Espresso Blend (I did the subscribe and save option). I’m honestly so excited. I got the whole-bean bags and expedited the shipping, so it’ll be here soon!

ordered…a few Zara home pieces. These raised glass cups are fun colors for summer, this marble board will be great for entertaining, and these glass tumblers have summer cocktails written all over them.

thinking of ordering…this jacket from Aritzia. So cute with a good pair of jeans – but do I really need it?

loving…this Staud leather tote. Such a cute and unique everyday tote. Especially great for summer. The brown and the black are the most versatile, but I love the yellow.

watching…The Hating Game on Amazon. A cute, feel-good movie to watch on a dreary weekend.

loving…a few new kitchen and home finds. This unique bowl would be so pretty with salsa, I love these marbled earthenware mugs (so pretty, but pricy), and this wood accent table from Target would be cute anywhere in the home.

wanting…the GOOP GLOW 15% Glycolic Acid Overnight Glow Peel. I’ve never done an overnight peel, this sounds pretty incredible. All about smooth, glowing skin.

drinking…blueberry lemon thyme smash…one of my favorite spring cocktails.

Cymbiotika Magnesium L-Threonate

2. Spring potato recipes.

Crispy Oregano Roasted Potatoes with Creamy Feta Sauce

Sheet Pan Greek Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

The Best Simple Vegan Potato Salad

Sheet Pan Lemon Brown Butter Salmon and Potatoes with Parmesan Asparagus

3. Mother’s Day gift ideas.

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: what’s something that you love to do, but don’t get to do enough? 
a: this is silly, but I actually love getting to wear cute outfits. but because of always being in the cold/snowy environment I’m literally just bundled all the time ??‍♀️

q: body cream recommendation for dry skin? 
a: the Tatcha body butter is a tried and true favorite.

q: favorite place/places to get comfy sweatpants & sweatshirts?
a: I actually really love my Skims pants + their loungewear. & Other Stories has some really comfy affordable items. I love Alo pieces too. If getting cashmere, Vince or Sablyn. And Eterne has the softest loungewear.

q: recommendation for an everyday brand of olive oil?
a: California Olive Ranch is my go-to. If you’re interested in trying the olive oil I designed with them, order it here.

q: how do you deal with bad news over the last 2 years? to me, your insta is a wholesome escape. 
a: by staying focused on what I can control, giving back where/when I can, and pouring everything in HBH! Keeping focused on goals is key for me. And staying off social media for the most part (aside from sharing content and interacting with you all).

I love that this is a bright spot for so many of you!!!! Makes everything so worth it at the end of the day.

q: what’s your biggest fear when you publish a new cookbook? 
a: I literally have so many. the biggest is that you guys will find the recipes to be boring/not good. that’s my fear with every recipe I put out, but especially in a cookbook because it feels soo permanent. And then that the recipes will not work for everyone, which does happen, because that’s unavoidable when so many people are making a recipe. but I had 2 recipes testers with this cookbook, so these are quadruple tested!! and then the actual photos. There’s always a fear you will not love the look of everything. Oh, and a fear of typos!! I have so many!! 

q: stylish yet practical backpack? 
a: Beis has really great everyday backpacks.

q: what’s your middle name? 
a: Elizabeth

q: kitchen items NOT to splurge on? 
a: nick knack gadgets. I really just use the basics. Food processor, stand mixer, knives, cutting board, cast iron pots/skillet. And randomly I use a mini whisk and cookie scoop a lot. If you love coffee, invest in an espresso maker.

q: wait, why do you stay off of social media? generally curious!
a: just don’t have time to be on all the time and I tend to compare myself to others so it’s not always the best spot for me mentally. I will say that I do love it for design inspo though! and obviously, I LOVE social for connecting with you all. it’s not like I’m not on it, I’m just on it to post and message with you guys (: 

q: are you more of an introvert or extrovert? 
a: introvert but I swear I can flip a switch when needed and be more of an extrovert. but at the core, I’m a homebody.

q: what’s your favorite emoji? 
a: I don’t know if I have a favorite but I use this the most ??‍♀️ what’s yours? 

q: what’s your favorite recipe from the new cookbook? 
a: I think I’m most excited about the spicy tuna stack. I just love that I actually have a recipe Red is pumped about (: plus it’s pretty and freaking delicious). also the pizzas ? 

q: recipes with hidden veggies please!
a: this one pot stove-top mac and cheese secretly has zucchini and honestly the broccoli just melts into the sauce, no one complains.

5. Unique and special Mother’s Day gift ideas.

A Cute Care Package of all her Favorite Things

This is my favorite to do! Just like a beauty box, I love a sweet care package filled with favorite things. I found some really cute items if your mom loves to garden. Take this garden tote and stuff with these sweet butterfly measuring cups, her favorite candle, botanical work mat, coffee mug, and gardening gloves. Then fill the empty space with a bouquet of flowers. Use her favorite things! I’d do my mom’s package with a cute tote for spring/summer.

A Beauty Gift Box with All of Her Favorites

I love putting together gift boxes, but beauty gifts are my favorite. Violet Grey offers some really amazing ones. Or check out their curated list of Mother’s Day specific products. Sephora and Credo Beauty have a lot too.

A Handcrafted, Handwritten Letter

Nothing beats something homemade and truly from the heart. Anytime my mom and I exchange a handwritten letter (usually on birthdays or Mother’s Day), it’s always so special. Personally, this is my favorite kind of gift.

A Weekend Spent Together Attending an Event

There are so many small weekend trips to do all over the US, so I love the idea of taking one with mom to a beautiful little spot. I’m heading to the new Jenni Kayne Ranch in a few weeks and they are offering events starting in May. It’s such a serene location and would be perfect for a mother-daughter trip if you’re in California.

If you’re in southern Florida, I love The Breakers in West Palm. And In Colorado, definitely The Little Nell in Aspen, it’s so cute. Or Arizona, I’ve never been, but the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale looks incredible. And my family has stayed at the Mountain Shadows Resort, in Scottsdale and loved it. Finally, if you’re in Texas, The Austin Proper is such a cute place. Also, My 100 Year Old Waco Home, which is close to Magnolia. My mom and dad stayed here with Oslo as a newborn waiting for his adoption to finalize and LOVED it!

A Day Spent Together Supporting Your Favorite Charity

My mom is the biggest advocate for supporting charities that are near and dear to her. She’s almost always working on something for HBH to be lending a helping hand and financial support. Take a day with your mom to support her favorite local charity or donate to one on her behalf.

6. HBH recipes y’all are making.

blackened salmon skewers

whole roasted blackened cauliflower

Italian sausage and arugula pizza

pizza pasta

spiced blackberry whiskey sour

beet and burrata salad

coq au vin meatballs

dads tacos

alla vodka lasagna + an HBH spread

pretzel chicken fingers + spring onion potatoes

beef picadillo

7. Favorite links i’m loving.

The Perfect Gifts for the Moms in Your Life…so many good ideas.

Tour a Hilltop Los Angeles Home That Features the Most Enviable Pool…pretty views

The 17 Oldest Hotels in the World That Have Stunning Interiors…so unique and beautiful. I’d love to visit some of these hotels.

Tour Whitney Cummings’s Mountain-Set Home Outside L.A…love the moodiness.

7 Vacation Homes to Rent Near National Parks…Hawaii for me please.

5 Ways La Mer Products Improved My Skin…I’m convinced I need every product.

Gigi Hadid’s Packing Tips Are Life Changing…such a fun interview.

Montecito Ranch House Tour…such a pretty home in a beautiful spot in the world.

Inside Shonda Rhimes’s Strikingly Regal New York City Apartment…very unique.

37 Gifts for New Moms…from the mind of a fashion editor.

Everything Coming to Netflix in May 2022…what’s best to watch?

Floral Tips From Gjusta Flower Shop…cute ideas.

7 of the Most Underrated Summer Destinations…let the planning begin.

Design Experts Weigh In…7 lighting trends taking over in 2022.

Why Adding Water Is Key for Cooking the Fluffiest Scrambled Eggs…interesting.

8. Wedding Guest Dresses + Alo finds.

+ some Alo finds for spring/summer

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: Lemon Butter Chicken Piccata with Pesto Polenta

Tuesday: Cheesy Green Chile and Avocado Rice Quesadillas

Wednesday: Crispy Feta with Lemon Pepper Chicken and Rice

Thursday: Crockpot Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Lime Garlic Sauce

Friday: Cauliflower “Pepperoni” Cheese Pizza

Saturday: Blueberry Lemon Thyme Smash

Sunday: Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas