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Hey guys! Happiest Sunday Funday! And thanks for joining me on another Nine Favorite Things post!

Blueberry Vanilla Greek Yogurt Granola Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

{my favorite blueberry vanilla greek yogurt granola bars to make on Sunday}

Hope everyone’s weekend is going great. So far, mine has been jam-packed. I’m excited to spend some time today just catching up a bit and preparing for a photo shoot I have first thing tomorrow. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat then you know that on Friday I headed to Salt Lake City to speak at the Everything Food Conference. I did a quick in and out trip, arriving Friday night for a fun Cinco de Mayo party, spoke on Saturday Morning (was so nervous, but it went great), and then headed back home to Colorado in the afternoon. My mom and little miss Asher were nice enough to come and pick me up in Denver, so I got to spend two hours talking with them on the drive home, which was awesome.

How about you guys? Is the weather becoming warm and spring like? I’ve seen a lot of people already posting that it feels like summer, so my fingers are crossed that most of you are getting plenty of sunshine!

Anyway, here are today’s nine favorite things! See ya all tomorrow for a delicious and easy dinner that will also double as the perfect Mother’s Day meal!

1. My family and I are headed to San Diego on Friday for my cousin’s graduation. I’m pretty excited for a couple of days in the sun with the people I love best. I’m wondering if you guys have suggestions of what we should be doing, eating, and seeing while there. I’ve been to San Diego once before, but it was for work so I didn’t really get to explore. What are all the best San Diego adventures?! On the Monday after, I’ll be heading up to LA for work, but that will most likely be a quick trip…not quite all planned out yet

2. Mother’s Day is just a week from today, what are you guys making? I’m hoping to take over my cousin’s kitchen (Abby, Mathew…that cool?), and make a big spread for everyone. Since I’ll be in San Diego I’ll have to keep things simple. I might try to pull off this Moroccan Brunch spread. But considering that I’ll be playing it by ear, I haven’t developed an exact plan. If I were home, I would be making this french toast and these scones, since they’re some of my mom’s favorites. And then for lunch we’d do this farro salad with a side of honey raspberry brie crostini. For dinner? Well, I am actually posting my mom’s favorite meal tomorrow, but as another suggestion you might want to start with this Meze Platter and then also make this pretty asparagus salad with this cuban grilled salmon. For cocktails, this fun tropical hibiscus rum smash or this strawberry chamomile paloma. OH, and then for dessert? Definitely this zebra cake.

Be sure to check back all week for a few more recipes. I’ll be featuring some of my mom’s personal favorites!

Farro Tabbouleh with Burrata and Hummus | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

{farro tabbouleh with burrata and hummus}

3. If you guys read Tuesday’s post, then you may remember how I talked a bit about some of the anxiety I have been feeling lately. I got such incredibly kind and encouraging comments, I am always in awe of you guys, thank you! I think one of things I haven’t shared extensively is my long history with anxiety. I struggled with anxiety throughout my teenage years and truthfully, this blog is what broke me out of my shell and helped to rid me of a lot of my anxious feelings. Lately though, that anxiousness has come back. I think it’s mostly due to all the things I have coming up with the release of the Half Baked Harvest Cookbook. With exciting things also comes fear, self-doubt, and just a heck of a lot of anxiety. I don’t want to get into it all, but really I just wanted to tell you guys what’s up because I think a lot of you can probably relate. Social media tends to only show the pretty parts of my life, but I’m human too, and just like you guys, I have my struggles. If you can relate to what I am saying here, what do you do to deal with your stresses and fears? I would love to know if you guys might like reading a post on this topic? It’s something super close to me, as I mentioned I’ve struggled with it for as long as I can remember, but sometimes having a platform to discuss issues can be helpful. Through the years I’ve learned a thing or two about keeping my head up and pushing through, which is what I’m doing now, because even though I’m anxious, I couldn’t be more excited or grateful about what life is bringing me…but man it can be scary!

4. Speaking of exciting things…I’ve been so exited to share with you guys something really fun that I’ll be doing this week. Before I head to San Diego, on Wednesday I am off to Nashville. I will be doing a couple LIVE cooking segments on Today in Nashville. I’ll be on both Thursday and Friday morning and will be making some Mother’s Day brunch recipes, plus chatting about the release of the cookbook! I’m pretty excited, but you guys, my real concern…what should I wear?

5. New videos: buffalo chicken quinoa salad, super easy crockpot carne asada tacos, and for something sweet churro waffles.

6. I’m currently working on a behind the scenes project that I will reveal to you guys in a few months (really excited about it). I can’t give details just yet, but it does involve some kitchen designing. Which of course has taken me to Pinterest for new ideas. I have a few open shelves in the barn, and for the most part I do love them, but I’m glad I didn’t make all of my shelving open…you need somewhere to hide all the clutter, you know? Anyway, I found this post on open shelving really fun to scroll through. From top to bottom, the third, fourth and then second to last photos are my favorite sets ups. What’s your favorites? Any kitchen trends you guys are loving that I need to know about?

7. Summer is quickly approaching and I am pretty excited, but summertime in the Colorado mountains is a little different. It’s beyond beautiful, but just a smidge on the cold side for me. I love that ninety degree heat. Yes, for real. This summer I’m hoping to maybe plan a fun trip somewhere. Asher is dying to go to Italy, so that’s one idea. But I found this post on the best summer travel destinations pretty inspiring. Egypt and the Canary Islands look pretty amazing to me. Also, if you wanted to stay in the US, here are some fun summertime road trips. Mackinac Island, MI and Idyllwild, CA look pretty fun to me!

8. Favorite pin/style finds of the week: straw bags are my new obsession for spring/summer, I’d really like to get one. But this bamboo bag is my absolute favorite! Also, I’d like to make this outfit is my new summer uniform.

9. This week’s dinners: 

Avocado Veggie Spring Rolls with Sweet Thai Mango Sauce,

Avocado Veggie Spring Rolls with Sweet Thai Mango Sauce | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Healthier Oven Fried Sweet Tea Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Healthier Oven Fried Sweet Tea Buffalo Chicken Sandwich | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

30 Minute Asian Basil Beef and Mango Noodle Salad

30 Minute Asian Basil Beef and Mango Noodle Salad | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Breakfast Tacos Al Pastor

Breakfast Tacos Al Pastor | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

20 Minute Brown Butter Chunky Basil Pesto Pasta

20 Minute Brown Butter Chunky Basil Pesto Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Bonus: 10 Minute Magical Chocolate Almond Butter Superfood Seed Bars

10 Minute Magical Chocolate Almond Butter Superfood Seed Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Check out all the past Favorites posts here.

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Comments

  1. Hey, T: Not an expert but I have heard that people tend to suffer from varying degrees of anxiety mostly due to fears about the past or future and have heard that mindfulness really helps. I think as people become more self aware, often as they get more mature, they become more overwhelmed at their place in the world and at the realization that adults that we look(ed) up to don’t have their act all together. They are just as human as the inexperienced teenagers, in some cases, teenagers are more mature than the “adults” (don’t get me started about our current POTUS). When I get overwhelmed, I write it down, whether it’d 1) be a list of the things I have to do (break it down into little itty bitty manageable steps) and then prioritize which is most important and just focus on the most important at that moment, or 2) write down about what stresses me out. Writing it down helps me. And exercise. Walking in nature helps me realize how big the world it, so much bigger it is than all the problems that are running thru my head. But you are going through a big stage in your Life, launching this amazing new cookbook. And a book launch and tour probably sounds overwhelming and miles away from your cozy barn at home. Know that there are complete strangers out that LOVE you and your work. I already preordered your book and told my fam I wanted it for Mother’s Day (hint. hint.) The teenagers were just happy they didn’t have to wrack their brain for MD gift ideas! I was traveling when I first saw this post and didn’t get to respond until now when I was scouring for a new recipe to try for the fam tonight (we LOVE your recipes and photos, always make me drool) and your raw, organic way of sharing your family and all the stuff that happens (good and bad) just demonstrates your humanness and reminds us we don’t all have photo-ready lives. I commend you for sharing your struggles with anxiety and hope that it just opens up the door for those that suffer from the same issue (and there are A LOT of them, I know) to know that they are not alone. The world needs more people like you. Kudos to your parents for raising such a brave, accomplished, “whole” young woman. Now off to buy ingredients for Korean Bulgogi BBQ Steak Bowls tonight! Thx for the recipe!

    1. Hey Jean! Thank you SO much for all these great tips/tricks. I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful comment!I to love making a list of things that I have to do, but I am going to try writing down what it is that stresses me out. I think this will be so helpful! Thank you again and enjoy the bowls! 🙂

  2. Just found your blog after seeing you on Talk of the Town. Everything looks amazing, so happy I found you! When does your book come out? Oh you looked really cute btw, and did a great job! We are totally making those croissants this weekend ?

    1. Thank you so much Liane! Your so nice!
      My book comes out in September!
      Hope you love the croissants (: