The Little Things Newsletter #442 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! There’s a chill in the air today and I shivered while getting into the car before yoga this morning. The sun is shining though and it is making me grin. I am so ready for fall and winter. Bring on all the cozy sweatshirts and fuzzy socks, please.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Are you looking for the perfect pork roast recipe? Roasted all day, left falling apart, and tender enough to cut with a fork; this Italian Pork Roast might just become your favorite pork roast with the first bite.

Fluffy potatoes with crisp, roasted edges are seasoned to perfection with just rosemary, salt, and pepper in these Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.

Oven-roasted cabbage with balsamic and roasted onions has become a bit of a crazy obsession for me. Try it and you will understand.

Rich sausage, hearty potatoes, and tender, earthy green beans come together in this incredibly flavorful meal. Whether you’re looking for a hearty, comforting family dinner or just need a hassle-free meal option, this crockpot dinner delivers every time.

I’ve heard from so many of you this week after you’ve made this homemade Blueberry Pie Filling! It really does taste so much better than store-bought. And best of all, it’s super easy to make. Use it to top pies, cheesecakes, pancakes, or waffles – it’s delicious on ice cream too.

You won’t find a more decadent, amazing brownie than these rich, fudge Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting. They are chocolate and peanut butter perfection. Rich, dense, chocolate brownies topped with fluffy, whipped, peanut butter frosting, what’s not to love? These brownies are downright dangerous.

Pumpkin has a smooth creamy texture when combined with heavy cream to create a luscious, rich, Pumpkin Ice Cream that is perfect for any occasion this holiday season.

What I’m CRAVING: Dark Chocolate Oreos – thanks a lot, Lynne. 

My FAVORITE THING this week is this v-neck tank top. If you were near me today, you’d hear me cheering with joy over finally finding a top I enjoy wearing for yoga practice. I don’t know why this has been such a hassle, but between tops that are more fitted than I like and ones that fall down or up when twisting and bending, this feels like the holy grail of shirts. It’s just the right length, with plenty of coverage when I’m moving around, and best of all, it’s just plain comfortable.

What I’m READING: The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness Elyn R. Saks. This is a beautifully written memoir of living with and surviving mental illness. The author is a professor, lawyer, and psychiatrist at USC Law School, yet she has suffered from schizophrenia for most of her life and she still has ongoing major episodes of the illness.

This is the story of her life, from the first time that she heard voices speaking to her, to attempted suicides, through learning to live on her own as an adult in a terrifying world. Saks openly discusses the paranoia, the inability to tell imaginary fears from real ones, the voices in her head, as well as the obstacles she overcame to become the highly respected professional she is today.

What I’m LISTENING to: Heaven Has Come by Sovereign Grace Music. This is absolutely beautiful music and I’m so glad a friend introduced me to it this week. (Thanks, Amanda!) “Oh Come All You Unfaithful” is my favorite song on the album, but everything here is worth a listen. I suspect this album will be on repeat over here for the next couple of months. 

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!

Mary