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Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

Nine Favorite Things – cocktails with Katie 

Realizing now that we are officially one week out from Christmas. Oh, how it sneaks up on us every year. How are you all celebrating the holidays and what are you celebrating? Hanukkah? Christmas? Both? 

I’m waiting at my gate in the airport, headed back home to my family. All of my brothers, Creighton, Trevor, Brendan (he’s actually not here just yet), Malachi, Red, and of course Oslo, are already home. I’m pretty excited to see everyone. It’s a big crew this year with brothers, cousins, spouses, nieces, and nephews.

We’ll be missing my two younger brothers, Kai and Red, on Christmas day this year, which makes me pretty sad. But they’ll be rejoining us after Christmas. They’re spending Christmas with their girlfriend’s families, one in Cleveland and the other in Hawaii. We’re really going to miss those guys, and Cait and Hailey too (their girlfriends). As we all get older, it’s getting trickier and trickier to have everyone together all at once, so I cherish the time we do have. I will get to see Kai and Red when I get home though. And then everyone will be together for New Year’s Eve.

And in other family news, my parents are back from Europe! I haven’t had a chance to hear about their trip, but I know they really enjoyed their time over there. They had a rough travel day heading back, but isn’t that just how travel goes. My mom and Asher are very happy to be back in our snowy Christmassy town!

In other news, I am very behind with my Christmas gifts. So my goal for tonight is to get everyone on my list crossed off. I LOVE to give gifts, thus tonight should be fun. But I must say, I’m feeling the pressure with all of these shipping deadlines. Yikes!

I had an amazing week in New York. I gave a full recap of my week here in the city below!

Beyond that, I’ve just got a whole lot of holiday things to do. Which doesn’t bother me in the least. I’m that annoying person that really does love all things holiday. It makes me so happy to get to say happy holidays to everyone I encounter. I love it so much, and hope it brings whomever I run into a little holiday cheer!

I think that’s about it. Only six more nights until Christmas Eve! Hope you’re all slowly starting to settle into the season. Enjoy this week’s favorites! Sharing a lot of last-minute gift ideas!

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

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

loving…the idea of a snowy white Christmas with my family. A spa day with all the girls, the family sleigh ride dinner, bowling in Vail, and walking on Main Street. Thankful it is so festive where I live.

excited to…make hot chocolate, bake cookies, and listen to Christmas music with Asher. We’ll make it happen this week. Sister time is so important.

gifting…Variety Box Coffee Bundle. My favorite coffee beans.

last minute gift wrap…top picks are this pretty red candy cane paper, Santa Clause paper (in pink) and in white, and then these Nutcracker trees are adorable too. This is my favorite ribbon, and I love these handmade gift tags. All of these are on Etsy, so order soon – like today. And please double check they’ll ship in time for you to receive before Christmas. It’s cutting it close.

 


everything in my cart (low)…From Nordstrom, I love this long oversized coat. Super cozy for a great price.

 


listening to…Jackie Schimmel: Confident Girls > Mean Girls on Call Her Daddy.

dreaming of going…The Ritz-Carlton Waikiki Beach and eating at Fig and Ginger. The hotel looks beautiful and the menu at Fig and Ginger menu looks delish. This would be the perfect winter vacation! Already, ready to plan!

gifting…festive holiday puzzles. These will be fun to do with the family while sitting around a warm nighttime fire.

 


everything beauty…I love the Merit 5 minute morning set. It’s a wonderful clean-beauty gift. I personally hope to see this smooth callus stone from Amazon in my stocking. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a winter feet essential. Also, the Dieux Skin eye mask. If you’re looking for something that feels luxurious, I love the Eighth Day resurfacing tonic.

supporting…TheraSurf. They put on events to support the health and well-being of children with special needs. Providing the opportunity for kids to experience the power of the ocean and surfing as a form of therapy

thinking of ordering…this stunning tall martini glass. But it is worth the price?

watching…Something from Tiffany’s with Asher tonight.

hostess gift idea…a gorgeous brass match striker. This is something I would never buy for myself, but would appreciate it as a gift.

everything in my cart (high)…possibly splurging on a classic Gucci black leather shoulder bag for a friend on my wish list. You can never go wrong with classic Gucci. I’d love pretty much anything from Kinn, their jewelry is unique yet timeless. Alright, and then, some long coats that I love. This Saint Laurent long wool blend coat. And I adore this pretty The Row wool blend coat. Also from The Row, these woven sandals and small leather shoulder bag. Both are timeless pieces. This is a fun airport tote bag. For shoes, I want these ANCE studios leather ankle boots or these tall leather croc boots. And lastly, this Prada leather bag is classic, just like that Gucci.

 


drinking…this week’s Whoville’s Spiced Up Christmas Margarita. SO EXCITED to mix this up for my family.

stocking stuffer ideas…for anyone who enjoys cooking, baking, or sweet breakfasts, splurge on Farmhouse Pottery’s Vermont maple syrup. Definitely stuff the beauty lovers stocking with the Rhode lip balm. It is always sold out (I love the caramel). Asher has “the puffer” iPhone case and loves it, perfect stocking stuffer. And then, I am personally ordering Sheertex rip-resist tights. Every time I put tights on they tear. This ANCE studios wool mohair scarf is so warm (I have it) and it would be a great stocking filler. Oh, and my cousin mentioned she wanted dinner reservations for Sushi. Such a good stocking idea!

 


reading…The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

if you’re in New York…splurge and gift your best friend (or yourself) a facial from Cynthia Rivas. I went to see her this week and she is the queen of skin. The facial was amazing and I walked away glowing and ready for GMA the following morning. Her gift cards start at $100 or you can do a custom amount.

thinking about…getting my mom this organic cotton weighted blanket. I think she would really enjoy it.

 

Basically, you must make these over the next 2 weeks

20 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen | halfbakedharvest.com #soup #instantpot #ramen #fallrecipes

30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen

Creamy White Chicken Chili | halfbakedharvest.com

Creamy White Chicken Chili

One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo | halfbakedharvest.com #skilletdinner #chicken #orzo

One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo

Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com

Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka

Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch | halfbakedharvest.com

Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch

Christmas Monster Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

Christmas Monster Cookies

White Christmas Mojito | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

White Christmas Mojito

Frosted Mistletoe Margarita | halfbakedharvest.com

Frosted Mistletoe Margarita

The North Pole Cocktail | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

The North Pole Cocktail

Easy Fluffy Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls | halfbakedharvest.com

Easy Fluffy Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Holidays- Let's Make the House Smell Like Christmas | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Homemade Holidays: Let’s Make the House Smell Like Christmas

3. Games to play over the holidays.

 

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: how are the studio renovations going?
a: The renovations are currently on pause. Trying to find the right designer to really help finish the two spaces. It’s hard!!

q: favorite Christmas movies?
a: The Santa Clause movies, The Grinch, Eloise at Christmastime, any Hallmark movie, Miracle on 34th street, Home Alone. Basically all the classics. 

q: does your brother still help with videos?
a: Yes!! He edits all the clips for me and puts them together to make full video edits. I do all the filming. 

q: favorite places to shop for holiday decor?
a: Anthropologie, Terrain, Zara Home, Food52, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Cb2, West Elm, Paper Source, Rifle Paper Co, and Burkedecor.

q: do you have any daily habits/rituals?
a:

– so much water, always warm or hot
– hiking in the am
– good skincare
– drying brush every single night 

q: what do you recommend for a great, homemade holiday gift? 
a: a cookie box.

q: can you do a Colorado book signing?
a: You missed it! I just did one back in October! I am soooo sorry! 

q: how do you prepare Thanksgiving and holiday leftovers?
a: Just eat them as is. I’ve never understood the obsession with turning them into new recipes. Unless it’s using leftover mashed potatoes for potato pierogis, which I think are delicious.

q: do you read comments/things about you on the internet?
a: No never. That’s the worst thing I could probably ever do. Yikes. The internet can be scary, you know? 

q: if you could take 24 hours off of work, what would you do?
a: I’d take Asher shopping in New York and spend the day with her.

q: can you make a better version of the Pillsbury orange rolls?
a: I’m not familiar, but should I make these for this week?

5. New York.

Where to start? This was probably my longest stay in New York yet. Let’s start with my hotel, which I could not rave more about. If I could give this place 6 stars, I would. I stayed at the Park Hyatt New York, which is right around the corner from Central Park and just a 5-minute walk from 5th Avenue. It’s the ideal location for a December stay in the city. * Sidenote, my parents stayed at the Park Hyatt Vienna at the same time – it was their favorite hotel of the trip. They highly recommend it.

From the moment I arrived, they made every detail of my stay special. When you walk into the hotel you’re greeted with classic holiday decor. Checking in was quick and seamless and every staff member that I encountered was helpful and overly kind. But it was my room that was really special. I walked in and immediately felt so at home. My room had been decorated with my own mini Christmas tree, fresh flowers, and two beautiful bouquets of poinsettias. And then the most special piece was the sweetest handmade gingerbread tree that smelled INCREDIBLE. Coming back to my room every night felt so cozy and nice, it was perfectly Christmassy, and I loved it.

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

Aside from my room, I also did a nighttime massage at the hotel. And well, how could I not love that? I’ve been so tense, so this was very much needed.

And if you enjoy any dining while you stay here, the food and pastries are all wonderful. I still cannot get over the chocolates and cookies. Incredible. They really made every second of my stay perfect. The hotel felt like home for the week. So cozy in the New York cold.

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

Aside from the wonderful hotel stay, my time in the city really was perfect. I spent time with work friends at a fancy holiday party. It was so much fun getting dressed up for once. I really loved the red Valentino dress I wore and the splurge-worthy St.Laurent shoes. I felt so festive!

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

Then I was lucky enough to get to host an amazing, sold-out book signing at the Crate and Barrel in Soho. It’s such a pretty store and I had forgotten how fun these signings are. You all are the sweetest to meet! Thank, thank you for being the kindest, most supportive community.

Moving on from the signing, I had a nice dinner at the Polo Bar, which is so cute and festive. If you go, get the burger or pasta, and an espresso martini. And oh my gosh, get a popover too. So yummy.

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

I was up bright and early on Wednesday to film a live segment on Kelly and Ryan. We baked my Holly Jolly Santa Cookies. Love those cookies! From there I was off to film some Christmas cocktails with Katie Couric, who believe it or not, is even more lovable in person. I finished the night with a wonderful holiday dinner at Sona with my friend Antoni. Brook Shields was in attendance and wow, she is truly beautiful and so kind.

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

Moving along I rounded out the trip with a big interview, a quick drink at the Standard hotel with our Snif family, and a facial with Cynthia Rivas.

And today, Friday, I was up early to bake cookies on GMA. Did you watch? Ginger Zee and I baked my ginger cookies. Twas’ a perfectly sweet way to end my trip. I’m quickly typing this up before shortly heading to the airport. Back home to snowy Colorado and all the fam for Christmas!

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com
Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

6. Inspiring me – Christmas cheer.

7. Favorite links I’m loving.

Vogue’s Top Gifts of 2022 to Give This Holiday Season…love this list.

What To Read This Holiday Season…no matter what you’re in the mood for.

The Best Life Lessons You Learn in Your 20s…found these to be true.

This Spicy Note Is All I Look for in a Perfume...love the cinnamon.

Why Does No One Talk About This Easy Way to Save Money…a smart read.

Beat The Bloat…how to boost digestion.

5 Easy Gift-Wrapping Tricks for the Prettiest Presents Under the Tree.

We Found the Perfect Book To Read Before 2022 Is Over/

Lilly Collins Is In The Driver’s Seat…A cute read if you watch Emily in Paris.

8. Winter jackets.

$300 and under

 


$300 and up

 


other wintery finds

 

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Crockpot Crispy Pork Ramen | halfbakedharvest.com

Monday: Crockpot Crispy Pork Ramen

One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake | halfbakedharvest.com #pasta #frenchonion #easyrecipes

Tuesday: One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake

Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken | halfnakedharvest.com

Wednesday: Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken

Winter Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts | halfbakedharvest.com #wontersalad #healthy

Thursday: Winter Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts

Creamy Bacon Tortellini with Charred Broccoli | halfbakedharvest.com

Friday: Creamy Bacon Tortellini with Charred Broccoli

Whoovile’s Spiced Up Christmas Margarita (with mocktail) | haldbakedharvest.com

Saturday: Whoville’s Spiced Up Christmas Margarita (with mocktail)

Pull Apart Christmas Tree Garlic Bread | halfbakedharvest.com

Sunday: Pull Apart Christmas Tree Garlic Bread

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Comments

  1. Hi Tieghan,
    Your recipes are sooooo good -I usually make at least one every week! I love the pic of you and Katie – can you please give us the recipe for the cocktail you’re sharing? Thank you.
    Happy Holidays and I hope you take some well-deserved time to make new memories with family and loved ones!

  2. PLEASE do a remake of the Pillsbury orange rolls!! My family loves these but I would enjoy making them homemade & similar!!

  3. Tieghan! I am an old cooking soul (yes, older than Katie Couric!). I have a folder dedicated solely to my HBH recipes (pretty much all of them). You are my 1st go to place for recipe ideas and I love kicking back with my coffee/tea/hot chocolate each Sunday for Your Nine Favorite Things. Your recipes are healthy, wholesome and I can make many GF and/or vegan without compromising the results. Thank you for being such an inspiration, hard working and self care loving successful woman! Best wishes for a very Merry Family Christmas and continued success and peaceful moments in the New Year.

    1. Hi Susan,
      Wow, thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful message, you made my morning:) I appreciate you following along and trying so many recipes! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and thanks again for all of your support! xT

  4. Oh, girl, you are kicking butt and taking names. Taking the Big Apple by storm! So great to see all the cool things you have been doing, and that you got to have a more extended stay in NYC. I am sooo looking forward to Christmas this year, and making my own HBH cookie box. 😍🍪

    Have the best holiday, and here’s to your continued success in 2023 and beyond!

    1. Hey there,
      Lol thanks so much for your thoughtful message:) I appreciate you following along and your encouragement! Let me know how the cookie box turns out! Happy Holidays to you and your family! xT

  5. Hi Tieghan! What a lovely 9FT this week…so gorgeous with the NYC holiday cheer. You are positively glowing! Love the outfits, and yep, that red dress is HOT!

    So excited to try to recreate your Christmas tree cheeseboard. I hope mine comes out even half as nice. 😀 I loved the cookie baking episode with Kelly, I watched it on their website. The Santa cookies are so cute! Thanks for all the great content and holiday inspiration, and YES to the orange rolls. I love them, but I bet you can do a stellar version of them. Happy Holidays to you and the fam!

    1. Hey Denise,
      Thanks so much for your kind message and reading this week! I hope you love the Christmas Tree Cheese Board, it’s so fun and super cute! I’ll keep you posted on the orange rolls:) Merry Christmas! xT

  6. Ahhh! I love everything about this post! Such beautiful images from New York, and your outfits are stunning in every picture. So happy to hear you had a great time in NYC, and will get to celebrate the holidays with most of your family. You’re a true powerhouse! Thanks for the great recipes, and all that you do! 💪🏻❤️

  7. Tieghan, your pics of New York are so pretty! I would love to be in New York during the Xmas season! You are not my daughter, but I am so proud of your accomplishments! Love reading about everything you’ve been doing!

    1. Hi Colleen,
      Thank you so much for your kind message and reading along!! I truly appreciate your support:) Have a very Merry Christmas! xT

  8. My dear, you are incredibly thin. Why did you wear a bulky coat on a cooking segment? Eat something. I am worried about you.

    1. I’’m truly sorry. That was incredibly petty and jealous of me, not to mention rude, invasive, and disingenuous. Sometimes I can’t control myself, as I struggle with my own weight and have poor boundaries when it comes to determining what’s appropriate to say and what’s not. You look fantastic, are obviously in great health to be able to accomplish all that you have, and I wish I could delete my comment, but I don’t see a feature that allows that. Please delete for me.

      Enjoy your well earned success, and Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄 🎅

      1. These comments are incredibly odd. It makes me wonder if the second comment is someone pretending to be Lynn. If it is Lynn, interesting 180 in 4 hour timespan. If it is not Lynn, then it’s a better approach than the crude berating in previous in blog comments.

        1. Agree, Emily. Someone is heavily editing/filtering these comments and must have decided to do a bit of creative writing. Makes me really not trust anything written here in the comments section.

          1. No, that’s me, Alexa/Emily. I tend to drink heavily, have violent mood swings, and say horrifically inappropriate things to people who make me feel threatened and inferior. Then I sober up, and realize how stupid I look, and how completely embarrassing (and embarrassed!) I am. You shouldn’t hesitate to trust the comment section here, unless the comments are from abusive, insecure, bitter people like me.

            There’s no room in this world for that kind of slimy behavior. I take full responsibility for any crude berating that other readers have had to take time out of their busy day to write. People should keep me in check. Harshly. I need it.

            But I brought it on myself. When you only visit this blog to insult and harass people, you deserve to get it back 10,000 fold. If people like me would just stop being disgusting, the entire site would be so much better off. Nobody should follow my example, except the part where I apologized for being totally out of line.

            I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and remembers to be kind and treat others as they wish to be treated.

          2. Nah, I doubt that. If anyone was properly filtering the comments, Lynn’s first nasty remark would have gone straight into the bin where it belongs, never to see the light of day.

          3. The only thing I wouldn’t trust is someone claiming to be worried about someone while simultaneously insulting them.

            Anyone piling on to support that kind of thing would be questionable as well.

        2. What you call crude beratement, the rest of us call much appreciated calling out and correction of horrible trolls saying and doing horrible things.

          We need more of that here, not less.

        3. All this amazing content, and Lynn’s change of heart is what you choose to drop in and fixate on? Why would you concern yourself with this of all things? It’s almost as if it bothers you that she decided not to bash Tieghan after all. That’s the only thing that seems incredibly odd here.

    2. Someone who is genuinely worried about another person would speak to them privately about their concerns, and not preface their statement of concern with an an insult about the person’s appearance, a dig at their clothing choices, and a demand, then post it on a public website. Otherwise it comes across as calculating, insincere, aggressive and manipulative, as well as utterly bizarre if you are talking to someone you don’t even know personally.

      I hope things improve for you, and you find it in your heart to spread kindness and encouragement from now on instead of the opposite. ❤️

    3. Same. The pictures of you are very concerning. Please take care of yourself and remember that asking for help is a sign of strength.

      1. The only thing concerning about them is how much jealousy they seem to trigger. Says more about you than anyone else.

        You are insecure. Ask for help. It’s a sign of strength.

      2. What a sad and strange testimony to how slovenly and overindulgent our society has become. People claim to be “concerned” about someone who is literally the epitome of physical fitness?

        World gone mad, I tell ya.

        1. I think you are right, actually. I have struggled my whole life with my weight, and I feel depressed and self loathing when I see healthy people.

          Same with successful people. I’m not that either, so I just lash out. Anyone who is both physically fit, and a success story? I lose my shit.

          My bad. My deficit.

          1. Kim, maybe the best course of action for you would be to step off the internet and seek mental health counseling for yourself?

          2. I’m going to do that, Francis. Thanks. I have an appointment with a counselor midweek.

            I know I need to address my own issues and stop harassing strangers on the internet. It’s not healthy.

  9. Oh my gosh, PLEASE remake the Pillsbury Orange rolls! Get some from Walmart so you know what we’re after, lol, and I would be so excited to see a recipe from you!!
    Making your gingerbread cinnamon rolls from a few years ago for my Christmas morning this year 😍
    Merry Christmas! Thank you for the joy your emails and recipes have been bringing me (and my family!) for the last three years 💕

    1. Hey Madeline,
      Lol will definitely have to add the orange rolls to my list!! I hope everyone loves the gingerbread cinnamon rolls, such a great recipe for Christmas morning! Thanks for following along and Merry Christmas!! xT

  10. Loved this post and thank you for confirming that Katie Couric is the bomb. I’ve always said I would love to sit down for dinner and/or drinks with Katie and Gayle King. They have met the world and it would be fascinating to hear their stories. I’m being nosey on the hotel situation… is that set up by the sets that you are appearing on as to your accommodations? And if so, do you get more VIP treatment from the staff? Or does everyone get a gingerbread tree in their room? I’m only asking sitting from the sidelines and curious how that world works. Love you and your recipes! Please enjoy the family over the holiays!

  11. Tieghan, it occurs to me today that you have the perfect level of fame! You get to enjoy beautiful travel, food, friends and fashion, but (presumably) still enjoy some degree of anonymity and normalcy when out and about. I’m so happy for the life you have built for yourself and think you are one of the most successful examples of following your passions. Cheers!

    1. Thanks so much for your kind message Sarah!! I appreciate you following along and your support! Wishing you and your family happy holidays! xT

  12. My best recipes, gift ideas, fashion inspiration, decorating and shopping finds all come from you! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and can’t wait to see what you wow us with in 2023!

    1. Hi there,
      Thank you so much for your kind message and reading along!! So glad you have been enjoying the posts and links:) Happy Holidays! xT

  13. Just grabbed a couple games for my kids based on the recommendations here. Thanks for helping me with last minute shopping!

    1. Of course, happy to help Christy!! Glad you were able to find a few things your kids will enjoy! Happy Holidays! xT