My Favorite Things

So, it's been well over a week and I haven't written anything. I've been thinking a lot about what to write about. Nothing earth shattering or exciting has happened in the last 11 days, but I've been thinking a lot about all those little things that make my world go 'round. Those random things that make you smile, take you back to your childhood, comfort you when nothing else seems to do the trick and makes you realize how lucky and blessed you really are. This is not an original idea - plenty of us think about this kinda stuff on a daily basis and some of us even share it with the world. So here it goes - these are a few of my favorite things:

1) My Bright Orange Adidas Fleece: It's cozy, has a 3/4 zip and little thumb holes for my thumbs. It always looks good and you can't find them anywhere anymore.

2) Going where everyone knows my name - Barriques: Each day I stop at Barriques and order my earl grey tea. Every barista and cook knows my name AND my order before I am at the front of the line.

3) 'Tis the Season for Snowmen: I love snowmen! All kinds, shapes, sizes and colors. This time of year you can find me at any one of the many stores in the area stocking up on Snowmen.

4) Sunday morning Jazz: My love affair with jazz started back in 2001 when I moved to Washington DC and was exposed to jazz. There's nothing like a relaxing, cool fall morning with some jazz on the stereo: Bill Evans Trio, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald....

5)Kitchen and Bathroom CLR: I hate, hate, hate cleaning the bathtub because no matter how long or how hard I scrub I can never get that sparkling clean feeling. I am thrilled to say THAT has changed. Kitchen & Bathroom CLR is the BOMB! I have never seen my tub so sparkling white and with such little scrubbing time. It's a cleaning product I know, but it the little things in life that make all the difference.

6) Mary Jane Crocs: I never used to like the look of crocs. Big, clunky and full of holes. I heard they were comfortable, but they were so ugly I didn't care. Then I saw the Mary Jane Crocs - basically, crocs for chicks. They are comfortable and I've even grown to love how they look. I now own two pairs - black and military green. Pink might be next on my list.

7) Black Fleece Winter Hat: This hat made it's debut at the 2004/2005 Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in Central Park (NYC). Everyone in the race got a hat. It's probably made of some cheap fleece material, but I love it. It covers my whole head/ears and looks adorable. I wear it all the time. I dropped it last night at a restaurant and am just about to go and pick it up.

8) Super HOT, long showers: These are especially awesome after a cold run or bike ride in the winter-time. I typically crank up the temperature of the water, do my washing up and then just stay in there until the hot water runs out. It usually takes about 25 minutes. So, this isn't a very green thing to do....but I contribute in other ways to the environment.

9) Cloth Shopping Bags: So, yeah it's kinda hippy-ish, but I love my cloth grocery bags from Trader Joes. I try to use them as much as possible - they are a lot more sturdy than paper or plastic and I feel good about the fact that I didn't just waste a few bags.

10) Quality time with my couch: The cushions are starting to sink in the middle of the couch and the color is fading, but my navy blue couch from Sears Home Life is still the best place for a nap or relaxing in my apartment. I've had that couch for 7 years now and I always appreciate curling up on it with a glass of wine or tea and my super soft Barefoot dreams blanket.

11) Favorite Holiday Drink: Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks - they are back!!! Just had my first of the season and it was oh so yummy! I get it tall, non-fat, ez whip...It kinda depresses me that I speak Starbucks, but hey - you pay for consistency and convenience.

12) Fall/Winter Running: It's my favorite time of year to run. You always start with a bit of a chill, but once warmed up you can run comfortably. No humidity or extreme heat to sap your energy. At the beginning of fall, you start out with cool, crisp runs and watch the sun go down. As the fall progresses and daylight savings hits, runs turn dark and you can see the stars.

13) Thanksgiving Day: What a perfect day....in Madison, we get to kick the day off right with race and then follow it up with football, food and relaxation. To top it all off, most of us get the next 3 days off of work/school.

As I sit here typing, I realize I could easily keep rattling on and on about all the wonderful things I have in my life. The most important pieces of my life though are friends and family. I'm very lucky to have such a great core to surround myself with.