Charms.

 I feel like making a list of little things I love, so here it is. 

• My white sheets with small blue, green, and purple stars.
• Writers' memoirs.
• Josh's poems (especially if they're about me).
• Vertical layout planners.
• Book-themed stickers.
• Christmas hand soaps.
• Cinnamon scent.
• Marshmallow candles.
• Black metal jewelry.
• Hematite metal jewelry.
• Seahorses on anything.
• Snowflakes on anything.
• Poetry and fiction chapbooks.
• My tiny ice blue nose stud.
• The shape of Josh's mouth.
• Horror that challenges my mind and conscience.
• Mermaids wearing dresses.
• This Ariel ballerina doll, which I don't own.
• Ballet shoes in unusual colors.
• READ posters.
• Fairy tale retellings.
• Moons.
• Words like emerald, fierce, and case.
• Checking out library books even if I already have too many at home.
• Sticky flags with literary characters on them. 
• Anna-Marie McLemore word images.
• Carmen Gimenez Smith poems.
• Pentel hybrid dual metallic pens.
• Bulleted lists!
• Heart prints.
• Star prints.
• philosophy 3-in-1s.
• Bella Grace Field Guide to Everyday Magic magazine.
• Urban Decay Moondust glitter eye shadows.
• The Sephora at Kohl's.
• Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy lip balm.
• Paper dolls, especially Gandre.
• DREAM boards.
• PB Teen catalogs. 
• Emott pens.
• Crowns and tiaras on anything.
• Amy Brown fairies.
• ColourPop pressed glitters.
• Metallic calligraphy markers.
• Peter Pauper Press journals.
• Journals with trees on them.
• Pink-lit jellyfish.
• Pentel Sparkle Pop and Krazy Pop pens.
• Red lip stain.
• My Reduce tumblers in glacier blue and green.
• Prisma Color pencils.
• Anna Sui eye shadow palettes.
• Mechanical pencils with colorful lead.
• Composition books.
• Ooly glitter pens.
• My soft, purple-striped pajamas. 
• Sakura Gelly Rolls Stardust pens.
• Flavia Amore products--very hard to find. I can't even find a photo.
• Ridiculous cat memes.
• Daphne du Maurier stories.
• Shirley Jackson stories.
• Crimson Peak movie and novelization.
• Aquariums.
• Reading glasses with rhinestones.
• Mother-of-pearl opera glasses.
• Peacocks on anything.
• Withdrawn library books.
• My pink pajamas with black bows and polka dots.
• JewelCrush when I'm stressed.
• Foxes.
• Saving and recycling empty pens.
• My green heated blanket.
• Oliver's freckles.
• Good morning texts.
• Singing show tunes on the way to the theatre.
• My miniature pink rose.
• Wild violets anywhere.
• Zipper pen pouches.
• Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin bubbles.
• Earrings with stars.
• Cinderella on anything.
• Colorful fleece.
• Etsy journeys.
• American Girl stories and accessories (still love them).
• "Living with Jigsaw."
• Drunk Broadway Wicked (rated PG-13).
• Drunk History "The Other Queen of Egypt" (rated PG-13).
• My pink baby blanket.
• Oliver's preemie duck outfit.
• Star-shaped rhinestones.
• Staring at Irregular Choice shoes.
• My glitter slip-on shoes in various colors.
• Twitter's Magic Realism Bot.
• Carrot cake--no raisins, too many walnuts.
• Cherry 7-Up.
• Cherry Sprite from Sonic.
• Foot-long plain hot dogs (I'm not sorry).
• My forest green glasses.
• The Habit burgers with avocado.
• Stationery displays at Anthropologie.
• Cardigans with rhinestones (really anything with rhinestones).
• Chicken Caesar salads.
• Books about lifestyles of French women (probably all cliche, but I love them anyway).
• Seeing Josh read.
• Buying people books.
• Silk and Sonder.
• Michael Crawford's voice.
• Mini metallic Christmas trees.
• Skeleton keys on anything.
• Josh's obsession with purple and teal.
• Urban Decay Stay Naked powder foundation.
• Thrive Liquid Extensions mascara.
• Real Simple.
• Live Love Polish.
• Staring at Betsey Johnson jewelry on Ebay. 
• Every piece of Betsey Johnson jewelry Josh has given me for a birthday or anniversary.
• Cracking walnuts.
• The stationery aisle anywhere.
• Miniature bells (really, anything in miniature).
• Rosettes.
• Blue fairy lights. And purple fairy lights.
• My collection of poetry books.
• My copy of A Little Princess with full-color Tasha Tudor illustrations.
• Julie Andrews's Mandy.
• Healthy Choice steamer mealies.
• Bitmoji messages.
• Cups that look frozen.
• Sparkly picture frames.
• Strawberry and grape Jolly Ranchers.
• Lemon and strawberry Starbursts.
• Apple juice.
• Cool kisses when Josh is chewing gum.

My Top 10 Def Leppard Songs.

1. "Hysteria"
2. "When Love and Hate Collide"
3. "Rock On"
4. "To Be Alive"
5. "Promises"
6. "Now"
7. "Waterloo Sunset"
8. "Long, Long Way to Go"
9. "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad?"
10. "You're So Beautiful"

My Top 10 Journey Songs.

1. "Send Her My Love"
2. "When I Think of You"
3. "Trial by Fire"
4. "Open Arms"
5. "When You Love a Woman"
6. "Ask the Lonely"
7. "If He Should Break Your Heart"
8. "Mother, Father"
9. "Separate Ways"
10. "All That Really Matters"

My Top 10 Showtunes.

This was not easy.

1. "The Phantom of the Opera" from The Phantom of the Opera
2. "If I Can't Love Her" from Beauty and the Beast
3. "With One Look" from Sunset Boulevard
4. "For Forever" from Dear Evan Hansen
5. "Prima Donna" from The Phantom of the Opera
6. "Helpless" from Hamilton
7. "Light" from Next to Normal
8. "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" from Rent
9. "'Til I Hear You Sing" from Love Never Dies
10. "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home

Favorite Pieces of Jewelry.

I have almost no "real" jewelry. I love costume jewelry, especially from Loft and Betsey Johnson. Here are some of my favorite baubles.

• My wedding set. The white gold rings are tiny, and the tanzanite in the engagement ring is tiny. I can't wear them right now, but they wait on m dresser in a white bowl painted with violets.
• My tanzanite princess ring. My parents gave me a lovely ring when I graduated with my MFA. It reminds me of their support of me. I used to be afraid to wear it because I might lose or damage it, but now, I just try to enjoy it when I wear it. It's better to enjoy it with the risks than for it to stay in a velvet box.
• Art Deco star earrings. These are gold and black gold with many points and clear rhinestones. I got them on crazy sale at Banana Republic. They make me feel like a mysterious movie star. Plus, Josh loves art deco.
• Gunmetal star cascade earrings. These are from Loft, and Josh gave them to me for Christmas. They make me feel like a celestial fairy.
• My key necklace. When I first started teaching, I had little to wear. I decided that some jewelry might shake up my wardrobe. Mom and I were combing a sale at Banana Republic. This long necklace had silver, gold, and black gold chains with big and little skeleton keys. I need to wear it more. I love keys.
• Betsey Johnson love necklace. Josh bought me this for an anniversary. It's gold  and short with multiple chains and so many pink and clear rhinestones. Tiny and big keys, locks, and hearts makes this a favorite. I don't always wear it because it's a statement, but I need to get over that.
• My stars and moon necklace. I just wore this yesterday! This was on sale at Loft. It's a good length, short but not a choker (though I do love chokers too). The rhinestones sparkle.
• Gold and purple snowflake necklace. Mom spotted this in a department store. It was far more than I would normally spend on jewelry (my necklace obsession had not really begun yet), but it was so beautiful--almost a choker with three gold snowflakes with purple rhinestones and pearls. I left the mall wearing the necklace.

I have great memories of getting and wearing my jewelry. And doesn't "costume jewelry" just sound fun?

Just a Thought: What I Like Most about Myself.

• My passionate nature
• My persistence
• My ability to collect coping strategies
• My long, dark hair
• My green, ringed eyes
• My pale skin
• My courage (though I hate to use it)
• My writing ability
• My love of books
• My attraction to sparkles
• My softened heart

Favorite Feelings:

• Smooth, heavy paper under my fingertips.
• Josh's hand on my back.
• Good hand cream in the cracked spaces between my fingers.
• Sunlight falling on me through a window.
• The heat and disorienting dance of a fire.
• My legs slung over the armrest of my chair.
• Cold water when I'm parched (which is most of the time).
• The weight of a heavy necklace.
• Closing a book after the last page.
• Chocolate pudding mixed with whipped cream.
• Philadelphia caramel cheesecake cups.
• A thin, soft graphic T-shirt that reminds me of something I love.
• Starting to read a new E-book.
• The crunch of walnuts or pecans in any baked good.
• Drifting into a nap with a timer on.
• The delightful surprise of a sudden gift.
• Biting into a milk chocolate/white chocolate Lindt Lindor Truffle. I need a case because the flavor is limited edition! Just the sight of that pink foil wrapper with red and white hearts makes me happy.
• Falling asleep in sunlight.
• An unexpected letter from a friend.
• Hugging someone special.

Some Favorites Right Now: Early Spring 2019.

I got these questions from various sources including Martha Stewart Living March 2014 (yep, I'm behind).

Indulgence: Jewelry bath bombs. They transform bath time. I love the scents and colorful foam, and the rings are a delightful surprise. I pass duplicates off to my best friend's sister. I mainly buy Fragrant Jewels, but I've bought from Charmed Aroma and Scented Treasures. I didn't know that I love black-gold tone.

Life-Changing Product: One is Revlon Colorstay foundation in Ivory. It's the palest shade, and I've been wearing it for over 20 years. It matches me and stay in place. When I was a tween and teen, I had terrible acne. Mom had pity on me and let me wear foundation (a shade lighter than hers). I then felt like I could leave the house and talk to my crush. It's still vital to my feeling safe in the world and courteous to the people who have to look at me. I once read that a celebrity said she covered her zits "to be polite." I love that.

Cheese: President brie. Sometimes, I eat it with crackers or tiny toasts. Sometimes, I just eat it. I also like mini Babybel Lite.

Wardrobe Staple: A stretchy, long black tank top. I often wear one under my clothes. It takes care of tops that are too sheer, too high in the back, or two low in the front. Not exciting, but useful.

Shoes: For a long while, I've been wild about glittery top-siders (Keds, Keds & Kate Spade, Big Buddha). I totally love them still, but I've also fallen for a reincarnation of jellies flats--pink, black, and gold with glitter. They are so comfortable and only $15!

Lip Color: My current favorite is Urban Decay's Ready? metallized lipstick. I don't even feel the need to hunt for more lip products. But I also love Fresh Sugar tinted balm. I'm not sure if I like Rose or Ruby more.

Go-To Gift: Probably candles, especially in scents like vanilla and peppermint.

Tech Gadget: My computer from my dad! I can watch movies on it, and I can actually unplug it and use the battery.

Dessert: Carrot Cake (no raisins, extra walnuts), plain cheesecake, German chocolate cake.

Top Articles of Clothing.

Before I began teaching, I knew very little about dressing professionally or even casually. I usually wore jeans (Mudd, tight at the hips and oversized at the legs) with a tank top (such as Power Puff Girls) and Vans. My mom had to help me a lot and lend me a lot of her clothes. But I think I sort of developed a sense of style, and I enjoyed getting dressed for work. Now that I'm not working, I'm trying to have fun with clothes anyway. I'm an advocate and an individual. These are some of my favorite pieces right now.

• Emerald short-sleeve button-down top. This piece is not only gorgeous; it also has love attached. I've always loved the top that belonged to my mother. She let me wear it when I read at a graduating thesis reading. A few years ago, at a time of much pain, she gave the top to me. I plan to wear it to a show this season.
• Kut from the Kloth cuffed petite boyfriend jeans. I got these through Stitch Fix. They are so comfortable and always make me feel cute.
• Champagne knit cardigan. This 3/4-sleeve, pale cardigan is thick enough to warm me up, and it is covered with neutral glimmer. It's from The Limited, and I bought it well before Oliver was born. I loved it so much that I bought one for my mom too. If I could only have two cardigans (tears!), I would choose this one and...
• Charcoal gray sparkle open flutter cardigan. I found this at a Loft outlet years ago. I wear it with jeans or with a dress. It makes me feel like some kind of night fairy.
• Pinstripe leggings. These are from Loft (wait for those 40% off days!). They have an elastic waist but look like regular pants. They're comfortable, and I love pinstripes.
• Rose-pink velvet top with ruffled short sleeves and all-over glitter. I got this at Old Navy for $7! I l love pieces that really sparkle boldly, and the color is flattering.
• Baby pink sweater with white snowflakes. I found this on super sale at Loft. It's so pretty and cozy, and I'm way into pink right now. I've loved snowflakes since I was 12.
• Black hip-length cape. I bought this from Piperlime the winter after Oliver was born. I love the old-fashioned style. My childhood self would have wept with wonder to have this. I like honoring my childhood self when an opportunity arises.
• My lilac coat from Loft. I wore out my last coat, so I watched this one online until it was 50% off. The color is just lovely. The coat is heavy and war without feeling bulky. I no longer try to go out without a coat.
• Dark blue, Queen Anne neckline, white heart print dress. I love heart print, and it's so hard to find. I only had one heart-print cardigan, but then, my stylist at Stitch Fix found this dress! I'll wear it to shows and at any other time I can.

I'm thankful that lately, I've been able to buy some pieces that fit the current reality of my body. I feel blessed. Bigger sizes that fit well are so much better than smaller sizes that are miserable.

I'm figuring out how to be cute and comfortable just as I am.

Favorites at This Moment.

This is a list of some right-now favorites. The list won't necessarily reflect my official, long-held favorites, and my answers could be different tomorrow.

• Animal: Seahorse.
• Color: Green or purple.
• Show: The Phantom of the Opera.
• Show Other Than Phantom: hmm...Sunset Boulevard.
• Metal: Silver.
• Movie Passengers.
• Magazine: Bella Grace.
• Gemstone: Aquamarine. 
• Article of Clothing: A gray short-sleeved sweatshirt with pink and blue roses.
• Office Supply: Planner stickers.
• Piece of Jewelry: Gold bib necklace with pink rhinestones in locks and keys.
• Actor Taissa Farmiga or Hugh Jackman.
• Drink: Cherry Coke.
• Possession: Big hot pink robe.
• Pen: Pentel Sparkle Pop--new to me and fabulous!
• Food: Potato skins.
• Gift: Journals or writing utensils.
• Journal: My current one, purple and blue with a dragon. Peter Pauper Press, of course.
• Shoes: Jelly-style, sparkly black flats. I want them in all colors.
• Nap Spot: My armchair with my legs over the arm.
• Bath Accessory: a sparkly, colorful bath bomb with a ring inside.
• Song: "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman.

Favorite Possessions.

These may change often, and this is only a small list in no particular order.

• My ring with a tiny purple star. It reminds me of the little blue star, the home of a fairy, that Mom sent to school with me.
• My blankets--the one I had as a baby and a mint Shabby Chic one that's so cuddly.
• A small bag of Oliver's early hats and a couple of his outfits, so we can remember how small he was.
• My pen stash. I have plenty in different styles, and I know I can use them all. My newest addition is Pentel Sparkle Pop.
• My filled journals. I can open one at random and get a glimpse of some other part of my life. I never thought I could fill a whole journal. Now, I'm at 176, so the volumes remind me that I have underestimated myself.
• My books in my favorites cabinet.
• Waiting book stacks in my room. They could occupy me for quite some time.
• A couple of cards from my dad.

My Favorite Movies.

These are some of my favorite movies in no particular order. They charm, captivate, thrill, comfort, and unsettle me.

• Jane Eyre with Ruth Wilson
• Animated Cinderella
• Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson
• The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall
• Live-action Cinderella
• Live-action Beauty and the Beast
• Lady in the Water
• Heart and Souls
• Stealing Beauty
• Orange County
• Peter Pan with Jeremy Sumpter
• Michael Crawford in Concert
• Much Ado about Nothing with Emma Thompson
• Romeo and Juliet with Claire Danes
• Lady Jane
• Little Women
• My Fair Lady
• I Capture the Castle
• Gigi
• Hello, Dolly!
• A Little Princess with Liesel Pritzker
• Passengers 

These last two are the only ones I don't own! 

Appreciating Some Favorites.

• AAA batteries. They're just cute.
• Large Smart Water bottles (though I usually drink tap)
• Shoes that sparkle
• Making lists
• Pens with lots of cushion
• Josh's drawings
• Glitter on my hands
• Prisma Color pencils
• Mom's drawings
• A new page
• Seeing a bit of glitter on someone I love
• The idea of light pink gloves with embroidery
• Rhinestone earrings
• Prizes (translates as small surprise gifts without an occasion, such as a sheet of star stickers on a Tuesday) from Mom
• Talking to Dad about avocados
• Giving people makeup
• Letting nice thoughts come out--compliments, encouragement
• A new release bay at a library
• Remembering working at Borders--I block out the bummers.
• Getting praise about something that shouldn't have been so hard but was
• Buying just one or two pens, new shades
• Looking back at my gift notebook: who gave me what and when and what I need to be using
• My fluid purple glitter and hearts phone case
• Getting a perfectly ripe avocado
• An orange someone else peeled for me
• A real E-mail. From a person.
• Wearing eyeliner that's too light
• A massage I didn't request
• Eye contact from Josh

My Weaknesses.

I have trouble resisting the following:

• Pretty pens
• Gel eyeliner pencils
• Avocados
• Mom's crab dip 
• Anything with mermaids
• Valentine's Day décor
• Lilac scent
• Cinnamon scent
• Vanilla scent
• Mini soda cans
• Getting mail
• Madame Alexander dolls, especially the elegant 10-inch dolls
• High-quality journals such as Peter Pauper Press 
• Magic realism
• Ducklings
• Saving instead of enjoying
• Cute stickers
• Fireside naps
• Sunshine naps
• Love notes
• Chandelier earrings
• Anything that sparkles
• Carrabba's Chocolate Dream cake
• Apple juice
• Vanilla Dippin' Dots with cookie dough
• Fairy tales

Beauty Favorites.

In case you haven't noticed, I love makeup. It started as a way to cover up what I did not like about myself, but it's become a creative joy. So here are some of my favorite products:

• Revlon Color Stay foundation in Ivory. This has been the only product I've found that really matches my face. I've been  using it for about 20 years! Mom used to wear it in one shade darker.
• Too Faced Candlelight highlighter. When I have time, I put this on high points or all over my face. I love the shimmer.
• Urban Decay body glitter in marshmallow. I need to wear this more often. I love the scent.
• Too Faced Glitter Bomb eyeshadow palette. Josh bought this for me for our anniversary. The shimmer is amazing, and I love the bright colors, mostly pinks and purples.
• Stila In the Moment eyeshadow palette. It's full of purples and a few neutrals. It has plenty of shimmer, and I don't tire of it.
• Disney/Sephora Cinderella eye shadow palette. The packaging is gorgeous. The palette is full of glitter with neutrals and blues. I nearly passed out when I saw it at Sephora. I love the Ariel palette too. I wish the partnership had continued.
• My Starlooks liquid eyeliner with star stamp. I'm not good at applying liquid liner, but I love putting a little star near the corner of my eye.
• Julep When Pencil Met Gel eyeliner in Forest Green Shimmer, Ultra Violet, and Galaxy Black Shimmer (with purple glitter). These are some of the best liners I've ever used. They go on so easily, and they stay. 
• Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Wrath. This bright, metallic red is perfect for an edgy Snow White.
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose--a soft, sheer red that is the best tinted lip balm I've encountered. I want all the colors!
• My shimmer cream and lavender Snow White and the Huntsman makeup bag from a set Dad gave me.

By Request: Favorite Books.

By request, I'm going to share some of my favorite books with you. I stopped listing when I filled up a journal page. The first four are in order, but the rest are not.

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
2. Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block
3. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
4. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
5. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
6. Entre Nous by Debra Ollivier
7. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
8. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
9. Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block
10. Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards
11. An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison
12. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
13. The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo
14. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
15. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
16. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
17. Ghost Girl by Amy Gerstler
18. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Blue beyond Blue by Lauren Slater
21. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
22. The Borrowers by Mary Norton
23. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
24. Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle
25. Life Is Meals by James Salter
26. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
27. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
28. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Stuff I'm a Little Obsessed with Right Now.

• Leslie Jones. She's hilarious!
• Dan Stevens. He's the beast prince! Of course I adore him.
• Transformation and Kiss Scene in Beauty and the Beast--just a satisfying moment on YouTube.
• Sparkly makeup and applying as much as possible--going over regular eyeliner with gold glitter liner.
• Using beauty samples--finally using what I've stashed away.
• Pilot Hi-Tecpoint V5 Grip--my favorite pen of the moment
• Josh. I miss him intensely when he's away
• Pink and gold--gorgeous apart and together. I want to add more of both to my life.

I'm not even mentioning all the constant or easily-revived obsessions like seahorses, fairies, mermaids, pens in general, journals, theatre (Phantom especially), necklaces, glitter in general...

My Favorite Artists.

K. Y. Craft: The first journal I completed had Craft artwork on the cover. I think the journal was a gift from my parents. The image drew me in and encouraged me to write. Later, I found books she's illustrated: lovely Cinderella, stunning Sleeping Beauty, and magical Twelve Dancing Princesses, plus more that I don't own. Her work is intricate and luminous.

Bella Pillar: I first discovered her through greeting cards by Papyrus. With spindly limbs and huge eyes, her fashionable, glitter-enhanced girls are unforgettable. I've been lucky to find a couple of journals with her art. I'd love a book!

Tasha Tudor: She is certainly the sweetest of illustrators. So much darling detail! I found her first as the illustrator for A Little Princess and Secret Garden and as the creator of the delightful A is for Annabelle. Those images have been imprinted on me since childhood. Mom and I have been collecting Tudor's other books too.

Ruth Sanderson: I happened upon her illustrated Cinderella. Lovely. Apparently, she also has a Twelve Dancing Princesses I don't own!

Mary Engelbreit: I think I discovered ME because my grandmother had a magnet with ME's art. I think Nanna also introduced me to Home Companion, ME's magazine at the time. I've also bought cards, notepads, and notebooks at Michael's. And we now have our own ME magnets on the fridge.

Maxine Gadd: I discovered Gadd when, about 13 years ago, I saw her Elf Queen print in a shop in Paris. That picture had hung over my bed ever since. Now, I have a book of her art.

Susan Branch: I found SB though stickers and little illustrated gift books. She has gorgeous handwriting and loves sharing quotations and song lyrics along with her tiny watercolors. She also now has three illustrated memoirs; I devoured them.

Josephine Wall: This artist is incredible. I'm not sure how I found her (maybe at the Dancing Moon shop in Boone, NC), but I now have a book of her art and a few journals with her art. I even have one with golden seahorses on the spine! Her work is so detailed, so intricate and colorful. Tiny scenes happen within the overarching image. Her work seems so attentive and alive.

Amy Brown: I discovered her work at a gift shop in Astoria when I was a teenager. I immediately bought two prints. I was astounded by this fairy artist who also creates mermaids and dragons. She is so prolific! Her watercolor wings are gorgeous. On our first Christmas together, Josh gave me a book of her art.

Cicely Mary Barker: I believe my grandparents gave me a book of her fairy art and poems, and I was hooked forever. Barker hooked me on fairies. The fuchsia and willow fairies have always been my favorites. I really feel that I would be a different person without those fairies. I even have rubber stamps and miniature books. I've always assigned fairies to myself or other people. Right now, I think I'm the Rose Hip Fairy.

Favorite Objects.

Of course, this is a just a sampling, and it's in no particular order.

• A pouch my mom made for me. It's purple with a pale pink zipper and tiny fairies! I use it for the pens I'm using in my journal. Right now, it's full of blue, gold, and purple.
• My blanket. I don't know where it came from, but I've had it since I was a baby. I'm still attached to it, and I sleep with it under my head.
• My current journal. I form an attachment to the journal I'm using. It's full of my thoughts, serious and trivial. It travels with me.
• A beautiful charm necklace my mother made for me. My favorite things seem to have come to protect or encourage me--snowflakes, seahorses, fairies, words themselves.
• My past journals. In a way, these are my life's work. I worry about what will happen to them when I die. They are starting to grow past their boundaries on my shelf. My encapsulate whole seasons and such details of my life.
• A rhinestone Tinkerbell necklace. Josh bought it for me on one of the darkest days of my life. Now, it reassures me that I can be okay.
• My fountain pens. They are beautiful, amazing. I wanted one so much as a child. To satisfy that child, I have a white pen and a hot pink one. 
• My music on Spotify. It helps me when I do chores and get ready.
• My makeup. It gives me something to play with every day.

My Favorite Artists Part II.

I have a few more favorites.

Josephine Wall--I first saw her work on a big poster above my friend's purple couch. People have bought me journals and little books with her art, not even realizing she's a favorite. But I like that people link her work to me. It is so gorgeous. So many stories can be hidden in one painting. The details, the shadows, the light, feathers, moons, keys, fairies, and goddesses...I could stare for days. Luckily, she made a book, and I bought it years ago.

How can one not love Mary Engelbreit? She was features in an issue of the American Girl magazine. She talked about how her mother kept a jar full of pencils on the table and how she cleaned out a linen closet to make Mary a tiny studio. I think my grandmother liked her too, so I was a fan as a child. ME's art often includes plump little kids, girls with attitude, literacy encouragement, and delightful layers of clothes and home decor. I subscribed to her magazine, Home Companion, until it disappeared. I have a few books of her work though.

Mary Blair is a relatively new interest for me. Watching behind-the-scenes for a Disney movie, I learned that Blair had done so much concept art work for Disney movies. I have a Cinderella book with her strange, dream-like illustrations. My in-laws gave me a book of her art. I need to spend more time looking at my art books.

Cicely Mary Barker was in my life far back. I think maybe my grandparents gave me a book of her flower fairies. Barker drew fairies that looked like children and wore clothes made of their flowers or trees. My favorites were the Willow Fairy and the Fuchsia Fairy. I tried to determine which fairy looked most like me or my friends. Those flower fairies awakened my love of fairies long before I know any of these other artists. Oh! And every fairy had his or her own poem. So CMB also brought poetry to me.