Nine Favorite Things.

Nine Favorite Things

Hi, hi from New York. It’s been such an incredible few days here and the weather has been perfect. The cool thing about this trip is that it hasn’t been jam-packed and I am trying to embrace that. When I travel, I pack my trips to the brim with events, meetings, and work. I don’t leave time for much else.

But this trip is a little different. I had to stay through the weekend for something I’m filming tomorrow, so the weekend means more time to explore. I spent some time wandering around Central Park, walking 5th Avenue, and meeting with people I know in the city, including some fun drinks yesterday. Nothing crazy, but nice to explore and also have time in my room to catch up on things! Sharing some more details later in the post!

Obviously, travel has been a little more of a focus this month and will be into October. It’s been fun and I love the busy schedule. After New York, I should be home for the remainder of September. Although, Creighton really wants us all to head to Miami. I have to admit, that does sound fun. I loved Miami.

October will be busy with two trips already on the calendar, and such an exciting launch! But I’ll be happy to spend the rest of the month at home. It’s my favorite month weather-wise in Colorado. The leaves were just starting to show some fall color. I can’t wait. Going to soak it all up. Planning lots of sunset walks with my mom, which have been my favorite recently. Hoping to squeeze in as many as possible before the weather turns.

Back home, the family is all good! I was finally able to give Asher her birthday gift, a white Staud shoulder bag. She loved the clean look and lines. At first, she thought she might want a smaller version, but the smaller version has a little different look. Ultimately, she realized it might be nice to have a slightly bigger bag to throw a little sweater in. Asher is very particular and knows what she wants.

Oslo is, of course, the cutest, we just love the little guy. Though he has been showing much more of a toddler-like “attitude”. Crazy that he will be 2 soon! He’s been getting so much better at talking over the last few weeks, it’s crazy! You can tell that being able to use his words makes him so excited and happy. He was starting to get frustrated not being able to express what he wanted.

That’s it from me! Have a wonderful September Saturday! Is anyone headed out to apple pick?

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

loving…Zara home early fall launch. Best kept secret when it comes to home decor. The porcelain collection is beautiful, I ordered these mugs. I also love the glass cappuccino mug and coffee glass.

ordering…Guest in Residence. This is Gigi Hadid’s new label that she just launched. It’s the ultimate collection of 100% cashmere pieces. As you can imagine, I love every piece. Cashmere is without a doubt my favorite material, especially on cold Colorado days. Ordered the hoodie and pants. Also loved reading her interview with Vogue.

wanting…the new KitchenAid blossom stand mixer that just launched at Williams-Sonoma. This is pretty and I just love that copper bowl for fall. Maybe it’s time for a giveaway?

everything in my cart…low. A lot of Zara finds today. This squared black dress is a great going-out piece. I would add a cute shoulder bag. If you’re looking for something cozier, try this knit dress. Also, love the blue. Carrying on with knits, this knit top is perfect for layering with jeans. Try a knit jacket or leather jacket over. Lastly, I want this knit sweater.

For coats, a denim puffer is fun, or a buttoned overshirt. Also, this Free People faux leather trench is a fun color. And for shoes, I love these sneaks, such a good color for fall.

From Nordstrom, a turtleneck sweater is a must, the camel is a nice fall color. And then some of my favorite jeans are on sale. Re/done stovepipe jeans, Mother wide leg jeans, and Agolde black flare. Keeping with denim, from Mango, I’m very into this midi skirt. And from Alo, these split leggings are cute.

listening to…Chervin Jafarieh #3 via The Skinny Confidential. Excited to listen to this one. I love hearing about how these three approach health and wellness. There is always so much information and valuable takeaways packed in these episodes.

also listening to…Mark Zuckerberg via Joe Rogan. My cousin, Abby, recommended this one. She said it’s long, but an interesting listen.

reading…20 New Books You Need to Add to Your Fall Reading List. Some spooky picks on here!

ordered…Cle de Peau. Going to go into details on this next week because I’d never pay this much for makeup, but there is a reason for it.

watching…Anna Wintour Answers Vogue’s 73 Questions. I love this series. Fun that they finally did an episode with Anna Wintour, the long-time Vogue editor. And if you’re a Jennifer Lawrence fan, her episode is out this week too.

ordered…from Free People maxi puffer for my Mom. I know she is going to live in this jacket. Also ordered the gatherall bra. This is backless and strapless, so it works for lower-cut tops.

loving…Mini Zoo USA handmade glass cups. These are so fun. Thinking I might order a few for holiday cocktail glasses as well. The Halloween set is adorable. And for Christmas, I LOVE the reindeer (so sweet), the Santa hat is also cute, and the snowman is fun too.

planning…11 Fall Weekend Ideas to Try This Year That Don’t Cost a Ton. These are fun. I just love a fall weekend. I want to go pumpkin shopping. Or maybe make these apple cider doughnuts, grab a good coffee, and then go pumpkin shopping.

eating from… Trader Joe’s. Mckenzie, from our team, recommended the Trader Joe’s buffalo seasoned almonds. I had some time this week and got curious about Trader Joe’s (we don’t have one). So I spent 30 minutes wandering the Trader Joe’s isles. They have so many good things: cauliflower mash for convenience, pretzels slims, Gochujang Paste – my favorite to use in sauces. And then I picked up some of their dark chocolate peanut butter cups too. YUM!

loving…the Helsa collection. This just launched this week and I think everyone is obsessed with it. So many cute pieces for fall and very much my style. Basic, but elevated. I ordered a few things, but love the bomber jacket, puffer jacket, and maxi skirt (in ecru). Read her Vogue interview for more details.

everything in my cart…high. This long camel coat from Favorite Daughter is a staple piece. So is a good cropped brown jacket. And then this bomber jacket is a very fun pink. I would live in this striped cashmere sweater from Khaite. A great blazer from Anine Bing, I love the army green. And last, this long leather blazer from Reformation is pretty. How special are these pleated satin pants? Love the rich color. Or this pair of leather trousers from 16 Arlington.

For a bag, all about a good Gucci suede bag.

drinking…the designer menu at Bergdorf Goodman. The store asked recognizable names in the fashion industry, including Michael Kors (Kors Krush), Carolina Herrera’s Wes Gordon, Sergio Hudson, and Christopher John Rogers, to curate a list of cocktails for fashion week. How pretty does the “Rose Valentina” (made with Japanese whiskey) sound? Very fun!

gifting…fun preserves from V Smiley. Just an online shop with unique fruit preserves. These would be fun hostess gifts.

shopping…Ring Concierge, a luxury jeweler. I learned about them through the Life with Me podcast and found the interview really interesting and immediately wanted to shop the site. Obviously, this is high-end jewelry, but if you’re looking for a wedding ring or fancy holiday gifts, I love this site. I’d also recommend listening to the founder’s podcast episode too.

curious to try… stain removing towelettes. Hard to believe these work, but I think I’m going to have to try them. I am the girl who should not be wearing white.

brainstorming…new fall salads. Any requests? I just LOVE a harvest salad.

2. Crockpot fall dinners.

Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo

Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions

Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice

Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana

Healthier Instant Pot Coq au Vin

Slow Cooker Red Wine Sunday Ragù Pasta

Slow Cooker French Wine and Mustard Chicken

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili

30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen

Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup with Roasted Mushrooms

2. Ordered for Halloween.

I’m getting ready early this year!

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: favorite restaurants in LA?
a: So far I have really enjoyed John and Vinny’s. Their cacio e Pepe was out of this world. If you go to the Sunset Tower Bar get the bread basket for sure. Croft Alley for brunch was really awesome, we just got the kale salad (which is surprisingly awesome) this time, but the waffle is the way to go. The eggs also looked amazing. 

q: which Harry Potter is your favorite? I have been wanting to know this for a while!
a: I love them all. The first 2 are always my go-to comfort movies. But I love the last 3 because we get to see how the story finally unfolds. Deathly hallows part 2 is bitter-sweet. I love the book/movie but hated that the series was now over.

q: making a wedding registry, what kitchen essentials do you recommend?
a: Definitely a solid, everyday dinnerware set that you’d love to entertain with. Good glassware – both drinking glasses and staple cocktail glasses, I’d do stemless wine glasses personally. Get a nice silverware set. Linens, but only if you love to entertain. Then, if you’re baking and cooking a lot a stand mixer and food processor. A cast iron set is a must, but at the very least a skillet and a Dutch oven. A cutting board + knives are also essential. An espresso machine if you love coffee. Skip the knick-knacks.

q: do you get stressed when traveling?
a: Yes! Especially when travel plans are a little all over the place like with this current trip. But all has worked out! So happy about that! I’m getting better about not stressing so much. The more I travel the better I get! I’m actually learning to enjoy it! 

q: what are some of the staples you always have in the kitchen?
a: Tons of produce – avocado, carrots, greens, broccoli, peppers, lemons, seasonal fruit, pineapple, mangos, bananas, lemons, and limes. And cheese, always Parmesan and pepper jack cheese. Then some good bread, eggs, and goat milk. Oh, and spices are key!!! Also, pasta, rice, dry grains, baking ingredients, garlic, and shallots.

q: more details on your greenhouse? Do you grow things in the winter? 
a: So many questions about this, and our basil. So the honest truth is that we really don’t do anything special. Good soil (we bought it) and we started from seed. The greenhouse is key for us because it gets so cold here at night, sometimes even dropping below 32 degrees in the summer. The greenhouse also protects the herbs + flowers from the intense storms we’ve had this summer. And then tons and tons of water + sun. We don’t grow anything in the winter. We actually haven’t tried but I would imagine it’s just too cold.

q: when you put your legs up at night, where do you do it? On your bed with your legs straight up?
a: Normal people use a bed, and when I’m traveling I do too. But I’m super weird and I sit on the floor and work all the time. It’s cozy to be by the oven, so currently, my legs are here against the oven. I keep them at a slight angle, they don’t have to be completely straight. And I usually have them up for 15-20 minutes. Sometimes longer if I get distracted and am staring at my phone. But you really only need 10 minutes, even 5 is great to get some benefits.

q: what’s the key to raising siblings to be as close as you all are?
a: We always did things together as a family. Dinners every night (chaotic because so many kids and not a fancy sit down, but we ate together). Weekend trips, big trips, holidays, grocery shopping, everything was always together and with the family. If we wanted to have friends come, we could. It was always the more the merrier in our house. And my parents just did a good job of making us hang together but never forcing it. We’ve just always enjoyed being around each other. We kept ourselves busy!! 

q: is there a way you preserve some of your herbs for winter?
a: You can make batches of pesto and other herb-based sauces. Then freeze them in things like ice cube trays or sandwich-size bags/glass containers. You could also dry them, but that’s a bit more of a time-consuming process. I’m sure people have other ideas too. Personally, I try to make as many recipes as I can with the herbs, then freeze those dishes for dinners on busy nights. Think pasta, soups, chilis, sauces, casseroles, salad dressings, lasagna, herb bread, etc. 

5. New York so far.

My New York trip isn’t complete just yet, one final day tomorrow, but it’s been such a nice trip so far. When I left Colorado, I wasn’t sure how this trip was going to go. I was coming into the city to tape a segment for the Drew Barrymore show on Thursday. But I needed to stay through the weekend for what I’m filming tomorrow. 

With fashion week happening, I had also received invites to a couple of shows. So I decided to just stay in the city and attend a few things. I’ve always wanted to be at NYFW so I was looking forward to it, but nervous. I will say it hasn’t been the trip I thought it would be. And fashion week is not all the glitz and glam you may think it is. There’s honestly a lot of time just spent sitting in traffic, but it sure is an experience! 

My trip started off with the best first day. I was invited to come on The Drew Barrymore show! Of all the talk shows I’ve been on, this one was the most fun. I loved every minute! Drew is the sweetest, and I’m excited for you guys to watch! The episode airs this Tuesday and is a part of their season 3 opening week!! We made my shrimp tacos and sweet potato nachos from the HBH Every Day Cookbook. 

From Drew, I headed back to my hotel. For this trip, I stayed up near Central Park at the Park Hyatt. I was nervous to stay somewhere new, but I really can’t say enough good things about this New York hotel. My stay was wonderful! The staff, food, and the room were just the best. 

My room came with the sleekest bathroom and an incredible view of Central Park. I felt so lucky to stay here! I’m hoping to find time to make it to their spa, a massage sounds pretty incredible.  

The restaurant, The Living Room, is also great! I had dinner there on Saturday night and it was yummy! I ordered the classic market salad, and Chirashi – sushi rice, with fresh mango, and the best tuna and shrimp combo. 

The breakfast menu is also really good, definitely try the avocado toast. 

Anyway, if you’re looking for a good New York hotel, I’d highly recommend The Park Hyatt!! It has been so nice here. And a big thank you to Emily at Beyond Travel for helping us find this hotel. Securing a hotel during fashion week is not an easy task,  and Emily’s been such a help! 

Yesterday and today are filled with meetings. I did find time to meet a friend for a drink before dinner last night which was fun. More to come next week on my final day. I’ll be heading home on Tuesday and I’m excited! 

6. The best foundation?

You guys know that when it comes to makeup, I can’t do it. Granted I’ve never really tried to learn. But because my mom literally does not wear makeup, I was just never taught how to do any. I have 6 brothers and was a complete tomboy. I still carry some of those traits for sure, and I’ve never been overly girly.

For this reason, I just never took the time to learn makeup, so when I have big events or I’m filming I always have it done. While in New York I connected with Hailey Hoff, an LA-based makeup artist that I’ve been following. She’s amazing and does skin really well. She said her secret is Cle de Peau foundation. She said, “I know it’s a crazy amount of money to spend on magic, but I’m telling you, it’s a magic formula”. I saw the results myself, soo obviously I needed to order some.

If you’re looking for a new foundation to try, maybe try splurging on some Cle de Peau. She used shade medium on me.

7. Favorite links I’m loving.

Everything You Need to Know About Where the Queen Spent Her Final Days…loved the history here.

Inside Aman New York, Where a Stay Can Cost $15,000 a Night…officially curious to stay here.

Tried All of The Starbucks Fall Drinks…how they ranked from worst to best.

The Halloween Decor Inspiration You’ve Been Waiting For…so excited for Halloween.

21 Reasons to Visit Nantucket This Fall…looks so pretty.

How to Use a Clothes Steamer Properly…taking notes.

The Best Full Length Mirror…love adding a mirror to brighten a space.

Inside Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent’s Renovated 5th Avenue Home…can you imagine living here?

7 Ways to Make Your Foundation Look Like Second Skin…I need all the tips.

Leather Jackets for Fall…some cute options.

24 Best Weighted Blankets…are these worth it?

The Best Milk Frothers for Creamy, Dreamy Foam…good for travel too.

14 Cozy Books To Get Wrapped Up In This Fall…if you need even more book ideas.

Tour a Once-Dated Tuscan-Style Home That Got a Soothing Refresh…timeless.

The Ultimate Guide to Antiquing in Upstate New York…a fun weekend.

Tour the Martha’s Vineyard Home of Designer Ariel Ashe…what a pretty home.

8. Maxi Skirts.

Very into skirts for fall, especially midi and maxi cuts.

under 210

everything over $210

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole

Tuesday: Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch

Wednesday: Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar and Zucchini Soup

Thursday: Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara with Rosemary Bacon

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

Saturday: Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread

Sunday: Salted Honey Butter Jalapeño Cheddar Rolls