Nine Favorite Things.

August 25, 2024

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While last week was mostly spent traveling, this week has been spent completely at home, cooking, baking, and planning! Last week was so fun and exciting; I loved every minute of the busy schedule. This week threw me some challenges, but reflecting on it all, I still have a lot of excitement and can not wait to share what we are planning for the launch of Quick and Cozy, the fourth cookbook!

The craziness will start in September with back-to-back New York trips, then LA, Utah, Austin, and even Palm Springs. With so much on the calendar for the fall season, I’m trying to, for once in 12 years, actually have content stored for busy weeks. It’s the hardest thing for me to do, but I am trying to have fun with it.

Do you have any recipes you would love to see in September and October?

This week had highs and lows. I let the lows get me down for too many days. I usually don’t have too much of a problem ignoring the negativity and hate I sometimes receive. But I’m only human, and it broke me this week. Then I read the quote below, and onward I went. Because, really, if you have enough time in your day to hate on people you’ve never met, you must be pretty unhappy and, likely, pretty bored as well.

I’m grateful that I am none of those things, and I hope they find happiness soon.

Moving on, we have some really delicious recipes coming. This week, I’m starting to create recipes for September. I cannot wait! I am so excited for September to be here. It is one of my favorite months of the year. I’m looking forward to apple season, football starting back up, bowls of chili, homemade beer bread, and baking spooky treats for “spooky season”. Plus, Cocktail-Mocktail Saturday! I think we’ll start those back up the first week of October. Wahoo!

I love seeing so many of you sharing the pumpkin smash candle. It’s always fun to see you burning our original HBH x Snif candle, which is now a classic.

Many of you will receive your first Home Chef boxes in the mail tomorrow! I’m looking forward to hearing what you think of this year’s Home Chef x HBH menu. I think it’s even better than last year!

What else? We’ll celebrate Asher’s 16th birthday this week. I can’t believe she’ll be driving – I can’t believe she’s 16! I was 15 when she was born, and it’s crazy that all these years have passed. She’s my best friend, my personal assistant, and the girl I love the most. I still need to find something special for her, and I am stumped. So many ideas, but none of them are “the thing”. I better think of something soon – time is ticking!

That’s all I have this week. So much to look forward to in the next few months! I hope everyone is feeling that excitement too!

What are you most excited for this September?

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

ordered…and love these measuring cups. They are sadly sold out, so I recommending you try the pie plate or butter dish!

trying…this at-home Lymphatic Massage Roller. I’ve read so many glowing reviews on it!

everything in my cart (low)…a cute sports bag! I think the new Beis sports duffle is perfect for travel days and tennis, but I also love this Nike gym bag.

This week’s Zara finds include two cute dresses, the Balloon Hem Mini Dress and Plain Knit Short Sleeve top. Also love these Cropped Straight Jeans. You could wear them with this Plain Knit Short Sleeve top + Satin Effect Heeled Mules. Such a good casual, cute everyday look! OK, and last piece, definitely this Suede Leather Blazer

listening to…Sabrina Carpenter. Her new album has been on repeat since Friday.

dreaming of going to…Out of Office: 20 Fashion Designers on Their Favorite Hotels and Resorts Around the World. So many to visit. Hotel Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole, Italy would be my first stop. Then Hoshinoya Fuji in Yamanashi, Japan (wow, so pretty, need to go in the spring when the trees are blooming), and definitely Villa Feltrinelli in Lake Garda, Italy, too. Within the US, I’ve always wanted to stay at Blackberry Farm in Wayland, Tennessee. The photos are stunning, and I always hear the best stories from everyone’s stay. Also, Montage Deer Valley in Park City looks very pretty, and I’m very curious about Nemacolin in Farmington, Pennsylvania.

something fun…Which ‘Gilmore Girls’ Character You Are, Based on Your Zodiac Sign. One of the reasons I love fall is Gilmore Girls on repeat every single September and October. My comfort zone.

something random…growing up, one of my favorite snacks was a bag of mini pretzels twist and a block of cream cheese. I dipped the pretzel in the cream cheese, got a good amount, and savored it. It’s SO GOOD. Don’t knock it until you try it. Cream cheese is so undervalued.

shopping…Heave Mayhem via Revolve. All my favorite watches are below.

baking…nutter butter cookie bars. I love these bars! So much peanut butter goodness.

everything in my cart (beauty)…my go-to Vitamin C is IS Clinical Pre Heal Serum, but recently, I’ve been looking to add more vitamin C to my skincare. I’m going to try BeautyStat Vitamin C Brightening Serum. Apparently, Hailey Bieber is a fan. Speaking of good reviews, this Illuminating Tinted Eye Cream is the best product to hide darker under-eye circles. And I’m dying to try the new(ish) product from Rhode, their Pocket Blush. I’m eyeing the toasted teddy shade for fall.

loving…the Act + Arc Daily Hydro Scalp Serum With Hyaluronic Acid for hydration and strengthing the scalp for better hair growth.

some lip balms to try: the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm (in vanilla), Eadem Sea Silk Lip Balm (in bissap glaze), Rhode Peptide Lip Tint (tested, use and love, try all the shades, but sheer pink works on everyone), Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm (also (tested, use and love, ice coffee is great for fall), and the Mara Sea Silk Lip Balm (I love the clear).

I also ordered the Deadcool Dedtergent Xtra Milk from Sephora. I’m always looking for a great, clean laundry detergent formula.

watching…Here’s Everything Coming to Netflix in September 2024. Emily in Paris is, of course, top of my list. Like most of the world, I love it too.

Everything in my cart (high)…these Chloé thigh-high boots are SO GOOD. I love them for fall. This Phoebe Philo cargo jacket is on my “to-get list.” I love the high neck. Another jacket I love is the Prada Cropped Canvas Jacket.

I also like this sweet Flores Top in salt from Doen. Or try this slightly more affordable Square-Neck Embroidered Tank from Anthropologie. I’d wear both with a leather jacket and jeans. They’re very cute.

following…Betina R. Goldstein. She’s the best of the best when it comes to nails. She works with Chanel as the brand’s official nail artist.

recreating…everything on the Starbucks fall menu. This menu is so good. What’s your favorite drink? Favorite pastry? I think those Racoon cake pops are adorable.

shopping…everything from Coach available now on Shopbop.

2. Fall Decor.

I am so excited!

Amazon

halloween glasses

H&M

3. The 6 Best End of Summer Recipes.

Tomato, Peach, and Burrata Salad

Zucchini Ricotta Pesto Tart

Tomato Cheddar Chicken and Rice Bake

Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Chicken

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Burrata

Caramel Peach Dump Cake

4. The Low Maintenance Friend.

My “low-maintenance” friends are those I have outside of my family. It’s a very select group. Low-maintenance friends are the ones you don’t talk to for months because you’re both busy in life, but when you see each other or talk on the phone, there’s nothing but love.

My very best friend, Kristen, is just that. I found out she’s pregnant with her first baby girl today, and I couldn’t have called her faster. We haven’t spoken since our last shoot day together back in June, but every time we talk, it’s like we haven’t been apart for a second. I am so grateful for her!

I called her the second she shared the pregnancy news, like I dropped the camera from my hands because that’s how excited I am for her, her husband, Wes, and their growing family. She said it was the call she needed the most, and I didn’t even realize it, but I needed to. We lifted each other up, and at the end of our impromptu 45-minute call, we both felt a million times happier and grateful to have each other.

The point of the story is to value those friends who require the least but bring the most to the table. They mean what they say and follow through. They’re the special ones.

And remember, a phone call can really go a long way; don’t ever underestimate them. You never know how a quick call could positively affect someone (or you) until you make it. So pick up the phone when you have a thought. It’s worth it.