Nine Favorite Things. – Half Baked Harvest

Nine Favorite Things

Happy Sunday before Thanksgiving! I know the month of November has really flown by, but I am so excited for this week. I love Thanksgiving week. Generally things tend to slow down. Many people often take the week off, or at least Thursday through Sunday. There’s always so much excitement in the air with Thanksgiving gatherings and the festive month of December ahead. So many fun things to plan too!

My only hope for the remainder or the year is that we’re all able to remember what the season is about. The holidays feel so heightened this year. And while I too am really excited to find the perfect gifts for everyone, I’m also just excited to spend time with family. And, of course, watch all the Christmas movies I can.

I’ll be kicking my Christmas movies off on Thursday with Miracle on 34th street. It’s my Thanksgiving night tradition. I honestly look forward to it every single year. I’m such a dork when it comes to the holidays. What’s your Thanksgiving night tradition? I know so many people have special things they look forward to. Actually, my brother Malachi was born on Thanksgiving night (well technically Black Friday). That’s pretty special – happy birthday Kai!

We’ll be celebrating Kai’s 26th birthday on the 24th. No gift ideas, but I’ll think of something. Asher has been in full-on Christmas decorating mode and has a serious plan for her bedroom. Honestly, I’m excited to see what she does. She’s been planning and decorating for a while.

Lastly, how many of you are prepping/preparing for Thanksgiving? If you’re still in need of recipes and tips, don’t forgot about the Thanksgiving menu and guide I shared. It’s full of all the recipes on my menu this year and some of my best tips too.

I think that’s really it for this week. Just lots of holiday excitement, talk, and decorating…all while waiting for more snow to show up!

Have the best Thanksgiving you guys!

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

loving…Cozy Socks. I am really loving cozy socks right now. I ordered these and love them, then I saw these and had to grab them for the holidays. They’re so soft, warm, and cozy. I got the white and black.

watching…Taylor Swift “I bet you think about me” directed by Blake Lively. The video is so good.

shopping…Violet Grey’s 20% off PUT IT IN THE BAG event starts November 23rd. The Augustinus Bader rich cream is my go-to. It’s a splurge item, but it’s really such a good product. Also, really love the Tatcha dewy skin cream, which is more affordable, but also effective. I love both. Also, if you missed it, we shared our beauty gift guide this week.

loving…the Kate McLeod body stone. This is so nice for travel since I always bring a carry-on and can never bring my lotions. I brought this with me to Austin last week and not only is it TSA approved, but it takes up no space. Most importantly, it’s a really great body moisturizer.

ordered…this Brass Tray and Coupe Glass from CB2. The tray is especially pretty for the holidays.

watching…all things Netflix holiday (of course). I haven’t started just yet, but come Thursday I’m watching The Princess Switch 3. I loved the 1st one, the 2nd didn’t do it for me though, so I’m hoping the 3rd is great. The Holiday (just because I haven’t seen it in years). LoveHard (my mom and Asher loved this and my dad actually said he enjoyed it too). Home for Christmas…looks like another sappy Christmas movie, but I’m here for them all.

gifting…25% off your Boll & Branch order using the code TIEGHAN25. Their down comforter is my favorite, but I LOVE this bed blanket for a cozy winter look. And of course their sheet set too. Any of these would be such great gifts!!

listening to…Smartless. I haven’t actually listened yet, but have heard a lot of good things. Episodes on my list, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Ryan Reynolds.

shopping…this Holiday Gift Guide, so many good products linked here.

loving…all thing velvet for holiday. This Reformation skirt would be so cute with a pair of pumps. And this Zara coat to stay warm.

loving…this cozy Bundled up Mug. I wasn’t going to order this, but Asher added it to the Anthropologie cart and it’s actually so cute.

gifting…Lunya Silk Pajama Set. I just got this as a gift. It’s not something I would buy for myself, but it makes for such a wonderful gift. These PJ’s are so comfy. I also love this chunky wool cardigan (would be a great gift for mom), this silk pullover, and then this chunky wool robe (a bit of a luxury buy, but it looks so cozy).

drinking…chai espresso martini.

baking…Christmas cookies come Friday…can’t wait.

shopping…the Lulu & Georgia Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale. It’s 25% off your purchase with code THANKFUL through November 29th. What other black Friday sales are you all shopping?

2. My favorite last minute appetizers.

Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie

Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates

How to Make an Easy Holiday Cheese Board

Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates with Honey

Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread

5 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls

3 Ingredient Cheesy Pizza Pretzels

Everything Ranch Cheese and Pretzel Snack Mix

3. Holiday Travel Essentials…

4. Favorite questions of the week.

q: how do you keep your knives sharp?
a: we sharpen them at least once a week…on good weeks, every few days.

q: which pie does your family like for Thanksgiving?
a: last year’s molten chocolate crackle pie and this year’s brown sugar maple cookie pie are both favorites. We also love pecan pie.

q: your eyebrows are beautiful! do you use any product to get them the way that they are? 
a: first, thank you because I used to hate my eyebrows. Now I just embrace them and literally don’t do anything. I’ll pluck crazy hairs when needed, but other than that, I love an undone full brow. I really want to try a brow tint though!!

q: Thanksgiving, do you make all the dishes, or does your family help?
a: they’ll usually help! My mom is good at pies, and my sister-in-law and cousins pitch in wherever. I’m a control freak though…and I always try to do it mostly myself. They would help more if I gave them more jobs.

q: where are your copper pots from?
a: vintage finds from Good Livin Co.

q: can you link the knives you use? looking for a good set for Christmas.
a: these are my favorite. They’re an investment, but if you cook a lot, they’re worth it. Nothing is better than a good knife.

q: how’s working with your mom? do you ever disagree?
a: yes! we usually see eye to eye on big details, but we definitely have our moments, which can be really hard. Especially separating our work life from family life and just being mother/daughter. We’re still figuring it out, but getting better over time. I wouldn’t change it for the world though. There’s no one I trust more than my mom. 

q: you probably get this a lot, but how do you stay so thin eating all that good food?
a: I do get this A LOT, and honestly it’s a little tiresome. Everyone’s body’s are different and no one should compare themselves to anyone else. What I do might not work for you. You have to do what’s right for you an your body.

For me, I stay active everyday. I start with a hike every morning. And then I’m usually on my feet cooking all day. I don’t really sit still very much. But I’m also not eating brownies and cakes and heavy dishes throughout the day either. It’s about moderation. I eat a lot of vegetables and a ton of fruit. I always trying everything I’m making, of course. But I’m not eating it all by myself either. Listen to your bodies and do what’s best for you.

5. Thanksgiving tips of the week

grab our downloadable Thanksgiving PDF

HBH Thanksgiving Menu Check List 2021

Thanksgiving tip: 15 warm plates before putting hot food on them

oven
Stack plates in the oven at 150° for about 15 minutes (or use a countertop oven).

microwave
Stack plates in the microwave for 2 minutes at full power, with a cup or glass of water on top (to keep the microwave safe). Use oven mitts to remove the plates.

hot water
Put your plates in the sink and fill with water as hot as possible. Leave covered with water for 5 minutes, then pat dry the plates before using them.

dishwasher
Some dishwashers have a “plate warmer” cycle, use that if your’s does! 

Thanksgiving tip: 16 how to keep salad fresh

For keeping the salad big and beautiful, overfill the bowl with ingredients. It might seem like a lot, but the ingredients will settle and sink into the bowl. So adding a little more salad will help to prevent that! 

For dressing, if you’re doing a kale or Brussels sprout salad, you can pre-mix the dressing. It’s actually better that way!  For more tender greens, I always leave the dressing on the side and let guests add their own. This prevents any soggy greens ? and some may not want dressing. 

Thanksgiving tip: 17 make the house smell like the holidays

Make my holiday potpourri that simmers on the stove all day long. You can use whatever you have on hand. The must-haves, in my opinion, are: cinnamon, citrus, ginger, and vanilla. This potpourri is perfect to have simmering away on the stove. Try it at Thanksgiving, it makes everyone feel welcomed.

6. Thankful for you all + charity of the week.

And not just because it’s Thanksgiving week. Honestly, you guys really blew me away this past week with your response to the cookbook announcement. I said this on Instagram a few days ago, but I truly wasn’t expecting all the excitement. I had been dragging my feet on announcing HBH Every Day for a good week. I had so many people from our team bugging me to share, but I was just so nervous. So I pushed it back as long as I could, but wow, I was so, so, so presently surprised.

Thank you all for the sweet messages, emails, and comments. Thank you for preordering the book. And thank you for somehow managing to knock it up to the top 3 books on ALL of Amazon for two full days. Craziness and I really do appreciate the support more than you know. I say this often but you all feel like family.

This week’s charity: Cookies for Kids Cancer

I had the pleasure of meeting Gretchen Witt many years ago at the International Housewares Association in Chicago. Gretchen told me the story of her son, Liam, who fought cancer for four years. Unfortunately, Liam passed in 2012 when he was just 6-years-old. I have to be honest, I was amazed at Gretchen’s strength and resolve to create a non profit in the midst of Liam’s battle. And to continue fighting to help other families find effective treatments.

At the time, Gretchen and her husband Larry had been blind-sided at the lack of effective treatments available due to insufficient funding. They were even more shocked to learn that cancer is the #1 disease killer of children in the U.S. and that 2/3 of kids who go through cancer treatments have long-term debilitating side effects. With the help of 250 volunteers, the Witts undertook a massive bake-a-thon where they baked and sold 96,000 cookies to raise money for research.

That project raised more than $420,000 and — equally important — raised awareness with people asking how they could help. What the Witts thought was a one-time project turned into Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. This non profit supports the funding of research for new, improved, and most importantly, less toxic treatments for kids battling all types of pediatric cancers. You can read more about Gretchen’s story here.

Click here to donate

7. Favorite links i’m loving…

Kendall Jenner on Vogue Beauty Secrets…love these videos so much, but also love he routine too.

The 22 Cutest Stocking Stuffers That Made It On Our List This Year…LOVE a GOOD stocking stuffer and these picks are great for a beauty lover.

16 Weekend Getaways in Upstate New York Where You’ll Find a Winter Wonderland…all so pretty.

What Is “Ear Seeding” and Can It Really Improve Your Health…have you ever heard of this? Super interesting.

Kelly Wearstler’s Fresh Take on the Green Kitchen Trend Doesn’t Involve Paint…seriously love this gorgeous brass range and moody kitchen.

The Best Gold Nail Polishes…so fun and pretty for the holidays.

19 of the World’s Most Magical Christmas Towns…so many cute little towns I’d love to visit…my brothers have been to Vienna and Prague and said they were beutiful. And our Breckenridge made the list!

What Do You Eat on the Day After Thanksgiving?…love to read the comments. But really, what do you eat?

8. The coziest holiday pajamas…

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats…

Monday: Roasted Garlic Cheddar Pierogi

Tuesday:  Roasted Mushroom Kale Pizza

Wednesday: Sesame Chicken Dumplings in Spicy Broth

Thursday: Our 2021 Thanksgiving Menu and Guide

Friday: One Pan 4 Cheese Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Pasta Bake

Saturday: Vanilla Espresso Martini

Sunday: The Santa Clause Cookies