Things I’m Loving Right Now

1.) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – I read one of John Green’s earlier novels, Looking for Alaska, during my senior year of college upon the insistence of my roommate at the time. I bought The Fault in Our Stars this past weekend upon the insistence of another college friend. {It is beyond me why it took my friends insisting for me to read either of these exceptional novels.}

The Fault in Our Stars is about Hazel, a sixteen-year-old girl with terminal cancer, who feels that her final chapter has already been written until she meets Augustus, a gorgeous seventeen-year-old guy who was pronounced cancer-free prior to the start of the novel. Their interesting outlooks on their own mortality, and eventually their shared love of a particular novel, bring them together and ultimately change the course of their lives.

If you are looking for a light-hearted, feel-good kind of novel – this is not the book for you. But if you are looking for a book that will reach into the depths of your soul, and stay with you in a haunting, beautiful way, this is definitely the book for you. I am not a tremendous book-cryer, but this one had me literally sobbing for a solid hour at one point.

Side note: I am still processing this book, so if any of you have read it, give me your thoughts! Let’s discuss.

2.) My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss – I got this book for my birthday back in November and am just getting around to finishing it now (I did get a bit sidetracked by the aforementioned novel). I have been really into culinary memoirs lately, and this book has really fit the bill. Written by the blogger behind The Wednesday Chef, Luisa Weiss writes about growing up in a world where she lived much of the time with her American father in Boston, lived some of the time with her Italian mother in Berlin, spent a fair spot of time with her family in Italy, and spoke all three languages (English, Italian, and German) fluently. What I love about this book is that it is actually three love stories in one – she writes about her love for food and the city of Berlin with as much thought and passion as she writes about falling in love with her now husband. While it was admittedly a bit of a slow start, once I got into it I have really enjoyed it.

3.) Clinique’s Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator in “Natural”- I don’t think it needs pointing out that this time of year is perhaps not the most flattering for anyone’s skin, but especially for those of us with pale, very dry skin. But mixing just half a pump of this into my regular foundation gives my skin just enough glow to take it from dull and lifeless to…well, alive…without making me look like I am trying to bring life to my skin {read: without making me look overly bronzed or sparkly}.

4.) Trader Joe’s 0% Frozen Vanilla Greek Fat Free Yogurt – For those of you who do not have access to a Trader Joe’s, I apologize. I usually try to plug products that everyone can get. But this was a recent discovery (I am sure I am way behind the curve here) and I really am loving this right now! It’s great with fruit cobblers (hint hint…future recipe!) and I imagine would be really awesome with some homemade granola and fresh fruit – basically a dessert version of a breakfast parfait. Which is totally going to happen, STAT.

Ps, I am dying to figure out a way to copycat this in my own kitchen, so I’ll keep you posted on how that goes!

5.) My momma – Of course I always love her! But today is her birthday, so I’m sending her extra love today! I don’t know who I would be without her {certainly not a food blogger, since I learned almost all I know by her side}, and am so blessed to be her daughter. So give her a little birthday love (you can tweet her @MommaSwope) on this fine Wednesday.