these are a few of my favorite things

One of my favorite musicals always has been Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music because of the fun and familiar music. Among the many great songs, My Favorite Things is one that everyone knows and loves. As I was listening to this song recently, I decided to make a list of my favorite things (which do not include “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…”):

1. Ice skating – Since the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, I have been in love with the sport. As I watched Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding represent the United States with their beautiful programs, I began “skating” (spinning in circles) around the living room. My parents decided to enroll me in learn-to-skate classes, and I’m still enjoying the sport today.

2. Apple products – My MacBook is one of my favorite gadgets at the moment. As a college student, staying connected is a big part of my social and academic life. With this computer, I have the ability to organize my schoolwork, photos, and music, as well as keep in touch with family and friends here at school and back home. My iPod is another favorite possession, allowing me to listen to my favorite tunes while I work out or on long road trips. Soon, I hope to own an iPhone, which I’m sure will also rank among my favorite toys.

3. Photography – Whether it be for the purpose of decorating a room, or capturing events, times, places, or people to document the past, photography is my favorite medium of art. Finding a beautiful location, unusual still life, or even creating a photo op with friends can create a perfect picture, and is a source of hours of entertainment and years of memories.

4. Lazy weekends – During a busy and hectic semester, a lazy weekend spent in my sweats, taking long naps and watching TV seems like a weekend in heaven! These weekends come few and far between, so when the rare occasion occurs, I take full advantage of it.

5. Organizers – Some might call me OCD… and they would be right. Post-It Notes and planners are a daily necessity in order for me to keep from stressing out…too much anyway. I write everything in my planner, from friends’ birthdays to deadlines, to weekend activities, and I use multiple post-it notes to remind me of my daily tasks.

6. My baby blankets – At 20 years old, my dad thinks it is completely ridiculous that I still sleep with my baby blankets. I, however, see them as a comfort, especially when I’m away from home. The older and more raggedy they get, the better.

7. Music – and everything about it. Music is such a powerful force, able to create a mood or simply provide entertainment. I frequently find myself searching for a new artist or album to listen to, oftentimes with the guidance of friends with eclectic musical tastes.

8. Books – A good romance novel is a favorite pastime of mine in the summer. During the school year, so much time is taken up by the reading of textbooks that I rarely find time to escape into a fictional world where life ends happily ever after. If the book has the ability to make me laugh out loud or cry real tears, it’s definitely a must-have and quickly makes my list of favorites.

9. Tube socks – Yes, I realize this sounds weird, but it makes sense. I love the fact that tube socks, as opposed to regular, ankle socks, do not fall down or get bunched up in my winter boots. That’s really all there is to this simple pleasure.

10. Getting my hair and nails done – After getting my hair or nails done, I feel more put together and more presentable, especially just before some big event in which I feel the need to look more clean-cut, and less like a college student lounging around in my sweats.

11. Household items – Yet, another unusual pleasure I enjoy. New, soft bath towels and sheets, as well as a new bottle of shampoo or a new decoration for my room gets me just as excited as going shopping for a new pair of shoes.

12. New shoes – A pair of shoes can make or break an outfit. Along with a new pair of shoes comes the ability to create a whole new look to an outfit that’s been sitting in the closet for years. At the beginning of a new season it is exciting to pull out a pair of shoes that haven’t been seen in months due to the fact that wearing them during the wrong season would be a major fashion faux pas.

13. Bubble baths – A warm, relaxing bubble bath is just what I need to help me relax after a long day at work or a tough practice at the rink.

14. Snow cones – Growing up, the opening of snow cone stands was a sure sign of spring, and the promise of a coming summer. A popular after-school destination, my friends and I would gather on the lawn in front of a snow cone stand and spend hours laying in the sun and eating our sugary treat. Now, every time I eat a small, flat-topped Tigers Blood, I become nostalgic of the warm summer nights spent with these old friends.

15. Flowers – Another reminder of spring, flowers always seem to lighten up the room and add a decorative touch to our plain and cold dorm rooms.

16. Board games – Cheap entertainment for poor college students. It is not uncommon to walk into the lobby of Dearborn Commons to see a table full of students gathering a group to play a game of some sort. Many times I find myself putting off my homework, just to take part in some of the action, despite losing most of the games I participate in.

17. Road trips – Having hours to listen to my favorite music, creating photo ops and spending time creating memories and inside jokes with friends are all part of what make a road trip enjoyable. The escape of everyday life and the enjoyment of a destination of my choosing, seeing the sights and enjoying the culture of the city, add some excitement to the mundane routine I often find myself a part of.

18. Sleepovers – Staying up late, watching movies, talking about boys, and discussing our futures are some of the enjoyments of this long-standing tradition among many teenage girls.

19. Musicals – While many people find musicals to be annoying and boring, I have yet to find a musical I dislike. Whether on stage or on the big screen, the combination of singing and dancing always can make a movie or play 10 times better. Among the many musicals I have seen, my current favorites are Wicked, Hairspray, Rent and of course The Sound of Music.

20. Coffee cups – Despite the very few cups of coffee I actually drink, I love buying cute new coffee cups and mugs. They come in so many different shapes, sizes and colors, and when I see a cute and inexpensive mug, I can’t help myself.

21. Unexpected phone calls and notes – It’s always exciting to open my mailbox, or see a missed call from someone who I haven’t spoken with in months, just checking up to see how things are going. It lets me know someone is thinking about me and that I am important to someone.

While I’m sure I could think of many other things that make me happy, these are just a few of “my favorite things”.