Ever since i was a little girl, i always wanted to know what people's favorite things were. i would write out a massive list and hand it to my cousin erika and other friends so that they could fill in the blanks and return it to me. it would look something like this:


favorite color:
favorite movie:
favorite season:
favorite animal:


You can tell a lot about people (besides their literary preferences) by their favorite things. working in an office, just by scanning a person's cube, i can tell at least one of her favorite things or something distinct about her personality. It's just interesting to know what people like.


Here are some of my favorite things (in no particular order or rank):


coffee (light to medium roast), autumn, Aussie-style red licorice, kittens, Topher, Express, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, pedicures, decorative pillows, setting the table for company, babies, kids, Method products, Aveda shampoo and candles, anything to do with cinnamon, baking, fashion magazines, Apple products, reading people's blogs, chardonnay, small towns that possess charm and good shops-not junky, cheap stuff, a clean, tidy home, a clean car (inside and out), empathetic people, people who know how the mechanics of give-and-take in a conversation, watching movies and tv with brett, new music for my iPod, Brett's cooking, the scent of clean laundry, baking, small group, sharing what i baked with people, new clothes, purses/handbags, shoes, Crane stationery, receiving letters and emails, bonfires, skinny lattes from either Starbucks or Saribou, talking on the phone with my mom, emailing my sister throughout the day, spending time with my family, Impressionist art, black and white photography, letters in lowercase, the PD James book i'm currently reading, meeting new people, but the comfort of old friends, learning a new word and then having the opportunity to use it shortly thereafter, grammar, an overall understanding of etiquette (not that people have to be prim snobs, but to have a cursory knowledge of civil behavior), seeing other people happy, crosswords, home stores, Edy's frozen lemon bars, chocolate cake, crickets, turtles, pumpkins and other fall-related things, christmas trees and ornaments, walks with brett, things to look forward to, selecting cards to send to people to show them that i care, the way the house looks after we have cleaned it from top to bottom for company, modern lines when it comes to interior decorating, granite countertops (maybe someday), stainless steel appliances, that anticipatory feeling when trying to think of a name or word and it's right at the tip of your tongue and then you finally remember it; helping someone find something he/she lost, when i am at the airport and i have gotten through all the security stuff, and i can just sit and people-watch and then maybe get some coffee and some fun magazines for the flight and just be excited about my trip; New York City, lazy beaches, the nice, energetic feeling when i have been eating right and exercising regularly; being in the company of people who tend to build others up, watching House Hunters on Hulu...and there are a lot more things, but that's all i have for now.