453: Nine Favorite Things.

Hi you all! Tomorrow is the send-off to summer. It’s a time of year that I know so many people are sad to see come to an end, but you all know I love it. I have new notebooks ordered, a September recipe lineup I’m excited to create and share, Halloween recipes are brewing, and my family is already talking about holiday plans. It’s an exciting time.

For me, this feels more like a reset than New Year’s. It’s right now that I thrive. Fall routines, making plans, dreaming about holiday menus, ordering for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas entertaining (it all sells out so fast), and just feeling the magic that autumn brings.

This week has been a writing week, so my days have looked a little different. I’ve been riding my bike to Pura Vida here in Miami. It’s been so nice to get away from home and has really helped keep me focused. I’ve been juggling a lot, so spending time in a light, bright place with people around—chit-chatting and smiling or getting in work, just like me—has been super nice.

I’m traveling this week for a content week in Austin. These weeks are always so much work to organize, prepare for, and then execute, but at the same time, we all have the best time. Creating things I love always leaves me with this sense of fullness. It’s so energizing.

Thank you for reading these Favorites posts and keeping up with our work and life updates. They’ve become my personal journal, and sometimes I can’t believe the things I share with you all. But for the last fourteen years, this has been OUR space.

When so many others moved away from their websites and toward social media, we never lost sight of this space and the community my mom and I built together over the years. I think what I love most is that it has grown with us. Social media has changed, the way we consume content has changed, my life has certainly changed, and HBH has grown in ways I never could have imagined. But every Sunday, I still come back here and write to you. There is something really special about that.

Now, every creator seems to have a Substack, and more and more content is being put behind paywalls. I understand and can respect that, and it’s something we talk about too. There can be something really wonderful about creating an even closer community.

But right now, I really love how we share. I love that you can come here every Sunday, catch up, find recipes, scroll through years of old posts, and be a part of this little corner of the internet we’ve built together. There is so much history here, and I never want to lose sight of that.

And because this has always been such a personal space for me, there is something a little more sensitive I want to share today.

I know there has been concern, and while some of the conversations have been difficult to navigate, many of you have reached out from a place of genuine kindness and care.

The truth is, I’ve had some struggles with anxiety and my health, and over the past several months, I’ve been working hard to prioritize myself in ways that I haven’t always been very good at doing. I’ve asked for help, I’ve been trying some new things, and I’m really grateful to say that I feel like I’m moving in a positive direction.

I’m not ready to share every detail of something that is still very personal to me, and I hope you can understand that. But after sharing so much of my life here for so many years, it didn’t feel right to continue without acknowledging those of you who have reached out with genuine concern and kindness.

I see your messages. I appreciate them. And I’m grateful for the care behind them.

Mostly, I’m excited about what’s ahead. I feel really hopeful heading into this new season, both personally and creatively.

Wishing you all a wonderful September Sunday!

1. Things I’m Loving.

Wearing

I am not sure exactly where I’ll be wearing fall and winter coats this season, but all the new arrivals are in, and you never know what any given day will hold. So, naturally, I am looking at everything. Beautiful jackets, trenches, puffers—all of it. And just like that, I’m excited for a cozier season.

Clothes do that for me. The second I see something I love, I immediately get this burst of energy and excitement. Especially this time of year, when everything starts to feel new again.

Reformation just dropped this leather bomber jacket, and it immediately caught my eye. It’s at a mid-range price point but looks like it could easily cost well over a thousand dollars. It’s so beautiful and very versatile. I’d wear it over a simple cashmere henley with jeans and boots. I love both colors. I have the ember, which is so beautiful for fall. I also really like henley tee too.

As much as I’m dreaming about fall layers, what I’m actually wearing and packing this week is still pretty light. For travel, I’m keeping things comfortable and easy with this long sleeve henley and this hooded bomber sweatshirt. Since I’m heading to Austin, I also packed this oversized light trench jacket I purchased from Amazon. I love it. Such a good find for the price.

A couple of other pieces going into my suitcase: Gap’s chunky cardigan, because they love to blast the AC at the studio and I always need something warm. And then this dress (a cute option too) long-sleeve dress for a friend’s website launch party. It’s such a pretty September dress. I love that it still feels right for warmer weather, but the long sleeves give it that early-fall feeling. It would be so pretty for a September wedding.

Listening to

I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts. They’ve become a huge tool in my toolbox. They’re a free source of so much information that I can decide to take or leave. I’ve learned, been entertained, and discovered people I probably never would have thought to connect with otherwise.

I listen to Jay Shetty every so often, definitely not every episode. This past week, he had Eileen Gu on, one of the most decorated freestyle skiers in Olympic history. Because of who my brother is—an Olympic slopestyle snowboarder with an Olympic gold medal under his belt (I will always brag about Red)—I’m always curious when I see a podcast with an Olympic athlete. I have such an appreciation for what it takes to compete at that level, both physically and mentally.

I followed Eileen immediately after listening. I loved hearing her talk about what it has taken to get where she is, how much she genuinely loves what she does, her passions outside of skiing (she is a fashion girl too!), and especially her mom and grandma (who sounds a lot like mine).

What stuck with me most was the way she carries herself. She seems to have so much love and care for the people around her, but also for herself. She knows herself, trusts herself, and takes care of herself so she can continue to show up as the best version of herself. She knows she can’t perform at her best if she isn’t sleeping and taking care of herself.

She is disciplined in such a healthy way and mentally so strong. Her grandma passed away while she was competing in Livigno this winter, just after one of the biggest accomplishments of her career. Hearing her talk about navigating that loss really stayed with me. I can’t imagine. She then went on to plan her grandma’s funeral so her mom wouldn’t have to carry that too. That says so much about who she is.

There is something about her energy. Deep down, I believe she has a soul filled with so much positive energy, and you can feel that when she speaks. She left me feeling inspired to show up a little better for myself and for the people I love too.

Truly one of my favorite podcast episodes in a long while. I loved this conversation.

Eileen Gu: “The Ground Was Crocking Beneath Me”

Dreaming of Going to

My family is thinking of going to Croatia, possibly soon, and it looks beautiful. The blue water looks almost too pretty to be real, and everything feels like a movie scene.

I read through the best hotels in Croatia, and I don’t know, they all look incredible. The hotels perched up on the cliffs overlooking that bright blue Adriatic? Unreal. Villa Dubrovnik especially caught my eye. It’s built right into the cliffs with views over the water and Old Town. We would love to stay here and explore the town too.

It all looks like something straight out of a James Bond movie. Beautiful old towns, boats, cliffside hotels, clear blue water. Fingers crossed it’s Croatia.

Something else I’ve been dreaming about is all the fall leaves. The seasons are so special to me, and with fall being my favorite, I’m always dreaming about that quintessential East Coast fall trip. Crisp mornings, changing leaves, cute little towns, and somewhere cozy to come back to at night.

I’m not a road trip girl, though. I like a nice boutique-style hotel with all the comforts of home, and if there’s a fireplace, even better. New York is always my favorite, no surprise there, but the Berkshires sound so pretty and charming. I’d love to explore some of the smaller towns in Connecticut too. Even Ohio in the fall can be so beautiful.

Basically, give me all the fall leaves, a beautiful hotel, a fireplace, and somewhere great for dinner, and I’m very happy.

Also, I am SUCH a Halloween girl. I love it and really have fun embracing that magical kid that still lives inside me. How spooky—but in the most fun way—is this broom shop, The Witchery in Salem? I mean, come on. This is exactly the kind of thing I want to do in October.

What is your favorite place to travel in the fall? I would love some ideas.

Around My Home

I did a little fall ordering this week. I buy these mini dried pumpkins every single season. I’m sure you all recognize them by now. I have a huge stock in Colorado, but none here in Florida, so naturally I needed more. It’s actually been really fun finding little ways to bring fall into my space here.

I also found these mini pumpkins on Amazon that I think I’m going to use as part of a tablescape. So cute. And now that I’m thinking about fall tables, Pottery Barn has these Handmade Terracotta Jack O’ Lanterns that are adorable.

For something a little more Halloween, Anthro has their Halloween Juice Glasses on sale. I have the witch, ghost, moth, and scaredy cat, and they are SO CUTE. Even just one or two mixed into a table makes everything feel a little more fun.

And, of course, I need the house to smell like fall too. I’ve had this Pumpkin Clove Glass Jar Candle in the past, and it’s so good.

I love burning both together. Perfect marriage of warm fall scents. The trick is to do this a night, with a shower or bath. I wrap myself up in a super soft Turkish Plush Bath. The best.

Lastly, this isn’t really decor, but I ordered this sparkly gold puzzle, and I’m weirdly excited about it. I want to save it to do with Oslo. A cozy little fall night with a puzzle sounds pretty cute to me.

Beauty

The OSEA 30th Anniversary Set is my favorite. Right out of the shower, while my skin is still damp, I lather on the body oil and then seal everything in with the body butter. If I’m building out my routine and have a little more time, I’ll layer on the retinol serum before the body butter so it can really absorb into my skin. It’s such a wonderful combination and leaves my skin feeling hydrated, smooth, and so soft.

I love this routine so much and do it every night before I jump into my sauna blanket. It sounds fancy and involved, but I promise it takes me five minutes.

I really believe that so much of how we look and feel starts from within, and lately I’ve been learning more about gut health and the role it can play in our overall well-being.

I take probiotics daily, but I’ve been reading more about different probiotic strains and how they can each serve a different purpose. I switched things up recently and have been loving Seed.

Seed combines probiotics + prebiotics with twenty-four different strains designed to support digestive health. I also really like how much research they’ve put behind the formula. The more I learn about the gut, the more interested I am in understanding how connected it is to the rest of the body.

What I am Reading

Heal Your Cells by Dr. Josh Axe and Dr. Will Cole. I’m currently reading this for at least ten minutes every night, often more. I honestly never read—I’m always listening to podcasts—but this book has me hooked. I’m learning so much about the body, both mentally and physically, and especially about the role food can play in how we feel.

I’ve always felt a connection to functional medicine and have loved getting to know and learn from Dr. Will over the years. This new book is put together in such a thoughtful way that makes everything really easy to digest. There is SO much information, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming or scary. It just makes me want to keep reading.

A lot of the practices connect with Ayurvedic styles of living and eating. Learning more about different ways we can use food to nourish and FUEL our bodies has my wheels turning. How can I take some of what I’m learning and use it as inspiration to make the recipes I create even better, more nourishing, and, of course, delicious?

From My Kitchen

Random, but over-easy eggs are a new obsession of mine. A really good over-easy egg with a pat of salty ghee? Perfection.

Everyone is so focused on protein right now, but I think the yolk is the best part. Egg yolks are packed with nutrients, including choline, which is important for brain health. I’ve been loving learning more about all of this lately.

My favorite is a good over-easy egg on top of a rice bowl. The runny yolk gets into the rice and basically becomes part of the sauce. So simple, but so good.

Another obsession? September figs! You guys, do not fear figs. They are delicious, a good source of fiber, and SO good this time of year.

I love serving them with goat cheese and prosciutto on a simple cheese board for an appetizer or adding them to pizzas for pizza night. If you’re entertaining, pair the figs with a pretty rosé. We just launched our new collection in the wine shop, and I am SO excited about it. I especially love our Rosé for the Table 3-Pack, which would be so pretty with this little fig board. I picked out wines I really love, with a focus on lower sugar and sustainability. And each bottle looks so pretty on an autumn table too. You’ll see them very soon in a dinner I put together!

For dinner, I’ve been repeating some old favorites. I made this apple cider smothered chicken and then my homemade rice pilaf. Such a good September dinner. Autumn-ish, but not too autumn yet. But I’ll be making this harvest salad soon, and my apple fritter cake too. I want to bring the cake with me to my friend’s launch party!

This Week’s Little Joy

Talenti Gelato sent me a few flavors along with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers this week. I almost cried. I needed fresh blooms so badly, and they arrived at just the right time. Such a simple thing, but it made me so happy.

Brands, take note: send flowers with packages. It was such a sweet and thoughtful surprise!

Looking Ahead

I’m excited for a week in Austin creating and shooting, and then for October and getting to see my friend Benny in New York! Lots of good things coming up, and I’m really excited for what’s ahead.

2. Fall Recipes to Make – that aren’t pumpkin.

Red Wine Braised Pot Roast

Creamy Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup

Mini Spaghetti Squash Lasagnas

Crockpot Pumpkin Beer Braised Chicken

Apple Cider Smothered Chicken

Baked Cinnamon Crunch Apple Cider Doughnuts

Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad

Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Dumplings

Glazed Honeycrisp Apple Fritter Cake

Cider Punch

Cinnamon Apple Bourbon Smash

Cider Braised Pot Roast with Crispy Sage Butter Potatoes

3. September Essentials for Fall to Buy Now.

4. The Smash Collection Is Back!

Last spring, we had a meeting with the Snif team and decided to do something a little different for this season. Instead of creating another candle, another scent, and simply more product, we wanted to celebrate the scents we already have. They’ve become classics for us—and for so many of you. These are the candles we see you ordering and re-ordering season after season. I even get messages at the end of the holidays from people who bought multiples just so they could keep burning them through the winter. I love that.

Apple Cider Smash is back in stock. If you ask me, this is the ideal September candle. It sold out on day one last year, and aside from Pumpkin Smash, it’s probably my personal favorite scent we’ve ever created. It’s September in a candle.

And speaking of Pumpkin Smash, it’s fully restocked and ready for you all to burn this season. This is the OG HBH x Snif scent and, in my opinion, the best pumpkin candle you’ll come across. Once October hits, this is what I want the house to smell like.

Last year, we also launched the Pumpkin Smash Body Cream. You guys know how much I love body care and how religious I am about using my body creams. Snif took note, and together we created our very first one in PUMPKIN SMASH. My mom has actually been using hers for a full year, and I’m excited to open my first jar soon. It’s so creamy and sweet and leaves your skin feeling baby soft.

And lastly, Pumpkin Smash laundry detergent. I’ve said this before, but I’ve never found a clean laundry detergent that I really loved, so we created one. And obviously, we had to make it in the scent of the season: Pumpkin Smash.

I’m so excited to have all of these back for fall. Instead of always chasing what’s new, it felt really nice to celebrate the scents you already love and bring them back for another season.

You can shop everything here. All four products are now live!

Also, this makes me smile!!

This too!

5. It’s Time for More Phone Calls.

I hate texting. I’ve been trying to be better about getting back to people sooner, but I just don’t like having my phone around if I don’t have to. I love taking walks with no phone at all. I would do it daily, but my mom would stress far too much.

One of my really good friends is the same way. I used to think she was upset with me or ignoring me, but after actually talking to her and understanding what the deal was, I got the picture. If I want to talk to the girl, pick up the phone and call her. Easy. I have no issue with this because I LOVE a phone call.

We had a little hour-long call this week. She’s in New York, it was around nine at night, and it was so much fun. We talked about everything and nothing. And through someone’s voice, you can hear so much more than just the words. You can hear the feelings. Is she happy, sad, excited, totally annoyed? You just connect differently when you actually hear someone’s voice.

It reminded me how much I miss that. We’re all staring at screens and sending quick texts all day long, but sometimes you just need to actually TALK.

Lesson of the week: call your friends.

6. Inspiring Me.

source unknow

7. Favorite Links.

What School Books Have Stuck With You?

Salad on the Same Plate as Dinner, Revisited

The French Riviera Holiday Home of the Late Fashion Icon Jacqueline de Ribes

A Witchy Guide on What to Do for Salem’s 400th Anniversary

How Dunking you Face In Ice Water Every Morning Benefits the Nervous System

The Best Fall Wedding Bouquets and Flowers

25 Fall Date Ideas for Couples to Make the Most of the Season

How to Refresh Your Work Routine For a More Productive Fall

A Japanese Manicure Will Help You Embrace Your Natural Nails

Deep Tray + River Rocks = A Stylish Boot-Drying Rack

A Midcentury California Home

48 Hours in Istanbul

8. September Transitional Styles.

A Few Shoes

Some Accessories

9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats.

Monday: Easy Korean Bulgogi BBQ Beef Bowls

Tuesday: Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Noodle Casserole

Wednesday: Sheet Pan Hot Honey Mustard Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Thursday: Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad

Friday: 4 Cheese Roasted Garlic Alfredo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Saturday: Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Sunday: Garlic Butter Pizza Egg Rolls

And if you’re catching up on posts from the week, don’t miss Recipes to Cook in September and 30 Easy and Delicious Fall Apple Recipes. They’re filled with comforting autumn favorites and plenty of delicious ideas to cook and bake all month long.