Nine Favorite Things.

Nine Favorite Things

Hi, hi! I’m feeling so excited! Last week I shared that I’m launching a new fall candle with Snif. This week it arrives! If you joined the waitlist, then this Tuesday, the 11th (Oslo’s birthday!) you’ll get early access to place your order. Otherwise, the candle officially launches on Thursday, the 13th!

I know I’ve previously launched a few items, but mostly just cookbooks. While launching a cookbook will forever be one of the scariest, but most exciting events, I’ve never felt quite like I feel about this candle launch. Those of you that read my Favorites post weekly, know that if there’s one thing I truly love, it’s a really good candle. And a candle made with completely clean ingredients. I have brands I really love, but clean, well-scented candles can be trickier to find.

When Snif reached out about creating a candle with them, I said yes without really knowing many details. Over the last year, I quickly became obsessed with Snif candles. They use ingredients I approve of. And each candle, whether big or small, burns all the way down to the bottom with almost no leftover wax. Most importantly, their scents smell so good and fill the room with cozy vibes.

But they really didn’t have a good fall candle. So seeing how much I love fall, it was the most perfect fit. We’ve been working on perfecting the scent, the jar, the packing, and lastly, the name of the candle since January. A long, but fun process!

And now it’s here. I can’t wait for all of you candle lovers to get a candle. Below is my mom’s text to me just this week when she first burned her candle…

“Tieghan, this might just be the best candle I have ever smelled! And you can actually smell it here in the family room. That never happens. I usually have to have my candles on the floor next to me because of our high ceilings in order to be able to smell them…not this one. LOVE IT❣️”

And then, about an hour later, around 1 am, she followed up with,

“That IS the best smelling candle I have ever had.”

My mom does not lie. She does not give out compliments unless she really means them, and like me, she is incredibly picky about candles.

So, everyone, you should know that this is GOOD. We named the candle Half Baked Pumpkin Smash. It’s kind of like pumpkin spice but much, much better with cinnamon, cardamom, whiskey, brûléed orange, salted maple, and roasted chocolate. Technically it’s a fall scent, but this carries over into Christmas with the salted maple and yummy roasted chocolate.

I LOVE it SO MUCH. 

Ok, sorry. I didn’t think I was going to write so much there. I probably should have made this a “favorite number”. Let me just end by saying that you can still join the waitlist here and order on the 11th. I will say that if the candle sells out, that’s it. We only did a limited edition. So, maybe keep that in mind!

OK. Let’s see, what else. Oslo’s second birthday is on Tuesday! I know my mom is a little bummed because we don’t have any fun plans. But that little guy has filled our lives with so much joy over the last 2 years. Really, we celebrate him daily. She’s going to bake him a cake, most likely this one, and we’ll do dinner. He’ll still have so much fun!

And how about an Asher update, she’s great. A little bored without any other siblings visiting at the moment. But she keeps herself pretty busy between her online schoolwork, looking at furniture for her room and the studio (she loves design), and playing/helping with Oslo. She’s also been having a lot of fun helping me pack for trips, laying out clothes, and in general, just playing around in my closet.

We’ve actually started planning a little for Christmas since sites like Anthropologie and Terrain released their holiday collection. I ordered some things before they sell out! Crazy that it’s not even Halloween and we’re already seeing Christmas campaigns.

Speaking of Halloween, I’ve been having so much fun with the Halloween cocktails this year. Yesterday’s cocktail was inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I’ve also begun thinking about our 2022 Thanksgiving menu. I have some fun ideas!

Aside from that, no big updates. Oh, I guess my parents are talking about possibly traveling over to Europe when I head to NYC this month. Not sure that will really happen though. Red will be in Saas-Fee, Switzerland snowboarding, so they thought it would be a good time to visit. My dad has only been to Sweden, and my mom to Switzerland and Sweden, both times with Red. I’ve never been to Europe – crazy!

And that’s all I have. Sharing some fun favorites below. I put together a lot of affordable fashion finds, some big splurges, and my Amazon Prime Day picks too!

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

loving…Elemis. I use their cleansing balm almost every day, they were super kind and are offering 20% off with the code Tieghan20 at checkout.

wanting…to test some new fall skincare. Glytone Ultra Softening Heel and Elbow Cream and ISDIN Foot Care Cream for my dry cracked feet. The entire Furtuna skincare line. I just keep hearing about this brand everywhere. So curious to test it out for myself. And lastly, the Gucci Luminous Matte Beauty Blush. Wow, so pretty. 

everything in my cart (low)…From Zara, their coats are so good right now. I’d try the oversized leather jacket, double-faced jacket (super cute), and then also the bomber jacket. This ribbed knit sweater and ribbed turtleneck are both great fall/winter basics. Same with the wide leg jeans.

Need to order these Honeydew Intimates Out Of Office Pants.

From Free People, I can see my mom in their home spun cardi. I love the sweater vest and white maxi skirt look. Also, the kaja vegan bonded peacoat is very cute.

Something fancier, a chiffon ruffle dress paired with a chic black blazer. And lastly, 3 cozy knits from H&M. I could live in their half-zip Fleece, same with this wool-blend cable-knit Sweater, and this collared sweater would be cute with jeans or trousers.

listening to…Ask Melissa Anything. The highlight for me was when she talked about how it’s what you do every day and treating everyone with kindness. My mom talks about this a lot too and it was just a good reminder.

dreaming of going to…Hotel Costes. What a unique hotel experience. It is one hotel with 3 buildings, each offering its own unique experience. All 3 are so pretty, but I’d love the Castiglione rooms.

loving…these cute salt & pepper shakers. Would be fun in a more retro-style kitchen.

shopping…Shopbop beauty. Shopbop just launched beauty and they are carrying some of my favorite products. Including Furtuna skin, Dr. Barbara Sturm, and more!

reading…Inside Colin King’s Light-Filled Manhattan Loft. Very minimal, but still so unique. I love the milky brown and cream colors.

supporting…October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—15 Beauty Brands Supporting the Cause. I use so many of these wonderful brands.

loving…Atrio. Jeremiah Brent’s new home store. I am loving their dining collection, but everything on the site (and in-store) is really great. And I adore this velvet lounge chair. It is so pretty, I want it!

following…Alex Strohl. Such beautiful photography and videos of the outdoors. My mom would love following him. 

wanting…glassware from Haand Made. Such pretty glasses. I have these wine glasses in my cart for upcoming cocktails.

everything in my cart (high)…I’ve been seeing this Prada Mesh Wool Midi Skirt a lot. In my dream world, I’d put it with this Versace wool blazer. I have my eye majorly on these Jimmy Choo leather wedge knee boots.

This 90s leather blazer from Reformation will never go out of style.

shopping…Kaia Gerber’s New Zara Collab. I think I love every piece in this affordable collab. Totally my style. Elevated basics. 

2. October Soup Recipes.

Shredded Brussels Sprout and Prosciutto Salad

Spicy Buffalo White Chicken Chili

Brie and Cheddar Apple Beer Soup

Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad

Creamy Gnocchi Soup with Rosemary Bacon

Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

Shredded Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette

Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup

Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad

Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana

Kale Caesar Salad with Sweet Potatoes

Creamy White Chicken Chili

3. Fall Beauty Picks.

tools

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: do you always set out your ingredients before you begin cooking?
a: when I am filming the recipe, yeah I have all the ingredients ready. When I’m just testing or cooking like normal, no I just measure and grab as I go.

q: do you have a favorite soup for autumn?
a: My tortellini vegetable soup is a favorite or homestyle chicken noodle soup. I have so many good ones though. Scroll through them all here. 

q: If you were stranded on an island, but could have one skincare product, what would it be?
a: A serum, either vitamin c or hyaluronic. Both are incredibly hydrating 

q: summer always or do you prefer the change of seasons?
a: I love the change of seasons!!! 

q: how do you manage anxiety from having to be “on” on social media?
a: I set boundaries. And yeah sometimes I break them and I have a bad day because of it. But honestly, I don’t follow people who will give me anxiety. I don’t scroll and I don’t watch anyone’s stories besides family. Anytime I do, I end up comparing myself and ruining my day. I only watch stories from people who inspire me, especially in business, people like Chriselle Lim. So my best advice is to only follow people you want to be following and no one else. 

In terms of posting, that doesn’t give me anxiety. I post what I want to post, a mix of my life and food. And I don’t make myself post 24/7 on stories. I usually only post in the early morning or late at night, when I have time. It might not be the best for the algorithm or whatever, but it works for me so I stick with it. I’m working during the day, so stopping to post a story would be such a huge distraction 

q; who cooked dinner growing up?
a: My dad cooked dinner for us every night, but my mom always had dessert ready to go 😜

q: New here! Can you introduce yourself/company?
a: Hi!! I’m Tieghan! I started the site, Half Baked Harvest almost 10 years ago now. Our 10-year anniversary is actually this week, October 12th! I started the blog just after turning 19. So everyone who has been with me from the start has been able to grow up with me, which is so cool! 

I always said that I wanted to be a stylist and work in fashion. I loved and still LOVE fashion to this day. But after a few months in LA at 18, I decided LA wasn’t for me. My mom encouraged me to start HBH since I had been cooking for my family throughout middle school and high school. She helped me set the site up and to this day she’s my business partner. My family plays a big role in everything I do. I’m one of 8 kids with 6 brothers and 1 little sister 

I started the site and never looked back. I think in all these years I’ve only missed a handful of blog posts. I’ve shared more recipes and content than I could ever count. Looking back is honestly the coolest. We’ve come soo far and have soo much happening. Especially this year! And now I have 3 New York Times best-selling cookbooks. I think the last book, HBH Every Day, is my favorite of the bunch! 

On IG, I share everything – my life, my family, behind-the-scenes, work-life…pretty much everything. I’m an open book. 

And I’m soooo excited for everything that’s coming this year. Excited to bring you guys MORE so much MORE! I can’t wait! 

q: What’s your favorite thing about fall? 
a: The excitement for the coming months ahead. I love the apples, changing of the leaves, crisp air, the thought of Halloween, and then the holidays that follow. I really love this time.

q: what is your main source of revenue? Besides your recent cookbook!
a: The ads on the website have been and continue to be our top revenue source. Everyone always thinks it’s the books or sponsored content, but it’s the website for us.

q: what is your favorite quick and easy breakfast recipe to make ahead for busy mornings?
a: I love to make breakfast burritos and keep them in the freezer.

5. How to best care for your candles.

With the launch of our Pumpkin Smash candle, I thought I would share a few ways I make each candle I burn, last the longest it possibly can. I don’t do ALL the things “experts” say to do, but I found these 3 tips work well for me!

1. Trim the Wicks

You know how every candle box tells you to trim down the wick before lighting? Well, you really should, it makes such a difference. I trim the wick before I burn any candle and continue to do so with each burn. Doing so helps to control the size of the flame as well as prevent the candle jar from becoming black around. I use this wick trimmer, which feels fancy and makes the process of trimming the wicks “elegant”.

If you burn candles regularly and are curious, read more here. This article answers every question you’ve ever had regarding candle wicks.

2. Let the Candle Burn for 3-4 Hours 

Especially the first time you light the candle. You need to allow time for the wax to burn all the way to the sides of the candle jar. This ensures the candle will continue to burn down evenly. It helps to prevent extra wax build-up on the sides of the jar, known as tunneling. If your candle does begin to tunnel up along the sides, here are 4 ways to save the candle.

3. Keep the Jar Clean

Honestly, I do this more so because it bugs me. If I notice the jar becoming dirty from the flame debris. I’ll take a towel and wipe around the jar’s interior rim. This is more of a knit-picky thing, but everything I’ve read online says to keep the jar clean!

Related reading: Are scented candles toxic? The truth.

6. What are your favorite retro recipes?

Retro recipes make me think about recipes made with canned soup and seasoning packets. Slow-roasted dinners, casseroles, pasta, basically big-time comfort food. The recipes your mom and grandma made on Sunday night.

Very curious to know what everyone ate growing up! Please share in the comments for everyone to enjoy!

some fall photos 

7. Favorite links i’m loving.

The Best Time to See the Leaves Change…mark your calendars.

The Best Advent Calendars Sell Out by December…so many cute ones.

Anna Sophia Robb married Trevor Paul Under a Harvest Moon…so pretty.

This Polish Rivals a Gel Manicure…super curious to test this polish out.

10 After-Work Hobbies You Can Easily Fit Into Your 5-to-9…cute, creative ideas.

Gwyneth Paltrow cooking Her “Boyfriend Breakfast Frittata”…a fun weekend distraction.

The Travel Guide…Napa, California.

Target’s Deal Days Are Back…the top picks.

33 Best Christmas Ornaments of 2022…crazy we are already talking Christmas.

Best Gifts for Men…if you need ideas.

I Used a Walking Pad at My Desk for a Month Straight…love this idea.

Things To Do Outside in Austin…if you’re planning a trip.

28 Halloween Decorations…so spooky and fun.

What a Health Coach Actually Buys From Trader Joe’s…need try some of these.

13 Truly Terrifying Thrillers to Read This Month…what’s on your list?

These Products Will *Actually* Give You Soft Feet…taking notes. 

8 Healthy Ingredients You Should Be Adding to Your Coffee…a morning boost.

8. My Favorite Amazon Prime Day picks.

new from JCrew

new From Abercrombie

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: Slow Cooker Creamy White Bean Noodle Soup with Rosemary Bacon

Tuesday: Crispy Chipotle Chicken Cream Cheese Taquitos

Wednesday: Sage Brown Butter Pumpkin Pasta Alfredo

Thursday: Dan Dan Noodles

Friday: Healthy Slow Cooker Chipotle Bean Chili

Saturday: Smoky Sanderson Sisters’ Smash

Sunday: Halloween Monster Mash Cookies