The Little Things Newsletter #498 &...

December 6, 2025

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s a chilly one here in Ohio. I have pipes that tend to freeze here in my studio, so we’ve had faucets going on a slow drip for days (yes, that’s really a thing, friends in Phoenix) and I’m grateful to know to do this now after the first few years of frozen pipes. 

Anyone with a different solution? Feel free to message me, we’ve had plumbers look at the situation and basically shrug or tell us it’s just an old house, so I think we’re probably stuck with this method. At least the pipes don’t freeze if we leave the faucets dripping when we have single digit temps. Weird way to start the newsletter, I know, but I’m hoping someone might have a creative solution we might not have tried!

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Whenever the temperature dips and soup season arrives, I find myself using my crockpot even more than usual more. I am convinced that this slow cooker white chicken chili is the reason crockpots exist. No stress. Just tender chicken, hearty beans, spicy chile, and a house that smells divine.

When it comes to dinners that are lightning fast but still feel luxurious, baked pesto salmon is the way to go. Topped with a homemade parsley pesto with crunchy pine nuts, this dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish!

Store-bought puff pastry just might be the ultimate kitchen hack. No more rolling butter and dough and waiting. Just an easy solution for the flaky, buttery crust we all crave. And, this elegant chicken pot pie with puff pastry puts it to good use, covering a savory filling that is loaded with tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a creamy sauce.

Leafy greens, crunchy apple slices, and chewy raisins are fabulous together in this spinach apple salad with a tangy sweet dressing. The salad is a delightful balance of flavors and textures, making it one of my favorites to share with friends.

Creamy peanut butter, chewy marshmallows, indulgent almond bark, Rice Krispies, and chocolate chips? Stop talking, I’m already interested! But, combine them in a no-bake cookie recipe? Oh, yeah. Sign me up. These unbelievably good avalanche cookies are ready to eat in just 10 minutes.

Decadent fudgy mint brownies are topped with a peppermint buttercream frosting and a heavenly dark chocolate ganache. I may be biased, but you won’t find a better brownie recipe out there. And, bonus? They’re way easier to make than they look!

There’s something gleefully unrestrained about turning a drink as comforting as horchata into ice cream. You still get the sweet, creamy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla in horchata ice cream. But, let me tell you, it’s twice as luscious as an indulgent dessert.

What I’m CRAVING: Carne en su Jugo! It’s my oldest son’s 22nd birthday and he’s requested this for his birthday dinner. I’m starting it now and excited to start it simmering on the stove. It’s going to be a delicious day over here.

What I’m WATCHING: We’ll be watching Die Hard tonight with our boys and a few of their friends. Anyone else a fan of non-traditional Christmas movies? I like the sentimental ones as well, but classics like Die Hard and The Ref are always on my holiday movie watching list. I love that our kids are finally old enough to watch those with us too!

My FAVORITE THINGS this week are my beloved earbuds. If I’ve mentioned them once, I’ve mentioned them at least 10x in my newsletters. And GUESS WHAT?! They are HALF OFF TODAY! And they make the BEST EVER stocking stuffers. I’m giddy to tell you about them today. I adore these earbuds.

I’ve lost count of how many of these I’ve gifted to friends and family over the years and how many of you have emailed me to say how impressed you are with them. They’re a fraction of the cost of the trendy brands and they’ve held up amazingly well over time. And at this price? It’s no big deal at all if the kids lose one. Santa just pops a new pair in their stockings. It’s a winning deal for sure!

What I’m LISTENING to: Heaven Has Come by Sovereign Grace Music. This has become my favorite non-traditional Christmas music over the past few years. I listen to this album at least once a day, if not more frequently. I love it.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 ESV

Wishing you a beautiful week filled with little things that make you smile!

Mary