Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m so happy that the peonies are blooming at last. They’ve been making me grin all week. I can hardly believe that today is the fifth anniversary of The Little Things Newsletter! I’m so glad that I started writing these emails all those years ago – this has become my favorite way to connect with you.
To celebrate 5 years of writing this newsletter, I’m giving away 5 Kindle Paperwhites just for newsletter readers! I’ve been a Kindle fan for over 8 years now and the backlit paperwhite is my favorite Kindle ever. Mine is connected to the library and I keep it filled with stacks of (FREE) books waiting to be read. Best. Invention. Ever.
Leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite book/s or telling me the book you want to read next! Thanks for being here with me and being a loyal reader of The Little Things Newsletter.
Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the U.S to enter. (Unfortunately, this is the law for international giveaways, not something that is in my control.) Five winners will be randomly selected and notified via email on Tuesday, June 1st.
ON THE BLOG this week: Over the years this has become our go-to favorite Classic Potato Salad. The recipe is a combination of several of the potato salads on the site and it’s perfect for summer barbecues, potlucks, and weeknight dinners throughout the year. (Can you ever really have too many potato salad recipes? I don’t think so!)
A crisp shortbread crust is topped with a chewy gooey layer of pineapple and coconut to make these Pineapple Coconut Bars. Not too sweet and slightly tart, these bars are a fruity tropical drink in bar cookie form.
What I’m CRAVING: All things grilled! Have you tried spiral cut hot dogs? They’re awesome – and they make a heck of an addition to the Hot Dog Bar: Chicago-Style, Hawaiian, Green Chile Queso, and BBQ Sundae hot dogs are all fantastic!
My friend Heidi’s Garlic Burgers sound incredible, as do these Grilled Steak Fajitas, and the ever-popular Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Skewers with Avocado Crema.
What I’m WATCHING: The Mentalist – Anyone else a fan of this show? I’m pretty hooked!
What I’m READING: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I’m breaking my own rule here and talking about a book before I have finished it. I’ve barely begun this one and it’s already so good! As a Holocaust survivor, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.
“Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time.” – Viktor E. Frankl
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
Congratulations to the lucky winners! Enjoy your Kindles!
Roberta Maynard says
I enjoy reading your emails and trying out the recipes you post. Thank you.
Kathleen says
Just finished reading The Diplomat’s wife and really enjoyed it. Have really enjoyed your newsletter and all your recipes.
DC Clarke says
5 years?!! Doesn’t seem so but glad that you are going to keep posting. I admit, I look forward to your posts. Very nice to offer this chance to win — what book — hmm. I read Dickens mostly. Not sure if those are available on Kindle – which I don’t own and know little about. Sorry for my techno ignorance.
So thank you for the opportunity! Much love and congratulations on your 5 year anniversary on this blog💟
Wendy R Cathcart says
The next book I want to read is “The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to be You” by Holley Gerth. I feel like I need to know sometimes that my personality makes a difference to those around me.
Marilyn Berney says
I enjoy your e-mails and your recipes. Your pictures are so pretty.
My favorite book is Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I’ve read it several times.
Patty Pearson says
I’ve been in a great book club for over 10 years, just finished a book called Midnight Library and loved it.
Hazel BrownHolloway says
I love your newsletter. I love reading Texas authors. My favorite authors are Carolyn Brown, Sandra Brown, and Sidney Sheldon.
Tami Lyon says
Anything by Patrica Cornwell or true crimes. Thank you for the chance,
Sharon C says
Congrats on 5 years! Keep on keepin’ on with your recipes and your Saturday blog posts, and I’ll keep on keepin’ on following them! I have several different genres that I read, including Amish fiction, and I am currently enjoying a ‘Read the Bible in a year’ study. I enjoy books by Jean Grainger, specifically, The Star and The Shamrock about two Jewish siblings who escaped Nazi Germany and went to live in Ireland with a distant relative. There are several books in that series.
@peachesandpasta says
I love reading all different kinds of books. My favorite of 2020 was The Tuscan Child a historical fiction novel. Right now I’m reading Hold on but don’t Hold Still by Kristina Kuzmic I’m only a few pages in but already really like it!
Cindy Kinney says
My favorite books to read are romantic fiction. They take me away. I enjoy reading Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Danielle Steele and many more.
Cara ROgers says
Hi, love your recipes.
My favorite books are Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” and anything C S Lewis wrote. Both authors were so wise. I always learn something new. I read these authors over and over.
Peggy says
Hi Mary, congratulations on 5 years on your newsletters. I would love to get a new Kindle, I lost mine a couple months ago. It is full of my books. I am reading the series Spells and Caramels from Erin Johnson. Thank you for your recipes .
Stephanie Hale says
I’m bingeing on C.D. Gorri’s Macconwood Pack Series and any book connected to the town in this series. I absolutely love Shifter Romance.
Skyla Weister says
I use Kindle on my phone. I enjoy the D.L. Ulsterman mysteries.
I like your newsletters & use some of your recipes.
Stephanie says
I love Greg Isles books! I am looking forward to a new book by him. Hopefully this year.
Stephanie Munson
Jonathan says
Mary— nice potato salad recipe for this weekend. As for books, I recently finished ‘WIN’ by Harlen Coben, and am currently interested in the recent James Lee Burke and Stephen Hunter books. Thanks and congrats on your 5 years. Jonathan
Cheryl Clifford says
Hi Mary, I truly enjoy your newsletters.
I am currently reading a great book you might enjoy as well, being a foodie! “Finding Freedom”
A memoir by Erin French. Who tells her story on how she started her restaurant “The Lost Kitchen” in Freedom, Maine. I first found her story on the Magnolia Channel & watching her restaurant creation of her Lost Kitchen in 6 episodes, so good & interesting. She uses farm to table ingredients getting them from area farmers by her & creates a new menu every day. However the only way you can get a reservation is by sending in a post card & pray she picks yours. I am 3/4’s of the way thru the book & it’s so interesting & so real. How she deals with the Covid 19 pandemic & her restaurant is truly amazing. I recommend her book & her 6 shows. I also bought her cookbook, very different dishes with unusual ingredients.
Enjoy your Memorial Day❤️🤍💙🇺🇸
Cheryl B.Clifford
[email protected]
Mona says
Congratulations Mary on 5 years !!😊
The last book I read was 28 Summers by Elin Hildebrand and I’m looking forward to reading Golden Girl.
My all time favorite “go to” book is Bittersweet by LaVyrle Spencer.
Crystallynne Green says
I really do enjoy your Instagram. Getting these newsletters in my email every month is great too! I can forward them to my sister in law in Austria who I have a sort of long distance book club going with also. She just got herself a kindle a few months ago and has been telling me how it’s changed her life not reading the tiny print on her phone. I have been looking into them and then your newsletter popped up today 🤷🏻♀️ I hope I get chosen, if not I may be getting one anyways to continue long distance book club not on my phone. I have made so many of your recipes and I love soooo much that they include so many different variantes of different ethnicities of food. We are Hispanic and love the inspiration you take from them. I follow your recipe to put a spin on our dinners or mix and match different things. I really enjoy it all. Thank you!!