Faith Hill celebrated her 41st birthday by appearing on the cover of Shape magazine in a bikini and a cardigan. There's no question that she looks smokin' hot. Though there is a question about why anyone would ever wear a cardigan with a bikini ... but we'll blame that on the stylist.

Hill said that she loves to exercise, and she cooks with fresh veggies from her own garden -- Mediterranean dishes are a favorite. I'm glad to hear it, because based on the recipes she says are her go-to dishes, she obviously needs the balance healthful meals and exercise give her. Hill's favorite dishes are:

• Corn bread dressing with gravy
• Coca-Cola cake
• Sausage balls

While they may be yummy, these are certainly not figure-friendly recipes. If you want to try out any of Hill's favorite recipes, be sure to follow the "Make it Healthier" instructions Shape magazine provides. And, if you want to look as sexy as Faith Hill, balance treats like this with healthier foods and plenty of exercise.

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That dang rap music has been accredited by many people to the demise of society since its inception, but maybe its naysayers have a point -- new studies show that 77% of rap music has some sort of reference to substance abuse. But that's not all -- 37% of country music songs also referenced drugs or alcohol, compared to 14% of rock songs. Certainly, these are not the kind of values we want to be passing onto our kids, right?

What do you think about the whole anti-music movement that claims that strong lyrics are a poor influence on our kids? Based on my own experiences, I don't see a lot of merit in it -- my formative years happened in the 90s, when Nirvana and other depressing grunge bands ruled the airwaves,and I turned out pretty well-rounded. I truly believe that good parenting can make up for any bad messages our kids are exposed to.

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I'm an urban girl at heart -- more comfortable surrounded by buildings and people than open spaces and nature. And while most people like me will proclaim an immediate disdain for the twangy, broken-hearted verses of country music, I like country music and it's vibrant energy.

As a writer, I have a passion for words, whether in song lyrics, novels or blogs, and I think we can take a lot of valuable lessons from country music. Country music isn't all broken hearts and rednecks -- many remind us of the importance of living life to the fullest and finding beauty in every moment. So when I saw this article, which gives examples of inspiring country songs and how they can be applied to a healthy life, I decided to make my own. Here are three lessons I learned from Country music:

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