Nine Favorite Things. - Half Baked Harvest

This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.

And we’re back! The first Favorites post of the new year! I’m excited!

We took last week off for the holiday and are slowly easing back into our regular schedules. I am so happy to be back. I missed sharing with you all! That said, I also enjoyed the break, and I know my mom did too! The time away has given me a little space to hone in on just what I want my year to look like. My focus this year is to finally achieve a few bigger-picture goals and make sure my attention is where it really needs to be. I feel like we’re in such a good place. It’s going to be a GREAT year!

As we glimpse ahead, I’m looking forward to rounding out the book tour this month and next (I’m hoping to share locations and dates soon!). I also hope to travel more this year, spend more time with family, do more candle launches, and so much more!

On the recipe front, I have new soups and chili recipes that I think will be perfect for the playoffs and Super Bowl, plus some fun Valentine’s Day recipes.

I’m not someone who looks at the new year as a time to make resolutions and set a million and one goals. If there’s something I want to do, I’ll do it right then. There’s no need to wait and make it this whole thing come New Year’s, you know? I think there’s so much pressure to become a new person on January 1, and that’s just silly. What’s wrong with who we already are and what we’re already working towards?

I think it’s OK to set small goals and be realistic. You don’t have to make drastic changes. Some years, we might have big things we want to accomplish. Other years, we might be mostly happy with how things are moving along. I say, you do YOU, and don’t feel this pressure to set crazy goals only to break them in February. I have a ton of really great articles (and a few podcasts) I’m linking to today that can help break down manifesting and goal setting and do it all in a way that is sustainable!

And if you’re someone who’s looking to build out a Pinterest-style vision board, definitely order the vision board kit from my friend Camille. I need to order mine for 2025!

Lastly, I shared the 25 most popular recipes of 2024Â â as picked by all of you. I also shared my favorite healthier recipes, in preparation for a month of clean January recipes! The list is HUGE, so if you need some inspiration/motivation, that is a good place to start.

To wrap things up, I just want to add that the last 3 weeks have been SO special, from book signings to seeing all the recipes you’ve created and shared with your families over the holidays! It’s so fun to see everyone cooking from their cookbooks and sharing new holiday recipes from the site! I’ve had the best time chatting with you about them on Instagram.

Iâd love to hear from all of you about the special things you did over the holiday break. What recipes have you made and loved? Please share!

1. Things iâm loving, wanting, and excited to try.

loving for momâ¦the Navygrey heirloom cable funnel pullover. I know my mom would love this. Also, this Jenni Kayne cashmere sweater. All I want to wear this season is cashmere.

loving…having my brother home! My younger brother, Red, has been here in Colorado the last week, and it’s been so fun having him around again. Cooking for my brothers, especially Red and Kai who I don’t see as often, brings me so much joy! It’s really why I love cooking.

everything in my cart (low)â¦tights are literally sold out everywhere, but I’m ordering these Swedish Stockings Svea Sheer Tights as we speak. They have the best reviews.

Of course, Zara’s new releasesÂ for 2025 are perfect for winter. Love these suede ankle boots and leather shoulder bag.

There are so many sales right now, too! From J.Crew: these nordic boots have been spotted all over Aspen in the last two weeks. I’d pair the boots with this cozy jacquard-print sherpa half-zip fleece pullover andÂ cashmere beanie.

Nordstrom has the best basics, I’m stocking up on their ribbed long sleeve tee while it’s on sale. They have so many colors.

Lastly, I definitely just added this cabled heather cardigan tht’s on sale at Mango to my shopping cart.

listening toâ¦10 Tools To Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet: Habits & Mindset Shifts Ft. Michael & Lauryn Bosstick – listened twice (and more on this below). Also, How to Manifest Your Best Year in 2025 with Gabby Bernstein.

dreaming of going to…Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan. Wow, talk about magic over the holidays. And one year I want to do the Ritz Paris over the holidays too. Just look at their Christmas tree.

orderingâ¦light dimmers. Honestly, I hate having the lights on. I love low light most, so light dimmers are perfect.

playingâ¦Friend of Mine dinner party card game. 59 cards full of questions that serve as conversation starters. So fun!

wearing…the SkimsÂ Soft Lounge Foldover Pants.

brand love…Ducie. Based out of London and they have the BEST coats, especially suede.

everything in my cart (beauty)â¦it’s a lot of the same for me right now. I’m going through mass amounts of the Mutha body balm, the Tata Harper body balm, and Josie Maran body butter (I love the unscented).

For my face: my skin is crazy dry right now and I’m lathering on the IS Clinical sheald recovery balm and Dieux Instant Angel Lipid-Rich Barrier Repair Cream.

new year, same supplements…I always have CymbiotikaÂ with me. My dailies are: theirÂ Magnesium L-ThreonateÂ at night. TheirÂ Liposomal Vitamin D3 + K2 + CoQ10,Â Liposomal Vitamin B12 + B6, andÂ The Omega in the morning. And my go-to probiotic is Just Thrive Probiotic.

another daily…I donât ever travel without my dry brushÂ anymore.

watchingâ¦Vogueâs Best Celebrity Makeup Moments of 2024.

travelâ¦The 10 Best Places to Travel in 2025.

everything in my cart (high)â¦winter coats – Canada Goose has some of the best, their hooded quilted shell down jacket looks pretty warm. As does the Mackage Mackage Freya hooded quilted shell down jacket. And for a coat more on the affordable side, I love the Varley hooded quilted shell down jacket.

Something fancy…love, love, love this long luxurious shearling coat.

bakingâ¦Chocolate Chunk Greek Yogurt Banana Bread.

shoppingâ¦a couple pieces from J.Crew. Need to cozy up in their pullover sweater with scarf andÂ brushed cashmere zip-up sweatshirt.

reading…10 Books to Help You Reach Your Goals This Year,

inspiring me…Everything You Need to Create a Vision Boardâand Manifest Your Dream Life in 2025.

2. The Most Popular Recipes of December.

Most popular: Pot Roast Sunday Sauce With Rigatoni

Runner-up: Polar Express Hot Chocolate

Also, have to mention: Braised Black Pepper Short Ribs

My personal favorite: Whipped Goat Cheese Candied Bacon Dip

Ok, last one: Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

3. A Cozy January Home.

4. How I’m Creating the Year I Want.

I have a note within my notes app with each month of the year listed.

For the last few weeks and last week especially, I’ve been adding detailed bullet points underneath each month for things I want to see happen/make happen that month. Example for January:

January 2025

– plan the remaining book tour dates

– resume all product conversations

– plan Aspen/Telluride events

– healthy recipes for a refresh

– find a hobby to do with Asher

What’s in my notes is a little more detailed but still nothing fancy. I’m writing everything from travel, recipes I want to share, holidays I want to highlight, content I want to create, press/events I want to make happen/plan, collaborations I want to do – anything I want for that specific month!

Looking at the year month by month is so much less overwhelming for me. And having a running note helps me quickly write something down when I think about it so I don’t forget. It’s basically working backward to create my ideal year! I want to create a Pinterest board for each month now too!

How do you build out your year?

5. Learning A New Hobby.

(photo from our Camille Styles story)

I listened to this podcast by Michael and Lauryn Bosstick, which goes over tools to make the year our best yet. The podcast discusses learning a new hobby each year. It’s something Michael and Lauryn have loved doing together that allows them more time with each other. This got me thinking about how learning a new hobby with Asher could be so fun. It would be a great way to have sister time on our calendars.

I called her the other night to discuss. She said she’s going to try to come up with the hobby this week. I suggested learning pilates or tennis or taking pottery classes! I’m not sure what she’s going to come up with, but I’m excited. I’m hoping this is really fun for us and a good distraction from our usual day-to-day.

Here are someÂ at-home hobbies toÂ look into.