A few things I'm loving lately:

1. Both books on this list tell a heartwarming story of family - created and connected (even if they had no idea at first) by blood, mistakes, secrets, shame, sadness, and - ultimately - love. With a deeply lovable (though frequent poor-choice-making) main character in this gem of a book (or audiobook, as I listened to it) you'll be rooting for this family as they make their way across the country on what you know is a fool's errand of a road trip.

2. One of my favorite writers, Kevin Wilson has crafted yet another quirky, laugh-out-loud tale of family and connection, and - in addition to the learn-to-love-them-along-the-way family members - a PT Cruiser is almost a main character itself. Until it's replaced by a Chevy HHR. 

3. Our gift to you with any purchase of $150 or more this month, we made our Lucky Charms totes by hand with the help of some iron-on designs. Enough for many projects to come, I cut the various lucky shapes out by hand from a roll of golden-hued vinyl sheeting that I then affixed to the fabric with the swipe of a hot iron. T-shirts or sweatshirts might be next!

4.  One of my teenagers (read: the age largely unimpressed by most things) proclaimed this was one of the top three meals I had ever made for her. (And I feel like I've made a lot of meals for her and her sister.) Easy, quick, and delicious - I'm liking and making A LOT of Pinch of Yum's recipes lately.

5. I know I've shared about gardenias before, but this one I grew myself from a small potted plant I snagged at Trader Joe's two or three years ago. (They sometimes offer them around Mother's Day, so look for them mid-late April!) I've been curious about how to keep these blooms healthy since three appeared just in the last few weeks, and I'll be doing my best with these tips to keep my thumb (and this plant) green.

A few things I'm loving lately:

1. I heard this live version of a childhood favorite on our amazing local Louisville radio station 91.9 WFPK and had to add it to the latest Elva Fields playlist for some nostalgic listening, along with some other fun songs. 

2. It's been a while since I've read and finished a book in just a day or two (such an indulgence!) but this one was compelling, captivating, and wholly enjoyable. Like the traditional recipe for which the book is named, I devoured it. (As a bonus, the author curates a playlist at the end of the book to accompany various scenes and characters in her novel, and I couldn't help but add one of her suggested songs to the Elva playlist this month in homage to this wonderful read.)

3. This dark chocolate bark gets rave reviews and was new to me on my last visit to Trader Joe's. I'm currently hiding the bag on a far shelf in the pantry to keep it all to myself. As it turns out, I may have to hide it even from myself soon enough. 

4. Though it's billed as an overnight lip mask, I use this goodness as a regular lip gloss day AND night. Thanks to my former sister-in-law who sent it as a holiday gift, my ever-peeling lips are a little less dry and chapped these days.

5. Two shows I've loved watching lately: one with my kiddos, one without them. Both smart, funny, entertaining, and humanity-at-its-worst-and-best heartwarming. 

Five things we've seen, heard, loved, stumbled upon, or been inspired and delighted by this week on Instagram:

1. mural / Who What Whit (Whitney Robinson)

2. print (fabric) / Christine Alcalay

3. salad / Bon Appétit

4. roses / Haskell Harris

5. yarn palette / Design*Sponge

[all images linked to the original Instagram post where I first saw them, credited in those posts by the account owner]

Five things we've seen, heard, loved, stumbled upon, or been inspired and delighted by this week on Instagram:

1. sweater / Apiece Apart

2. roasted cauliflower / The Chalkboard Mag 

3. enamel pins / Carolyn Suzuki

4. handmade rosettes / Leila Sanderson

5. stunning interior / Rita Konig

[all images linked to the original Instagram post where I first saw them, credited in those posts by the account owner]