Nine Favorite Things.

Nine Favorite Things

Thursday marks the start of Fall! I so am excited, but also wonder how it can be that we are already entering the final months of the year. October is coming, Halloween is on the horizon, then Thanksgiving and Christmas are already in the planning. In the blink of an eye, it’s going to be January.

I’m ready for fall, but not ready for this year to end. It’s definitely going by way too quickly. All we can do is try our best to take every day as it comes. Celebrate the small stuff (which I fully admit I am horrible at doing). And do our best to enjoy every moment of these very special days. Because to me, every day from now through December really is so special. Lots of excitement in the air! Is there anything you are looking forward to over the next few months?

I returned home from New York Tuesday (more on the last few days, plus The Drew Barrymore show below), and have been catching up on things at home ever since. It’s only a 2 hour time difference between New York and Colorado, but the shift always throws me off a little. Wednesday was a mix of emails and cooking, then back at it on Thursday with some fall baking. I was in the mood! We have had three days of moody weather. Lots of cool-looking clouds, a little sunshine, and colder temperatures, even some snow up on the mountain peaks. So it was easy to embrace the fall spirit.

To be honest, I don’t think I will end up sharing the recipe I made on Wednesday, but I can’t wait to share the sweet treat I baked up on Thursday. I haven’t been in the baking mood all summer, but the fall season brings out my excitement for sure.

I spent some time with Asher who’s been a huge help managing all the clothes from recent trips. She loves going through the orders, laying out the pieces, and seeing what she loves the most. She especially loved the NYFW looks, which I will say, have been some of my favorites too! She’s been amazing with helping with the returns too! Just love her for that!

Also, many of you have been asking for the link to the bag I got her for her birthday. I ended up getting her this Staud cream bag. Originally she wanted to find a shoulder bag that was smaller. But she loved the look of the bag so much and decided the larger size might actually be great. So she kept it! She’s been “wearing” it down to the studio every night. The cutest.

Not too much coming up for the end of the month. I have some travel in October that I’m looking forward to. But for right now, I’m home and excited to dive into all things fall this week!

Oh, well last thing, October 11th is Oslo’s 2nd birthday! How crazy is that? He came home at only six pounds on the dot and is now close to 30. My mom isn’t sure what to do to celebrate, any fun ideas? Asher really wants to head back to Cleveland, so maybe she’ll do a big family party there. But my mom is also tossing around the idea of a more local fall foliage trip to Crested Butte. Both Taylor River Lodge and Scarp Ridge Lodge in CB are supposed to be amazing experiences. And the drive that time of year would be so pretty. We shall see!

Have the best weekend everyone. And if you do any apple picking, be sure to see my favorite apple recipes below. And if you’re in the mood for fall cooking, I shared our top fall recipes on Friday, 45 of the most popular. SO MANY GOOD ONES. I just love fall cooking and baking.

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

loving…lip products. I’ve become obsessed with the Rhodes peptide lip treatment (the salted caramel is my favorite shade) and now want to keep trying new lipsticks. On my list: Charlotte Tilbury, shade festive magic, Chanel Rouge Coco, shade Etienne, and Revlon Super Lustrous, in shade burgundy.

loving…my hydro flask wide mouth. Finally ordered this for traveling and was so happy to have it with me in NY. I didn’t carry it around with me during the day, but having the bottle in my hotel room made drinking water so much easier. I made sure I drank at least 4-5 full bottles every day. On this trip, I never got dehydrated which always seems to happen to me when traveling.

wanting…all things fall. Personally, I love anything apple cider over pumpkin, but I am a sucker for both. This honey pumpkin spice soap screams fall. Also, this Meyer’s liquid hand soap in apple cider is nice to have at the kitchen sink.

everything in my cart (lower). Mango has some really good finds right now. I love this wool mini skirt and blazer. Cute when paired with black pumps or boots for fall/winter styling, love these high heel leather boots or cowboy leather boots. This midi skirt in brown is also super cute. And I love their biker leather jacket.

On the topic of shoes, their heel leather shoe in red is giving off Prada vibes. And love this double breasted wool coat. Also, this single-breasted jacket from H&M is great too.

From Zara, I love their striped knit cardigan, ribbed knit sweater, and knit polo sweater. And this satin effect dress is perfect. I love these Adidas gazelle shoes in grey/white. And lastly, this teddy sherpa jack. It’s over $150, but still somewhat reasonable for a jacket.

listening to…imperfect parenting. I’m not a parent but still enjoyed learning more. I know my mom would agree with everything said, and she’s a pro parent.

dreaming of going to…The Best Fall Destinations Around the U.S. to Visit This Season. Anywhere with beautiful fall foliage! What’s your favorite fall destination? Maine, New England, and Vermont are high on my list.

watching…Step Into the Kitchen With Kris and Kylie Jenner.

loving…this onyx jade green slab. Such a unique color and so pretty. Would be great for the bathroom – I think!

curious…on weighted blankets. Are they worth the money? I really need to try one.

wanting…to try the new Skin Ceuticals phyto corrective essence mist. It helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier and reduces redness.

everything in my cart (high everything over $150)…How pretty is this red convertible silk gown from Carolina Herrera. I love that you can wear it two ways. Very into maxi skirts and love this denim maxi skirt by Slvrlake. I would also love this dark brown cropped quilted shell down from Khaite. Perfect for cold fall nights.

Continuing on in the high wish list. From ShopBop, I love this Sandy Liang fleece jacket, this Redtrfête sab dress is pretty and the color matches with this Le Kasha cardigan. This stitched cardigan from Marni is fun and festive for the season. And I might need to order this cute Ganni wool jacket.

I want to live in this Acne Studios hooded sweatshirt. These Manolo Blahnik suede boots are the perfect color. And these cashmere mittens from Gabriela Hearst sound luxurious and wonderful.

Oh, and this silk dress in turmeric from Reformation is pretty too, and kind of in the middle of low/high.

drinking…my very fall-ish Ginger Apple Moscow Mule.

shopping…Elsie Green. Really nice vintage pieces for the home. I love this pretty mèridienne chaise and vintage wine glasses. Her instagram is cute if you enjoy French style.

watching…Melissa Wood how to dry brush. Love this so much. I dry brush every night because of her. Love the how-to video.

2. My favorite apple recipes.

Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita

Mini Apple Cider Cakes

Brie and Cheddar Apple Beer Soup

Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing

“I put a Spell on You” Poison Apple Martini

Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread

Ginger Apple Moscow Mule

3. Just random things I like for fall.

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: what equipment do you use to film your videos (ring light, etc.)?
a: Just my phone, a chair, 2 copper mugs, and 2 Jenga wood blocks that I use to prop my phone off the counter so I get better audio. And my hands. Very professional ? I haven’t found a tripod I like or that hasn’t broken ?

q: best all-around pot and pan set for a wedding registry?
a: Get the Staub 4-Piece Stackable Cookware Set. Such a good mix of pots/pans and an awesome value.

q: tips for hosting when you’re trying to meet new people and provide a laidback environment? 
a: Cook a casual, feel-good dinner like tacos, pizza, lasagna, or something fun. Style the table super basic, but cute with little glasses of flowers down the center and maybe some candles. Nothing too fancy, just a super welcoming, warming environment. Make sure you have a good playlist on in the background. Serve cocktails/mocktails and do everything you can ahead of time so you’re not the least bit stressed. You don’t want to ruin the vibe of the night by stressing. It’s all about creating a welcoming, warming environment that people want to come back to.

q: best advice for tuning out all the negative, and focusing on your goals?
a:  Stop caring and stop looking. Get hyper-focused on what you want and your goals. Take steps every day to get to that end goal and only worry about yourself and what you’re doing with your time. If you’re thinking negatively spend way less time on social media. Stop watching and reading what everyone else is doing. Simply focus on your goals and the steps to take to achieve them.

q: advice for making a routine a habit, i.e skincare, legs up the wall, and self-care?
a: I am a pro at habits/routines, sometimes to a fault. I love a good routine (: my only advice really is to make the commitment in your head to do the said habit. Example: “every night this week I am going to dry brush before showering”. Then DO IT. After a week, a routine will start to form. If you’re seeing results, you’ll just naturally want to continue to do it every day. Consistency is the key 

q: need a fancy floor-length gown. What’s your recommendation?
a: Love these splurge-worthy gowns, a pretty green dress, strapless brown dress, or this fun tiger stripe dress. And if you want something designer, this St. Laurent dress will never go out of style.

q: are you an introvert or extrovert? 
a: I can be both, I swear I have a switch I flip. But I’m introverted at the core. 

q: with such a big platform, has anyone been judgmental of you or your family?  How do you deal?
a: ??? yes all the time. I ignore it. It means absolutely nothing to me. It says more about the person commenting than it does on me/fam. I worry about myself and my family and nothing else. At the end of the day I know we’re happy and healthy and that’s all I care about.

q: favorite home espresso machine? 
a: I have the Breville Oracle Touch and I’m in love with it. Not sure there is a better machine. Also, my brothers have the Breville Oracle that doesn’t have the touch screen and they love theirs too!  And my cousin, Maggie, has the Breville Barista Touch and loves hers too. The Breville really is worth it (:

q: best staple outfit pieces that you can dress up or down and mix it up?
a: Really good jeans that fit perfectly, really good pumps, a bag you love, and button-down shirts. You can dress jeans up with heels, or down with flats/sneakers. Get a good button-down in a few colors (living in Khaite – on the high end, The Frankie Shop (these are on sale), and Reformation). And invest in a statement bag that will never go out of style. A good blazer is great to have too. Oh and trousers!! They’re super cute and casual with sneakers, but immediately go professional with pumps. Jewelry can dress an outfit up too! 

q: what do you do for your blog recipes when you want to travel/vacation?
a: I bulk them up ahead of time so I will have new content to continue to share. Anytime I travel, it’s always so much work leading up to a trip. I’m doubling up on the number of recipes I’ll make per day and or cooking 7 days a week.

q: best places to buy wedding/occasion dresses and what style do you recommend? 
a: Reformation always has solid options. Revolve has so many dresses right now. And I love Forward but that’s going to be a lot of designers. And you can usually find something on Nordstrom.

5. The rest of New York.

So I think I left off telling you all about the hotel, The Park Hyatt. I had said that I wasn’t able to make time for a massage, but I did!! I spent all of Sunday in and out of meetings, running from coffee to lunch, to coffee, then packing and getting ready for Monday. It was a busy, non-stop day in the city. On Sunday night the staff at the Park Hyatt Spa Nalai were incredibly kind and stayed open 30 minutes later just for me! I had a wonderful full-body massage, which I don’t think I’ve ever had.

When it comes to self-care, I’ve only ventured out for facials, not much more than that. However, I’d really love to do a lymphatic drainage massage soon. I’ve heard the best things about them. Anyway, it was the perfect way to end my Sunday, and was very appreciated after the craziness of travel. It prepped me perfectly for Monday, which ended up being my favorite day of the trip. It was back-to-back busy, but just the best day.

(she’s even better in person)

I spent most of Monday filming with Melissa, who most of you know as Melissa Wood Health. We had the best day. We filmed some really fun workouts and recipes that I know you guys will love. But I’m most excited for the podcast episode we recorded. I loved our conversation and I think it will be really clear in everything that we share, that we really hit it off from the second we met. All will be out soon!

From there I headed to a meeting, which was great. I’ll be sharing more in October. Some fun new projects are in the works!

From the meeting, I quickly walked the mile back to my hotel (faster than sitting in traffic). I changed for an event and then head back out for the night. I went to a fun event that pretty much went all night (I left much earlier). But it was still late when I got back to the hotel.

And that was Monday, it was my last full day in the city. I had a flight home on Tuesday. And that ended my travels for the next few weeks! It was one of my favorite trips. I really love New York. I created a highlight on instagram if any of you missed anything and are curious!

6. Favorite autumn requests + inspiring me.

I love this time of year so much. I am so excited for the recipes and content I have brewing in my head. Lots of coziness, menus, tablescapes, and fun things for holiday entertaining are coming your way this season And it all starts in October with Halloween.

I’ll start the first cocktail of the season on Saturday, October 1st. From there it will be a new drink every Saturday through Christmas. So many drinks to come!

November will of course be dedicated to Thanksgiving, and December to Christmas!

As always, I love to include you and to hear the recipes and fun holiday content you’d love to see the most.

And with that, what new recipes would you love to see? Especially for the month of October? And for the holidays, what are some of your favorite types of dishes? Tell me everything! Excited to hear what you guys want to see this season!

7. Favorite links I’m loving.

Anne Hathaway Recreated This ‘Devil Wears Prada’ Look for NYFW

10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Relationship…smart ideas.

What I Learned From a Week on Athletic Greens…I need to try this.

Disguise Your Electrical Box by Treating It Like a Medicine Cabinet…love this idea.

From Conventional To Pasture-Raised, How To Choose the Best Eggs…good to know.

A 1200 Square Foot Maine Cabin…so cute and cozy.

Best Ways to Keep Your Kitchen Clean…backed by science.

The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Investing in the Stock Market…a must-read.

21 Movies That Will Give You All of the Fall Vibes…love a cozy fall movie vibe.

9 Fall Date Night Ideas…cute and easy.

8. Favorite fall sweaters under $100.

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken and Gnocchi

Tuesday: Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Wednesday: One Pot Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

Thursday: Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Pizza

Friday: Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad

Saturday: Spicy Blackberry Margarita Sour

Sunday: Chocolate Chip Espresso Oatmeal Cookies