Happy Wednesday, Sweet Friends!

As I was walking into my mom's Christmas choir concert on Sunday evening, I was greeted by a sweet friend. As she was hugging me, she said, "JM and I keep saying to each other, 'It's just a day!'"

I said this over and over in November, but it's still ringing true: it's just a day. December is always packed full of every get-together, every tradition, every "every" ever. December joy doesn’t have to be loud. It doesn’t have to sparkle from every corner or arrive in a flurry of errands and expectations. The quiet kind of joy — the one found in candlelight, warm food, and unhurried conversation — is its own kind of magic.

A Few of My Favorite Easy Recipes:

​Easy Beef Tenderloin -- this recipe is going viral on Instagram right now, with thousands and thousands of people wanting the recipe. Kind of fun! I don't often say "it's fool-proof!" But, this one *almost* is. The only way you can mess this recipe up is forgetting that you're broiling your beef... But your oven would let you know pretty quickly! 🤪

​Swiss Onion Dip Sliders with Ham -- I don't know what it is about Christmas, but everyone wants to make little ham sliders. And, these take the Swiss Onion Dip and add chopped up ham to it... Then, it gets slathered between Hawaiian rolls and baked to melty perfection.

​Sister Schubert's Cinnamon Pull Apart Rolls -- Now, I've recently gotten into making my own yeast bread items, but! The iconic Sister Schubert's rolls get sliced in half, lots of cinnamon sugar + butter mixture slathered inside, then baked to cinnamon roll perfection. (Slathered perfection seems to be the theme of this email!)

A Few of My Favorite Hosting Essentials:

These are affiliate links -- I earn a commission of items purchased, and in the words of Michael Scott, this is a "Win-Win-Win" situation. You win because you're getting something. I win because I get small commission at no extra cost to you.
And the brand wins, because you're purchasing their product! Win. Win. Win.

​Made In Baking Slab -- Put this heavy baking slab in the fridge for a few hours before layering up with shrimp cocktail. The slab keeps the shrimp cool, and it's a cheeky little hosting hack!

​Drink Tree -- I have loved this purchase from a couple of years ago. People go crazy over it every time I serve from it!

​Mason Cash Mixing Bowl -- I ordered myself another bowl for bread making. I love these hearty bowls!

If this week feels full, I hope you choose one quiet thing that helps you feel light again — a song, a candle, a bite of something warm. That’s where the real sparkle lives.

With candlelight and calm,
​Ashley