Nine Favorite Things.
{it’s peach season}
Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post!
Happy weekend guys!! Hope you’re having a great one. Anything planned for today? My weekend started off with a fun catch up with Ashley on Saturday morning. ashley has been working with us at HBH behind the scenes now since February. It was great to finally meet her in person (she is from Arizona) and her cute little family. We had a fun morning eating the best blueberry muffins (seriously the best) from the HBH cookbook and just chatting a way. It was a great start to my weekend!
Unfortunately, the weather has been thunder stormy, so not much time has been spent outside lately. July through early August around here are pretty predictable weather wise, sunshine in the morning, dark stormy clouds in the afternoons. It’s not the greatest, but when the sun is out, there’s nothing like it.
I spent the second part of yesterday working on that secret project that I’ve been teasing you guys about. I promise promise, more soon, but I am pretty excited to share it with you all. Fingers crossed you’ll be as excited as we all are over here.
Not sure what’s in store for today, but I’m going to try to spend some time away from my desk and possibly even away from the kitchen…ahh, does that ever happen?? nope! But I’m going to try. Just depends on what the weather does and what not. Trying to keep my mind off my doctors visit tomorrow…ugh the worst. Does anyone else absolutely HATE going to the doctor? I just have a check-up, nothing serious, but even those stress me out. I just do not like doctor’s offices, so I’ll be extra happy when that’s over.
Anyway, let me know what you guys are up to, I love hearing all about your fun summer weekends!
Below are this week’s nine favorites. Enjoy all the fun reads and be sure to check out this week’s dinner plan (it’s #9 on the list)!
{my favorite balsamic peach basil chicken salad with crispy prosciutto}
1. I am secretly trying to plan a trip to Italy for Asher’s birthday, which is August 30th…meaning this trip will mostly likely happen next year or sometime after her birthday. With the release of the cookbook being September 12th, I just don’t think I can swing a trip right now. BUT ever since Asher brought up the idea to go to Italy, I have been super interested in reading up on the best spots to hit. I love this Architectural Digest article on 12 of the most breathtaking seaside towns in Italy. Ravello and Sperlonga are high on my list. Have you guys ever been? Do you have suggestions? Again, this trip is a long way off, but it’s fun to plan, and it might be nice to get away after all the book craziness!
2. Do any of you guys shop at Reformation? It’s my new favorite store. Here are the items I just bought and am loving…
–> these mid crop flares…I love these. so much.
–> this casablanca top…it’s a lot cuter on. love it.
–> this ballet dress…so simple and so pretty.
–> these stretch flood pants…obsessed.
–> these jeans shorts…they fit perfectly.
3. Something I love doing in my free time is scrolling through Pinterest and pinning all of my favorites in home designs. Oddly I don’t do this with food, just home and fashion. I recently did a huge binge Pinterest scroll and here are some of my favorites in the home design category…
ps. you need to be logged into Pinterest to see these photos.
–> this dining space is stunning. I love the hanging flowers.
–> this bathroom tile and this bathroom tile. both are amazing and I want a bathroom just as pretty.
–> this entry way is so gorgeous and inspiring.
–> this barn door with the horse hanging out. I basically just need the whole photo.
–> this outdoor space is my dream.
–> this farm style dinning area. love it.
–> this kitchen. I love the openness throughout.
–> this bedroom. the cozy feel is everything.
–> this kitchen’s ceiling. the wood is so pretty.
–> this bathroom sink. the detailing in the coper is gorgeous.
–> this living room. the coffee table with all the white? love.
4. Selena Gomez? How do you guys feel about her? Honestly, I am so neutral, but I did grow up watching her, so I’d say I am a slight fan..ish. What I never realized about her was that she has serious everyday street style which I LOVE. I’d wear all of these outfits except for the last two…which I would not be caught dead in, but the blue dress looks cute on her! What I would wear? Her white tea and black jeans? Totally me and her fuzzy crop top/sweater and skinnies? Yup, I’d love that outfit. Do you guys have any style inspirations for summer and fall fashion?
5. New videos:
{Easiest Raspberry Shortcake Ricotta Ice Cream}
–> sweet buttered polenta pancakes with fresh summer fruit…3 ingredients and SO GOOD. make them today.
–> balsamic peach basil chicken salad with crispy prosciutto…my favorite summer salad.
–> browned butter scallop and burst tomato basil pasta…the best summer pasta.
–> EASIEST raspberry shortcake ricotta ice cream…no churn, ice coldn and nothing beats it on a hot summer day.
6. I mentioned the Nordstrom Anniversary sale last week, but it’s so much fun that I can’t help but share a few more pieces I’m loving from the sale. Clearly, I am on a new clothes shopping kick! Hey, I’m going to need them with some of the fun events I have coming up! Here are some of my early fall picks…not that I’m ready for summer to end, I just love fall clothes so much.
7. I heard the Game of Thrones premiere was Monday night. Will you guys hate me if I tell you that I have never watched even one episode? Do I need to get into it? Honestly, I have not watched TV in so long, but lately I’ve really been feeling the need for a good mind numbing TV show. What should I try to get into? Here are some shows I loved in the past…don’t judge me. Also, you can clearly tell it’s been a while since I watched TV. And yes, I like the drama, lol.
- Gilmore Girls –> hard-core fan. not embarrassed about it.
- Lost –> watched it up until the last two seasons in which it got too unrealistic for me.
- 7th Heaven –> totally loved this show.
- 90210 –> the spin-off. I never watched the original. should I?
- Dexter –> my darker side.
- Vampire Diaries –> I watched the first 2 season, but then fell away from it.
Reading this list I am realizing my taste in TV is maybe not that good. Also, I am blanking on what else I used to watch. I know there was more. Yikes.
Help me.
8. A few links I am loving…
–>8 chic ways to get your hair up this summer…ff you know me, then you know my hair is almost always up, so I love this.
–> all of the mid summer dahlias…my favorite Instagram of the week.
–> the best vineyards in Napa…headed to Napa in October, so this was a fun read.
–> the french girl’s guide to entertaining…all the rustic tablescapes and cheese please.
–> 3 recipes for s’more brownies…because it would not be summer without s’mores.
9. This week’s dinners:
Monday: 15-Minute Zucchini Pasta with Poached eggs and Quick Heirloom Cherry Tomato Basil Sauce
Tuesday: One-Pot Greek Oregano Chicken and Orzo with Tomatoes in Garlic Oil
Wednesday: Grilled Zucchini Gyros with Sun-Dried Tomato Tzatziki
Thursday: Cuban Grilled Salmon with Tomato Avocado Salsa
Friday: Summer Tomato and Zucchini Halloumi Bake
Bonus Appetizer: 10 Minute Garden Herb Avocado Dip
Check out all the past Favorites posts here.
Hummm… those are not just beautiful but must be delicious. Thanks
Awh thanks so much!
I too love the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. When I was working, I used to take the morning of the first day to go. Scored a few things this year too!
Ah thats awesome!! So jealous!
You should watch Friday Night Lights or Parenthood. They’re addicting & wonderful 🙂
And in Italy you can’t go wrong with Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast. Really all of Italy is beautiful & the food is delicious.
LOVE all the recommendations thank you so much!
On your shows… Vampire Diaries…GREAT SHOW…one of my favs! 90210…I didn’t watch the spinoff but grew up with the original… LOVED it! One other that I’m obsessed with is GLEE. I watched a few episodes when it came on, now I’ve started from Season 1. Just some “food” for thought! (See what I did there?!) Food looks great this week. That salmon looks amazing!!!
Used to love the old 90210! I will check out the other ones (:
Haha love it!! So happy your liking the food, thanks Mandy!
I seldom comment, but felt that I must do so today because – I love “Nine Favorite Things”!! It is filled with wit and wisdom, reveals so much of wonderful YOU! Thank-you! P.S. Recipes are always a welcome “thing”.
I must check it out!! Sounds awesome! Thank you Ellen!
Link is missing for S’more brownies 🙂 and I’d definitely like to see those.
Here ya go! All fixed 🙂
http://www.mydomaine.com/smores-brownie-recipe?ps=home
Sperlonga is really cool! The archaeological site of the Villa of Tiberius is there with a huge grotto right on the beach. It’s a small town but beautiful! Terracina is close by and it’s also pretty sweet! Happy travel planning! P.S. Loving your nine favorite things posts!
Looking at them both now, looks so cool! Getting very excited! Thanks a lot Alyssa!!
Add Cinque Terra to your list of places to visit in Italy. You can take the train or boat but we walked the Blue Trail. We started in Monterosso and hiked to Vernazza . . the views are breathtaking! You also get to walk right thru the locals vineyards which is pretty cool. We stopped and talked with locals along the way and even got lemonade made from their trees. Already ordered your cookbook . . . just live down the hill from you so maybe I can pick one up early (ha!) Looking forward to it!
WOW Might just have to that sounds amazing! Can’t pass up walking through some vineyards as well!
Ah so cool your close by! I wish I had some to give out, that would be too fun!
I loved Gilmore Girls too! The other shows, not so much. I’m not a drama person at all – I prefer sci-fi to anything else. I’m totally partial to Battlestar Galactica (the remake) and The 100 – while they are sci-fi, they are really more about the human condition and it is fascinating to see the lengths people go to survive.
Totally with you about Gilmore girls! I haven’t watched much sci-fi but maybe i’ll try it out! Thanks Erin!
Omg you must watch the original 90210. The best! Also Scandal is amazing! Check it out!
Ok here I go. I’ve hit a good number of of these towns as my family is from italy and while my parents are from outside Rome my sister lives in the lake Como area. One thing to note don’t try to see too much of Italy your first time. You have to spend 2-3 three days in a city or area to get a feel for it. Some of these places can be done at once because they are located in the same area. Portofino, Vernazza, Manarola are all in the Cinque Terre area and all beautiful. I would suggest a hike that brings you in the moutains above the towns of Cinque Terre. It’s amazing but be careful –
as my husband and I say-there are no training wheels in Italy. Ponza is a beautiful island and just amazing to walk around and explore. Sperlonga is not far from Ponza. Both are near Terracina where my mother is from and she has relayed wonderful childhood memories of Sperlonga. You’re very near Rome in this area. Positano, Capri and Ravello are all the Amalfi coast and are so beautiful. If seas are not too rough you must do the Grotta Azzurra. I hear it’s amazing and have never been able to do it. You could travel from the Rome area down to Amalfi and see Pompeii on the way! If up north Como italy is amazing! Bra is in the Piedmont area where the slow food movement began. Oh and there is Siena near Florence, and San Gimignano! There is so much to see I’d pick an area that you’re really interested in and go with it. Phew! Feel free to email me with questions. I get way too excited about Italy.
Hi Linda! WOW!! Thank you so much for all this info. I am saving this comment for all the planning in our future. I am now so excited and feel like I need to hit all of these places. So much to discover and see!! When I do start really diving into planning, I am totally going to email you. Thank you! 🙂 PS. I think multiple trips will be needed!