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Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.
I spent this week working on new content for HBH, some ongoing projects, and upcoming work travel planning. The weather has truly be no bueno around here (so much wind and snow). Therefore, Iโve been focusing my energy on work, spending a lot of time in doors, and surrounding myself with flowers to help bring the spring vibes inside. And I really mean that! The ranunculus I found at Whole Foods made my week, and made an upcoming post extra beautiful (so excited to share!).
In other news, the studio is finally starting to come along. Last week we had about half of the countertops installed, as well as the entire kitchen backsplash, which I am happily in love with! This coming week we will have the remaining counters and sinks installed, as well as all the appliances. So exciting to see the space finally shaping up. There is still SO much to do, but itโs really starting to look like a studio space. I cannot wait to share more details soon. Also, Iโm feeling so incredibly grateful to be able to create such an amazing workspace.
Coming up this week Iโll be sharing a new quick and easy Italian recipe, something really fun for Motherโs Day, continuing on with my Cinco de Mayo recipes, and ending the week with a cake that I love. Itโs going to be a delicious week. And of course, be sure to check out this weekโs meal planโฆnumber nine below.
Enjoy this weekโs favorites!
PS. my Sunday meal plan email goes out today, complete with a detailed grocery list. Sign up for emails hereย and please let me know your feedback for the meal plan!
1. Frequently Asked Questions This Week:
Q: Whatโs your favorite ingredient to incorporate into your dishes right now?
A:ย Right now I am loving using lots of lemons and fresh spring herbs! Itโs my favorite way to add flavor to simple dishes. Iโm also loving using sun-dried tomatoes, theyโre one of my favorite ingredients.
Q:ย Best material for pans and pots?
A: Cast Iron! Itโs all I use, and Staub is my favorite brand.
Q:How does cooking help you in your everyday life? Is it an escape/comfort?
A:ย When I was a teen, I had horrible anxiety and to this day I still have bad anxiety, but cooking is truly one of the only things that helps. I focus all of my anxious energy into cooking and doing what I love. Itโs the perfect escape.
Q:ย What are your most important kitchen items to own?
A: Sharp knives, a cutting board, and a cast iron skillet. You can do so much with just these three things!
Q:ย What would be your best piece of advice for a newbie blogger?
A:ย My best piece of advice is to really hone in on your niche. Focus on creating the most high quality content you can, and putting that content out as regularly as possible! Content is EVERYTHING. You also need to make sure you are engaging with your readers!
2. Redirecting Negative Thoughts.ย
I have really been making an effort to push negative thoughts out of my head every time they pop up. Instead of wasting my time and energy thinking negatively, Iโve been redirecting those thoughts into something positive. I then focus really hard on the positive thoughts, until the negative thoughts disappears.
This takes A LOT of effort, but Iโm feeling so much better. After a week of working hardย on this, I am much more positive. Also, because I am much more positive, and focused on my work, Iโve noticed that that Iโve gotten so much more done. Dwelling on the negative thoughts that often pop into my head (24/7) gets me nowhere. I loved reading this article on getting rid of negative energy. If this is an issue for you as well, I highly suggest you read it.
PS. LOVED this article on how to break your comparison habit, which I think goes hand in hand with negative thinking.
What are your tips for staying positive?
3. My Favorite Earrings Right Nowโฆ
4. Top 8ย Pins inspiring me this Week.
You guys know I love Pinterest and this week I pinned like crazy. Here is whatโs inspiring me.
farmers market flowers.
casual whites for warmer days.
the prettiest walk out garden.
too cute. i canโt even.
consistently reminding myself of this.
take me to Palm Beach. please.
love this.
palm trees will forever be my favorite.
{all photos via Pinterest}
5. New Videos:
20 Minute Caribbean Shrimp Tacos with Roasted Jalapeรฑo Pineapple Salsa
6 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Chia Mousse
Extra Crispy, Extra Cheesy HASH BROWN WAFFLES.
PS. are you following on YouTube?
6.ย Obsessedย with this Brow Product.
If you know me well, you know that I have this huge pet peeve about my eyebrows. They are so uneven itโs insane, and they tend to lay flat on my face. For my face, I love a full brow with a defined arch, and Glossierโs Boy Brow has been my go-to product for the perfect brows for over a year now. Itโs basically like mascara for your eyebrows and it works like magic. If you havenโt yet tried this product, you need to now, itโs my favorite.
7.ย A Few Links I am Lovingโฆ
cacia e pepe for one. YES PLEASE.
the Gal Meets Glam collection is hereโฆbut which dress will you choose?
Hannah Taylor Skvarla of The Little Marketโฆfavorite read of the week.
25 most powerful stylists in HollywoodโฆWOW.
8 cute make-up bagsโฆthink itโs about time for an upgrade.
2018 hottest foods trendsโฆhmm, very interesting, pickles anyone?
vacation homes with mountain viewsโฆI would go to South Africa, where would you go?
4 management mistakes you may be makingโฆgood to know.
8. My Favorite Spring Topsโฆ
9. This Weekโs Dinners:
Monday:ย Asada Mushroom Tacos with Lime Smashed Avocado
Tuesday: Blackened Salmon Burgers with Herbed Cream Cheese
Wednesday: Basil Goat Cheese Pasta Salad
Thursday:ย Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce
Friday: Artichoke Ricotta Flatbread
Find the full grocery list in the HBH newsletter.
Check out all the pastย Favoritesย postsย here.
This post was originally published on April 22, 2018
IO just got your cookbook!! I absolutely LOVE it! Now you know Im waiting for the next one. LOL! No pressure, just whenever youre ready This is my way of saying YOu are AMAZING!!!!
I am so glad you love the book! Thank you so much Lori!!
Hi,
Iโm new (2 or 3 weeks) to your blog and I like it!
Fun and well done.
Don
Hi Don! Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy my blog and recipes!
Thank you for sharing you favorite things! I love these posts!
Thank you Amanda!
Hey Tieghan,
Iโm sorry I havenโt been able to comment lately (again). I loved your meal prep and grocery news letter! It made everything easier to compile into one list. Maybe choosing recipes with similar ingredients so as to not have to buy a bunch? Haha the dairy ingredients add up but I donโt like substituting for stuff.
Also, I agree that cooking helps with anxiety. Iโve also been forcing myself to stay positive and it takes WORK but I feel so much better! Cooking and thinking about traveling this summer helps!
I hope the rest of your night goes well and Iโm looking forward to tomorrowโs post.
Thank you so much Kristin! I think finding meals with similar ingredients could save you a lot and then you wouldnโt be wasting ingredients! Love that idea! I hope you have a great week!
When I get down because of negativity, I remind myself that I must be doing this all for a reason. Then when I look at our crazy puppy and the kids laughing and being nuts, I just figure out thereโs nothing to be worried about ๐ I think thatโs how I get through it!
I think noticing how kids can be so happy with so little is very important and I am glad you find your happiness through that! Thank you Jen!
I love your recipes and blog. Youโre an amazing young woman, accomplished and creative. When I was younger and had deep depression I found exercise and listing everything I had to be grateful for to be very helpful in creating a happier attitude. It still works for me. We all have so much to be grateful for. Energy goes where thought flows.
Thank you so much Jennifer! Really love that last line in your comment, cause it is so true!
I look forward to your โ9 Thingsโ email every week!! Lots of little gems in here. Iโve heard tons of good stuff about boy brow, need to try! The Gal Meets Glam Collection is so beautiful, canโt wait to see whatโs in store each month when they release new styles. And on anxiety and negativityโฆughโฆI think you nailed it, it takes A LOT OF WORK. You have to make the effort to direct your thoughts elsewhere and it isnโt easy, especially at first but like everything โGood Things Take Timeโ (wink). This is something I need to work on also, thanks for the reminder and Iโm glad this approach is working for you! Keep up the great work! And I have no idea how I was not following you on Instagram but I am now =)
Thank you so much Lynn! I am so glad youโre enjoying my 9 Favorite Things ?
Nine Favorite Things is always a favorite thing for me. Iโll share with you something that I read about negative thoughts. โYour goal isnโt to get rid of negative thoughts; it is to change your response to them.โ โ Vex King. If you are not familiar with Vex King, you may want to explore his thoughts. Iโm making the Vegan Chocolate Chia Mousse, chocolate mousse is another favorite. Happy Earth Day and Thank-you!
I really love that quote! Thank you so much Ellen! I hope you have a great week!
Always like to read nine favorite things on Sunday morning before starting on my to do list. As far as dealing with negativity goes, for me the absolutely most effective thing is to do something that helps someone else. Whether it is a small gesture or a larger project, taking the focus off myself in a positive way works for me. I appreciate your honesty about yourself and am heartened to know that you are working to make your life better.
I think that is a great idea to deal with negativity. Thank you so much Vivian!
Hey Tieghan!
First of all, thank you for making me fall in loce with food the peoduce and how cooking jus tends to beautify relate to it? So much so hbh has been the trigger I needed to finally get off my but and create a blog around recipes Iโve scribbled for years.
For someone whoโs newbie as it can get, could you perhaps share more tips about how to go about a blog, photography tips, whether sticking to a niche earlier on would help as Iโve seen you started it with comforting seasonal family classiscs and have stayed true to it even now.
Thank you so much!
HI! I can try to work on a post, but honestly I donโt feel that confident in my ability to give advice on how to start a blog. haha! I do think knowing your niche is really key in the beginning and I do think it has helped me grow. Hope this helps a bit!