Three little things {4.21.17}

I figure "little things" is a good way to try to inch my way back into writing in this space again. I meant to post this last Friday, so I'm backdating in my title, and going with what was making me happy last week (and still is). As always, this idea came from my friend Amy, at MomAdvice.

P.S. Have you met Scully? He joined our family in January. 

1. Dinner: A Love Story

I have stopped archiving what I'm reading on this blog, and this year I am sticking to a list in my plannerGoodReads and Instagram (check hashtag #nicolelovesbooks) to really catalogue my reading, but I'll still share some faves here on the blog.

My neighbor friend gave me this book and I started reading it straight through-- it is a cookbook but also has quite a bit of memoir-- and let me tell you, I have loved it. The premise is that Jenny Rosenstrach has kept a running diary listing every dinner her family has ever had, and the book is divided up in to sections referring to favorite recipes she has made in those seasons of life (newlyweds, baby phase, kids a bit older-- ie eating together as a family).

I've made several recipes so far and am pretty close to finishing reading it, and it's been a very enjoyable book. Lots more yummy dinners to try and introduce to my fam, too. And, I've loved this book so much, I already gifted it to a friend. Bonus: not sure how long it will last but coincidentally I saw on IG today that the kindle version is only $1.99 right now! 

2. Poetry

A few weeks ago, I randomly started writing poetry. I've been thinking a lot about writing lately, studying, trying to hone my craft, trying to work on the process and on my various (non-blog) projects. I finished the first draft of my WIP and have been working on editing and lots of brainstorming for my next project.

Somewhere in the midst of that, I felt poetry weighing on my heart-- like, out of the blue, I just had to start writing some. I've dabbled at poetry for as long as I can remember, writing very structured rhyming poems when I was young, some sonnets in high school, song lyrics in college, and some silly kid poems when Gigi was younger. 

Who knows if these poems are any good, but I think they're good for me to write, so I'm going to keep working on it, building up a collection. Poetry helps me grow as a writer and helps me see the beauty in something as ordinary as words. I still like to write for my kids, and on the other end of the spectrum I like to write straight from the heart. Poetry tends to be essentially a form of prayer and reflection on the gospel for me. Maybe someday I'll share some of it here. 

P.S. Apparently April is National Poetry Month so I guess I was unknowingly right on target. ;)

3. N.D. Wilson's writing course, and finding a far-away mentor

I listened to a podcast with N.D. Wilson recently that really rocked my world in the sense that he articulated so much of why I want to write fiction (for young people especially) and how fiction can work with and help shape our worldview. I recently bought a couple of his books to read (100 Cupboards and Outlaws of Time), and have been learning a lot from his writer's course, which was a bonus for buying Outlaws.

When I find someone whose philosophy I connect with, I tend to want to devour all their work and knowledge, and that's what's happening here. It feels like I've found a far-away writing mentor, even if he doesn't know me. Of note is that his sister is Rachel Jankovic whose writing has also affected me strongly, although in the non-fiction realm. 

So those are a few things that have been bringing a little light into my life lately.