My Favorite Things

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." Here are a few current favorite things.

• "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron is a course in "discovering and recovering your creative self." Since my sister-in-law got it for me for Christmas, I have spent a few days a week sinking into the readings and exercises in this book. I spend so much of my life working really really hard to keep my family running smoothly, it's so good to play and create. This book has caused me to sit at the piano more, changed the way I journal, and has made me all-around more aware of my, and everyone's, God-given creativity. I highly recommend.

• Laura Vaccaro Seeger's picture books. Sometimes my two-year-old grabs a book off the shelf and hands it to me saying "Want mommy to read this book" and I inwardly groan because "this book" is some horridly boring book that probably only got published because it's a lift-the-flap book. Rant over. At the other end of the spectrum are Seeger's picture books. When we checked out Lemons are not Red and First the Egg from the library, they were pretty intact. The bindings are now falling apart from being read at least five times a day over the past six weeks. That's over 200 readings and, miraculously, I'm not tired of these two books. They're excellent.

• For the last couple of months, I've been working out regularly. I've especially enjoyed the awesome, free workouts on fitnessblender.com. The powerhouse couple that runs the website and does the workouts is motivating, fun, ridiculously in shape, and makes me feel like I have a personal trainer.

• The Trader Joe's Fireworks chocolate bar has some chile in it giving it a little heat and little bits in it that pop and sparkle in your mouth just like good old childhood pop rocks. Yum, yum, yum. Good Valentine's Day find, love!

• Imaging the Word. I've been slowly marinating in this book of poetry, quotes, and visual art. It is as yummy for the soul as that Fireworks chocolate is for the tongue.

• This opal nose stud has been on my face since Michael gave it to me for my birthday. I love how it looks. Bonus points: It's handmade in Jerusalem.