Nine Favorite Things.

Nine Favorite Things

Wow, the first Sunday of November (did you remember to turn your clocks back)! Crazy that we only have a few weeks left in 2022. I was in New York this week. They’ve officially moved on from all things pumpkin spice to all things peppermint with plenty of holiday music. 

Yes, the holidays have arrived! Oddly the city was having crazy unseasonably warm weather. I think it hit 70 on Friday. It may not have felt like November, but it looked like it. The leaves were so pretty and in peak season! But the city was moving on and already decorating for Christmas! They’re ready. 

It was a quick trip, but so great. I stayed at the cutest little hotel, Fouquet’s New York in a Tribeca. I was in the city with Amazon previewing their holiday gift guide, which is honestly so good. The space was decked out in holiday decorations, I loved it. I also loved seeing how supportive they are of small businesses. Definitely check out the Amazon holiday gift guide. And here’s the one specific to small businesses. 

I just arrived back home to cold and snowy weather. Apparently, it’s been snowing for the last couple of days. And it’s still snowing – fall to winter in one day!

On the family front, Asher, Oslo, mom, and dad have been in Ohio the last few days. They flew to Cleveland to see family and celebrate Halloween with them. Asher had never experienced door-to-door trick-or-treating. They just got back too and it sounds like Halloween was a hit. A nice warm night with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mom’s side. They all had a great time! 

I’m looking forward to being home for a couple of weeks! Thanksgiving will soon be here! 

That’s all I have for today! Enjoy another Sunday Favorites and happy November! 

happy Halloween from Asher and Oslo

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

burning…my Snif x HBH pumpkin smash candle. The restocked candles are shipping this week! If you want them in time for Thanksgiving, definitely pre-order them now. Also, Snif’s new Christmas candle, lost Claus just launched I cannot wait to start burning this one soon. And one of my favorite Snif candle scents, old saint wick is on Oprah’s favorite things for 2022. Check out the Snif holiday collection here. MY FAVS.

everything in my cart (low)…From Zara, these leather pants are everywhere right now. I would pair them with a heeled black boot or black pump. Also, this leather puffer is definitely on my shopping list too. I’m loving this knit dress, it would be cute for Thanksgiving. Same with this cozy cable knit sweater. I would wear it with these tailored wide leg pants from Abercrombie.

For bags right now, I’m loving totes. This croc tote would be great for travel. And then, I came across this Dagne Dover tote that fits your 16-inch computers too.

How cozy and perfect are these sweatpants from Everlane? Really nice for fall/winter. I really love this cozy turtleneck too. This Free People jacket is cute and cozy too. Oh, and these UGG slippers would be great for around the house. Speaking of UGG, Shopbop is now carrying the UGG platform boots.

listening to…Charli D’Amelio and Heidi D’Amelio on The Skinny Confidential podcast. I’m only halfway through, but loving the honest conversation.

watching…Hailey Beiber’s makeup routine for date night. I love these videos. I can’t do makeup, so I love trying to learn from people whose everyday makeup I enjoy. Love how simple this look is. You can find all the products she uses here.

gifting…from the Amazon gift guide. So many incredible finds for family and friends.

shopping…the Sephora holiday savings event. So many of my favorite products are included.

dreaming of going to…Boath House, Scotland’s buzziest and most beautiful new hotel. The Garden reminds me of the Secret Garden, so pretty.

watching…Lindsay Lohan’s new Christmas movie on Netflix, Falling for Christmas! It’s out on Thursday and I gotta admit, I’m pretty excited. I love a cheesy holiday movie and I love that Lindsay is back to acting. Fun fact? I actually saw her while at dinner this week in New York.

everything in my cart (high)…all the designers are releasing holiday looks! This Staud pencil skirt could be worn in so many ways. Or do something a little dressier and try this black sequins dress.

So I love this Chloe cashmere sweater, but honestly, this sweater from H&M looks just as nice. Since we are talking cozy, this Lunya chunky wool robe would make such a nice gift for pretty much anyone. And a cashmere sweater dress is a must for this season.

For bags, this Saint Laurent suede shoulder bag is on my Christmas list. And I love this Saint Laurent maxi skirt. Pair it with a black sweater and blazer.

Lastly, the one thing I think everyone should splurge on is a pair of cashmere socks. So warm and cozy.

drinking…espresso martinis. I am so into them right now. I want to make both my vanilla espresso martini and chai espresso martini very soon!

ordered…these velvet pumpkins from Food52 for my Thanksgiving table this year. I think I’m going to do a pumpkin theme! I got this vintage glass truck ornament set there too, I think they’re so cute!

2. My 11 favorite easy dinners for November.

30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken

One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake

Slow Cooker French Wine and Mustard Chicken

Roasted Garlic Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats

Weeknight Thai Chicken Meatball Khao Soi

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole

30 Minute Spicy Miso Chicken Katsu Ramen

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

Balsamic Mushroom Chicken Marsala

Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch

Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup

3. Thanksgiving essentials.

cooking

baking

entertaining

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: since you often buy new clothes, how do you manage your closet and not feel cluttered?
a: Honestly, Asher has been a huge help with this lately. She’s been going through my closet once a month or so and pulling pieces I haven’t worn. She sets them aside for Goodwill or for herself 😂 she loves it. I definitely recommend doing regular “edits” of your closet a few times a year to help keep things organized.

q: your ideal date night?
a: I’m the most basic and simple when it comes to this. The lower key, the better. Dinner and a movie back home are ideal. Just a super chill night, nothing fancy and I’m happy.

q: what comforts you when you are feeling down?
a: Lighting a candle and calling my mom.

q: when you are in big cities like NYC, do you start to crave the quiet and beauty of home?
a: Not usually. Only if I’m gone longer than 2/3 weeks. I’m loving traveling and getting away from home. It’s refreshing and invigorating for me.

q: can you also share non-alcoholic mocktails of your holiday drinks? 
a: With this year’s holiday Cocktail Saturday, I’m including how to make each drink a mocktail as well. It will be in the notes section of each recipe (: 

q: feeling blue, what’s your best pick-me-up?
a: I’m so sorry! When I’m down, I burn my favorite candle, wrap myself in a blanket and call my mom. If you can’t call mom, maybe a good friend? 

– watch your favorite movie/tv show that always makes you happy.
– make a list of everything GOOD in your life. Look at the positives, don’t dwell on the negative
– I also love to search for quotes on Pinterest. They can be really uplifting!
– take a walk to get your favorite coffee/tea. Getting outside ALWAYS helps! 

q: have you tried a butter board (from the TikTok trend)?
a: So a lot of people are asking me to make one. I’ve seen it, but I’m questioning it big time. I’m sure it’s great, but do we need a recipe for a butter board? I’m also not one to jump on food trends. If everyone else is already making it and sharing it, I probably don’t need to. That’s kind of my thought process 🤷🏻‍♀️

q: pet peeves? 

– white plastic of any kind really grosses me out
– chipped, painted nails. It’s why I just can’t have any kind of polish on my nails. It drives me insane when a nail chips 

q: if you were a spice, which one would you be?
a: Cinnamon.

q: if you could only have 3 makeup items, what would they be?
a: eyelash curler, brow pencil/gel, and lip moisturizer, Rhode is my favorite. If I get one more, since technically an eyelash curler is a tool, I’d pick blush.

5. The quickest trip to New York.

Alright, my quick trip to New York! I love coming into the city, even for a quick trip. 

As mentioned, I stayed at possibly one of the cutest hotels in the city, Fouquet’s New York. This was my first time staying downtown in the Tribeca neighborhood. When I come to the city, I often love to stay somewhere new. Not always but for a quick trip, it can be a nice way to see a new part of the city. 

I was so excited. Fouquet’s is more of a boutique-style hotel with a location in Paris that’s rather famous. The New York location has only been open for a couple of months. It is gorgeous! You feel like you’re in Paris with New York surrounding you. The hotel alone is so chic. Parisian vibes with a touch of New York throughout the hotel (just look at the detailing on the bathroom wallpaper). It’s a great spot for dinner or drinks! 

legs up the wall, every night, especially after flying

But my room! It was perfection. I had a corner suite, which has some of the prettiest views of the cobblestone streets and trees full of autumn leaves. 

The decor is very French, I loved it so much and if you enjoy staying downtown but away from a lot of the craziness, the location is perfect. It feels very cozy. 

holiday displays are going up!

Let’s see, aside from the hotel, I had a fun dinner at The Nines. I’ve been wanting to go here since it opened. It’s such a special, chic New York spot with a really nice vibe. I think people come for the drinks, but honestly, the food was great too. We ordered so much! Tuna Tartare, Hamachi, Smoked Salmon, Endive, Gnudi (thought this was especially good, it’s handmade pasta with truffles), and then the baked potato with caviar. Oh, and the special was the lobster club, so we got that too!

It’s a really fun, vibey spot in the city. Plus I love getting to dress up! 

Aside from all that, this was a quick in-and-out trip. I’ll be back sooner than you think!

6. Thanksgiving table inspiration + shoppable at Target.

(found on Pinterest)

we are now shoppable at Target

We’ve added a new feature to all of our recipes to make them shoppable at Target. There’s a new shop ingredients button located inside the recipe card. Now it’s easier than ever to gather all the ingredients you’ll need for multiple recipes in one cart. You can add or remove items, swap ingredients, and even change the recipe’s servings size. Simply choose your preferred Target location, checkout, and pick up your order. We’ve even created a page with all the steps you’ll need to get your ingredients to your door.

7. Favorite links I’m loving.

24 Thanksgiving (or Thanksgiving-Adjacent) Movies to Watch This Holiday…I need to watch You’ve Got Mail.

Selena Gomez on the Powerful Vulnerability of Her New Documentary…looking forward to watching this.

61 Days of Festive Activities to Close Out the Year…I am so ready for this. 

It’s Here: The Everygirl’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022…certainly need to check this out. So many good finds.

41 Stylish Amazon Items You Won’t Regret Buying…loving Amazon’s holiday guide.

9 Hacks That Will Help You Look Better In Holiday Photos…all the best tips.

The Best Christmas Gift Baskets Are Actually Boxes…these are fun!

Top Favorite Sephora Products of All Time are On Sale…so many goodies.

H&M’s New Knits Are Amazing…loving these cozy pieces.

J.Crew and Nordstrom Items Will Sell Out by the Holidays…more cute holiday styles.

You Won’t Believe These 30 Fall Home Décor Finds Came From Amazon…cute.

7 Simple Ways to Get Excited To Cook When you Don’t Feel Like It…some motivation.

9 Incredibly Easy Thanksgiving Decor Ideas…you can put together last-minute.

8. Holiday party looks.

under $300

under $500

big splurges

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: Crockpot Herb Butter Chicken and Wild Rice

Tuesday: Coconut Curry Chicken Meatball Soup with Rice

Wednesday: Creamy White Lasagna Soup

Thursday: Ginger Sesame Chicken Potstickers

Friday: Roasted Mushroom Kale Pizza

Saturday: Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned

Sunday: Chocolate Bourbon Chai Cupcakes with Butter Pecan Frosting