Tomorrow is my 34th birthday and I can honestly say this year went by faster than any other.. even in quarantine! And while this year has had its set of challenges, it was one of growth and learning for which I am grateful. Last year, I was celebrating on a rooftop bar with some of my favorite girlfriends (which ended up in terrible food poisoning on my actual bday lol) and this year, I will be packing for a move while sipping on wine with my husband. I’ve learned a few lessons this year and one of them is that other than my health and my family (and some champs of course) I don’t need much to be happy. Last year, I shared 33 Things You May Not Know About Me and this year I wanted to do a Favorite Things post.. it’s surely not every single thing I love but it’s a good start 😉
Favorite Color: white, white, and more white. From my clothes, to accessories, to Yeti mug, to shoes, to paint on the wall.. WHITE.
Favorite Movie: This one surely depends on my mood.. do I want RomCom (The Holiday) or comedy (Ace Ventura all day). But I think overall favorite movie that I will never tire of, morning, noon or night is Home Alone. And now my kids are old enough to appreciate that movie so we always watch it around Christmas 🙂
Favorite Food: Sushi is the only food I truly crave ever, especially when I’m hungover.. weirdest hungover craving ever? Yep. So good.
Favorite Season: No doubt about it.. SUMMER. I gave this one some thought. While I love the crisp fall air and all things pumpkin spice (except lattes.. barf) and the Christmas season, there is nothing like summertime, especially in Seattle. I have come to appreciate my summers so much more now that I live in the Pacific Northwest and really soak in the 3-4 months we get of truly spectacular weather. And summer break with the kids is so simple.. they play outside all day long away from TV and iPad screens. It’s just the best.
Favorite Holiday: Christmas with three kids under the age of 6 is MAGIC. I think this will be my favorite holiday even when they’re teenagers. Something about that time of year with the kids is just food for the soul.
Favorite Scent: BAIES Candle by Diptyque. or Santal Diffusing Oil (makes your house smell like a really fancy hotel!)
Favorite Flower: Peonies.. it’s what made up my entire wedding bouquet in June.. the only month they are typically in season.
Favorite Perfume: BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline
Favorite Accessory: Layered bracelets, specifically my Cartier Love bracelet gifted to me by my husband as a push present paired with my Miranda Frye bracelets.. I never take them off even when showering or sleeping.
Favorite Place to Travel: I have traveled to many places but Hawaii is my answer forever and always. I grew up going to Maui every year with my family and cousins and I hope to take my kids every year once quarantine is lifted. Maui and Kauai and my favorite islands.
Favorite Age: My favorite age was probably the 4 years I was in college at LMU: zero responsibility besides showing up to class, could drink all day without getting a hangover, attending social events as a Delta Gamma, and slept in until 10. But then I also loved the years leading up to getting married and dating my now husband.. again, we had zero responsibilities besides work and looking back it was such a simple and fun time traveling, wining and dining. Of course I love where I am today and wouldn’t change a thing but there was nothing like your 20s!
Favorite Splurge: After I had my second son, I had to make the difficult decision to either continue working or be a stay-at-home mom. Obviously I chose the latter and before I quit my job, I splurged on a Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote. I typically saved purchases like that for my husband (like a birthday or Christmas present) but decided that it was probably the last time I’d be able to afford something like that completely on my own. (Fast forward to now: Alix and I have turned this blog into our own little business and while it’s not making us huge paychecks, we still get a little here and there so we can buy ourselves nice things without having to ask our husbands.. so that’s nice and if I wanted a Louis Vuitton now, I’d BUY IT! haha!)
Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Watching Bravo (Real Housewives of ANYTHING) all day in a Barefoot Dreams robe.
Favorite Indulgence: Going out to a nice steak dinner with my husband. Filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, a bottle of wine and chocolate for dessert.
Favorite Achievement: Graduating Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount and giving birth three times.
Favorite Drug Store Product: NYX Lip Gloss in any and every light pink shade they have.
Favorite Country to Visit: Tie between Italy and France.. I went to Italy with my mom, aunt and cousin and just had the most 5 star experience of my life but France (Paris and the south of France) with my husband is hard to top, too.
Favorite Possession: The jewelry I received from my late grandmothers. I have a diamond cross my grandma wore every day and gold bracelets from my other grandma that will always be extremely special to me. Not having any girls to pass them down to will be tricky.. my boys better marry some awesome women and those women better have some girls 😉
Favorite Book: Colleen Hoover It Ends With Us.. total tearjerker and captivating til the very last word.
Favorite Dessert: Either chocolate fudge, a chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream, or white cake with white frosting.. sorry can’t name just one.
Favorite Recent Purchase: My Lack of Color Palma hat because I have wanted it forever and finally splurged! Not a huge splurge but still pretty pricey for a HAT ha!
Favorite Quote: Be the energy you want to attract.
Favorite Life Lesson: Overthinking will destroy your happiness and your mood. It’ll make everything worse than it actually is. Take a deep breath, exhale, and have faith. What’s meant to be will be.
Favorite Blogger: Somewhere, Lately because 1. they are a blonde and brunette duo like me and Alix and 2. they don’t copy every single thing other bloggers are always posting about. Their voice is uniquely their own and I have so much respect for their perspective.. because I truly believe them when they promote a product.
Favorite Podcast: The Skinny Confidential or The Blonde Files
Favorite Beauty Product: SOOOO hard to name one but I have to say Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. It takes the day off and smells like a spa.
Favorite App: INSTAAAA!
Favorite Music: Country music.. Eric Church and Jason Aldean are my faves
Favorite Workout: This one totally depends on my mood but I’d probably say a Peloton cycle ride with Cody Rigsby right now.. and the fact that I’m even saying CYCLING is mind-blowing. I hated that workout only 2 years ago and now I can’t get enough.
Favorite Nail Polish Color: In the winter and fall, it’s OPI Lincoln Park After Dark and in the spring/summer, it’s two coats OPI Funny Bunny + 1 coat OPI Bubble Bath
Favorite Gift Received: My Maya Brenner personalized necklace with my kid’s initials
Favorite Starbucks Order: iced grande chai latte.. favorite of all time but only splurge on it every now and again.
Favorite Charity to Donate To: Make A Wish Foundation. I was part of National Charity League as a young girl, which is a program for mothers and daughters in grades 7-12 that encourages community service and volunteering opportunities. We spent a lot of time with the Make A Wish Foundation and raising money for children with critical and terminal illnesses and I can still remember some of the stories and wishes we helped make come true because of our donations and efforts.
Favorite Memory: I have three.. the birth of each of my kids <3
xx, H
thanks for sharing. happy. birthday