Nine Favorite Things.

Nine Favorite Things – our Home Chef recipes come this week!

I’m finally back home! I returned home Friday night and I’ve been dreaming about the pretty Colorado fall we all love so much. The time is here and this makes me so happy!!!

Before diving into things today (though today’s post is on the shorter side), I want to thank you all. Your incredible support and excitement over our Home Chef collaboration has been amazing. Everyone involved has worked (and is continuing to work) so hard on these recipes we’ve created for you all. I AM SO EXCITED for you all to begin getting your meal kits this week. Please make sure to share your creations with me on social, through email, or wherever you feel most comfortable. It’s going to be fun. I think I’ll do a fun giveaway to celebrate too. Any requests? 

Make sure to use my code HALFBAKED to get 18 Free Meals + Free Shipping!

Ok, moving along, New York was a great trip! It was probably the longest I’ve ever stayed in the city. I’m going to share a full recap next week. I really love traveling right now. I feel so excited that I have more trips planned through the end of the year. Fall is such an exciting season! 

Other than that, I’m looking forward to my week ahead and getting back into the kitchen. I’m missing my family greatly, they are in Portugal. I can’t wait to see them soon!

According to forecasts, it looks like there’s going to be some beautiful fall weather ahead. I’m excited to cook through some cozy recipes – ’tis the season!

How about all of you? What’s new? Anything fun happening? We’re more than halfway through September. Are you looking forward to the October spooky season?! I totally am. And I’m excited to share new Halloween desserts and fun cocktails!

Have the best Sunday! Less than a week left of summer. If you’re in the mood for fall, I shared our top fall recipes on Friday, 50 of the most popular. Enjoy!

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

burning…pumpkin smash. OF COURSE. 

everything in my cart (low)…this patent leather bag from Mango is giving off serious Ferragamo vibes. I especially love the red, but both the red and brown are a great fall color. The bag paired with this midi denim dress from Reformation would be so cute. I would add these moto boots. Or try these leather kitten heel ankle boots from Zara. Such a cute fall look. 

listening to…How to Stay Vibrant as We Age and Creating a New Way to Cleanse with Kroma Wellness Founder, Lisa Odenweller. Listen if you want to reset for the new season ahead. 

dreaming of going…10 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Vermont. Nothing beats fall on the East coast. 

loving…Rentrayage’s Home. Such cute pieces for the home and kitchen. I love the daintiness. 

shopping…cozy Amazon loungewear. I ordered most of these pieces – loving them!

everything in my cart (beauty)…some luxury finds for you all. 

watching…Ariana Grande’s ’60s Cat Eye and “Pretty In Pink” Makeup Look. Just a fun Vogue beauty get-ready with me video. 

reading…Jake Arnold: Redefining Comfort. The new coffee table book for fall that you actually want to read too. 

wanting…the new  V15 Detect Submarine. Have you seen this? Apparently, it’s their most powerful yet and it also washes hard floors! I am very interested. I love my current Dyson vacuum, but this one is definitely on my Christmas wish list. 

everything in my cart (high)…so much inspiration from New York Fashion Week. I am obsessed with these Miu Miu patent leather slingbacks. Though I have to say, these leather healed slingbacks from Mango is a pretty similar dupe.

Also, love the Staud cami boot in cherry.

traveling…7 Reasons Why Sicily Should Be Your Next Italian Holiday Destination. I am convinced. 

shopping…the the Diptyque refillable candle. A slightly more affordable way to burn through the Diptyque candles. 

ordering…a handheld milk frother. This just feels convenient for mixing creamier cocktails or lattes this season. Hoping I love it and use it plenty! But people really do rave over these frothers.

2. My favorite apple recipes.

Shortcut Easy Apple Fritters

Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad

Brie and Cheddar Apple Beer Soup

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing

Mini Apple Cider Cakes

Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions

3. Cozy October home, everything I love. 

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: What are you most excited about?
a: So many good, exciting things. Things I can’t share just yet (lame I know). Other things that I actually get to share soon!! And things that are happening this month and next too!! For this week, I’m happy to be home, but looking forward to jetting off again! We’re making changes, and doing new things. In general, I’m feeling so much happiness, anxiousness, and excitement all at once. There’s a lot going on!

q: what is your guilty pleasure?
a: online shopping.

q: how do you deal with internet trolls and mean comments?
a: To be honest, we don’t get that many. We are lucky to have the kindest community 🤍 I remind myself that the haters are always the loudest in the room. Their words mean absolutely nothing to me. It’s nonsense. All that matters most is how I am doing and feeling personally, and how the people around me are. Lucky to have a strong family and the best team supporting me. I do my best to not let the negativity affect me. I’m so happy, so excited, and feel so thankful for all we have in the works. It’s beyond incredible. I can’t believe what we’ve created. More to come and hopefully all good things!!

q: how do you get yourself out of a rut or bad place?
a: You know, I didn’t realize it, but I was a little there during the spring when it literally would not stop snowing/raining at home. It was getting hard mentally but it forced me to realize that I needed a change. So I slowly started to make moves to change my situation. Now I couldn’t be happier or more excited to wake up and work every single day. I am so fortunate that I get to do what I love!!

Just remember if you’re feeling burnt out, you are the only one who can make a change in your life. Don’t wait for something to happen. Take the steps to make the change. Work hard, be fun to work with, be kind, and achieve your happiness goals.

q: what are your favorite books?
a: the Harry Potter series and Miss Susie, the book my mom read me as a kid.

q: how quickly do you share recipes after testing them?
a: Honestly pretty soon. I’m usually too excited to not share the recipe right away. It’s one of the greatest/worst things. I love to feel really excited and happy about everything I share with you all. So cooking way ahead and being scheduled is very hard. I love to feel inspired by the seasons, the day, and the people around me. If I get too ahead on content, I end up becoming bored with things. I change my mind and don’t like them as much as I once did. I’m crazyyyy! On average I test the recipe, photograph/video it, and share it all within about a week or two. It just depends on what’s happening, how I’m feeling, and if I’m traveling and need to have content bulked.

q: how do you manage anxiety while traveling?
a: movement every single morning is a non-negotiable for me. In any city I am in, I make sure the hotel I stay at is near a bike path/walkable sidewalk. I make sure to schedule time to get out in the morning, before the day starts, for a run/walk. And then at home, I always go for a hike.

I also try to keep up with my daily stretches as best I can but don’t always get them in.

Then legs up the wall every single night. Especially when traveling! It helps reduce inflammation, increases blood circulation, calms the nervous system, and helps with digestion. Plus I just love it!

q: I just ordered the YSE highlighter, do you love it? 
a: Ohhhh!!! Yeah!! You are going to love the YSE beauty highlighter. It’s so good!

q: do you use packing cubes?
a: Personally I don’t love them. I think they take up too much space. But that’s just me. Some people love them!

q: essential pieces for fall fashion?
a: 

1. Cashmere sweater
(cashmere anything…)
2. Leather jacket
3. Everyday jean
4. Trench/long winter coat
5. tall boots

5. Our Snif PUMPKIN SMASH candle is back!

I’ve been hinting about this launch for months now. I couldn’t be more excited that it’s finally time to burn our favorite fall candle, Pumpkin SMASH. After all the love we received for this candle last year (it sold out almost immediately), the Snif team and I decided we’d bring the candle back into production for another season. The second I get home, I am lighting mine. It’s 62 degrees out in New York right now and it feels like fall. I’m ready for the scents of pumpkin spice, salted maple, cinnamon, vanilla, and sweet roasted chocolate to flow throughout my home. 

When Snif approached me about creating a candle scent for them, I said yes immediately. No questions asked, yes, yes, yes! I’ve always wanted to create a candle.

You can order your Pumpkin Smash candles here.

We worked on perfecting the scent for months. It was quite an undertaking, but a fun one! 

What I love most about Snif candles: 

– vegan + cruelty-free (no paraffin)
– high-end soy + vegetable wax blend
– 100% pure cotton wicks
– non-toxic, safe, clean
– extended burn times: 8.5 oz = 50+ hours and 50 oz = 200+ hours

One last thing, this will not be our only Snif launch this year.

More to share soon…

6. Inspiring me. 

ready for fall

7. Favorite links i’m loving.

What You Should Read This Fall…love these suggestions. Some of these sound so perfect for this time of year. 

30 Fun Things to Do This Fall…yes please!

20 Essential Fall Pasta Recipes to Celebrate Comfort Food Season…yum to all of these.

I Dry Body Brush Every Day–Here Are All The Benefits

The Best New Luxury Hot Spots in South Florida

Taylor Swift Gives Us a New Era of Beauty at the VMAs…she looked so pretty.

Austin’s Food Truck Scene Is Arguably the Best—Here Are Our Favorites

Brow Experts to the Stars Taught Me *Exactly* How to Shape My Brows

the 7 Best Fashion Week Street Style Outfits We Want to Recreate

I’m a Beauty Editor, and I Can’t Stop Wearing These 7 Colors on Short Nails

7 Reasons Why Sicily Should Be Your Next Italian Holiday Destination

8. Every fall look I could find (and love) – high and low.

fall boots – high and low

jewelry – low

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: One Pot Buffalo Chicken “Helper”

Tuesday: Cider Braised Chicken with Caramelized Onions

Wednesday: Garlic Butter Pizza Egg Rolls

Thursday: Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch

Friday: Chili Crisp Chicken Ramen in Ginger Soy Broth

Saturday: Spicy Blackberry Margarita Sour

Sunday: Apple Cider Doughnut Cookies