A few years ago our family launched the tradition of watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy over the span of these dark winter months. Beginning in January, after the hustle of the holidays are behind, we cozy up for a couple of hours at a time with our kiddos and a fire in the fireplace on a weekend evening. On these short, chilly days, when nighttime descends so early, we relish dwelling for a time in the mystical world of Middle Earth, where the eternal themes of redemption, sacrifice, courage, love, and salvation shine so clearly.

On a more prosaic note, as the start of the new year finds me with more on my plate than usual, I’m relying once more on the trusty Pomodoro Technique. In these weeks of working on my newest WIP, alongside all the other projects that need my attention, this is about the only thing that keeps me sane and on track. It entails using a timer, but there’s a bit more to it than that. To learn more about how it works, and why it’s called what it is, click here.

As I mentioned last month, I’m in the process of gathering my mom’s stories to document for the enrichment of all of her family. In the process, my interest in genealogy has reawakened, and I am sloowwly making some inroads into exploring our family tree. I find myself checking out from the library such thick, dry tomes as The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy and Ancestry’s Redbook. On the lighter side, I also find myself seeking advice from lovely people such as amateur genealogist Brandy Heineman, who is generous with her tips and whose debut novel, Whispers in the Branches, is soon to release. All told, I’ll admit researching one’s family tree is a wee bit overwhelming. But here’s a little fun fact about me. Family lore has long held that we are connected to Sir Francis Drake–on my father’s side he’s an umpteenth-great uncle or some such. But apparently we are also descended from England’s William the Conqueror, through his son King Henry I and his first mistress. (So no, sadly–no legitimate claim to the British throne.) I told my husband that this explained where I got my 5-star tastes. He said it explained where I got my assertiveness. Hm.

I’ve mentioned this in passing, but here I need to shine on a bit more. The Causebox by sevenly. This subscription service entitles you, every quarter, to receive a box of socially conscious products, each of which is designed to benefit women. When I first heard about it, I hesitated several days before signing up–because really, who needs more stuff? If only I’d known what goodness this box held, I wouldn’t have paused for a second. Oh my. LOVE: the goodies, the cause, and whom it empowers. Best yet, a portion of my subscription went toward a charity I chose. Do you have a daughter? Madeline and I had such fun opening our winter Causebox together. The products we found were not merely trinkets; they meant something and provided great openers for discussing issues that matter. Check it out.

So that’s it for me. What are you into these days?