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 crafted our latest Spotify Playlist after a gals trip to West Texas with my college girlfriends, inspired by the beautiful landscape, country music playing on our evening ranch rides, and some of my favorite Texas artists.

2.  Both book picks this month feature a main character I'd like to be a little more like - and this tremendously-beautiful gem of a story introduced me to a small southern town called Golden and its handful of residents who are all touched by the love, intentionality, wisdom, presence, and kindness of mysterious Theo. I am FLOORED this incredible book was originally self-published and almost never came to be at all. 

3. A story told entirely in letters, this unexpected novel made me want to buy a beautiful set of stationery and set aside time each day to hand-write a note or two. After all, we never know what a difference our words might make - in ourselves and others.

4. I couldn't wait to gift these cute crustaceans to my favorite little ladies as a tiny and fun reminder that they are loved and supported. The delight was immediate. (And the customer service impeccable - when my original order was lost in transit, they immediately replaced them!)

5. A dear friend sent this to me as a gift a few years ago, and it was the morning appliance I didn't know I needed. I love its sleek look and fast heating to the temperature of my choice (and even the timing of my preference.) And even though I'm not crafting pour-over coffee every morning, I still love the kettle's stylish spout. 

A few things I'm loving lately:

1.  Our latest Spotify playlist is inspired by the handful of live shows we've had the joy of attending in the last month or so, including the Indigo Girls, Tyler Childers, and The Head and the Heart. (And there are a few new-to-us favorites mixed in, too.)

2.  I'm nearly halfway through a year of The Flower Letters, one of the most unique and fun gifts I've ever been given. Every couple of weeks, I receive a letter and accompanying printed materials in the mail that reveal a bit more of a charming love story that unfolds throughout the course of 24 letters. It's a joy to receive mail (that isn't a bill!) to slowly absorb a playful narrative, and to learn more about a particular time and place - in this case, Regency England. 

3. Roomy, just the right amount of warmth for these early autumn temps, and a very reasonable price for classic style, this is my favorite find for fall so far.

4.  Between its balance of bitter and tang, its beautiful color, and its alcohol-free appeal, I find myself often re-stocking the Phony Negroni for weeknight sipping.

5.  Sally Mann and I both attended Hollins College (now University) in Roanoke, Virginia, (though years apart) and I studied her photography as an Art History major there, admiring her incredible, engaging work displayed on the walls of our small art gallery outside the art lecture hall. Though I'd been given her memoir Hold Still years ago, I didn't pick it up until late this summer, and the timing was fortuitous: her follow-up book, Art Work: On the Creative Life, was published just last month. The stories she tells about her family of origin, her children, her husband's family, and her path as a thoughtful, curious, searching artist reminded me - among many other things - that some artists are given many gifts and talents; that the artistic pursuit can infuse so many facets of our lives. Sally Mann is a remarkable photographer AND a spectacular writer. A storyteller in all craft, and I can't wait to read her next musings. 

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert - Alluring, fun, and a celebration of independent, interesting, and charismatic women of all kinds, I loved feeling as though I was tagging along and learning about life (its ups and downs) on New York City adventures with wonderfully-written characters full of heart, laughter, gumption, and, ultimately, strength.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - This goes against my most-of-the-time policy of allowing only books/movies/shows that are "light and bright" into my "realm," but despite its heart-breaking unfolding, there is also so much beauty and deeply compelling insight in this memoir that I'll not soon forget.

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer - I consider myself a feminist, but today that moniker means so many different things to so many different people. This coming-of-age story explores this idea, sharing the lives of its characters in unexpected ways and with varying consequences. Thoughtful, interesting, and maybe even a little hopeful.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - This one has been sitting on my list for some time, as friends continued to recommend it, and I'd hear the buzz (especially after the Pulitzer Prize win) but somehow it never made it to the top for check-out...until I longed for a good, long audiobook to enjoy during my crazy holiday season in the studio. A World War II story (yet so much more) told from perspectives I didn't anticipate: a young, blind French girl escaping Paris with her father during the Occupation and a young German boy who finds himself in France at the same time - and how their paths ultimately cross. (And a jewel is involved, so extra points, right?)

Hope for Today by Al-Anon Family Groups - Maybe not for everybody, but something I read on the daily before or after I meditate, this collection (with one reading for each day of the year) offers me perspective, options, a moment of calm, and helpful observations that allow me to enjoy my day more fully, with more serenity, and even a bit more kindness than I might otherwise.

The Paper Garden: An Artist Begins Her Life's Work at 72 by Molly Peacock - I flagged this one on Instagram or Pinterest at some point and felt called to find it in my local library just a few weeks ago. Though I'm only halfway through, I'm astounded by the beauty this woman created with a pair of scissors and some paper - in the 1700s, no less - but also by the wonderful fullness of her life and the fact that she was in her 70s when she began this wonderfully creative pursuit. I've been working with cut paper for a few months now, and finding some fun parallels in my life, as did the author as she researched and wrote this book. Perhaps you will, too?

One Day in December by Josie Silver - Like those Hallmark Christmas movies we all secretly love (or love to hate) this time of year, but in novel form, this fun read hits all the highlights: love at first sight, a classic love triangle, a holiday party or two, and years of missed opportunities that keep the pages turning. 

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann - New York City in the 1970s, a man dazzles and delights for a brief moment in time as he walks on a wire strung between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, becoming the stunning center of strands of layered stories and characters throughout this beautiful book. 

Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey - With snippets about writers like Jane Austen and Thomas Wolfe, visual artists such as Picasso or Warhol, and even musicians like Beethoven and the Gershwin brothers, we learn the unique (and sometimes absurd or scarily rigid) processes by which these creative individuals produced their work. I found it fun to skip around and read 3-4 each day for inspiration (or what NOT to do to generate an idea) and insight.

Less by Andrew Sean Greer - I couldn't help but be charmed by the main character - so human, so likable, so prone to the ways in which we sometimes see ourselves in distorted perspective when we're actually pretty wonderful - I was cheering for him all along.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - Maybe my new favorite book ever, I am in love with Towles's writing, and this sweeping story had me hooked from the start. As an audiobook, I was delighted by the rich characters, wonderful dialogue, and doorway into Russian history that brought depth and beauty to the plot. I can't wait to read it (or listen to it!) again. It's that fantastic.