Nine Favorite Things.

I often start these posts by looking at the calendar or by scrolling through my camera roll. I like to see what may be coming up or what happened over the past week that I may have forgotten. And by Friday, that will be just about everything, haha. The week always flies by so quickly.

It’s truly crazy that we are halfway through January. I wish it was still December, and that time could go in slow motion, but I swear it just keeps speeding up! And this week was so full and in the best ways possible. Most of our family left town towards the end of last week. But my younger brothers Kai and Red, plus Hailey (Red’s girlfriend), stayed put until Friday when they left for Europe. Everyone is officially back to real life, back to work, and enjoying these winter days!

But this week, with only my two younger brothers at home, has been special. Red and I finally had the opportunity to work together last weekend. We filmed something so fun! We started out cooking in my kitchen, then ended the day doing Red and Kai’s thing – snowmobiling in the sub-degree temperatures. It was freezing cold, but I had the best time. I thoroughly enjoyed the one-on-one time I spent with both Red and Kai. I’m such a sucker for them. They can ask me to do just about anything, and my answer is always a yes. 

Having them here kicked the year off right, but I’m happy they’re off and heading to Switzerland. Red will be competing, and Kai will be filming. I love that they can do so much together and call it “work” all at the same time. 

Aside from that, I spent so much time in the kitchen this week. It’s been really nice being home for a longer period of time after weeks of back-to-back travel. That said, I would also jump at any opportunity to travel right now. I’ve definitely come down with the travel bug. But until I travel again, I’m committed to finishing a big project I’ve been working on for quite some time. I’m so excited to share more about it soon. Finally, the time is coming! 

We’ve also started back up on a project that we had to pause on last year. It involves home and office renovations, and I’m excited to dive further in. More to come! 

Not much else to report on other than it has been fridged here all week. Single digits or even below zero with a big snowstorm expected here this weekend. We’re cold and snowy, but I’ve been surrounding myself with the things I love. Flowers, candles, and probably too much online shopping – my addiction is real! 

Looking forward to a work trip to LA at the end of the month, and possibly a trip to Aspen too! So many fun things! 

Have fun today! Enjoy some favs below, lots of new style finds and fun links to share!

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

loving…dried florals. Flowers can be so expensive, and fresh flowers are trickier to purchase in the winter. Instead, I’m loving dried bouquets and have found a bunch of really pretty options online. Sharing a few of my favorites below. I ordered the preserved lemon mint and harvest garden bouquets.

especially loving…dried roses, as you may have noticed. I’ve been using them in a lot of photos recently. They are so pretty, and they just make the workday a little more fun. Hoping you all are enjoying seeing them in my content too. I just ordered these rose buds and then these rose petals on Amazon.

reading…All Sorts Of. So much home design inspiration and I love the Shoppe too. 

wanting…heart mugs. I’ve been making Asher a lot of hot chocolate. These heart mugs are so cute for winter/Valentine’s Day. 

ordered…the Big A## Calendar. Learned about this calendar while listening to Jesse Itzler On How To Achieve Personal Goals Constantly, Stay Motivated, & Plan Your Entire Year Effectively. I haven’t gotten it yet, but I’ll let you know what I think! 

everything in my cart (low)…cashmere tights, I just received these. So comfortable and warm. Ordering this well loved Amazon sweatshirt to wear while cooking. Perfect easy essential that I am going to wear all the time.

listening to…How To Build Something From Nothing & Create Lifelong Success Ft. Durana Elmi & Shahab Elmi. Perfect episode to start the new year. Very inspiring story. 

reading…The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest. Need the book on tape.

dreaming of going…A Winter Travel Guide to Aspen, Colorado—America’s Chicest Ski Town. So many new things happening in Aspen. If you’ve never been, it’s such a cute, “fancy” ski town within the US. It’s always so fun this time of year too!

loving…Gucci Wallpaper. This is so “extra”, and I’m sure, overpriced, but I found this Butterfly Flower wallpaper from Gucci and think it’s so cute for a little girl’s bedroom. I love the dainty butterflies and flowers. 

shopping…travel essentials. As I mentioned, I have the travel bug, I hope to travel a lot this year. Planning and sourcing some must-have travel essentials. A Béis roller is a must for me. And always a good pair of “comfies” to make nights cozy. What are your essentials?

wanting…to order fancy foods from Big Night. What a fun selection of hard-to-find, one-of-a-kind ingredients. In my case, vinegar from Japan, maraschino cherries, and spicy oil packed sun-dried tomatoes.

traveling…Tour a Ski-In, Ski-Out House in Big Sky, Montana, That Sleeps 21. Next family vacation. 

everything in my cart (beauty)…a go-to winter moisturizer, Augustinus Bader’s the rich cream. Testing out Chanel’s luminous silk foundation. Layering on Giorgio Armani’s luminous silk foundation. My favorite makeup artist uses this on me when I’m in NY/LA. Blending everything in with Saie’s luminous dewy skin mist (it is so soft). Also, getting a glow from Saie’s glowy super gel (I’ve loved this one for years). I also love the RMS Beauty buriti cream bronzer. Using Chanel’s Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick for a glowy shine. Wanting to try Patrick Ta’s double-take crème & powder blush duo. And finally, set everything with the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist.

Last thing, I’m curious to try the Fable & Mane Repairing Hair Mask. I’ve never used a hair mask, but they’re all I’ve heard about. Have you ever tried? 

watching…American Assassin via Amazon Prime. The boys watched this and said it’s really good if you love action movies. I haven’t watched anything good in a while. But I need feel-good TV and movie recommendations (I’m not really an action movie kind of girl). Everything I start to watch, I end up stopping because I lose interest. What are you watching?

wanting…new meal prep containers. These are cute!

listening to…Pursuit of Wellness. Diving into every episode, I’ve been looking for a new podcast! I’ve been listening to Top Wellness Tips For 2024 & New Year Goal Setting while I clean. It’s good. 

everything in my cart (high)…these are at least pratical, I really want to splurge on some winter gloves. It’s COLD. I’m loving these Prada puffer gloves, but it’s these Canada Goose puffer gloves that I really want. They’re in my cart. Should I order them?

shopping…chocolates for Valentine’s Day. Curious to order some chocolate bars from Fine and Raw Chocolates. I love the ingredients they use. They also have Valentine’s Day gift boxes that are cute, and a LOVE bar. I want to try out their hot cocoa mix too.

drinking…Rich and Creamy Tahini Hot Chocolate. If you haven’t tried this, do so this weekend. It’s the coziest for these cold winter days. 

2. Favorite Winter Citrus Recipes.

Fiery Golden Mango Tonic

Citrus Avocado Salad with Orange Tahini Vinaigrette

Brown Sugar Sage Ginger Paloma (with mocktail)

Lemony Pesto Chicken Noodle Soup

Spicy Orange Sesame Chicken

Rose and Ginger Paloma

Shaved Brussels Sprout Candied Bacon Salad

Lemon Chai Cake

Lemon Butter Dijon Chicken and Orzo with Feta Sauce

Sheet Pan Jalapeño Pineapple Shrimp Tacos

Winter Citrus Tequila Smash

Iced Lemon Loaf

Baked Sesame Orange Cauliflower

Earl Grey Blueberry Lemon Cake

3. Valentine’s Day.

for the kitchen

food

for the home

beauty/accessories

gifts $20 and under

4. Made me the Happiest.

Making bowls of ramen for Kai, Red, and Hails. I LOVED having them here; they make me smile. 

And nothing made me happier than my time with Red. It’s so rare that it’s ever just the two of us. I enjoyed our solo car ride home from snowmobiling. My brothers are so special to me.

5. A few of my favorite fun Sunday questions. 

Please share your answers in the comments, or if you feel more comfortable, email me/message me on Instagram!

1. what’s one thing, little or big, that’s making you happy right now? 

This is so small, but at the moment, it’s candles. It’s so bitterly cold and “wintery” outside. I love my ritual of cozying up at home every night with my candles lit. If I’m going to be home in the snow, at least it’s cozy. I’m going to share some winter candles I love very soon. I ordered this winter collection a while back, and they’re so great! 

2. what’s your favorite beauty product, tool, or ritual you swear by?

I have a few, dry brushing is a must, every single night. It’s changed my skin and saved it from becoming dry and itchy all winter long. My HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket. I use this every night and LOVE jumping into my “heat box” to work at night. I always edit my Instagram stories in my blanket, then legs up the wall. Next. Then the Dr. Dennis Gross red light mask every single night. I swear by this tool. 

3. what’s the best wellness habit you do every single day, no matter what?

So much water, hiking every single morning, supplements. Now, my worst habit? Sleep. My sleep schedule is so off. It’s one of the things I’m trying to work on, but man, it’s hard. 

4. something fun you’re doing this weekend or coming up?

Brainstorming! I’m giving myself time this weekend to let myself daydream; I want to create big things, but I need time to think them up! Also, looking forward to LA later this month.

5. what dinner has been on repeat lately (doesn’t need to be HBH)?

Chicken Katsu Ramen. I’ve made this so much over the last three weeks. It’s Kai and Red’s favorite dinner. I just made it last night as a send-off meal. They’re on their way to Switzerland now! 

6. Favorite Quote of the Week. 

(don’t knock others down, lift people up, you’ll be happier because of it) 

7. Favorite links i’m loving.

Mollie Is the New Aspen Hotel With Slopeside Cool…cute. I want to check it out.

Dreamy, Snowy Homes From the ‘Mountain House’…so pretty. Wow!

Trader Joe’s Is a Hidden Haven of Wellness Finds…your top picks.

25 Five-Minute Tasks That Will Make You Happier Today…love these easy ideas.

This San Francisco Kitchen’s Clever Cabinets Hide It All…love the hidden appliances.

Winter Hot Spots This Ski Season…embracing the winter season. I am here for it.

The 15 Best Places to Live in the US…where would you pick?

Louis Vuitton reveals plans for its first-ever hotel in Paris…planning my trip.

Countertop Guide 101…read this if you are renovating your kitchen. 

99 Ways To Creatively Recharge…to keep in mind.

The Most Expensive House Ever Listed in the Italian Alps…so pretty though.

8. Favorite New Winter Style Finds.

everything in my Nordstrom cart

affordable winter fits from H&M

sweats for cozy winter days

9. This week’s dinners + favorite weekend eats.

Monday: Baked Crunchy Honey Buffalo Chicken

Tuesday: Spicy Ginger Caramelized Salmon Bowl

Wednesday: Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Turkey Sandwich

Thursday: Sheet Pan Curry Butter Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Friday: Calabrian Chili Roasted Red Pepper Pizza

Saturday: Roasted Lemon Parmesan Broccoli with Garlicky Tahini

Sunday: Chocolate Dipped Sesame Oatmeal Bars