Nine Favorite Things.
Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.
Just one full day left till December first!! My excitement for the holiday season is beyond this year. I think it’s the year we’ve had, it’s been such a mix of so much. I know so many are calling 2020 “the dumpster fire” year, but for as weird as the year was, I personally have so much to be thankful for.
2020 was a huge year of growth for HBH. We’ve seen our community more than double in size and that alone is something to celebrate! It’s incredible actually, and I was reminded just how incredible over Thanksgiving.
Wow. You guys! I’ve never, ever seen so many HBH recipes being made in a matter of two days than I did this past Wednesday and Thursday. Instagram was on fire with direct messages and posts full of Thanksgiving recipes. The four most popular recipes? The butter soaked Herb Butter Roasted Turkey, Salted Honey Butter, Parker House Rolls, the Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and the Molten Chocolate Crackle Pie. OH!! Geez, and how could I forget the cocktails! So. Many. Cocktails. The Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned and Vanilla Espresso Martini were favorites of the night. Getting to be a part of so many of your Thanksgivings is the most special and amazing thing. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Honestly, your support and the love you show HBH really shines and makes me want to work even harder for you guys.
Twas’ our best Thanksgiving yet!
Question: what was your favorite recipe you enjoyed this Thanksgiving?
Question: what was the highlight of your Thanksgiving?
And lastly, shout out to my cousin Maggie for working countless hours over the holiday to help get back to everyone. She for sure wins the most valuable HBH team member award this Thanksgiving. Grateful for her. Grateful for you all!
Ok, ok, onto Christmas, my favorite time of year. I have so many things I want to check off my holiday list this year. It feels exciting that we still have all of December ahead of us, but I know it will go so fast, so my biggest goal this holiday season? Enjoy it! That means…blast the Christmas music while cooking, light my favorite holiday candles at night, and watch every last cheesy holiday movie I possibly can…even if it means I’m half working, half watching…I’m going to get them in. And most importantly, make time for little sister Asher, new little brother, Oslo. And of course, the rest of the fam too, once they all start to roll in for Christmas. Ambitious goals…but I’m putting them out there into the world, which always makes me feel a little more committed.
Aside from all that, I also have so many exciting posts to share this month. It all started with Friday’s The Santa Clause Cookies, which are currently my favorite thing I’ve baked up for the holidays. So yes, as you can see, I am very excited and have way too much energy. It’s weird but good!
Below we’ve got some really great Cyber Week sale picks and other fun holiday things. Hoping you guys have fun reading and clicking through it all!
Coming up this week on the blog, we’ll be sharing some easy dinners including a new veggie-filled cozy recipe. We’ve also got a slow-cooked dinner that will be perfect for upcoming small holiday dinners at home. And lots of sweets for holiday baking. And for Cocktail Saturday, of course, a festive new holiday drink.
Question: What are you all hoping to see most this coming month? Dinners? Appetizers? Are you looking for holiday desserts? Lots of cookies? Or would you love to see more lifestyle posts like decorating ideas, tablescapes, and homemade Christmas gifts? Please let me know!
1. All The Christmas Movies We Need to Watch.
Netflix Picks
1. Holidate – been on my list for months
2. The Holiday Calendar
3. Christmas Inheritance – I don’t know why, but I watch this every year.
4. The Knight Before Christmas – so I watched this last, it’s OK, but some might love it!
5. The Princess Switch– watched this last year (and the year before)…it’s cheesy, but you know I loved it.
6. The Princess Switch, Switched Again – I obviously need to watch the follow up.
7. Christmas with a Prince
8. A Christmas Prince
9. A Christmas Prince Royal Baby
10. Midnight at the Magnolia
11. Christmas With A View
Read: 19 Thoughts I Had While Watching The Princess Switch: Switched Again
Hallmark Picks
1. Chateau Christmas
2. A Nashville Christmas Carol
3. Good Morning Christmas
4. Christmas Comes Twice
5. If Only I had Christmas
6. The Christmas Calendar
7. The Christmas Club
8. Christmas at the Plaza
Read: Check out all the 2020 Hallmark Christmas Movies
Amazon:
1. Christmas Contract
2. Christmas in Mississippi
3. Almost Christmas
4. Twinkle All The Way
5. The Rooftop Christmas Tree
6. The Spirit of Christmas
The Classics (which will forever be my favorites)
1. The Grinch
2. Miracle on 34th street
3. The Santa Clause (all of them)
4. Elf
5. Home Alone (all of them)
6. Eloise at Christmastime
7. The Polar Express
8. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Question: what are your favorite Christmas movies?
2. The Most Popular Recipes of November.
Most popular: Molten Chocolate Crackle Pie
Full disclosure, our 2020 Thanksgiving menu and guide was the most popular post of the month, then the Herb Butter Turkey, BUT this pie is third in line and the most popular new recipe of the month! And it deserves the title. If you’ve not made this yet, please make it sometime soon or for your upcoming Christmas festivities. It’s warm, fudgy, and very molten-like with the perfect “crackle” crust. It’s a roll your eyes back, go for that second slice kind of pie, SO GOOD.
Runner-up: Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes
So thrilled you all loved these potatoes! They happen to be my family’s favorite too! Each bite is perfectly smooth, creamy, and so delicious. The secret? Cooking the potatoes together with the cream. This method makes for the creamiest and most flavorful mashed potatoes.
Also have to mention: Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned
If the holidays had a signature cocktail, it’d be this. It’s all about that honey syrup. It’s sweet, spicy…a little naughty, a little nice, and when mixed with a splash of bourbon? Delicious 🙂
3. My Favorite Cyber Week Holiday Home Finds…
All My Favorite Candles
4. Favorite Questions Of The Week.
q: How are you able to spend so much time with Asher? How is your little sister able to hang around so much? It’s so nice!
a: Well, since I’m neighbors with my parents, that makes it pretty easy. Asher’s doing full online school so whenever she’s got extra time she just comes to the studio. Especially when she wants to make brownies.
q: What are you most thankful for?
a: My fam!!! Everyone from my parents, to my brothers, to my little sis, and my cousins! We’re all really close and you always know someone’s got your back when you need a little help.
q: If you were building a home and designing a kitchen, what would be most important?
a: For the kitchen, lots and lots of counter space, the range against the wall, and a farmhouse style sink are all must-haves for me! And for the home, lots of light and cozy corners! I’d never want it to feel stuffy, just relaxed and inviting!
q: New Favorite TV show?
a: Finally watched Emily in Pairs after so many of you said I had to watch it! It’s cute! But…I love the shows I grew up watching. Hello Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Buffy…all the oldies but goodies!
5. 25 Days Of Christmas.
Everyone seemed to really love our Thanksgiving tip series, so I thought I would continue it on into December. I’m thinking I will share something fun like a tip, a movie I love, decoration ideas, crafts, and just anything holiday-related.
Question: do you guys have any tips to share? Any traditions you love? A gingerbread house making day? I’d LOVE to hear what makes December special for you and your family!
Since I don’t post Favorites to the blog every day I’ll share December 1st below!
25 Days Of Christmas: 25 – Have Fun Family Games on Hand
The days can get long cooped up inside over holidays. Have fun board games on hand or craft supplies for both the kids and adults. My fam loves Uno, Heads Up (a game played from an app on your phone), Loaded Answers, Monopoly, Scattergories, Scrabble and they love Catch Phrase.
Question: what are your favorite games to play with family and friends?
6. Inspiring Me This Week…the Holiday Decor Edition.
(all above via Zara Home)
7. Favorite Links I’m Loving…
82 Sales on Furniture and Home Decor to Shop Now…shopping Lulu and Georgia vintage rugs.
Step Inside Coif Queen Jen Atkin’s Serene L.A. Home…adore this laidback home and am very jealous of the office set up and shower.
39 Outdoor Christmas Decorations…who’s lighting up the street this year?
The Best Beauty Gifts You Can Buy for Someone…I am such a fan of all Kosas products. I especially love their Tinted Face Oil.
5 Things We Learned Watching Taylor Swift’s Surprise New Folklore Documentary…for all the T-Swift fans out there.
Why You Don’t Need a Thanksgiving Detox…and what you do need instead.
Tour a SoHo Loft Filled with Custom-Made Gems…love the moody tones and that dining room.
17 Holiday Gifts Home Bakers Will Love…for all the bakers out there.
Holiday Greenery Ideas That Look Like You’re Trying..but not too hard.
18 Kitchen Tools and Gadgets Worth the Investment…plus, they’re all on sale.
Lily Collins on Netflix’s New Oscar Contender Mank...and the second season of Emily in Paris.
15 Hands-Off Dinner Recipes to Make During the Holiday Season…yum, these all sound great.
Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With The Queen’s Gambit…have you seen it? Do I need to watch it?
8 Things We Can All Learn From “The Queen’s Gambit”…I’ve actually never seen the show, but these are all great things to learn.
5 Healthy Habits to Strive for When Feeling Unmotivated…such good tips, I especially love #3. Nothing better than getting outside.
27 of the Best Sales Happening This Week…so many places to shop for great holiday deals.
Jaclyn Johnson Opens the Doors of Her Remodeled L.A. Sanctuary…if you need doable, affordable home ideas, read this.
4 Reasons to Ditch Your Perfectionist Streak for Good…I needed to read this today.
11 Beauty Products That Work Overtime While You Sleep…they say multitasking isn’t efficient, but self-care while sleeping seems very efficient.
8. My Favorite Cyber Week Beauty/Style Finds…
Style
Accessories
Beauty
9. this week’s dinners…
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Christmas Drink Saturday: Pomegranate Champagne Mule
Sunday Baking: The Santa Clause Cookies
Check out all the past Nine Favorite Things posts here.
Lastly, if you’re catching up on blog posts from the week, be sure to sign up for our daily newsletters. They’ll help you to stay up to date with everything that’s happening here, as well as fun content you’ll only get via email. If you’re meal planning today, don’t forget to check out my menu below (it’s # 9 on the favorite’s list). You can grab the full grocery list for this week’s menu in our special Sunday newsletter.
I would love to see homemade gifts for December! Having more time at home and less disposable income means I’m really focusing on homemade and thoughtful gifts this season. Instant pot and slow cooker recipes would also be nice!
I love that you are doing more homemade gifts! I will try to get more up! xTieghan
You might have no idea how to answer this, but you are definitely a candle person, so here goes nothing. I love the idea of burning candles, but once lit they all smell horrible to me. And they all smell horrible in the same way. It’s like this – smells great unlit, light it and it smells like the candle plus a strong offensive odor. This happens with cheap and expensive candles and probably why everyone loves the smell in Anthrologie but me. Any thoughts?
Hmmmm I am honestly not sure. Could it be the wick smell that you don’t like? Maybe try to buy candles with a wood wick? I am sorry I could not be more helpful! xTieghan
You omitted three great classic Christmas movies that deserve to be in every list: It’s A Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn and White Christmas. Others that I like are A Christmas Carol (many versions), Deck the Halls, Jingle All the Way, Fred Claus, The Man Who Invented Christmas and numerous Lifetime movies.
Those are great! Thanks Sarah! xTieghan
Could I ask where you got the red cookie sprinkles on Friday’s Santa cookies? I’d love to get some.
Thank you so much!
Hey Dina,
Here is the link for the sprinkles: https://sprinklepop.shop/products/red-sprinkle-mix?variant=12494651555911&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google+Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiA5IL-BRAzEiwA0lcWYpgEHgNILzQ7swmja9dDYjFY_frvtxZ3eJWEsKGoQ8xHNu-eGMVCsBoChGEQAvD_BwE
I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions and Happy Holidays! xTieghan
My favorite holiday tradition is heading over to my mom’s house and baking sugar cookies with my sister and my nephew. We’ve been doing this since his 2nd Christmas (his first Christmas he was only a month old). Each year he is able to do more and more of the baking. We blast Christmas music, visit and just have a good time.
Love that!! Thank you Michelle! xTieghan
Hillary, Make sure you check the end of the recipe. Tieghan does a wonderful job of listing alternate cooking methods and storage methods. It is one thing I love about her recipes!!!
Thank you Sarah! xTieghan
Hi there!We do a Christmas lights outdoor scavenger hunt… we all get the same list and get into our cars then drive around taking pictures of the items from the list! First one back with all the photos wins a prize! Since we are socially distancing this year it’s going to be a great activity for our family members! There are lots of cute lists on Etsy or you can make your own! The bigger the group of cars the better!!
Aw that is such a cute and fun idea! Thank you for sharing, Lorie! xTieghan
Yes, you most definitely NEED to watch The Queen’s Gambit. It’s amazing!
Thank you Vanessa! xTieghan
If you have Hulu, my husband and I watched Happiest Season and it was really good!!! Kinda the family comedy/drama of the season!
I heard that was funny!! I will check it out! Thanks Cassie! xTieghan
The Queen’s Gambit is the best series I’ve watched this year. A must see of 2020! So far my favorite Christmas movie has been The Angel Tree on Hallmark movies and mysteries. So good!
Thank you Genevieve! xTieghan
So thankful for you!!
Hi T ! I was scrolling through your beverage recipes and I’m DYING to know what is your favorite type of beverage? ( I personally LOVE your hot chocolate recipes ) Thanks for another great nine favorite things post !
Hey Clare,
I love a basic black coffee:) Lol I know, boring! I will always love a good pomegranate Moscow Mule! Thanks for your message! xTieghan
While I loved the photo of the mantle decorated with beautiful branches and wild grasses over a warming fire, I would caution everyone to please be careful if you decorate like this. A friend of mine nearly lost her home when a spark ignited the “greenery” on the mantle. It only takes a second to go up in flames. Have a safe and beautiful holiday!
Oh my goodness! I am glad her and her home are okay! I hope you have an amazing holiday season! xTieghan
I had a very very small Thanksgiving this year, just me and my S.O. and I roasted a chicken for dinner. Our sides were jiffy corn casserole and we tried out your slow cooker mashed potatoes. OMG – we both agreed these were the absolute STAR of the dinner. Sooooo tasty, so easy to make, definitely my favorite new recipe. So thankful I found you this year.
PS – I have been checking out cookbooks from the library before purchasing, just in an effort to be a bit more thoughtful about what I am purchasing this year. I’ve been waiting for HBH: Super Simple for over a month and am still only number 30 in line for it. Just thought you’d enjoy hearing that, that is by far the longest hold on any of the cookbooks I’m waiting for. Clearly it’s a hit 🙂
Hi Rachel! I am so happy you found my blog as well! Also, I am sorry you cannot get the book right away, but hopefully the wait makes it even better haha! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Add Netflix new Jingle Jangle to the list! It’s amazing, produced by John Legend. Loved the message, music and costumes!
I will have to watch that! Thank you Linda! xTieghan
The Queen’s Gambit is absolutely fabulous…who knew chess could be so exciting! It’s not that much of ‘binge’ either at only 6 (longer) episodes. Everyone we’ve recommended it to LOVES it!
I have heard so many good things! I will check it out! Thank you Terry! xTieghan
Check out the new romantic comedy Christmas movie The Happiest Season (Dan Levy, Kristen Stewart, Mary Steenbergen) on Hulu. Best holiday movie I’ve seen in years!
Thank you Emmy! xTieghan
My favorite Christmas movie is “The Holiday” with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black. Lifetime played it on a loop Thanksgiving day so I was able to time watching favorite scenes more than once…so good.
Hard to believe Dec 1 happens this week…yikes!
Thank you Nancy! xTieghan
I like The Queen’s Gambit a lot, because it’s very moody-mod-1960s but it is a bit dark and sad.
You have to watch Dash & Lily! It is perfection! NYC holiday, YA romance that isn’t too cheesy, great soundtrack, and I love that even the characters like an ex are likeable. I will probably watch it a second time before Christmas.
Yes!! So happy this turned out so well for you Dana! Thank you! xTieghan
I love the Santa cookies you posted and would love more Holiday cookie ideas. Baking Christmas cookies with my mom, my sister and our kids is a tradition and while we have some the old standby cookies we make every year, I would love to add a new one or two. I would also love to see some simple dinner ideas as Christmas may be a bit smaller this year but want to keep it super special.
Love your designing and tablescapes and look forward to everything you will share this December!
Thank you so much Amanda! I am really glad you enjoyed this post and I hope you love the sugar cookies!! xTieghan
Food for December, a couple of new skillet dinners, a fun new take-out recipe. A fun new holiday pasta and/or pizza. An interesting pulled pork recipe! Side dishes are always welcome. Anew fruity dessert. Not lifestyle or decorating…
Thank you Joyce! xTieghan
Check out Dash & Lily on Netflix. Super cute holiday series.
How about a list of charities to donate to this holiday season.
Thank you Mel! xTieghan
YES you have to watch The Queen’s Gambit! It’s so good and the fashion is amazing.
I would love for you to do another better than takeout recipe for December, they’re my favorites.
Thank you Barb! xTieghan
I’m not on Instagram, but I wanted to let you know that your Pumpkin Cauliflower Gratin from the HBH Cookbook replaced candied yams in our Thanksgiving lineup this year, and it was the dish everyone saved until last so they could savor it!
Our local grocery store has started stocking a Cheddar-Gruyere hybrid recently, and we gave it a try for this dish. It’s a little more fruity/tangy than straight Gruyere, and absolute perfection in your cauliflower!
Thank you so much Kate! I am really glad you enjoyed that recipe!! xTieghan
Hi! Happy almost December! I love everything that you post and make so many of your recipes. And this Sunday post is always my favourite way to start my Sunday. What I would love to see is edible gifts. I always do lots of Christmas baking to give to friends but what about savoury things to make and give. I am planning to make your Everything Ranch cheese and pretzel snack mix so variations of that type of recipe or savoury spiced nuts….?
Thank you! I look forward as always for what you have planned for us, regardless of what it Is!
Thank you so much Caroline! I would love to do more edible gifts! The best! xTieghan
I’d love to see something I can make and give as a gift too please.
Also a (mostly) make ahead dinner for the week before Christmas. Some nights in December I’m just too exhausted to do much!
So excited to see what’s coming in December. Xx
Thank you so much Kelly! xTieghan
I discovered you recently. I checked out your blog, immediately ordered both of your cookbooks, and have been making your recipes non stop ever since. You are amazing, keep going girl, the sky is the limit for you.
Thank you Corey! xTieghan
I used your Herb Butter Roasted Turkey and make ahead gravy (both for the second year) and they were both wonderful. I also tried the Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes and they tasted delicious!! Thanks for all the amazing recipes for Thanksgiving and every day. I just baked the 5 Ingredient Beer Bread to eat with our turkey soup tonight – it’s so easy and tastes so good!
Thank you so much Patricia! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
As others have said, you have to add It’s a Wonderful Life to your classics Christmas movie list! Let us know what you think when you watch it!
Thank you Andrea! xTieghan
In the holiday movie list, you should add Love Actually. Best grown up love story, holiday movie ever!
Thank you! xTieghan
I absolutely love all your recipes! For Thanksgiving we made your white wine gravy and cranberry thyme spritz, they were both AMAZING!!
Quick question, do you have any recommendations as to where to buy high quality spices?
Thanks!
Hey Kelly,
Thanks so much for trying the recipes:) I really like to get my spices from Whole Foods! Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I’d love to see a really delicious meat recipe for Christmas dinner — like a prime rib or rack of lamb! And of course some fabulous HBH sides. I used 3 of your recipes for Thanksgiving and they were all huge hits, so I’d love to be able to do the same for Christmas. I love HBH — thanks so much!!
Thank you so much Tina! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Absolutely watch Queen’s Gambit! Best series we have watched in a long time. DO IT!!
Thank you so much Karen! xTieghan
I’d love to see you post some ideas for homemade gifts.
I am currently experimenting with cocktail mixers and mixer ice cubes for our local friends (similar concept to cocktail cubes). So far it’s been a bit of a hit or miss but would absolutely love it if you could break down some of your cocktails into an alcohol and a mixer element. I think it would make a great gift for my adult friends specially some of the men who are so hard to shop for
Thank you so much Beth! I will try! xTieghan
I loved this post – it helped me get in the Christmas spirit! Made the tortellini soup last night and it was so warm and cozy and delish! And the cheesecloth turkey turned out great on Thanksgiving. Thanks for all that you do!
Thank you for trying this!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Some of my favorite things about Christmas are skiing and spending holiday dinners with my family! As a Colorado native too, getting cozy by the fire with some hot cocoa and desserts is always the best! I would love to see some small desserts besides cookies for the holidays! I’ve always relied on the good ol’ sugar cookie, but this year i’m looking for some new snack size holiday bites! Of course cookies are amazing too though, so some of those are always needed as well 🙂
Yes that is the best!! Thank you so much Candace! xTieghan
We had a quiet Thanksgiving this year – just the two of us. Even though we couldn’t be with our families, we went all out and worked together on creating a comforting turkey dinner. Love your dinner suggestions this week – one of the best yet! Your Nine Favorite Things post is a highlight of my week.
Aw I am so happy to hear that! I am glad you has a great Thanksgiving, Gloria! Thank you and I hope you love some of the recipes on here! xTieghan
Nine Favorite Things is always my favorite post of the month. Love the photos and the wrap-up. Agree with other commentators that The Queen’s Gambit is must-watch TV. I don’t know how I missed that recipe for ginger sesame chicken. I will try that out over the weekend.
Thank you so much Janet! xTieghan
Could you please send me your recipe for Brussel sprout bacon pizza?
Hey Becky,
Here is the recipe: https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/shredded-brussels-sprout-and-bacon-pizza/
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan