Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

Happy first full weekend of July! With the 4th of July falling on a Wednesday this week I’ve been feeling like it’s a Friday basically all week long. Well, today feels like Sunday, but I think you guys get what I’m saying. Summer weekdays are the best, especially with a holiday mid week. The days are long, warm, and bit more relaxed than other seasons throughout the year. I’m loving it and trying to soak up every last bit of sweet summertime…

Trying being the key word.

Work has been keeping me pretty busy, but thankfully the long days of summer light are allowing for some extra time in the kitchen cooking and photographing. I spent the entire week testing new recipes and shooting new content for the coming weeks on HBH. I had thought I was spending this week in LA, but a little change of photo shoot locations is allowing me to stay here in Colorado for the week. I’m both sad and happy about this. Sad because I was really looking forward to that LA heat (it’s 100 degrees!), sunshine, and a facial with Kate Somerville. But happy because I absolutely love being home, and am excited to have some more time to get caught up on projects.

Coming up this week on HBH, we’ll be kicking things off with a fun new zucchini recipe…that will not leave you feeling bored, moving on to a berry filled recipe, a chicken dinner full of fresh corn, the best stuffed peppers you will ever eat, and ending the week with something sweet and very classic.

We will be spending the second half of the week filming new recipe videos, so let me know if you guys have any requests! And as always, if any of you are meal planning today, check out my weekly menu below. Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for the HBH newsletter for updates, weekly recaps, and fun summer giveaways that are exclusive to only our email subscribers.

Enjoy your Sunday and this week’s favorites!

1. Mandy Moore’s Pasadena Home.

OK, so I’m not normally very up on what celebrities are up to, but this tour of Mandy Moore’s Pasadena, CA home totally caught my eye and for a couple of reasons.

Reason One: I listened to Mandy’s podcast episode on My Domaine Second Life podcast and was so impressed with her. Before listening to the podcast I didn’t know very much about her, other than the fact that she was in the Princess Diaries as a teen. Turns out she’s been working since she was 15 and she’s basically never stopped. I loved hearing her story and found it really inspiring. Highly recommend listening to the episode.

Reason Two: the house is super retro, which honestly isn’t usually my style, but I love all the fun brass elements of the house and the outdoor pool area is perfect for all things summer. Also, the kitchen? Gorgeous. Watch the tour here.

2. Inspiring me this week on Pinterest. 

{from my barn inspiration board}

{from my barn inspiration board}

{from my beauty board}

{from my FLOWERS! board photo via Gal meets Glam}

{from my home board}

{from my style board}

{from my let’s go places board}

{from my gatherings/tablescapes board. photo via Lauren Conrad}

{from my inspiring board}

3. My Favorite Staub Pieces from the 65% off Sale.

4. Six things to Do in July.

1. Host an Effortless Summer Lobster Bake.

2. Make use of all the summer berries and bake my favorite Blackberry Lavender Cake.

3. Get a summer glow…minus the sun.

4. Celebrate Bastille Day with a cheese board and wine.

5. Find a good book and chill on the porch for the afternoon, then watch the sunset, and catch all the fire flies.

6. Buy too many heirloom tomatoes…make this heirloom tomato cheddar tart with everything spice.

5. New Videos:

The Best Potato Salad (scroll down to the recipe for the video)

Garlic Herb Roasted Cherry Tomato Carbonara with Prosciutto (scroll down to the recipe for the video)

Strawberry Peach Galette

6.  A Studio Barn Update.

You guys. I am so sorry for the radio silence on the Studio Barn. It’s been a lot of work and has been taking forever to complete, but I’m so excited to share that we are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. The studio is basically done! The doors are in, the lighting is up, the appliances have been installed, and things are all starting to come together.

We’ll be completing our final inspections with the county this week before we can get our CO (certificate of occupancy). And then it’s time to furnish the space! Excited to share that we are working with Anthropologie on furniture, dishes, and linens and Park and Oak on the design. We will be sharing the final reveal in September and I cannot wait. Small sneak peak below….

{the beautiful front doors}

{the pizza oven…SO EXCITED}

7. A few Links I am Loving…

bye bye pap smears…all about a more comfortable GYNO visit.

31 summer date night ideas…honestly want to do this all (just need a boyfriend…).

inside a Bastille day backyard bash…so fun.

make it once, use it twice (or thrice)…very efficient, especially for meal prepping.

5 foods to help fight wrinkles…love a good powerhouse superfood bowl.

6 snacks that are actually good for you…yum.

easy ways to instantly look put together…love.

inside the perfect serene home…I want to live here.

how successful people spend their 3 day weekends…I need to do these things more.

Sophia Bush and her perfect hair…got to say, it’s kind of perfect.

8. Whicker Bags for Summer that I am Loving…

Want…but can’t afford…

9. This Week’s Dinners:

Monday: 3 cheese zucchini “ravioli” with roasted tomato basil sauce

Tuesday: honey ginger cedar plank grilled salmon with avocado salsa

Wednesday: better than takeout 20 minute peanut noodles with sesame halloumi

Thursday: healthier oven fried sweet tea buffalo chicken sandwich

Friday: garlic and herb roasted cherry tomato carbonara with crispy prosciutto + burrata

Check out all the past Favorites posts here.