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Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.
Welcome to yet another Sunday Favorite’s post! Hope you all are enjoying your weekend and cooking up plenty of delicious recipes today! I’m spending the day packing and prepping for a work week in LA. Lots of exciting things happening this week, from shoots, to meetings, to yet another taping of Hallmark Home & Family (this time with the little brother Red in tow!). I’ll be sure to keep you all up to date on Instagram, should be a busy, fun week ahead!
If any of you LA people have suggestions of places I need to check out, let me know! I’m in town a little longer than usual (i.e longer than twenty-four hours), so I might actually have a second to check some new places out. All of you girls out there who love to shop, please, tell me you secret places! And anyone who loves to eat, tell me where I have to go!
Coming up this week on the blog, we’ll be kicking the week off with a fun vegan recipe that’s perfect for upcoming BBQs and picnics, sharing a new healthy snack, an easy breakfast recipe, the best chicken salad, and ending the week on a sweet, but healthy, note. So excited about each recipe coming up this week!
If you’re planning your menus for the week, be sure to check out my weekly meal plan below (favorite #9). And if you missed out on any recipes from last week, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter that recaps all the posts of the week! Sign up here.
Enjoy this weeks favorites!
PS. I have a fun giveaway going happening on Instagram right now, enter here!
1. LA Book Signing!
I am SO excited to share that I will be doing a LA book signing at Shoppe Amber Interiors in Pacific Palisades on Thursday, May 24th, from 4:30-6:00pm.
If you happen to live in the Los Angeles area, I would LOVE to meet you guys. No really, I would LOVE to meet you! It would honestly mean so much to me if you are able to take the time out of your bust day to stop by and say HI. I will be making cocktails, signing books, and talking with everyone. It should be a really fun event and I cannot wait. For those of you who can make it out…
Please RSVP here.
2. My favorite Pinterest Pins this Week.
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{photo via pinterest/Camille Styles}
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{photo via pinterest}
3. My Favorite Outdoor Tableware for Summer Entertaining…
4. Let’s Play a Game.
I really want…this cute and very functional Senreve Bag for traveling. It’s pricy though, so for now, it’s on my wish list.
I really love…this moisturizer. I just got it this week and already love it.
I really want…to go on vacation to the Caribbean. The good news is…it will be happening in June!
I really love…this pretty Gal Meets Glam Dress. It’s a little on the girly side for me, but I also think it’s so cute.
I really want…this banana cake with chocolate frosting.
I really love…this recipe.
5. New Videos:
Mom’s One-Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cauliflower Shawarma Wraps with Green Tahini and Feta
Skillet Chicken Tinga Enchiladas
Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce
6. Let’s Talk Anxiety.
It’s seems almost everyone has felt some form of anxiety. I have touched on this before, but I’ve suffered from anxiety since I was a kid. When I was younger, it was really, really bad. Especially during middle school and high school. It wasn’t until I started HBH that I finally found ways to refocus my anxious energy and feel a little bit of relief from it. To this day, I still deal with anxiety, sometimes worse than others. This past week I had a “flare up” of sorts and it brought me back to my days of being in middle school and feeling sick to my stomach before school.
I don’t have all the answers, but over the years I’ve learned ways to help myself through anxious times. Little things like hiking, talking with my mom, hot showers, lighting candles, and fresh flowers all help. Another thing I’ve found helpful is writing down exactly what it is that’s making me anxious. A lot of times this can help me to better problem solve, therefore reducing my stress. Even if I just can’t seem to fix it, putting it all down on paper at least helps to get the the thoughts out of my head. Sometimes I’ll even realize that what I am stressing about is not worth my energy.
One of the things that has me anxious right now is flying. I never used to have any issues with flying, but recently I’ve been making myself crazy before flights and I have no idea why. Well, I take that back, I do know why. I can’t control anything about flying, not the delays, the airport security, the weather, the pilot, ect, ect. I love knowing that if there’s a problem I can fix it, but when flying, almost everything is out of my control. And yes, I know I sound crazy, but I also know I’m not the only one out there that deals with this kind of stuff, so why not talk about it?
As I said, I don’t have all the answers, but maybe you guys do? If so, leave me a comment, email me, DM, I’d love to hear how you guys deal with stuff like this!
PS. I loved reading this article on natural ways to deal with anxiety.
7. A Few Links I am Loving…
California chicken, veggie, and avocado rice bowls…YUM.
how an interior designer decorates a room from start to finish…this is fun.
mothers and daughters running a business together…love. love. LOVE.
3 traits all confident women have…are you all three?
the email hack to help be more present…turn off those notifications.
give this up for overnight confidence…perfection is not a thing.
we don’t have to be afraid of romaine lettuce anymore…YES, cobb salad time.
17 things to do on your birthday…I am all about the beach, or a spa day.
Turks and Caicos is calling…and I think I’m going to go.
Meghan Markle’s guide to Tulum, Mexico…I also want to go.
how to maximize your shower in 7 minutes or less…the most efficient shower ever.
8. A few Pieces I am Taking to LA…
9. This Week’s Dinners:
Monday: Grilled Pesto Zucchini Stuffed with Tomatoes and Orzo
Tuesday: Fiesta Chicken Quesadillas
Wednesday: Sweet Corn Chimichurri Butter Shrimp with Polenta
Thursday: Grilled Chili Honey Lime Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Friday: Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
it looks very nice
Thank you!
OMG, what an amazing list of favorites! I really wish I could come to your book signing. I’ll be arriving in Los Angeles on Friday, so the day after the event! 🙁 Anyways, I would love to try your Shawarma cauliflower wraps someday! They look absolutely AMAZING!
Awh so wish you were there to come! I hope you enjoy LA and the Shawarma wraps!
Anxiety has been a part of my life for a long time never a fan of flying either. Yoga and learning how to breath helps, herbal teas to calm, hyland’s nerve tonic is a natural calming table that is would at your local natural grocer. I know that have it at your store location because we vacationed there 2 years ago. Nerve tonice is high in magnesium which people with anxiety tend to be low on. Taking a daily dose of magnesium 600mg helps me tremendously. You seem to have the same body size and build as me I have mitral valve prolapse which causes anxiety attacks it is sometimes overlooked. I have done so much better since taking the supplements for about 18 hrs and have been able to live life to the fullest with calm and flying without panic. Hope this helps if you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Best of luck love your work.
Lury
Thank you so so much for all of these helpful tips Lucy!!
So I’m DEFINITELY going to try and make it to the book signing on Thursday (pending any work craziness popping up)! Now in regards to food recommendations, I’ve got three for you. For some amazing German sausages you definitely need to try Wurstkuche in the Arts District. For a gorgeous view and good food to go with it, there’s Perch in downtown. And for my favorite Mexican food in all of LA (and that’s saying a lot) you need to try Gilbert’s El Indio in Santa Monica!
As far as anxiety is concerned, I’m definitely not an expert. I do have a playlist that I created on Spotify of songs that for some reason or another have a way of keeping me grounded and calm. So I always end up going straight for that playlist whenever I can feel the anxiety coming on.
Safe travels this week!
I hope to see you there! Thank you so much Katie! And I would love to check out your playlist if you’re willing to share it!
Can I pay you an odd website compliment? I come here for the recipes, but I stay for how well HBH works; the recipes are easy to pin, the links open on another page so I can keep my threads open. It’s these little details that I find truly impressive.
That is so sweet!! Thank you so much Dana!
I’ve always heard Sugarfish in LA has the most amazing sushi.
I have seen something about them! Maybe I will try it out! Thank you Amanda!
There is a hole-in-the-wall ramen bar that was my favorite spot for lunch during my time in LA. Head to Diakokuya in Little Tokyo. They serve until they run out, so it’s best to get there early!
YES! I will totally try to make it there! Thank you Meg!
AS you’ve said everyone feels and deals with anxiety differently, and probably defines it differently. For myself I’ve recently started eating better, not that I ate badly but making sure I’m eating foods that contain more potassium and magnesium every day and I have to say I don’t get those feelings I was starting to get on a regular bases. The big thing is recognizing you suffer or feel this way and looking for ways to deal with it. I hope this helps you or someone else.
I feel like so many things in life- health wise- are determined by what we eat and put in our bodies! I am so glad you found this to help you and I hope it helps me as well! Thank you Sandra!
for some reason i can’t seem to reply to charlottes comment but yaasss on the pics of red and the girl he took to prom!! pleeease can u put them up??
Yes! Totally want to! Thank you!
as you can tell from the replies, you are not alone in your anxieties – and that in itself helps! As a control freak myself, I related to the lady that noted that loss of control added to her feelings. I, like you, am a Virgo – I’ve always thought that might contribute, too 🙂 The deep breaths and grounding techniques should be useful. I used to do some relaxation meditation when necessary, like counting backwards from 100 or relaxing my body parts one at a time, starting with my toes and working upward. Have a fun trip.
Thank you so much Marge! It has been so nice to hear that I am not the only one struggling with this and thank you for your tips! I will try these out!
Your posts are excellent. You have found your calling.
My anxiety has gotten worse in the past few years. Part of this is aging, I am certain. The conclusion I have reached about myself, at least, is that most of my anxiety stems from a feeling of lack of control. Consequently, I am a planner and a sort of list maker. I can fall asleep making a list of what I will eat and do the following morning…I find that if I spend advance time planning I am less anxious. Also, a back-up plan for almost everything is a relief.
As far as airplanes go, join the club. I have not sat by a window for years now and also will not sit by the emergency exit door anymore, even though the extra space is nice. I read, and also say a little prayer on take-off and landing, plus just say a mental thanks for landing safely. Believe me, this is bit goofy because I am no a religious person. Best of luck to you.
Hi Valerie! Thank you so much. It is so nice to hear that others go through the same things I do. Having a back-up plan sounds like it would help tremendously, so I will try that! Thanks again!!
I just love your blog and you! I really enjoy the content and find you very relatable. I hope you enjoy your upcoming trips! I’ll be living through you!!! ?
Thank you Becca!
I always appreciate how open and authentic you are in your posts. I really appreciate that one of the hardest working, badass woman I look up to is strong enough to talk about her anxiety. That being said, I definitely don’t have the answers for anxiety, but i know what helps reduce it for me when I have to fly or drive to a destination. If I start to get overwhelmed, I start to think (or talk about if I’m with someone) all of the things and places I’ll go to once I actually get to my destination. If I get anxious on the plane, I’ll do something called grounding where you take deep breaths and keep touching your legs, chair, etc. while keeping your feet planted on the floor. It’s a reminder that you are still here and that you are not your circumstances. Plus it’s an easy way to refocus. I hope some of this helps!
Awh thank you so much for this Erica! This is so sweet and really means a lot! I hope you continue to enjoy my posts and have a great week!
I so look forward to these posts! I’m right there with you on the anxiety, and I totally understand how control and the lack of it factors in. For flying, I get to the airport reallllly early (and treat myself to a magazine when I get there) and I recently got the TSA precheck, which eliminates, or at least reduces, my security line anxiety. I usually only travel with a carryon bag and the idea of getting a place to put it in the overhead bins always stresses me out, so as soon as the gate agents are available I volunteer for a gate check. Then I don’t have to worry about it. And this is really weird, but it works, I’ve started imagining that I am the pilot and that I love flying planes, and now I have zero anxiety in the air. I try to avoid layovers if I can, but if I have one, I choose a long one. I’d rather have a long easy trip than save time but be worried about making a connection. I hope that you get through this anxiety flare up, I’m pulling for you 🙂 Thank you so much for your blog, it is really one of my favorite things. Give a holler if you are ever in NYC.
Hi Annie! I am so happy to hear you love these posts. Gate checking is actually such a great idea! Thank you!
I was looking forward to pics of Red and the girl he took to the prom.
Now I need to go back and read some of the other stuff. HA!!
Thank you Charlotte!