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I’ve heard it referred to as “dead week” or “Feral Week“—those final days of the year, for many, are considered a throwaway. Kids are home from school, and even those working take things at a slower pace. (Said differently: Don’t expect your Slack to get a response until 2024.) The vibes are relaxed and the pace is slow. But often, when things start up again come January 2, we wonder where the time went—and we regret not spending it more intentionally. So, if you’re wondering what to do with the Christmas-New Year’s week, stay with us. We have the inspiration you need.

It’s so easy to take the next few days as an excuse to zone out in front of your screen. And by all means, do what you need to without any guilt or shame. But rather than simply “filling” the time offered to us, take this as our invitation to reflect on what would feel most nourishing and energizing—and do exactly that.

How to Spend the Final Week of 2023 With Intention

While of course, I look forward to Christmas and New Year’s days themselves, it’s the days in between that I find myself counting down to. There’s something so sweet about the collective lull and our ability to step away from the busyness of it all. Suddenly, social media feels less important, and I find myself naturally gravitating toward relaxing activities. But… I also recognize this funny, Christmas-New Year’s final week of the year as an opportunity to reset. It’s a moment when I can reconnect with what’s important, and take those intentions with me into the year to come.

So whatever you’re looking for this week—whether it’s a jump-start on your 2024 fitness goals or a moment to realign—consider this your ultimate guide to spending the final week of the year with intention. Ahead, discover all you need to step into 2024 feeling your best.

If You’re Craving a Factory Reset

That’s right, it’s not just for your phone. Get inspired with these ideas for starting the new year fresh.

1. Do a closet clean-out. It might just be the most satisfying way to spend a day (or several… ). Do a complete Kondo-style overhaul and sort through what you’ll keep, donate, and give to friends or family. Follow these five steps to curate a wardrobe you love.
2. Make a vision board. It’s our favorite way to make our goals and intentions for the new year a reality. We share all the inspiration and guidance you need to make a vision board and pick up our Casa Zuma Vision Board Kit for an *aesthetic* helping hand.
3. Update your skincare routine. Your medicine cabinet needs it. Consult with your aesthetician to discover the in-office treatments that fit your winter skin needs best. (Or, if you don’t already work with a professional, connect with one, stat.) From there, follow all the steps of a skincare reset. Trust us: it’s such a satisfying process.
4. Sort through your bookshelf. Do you have books from the neighborhood lending library you’re never going to read? Or are there self-help titles just gathering dust? Determine what you’re looking forward to reading this year and get rid of the rest. Bonus: It’ll free up more space for all the new books you can’t wait to plow through. Get inspired with our editors’ favorite reads of 2023.
5. Clean out your pantry. As soon as I get back from my holiday travels, this is the first to-do on my list. (Yes, even before I unpack my bag.) Donate what won’t get used, sort your spices, and purchase new organizing tools if necessary. Get inspired with Camille’s complete pantry clean-out.
6. Overhaul your workspace. If you want to start the work year feeling inspired and energized, do this immediately. Get rid of files you don’t need, papers that can be recycled, and all the junk that tends to gather on our desks. The same goes for your digital workspace as well. I recently cleaned out my desktop folders and wow—my work routine has been transformed.
7. Streamline your phone. This is surprisingly satisfying. Delete old apps you don’t use (or those you don’t want to use), create folders of similar apps, delete contacts and old text messages—all of it! Take this time to also opt out of any subscriptions you no longer use.
8. Deep-clean your home. While many of these tasks are a part of cleaning your home, setting aside a few days to really overhaul your space is one of the best ways to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Identify the areas you want to prioritize and make a plan for getting it done. New year, new sparkling-clean home.
9. Commit to a sleep routine. In 2024, you will be the person who gets 7-8 hours of sleep. It makes such a difference in all areas of your life. Here’s how to start sleeping better tonight.
10. Find a supportive morning ritual. If you find yourself waking up minutes before your first Zoom meeting, this is the best way to spend the days leading up to New Year’s. Get inspired with these morning routine ideas and dive deep into Camille’s step-by-step AM rituals.

If You Need True Restorative Rest

Sometimes, the best way to truly experience a refresh is by giving yourself the time you need to rest. I tell everyone, but the most relaxing time of my life was post-freshman finals week, and I spent three days in my bed binge-watching Mad Men. By the time I was on season four, I decided I’d had enough—and I was able to step back into my life feeling completely reinvigorated.

11. Practice breathwork. Barre3 is my favorite fitness program and every workout ends with a few minutes of breathwork. It’s a wonderful way to calm your nervous system. And the beauty of it is that you can spend as much or as little time on it as you’d like—and you’ll still reap the benefits. We tapped a breathwork coach to learn everything about the practice, plus the best way to start.

12. Discover a restorative form of movement. PSA: Low-impact workouts are in for 2024 (and beyond!). Instead of going hard every day—and putting lots of stress on your body—at the gym or in the cycle studio, explore yoga, Pilates, strength conditioning, and more. The start of the year is the perfect time to connect with a workout that supports your individual needs and goals best.

13. Try sauna and cold plunge. Everyone’s doing it, and the benefits speak for themselves. Plenty of gyms offer saunas and cold plunges (for Chicago locals, the Kohler Waters Spa is my favorite). And while a cold plunge is inevitably colder, a cold shower can work in a pinch.

14. Binge-watch your favorite shows. Like my Mad Men story above, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a better time in 2024 to get caught up on your favorite shows. Anything to take your mind off the to-do lists you’ll return to in the new year is perfect.

15. Make crafts. Is there anything more gratifying than making something with your hands? These are our favorite DIY decor projects that range from beginner to seasoned maker. Or, if you’ve wanted to pick up knitting or crocheting, dive deep into YouTube tutorials to get started. It’s my favorite activity to pair with a reality show marathon (see above).

16. Connect with something you loved doing as a kid. Did you write plays in your free time? Scrapbook your heart out? Get creative in the kitchen? Whatever you loved doing as a child, set aside this time for doing that. Prioritizing more time for play can amplify our creativity and get us into a flow state. And if you’ve experienced it before, you know there’s no better feeling.

17. Try ‘parallel play’ with a friend or partner. While the term is traditionally used to describe how infants and toddlers play separately, but together, I like using it for my relationships as well. In practice, it looks like getting together with someone and spending time doing an activity on your own. You can be in the living room together, at a coffee shop—wherever! I love reading together, crafting together, and in truth, just scrolling through funny Reels.

18. Experiment with lymphatic massage. I am a huge proponent of the lymphatic drainage trend. Whether it’s doing facial gua sha, using your favorite tool at home, or doing an in-office treatment, lymphatic massage is a wonderful way to relax while also experiencing plenty of health and aesthetic benefits (i.e., boosted circulation, reduced inflammation, etc.).

19. Practice positive affirmations. The power of positive affirmations is real. And while it may seem awkward to say kind things to yourself out loud, the more you do it, the more you begin not only believing but embodying the truths you’re sharing with yourself. I love doing it in the morning as a part of my daily routine. It’s the ultimate energizing wake-up.

20. Commit to a journaling practice. As a previous journaling skeptic myself, I get it. Sitting down for at least 5-10 minutes with nothing but your thoughts can be boring at best and uncomfortable at worst. But by giving yourself the time to explore what’s going on in your life by putting pen to paper, you begin to see patterns in your thinking and can work out solutions on the page. For inspiration, check out Camille’s journaling practice, and try a guided journal for additional support.

This cookie charcuterie board might just be my crowning glory. As a self-proclaimed cookie queen, there’s nothing I love more than assembling cookie boxes, organizing cookie exchanges, and baking all the new cookie recipes I can find—especially during the holidays. And when it comes to get-togethers, I would choose a plate of cookies over fancy desserts any day.

As we round out the holiday season, I’m here with one more take on a charcuterie board for y’all. We started the season out with the ultimate crudite platter, a bruschetta board with all my favorite toppings, and an appetizer board that everyone will be talking about. So, it only makes sense to round out our series with the penultimate cookie board.

Ahead, discover all my favorite ways to elevate this holiday dessert—and step-by-step instructions for making it your own.

How to Build Your Cookie Charcuterie Board

The best part of a board like this is that the options are truly endless and you can customize based on what you and your guests like best. But like any cheese board formula, I like to think about having a few staples that will anchor the board and then go from there.

Chocolate cookies. Any good cookie board needs a chocolate varietal. Whether you go with a chocolate chip cookie, chocolate sandwich cookie, brownie cookie, or even a chocolate-peppermint version, you need chocolate somewhere on the board.

Fruit cookies. Having cookies with a bit of tangy fruit in them helps balance out all the other, super-sweet options. Think fruity jam and linzer sandwich cookies, citrus and lemon cookies, cookies made with dried fruits, or any other version you like.

Butter cookies. The unsung hero of the cookie world. Butter cookies are simple but rich, and they’re the perfect blank canvas of a cookie. Plus, with all the shapes and textures they come in, there’s something for everyone from the simple shortbread square to buttery spritz cookies.

The fun cookies. All cookies are fun but think of this category of cookies as a little extra. Especially for a cookie charcuterie board, these will help add visual interest and texture. Lean into cookies you may not always go for and try something new and different.

The Best Recipes for Your Cookie Charcuterie Board

We certainly have our favorites, but a cookie board is the perfect chance to use a blend of store-bought, bakery-made, and homemade cookies. You don’t have to bake every recipe yourself! I polled our editors for some of their favorite cookies when building this board. These are our favorites:

• Store-bought soft sugar cookies with frosting
• Almond pizelles from the bakery
• Shortbread stars
• Strawberry linzer cookies
• Hazelnut wafer cookies
• Store-bought gingerbread tiles and biscuits
• Peppermint bark
• Regular and walnut brownies
• Chocolate biscuits
• Chocolate chip cookies

And a few recipes I love to include as well:

Assembly Tips and Tricks

There’s no right or wrong way to assemble a cookie charcuterie board. But I have learned a few tricks along the way to help make it look more elevated and festive.

• Organize with cupcake liners. For smaller cookies or candies like peppermint bark, using muffin liners helps keep the cookies and treats organized while also adding a bit of texture.
• Use plates and bowls to help group cookies. Not only does using a small plate on the board help add some extra height and dimension, but it also gives you a chance to help separate cookies so their flavors don’t mix.
• Group cookies together in separate places. You don’t need fifty different cookie recipes to make your board feel lush and cozy. By creating groups of the same cookie in separate parts of the board, you can give the illusion of more abundance while keeping the board cohesive.
• Add extras. Peppermint bark, candy canes, caramel candies, candied nuts, marshmallows, and little items like these can help fill in any gaps on the board while also giving guests who may not love sweets as much as everyone else a chance to nibble on something small.

And that’s it! A cookie charcuterie board is the ultimate aesthetic dessert—and it couldn’t be easier to create and customize. I hope you have fun piling yours high with all the treats. And be sure to share your masterpieces with us @camillestyles.

We’re two weeks out from Christmas and the holiday spirit is in full swing here at Camille Styles. We’re prioritizing our holiday rituals, baking our hearts out (I’m talking allll the Christmas cookies), and we’ve marathoned just about every last Christmas movie. Of course, we’re also in full holiday decorating mode and couldn’t be happier about it. Our trees have been up since November 1, and we spend just about every waking minute basking in their glow. This year, we’re leaning into an earthy, organic vibe and looking to source as much Christmas decor from nature as possible. Are you feeling similarly inspired? Great—you’ve come to the right place.

Though we’ve been counting down until the big day for weeks now, it simultaneously feels like the season is slipping by. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can be easy to find yourself looking back on New Year’s day wondering where it all went. So, to make the most of this special time of year, we’ve decided to deck the halls all the more by bringing touches of nature indoors.

The Best Christmas Decor From Nature

The beauty of opting for natural touches of Christmas decor is that oftentimes, this approach tends to be more budget-friendly. During a season when the pressure to purchase is at an all-time high, the opportunity to do a little DIY can come as breath of fresh air. What’s more, getting crafty comes with the dual benefit of tapping into your creative side.

If you also want to infuse a soft and earthy approach to the season at home, get inspired with all the Christmas decor from nature ahead. From fresh-scented garlands to crisp, sculptural branches, these are the perfect ways to bring your home to life.

Every product is curated with care by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or purchased ourselves. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Take a Natural Approach to Presents

I always find it funny how few people think of the presents under their tree as Christmas decor. And while the gifts you receive from others often come close to the big day itself, you can always fill in the empty space on your own. Simply select empty boxes and wrap them in natural-hued craft paper. From there, echo the elements with forest green and brown velvet ribbons. Then, tie on dried oranges to highlight the season’s best produce. The pops of color will be a welcome balm to the otherwise neutral selections.

Pretty It Up With Pine Cones

If there’s one decoration that gives your home that holiday touch in an instant, it’s pine cones. This stylish seasonal wonder is a classic must-have to transition your space into the festive spirit. Place them in a bowl on the table or position them in a garland on top of the mantel. Sprinkle smaller ones around the bottom of the tree or across your holiday table.

Opt for Faux Foliage

While we love the piney scents that come with real greenery, we know it’s not possible to source in all parts of the country. And though past options were once cringeworthy, faux foliage has come a long way. And you don’t have to spend a ton to get the quality your home deserves either. Retailers like Target, West Elm, Pottery Barn, CB2, Crate & Barrel, and so many more have incredibly beautiful options. Select from faux arrangements, branches, garlands, clippings, and stems. No one will know they’re not real. We promise!

Go Beyond Green

When we think of nature-inspired décor, our minds instantly think green. But there are so many other incredible colors to incorporate into our homes this season—red, white, burgundy, or even pink can all be found in nature and still evoke the festive spirit. Mix it up with a red berry wreath and garland combo or throw some pink pepperberry into a simple vase on a side table. Experiment, play, and have fun with it.

Branch Out

There is nothing quite like a bold branch freshly cut and trimmed from outside to give your home a sculptural touch this season. Cut a few different branches and experiment with them in vintage vessels or a terracotta jug. If you’re not keen on cutting your own, then there are so many branches and preserved berry stems you can buy online now to achieve the same effect.

Use Fresh Clippings

You don’t have to spend money to bring nature in. In fact, you could keep things simple with just a few fresh clippings from your garden or head out for a walk and see what you can find along the way. And you don’t have to go big. Sometimes just a few leafy twigs or stems can bring the room to life without going full holiday. It’s a small moment that keeps things fresh and lightens the mood.

Think Outside of the Box

Of course, we will always love branches of cedar, holly, or ivy around the home this time of year but don’t be afraid of introducing some non-traditional stems, greenery, foliage, and branches into the mix, too. We love eucalyptus (the silver dollar variety is our favorite) and olive branches. Fuse different varietals into a garland for a modern approach to holiday décor. We also love wooden decorations for the mantel for natural texture.

And when it comes to thinking outside of the box for your natural Christmas decor, don’t be afraid to change it up in terms of scale, too. We love the idea of sprinkling Christmas trees of different sizes all throughout your home. This mini potted tree Camille keeps on her nightstand is so sweet.

This post was originally published on November 19, 2020, and has since been updated.

There’s only one way to ensure a stress-free and seamless Thanksgiving: detailed, down-to-the-minute planning. I’m typically one to take a laid-back approach to entertaining, but Thanksgiving is the one day when free-styling is usually a terrible idea. Even for seasoned entertainers, this meal has a lot going on at once. (Especially if you have a big group or are accommodating multiple dietary restrictions.) My solution: A Thanksgiving checklist. Mine is complete with a timeline that counts down everything needed to pull off the feast. And today, I’m sharing my Thanksgiving checklist to make sure your holiday goes off without a hitch.

Featured image by Christie Graham.

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How to Create a Thanksgiving Checklist That Works for You

Make a Plan

I’ve learned that the more detailed my plan is on the front end, the more I can kick back and relax on the day of. Start with a list of how many people are attending. I send an email to the entire group and get specific on arrival and mealtimes with guests so everyone knows what to expect. This is also a great way to find out if there are any dietary restrictions and get some volunteers to pitch in on the menu.

Make it a Potluck

I can’t imagine hosting our big family gathering without lots of people pitching in on the menu. I’ve found that everyone loves having the chance to contribute their own traditions to the table. My dad always makes the stuffing, my mother-in-law brings her broccoli casserole and gravy, and my mom is on pie duty. Anyone who doesn’t cook is bringing wine to contribute. It takes a village, and asking for help is key to keeping my Thanksgiving Day manageable and the overwhelm at bay.

Don’t Feel Like Every “Thanksgiving Food” Has to Be Included

Especially if you’re shouldering the bulk of the cooking yourself, my biggest piece of advice is to keep the menu relatively limited. People do not need both mashed potatoes and potatoes au gratin, I promise. Just remember, every additional dish equals more groceries, more prep, and more clean-up. Take an honest look at the menu and ask yourself if you’re trying to do too much. If so, figure out what item will be missed the least, then ditch it from your menu.

Keep Drinks Simple

In years passed, I’ve had a slow cooker full of cider that I’ve dressed up with spices along with a bottle of bourbon on the side for guests who want to spike theirs. In other years, I’ve simply opened a bottle of something sparkling and served guests as they arrived. On the dinner table, set a juicy red wine, a crisp white, and a big carafe of water. Give everyone one wine glass and one water glass and let them fill and refill themselves. Done and done.

Hit Up the Rental Company

My first real job was in catering, and I quickly learned that renting glassware and silverware is kind of the most awesome thing ever. For one thing, if you’re hosting a big group, who has 20 forks and knives lying around? But the real key to this one is in the clean-up. Just imagine the feeling at the end of the night of loading all those dirty wine glasses into a crate and putting them in your car to drop off the next morning. Bliss!

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Three Weeks Before Thanksgiving

Plan the menu. It all starts with a smart menu that isn’t so ambitious it turns you into a crazy person. Strategic menu planning is the key to conveying the stress-free vibe that we all want to feel on Thanksgiving. Advance planning also gives you the chance to consider how your various menu items will taste and look together, which goes a long way towards the enjoyment of the overall meal. A few things to think about:

• Variety: Thanksgiving is notorious for being monochromatic—the mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, and turkey can turn an entire plate an unappealing shade of cream. So, I always throw in a beautiful salad bursting with fall veggies, and this year I’m adorning my cornbread “stuffing” with jewel-toned toppings. Similarly, try not to repeat the same ingredients in multiple dishes. (If your app is bacon-wrapped figs, skip the bacon in the Brussels.)
• Dietary Restrictions: If your family and friend group is like mine, there are certainly going to be some gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian eaters around the table. Thanksgiving can be tricky, since it often relies on a classic menu of recipes that aren’t by nature super accommodating. My suggestion is to make enough of the classics to keep the traditionalists happy, but make sure there’s at least a main, a veggie, and a starch that works for everyone around the table.
• Consider your timing: Ever had one of those Thanksgiving moments when it’s 30 minutes before mealtime, and suddenly everything needs to be in the oven to finish cooking at the same time? Me too. I’ve learned to get very strategic at the beginning of my planning to make sure prep can be paced out. For example, this year’s cornbread stuffing is mostly made on the stovetop, and can hang out at room temp for awhile before digging in.

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Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving

Order your turkey. Plan to buy one pound per person (or you could go up to 1 1/2 pounds per person if you want leftovers.) Get our tips on how to make the ultimate Thanksgiving turkey.

Make a shopping list. A solid shopping list is an absolute necessity for this occasion. Be sure to check the staple ingredients that you might assume you always have enough of. One Thanksgiving, I randomly ran out of salt in the middle of cooking!

Buy your shelf-stable groceries. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the day before Thanksgiving to buy cranberries, canned pumpkin, or any of the other shelf-stable necessities that could make or break the meal. In fact, I like to stock up on everything except fresh produce, dairy, and meat a couple weeks in advance so I can rest easy.

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Two Days Before Thanksgiving

Hit the store for your perishables. This is a great time to double-check your grocery list to ensure you’re not forgetting anything important. In addition to your fresh produce, herbs, turkey, and refrigerated items, now’s the time to grab wine, sparkling water, flowers, extra trash bags, ice, and lots of foil for wrapping up leftovers.

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The Day Before Thanksgiving

Brine your turkey and store it in the fridge.

Make the chutney, then store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Make the vinaigrette, and store in a mason jar in the fridge.

Pre-cut your squash, red onion, and kale for the salad. Store in gallon-sized Ziplock bags in the fridge.

Set the table, arrange flowers, and place serving pieces where they’ll go on the buffet.

Prep the guest bathroom, making sure the trash is empty, the soap is full, hand towels and toilet paper are well-stocked, and there’s a vase of flowers or a great-smelling candle next to the sink.

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Thanksgiving Morning

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

Chill your white wine.

Massage the kale for your salad.

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Three Hours Before

Prep the turkey, and get it in the oven.

Make your cornbread stuffing. Keep it covered on the counter until it’s almost time to eat.

Two Hours Before

Make your mashed potatoes. They can hang out on the stovetop with a lid on. 15 minutes before serving, reheat over low.

Roast the veggies for your salad.

Pop open a good bottle of sparkling wine to sip while you finish cooking—it’s a holiday!

Fill a pitcher with filtered water and lemon slices, then place in the fridge to get really cold.

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One Hour Before

Arrange your charcuterie board and set it out. It’ll be ready and waiting for any early arrivals, and the cheese tastes better when it has come to room temperature.

Pop red wine in the fridge to slightly chill.

Make Brussels sprouts. Cover them and set out on the stove until it’s time to eat.

Check the turkey for doneness. When it registers 165 degrees F, cover with foil and allow to rest until ready to carve. (It’ll come up 10 more degrees before you carve it.)

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15 Minutes Before

If you have early-arriving guests, don’t hesitate to give them simple tasks like opening wine and slicing lemons for water. Putting them to work will actually put everyone at ease.

Rewarm mashed potatoes on the stove.

Pop the cornbread stuffing in the oven to rewarm.

Toss together all the ingredients in your salad and set it on the buffet.

Carve the turkey, place everything in its designated spot on the buffet, call your guests to help themselves, and then kick back and enjoy the feast.

This post was originally published on November 2, 2021, and has since been updated.

Are you on team #snackcake? If you’ve been here a while, you probably know we’re a little obsessed with the concept. From pumpkin snack cakes to the peanut butter banana varietal, I’ve made my fair share of anytime-of-day cakes over the years. But I can’t take credit for its popularity. Cookbook author, baker, and food stylist extraordinaire, Yossy Arefi released a whole book dedicated to snack cakes. (And trust: the book contains countless pages of recipes that surprise, delight, and deliver.) As a long-time follower—and much to the delight of my friends—I’ve made many of Yossy’s recipes for gatherings. But nothing has wowed me quite like the recipe she has for us today: walnut cream cheese coffee cake.

Yossy Arefi Shares Her Recipe for Walnut Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Snacking Bakes, Yossy’s third cookbook, has arrived just in time for the holiday season. This new collection of recipes highlights desserts and sweet treats that are both delicious and incredibly easy to make. Almost every recipe in the book takes under an hour, requires just one bowl, and features simple, ingredients and accessible equipment.

While I already have some favorites from the book (including the marble cake and monster cookies!), this walnut cream cheese coffee cake is my go-to. Think all the best parts of a classic coffee cake, upgraded with extra warmth for the holiday season. Might I be inviting friends over just so I have an excuse to bake this cake? Of course.

Ahead, get all the deets on Yossy’s new cookbook—and the walnut cream cheese coffee cake recipe your holiday baking repertoire needs.

How would you describe your cooking and food philosophy? How has it influenced your recipes?

I’ve lived in a small apartment without a dishwasher for a long time, so I always appreciate quick and easy recipes that use minimal ingredients and minimal equipment. I extend that philosophy to my baking, too, which is why I loved writing Snacking Bakes.

Take this recipe for example. You just need an 8×8 pan, a couple of bowls, and measuring tools. It comes together quickly with no electric equipment in less than an hour!

How did you develop this recipe?

I wanted a delicious coffee cake that had a big bang for your buck. You have to make cake batter and a crumble topping, but the crumble also goes into the center of the cake along with cream cheese for a great buttery crunch that makes it a little more special than your average coffee cake.

What makes this recipe your go-to for the holidays?

This is a super easy, low-effort recipe with a ton of warm, toasty, and creamy flavors.

What are your must-have kitchen tools in the kitchen?

All of the cake and bar recipes [in this cookbook] can be made in an 8×8-inch pan. I love the ones by USA Pan. My other must-have kitchen tools are:

• a scale for measuring ingredients
• a sturdy whisk
• a flexible spatula
• half-sheet pans
• knives
• a small offset spatula

What ingredients make this recipe special? 

Cream cheese, toasted walnuts, cinnamon, and the perfect amount of butter.

Can you make any ingredient swaps?

You could easily sub in a gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose and whatever nuts or spices you like for the walnuts and cinnamon.

What is a cooking hack should all know about? 

I like to really maximize the effort I put into my cooking and baking. Even though this recipe has two components, the crumb topping is used twice to give this cake lots of interesting flavor and texture.

What advice do you have for beginner bakers?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! You learn a lot by just trying things and seeing what you like. Start with simple recipes, like the ones in Snacking Bakes, and work your way up to more elaborate and time-consuming bakes. 

What is the best part of creating recipes to share for people to bring into their own homes?

It is such an honor for people to make my recipes and for me to be part of their lives and celebrations in a small way. I love getting tagged in everyday baking posts just as much as birthday and holiday posts.

What other recipes from Snacking Bakes shoulder readers make first? 

Oooh so many! The monster cookies, blondies, mazurkas, brown butter marble cake—I could go on…

Follow Yossy online at apt2bbakingco.com and on Instagram at @yossyarefi.

“Snacking Bakes” Copyright © 2023 by Yasameen Arefi-Afshar. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Crown Publishing  Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.”

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Live and breathe by your calendar? Us too. Truth is, your calendar isn’t just a tool to keep your professional, personal, and social life in check. It can also be the backbone of your well-being. And it all begins with this: we’re dynamic people with equally dynamic hormones. More specifically—as menstruating women—our hormones are in constant flux. And often, these fluctuations feel totally unprecedented. But with the help of a cycle syncing planner, you can always be one step ahead. It’s time to align your nutrition and lifestyle with your body’s hormonal needs.

Say hello to less PMS, brighter moods, and a newfound sense of balance. And good news! We’ve made the calendar for you. Our detailed planner is a canvas for living in sync with your hormones. Together, let’s create a life that complements your hormones—not one that’s dictated by them.

Harnessing Your Hormones: The Art of Cycle Syncing

Spoiler alert: your menstrual cycle isn’t just about a monthly, dreaded period. It’s a powerful, natural process that impacts your entire being—emotions, creativity, cravings, desires, and energy levels. In other words, your menstrual cycle is an opportunity to foster a deeper connection with your body. Hello, cycle syncing. Ultimately, the premise of cycle syncing is to live in tandem with your hormones. It’s all about harnessing the power of your body’s natural rhythms to optimize your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

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Why You Should Cycle Sync

Think of cycle syncing as an invitation to integrate. During each phase, everything from your supplements to your social life has a specific rhythm. In essence, this practice is an opportunity to embrace phase-specific self-care practices, foods, and workouts. And trust us, it’s a game-changer. If you experience intense PMS, frequent mood swings, and relentless cravings, cycle syncing could be just what your hormones are calling for.

Is cycle syncing for everyone?

In many cases, yes! If you want to enhance the quality of your life, improve your body awareness, and increase your productivity, cycle syncing is worth a shot. However—as with most wellness practices—it may not suit everyone. Factors like irregular menstrual cycles, medical conditions, or individual preferences can impact its effectiveness. Therefore, chat with a health coach to determine if cycle syncing fits your specific requirements.

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The Menstrual Cycle Basics

Before we dive into the cycle syncing planner, let’s uncover the basics. The menstrual cycle is divided into four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal. Each phase is characterized by hormonal changes that impact everything from your mood to your cravings.

1. Menstrual phase (days 1-5): This is when you start your period. Hormone levels—like estrogen and progesterone—are low, and it’s a good time for self-care and rest.
2. Follicular phase (days 6-14): Estrogen starts to rise, and your energy increases. This is the time to start new projects, exercise, and be social.
3. Ovulatory phase (days 15-17): Estrogen peaks, and this is often when you feel your best. Your social life can thrive, and you’re at your most extroverted.
4. Luteal phase (days 18-28): Progesterone rises and can bring PMS symptoms. This is a good time for reflection, self-care, and creativity.

Keep in mind that these are general dates for a normal, regular period. It’s best to track your period with an app to determine your cycle’s specific lengths, symptoms, etc.

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Each Menstrual Cycle Phase, Explained

With the basics under your belt, what does each phase entail? What’s happening, hormonally, and what are common symptoms? Take note.

Menstrual

As mentioned, this is the start of your period. The lining of your uterus sheds. Hormones are at an all-time low. Your body is losing blood and iron. Prostaglandins (which cause cramping) are peaking. You probably feel more inward, slow, and restful here. In terms of cycle syncing during your period, the aim is to truly nurture your body.

Follicular

Estrogen and progesterone are starting to rise. Energy begins to pick up, and you’ll feel more confident and social. Estrogen is an anabolic hormone (meaning it helps things grow), so we are at our strongest during this phase.

Ovulatory

Around the halfway mark in your cycle, you’ll likely ovulate. Estrogen peaks, and most women feel vibrant and sensual. Libido peaks around ovulation, too! Cervical fluid changes. It’s possible to experience some fluid retention around ovulation, as well as mild constipation, crampiness, or nausea.

Luteal

Progesterone is on the rise. This is our fat-burning, temperature-regulating, pro-gestational hormone. Because of this, hunger levels increase and we tend to crave salty, carb-rich foods (yes, this is no coincidence)! On the flip side, estrogen is declining—as is serotonin. More often than not, PMS comes knocking at the door.

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Can you use a cycle syncing planner if you’re on birth control?

The long short of it: yes. Although this type of contraception suppresses ovulation, the body still undergoes hormonal fluctuations—albeit, in a controlled manner. Regardless, you can easily complement birth control’s hormonal patterns via cycle syncing. Ultimately, cycle syncing offers a holistic approach to empower all women to embrace their unique physiology. With that, let’s walk through the cycle syncing planner.

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Syncing Your Calendar

Without further ado, below are habits, recommendations, and tips for each phase of your cycle. As you scroll, consider how you can implement these suggestions on your calendar (tasks, events, meal planning, etc.). Your hormones will thank you! Through this proactive approach, you can remind yourself what’s most supportive during each phase. That said, there’s no need to apply all of these. Rather, pick and choose a few. As the months go on—and cycle syncing becomes more rhythmic—you can add more.

Menstrual Phase

• Personal habits: Prioritize self-care. This is a phase for rest, reflection, and self-compassion. Schedule moments of your day for relaxation, meditation, or journaling.
• Professional to-dos: If possible, try to avoid intense work commitments during this phase. Instead, focus on more administrative or low-energy tasks.
• Nourishing foods: Focus on nourishing, warming ingredients that build iron, assist in iron absorption, and are anti-inflammatory. Think—high-quality animal protein, leafy greens, broccoli, mushrooms, beets, bell peppers, lentils, kidney beans, citrus fruits, strawberries, and papaya.
• Supplement routine: Iron to replenish iron levels due to blood loss during menstruation and magnesium to help alleviate cramps and support relaxation.
• Social obligations: Opt for quiet gatherings or alone time.
• Supportive rituals: Practice meditation, journaling, and self-compassion.
• Physical health: Gentle yoga poses can help ease cramps and promote relaxation. Opt for yin yoga, which involves holding poses for an extended time, to release tension. Otherwise, a light, brisk walk can be a great way to stay active without overexerting yourself.

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Follicular Phase

• Personal habits: Start new projects and set ambitious goals. Your energy is rising, so take advantage of it with exercise, hobbies, or personal development.
• Professional to-dos: Schedule important meetings, presentations, and intense tasks during this phase when you’re most motivated and focused.
• Nourishing foods: As with the menstrual phase, it’s ideal to incorporate foods rich in iron, such as lean meats, spinach, and lentils, to help replenish iron lost during menstruation. Additionally, consider foods high in vitamin C like citrus fruits and berries. These enhance iron absorption!
• Supplement routine: Iron and vitamin C, along with a B-complex to support energy production and overall health. Additionally, omega-3 supplements—like fish oil—can help reduce inflammation and support mood stability.
• Social obligations: Your extroverted side is emerging, so make plans with friends and network. It’s an excellent time for social and professional events.
• Supportive rituals: Set goals, plan and start new projects, and express creativity.
• Physical health: This is an excellent time to engage in more energetic and vigorous exercises. Cardio, strength training, and group fitness classes are beneficial.

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Ovulatory Phase

• Personal habits: Enjoy feeling your best and engage in physical activities you love. This is the time for adventures, travel, and trying new things.
• Professional to-dos: Leverage your confidence and sociability for important meetings, negotiations, and collaborations.
• Nourishing foods: Focus on foods rich in nutrients that support egg health and potential fertility. Include high-quality protein, leafy greens, whole grains, avocados, and ingredients high in antioxidants, like berries, which can encourage overall reproductive health and vitality.
• Supplement routine: Key supplements include folic acid—which aids in egg development, and omega-3 fatty acids—which can help regulate inflammation and support fertility.
• Social obligations: Plan parties, gatherings, or outings. Your social calendar can be more vibrant during this phase.
• Supportive rituals: Focus on communication, self-expression, and self-confidence (journaling, voice notes, poetry, etc.).
• Physical health: With estrogen at its peak, you’re likely craving more vigorous workouts and high-intensity exercises (running, strength training, or interval training). Take advantage of your increased energy and endurance to engage in challenging workouts that can help you achieve your fitness goals.

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Luteal Phase

• Personal habits: Be aware of PMS symptoms and practice self-compassion. Engage in calming rituals like meditation, yoga, or reading.
• Professional to-dos: Schedule routine tasks, and try to avoid major decisions during this phase. Focus on project management and tying up loose ends.
• Nourishing foods: During the luteal phase, prioritize foods that support hormonal balance and help alleviate PMS symptoms. Incorporate sources of magnesium, like leafy greens and pumpkin seeds, as well as complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and legumes (to stabilize mood and energy levels).
• Supplement routine: Supplements that help alleviate PMS symptoms and support emotional well-being are best. For example, magnesium and vitamin B6.
• Social obligations: Balance social activities with alone time. Let friends and colleagues know that you may need some space.
• Supportive rituals: Reflect, journal, and practice stress management techniques like meditation or deep breathing.
• Physical health: As motivation fluctuates—and PMS is prevalent—consider focusing on gentler exercises like yoga, pilates, and low-impact activities to help manage stress and reduce discomfort.

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Final Thoughts

Now, with your phone, calendar, or even a blank piece of paper in hand, begin filling out your cycle syncing planner for the month ahead. Start slow, and prioritize what feels most accessible at this time. Maybe that’s writing down a few meals you’d like to make during the week or scheduling your workouts in advance. Or, perhaps it simply looks like carving out windows of alone time and self-care. 

Remember: your cycle syncing planner is meant to support you, not overwhelm you. And it’s not set in stone! Pay attention to how you feel throughout each phase and adjust accordingly.

“Winter squash” is a bit of a misnomer. In truth, these veggies really come into season at the end of summer and early fall. As the temps start to drop, I find myself looking for the best winter squash recipes and ways to use all of the beautiful picks piling up at grocery stores, markets, and farm stands. Lucky for all of us, too, their buttery flavors are the perfect addition to soups, salads, and pastas, and they even stand up as the hero in many of the meatless main dishes I’ll be eating all throughout the season.

Perhaps you’re already familiar with a few of the vegetables that fall into this family. Butternut and spaghetti squash have become fan favorites in recent years, but I’d also recommend trying your hand at a recipe that includes delicata or red kuri squash this fall. Keep scrolling for tips on how to identify the seven most popular varieties of winter squash, plus some must-try recipes below.

Featured image by Suruchi Avasthi.

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How To Tell if a Squash Is Ripe

To tell if a squash is ripe, you’ll need to check out the exterior. The skin should be a matte color (if it’s glossy, it’s not ripe yet) and should have a hard exterior.

Throughout the season, I’m apt to pick up kabocha squash, delicata squash, a sugar pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and red kuri squash for experimenting with my favorite winter squash recipes. Of course, when I’m in full-on fall mode, I can’t help but grab some mini gourds and pumpkins, too! These are mainly used for decoration but can be found in some recipes as well.

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How to Identify the Seven Most Popular Winter Squash

• Kabocha: squat, green squash with faint white lines running up and down the surface
• Delicata: yellow cylindrical squash with green and orange stripes along the ridges
• Sugar Pumpkin: small, almost perfectly spherical pumpkin in bright orange
• Acorn: dark green squash with thick ridges all the way around
• Butternut: bell-shaped squash with a light peachy yellow exterior
• Spaghetti: round cylindrical squash with a bright yellow exterior
• Red Kuri: warm orange squash with a lopsided shape

18 Winter Squash Recipes to Satisfy Your Seasonal Cravings

This is your sign to pick up a squash you haven’t tried next time you’re at the grocery store or farmer’s market. For me, the hardest part of trying new foods is finding ways to incorporate them into recipes. Below I’ve listed out 18 delicious recipes using my favorite varieties of winter squash.

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Butternut Squash and Ricotta Tart

Why We Love It: This butternut squash is a major stunner that looks way more complicated than it really is. With a flaky crust and creamy ricotta, layers of seasonal root veggies come together to make the ultimate cold-weather appetizer.

Hero Ingredient: A pinch of red pepper flakes adds the perfect heat.

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Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Bacon & Crispy Sage

Why We Love It: Both savory and sweet, this pasta is everything warm and cozy in a bowl. It can sometimes prove a challenge to create a creamy and decadent dish that’s dairy-free, but this pasta does just that (and some more!).

Hero Ingredient: Raw cashews are the secret weapon.

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Roasted Delicata Squash With Feta, Almonds, and Herbs

Why We Love It: If you’re unfamiliar with it, delicata squash is slightly sweet, caramelizes perfectly, and is the ideal canvas for all of fall’s flavors. This specific recipe serves it with a simple dressing and lots of toppings to make the squash a complete meal. The crunch from the almonds and the creaminess from the feta is just the icing on top of the already delicious cake.

Hero Ingredient: Cumin brings a rich, hearty, and warming bite to this quintessential fall side.

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Butternut Squash Pizza With Arugula & Almond Ricotta

Why We Love It: As seasons come and go, one thing stays the same: my love for pizza. This butternut squash pizza shot its way up to the top of my favorite winter squash recipes because it’s seasonal, dairy-free (although you wouldn’t know it), and downright delicious. The sweet squash and almond ricotta combined with the savory bacon will have you going back for third and fourth slices. 

Hero Ingredient: If you haven’t yet dabbled in the art of making your own (plant-based) ricotta, now’s the time to try! It’s wayyy easier than it seems and is the perfect cheesy, slightly sweet base for this fall pizza.

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Whole Roasted Butternut Squash

Why We Love It: When it comes to winter squash recipes, roasting these roots is always my go-to method of prep. For this go-to roasted butternut squash recipe, all you need is two hours in the oven to create a delicious, filling, and hassle-free appetizer.

Hero Ingredient: A little bit of hot sauce and fresh herbs take this squash up a notch.

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Rosemary Roasted Acorn Squash with Brown Butter and Hazelnuts

Why We Love It: I was lucky enough to try this recipe when Tieghan Gerard came to visit Camille last year, and I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. I’d never tried acorn squash before, but it quickly became one of my favorite winter squash sides. The brown butter and hazelnuts, with the hint of spice from the chili flakes, create the flavor combo you didn’t know you needed. 

Hero Ingredient: Just a tablespoon of brown sugar is all the added sweetness this recipe needs.

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“Creamy” Vegan Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger & Coconut Milk

Why We Love It: This soup is my favorite way to dive into squash season. It’s one of the coziest soups I’ve ever had while still tasting clean and healthy. Thanks to the coconut milk, it’s ultra creamy without any cream at all. I highly recommend doubling this recipe and saving it for lunch or keeping it in the freezer for a rainy day. 

Hero Ingredient: Peeled and chopped ginger adds just the right amount of warming spice to this perfect-for-fall soup.

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Turmeric Roasted Kabocha Squash Salad

Why We Love It: To celebrate everything we love most about fall in a lighter, plant-packed form, this turmeric squash salad throws together plenty of nutrients and a wide variety of flavors. Pumpkin seeds and cranberries add a bit of texture and tanginess to complement your sweet autumn star.

Hero Ingredient: Honey is a natural sweetener essential for this salad.

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Delicata Squash Salad with Pistachios and Marinated Lentils

Why We Love It: One of my favorite meal-prep winter squash recipes is this delicata squash salad. Add your favorite greens and complement them with crunchy pistachios and creamy feta cheese for the most mouthwatering fall bowl.

Hero Ingredient: Cinnamon gives these squash slices a warm spiced flavor.

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Roasted Butternut Squash Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Figs, and Pesto

Why We Love It: Just the name of this recipe makes my mouth water. Butternut squash, goat cheese, and pesto are three of my favorite foods and thrown together—they can’t be beat. This is an excellent affordable, healthy, vegetarian meal to add to your fall meal rotation. 

Hero Ingredient: Pesto adds a bright, fresh flavor to this comforting side dish.

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Pita Tostadas with Butternut Squash, Black Beans, & Avocado

Why We Love It: As much as I love squash recipes, sometimes they can all start to taste the same. These tostadas, however, are the perfect way to shake things up while still eating with the season. Camille took the genius approach of swapping tortillas for pita bread in this recipe, which makes the perfect chewy, golden-brown crust for this Tex-mex spin on squash.

Hero Ingredient: Adding a few creamy slices of avocado to anything is the answer for… everything.

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Warm Roasted Delicata Squash and Kale Salad

Why We Love It: This colorful and seasonal salad is the perfect addition to all of your fall dinner parties. It comes from Sheela Prakash’s cookbook Mediterranean Every Day and is just as healthy as it is comforting. I like making a big batch of this on Sunday to have on hand all week since it’s full of veggies that won’t get soggy from the dressing. 

Hero Ingredient: I love the vinaigrette’s peppery, pungent bite of Dijon.

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Wild Grain & Winter Squash Salad

Why We Love It: Salads that don’t feel like salads are trending on TikTok and this wild grain and winter squash salad should be going viral. With no leafy greens to be seen, it’s a great recipe for when you want something a little more comforting but still healthy. The delicata and dumpling squash rest on a bed of rice and are topped with almonds, feta, and plenty of herbs to satisfy every single taste bud. 

Hero Ingredient: Wild purple rice isn’t simply a good source of protein. It’s also a delightfully chewy, nutty, and slightly sweet grain that’s perfect for any fall salad or bowl.

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Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Why We Love It: My roommate and I have started a new tradition this fall: Soup Mondays. I know you’re thinking that Soup Sundays makes more sense, but we coincidentally had soup two Mondays in a row, and it stuck. On tap for this week is this comforting curry butternut squash soup. The curry adds even more flavor than traditional butternut squash soup, which is already a favorite of mine. It’s also freezer-friendly and one of the best winter squash recipes for meal prep.

Hero Ingredient: The chopped Granny Smith apple adds a complex sweetness that deepens this soup’s cozy fall flavors.

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Crispy Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa with Currant Vinaigrette

Why We Love It: This simple yet delicious fall meal will be your new weeknight hero. The butternut squash is golden and crispy on the outside and creamy and warm on the inside—just how I like it. The currant vinaigrette perfectly brightens the dish, complements the fall flavors, and brings it all together. Plus, you’ll want to bookmark this genius tip for cooking quinoa. 

Hero Ingredient: I love the chickpeas’ creamy, hearty bite. It plays perfectly with crispy butternut squash and nutty quinoa.

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Butternut Squash, Spinach, & Goat Cheese Pasta

Why We Love It: I’m a sucker for a good fall pasta, and this is one of the easiest and best recipes I’ve tried. The short list of ingredients comes together in just one bowl and is perfect for a cozy weeknight or a wine night with friends. Take it from me: the optional sage leaves should most definitely not be optional.

Hero Ingredient: A garnish of toasted pine nuts is the perfect texture play. They deliver just the right amount of crunch.

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Curried Roasted Winter Squash Soup From Brooklyn Delhi’s Chitra Agrawal

Why We Love It: This delicious winter soup is Chitra Agrawal’s go-to weeknight meal, and I can’t blame her. I love that you can make it with any winter squash—butternut, acorn, kabocha, or delicata—so you’ll never grow tired of it. Plus, if you roast the squash ahead of time, this recipe comes together in one pot.

Hero Ingredient: Leaning on your favorite simmer sauce not only makes this recipe a breeze but it also ensures you’re packing in tons of flavor despite a minimal ingredients list.

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Slow Roasted Cod with Broccolini, Winter Squash, And Mint

Why We Love It: I love a recipe that feels ultra elegant, yet comes together in a matter of minutes. (Bonus: it’s baked in one pan.) This roasted cod with broccolini, squash, and mint does exactly that, giving you a restaurant-grade meal with minimal effort. You can make this recipe with any firm white fish or winter squash, and the formula will turn out just as delicious every time. 

Hero Ingredient: Is it me, or is cod a super underrated fish? It’s a low-fat source of protein, sure, but it also has a light, flaky texture and neutral flavor that holds up well against any seasonings you add.

This post was originally published on October 26, 2017, and has since been updated.

I know what you’re thinking: does the world really need another chocolate chip cookie recipe? And I’m here to say absolutely. Because what’s better than having a chocolate chip cookie recipe for every moment and occasion? Some are thick and gooey, others thin and chewy. Some use a mix of milk and dark chocolate and others swear by adding extra flaky salt or walnuts. What makes the best cookie is truly up to your taste and preference—and of course, the season. That’s why today, we’re exploring what I consider the perfect fall treat: pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that are spicy, buttery, and totally delish alongside a cup of hot cider.

Cozy season is here, y’all—and there’s no better way to celebrate than with fuzzy socks, hot beverages, and sweets that warm you from the inside out. Ever since making Sarah Kieffer’s pan-banging chocolate chip cookies, I’ve been obsessed with the extra thin and chewy cookie. And I won’t lie: it’s my absolute preference over a thicker cookie. I love how crisp the edges get as the cookies spread in the oven. The chewy middles with shards and pools of dark chocolate add that rich satisfaction while being balanced out with extra salt. For me, this is the ultimate chocolate chip cookie.

Ingredients for Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Browned Butter. Nothing screams cozy fall baking like browned butter. You’ll notice its nutty flavor, and it adds a delicious dimension of flavor to your baked goods.

Brown and White Sugar. As you may know, both sugars serve different purposes with chocolate chip cookies. Brown sugar helps with chewiness while white sugar adds a crispy texture.

Pumpkin Puree. The pumpkin adds moisture and the slightest sweet flavor while also giving the cookies that extra autumn orange tint. Note: Do NOT use pumpkin pie mix. Make sure you are using only pumpkin.

All-Purpose Flour. I highly recommend measuring with a scale when baking for 100% accuracy. If you don’t have a scale, make sure to fluff up your flour, spoon it into your measuring cup without patting it down, and then scrape off the top to level.

Pumpkin Spice. While this is a chocolate chip cookie, the pumpkin spice shines through in this recipe, adding warmth and spice to the cookies. You can make your own or use store-bought.

Chocolate. For chocolate chip cookies, I prefer using chopped bar chocolate over chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are made with stabilizers which prevent them from spreading or melting as a chocolate bar would. Use good-quality chocolate and chop both ways on the diagonal, both into large chunks and little shards that will spread throughout the entire batter of the cookies.

Salt. I tend to add extra salt when making other baked goods because I prefer desserts that lean slightly on the savory/salty side. Use the salt in the batter and add flaky salt over the top when the cookies come out of the oven. Bonus: It helps bring out the chocolatey flavor.

How to Bake Better Chocolate Chip Cookies

I’ve learned a lot from all the chocolate chip cookie recipes I’ve made over the years. This is how to ensure you’re making the very best batch:

1. Salt is your friend. The easiest way to bring out the best in your chocolate chip cookie is to incorporate salt into each layer. Salt the dough and add a little flaky salt under the cookie as well as over the cookie when they come out of the oven. If you love your sweets sweet, go ahead and ignore this advice. But for the best balance of flavor, don’t skimp on the salt.
2. Chill the dough. I tested this recipe by baking the dough right away as well as after chilling the dough for an hour. There was a noticeable difference in flavor and texture between the batches, and I liked the chilled version better. Letting the dough rest in the fridge ensures proper hydration of the dough and helps everything meld together. Because this recipe doesn’t use an egg, chilling also helps maintain structure during the bake so that the cookie doesn’t spread too much.
3. Don’t overdo the chocolate. I know that sounds like wild advice for a CCC, but especially when chopping from a bar of chocolate, it’s very easy to end up with bites that are basically just chocolate. And while that’s not really a problem—especially for my fellow chocolate lovers—these are cookies. We want to taste the cookie-ness of them in every bite. We also want the warm spices in these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to shine—so exercise a little restraint with the chocolate.
4. Tip: To ensure you get aesthetic (and tasty) pools of chocolate on top of each cookie, once you’ve balled up your dough, dip the tops in chopped chocolate pieces.

Storage Tips

Chocolate chip cookies will last a week when stored in an airtight container. Alternatively, you can bake a few cookies and freeze the dough for fresh cookies ready at a moment’s notice. Here’s how to make it happen:

Prepare the cookie dough as written. Scoop the dough into balls onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet in a single layer. Place the cookie sheet into the fridge to chill for at least an hour, the move to the freezer and freeze until the dough is solid. Once the dough is frozen, remove the dough balls from the cookie sheet and place into a Ziplock freezer bag or an airtight container. Frozen dough balls can be stored for up to two months.

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I love that feeling when the first hints of fall start showing themselves. A slight chill in the air when I take my kids to school, the rustling of leaves on the cusp of turning, sunset happening just a bit earlier in the evening. It’s a feeling that immediately makes me want to embrace all things cozy—and that includes inviting a few friends to curl up for a wine and cheese in front of the fire (or at least a fall-scented candle)!

This time of year is ripe for an appetizer-centric happy hour, and all you really need is a big wooden board piled high with snacks, plus a bottle of wine or two. In honor of the season, I teamed up with Target to create the ultimate fall grazing board, aka all my favorite snacks from Target in one big spread for everyone to enjoy. This is the perfect solution for the person who loves to gather friends together but may not want (or have the time) to cook from scratch. One of the best things about a grazing board is that you can buy everything from a deli, farmer’s market, or in the case of today’s ultimate fall grazing board—Target!

Every item on today’s board was sourced from Target’s owned Food & Beverage Brand, Good & Gather. If you haven’t yet experienced the joy of Good & Gather grocery items, let me familiarize you. Every item is absolutely delicious, and none of it contains artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or high fructose corn syrup. And there are tons of organic options. It’s proof yet again that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get high-quality and delicious flavors.

Scroll on for exactly how to make a Pinterest-worthy spread that’ll be the star of every get-together all season long.

Get inspired

Think about your grazing board the way an artist approaches a blank canvas. Consider which items will be your focal point, the overall “flow” of your design, and how the different colors will work together. For my greatest inspiration, I look to the changing seasons for the colors, tastes, and produce that excite the senses. You can also think about different parts of the world and culinary traditions as you brainstorm ideas. Your grazing board can take inspiration from Mediterranean mezze, Spanish tapas, or in the case of my board today, Italian cheese and charcuterie.

Pick your palette

When I’m shopping for my items, I like to have a color palette in mind to guide what I pick up. It may sound silly, but knowing that you’re going for fall tones of burgundy and eggplant will guide your selections at the store: Think purple grapes, fig chutney, and salami for a perfectly pulled-together fall palette! It makes all the aesthetic difference when you start building your board.

Determine your quantities

This board will serve 8 – 10 people for a happy hour situation. You can easily scale up or down depending on how many people you’re serving. For each type of cheese, I typically plan on having 1 ounce per person. For meat, 2 – 3 ounces per person is a good rule of thumb. And don’t stress too much about running out of a certain type of meat or cheese—the beauty of a grazing board is that there are tons of different things to sample, and we’re going to fill in with so many fruits, nuts, olives, and crackers, there will be plenty to munch on.

Choose your cheese

My favorite grazing boards use a selection of cheeses as their focal point—yes, it’s to be expected, but it’s always a crowd-pleaser. I’ve learned from the pros to bring in a balance of textures and flavors when choosing your cheeses.

To make the most of my budget, I usually choose three or four different types of cheeses including:

• a hard, sharper cheese (cheddar, parmesan, or gruyere)
• a soft cheese (goat or blue)
• a creamy cheese (like brie)

It’s also fun to incorporate at least a couple of different kinds of milk (cow, goat, sheep, or nut milk) to keep things interesting and make you look like a pro. On this board, we’ve got a Good & Gather aged gouda, which is a classic firm cheese option that is nutty and sweet. Second, there’s creamy goat cheese studded with garlic and herbs. And then one of my personal favorites: Good & Gather makes this double creme brie that is so delicious spread on a baguette with a drizzle of honey.

While three was the perfect number of cheeses for this board, a blue cheese, parmesan, or aged cheddar are always other favorites of mine to include on my grazing boards.

Add the accoutrements

What makes a grazing board different than a standard cheese board is the addition of vibrant, in-season produce and snacky bits for visual and flavorful interest. So, when crafting the ultimate fall grazing board, think about creating a feast for all the senses.

Fruit and herbs

Fresh rosemary sprigs not only smell cozy and woodsy, they add a beautiful touch of greenery. Figs are a stunning and sophisticated pairing for almost every cheese. I love incorporating apples and pears for some added sweetness on the board, too. Thinly slice and fan them out in different sections on the board. And finally, you can’t go wrong with gorgeous fresh grapes.

Crackers

Good & Gather has an amazing selection of crackers, and I like to add a variety to please different palettes. For this grazing board, I used the Everything Flatbread Crackers (because I am obsessed with all things “Everything” seasoning), Fig and Rosemary Cracker Crisps which just ooze fall vibes, and then I always include a classic water cracker for the traditionalists in the group.

Meats

Cured meats make a grazing board more filling and substantial. Proscuitto and salami are always a hit, but your meats are also a chance to embrace warming spices, maple, and other fall flavors. I tend to go lighter on the meat and just add slices of one or two types among the more aesthetically pleasing elements of the board.

Divide and conquer

All my grazing boards include nuts (like the Good & Gather glazed pecans and salt & pepper pistachios I used here), and olives (these castelvetranos are king). Use mini bowls here and there to keep things organized and corral these smaller snacks plus any dips or spreads you might add. I love this Good & Gather Honey Fig Spread that is such a delicious complement to manchego—put it in a little bowl with a spoon, and let guests create their perfect bite.

Make a night of it

A great grazing board and cold drinks are really all you need for a fun night with friends, but if you want to level up, try throwing one of these activities in the mix:

Watch a movie

Especially when it comes to family nights at home, few things are more fun than setting out snacks for dinner and choosing one of the best fall movies to stream.

Play a board game

Game night need some fresh energy? We’ve got you covered with these game night games that are anything but boring.

Set out a few questions for conversations

My favorite activity with friends is simply to go beneath the surface and connect. Ensure juicy conversation ahead with these great conversation starters. Pick your favorites, write them down on a piece of paper, and then let guests randomly draw and read aloud to the group.

You can shop the entire look on my Target storefront, where you’ll find all of my favorite Target buys for every space.

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I’ve always loved the clean-slate vibes of September. This time of year inspires a return to the healthy habits and daily routines that keep me feeling my best. After a summer of travel, late nights, and ice cream dates, I feel the pull to reign it in and get back to my feel-good rituals. To be clear, it’s not about perfection and I will certainly be eating ice cream this month. But I love the “tiny daily habits” approach that helps me discover those micro things that I can bake into my days to spark joy and help me feel vibrant and energized.

To welcome the new season with our partner Haven Well Within, I’m sharing my ultimate list of wellness habits that I always return to because they make me feel good. With soft fabrics, cozy fits, and flattering shapes (not to mention all the wellness and beauty goodies your fall could ever need), Haven Well Within is my go-to for effortless, elegant style—both in my wardrobe and all throughout my home.

Read on for all the wellness habits I’m prioritizing in my daily routine this fall. It’s a long list, and my hope is that you’ll find a few of these that speak to you, inspiring you to nourish your body and soul this fall.

Wake Up With the Sun

PSA: The healthy habits that ensure a good night’s sleep begin right when you wake up. When we prioritize getting natural light first thing, we’re better able to kickstart our body’s sleep-wake cycle. What’s more, waking up with the sun supports a balanced circadian rhythm. As a result, not only is it easier to fall asleep at night, but we wake up feeling refreshed, restored, and ready to take on the day.

I won’t pretend like I’m not tempted to check my phone first thing. If you’re getting more blue light than sunlight in the morning, charge your phone at night outside of the bedroom. And if you rely on your phone as your wake-up call, invest in a sunrise alarm clock like the Hatch Restore 2. Browse other editor-approved alarm clocks that’ll help you kick your smartphone habit.

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Drink My Greens in the AM

I’m sure you can relate: I’m a first-thing-in-the-morning coffee girl. My daily routine isn’t complete without it. (And I love pairing a hot cuppa with my morning journaling sesh.) But as cozy as the habit is, I’ve learned that I feel more depleted than energized if I’m not hydrating beforehand. And though water is my go-to elixir of life, I love supercharging my hydration with an extra dose of vitamins and minerals first thing. Enter: AG1.

While I’ve let other wellness trends come and go, my obsession with Athletic Greens is forever. I love mixing up my daily dose of greens and sipping on them while I help my kids get ready for school. It’s an easy, simple way to support gut and immune health, healthy aging, and focused, sustained energy throughout the day. And yes, it tastes delicious.

Use My Tongue Scraper

Disgusting, but true: our tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria. While brushing and flossing my teeth is an obvious habit in my daily routine, I’ve added tongue scraping over the years to promote detoxification. Here’s how it works: all throughout the day—but particularly while we sleep—a white or yellowish film develops on the surface of the tongue. As Dr. Martinna Bertolini, an assistant professor of dental medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, shared with The New York Times, this is “the result of buildup from food debris, dead skin cells and bacteria.”

TMI, but true. To combat this, I swipe my tongue scraper back to front along the surface of my tongue. While I prioritize it in the morning, doing so twice a day (in the AM and PM) is ideal for best results.

Track My Cycle

While I used to see my time of the month as an ugh-inducing episode filled with mood swings, cravings, and cramps, I’ve since gained a new perspective and tapped into the practice of cycle syncing. Cycle syncing involves shifting your diet, workouts, work habits, skincare, and even socializing based on the phase of your cycle you currently find yourself in. With our cycles come natural fluctuations in our hormones, and as such, we may find ourselves more energized, irritable, sensitive, etc. at different times throughout the month.

I’ve found that by tracking my cycle and tailoring my habits to the phase I’m currently in, I experience a better sense of balance, productivity, and inner peace all throughout the month.

Meditation, Breathwork, and Prayer

You guys know I love my morning routine and it always starts with a few minutes of mindfulness. This may include some deep breathing, guided meditation, and always a moment for prayer. It’s important for me to start the day in a slower-paced, low cortisol state, and I’ve learned to prioritize this time before getting sucked into emails or the other demands of the day.

While this looks different for everyone, identify what brings you a little peace, quiet, and stillness at the start of your day. You’ll find that by taking just a little time to connect with your inner self, you’re able to move throughout the day with more clarity and even compassion.

Visualize Your Highest Self

While we may feel like our dream life is miles down the road, living it can be as simple as identifying the characteristics of your best self and following suit. I like to practice this in the morning—perhaps while I journal—by visualizing how my best self will show up that day. What does her daily routine look like today? What healthy habits will she practice? How can she feel supported and more vibrant in everything she does? Visualize the details of her life and then be her. Sure, it’s easier said than done, but I’ve found that making significant change in my life can often be as simple as identifying the path to growth and following suit.

Walk With My Husband Every Morning

My workout regimen has changed so much through the years, and as I get older it definitely becomes more about how it makes me feel than anything to do with weight or appearance. I’ve also embraced more low-impact and gentle forms of movement like walking, yoga, stretching, and pilates.

One of my favorite parts of my daily routine is my morning walk with Adam. We’re not going for speed and the goal isn’t to break a sweat. Instead, we use this time to check in with one another before jumping into the busyness of our days. I find it’s a great opportunity to move my body while feeling connected with my partner. And because both of our schedules are so go-go-go, I’m happy to set aside that time to hear what he has going on that day and to feel heard by him as well.

Listen to a Podcast While I Get Ready

I’ve always been a reader. I love cozying up with a book and being able to dive deep into a plot or learn something new. And though I still prioritize that time, I’ve found that during my fast-paced days, I love listening to podcasts while getting dressed and moving throughout my daily routine. I’m always met with new information, fascinating conversations, and inspiration to take into my day. Some of my favorite podcasts include:

Drink Water All Day

Every morning, I fill a pitcher or large water bottle with filtered water, then stir in one packet of LMNT electrolytes and one packet of Sunfiber. I stir it up, add ice, and sip on it all day. It’s tastier and more hydrating than plain water, and I find that I drink so much water this way.

Play Music That Calms My Cortisol

While I love an energizing playlist for exercise, throughout the workday, my daily routine benefits from grounding and ambient music. I find that I’m able to focus better and that my attention wanders less when I listen to music without lyrics. Lately, I’ve been tuning into Spotify’s Lofi Morning playlist.

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Eat Veggies at Every Meal

It’s a life adage that we’ve heard ever since we were kids—and guess what, your parents were right. Eating the rainbow is key to feeling our best, and when I haven’t had a veggie in a day or two, trust me: I can feel it. Here are a few ways I ensure I get my veggies in at every meal.

Breakfast: I love eggs with some avocado on the side or scrambled with peppers and salsa to top. Or, if I’m in a hurry, this green smoothie packs in all the good stuff with a healthy serving of spinach and cauliflower. (But trust me, going on taste alone, you’ll never know.)

Lunch: This is when a salad comes in clutch. I love pairing a big green salad with a truly addicting dressing (this is my fave). Of course, to make it satiating, I’ll add whatever protein I have prepped in the fridge. Sometimes, this is leftover chicken or salmon from the previous night’s dinner, or I’ll hard-boil a couple of eggs to top my greens.

Dinner: Though I’ve dialed in my breakfast and lunch routines, dinner is when I like to switch it up. As I shared in my recent ‘What I Eat in a Day,’ we try to prioritize family meals several nights a week. Whatever the main dish is that evening, I’ll try to incorporate riced cauliflower as a base, a side salad, or my favorite roasted veggies to make sure I’ve met my veggie quota for the day. (Drizzling a sauce on top never hurts!)

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Walk On My Treadmill Desk During Calls

Lately, I’ve been jumping on my treadmill desk during Zoom calls for a ‘walk and talk.’ Overall, I feel more energized and balanced at the end of a marathon day. If you’ve been on the fence about getting the under-desk walking pad, let me confirm: take the plunge. It’s an easy way to work movement into my daily routine.

For Every 45 Minutes of Work, Take a 5-Minute Break

Before I dive into this habit of my daily routine, let me emphasize: it’s still a work in progress. Like many of us, I can get totally wrapped up in a task and before I know it, two hours have gone by without my standing up from my desk. But to combat the mental fog, exhaustion, and creative drain that comes with not taking a break, I’m trying to be more consistent with my time away from the screen. An easy way to make this a habit is to set a timer so that for every 45 minutes I’m working, I step up to take a stroll around the house, make a cup of tea, or simply stretch away from my desk. It’s just a few minutes, but you’ll find that you come back to the task at hand feeling refreshed and ready to dive back in.

Be Mindful of Alcohol

I love to sip a glass of wine, but definitely notice its effect on my sleep and energy levels. Lately, I reserve wine for the weekends so I’m actively choosing the occasional drink, and throughout the week lean into kombucha, mocktails, and tea. If you still want to sip on something fun and bubbly after the workday, I love these zero-proof drinks.

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic drainage is everywhere these days—but trust me, it’s more than a trend. It’s a type of gentle massage that supports the drainage of lymph nodes and fluids around the body. In practice, this looks like everything from dry brushing to foam rolling to gua sha and making it a habit of walking after meals. By prioritizing these habits in my daily routine, I’ve noticed that I feel much less puffy and have experienced reduced swelling in my face, abdomen, and legs. If you haven’t yet hopped on the hype train, now’s the time.

“Everything” Shower or Bath to Relax

My day is almost always capped off with a luxurious bath or shower that feels like a treat to myself—and a transition from the busyness of the day into a slower, gentler time before sleep. Indulge in a few high-quality products (a loofah or bath sponge, body oil, wash, and shower steamer) that’ll lend your soak time a relaxing, hotel feel. Think of it as a time where you can enjoy the moment, completely undisturbed. You’re not just cleaning your body and hair—you’re cleansing your entire mind.

Stretch Before I Get In Bed

A simple couple of minutes dedicated to running through an easy stretch routine not only keeps me flexible but helps me wind down before I get into bed. And before you worry that you have to be a yogi to implement this habit into your daily routine, take heart: the simpler you make it, the better. I like to reach for my toes, do downward dog, cat/cow, and relax in child’s pose for a few moments. Every stretch feels so juicy and good, you’ll find that you look forward to it every evening.

Put Away My Phone at 8 PM

I know, I know: this one is hard. For many of us (myself included), our phones are an extension of who we are. It’s our main mode of communication, our calendar, and our connection to all the work and personal tasks that need to be accomplished throughout the day. But when the clock strikes 8 p.m., I’ve become disciplined about either putting my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ or turning it off completely—and setting it to charge in a separate room for the night.

This helps me physically and mentally disconnect from all the tasks and to-do’s of my day and makes it much less tempting to respond to just… one… more… email before hitting the hay. (Which, if I’m being honest, inevitably sets my bedtime back way further than I’d like.) If you find this difficult, try replacing the habit of checking your phone with something just as gratifying. Be it an evening bath, quality time with your book, or an uninterrupted binge of your go-to show, know this: there’s life beyond your phone.

And if you’d like to extend this healthy daily routine on the weekend, I even like doing a bigger social media detox on Saturdays and Sundays. More tuning in, less zoning out.

Evening Journaling

While I’ve always been a morning journal writer, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I saw the power and benefit of nighttime journaling as well. If you ever get into bed and your head hits the pillow with a million thoughts mulling about, journaling is a great way to externalize these thoughts, feelings, and emotions and make it so they don’t keep up all night. Personally, I find evening journaling is one of the best ways to release nighttime anxiety and fall asleep with a greater sense of mental calm.

I practice this by jotting down a few things from my day—reflecting on wins, challenges, or anything notable. By doing so, I’m also able to get organized for the day ahead. Journaling provides me with the clarity to better see what I’d like to get done and helps me move the needle forward.

7-8 Hours of Sleep

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bit sleep-obsessed, and that’s because I believe it is the true foundation of good health and vibrancy. As someone who’s experienced insomnia in the past, I know the challenge of trying to function and running a business on little sleep. If I don’t get enough sleep, I’m more likely to be tired and irritable—in other words, not my best self. While the number varies for everyone, I personally need 7-8 hours to feel good.

To promote restful sleep, I’m adamant about incorporating all of the healthy habits above into my daily routine. I find that it’s all interwoven, and by viewing these practices as non-negotiables, I’m able to function optimally and feel my best. All day, every day.