It’s February, which means I have another round of little things that have been carrying me through this month. A couple items almost made this list but are still in the “let’s see how this goes” category, so I’m holding those for now. If they stick, you’ll hear about them in March.

For now, these are the small things that have made everyday life a little easier or more enjoyable. I hope you find one or two that do the same for you.

1. Kinder’s Seasonings and Rubs

I kept seeing Kinder’s seasoning blends at Whole Foods and Costco and, for whatever reason, just assumed they were full of ingredients I wouldn’t want to use. No idea why I decided that without actually turning the bottle around, but here we are. Once I actually read the labels, I realized they’re totally fine (and a life hack!).

If you think about meals the way I do, as templates that rotate through different flavor profiles, these make life easier. Toss a big sheet pan of veggies with olive oil and one of these blends and you’re done. No layering spices. No adding extra salt. The flavor is already balanced.

We’ve tried six or seven at this point. My favorites are the Caramelized Onion Butter, Prime Steak, and Cowboy Butter. They have bold flavor, so it feels like you changed the entire meal even if the protein and veggie base stayed the same.

Some of them contain a small amount of dairy, but they haven’t bothered Mike at all, even though he is usually sensitive. You get that buttery flavor without actually adding butter or a ton of extra calories.

If you’re in a cooking rut or just want your usual proteins and veggies to taste different without extra effort, these are such an easy win.

2. The Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings

I have been in a bit of a reading slump most of 2026. Lots of three and four star books. Nothing bad, just nothing gripping enough that I am standing at the stove stirring dinner with one hand and holding my Kindle in the other. That is my personal five star test.

This one broke the slump.

I kept seeing Jessa Hastings on BookTok because of the Magnolia Parks series, but this title popped up on my Libby app so I decided to try it. It ended up being one of my only five star reads of the year so far.

It is technically a contemporary romance, but the romance feels like maybe thirty percent of the story. The plot carries more weight than the relationship, which is rare in this genre. The main character grows up in a very religious Southern family. Her younger brother is gay and deeply mistreated. She experiences her own trauma by association and in other ways that unfold throughout the book. As an adult, she is a psychologist who studies facial expressions and can read people in a way that feels sharp and believable. When her father dies and she returns home, everything unravels.

The book wrestles with religion, power, narcissism, family loyalty, and what happens when belief systems harm the very people they claim to protect. It is heavy. I could have binged it, but I had to pace myself because it made me think. I would read a few chapters and then put it down just to process. It felt real. Layered. Thought provoking without being preachy.

I will absolutely be picking up more from Jessa Hastings. If you want something deeper than a typical romance, this is worth your time.

3. Coronary Artery Calcium score (CAC scan)

My parents and I at Disney World last June.

This one feels a little random for a Little Things entry, but it brought me a surprising amount of peace.

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I have had high LDL cholesterol for most of my life. It is genetic. My dad had triple bypass surgery at 48 after a heart attack, and high cholesterol runs strong on his side of the family. For the past five years I have done all the things. Supplements, liver support, thyroid support, consistent exercise, balanced nutrition. I could never meaningfully move my LDL or ApoB.

At the same time, every other marker that would suggest cardiovascular risk looks excellent. Low inflammation. Stable blood sugar. Healthy body composition. Strong fitness levels. When I zoom out and look at the full picture, it never felt as simple as one number.

A coronary artery calcium scan is a low dose CT scan that measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries to help estimate heart disease risk. I paid out of pocket for the scan because insurance does not typically cover it. My score came back zero. No detectable calcified plaque.

That result does not mean LDL does not matter. It does mean that, for me right now, there is no evidence of plaque buildup despite years of higher numbers. It gave me the information I needed to feel confident in not starting a statin at this stage, while continuing to monitor and retest in the future.

The biggest thing it gave me was clarity. Instead of guessing or reacting to a single lab value, I now have another layer of data. If you are someone with chronically high LDL and a strong family history, and you feel stuck in the gray area of what to do next, this may be a conversation worth having with your doctor.

For me, it was worth it for the peace of mind alone.

4. Drizzilicious Mini Rice Cakes

I am always looking for something fun to add to my afternoon snack. My usual formula is protein heavy plus something crunchy. Lately that has looked like yogurt with a serving of these Drizzilicious mini rice cakes on the side.

They are not revolutionary. They are just good. Sweet, crunchy, a little nostalgic, and they make the snack feel complete instead of purely functional.

I love pairing something nourishing with something that feels fun. It keeps me consistent because it feels enjoyable, not restrictive. These little rice cakes just bring me joy. That is reason enough for them to make the list.

5. Repeating the same breakfast…like every day.

If you watch my “what I eat in a day” content, you have probably noticed that I eat almost the exact same breakfast every single day.

Two pieces of SOLA bread toast, one serving of low fat cottage cheese, a handful of cherry tomatoes and two eggs over easy. I mix the cottage cheese with the eggs, pile it onto the toast, and that’s it.

It is not flashy or creative, but it’s perfect for me.

My brain loves not having to make a decision first thing in the morning. There is something deeply comforting about knowing exactly what I am cooking and exactly how it fits into my day. It is lower calorie, high protein, solid fiber, and it supports my muscle goals while leaving me flexibility for later.

Repeating breakfast simplifies everything else. When one meal is automatic, I have more mental space and more macro flexibility for lunch, dinner, and snacks. Structure in one place gives me freedom in another.

And the best part is that I genuinely look forward to it. I go to bed excited for breakfast. That alone tells me it works.

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Little things do not have to be groundbreaking to matter. Sometimes they are seasoning blends that make dinner easier, a book that finally breaks a slump, a scan that brings peace of mind, a snack that makes you smile, or a breakfast you never have to think about. None of these are dramatic life overhauls. They are just small decisions that make everyday life feel steadier and more intentional. Hopefully one or two of these end up being helpful for you too, or at least give you something new to try.