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Welcome to this week’s Nine Favorite Things.
Happy Sunday…what’s everyone up to? Around here I’m surrounding myself with as many flowers as possible. Even though it’s spring, the weather here in Colorado just didn’t get the memo. It’s been pretty cold and snowy all week, which isn’t the most ideal. I think we can all agree that we’re ready for the warmer, sunnier spring days, so snow days in mid-April are just that much more brutal.
On the bright side, it’s cozy, and it’s made me even more grateful for the flowers I’m able to source through Terrain (and my local Whole Foods and Kroger grocery store too). As cheesy as it is, they really do brighten my mood. If you’re feeling down or in need of an energy boost, buy yourself some flowers!
Question: I am not the biggest fan of house plants, but I know so many people LOVE them. What are your favorites? I’m thinking about getting a fig tree!
Speaking of the spring snow, it’s made me really start to consider spending the later winter and spring months (say March through June or July) in a warmer climate. My brothers live in southern, CA so a place near them would be ideal and probably most convenient. But really, I can go anywhere I’d like. I’ve considered looking into the southern states like Charleston, SC because their spring looks absolutely beautiful with all the blooming flowers. I might be in the dreaming stages at the moment, but this is really something I’m thinking about for next year and maybe even for a few months over the summer.
I’m lucky in the way that I really have nothing stopping me from picking up and taking off for a few months at a time. I can really work anywhere with a decent kitchen and internet. I’m thinking I should take advantage of this time while I can, I know it won’t always be this way. Again, at this point, I’m only at the dreaming stage. It would be tricky because I’d have to pack up and take a lot of my photography props with me. And I’d need to find some new help in the kitchen (my dad is my right hand and always has been). But I’m reasoning that these are all things that could be worked out!
Question: within the US what’s your favorite place to be in the spring and summer?
Moving along, this week was busy with non-stop back-to-back cooking, photographing, and filming. Between testing and filming recipes for the blog, and working on an upcoming project, there was lots of cooking. The darker afternoons have been tricky for photographing and filming, but I’m trying to make them work! I shared a few recipes this week that ended up being some of my favorites for spring. I always find that it’s when I’m the busiest that I create my favorite recipes. They’re normally easy as can be, but yet fun and flavorful. My favorites of the week were Tuesday’s Magic Cookies, Thursday’s Honey Garlic Chicken, Monday’s Lemon Chicken Skewers, and then Friday’s Key Lime Pie Bars too! And honestly, I really LOVE that One Pot Penne Alfredo I shared as well. It was just a really good week of food!
Our brand marketing manager, Margaret was here for a couple of days, so that was fun! We have a very exciting launch coming up soon that she and my mom have really been working hard on for the last year. We spent time going over everything while she was here and I can’t wait for you guys to see it!
Let’s see, what else?! Hmm, my parents are heading to Scottsdale, Arizona on Tuesday for Asher’s Spring break. They just booked their hotel and the weather forecast looks perfect…so I am only just a little bit jealous. Once I wrap up this project we’re working on at the end of the month, maybe I can convince everyone to go somewhere warm for a weekend. I miss Florida!
Ok, and lastly, I just have a question. Does anyone else spend time late at night online shopping? Adding things to a cart, and then not checking out? I’ve been doing that so much lately and have really been loving some of the spring fashions. But I keep adding things to my cart and then they sell out before I pull the trigger…and then I want them even more!
Is anyone else crazy like me? I shared a few of the items I had in my cart below. Both the pricy and then the affordable pieces to match!
Coming up this week on HBH, I’m excited to be sharing a few Mexican-inspired recipes with Cinco de Mayo being May 5th. A new, fresh homemade take on a childhood classic. And we’ll be ending the week with a simple sweet cake that’s not like any other cake I’ve shared before. I can’t wait to share them all! PS. if you’re looking for any fun Mexican recipes for Cinco de Mayo, we grouped them all together here for easy access!
Question: What’s one thing you guys are either cooking and or baking today? I love when you guys share your Sunday recipes with me on Instagram. I’m excited to see what you make this week!
1. Things I’m Loving, Wanting, and Excited to Try…
watching…the Weight Of Gold on HBO. This follows Olympic athletes after they’ve won gold, so we found it especially interesting.
loving…these fun pieces from Machete. The Chunky Hoops in Gold with Poppy Charm, Kate Hoops in Poppy, Midi Square Hoops in Tortoise Checker, and the Muse Hoops in Canyon Brown. And then this Midi Heirloom Claw in Sea Shell Checker is my favorite.
ordered…this sweatshirt in mauve I love the muted purple color and the button detailing. It’s so comfortable too! Also, just order this sweater, which looks perfect for spring/summer days. Thinking about this pullover from Zara too.
listening to…Carly Stein Of Beekeeper’s Naturals on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast. I’ve always been such a fan of honey, but now I’m even more so after listening to this. Loved learning more about Beekeeper’s Naturals product and all the benefits.
ordered…this red light therapy mask. I finally added this to my Violet Grey order after so many of you commented on how beneficial you’ve found these masks to be. I cannot wait for it to get here this week. I’ve been reading so much about how incredible red light therapy is not only for the skin but also for helping to calm anxiety. It’s a big investment, so I’ll keep you updated on how I’m liking it.
loving…the Bèis Backpack Diaper Bag. This would make an amazing Mother’s Day gift for any expectant moms. My mom got this bag and she absolutely loves it!
ordered….new spring candles. I’m swapping out my cozier scents for some spring florals. I’m excited about the new purple kush (with notes of violets) and Italian kush (the smells of summer in Italy) from Boy Smells. I love the scents in the new Diptyque Miami candle too…can’t wait for it to arrive. Oh, and the Fleur Fantôme and the Bohemia candles from Byredo are both in my Nordstrom cart. The scents sound especially springy.
loving…this Italian Duotone Retro Goblet from Food 52. They’re kind of expensive, but I love them for summer drinks. Should I order?
2. My favorite 30 Minutes or Less Recipes.
30 Minute Creamy Thai Turmeric Chicken and Noodles
20 Minute Florentine Butter Chicken with Burst Cherry Tomatoes
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Weeknight Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken Meatballs
20 Minute Lemon Butter Pasta with Ricotta and Spicy Breadcrumbs
5 Minute Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Toast
3. A Few Of My Mom’s Mother’s Day Picks…
4. Favorite Questions of the Week.
q: do you make your recipes in real time or do you create a bunch then post them one at a time?
a: for the most part everything you see on IG is pretty real-time! I wish I was more organized and planned out, but when I’m excited to share something I want to share it NOW. That said, I do sometimes have recipes I make days in advance too, it just depends on the week! But mostly, they are made in real time.
q: Staub versus Le Creuset skillet? Deciding which one for my registry!
a: I think we all know I love my Staub Collection. It’s really all I cook with.
q: how do you have such amazing energy? Do you ever hit a wall?
a: yes! The second my head hits my pillow I am out. Or a lot of times when I come home from cooking or working on the computer all day, I’ll be dead tired and crash. But I think my energy drive mainly comes from the excitement of working towards a bigger goal. I love getting to build HBH daily, it’s sooo exciting right now!
q: what’s your zodiac sign? Does it align with your personality?
a: I’m a Virgo, and yes, I’m a true Virgo to the T.
q: are you serious about moving to California?
a: lots of questions about moving to CA! I mean, yes and no. It was really just a thought, but I would love to spend more time there in the late winter/spring when the weather here isn’t so nice here…so split time would be ideal!
q: could you please do a risotto recipe?
a: I just shared my no stir risotto the other day on Instagram. It’s such an easy, delicious recipe!
q: what was the scariest part of starting your own business?
a: the fear of failure I’d say, but that also drives me to succeed at the same time. And even when/if I fail, it just makes me work a little harder to get back on track. I always learn the most when something doesn’t go right. In a way, I was lucky when I started HBH because I didn’t realize I was starting a business. At that time, I was fearless and didn’t really have anything to lose, I just started it. I think that’s key, you just have to start, that’s always the hardest part!
q: would you like to marry and have children someday or are you content staying single?
a: married with kids! I’ve always wanted a family (I love my big family), but I’m in no hurry at all. There’s a lot I want to do before!
q: how do you rim a glass when it says to use agave nectar?
a: I wouldn’t use agave! Instead, try just using a lime, it works every time!
q: do you ever get back to Ohio?
a: yes, usually in the summer!
q: do you test your recipe before you film them for IG?
a: I always test before!!! What you see on IG is normally my 3rd or 4th test, sometimes more if it’s a baking recipe
q: do you grow you own herbs?
a: in the summer yes! But right now I get a lot from Gourmet Sweet Botanicals.
q: one kitchen item worth the splurge?
a: a good knife set!! I love my Zwilling Kramer Knives.
5. Surprise…More Baby Goats!
If you read the favorites post from a couple of Sundays ago, then you know all about our surprise baby goat, Wiggle! He’s doing amazing and very lively these days…
But guess what?! We now have two more babies to add to the family. Layla had her babies this past week and delivered the three cutest little kids like a pro. Sadly one of them didn’t make it, which is always hard. But we’re thankful that the other two are doing well!
My dad and Asher are currently bottle-feeding them to make sure they’re getting enough milk, so it’s especially cute to watch. Here are some photos!
Random photos from throughout the week…
6. Inspiring Me on Pinterest…
(Pinterest via Lauren Conrad.com)
7. Favorite Links I’m Loving…
Tour Naomi Campbell’s Sprawling Kenyan Escape…oh how I would love to vacation here, so pretty and relaxing.
The Case Of The Kitchen Island…love these vintage island ideas.
Take a Look at the 7 Biggest Hotel Pools in America…must visit them all. wow.
29 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids When They’re Bored…some fun ideas if you need them!
2021 Guide to Austin’s Best Restaurants…planning a trip to Austin ASAP, these all sound incredible.
20 Movies About Siblings to Watch With Yours…all the feel-good movies and some good throwbacks here!
I Credit This One Product With Helping Me Look Younger…I’ve been using retinol too and love it.
The 5 Coolest Spring Hairstyles on Instagram…very into the braided front pieces and I love that it’s totally something I can achieve!
17 Books To Read if You Loved “Bridgerton”…for all the readers out there.
Spring H&M finds for women…this swimsuit, along with this cotton tee, and these sandals are in my cart.
Everything You Need to Know About Pricing Your Services…if you’re working for yourself, read this.
Inside Pharrell & David Grutman’s Goodtime Hotel In Miami Beach…I linked to this last week, but here’s the video tour, looks amazingly nice!
Where to Road-Trip (and What to Bring)…I guess Arizona is the place to be these days.
Beet and Strawberry Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing…love this for spring. sounds amazing!
8. My Favorites Picks From Shopbop…
9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats…
Monday: Lemon Chicken Skewers with Creamy Feta Sauce
Tuesday: Crockpot Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Lime Garlic Sauce
Wednesday: Artichoke and Broccoli Pesto Brie Panini with Thyme Honey
Thursday: 20 Minute Honey Garlic Cashew Chicken and Coconut Noodles
Friday: One Pot Creamy Penne Alfredo with Spicy Arugula
Saturday: Creamy Coconut Lime Mojito
Sunday: Magic Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’re catching up on blog posts from the week, be sure to sign up for our daily newsletters. They’ll help you to stay up to date with everything that’s happening here, as well as fun content you’ll only get via email. And of course, if you’re meal planning today, don’t forget to check out my menu above!
Love this! Please keep us posted on the red light mask and the adorable baby goats!
Yes, will do Adrianna!
Oo I like the Zara pullover. I say go for it!
Thanks so much Joyce!
I am a gardener, but I still struggle with house plants. Their light needs can be so finicky, and I am limited by window placement and the fact that my cat will chew on any plant she can get access to. I have heard that figs are not always easy to keep happy, so definitely do your research before you buy one. I’d recommend reading about easygoing houseplants, and start with a couple of them. Pothos and spider plants are two that are usually easy to keep alive. We are making chicken with a cilantro, lime, mint, coconut milk sauce that you pretty much want to drink. And we made waffles from scratch for breakfast. We hadn’t done that in ages!
Hey Kristen,
Thanks for reading today and sharing your knowledge on house plants, this is super helpful! Love waffles on a Sunday:) xTieghan
You mentioned possibly coming to Charleston! I live here and I would recommend the spring over summer. It is like Florida and gets extremely humid and hot during the summer months, but right now it is perfect at 70 degrees with a breeze and all the blooming flowers. We are also considered a foodie town but we truly just have the 3 Ss: Southern food, Soul food, and Seafood. Come here!
Hey Monique,
Thanks so much for reading and your feedback on Charleston, this was super helpful! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Hi! Curious to know what type of photography tools you make have and use to take the gorgeous pictures of the amazing foods you make? Do you create your own backgrounds fir your shots? Lash how do you light your shots? Whenever I take a picture from above you always see the cell phone shadow. Lol
Hey Abilia! I use both a Cannon Mark iv and then my iphone for photos. I always use natural light when shooting, which will eliminate that overhead shadow for you 🙂
For backgrounds, yes I create them them with surfaces I have found! Let me know if you have any other questions!! xTieghan
I volunteer to be your kitchen assistant when you come to Charleston, SC! 🙂 It truly is perfect here in the Spring with all of the flowers in bloom, food & wine festival and our arts festival, Spoleto. The easy access to beaches from downtown. I could go on and on about this beautiful place I call home!
Thank you so much Helen:) Charleston truly sounds so amazing in the spring! Have a great week:) xTieghan
we have the most wonderful local grocery store here in S. Dayton ohio that puts whole foods to shame! it’s called Dorothy Lane Market, Oakwood, Ohio! They ship anything, but I would start with their killer brownies! Omy goodness they are amazing, as is their fresh baked ancient grain breads, they have their own fishermen in Alaska! the local grass fed and finished beef is amazing! Homemade mozzarella! I could go on forever!
Hey June,
Thanks so much for sharing the Dorothy Lane Market, can’t wait to check it out online, sounds pretty amazing! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
One of my friend’s daughters who is close to you age has been living in downtown Chicago with her husband for 2 years for his job, as she can work from anywhere. They have decided to leave the city for several reasons and his job has allowed him to try working remotely for a few months. So they have lined up 4 different AirBnb’s in 4 cities they want to check out and will be putting some things into storage and seeing which of these places they like the most – and trust the process! Maybe a bit labor intensive, but they can do it now, so they are. I thought that was a very inventive way to experience a few places in a short time. Hard to find a “perfect” place year round – but having siblings as you do in different places would be a good way to experience a few different locales and still be able to work. Best, Susan
Hey Susan,
Thanks for reading along and sharing this idea for choosing a place to live. This is really so smart of your friends! Have a wonderful week:) xTieghan
Love those little goats ??
Have a great week. Xx
Thanks so much Kelly-Jane! xTieghan
I moved from Seattle WA to Charleston SC 5 years ago. I grew up vacationing in southern CA so here’s my take on your options: Charleston over CA for sure. The weather is unmatched in Charleston, plus no pollution and no traffic. Cost of living is way cheaper so you can live right in the heart of things (downtown) or right on the beach or water very affordable PLUS the food culture in Charleston is unreal. Farmers and Ouster farms 20 min drive from the city, buy fish right off the boat in the city itself, not to mention a ton of james beard award winning chefs who live and work here. Also the cocktail scene is off the charts. We have one of the largest food and bev festivals (Charleston food+wine runs the entire month of March) and it’s the home of one of the best food magazines in the south, Local Palate (owned and operated in Charleston). So in summery, come to Charleston, we wear shorts on Christmas Day and eat oysters on the water and you be so inspired and love it.
Hey Terra,
Thanks a bunch for reading and sharing your reviews on Charleston and California. This is super helpful!! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, I love your spirit and the joy that you share with all that you do! I would like to advise you to steer clear of any southern states during the summer. They are ridiculously hot!! When you started out with the question of where would you spend your summers I thought ‘in Colorado of course’ because the weather is so pleasant. You will simply be 20-30 degrees warmer in Charleston or anywhere else in the south. Trust me, I live in Florida and can not stand the summers here. Keep up the great work, you rock!
Hey Cindy,
Thanks so much for reading and your kind message and thoughts on the summer states! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Indoor houseplants: pick up an orchid from Whole Foods. Orchids are so easy! Diffused bright light, water and fertilize once a week or so, and you’ll enjoy gorgeous blooms in late winter when we need them the most – and blooms last months!. Succulents are fun, too – very textural. Nothing beats a good jade plant! Fig trees are awesome, but could be finicky when overwintering.
Hey there,
Thanks for the plant suggestions, will definitely look into these! Have a great week:) xTieghan
This was a good one!
To answer questions- LOVE Snakeplants and Pothos which are both low maintenance and love their shapes.
Fave summer spot- without a doubt Maine. I love New England summers since I grew up there- love the warm days and cool nights!
Not sure what we’ll be cooking today but I went to a farmers market yesterday so will be looking to use what I bought- last night we made a peach, mint, arugula salad and almond crusted tilapia.
I am not a mojito girl but that creamy coconut version looks amazing!
Oh, and we made your shrimp and pineapple sheet pan tacos last week and they were delish!
Thanks so much Cassie! I will have to check out the snakeplant and pothos, low maintenance is what I need! I’ve never been to Maine, but the photos look quite amazing! Thanks for trying the tacos:) xTieghan
I look forward to your Sunday post every week. You are such an amazing cook. Every meal that I have ,add has been so well received. I love that you are not pedantic about measurements and your cooking style being so intuitive. The best thing about your recipes is that I learn all these little techniques and I try things I would never have attempted if you hadn’t posted them ie naan bread, pretzel buns (omg) and crispy rice.if you ever want t come to Australia you can come stay with me! It is hot pretty much for 9 months of the year here. My house is full of plants, they last soooo much longer than flowers, not as beautiful but you would not believe how much it transform the atmosphere in here. The ones that seem to survive the best in Australia are fiddle leaf figs and rubber tree plants. Also Kokodemas are amazing, they last forever. I just wanted to commend you on how much you are influenced by your family. I love that your parents are such a big oat or your business, and your love for your brothers and sister is just so nice to read about. Asher has such a great role model I’m her big sister. And congratulations to your family for taking over Oslo’s care. My dream one day is to be a foster mum. Anyway, best of luck with your new opportunities. You should be very proud of yourself.
Hey Lisa,
Thanks for reading once again and your thoughtful message. I am so glad you have been enjoying the recipes. Wow! Australia sounds quite nice at the moment, thanks for your advice on the house plants:) I truly am so blessed I have such an amazing family, thanks for the reminder! Have a wonderful week. xTieghan
i currently have about 120 houseplants – when you say fig tree – do you mean fiddle leaf fig? or something else. i would advise to start small – make a snake plant, or a pretty ivy. Plants add so much imo!
Hey Janet,
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your feedback on the fig tree! Honestly still have to do some more research regarding this:) Have a great week! xTieghan