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Nine Favorite Things
I finally got my Christmas trees this week! I say trees because we have one in the studio since we always do Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner there. And then one in my house too. Everyone who watches my Instagram stories already knows all about the studio tree. Which I’m now referring to as the Rockefeller Center tree because it is ginormous. Think Clark Griswold meets Rockefeller Center meets Charlie Brown. It’s probably around the size of the Griswold’s tree but with a nice bend in the trunk…Charlie Brown style. When you walk into the studio, your first thought is Rockefeller Center because it’s just that big.
I will say that it does fit perfectly in the space – since we have such high ceilings. I wasn’t expecting my dad and Asher to return with such a big tree. But Asher was on a mission. I said something taller and skinnier could be cute. But that girl had her own vision…and she made sure my dad understood the assignment.
It still needs lights so I haven’t begun decorating. I’m waiting for my dad to help with the lights. Then the decorating will begin! It’s going to be a process, but fun!
Have you guys gotten your tree yet? I have a small one at my house that I just love! It makes my nights all very special and festive!
Aside from all that, nothing else to really report. We still have no snow, which is the oddest, most unusual thing for us. Living up where we live, you’re almost guaranteed to have plenty of snow this time of year, but we have none. Fingers crossed we’ll get some this week. As of right now, they are calling for snow Monday and Tuesday, then again Thursday and Friday. So let’s hope! I know many of you guys don’t care for a white Christmas, but for us – we love it! Just wouldn’t be the same without some snow to play in. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Oh, and lastly, a few of my brothers are home for the month of December (Creighton, Kai, and Red, plus Hailey, Red’s girlfriend)! I’m so very excited to have them around to cook for. It might be a little additional work at the end of the day, but it’s one of the things that makes me happiest.
Have a great Sunday and enjoy this week’s December favorites!
1. Things i’m loving, wanting, and excited to try…
loving…Emi Jay. I mentioned them a couple of weeks ago and just love their fun claw clips and accessories. they’d make really fun stocking stuffers, I’m getting a few for Asher. I love the sagittarius and taurus colors, especially for the holidays.
listening to…The Benefits of Strength Training. my dad has been trying to get me to lift weights for years. I knew the benefits, but this podcast really did sell me on incorporating more weight training into my routine. listen to this before the new year, it’s a great goal to set for 2022.
loving…Zara for winter clothes and holiday gifts. love this cozy cable knit sweater. this puffer vest is super cute. this cardigan is the coziest. this overshirt is perfect for styling with jeans and boots. and then I love this coat for dressier nights.
ordered…Alexia Leigh jewelry. perfect for gifting, I love this gold necklace and cute ear cuffs.
gifting…Canyon Coffee. They recently sent me some of their beans and it’s some of the best coffee. we’ve never been too picky about beans, but we didn’t know what we were missing. their subscription sets would make a nice gift for a coffee lover.
in my cart…Eberjay Red Holiday Pajama Set. I know I talked about PJ’s last week, but I’m on the hunt for the cutest holiday pair. I love the little presents on these so much.
following…makeup by KELLI ANNE. I LOVE her makeup tutorials and have learned so much. she has product recommendations for everything too.
gifting…Birdie. our team member, Margaret, shared this with me. you can keep it on your keychain and pull the top off in case of an emergency. it emits a loud sound and flashing strobe light to deter an attack. perfect little stocking stuffer for honestly anyone.
loving…this Free People Sweater Set. my cousin, Maggie who just had a baby said she’s been living in this set. and for anyone who’s just had a baby themselves, she said that they love this Babybjörn bouncer. And that Kyte Baby and Posh Peanut have the softest onesies.
gifting…a Foot Heating Pad. I know many people who would love this.
watching…Free Form’s 25 Days of Christmas. remember when this used to be called ABC family’s 25 days of Christmas? gotta love a lineup of the holiday classics.
baking…Christmas Monster Cookies. we love these. they’re cute, easy, and so good!
loving…Canva. So easy to make fun collages and photo prints.
2. Our Master Holiday Gift Guide.
So excited to share our master holiday gift guide! Everyone worked so hard putting this together! Hoping you guys find the perfect gifts for all on your list.
(open this up full screen to easily view/click through the pages and products)
3. Stocking Stuffers!!
4. Favorite questions of the week.
q: are your hands ok?
a: lots of questions about my hands! here’s the thing, I live in Colorado and it’s cold/soo dry. having dry hands is hard enough, but then I’m cooking, and honestly, I’m not careful with hot things. I burn myself daily, so my hands are really beat up. I have a burn in all of my videos this week, soo everyone’s been asking. I’m all good. I just need to slow my pace and be more careful while cooking! lots to do and never enough time!
q: what time do you do dinner with your family? later? we are lucky to sit down by 8.
a: when my family does dinner, it’s always super late, anywhere between 8 pm-10 pm is totally normal for us.
q: workout routine?
a: daily hike first thing in the morning and then I’ll do like 10 minutes of strength exercises. just simple things like push ups. I never go to the gym. I do need to stretch more though!
q: is your family Mormon?
a: no. there’s just a lot of us that’s all ??♀️ my mom had my oldest brother at 18. my parents have been married 36 years…my mom just loves kids too much.
q: do you have a soft, buttery fluffy holiday roll?
a: Nothing beats these rolls!
q: which Béis luggage pieces do you have and which do you recommend?
a: I have the carry-on and the larger check-in bag. both are the best luggage. 100% recommend both bags, but especially the carry-on if you fly often.
q: new cookbook anytime soon?
a: can finally say yes to this!!! February 22!
q: will your next cookbook have recipes you’ve posted on Instagram?
a: no. these are all new recipes. you haven’t seen any of these yet!
q: who do you think you look more like, your mom or dad?
a: my dad for sure, but people say I look like my mom too. I guess I’m a good mix.
5. A Holiday Dinner with Camille Styles.
Last month I flew to Austin to help host our first holiday dinner of the season with Camille Styles. To be honest, I just showed up and shared some recipes for the dinner, Camille really did it all! It was such an amazing night meeting new and old friends and celebrating the season.
Camille is without a doubt one of the most gracious and incredible hosts. She’s one of those people you meet and are blown away by all that they can do. Her home is beautifully decorated with greens from Gracious Garlands. Her fire was roaring, and the stockings were hung, creating the coziest dinner party scene. It was holiday dinner party perfection. You can see everything over on Camille’s site. They’ve built out an incredible holiday page dedicated to the dinner. Including all the recipes on our holiday menu, how to set a table, and hosting tips too. And Camille’s kale salad is so great for holiday dinners!
Read all the stories here.
6. Charity of the week.
This week a kind follower messaged me on Instagram sharing the story of her 3-year-old nephew, Barrett. He was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder. Up until now, very little research has been done on this disorder and doctors are unsure of the effect it will have. Fortunately, Barrett was able to enroll in Dr. Ethan Goldberg’s CHOP Epilepsy Genetics Research Project. Dr. Goldberg has spent his carrier studying this specific gene. He was able to recreate this specific variant and then create a cure! Their goal in fundraising is to provide Dr. Goldberg with the means to continue this line of research and take his cure from the lab to humans. A fundraiser has been set up through The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to help with his research efforts. You can learn more and donate here if you are able.
7. Favorite links i’m loving…
Inside the Dashing Los Angeles Pad of Tinder Cofounder…I LOVE everything about this home. It’s beyond incredible. The designs and details are so pretty.
Yes, Mariah Carey Really Loves Christmas That Much…I don’t have Apple TV+, but if I did, I’d be watching her Christmas special for sure. The bathroom, the kitchen, the bedroom…so obsessed.
Trainers Overwhelmingly Say This Move Will Get You in the Best Shape of Your Life…LOVE pushups. I do them every day (and am now feeling very good about that).
Paris Sizzles as the Bulgari Hotel Makes Its Grand Debut…I want to make travel plans.
4 Hacks to Make the Most out of Your Tiny Kitchen…love these ideas.
Transform Your Home Cooking Game With These 20 Kitchen Essentials…a sold list.
The New Amalfi Coast Hotel Blends Mid-Century Design With Italian Charm…would love to stay here.
46 of the Most Beautiful Streets in the World…travel bucket list.
The House From Home Alone Is Coming to Airbnb…so fun.
4 of the Best Places to Visit in the South of France…for the travelers making plans.
Tour an Airy Tribeca Loft that’s a Lesson in Warm Minimalism…pretty. I love the dark wood in the kitchen.
44 Best Activewear Brands in 2021 to Know and Shop…for the new year.
13 Unique Stocking Stuffers for the Foodie in Your Life…all under $20.
8. New Winter Finds.
9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats…
Monday: Crispy Chipotle Sweet Potato Tacos with Lime Crema
Tuesday: Spicy Sesame Chicken and Ginger Rice
Wednesday: Sheet Pan Alla Vodka Pizza
Thursday: One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo.
Friday: Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Salmon
Saturday: Frosted Spicy Ginger Moscow Mule
Hey Tieghan,
I love reading all your posts always very informative and fun to read. That’s very interesting what you say about strength training and push ups being the best exercise. Well you would have loved last weeks workout we did at our bootcamp. I think in one workout with all the exercises included we did like 140 pushups. I’ve got a great challenge for you if pushups are your favorite let me know. Next on to fashion just wanted to say love those boots you were very wearing very cute. That was an awesome description of the big tree Asher picked out. I am glad the girl was on a mission to get the biggest and best tree way to go!! It made my week when I saw you had a new cookbook coming out. I am sure I’ve asked more then once when it was happening. You better believe I’ll be ordering a copy. Most of the cooking I do comes from your creations so I can’t wait thank you! Lastly, that most recent pizza you shared may have been the best eve seriously. I will share some more comments on the post itself. I hope you’ve been having a great week and thanks for all the wonderful recipes.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for reading and your kind message! Wow, your bootcamp sounds intense! Lol that’s Asher for ya! Thanks so much for your support with the new cookbook, I hope you love it. Thanks for trying the pizza recipe! Have the best weekend:) xTieghan
This is always my fave part of the week!!! Thanks for another great post!
Thanks so much for reading Lydia!
I look forward to Sunday mornings with Nine Favorite Things, and my family enjoys your recipes. My acupuncturist turned me onto Blue Poppy Burn Ointment, and I would consider it a kitchen essential for those pesky cooking burns! Its also a favorite gift in the summer with so many on the water activities when fun gets in the way of remembering to reapply sunscreen.
Hey Tricia,
Thanks so much for reading each Sunday! I will have to check out the Poppy Burn Ointment, thanks for the recommendation! I hope you have a great week:) xTieghan
Thank you so much for putting together the master gift guide for all of us. With your wonderful finds I finished my list!
Happy to share Tracy!
I’m so excited to see that you have a new cookbook coming out! I just pre-ordered it!
Thank you so very much Ann! I hope you love it! xTieghan
Happy Holiday Season to you & your family Tieghan! I love reading your Nine Favorite Things on Sunday w/my morning coffee. Thank you for sharing little tidbits about yourself, I think you’re incredible and love your recipes. I live in Philadelphia and have proudly worked for CHOP for 10+ years. The research and innovations that happen are really incredible! Excited to see your tree in the Studio, we got ours the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The lights are on it, (totally agree w/ you about it making me feel festive) still have yet to decorate it, perhaps today. What’s on tap for your Christmas dinner? Do you have it planned out already? Looking forward to seeing what you do. Hope you guys get snow, we need some as well! Enjoy the time with your family. Warmly, Alaina
Hey Alaina,
Thanks so much for reading each Sunday! Thanks for sharing about your tree, I bet it will look great once decorated! We are thinking to do Mexican for Christmas dinner, keep it simple this year! Fingers crossed for snow soon. Have the best week! xTieghan
I LOVE your collection of Christmas mugs. The Christmas tree mugs are adorable. This is probably an impossible ask, but is there any particular shop you can recommend to buy mugs like that? Thank you!!
Hey Keara,
Thanks so much for reading today! Most of these mugs are from Anthropologie, they have the cutest Christmas collection! xTieghan
Love sitting down with my hot chocolate and reading Nine Favorite Things on a Sunday morning. Always relaxing and inspiring…thank you!
Awe thanks so much Elizabeth, so glad that you enjoy these posts! Have the best week! xTieghan
I went to Amazon to pre-order your new book and found three other books titled Half Baked Harvest by three different authors. I don’t understand how other authors can use the title of your books. I am sure you are copy righted. Could you or someone explain???
Hey Patricia,
Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention, we have reached out to our publishing company. Hopefully you were able to order the correct book, HBH Everyday. Thanks for reading along! xTieghan
I’ve have literally been looking at the Christmas light cookies for days. I am way over my head in pouring caramels and making toffee and turtles but today, today I am going to tackle the cookies. Also, if you don’t have a little Christmas tree in your bedroom you are an amateur when it comes to trees regardless of the Rockefeller tree. All kidding aside, a little tree in the bedroom is the best ever! Enjoy the week!
Hey Cari,
Thanks for reading! I hope you love the Christmas light cookies if you give them a try, I bet your turtles are yummy! Have the best week! xTieghan
I’d be interested to learn more about Maggie and your mom’s baby musts! First baby on the way in February!
SAME! First baby coming in April.
Congrats Christie!!
Hey Tabitha,
I’ll have to try and share a list soon! Thanks for reading along:) xTieghan
Winter is super hard on my hands too! If you haven’t tried Weleda Skin Food yet, it’s a life saver! The classic ultra rich cream is so restorative. And it’s super thick- a little goes a LONG way. I also really like Aesop’s resurrection hand wash for winter. Somehow it doesn’t dry my hands out the way other hand soaps do. They’re a great combo to keep your hands healthy this winter!
Hey Meredith,
Happy Sunday and thanks for reading! I’ve not tried Weleda Skin Food, but thanks for the recommendation, I’ll have to look into it! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Great festive blog post and I have one thing to say about your tree ‘Looks great, little full, lotta sap’ haha. I hope that you have fun decorating it. I have a cat who destroys plants so no tree for me, however I do decorate with lights, pine cones and a few festive ornaments. Making and decorating sugar flowers and foliage is a safe option also as my cat doesn’t bother with those.
I have started my Christmas gift shopping which is fun. I like selecting a variety of trinkets for friends and family. I have also started the great Christmas bakeathon. Two cakes done, one to go, plus an additional cake that my friend baked and asked if I could decorate for her, so the decoration making process is now in full swing here.
Whilst I’m busy with this, I am enjoying making some of your wonderful dinner recipes in the slow cooker, as this is a great time saver, plus your recipes taste great as well.
We do not get snow for a white Christmas here in the UK, which I would love. Maybe one day I’ll get to spend Christmas in a snowy location. Have a great week.
Hey Colleen,
Thanks so much for reading along! LOL gotta love Clark Griswold:) I love that you do the sugar flowers, I bet they are gorgeous! Thanks for giving the recipes a try. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Oooo! I forgot about the One Skillet Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo. Love that one!! Such a good one this time of the year!
Right?! Such a good one!! xTieghan
I just enjoy reading the nine favorite things post every Sunday while drinking my coffee?
Also have tried a lot of your recipes and they never disappoint love them!!??
Thanks so much for your kind message Farrah! I love that you enjoy these posts as much as I do. Have a great Sunday! xTieghan