I Like

I like snuggling under the covers.

2012-02-06T14:46:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, the heat wasn't working so I was forced to spend the whole two days under the warm covers in my bed. But don't feel sorry for me: I had a GREAT weekend and didn't miss out on anything! there is nothing quite like feeling cool air on your face and having your body be warm and cozy. It was truly relaxing and made me appreciate winter and the time it gives us to slow down and relax from the constant activity of the rest of the year. You should try it sometime!

I like birthdays.

2012-01-26T14:08:00.002-05:00

There's no better reason to celebrate with your friends and family!

I like Wunderlist.

2012-01-17T13:23:00.000-05:00

Wunderlist is an awesome to-do list application that I have recently discovered. Things were getting sort of ridiculous at work because I was juggling 12 different projects and needed to know where they each were. On top of that, I routinely work with a programmer to develop tools and need to make lists of things for him to do (so I can come up with a long list of really nit-picky things and then give it to him). Wunderlist is perfect for this because IT'S FREE and it allows for sharing of lists with others. FOR FREE. When you a share a list, it's completely dynamic--when the person you share with wants to mark something off as done, they can. If they want to add a task, they can! It also has a really sleek, clean, and simple interface which I really like.

I don't know that other people need something like this for work but it would also be great for shopping lists or gift lists for people. There's an iPhone/Android app in addition to the web browser and desktop version. Can't ask for more than that!

I like red velvet anything.

2012-01-12T11:20:00.000-05:00

A lot of people contend that red velvet cake (or anything else) is really just chocolate with red food coloring. They are VERY misguided, however--the red velvet flavor is very a very complex blend of cocoa, vanilla, and the very essence of "red." I love everything about the red velvet flavor profile and cannot seem to get enough of it in any form I possibly can. There are the more conventional uses of it in cake and cupcakes, but there are also new, unexpected ways of using it like brownies, ice cream, cookies, pancakes, cheesecake, fudge, whoopie pies and even souffle s. Any way you make it, I'll love it (especially the ice cream!).

I like new years.

2012-01-05T15:38:00.000-05:00

I know a lot of people and a lot of blogs are very busy talking about the new year and resolutions to lose weight, keep your house clean or generally simplify your life. That's not really why I like new years, though--I just generally enjoy a transition to something new and clean and fresh. My love of "clean slates" has prompted a lot of my random summer adventures (which you can follow here, here, and here). I look for a new place, new friends, and a new identity. New years are kind of like that. I like the feeling of something being not quite the same as it was, a new frontier full of who-knows-what. No one has been here before and we're making progress, if only because this year is older than the last. How thrilling!

I like Christmas tree ornaments.

2011-11-14T12:20:00.000-05:00

I know it's not even Thanksgiving and the whole Christmas thing in November is ridiculous but I'm being bombarded with it in store emails and websites so it's hard to avoid. Because of this, ornaments in particular have been on my mind. When we moved out, my best friend and I started to give Christmas ornaments to each other for Christmas so we could each start building up our collection. My grandmother also made a point to give each of her grandchildren an ornament each year for the same reason--usually the ornaments came from wherever she had traveled that year so there was a great variety.

In any case, I've been obsessively looking at ornaments lately. I don't typically buy any until after Christmas when they're on sale but it's nice to look and dream. I especially like simple ornaments in whites and silvers. A variety of textures--felt, ceramic, pearl, wood, etc.--but I like them to be clean-looking and simple. I think this might be because my childhood tree was always a little too busy and too colorful so I'm trying to counteract that. I have fond memories of my childhood tree but I think it's ok that I want my own tree to be a little different. Sorry, Mom!

I like my new kitten!

2011-11-07T14:16:00.000-05:00

This is Griffin, my new kitten. He's a 6-month-old Manx with a little stubby tail. He was a stray and immediately went in to foster care with a bunch of other cats so he's kind of feral (not much human attention) but I'm hoping he grows out of all the crazy running around, eating my plants, clawing my feet in bed and waking me up at 7am (no matter what the day).

I love him, though, and he's gotten a lot more affectionate and is doing well. He's definitely quirky and is the strangest cat I've ever had but that's what I wanted in getting a Manx--they are sort of like having a dog-rabbit for a pet. At the moment he's the perfect size--not a kitten but still smaller than most cats. I hope he stays this size because he's so adorable!

I like Indian food.

2011-10-06T14:27:00.000-04:00

Indian food is definitely up there in food heaven. It's spicy and creamy and is accompanied by rice! What more could food need? My favorite Indian food is of the milder sort. I like tikka masala, butter chicken (of course), tandori chicken and chana masala the most. And, of course, naan! Naan is definitely my favorite thing about Indian food--it's just perfectly fluffy and delectable while still serving as a great "tool" for dipping and scraping and wiping up all the sauce leftover on a plate. Yum!

I like mango.

2011-09-22T15:23:00.000-04:00

I like mango a whole lot. It's sweet and tart at the same time. The texture is yummy and it's good for you! My favorite way to eat mango is in frozen pieces. I'm sure I could make my own but I like Trader Joe's Frozen Mango Pieces--a lot easier and a good price! I just eat them right out of the bag. I also like mango in smoothies and ice cream--especially gelato. Such a simple, fruity, clean taste. Makes me feel good about satisfying my sweet tooth!

I like Pinterest.

2011-09-09T15:07:00.000-04:00

Actually, I love-hate it. Pinterest, if you don't already know, is a great image bookmark sharing tool. Essentially, it revolutionizes how you bookmark things you love--not only are you making a memo to yourself but you can share all the things you like, love or desperately need with others! It's a great way to share your taste and see that others like the same things you do.

I've recently become addicted (thanks, Laura...) and can't stop. There are so many cool things people are sharing and it's so much fun to pretend shop, putting things away for your closet, home, or table. So take a look! If you'd like to see some of the things I like, then feel free. Click on one of the "boards" to see what I've "pinned."

I like working from home.

2011-09-07T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am very lucky to have a job that allows me the flexibility to work from home three days a week (if I choose to). This allows me to do all kinds of things like go to appointments, have service appointments at my house, work when I'm sick, etc. I don't work quite as well at home as I do in the office so I don't do it often but I have an office space set up in my apartment so, when I do work from home, I can be almost as productive. I love it and I'm so glad I get the opportunity!

I like bookcases.

2011-08-30T10:11:00.000-04:00

Bookcases are so essential. I've been an avid reader all my life (until college sucked all joy out of it) and so I've accumulated quite the collection of books. Since moving into my new apartment, I've dreamt up many bookcase solutions that I plan to implement. My plans are nothing as full-bodied as the built-in bookcases above but I'm excited about them nonetheless.

Bookcases are, of course, ideal for storing and displaying books but they are also a great way to add personality to a room by displaying other things. I plan on using my new bookcases to display all my fun, vintage odds and ends. Small framed pictures, ceramic animals, brass birds, butterflies pressed between glass, and other little things that will draw guests to my bookcases and allow them to get to know me a little more. I'm so excited for this step--I just need to save up the money now! I have the bookcases all picked out and ready to come home. Soon!

I like weddings.

2011-08-17T16:24:00.000-04:00

I'm headed to Ohio this weekend for my eldest cousin's wedding! It's sort of a big thing because she's the first of my generation to get married. I'm the second oldest so I guess I'm next?

Luckily, I love weddings. I think they are so much fun. They bring people together, create an occasion to dress up for and, usually, have great food! There is also music and dancing and decorations. I like ceremony, too. And, while I'm not really a sappy person, I think there is a lot to be excited about at the prospect of two people wanting to spend the rest of their days together. Weddings, especially evening weddings, just seem magical--there must be some magic in finding someone who you really feel connected to and wedding share that magic. There's a reason why girls (though not really me) plan their weddings from their days of childhood.

I like my new car!

2011-08-01T23:40:00.001-04:00

My old car was killed by a tree while I was away in Colorado. Luckily, I LOVE my brand new car! It's small but still has a ton of both leg room and cargo space. I love the color (shown above) and almost everything about it. So, while it sucks that my car was killed, I am fortunate to have found and be able to afford a new car I love.

I like thrift stores.

2011-07-13T20:43:00.000-04:00

Thrift stores are fantastic. There is such a wide variety of things. There are things that make great jokes, things that are awesome treasures and just things you'd never expect to find. I love to look for really unique pieces, whether they be clothing or furniture. I'm moving out soon and I look forward to using thrift stores to help me purchase all the things I need (so much!). For clothing, though, thrift stores are a lot of fun to find statement pieces or things that are just a little different. Especially for costumes! Thrift stores, here I come!

I like Levi's.

2011-06-13T10:25:00.000-04:00

Levi's jeans are all I wear. They may be a little more pricey than I'd like but they are good quality, long-lasting and fashionable jeans. Not to mention they do good things for one's body! I am glad to have found a favorite style and color (though, of course, they almost immediately went out of production as most Levi's styles do...) but I'm always on the hunt for the next best pair. I am a faithful Levi's customer and will be for life!

I like Johnny Cash.

2011-05-29T23:34:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of reasons why Johnny Cash's music resonates with me. His sound is so soulful and singable and really just strikes a chord within me. I love the lyrics, the subjects and especially the duets with June Carter. What more is there to like?

I like Eggo waffles.

2011-05-16T22:55:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't?! They are buttery and crispy and easy to make. What more can someone ask from a frozen breakfast item? I think they are the most perfect things in the breakfast world and am delighted whenever I get the chance to have them. My mom thought the Nutri-grain ones would be better for us but we never ate them and so we were deprived the glory of a fresh, hot, buttery, syrupy Eggo until we went over to a friend's house or, of course, until we could buy them ourselves. So now I treasure my Eggo moments and look forward to the next time I get to have them for breakfast!

I like recipes.

2011-05-08T21:35:00.001-04:00

Recipes make my life so much easier. I'm the kind of girl who likes instructions to follow, especially when doing a process she's never done before. So you can imagine how recipes make me feel better about cooking and baking. I feel much more confident and assured about cooking and baking when I have someone who has tested the process and the final product for me.

When I graduated from college, my Mom, my aunts and my grandmother (and, eventually my step-mother will as well) all contributed to a recipe book for me and I can't tell you how much it means to me. Though I still don't really enjoy cooking, I hope to be more excited about doing it now that I'm equipped with very good suggestions about what to do. Or maybe I'll marry a boy who likes to cook (score!) and then I'll give him the recipe book to use. Who knows! The possibilities are endless.

I like dogwoods.

2011-04-25T12:24:00.001-04:00

I am so lucky to live amongst dogwood trees. They surround my house and populate my neighborhood and I can't imagine Spring without them. When I have a house, a dogwood tree will be one of the first additions I make to my garden.

I like camping.

2011-03-29T21:18:00.000-04:00

Camping is awesome. I like being out in the outdoors and having to be creative with activities and meals. I like the idea of having to survive. Camping is always best with another person or a group of people--there is a campfire, s'mores, hot dogs, etc. It's just so much fun! And, the best part is the adventure of a road trip and a new place. It's traveling at its local best!

I just have to say, wouldn't it be awesome to spend the night on top of a mountain with a view like the one in the picture above? Gorgeous...

I like sweet potatoes.

2011-03-21T11:52:00.000-04:00

Sweet potatoes are incredible. They have so many different, delicious applications and I just love them all (well, most of them). Sweet potato fries, chips, casserole, pie, waffles, pancakes, bread, ice cream, you name it. My favorite way to eat sweet potatoes is oven baked to sweet, caramel-y softness with a little butter and salt and you can regularly find plain ol' sweet potatoes in my lunchbox. Many people like to sweeten them up with brown sugar and marshmallows but I think they are just sweet enough the way they are and don't really enjoy the sweeter preparations (casserole, pie, or anything involving brown sugar and marshmallows). Either way, you have to admit that these starchy-sweet babies are awesome and easy to make and eat. Yum!

I like jeans.

2011-03-18T15:28:00.000-04:00

I literally wear jeans everyday. Unless I wear a skirt or a dress, of course. My workplace is pretty casual so we wear jeans but I try to dress it up and wear dark-washed jeans with a cute blouse or shell/cardigan combo. Either way, you can usually see me wearing jeans for all occasions. I work in jeans, hike in jeans, ride horses in jeans and even sometimes go to the beach in jeans (it's true).

They are just so versatile and work with almost any top. I love that I can wipe a little dirt on them and you can't tell (perfect for being at the barn). Mostly, though, I love how they make me feel: confident, stylish, sexy, and yet still modest.

I like plants.

2011-03-10T14:22:00.000-05:00

I currently have three plants in my cubicle at work and they make me really happy. They sit there all friendly and welcoming and make the space seem less sterile and boring. AND they give me something to take care of! I like that. I tend to go for plants that are closely-packed because they seem heartier and less high-maintenance than ones that bloom or have leafy leaves. I always look for plants that need a lot of light (the lights in the office are almost always on) and little water (weekends!) and so far, so good!

I like my shiny, clean car!

2011-03-06T11:06:00.003-05:00

I had my car fully detailed yesterday and it morphed into a totally beautiful car (exactly like the one pictured, of course). I had a gift certificate from the graduation gift two of my awesome aunts gave me so I took it in, left it for 6 hours and came back to a spectacularly clean and shiny car! The downside of the car being so clean is that now I can notice all the imperfections in the 12-year old, white paint coat and so I might need to head to the dealer and get some touch-up paint. But other than that, I am so excited and proud of my car! It's all grown up now (except for the bumper stickers I put on in high school...). It rained today so I got a treat and was allowed to put it in the garage! Woo, high roller.

Here's to hoping it stays in beautiful condition for a long time!

I like picture frames.

2011-03-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

Probably another one of those weird things I post about but it is particularly relevant seeing as I went on a frame shopping spree today. Michael's was having an awesome sale when my Mom and I went to buy a couple of frames so I headed back later in the day and bought even more. I think I bought a total of...12 frames? Yeah. AND I framed everything I bought a frame for. It took some work (and money, though not as much as one would think) but I love the end product. I'm all ready to move into the future house and put stuff up on the walls! After they're painted, of course.

P.S. I actually used this cool frame in a digital art class project and found it again while looking for a picture for this post! You totally care.

I like the radio.

2011-02-28T21:45:00.001-05:00

I still like to listen to the radio. It makes it so I don't have to be responsible for entertaining myself--it's the DJ's job to pick out music I'll like or I'll change the channel. Luckily, I have some pretty good stations around me that play the music I like (indie rock ish?) and feature a lot of new songs/artists in the genre as well.

When I drive, I can't stand silence so I always have the radio running. I don't have a CD player (old car...) but even if I did I think I'd still mostly listen to the radio. Sometimes I'll get sick of that and put my iPod on but I'm usually more sick of the music on my iPod than the music on the radio. You just have to know where to find it! As a backup, I'm always a sucker for classic rock so even when I travel outside of my radio's range, I can find something. Let's hear it for the radio!

I like my new lunchbox.

2011-02-14T16:03:00.000-05:00

This is my new lunchbox for work. It was a gift (which I picked out) from a friend and she got it off Amazon. It is made of neoprene so it's nice and flexible and insulates heat and cold very well. There is a zipper to keep all everything in there and it is surprisingly large, especially because of the flexible material. It is machine washable AND folds flat. There are a couple of different patterns and they price is right--just $16! I love it! Thanks Carole!

Just thought you guys should know about this awesomeness. Also, I was definitely NOT paid or rewarded for this post endorsing a product.

I like chocolate covered strawberries.

2011-02-10T13:41:00.000-05:00

My favorite fruit plus my favorite sweet? Yes please! What's not to love? Unless you're allergic, of course.

I like sofas.

2011-02-02T17:33:00.000-05:00

Perhaps sofas are a strange thing to like but lately I have been particularly interested in sofas. Maybe it's the "nesting" instinct (to have a nest, not to put any baby birds in it...no thanks) or maybe I just really want my own place but, either way, I cannot help but mentally decorate my future space with all sorts of furniture. My styles are all over the place, I like modern and vintage and a little country farmhouse and I just cannot decide!

What I can decide on, though, is that I will have to have fabulous sofas and not in any dull colors. I love teal and would LOVE to have a teal sofa. And a teal car but that's probably another post.

I like my city.

2011-02-01T15:28:00.002-05:00

It's my city. No more explanation needed.

I like muffins.

2011-01-19T09:31:00.000-05:00

Boy could I go for a muffin right now...

I like carrots.

2011-01-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

I know that, as a kid, I was supposed to hate carrots. But I didn't. I've always loved them. They are a fun color, have a crisp snap to their bite and are refreshingly earthy! I love carrots in just about anything--they'd even probably go well in an omelette, now that I think about it (omelettes are usually my test to see if a food would action go well "in just about anything). They are just so yummy and have such a distinctive taste--nothing else tastes like a carrot. And lucky for me, too, because they give me an easy thing to eat for lunch in order to get closer to that ever-elusive 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. That bring me up to a daily total of...2? Yikes--I'm going to need more carrots over here!

I like Matisse.

2011-01-14T14:25:00.000-05:00

Henri Matisse is my favorite artist. I love his bright, bold colors, the black contour lines and the simplicity of his abstracted perspective. It's hard to tell how this woman is sitting since the perspective and proportions of things is warped. I like this though, especially as an occasional artist (when I take art classes, which I love to do). I like to be able to paint or draw or create without having to worry about things that aren't as important to me, like perspective. I think it's beautiful that there's something a little "off" about Matisse's paintings. Her gaze and the fun surroundings are enough to make this piece beautiful and captivating.

Someday I hope to make it back to Nice (went there during my Italy semester) and go to the Musee Matisse de Nice. A whole museum devoted to Matisse? I think that sounds awesome.

I like an organized desk.

2011-01-10T09:59:00.001-05:00

I started work last week and getting my desk organized has been a little hard--I don't have my own computer yet so I've been taking my laptop to work and, hopefully, will have my own within the month. I also got a new, HUGE monitor so I had to rearrange things to make room for it. I have a list of things I need to get the area more organized and hope to get to Office Depot next weekend to get them. But it's looking better and better everyday--I've moved my purse and laptop bag into a drawer in a little unit I have so the area isn't so cluttered and I have a plant to make the space a little happier. Oh! And I have a calendar to add some visual interest (Tuscan countryside) and there are some artsy magnets on the way to stick on the metal cubicle file storage doors. Yay for desk spaces!

I like this sleeping bag.

2011-01-06T12:09:00.001-05:00

This is hilarious. I love the Internet, creative people and nerdy humor so this is really ringing all my bells. Found here for purchase, if you're interested.

I like computers.

2010-12-27T10:41:00.000-05:00

What would we do without them? For me, I know that I wouldn't be as fortunate to have a job right out of college if it weren't for computers--my job is web-based and only exists because of computers. And, on top of that, I wouldn't know half the weird things I know now and I'd be a pretty boring person. So here's to computers. Hip, hip, hooray!

I like being finished!

2010-12-21T11:31:00.000-05:00

I'm finished with school! No more papers, no more merciless dissecting of literature! I'm FREE! I have been waiting for this for three years. I was never really happy at college with a bunch of boozy party animals--it's not my scene. But now I'm out and I can start working and doing things that make me feel happy and productive.

There was no December graduation for me so there was no throwing of hats or wearing of robes but I might walk in May (if I'm in the state--I might be in Colorado!). I'm just so happy to be out. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me and now I can do ANYTHING. I could move to Europe, I could work on a ranch, I can just go anywhere and do anything and I cannot wait to get started. Wish me luck!

I like daydreaming.

2010-12-21T11:23:00.000-05:00

I love to daydream about my future. I dream about where I'll travel, where I'll live, who I'll meet--all kinds of things. At the moment, I'm having the most fun daydreaming about the next place I'll live. I'm hoping for a cute little row house in the city with my best friend. Last night we daydreamed by looking at postings for houses online. It was fun, encouraging and now we're psyched for March when we'll find out if it will work out. I want to paint walls, I want to hang pictures. I want a home!

No matter what I'm daydreaming about, you can usually find me looking wistfully out of windows or staring blankly into space--I always have something on my mind!

I like kisses.

2010-12-17T20:37:00.000-05:00

They just make me feel so awesome. What more can I say?

I like gloves.

2010-12-04T12:18:00.001-05:00

Gloves are an essential piece of my winter wear. My fingers get cold really easily, especially when I'm at the barn. Fingers are so important, too, so it's doubly important to keep them warm. I hate it when my fingers are too cold to do something intricate like lace my shoes or button a coat or something. For all these reasons and more, I need gloves at almost all times.

I love the new trend of the fingerless gloves with mitten fold-over parts since I have a touch screen phone but I have never really worn mittens before (I always choose a glove over a mitten) so when I flip the mitten part over for warmth, I'm kind of awkward. Also, without that extra cloth over the fingertips, my fingers still get cold! So, I like the idea but I don't like the outcome. Really, the phone developers should start making phones that detect gloved fingers just as they detect flesh ones. Then all my problems will be solved! Get working on that, phone developers.

I like the light at the end of the tunnel.

2010-11-08T22:05:00.000-05:00

I'm almost done school--I'll be out in a little over a month! Wish me luck on the last leg!

I like zucchini bread.

2010-11-04T00:09:00.000-04:00

It is so outrageously delicious. Here at school we have a farmer's market on Mondays and there is an assortment of Amish breads including an amazing zucchini nut bread which I buy every single week. It is always gone by Wednesday. It's so moist and sweet and luscious. I dream about this bread! My only regret is that it's taken this long for me to find out how absolutely lacking my life was before I tasted zucchini bread.

I like TV.

2010-10-28T00:11:00.000-04:00

No explanation needed!

I like sunglasses.

2010-10-01T23:39:00.000-04:00

Sunglasses are my heroes. I wear contacts and have sensitive eyes because of it. On top of that, my eyes are fair (light blue-grey) so keeping them protected is important to me. Whenever it's sunny out, I HAVE to have my sunglasses with me. When I'm driving, I especially need them--I have to squint and really make an effort to clearly see the road and other cars (not safe!). Though I usually wear sunglasses smaller than the fashion as shown in the picture above, I do like my sunglasses to be pretty cool. My current favorite pair is a nice shade of red-pink and the lenses are actually pink as well and give a nice rose-colored (get it?) tint to everything, making it brighter and more vivid. I love them and hope they never break!

I like county (and state) fairs.

2010-09-26T01:04:00.000-04:00

County fairs are so much fun. I love the mixture of rides, fair food and 4-H animal events. There is something for everyone at county fairs--bizarre crafts, games, rides, tractor pulls, rabbit showmanship classes, even horse shows! My favorite part, though, is the food (of course). There is so much! Usually, there's a great variety of food available but you always have your staples of Italian sausage, hot dogs, funnel cake, caramel apples, popcorn, cotton candy and maybe even barbecue if you're lucky.

I go to school in a rural community. There isn't much to do so it's always a lot of fun when the county fair rolls around and the whole community gets together in one place. This year I'm going to try to catch the rabbit showmanship class and the auction of a chainsaw sculptor's works. I usually try to catch the heavy-weight horse pull as well but that didn't work out this year--no worries! No matter what I see, though, it's always fun to have a new weekend activity to do!

I like tortillas.

2010-09-21T22:45:00.000-04:00

Homemade or store-bought, flour or corn, I cannot get enough of tortillas. They are smooth and flexible, doughy and satisfying but they don't fill you up immediately so you just keep eating! The taste of corn tortillas is really nice since it's so sweet and nutty but flour tortillas are better for most flavor profiles. When I was little I liked the taste of tortillas so much (and I still do) that I would eat them alone, folding them in half and then in half again and again until I couldn't fold it anymore. Then I would eat it from the tip of the triangle created by the folding to the base. It was so satisfying and yummy and bready.

Today I still love most things tortilla. I love fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, etc. I could, if I was slightly more foolish and wanted to get rid of future great post ideas, lump pita bread, naan and gyro bread into this likability of tortillas. However, I will not but I do acknowledge both that these are very similar, equally tasty and that I like all of them!

I like sunlight.

2010-09-15T08:47:00.000-04:00

Though I don't really like the sun because of all the heat it gives off which makes me sweaty and grumpy, I love its light. Sunlight is warming and comforting in all the right ways--on a winter's day, one can seek out the sun's rays in search of warmth. On a crisp, fall day, the sun helps keep you warm before you finally succumb to wearing your jacket for the rest of the year. My favorite thing about sunlight is the way it streams in through windows, especially in the morning. I love to wake up to a nice, sunny room and just bask in the rays for a little while before I get out of bed. There is something about basking in sunlight that is just so revitalizing yet relaxing.

I like cameras.

2010-09-09T14:43:00.000-04:00

When I say that I like cameras, I mean REAL cameras--the kind that take film and have to be developed by a professional. I love the sound of the shutter as it clicks closed and then open again and the feel of the shutter release button as you press it down. I like hearing the film advance inside the camera, the uncertainty of not knowing what the picture looks like. I like all these things but that isn't to say that manual cameras are what I use. I like the idea of a manual camera but digital ones just fit me better--though, on one side, I like the uncertainty of not knowing what a photo will look like, I also have a desperate need to know. A digital camera can satisfy that need. Despite this, I still love and appreciate the art of the manual camera and highly respect anyone who can use it with ease and success.

I like mornings.

2010-09-08T14:26:00.000-04:00

I'm a morning person. Not to say I get up at 4 in the morning or anything but I like to get up earlier than usual for a college student and get my day started. I like to feel like I've had a full day by getting up early and going to bed around 11:30-12 rather than staying up late and feeling like a delinquent who slept until 2pm. The best part about getting up early is the cool, crispness of mornings. The air is cooler and moist, the day seems fresh and new. Mornings just make me smile!

I like headphones.

2010-09-01T23:23:00.000-04:00

Headphones (yes, I know the image is specifically of earbuds) are so handy. Living with a roommate (in the same room!) for four years, I have learned to appreciate the beauty of having your own personal speakers in your ears. They allow you to listen to bad music in secret, occupy your mind while at the gym, quietly watch things so as to avoid disrupting your roommate, and, sometimes, provide some all-needed quiet. I know that I have, on multiple occasions, used my sound-canceling headphones to drown out noises when trying to sleep. All around, headphones are an essential tool for an computer user, music listener or even, sometimes, TV watcher--I don't know what I would do without them!

I like desk accessories.

2010-08-27T11:17:00.002-04:00

I've been working in the same place as an intern for the past two years. And no, I'm not complaining--I've been at school and working as an "intern" allowed me to work whenever I was home so I'm grateful. However, now that I'm nearing graduation (December 2010!!!), I've been given a job offer! So that means in January I will have a cubicle that's a little more permanent (I've been moved around over the past 2 years) and I will get to decorate it! I am excited by the challenge of injecting personality into a uniform cubicle space and love getting ideas from the Internet. I simply cannot wait for January and to be working on something that feels more productive than writing literary criticism essays (ugh....). Three cheers for employment!

I like cupcakes.

2010-08-26T19:27:00.000-04:00

I like cupcakes. A lot. But I don't like icing as much as I probably should (or as much as is normal). Therefore, I prefer my cupcakes uniced, as pictured above. I think icing is too sweet and usually takes away from the deliciousness of the cake (mmm, boxed cake). Some icing is tasty, though and then I'm willing to compromise. However they are made, though, I can usually take off the icing if I don't like it and enjoy the lovely cake underneath. Who could possibly not like a mini cake?

I like maps.

2010-08-24T23:08:00.001-04:00

Maps are pretty useful. They help you get from one place to another, plan out a trip or show someone that you know geography better than they do. Aside from this, though, maps are just beautiful. I've always been fascinated by them. This might come from my Dad who is a great lover of maps and has always shown me the routes we take on our road trips. He has a couple of maps framed and hung around his house and they are some of my favorite pieces of art in his house. He has a particularly beautiful map of Ohio that uses purple tones and he has an old schoolroom map of the USA in the home office. The lines and colors and shapes always look so inviting, asking me to follow new roads and discover new places. Because of maps and my great sense of direction (mental maps), I will never need a GPS in my car--I'll navigate on my own!

I like the Smashing Pumpkins.

2010-08-19T10:02:00.000-04:00

The Smashing Pumpkins were my first favorite band (or at least the first I can remember) way back in the 90's. I was little and 99.1 WHFS was playing Tonight, Tonight a week after Halloween. The DJ introduced the song saying something along the lines of "And now, because this is what you should do with those old pumpkins from last week, here's some Smashing Pumpkins." I instantly loved the idea of smashing old Halloween pumpkins and so my love of the band was born directly from their name. Their sound, as well, has captured me but it took a little more time for me to appreciate it. Many years later, they are still one of my favorite bands! Now if only they would tour near me...

I like hammocks.

2010-08-17T10:43:00.000-04:00

Hammocks are amazingly comfortable. They solve the problem of not being able to sleep while camping so you can be both comfortable AND enjoy the sounds and other benefits of sleeping in the outdoors. My mom is a big fan of hammocks so, luckily, we usually have one set up during the spring and summer under the leafy roof of our "forest." It's usually too hot and humid to actually enjoy sleeping in the hammock but on spring and fall days, it doesn't get much better than a nice long nap in the hammock.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.

I like sandcastles.

2010-08-13T13:24:00.000-04:00

Sandcastles are amazing. They can be anywhere from a low-budget project with a few molds and a bucket to huge operations with spatulas, blueprints and full-blown moats. As a child, I used to make sandcastles and specialized in "drip castles" where you let wet sand drip through your fist to create very skinny and perilous towers. I don't make sandcastles very often now but I always like to look at them because I know how ridiculously difficult they are to make. I think they add a whole new dimension of fun and nostalgia to the beach and make it a more unique place than it already is--it's not everywhere that you can find huge replicas of castles made out of small rock particles!

I like laughing.

2010-08-12T23:23:00.000-04:00

I laugh a lot. I make myself laugh quite often and I'm not ashamed of it. If I didn't make myself laugh or if I didn't laugh as easily as I do, I think I would go crazy. Laughing is my release--it let's all my energy and emotion out and it makes me feel so GOOD! I usually laugh loudly and widely, only covering my mouth when I'm in public and my laughing goes a little overboard. I think the fact that I laugh and smile so easily, despite my serious and somewhat critical nature, are a big part of what make me who I am. For that reason and so many others, I love laughing.

I like an empty road.

2010-08-11T22:53:00.000-04:00

I have very few vices. I don't smoke, I don't do drugs and I very rarely drink. One vice I do have is speeding. I love to drive fast and I get impatient when I can't do it because of slow traffic. That's why I absolutely love an empty road. I can go as fast as I want (well, sort of--I keep it between 10 and 13mpg over the limit) and just feel very free and unrestricted blasting off into the distance. No matter where the road is going, I want to get there as fast as possible. Unless someone else is driving--then I don't mind going slower and taking the time to look at where I'm going.

I like vintage wallpaper.

2010-08-10T22:50:00.000-04:00

Vintage wallpaper is so simple and classic, especially British styles. I don't know if I'd ever wallpaper a whole room but I might wallpaper a wall or stretch wallpaper over a frame as an accent. Whatever I do with it, I hope to make vintage wallpaper a part of my future apartment/house!

I like pad thai.

2010-08-09T09:42:00.000-04:00

Pad Thai is utterly delicious. It's taken me some time to fully get used to it and be able to enjoy it totally and unconditionally like I do now (actually, unconditionally is a little generous--you can definitely make a bad pad thai). I used to hate the idea of peanuts in a warm preparation and so I shunned pad thai. And, to be honest, the first couple of pad thai's I tried were pretty awful so they didn't properly introduce an appreciation for it in me.

The first pad thai I remember loving was in Alaska. My roommate loved pad thai and when I ordered Chinese food, she would order tofu pad thai (because the Chinese food place was also a Thai food place). She let me try it one day and I was hooked! Tofu pad thai isn't the traditional type--as I was told by a somewhat surly Thai man at my favorite Thai restaurant, pad thai is traditionally prepared with shrimp or plain. None of this chicken or tofu business. I try to stick to that and usually choose plain. Yum, yum, yum! Today I am a lucky girl because sitting in my office refrigerator is leftover pad thai and it's all I can think about. I will need to find something to distract me until lunch!

I like zebras.

2010-08-08T10:30:00.000-04:00

Zebras are pretty awesome. Their stripes are beautiful, especially in a herd like this. It's hard to tell them apart, of course, but the patterns they create are beautiful and interesting. When I go to the zoo, zebras are always on my list of things to see (along with polar bears, tigers and elephants). They are so like horses and yet so different and mysterious--I wonder if they could be trained to be ridden. Even if they could be, though, I think I prefer their wild mystery to a domestic familiarity. We need some things to remain exotic and unfamiliar.

I like computer monitors.

2010-08-05T22:53:00.000-04:00

Most of my computer usage is on a laptop. Because of this, I relish the times when I get the privilege to use gloriously large and beautiful computer monitors. Occasionally I'll really hit the jackpot and get two monitors! At the moment I'm traveling for work and I get to use two monitors. Usually I use only one large monitor back at my normal office. In my dream office, I have two large monitors and a nice, large, clean desk. I have these fantasies quite often. This dream "office" could even be a cubicle--I'm not picky (and I'd still consider it "my" office)! But whether it is one or two, almost any monitor is a luxury compared to my 15.6" laptop screen!

I like aquariums.

2010-08-05T06:59:00.000-04:00

Aquariums are amazing. They are like televisions but filled with nature. I guess the zoo is kind of like this, too, but I find that aquariums seem to be much more alive than zoos. Maybe that's just me. Anyway, aquariums are filled with so many amazing things--many of which I've never seen before. Sharks, whales (maybe?), seals, jellyfish, seahorses, coral, anemones, etc. It's all colorful, beautiful and mesmerizing. I know I could sit in front of the stingray, shark or dolphin tank for hours, just staring into it.

I recently went to the local aquarium. I have loved it ever since I was a kid and it's been changing a bit recently. I was glad to visit again and realize that many of my favorite things haven't changed one bit! The dolphin show is new (and not as good in my opinion) but most of the same exhibits and installations are the same and bring back good memories.

Also recently (and what inspired my visit to the aquarium), I found an amazing video of the Kuroshio Sea Aquarium in Japan which is the world's second largest aquarium and is home to a healthy population of tiger sharks! I just absolutely love the video and its hypnotizing array of fish and its equally-hypnotizing music. Take a look!

I like Belle and Sebastian.

2010-08-02T09:10:00.000-04:00

I have, after all my years of living, recently "discovered" Belle and Sebastian. I had heard of them before and heard a few songs but I had never actually listened to a whole CD or really gotten into them. Well, I can't remember how it happened but now I'm in deep. Luckily, I have a friend who is similarly "taken" by the band and has compiled a gigantic library of their music and was willing to share it with me. So now Belle and Sebastian accounts for 1/6th of my iTunes library and I wouldn't have it any other way. Their calm, haunting melodies and clear, mind-reading lyrics have me captivated and squirming to find a way to get over the $38.50 price tag on their concert at DAR Constitution Hall in October. Or I can just drive around in my car, filling its inside with their songs from my iPod. Either way, it's going to be a good time.

I like sweaters.

2010-07-29T15:26:00.001-04:00

Sweaters are so much fun. They are warm and snuggly and they add an extra layer of interest to an outfit. But mostly they are just warm and snuggly.

When I was little, I told my mother that I hated sweaters. I can vividly remember this. I think I hated them because I associated sweaters with itchy, scratching wool and cloying, strangling turtlenecks. I still hate turtlenecks...grr.

Anyway, now I can't imagine living without sweaters. It's summer right now and, even though I get to wear sweaters to work because it's so air-conditioned, I cannot WAIT for fall to come so I can break out some of my favorite sweaters!

I like lightning bugs.

2010-05-26T11:48:00.001-04:00

Some people call them fireflies but I've always grown up calling them lightning bugs. They sparkle and blink on muggy nights, happy reminders that summer has finally come. As a child, I always tried to catch them in my hand and see how long they would stay with me before flying away--never very long, obviously, but long enough for me to think they recognized some kindness or special quality in me. Now I like to sit out on the patio at night and watch them flutter about, following their spastic flight paths by the blink of their tails.

I like being able to "drive stick."

2010-05-23T20:39:00.001-04:00

When I was learning to drive, my mom taught me on her manual transmission Pontiac Vibe. She likes to drive manuals because it gives her something to do when she's driving so she pays more attention and doesn't fall asleep, etc. Well, it was pretty difficult for me to learn since I had already basically learned on an automatic and didn't understand why a car should be so complicated. There were many "adventures" such as when I stalled in the middle of an intersection making a left turn on a "yield when green" (harrowing) and when I started the car in third gear. On a hill. Yeah...the Vibe made all sorts of new smells and noises after I was done with it but it's been such a good sport and keeps on going.

Anyhow, I eventually mastered it and now I love that I can drive any car I come across. It's handy for when people are too drunk or hurt or just plain don't know where they are going. And I love to drive other people's cars. So, essentially, thank you Mom!

I like umbrellas.

2010-05-19T23:00:00.000-04:00

Umbrellas are just such cute ways of keeping dry in the rain (and snow!) and shaded in the blistering beach heat. They come in all patterns and colors and, nowadays, sizes that make them fun accessories that you can easily stow away in your purse or car for a rainy occasion. In Europe (or at least Italy), no one is without their umbrella in the rain or snow and you can be easily spotted for a tourist if you don't have one. But don't worry--people will eagerly offer to sell you one on the street! There is just something romantic about an umbrella. You can share it or you can be alone, romantically (if in a sort of sad way) walking down a sidewalk, hoping someone will come keep you company. And, of course, there's always that time when you forget your umbrella when sometimes (just sometimes!) someone will come and offer you to share theirs. I can't wait for the rain!

I like get well flowers.

2010-05-16T00:03:00.001-04:00

Getting flowers when you're sick is the best. They brighten your day and automatically make you feel better. Usually, though, you have to be pretty sick to warrant flowers--sick enough for someone to worry about you. And the flowers stick around after that person has left, letting you know that they care about you and want you to get better quickly. And what could possibly be better than a cheery bouquet of flowers urging you to get better? Two or three bouquets!

I like skirts.

2010-05-12T21:18:00.001-04:00

Skirts are so much fun to wear. When I was little I would specifically pick out skirts that were perfect for twirling and then use any and every opportunity for twirling. I loved seeing the skirt flare out around me--it made me feel so happy. I still love to twirl and, though I wear tighter-fitting skirts like pencil skirts and others, I still love the classic A-line skirts that easily twirl as you move. A terrific compromise between pants and a dress, skirts are just the easiest way to feel carefree and fun!

I like wildflowers.

2010-05-06T17:03:00.001-04:00

Wildflowers are so simply beautiful. They aren't planned, they aren't high-maintenance and they grow anywhere and everywhere. They fill up vacant lots and field with beautiful splashes of color and they just make me happy! When I have a house and a garden I am going to till my garden and just let it grow wild, full of what people call "weeds" but are really as worthy of the word "flower" as any other plant. I will let my garden grow itself and, in return, I will have sunny wildflowers all the time!

I like the last day of class.

2010-05-06T02:20:00.000-04:00

Ahh, the last day of that ever-elusive final goal to a school year. It was always so hard to sit still on the last day of school in middle school and high school and all one could think about was that final bell ringing our freedom. I always envisioned people running right out of class, out the front doors of the school, just like on TV but that never happened--teachers had us too under control. Despite that, though, the last day of school was always the best thing to happen to a kid.

Today is my last class in Alba for my semester abroad and I will be leaving Saturday. I am not sorry to be leaving but I did have a great time visiting so many places this semester. After today I will be free from class for an entire 4 months while I do some more meaningful work in the workplace instead of the classroom. I am so excited to give my brain a rest (not that it did much this semester...) and focus on something I feel is more fulfilling and interesting--work! And, soon enough, I will graduate and work as much as I like. Woo!

I like naps.

2010-05-04T15:45:00.001-04:00

Naps are wonderful things. Some days you wake up too early or stay up too late or just spent the morning running around and 3:00 pm rolls around and you just need some energy. When I can afford the break, I love to nap. On the couch, in my bed--anywhere comfortable. I just snuggle up with a blanket and get some sleep for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half and I'm good to go! Rainy days make me especially need a nap. There's something about the coolness of a rainy day coupled with not wanting to leave the house to do anything that makes it a perfect day to lay down and nap. And naps are even better when you have someone to nap with!

I like looking through photo albums.

2010-05-03T14:44:00.000-04:00

Whether they are mine or someone else's, I love looking through photo albums. All the memories are so fascinating, especially if they are mine and I've forgotten them--it's living experiencing them all over again. When looking through someone else's photo album it's sort of like discovering a new part of that person, learning something about them you didn't know before. Like that they were a piglet for Halloween or they used to drive an old, battered station wagon or had a buzz cut. And then there are always those albums with pictures of people who have been lost and the pictures serve as a little shock to our hearts to remember them just a little more than before. Whatever the reason, one can see that photo albums will always have surprises hidden within!

I like open windows on a cool day.

2010-05-02T15:26:00.000-04:00

I love the fresh breeze that comes in through an open window. It freshens a room and blows away the damp, mugginess of the spring and summer. Sometimes, when it's a cool day, I'll leave the windows open even though it's almost too cold. I'll sit in my bed, curled up in my covers, and relish in the coolness of the air. It makes me feel snuggly and warm and relieved from the dreadful heat. Because of this, one of my life goals is to have French doors somewhere in my future home--ideally in the kitchen and my bedroom--so I can open them up and have fresh breezes as often as they are provided by nature. Yay!

I like music that makes me want to dance.

2010-05-01T16:11:00.000-04:00

Music that has the power to make me want to--need to--dance is powerful stuff. It gets in my bones, in my blood and makes me need to move around to the beat. I may not even like to listen to the song but there is something about it that makes me subliminally need to get up and dance. I need to loosen up every now and then so when a song comes on the radio that makes me want to dance, I revel in the opportunity to turn up the volume and bop around in my chair, my car, or even on the dance floor!

I like editing.

2010-04-30T18:36:00.000-04:00

Editing papers gives me so much satisfaction. I'm a grammar and spelling Nazi so I like making papers (mine or otherwise) correct. I like the precise and meticulous attention to detail and knowing that everything is "just so." I like the idea of making a product better, the best it can be. And since words are sort of my thing (occasionally design is as well), I like seeing them in the best place possible. I realize this is probably an obsessive tendency but it's at least a useful one!

I like thinking of where I will live.

2010-04-29T17:41:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking lately about where I want to live after college. I have plans to go to Colorado shortly after graduating in December and I originally thought I might want to try to find a job there and settle down a little in Denver or around it (maybe Colorado Springs) but lately I've been thinking of many other places. Maybe it's being in Europe that's making me restless and changing my mind about Colorado but now I have Provence, France, England, and good ol' Baltimore on my mind. Three very different places but they all have something I want.

Provence is unbelievably beautiful and I love the French language. England is a place I've always wanted to be more a part of--I've been an anglophile for a long time. And then there's home--Baltimore. Baltimore is such a quirky, cozy city. It has its reputation, of course, but I know it is really a nice, hip city underneath all the statistics. With all the possibilities I'm feeling a bit stressed out but I love the thoughts that go along with each different place. I could have so many different lives! If only I could have them all!

I like cereal.

2010-04-28T16:35:00.000-04:00

Cereal is the perfect way to start the day. I'm a big proponent of breakfast and eat it every day unless I wake up late (10 or later) because then it doesn't make much sense. I do love big breakfast foods like pancakes or home fries or french toast but they make me feel too full rather than energized for the day like cereal does. Plus, cereal has the all-important element of fiber (at least good cereals do)! My favorite cereals are mostly healthy ones like Cheerios, Wheat Chex, Special K, and Life but I also like Reese's Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Frosted Flakes though I don't eat them often. Whatever kind of cereal it is, it's how I want to start my day--pour on some skim milk, hand me a spoon and I'm ready to go!

I like having back-up plans.

2010-04-27T17:13:00.001-04:00

Because sometimes it's so reassuring to have something to fall back on. Sometimes the thing you've been planning all along just doesn't work out so it's nice to have a back-up waiting for you. Alternate options, just in case you change your mind or in case you just want too many things all at once! I have many plans--probably all the way down to letters J, K, and L. I like to think this makes sure I will never just be doing nothing but maybe that's plan M! In any case, it's nice to not have to worry or stress so much when you know you have a safety net waiting to catch you if you fall. Hopefully you never touch the net but, if you have to, it's there.

I like getting my work done in advance.

2010-04-26T15:57:00.000-04:00

I'm a horrible procrastinator--I really am. But I'm also a pretty responsible person (yawn). Sometimes, then, I like to get my work out of the way, especially if I know I have something else I want to do or another project I need to work on soon. Today I did tomorrow's assignment on top of today's and I feel great about it! I can take it easy tomorrow or I can continue and finish early at the end of the week and start my weekend early. Whatever I choose to do, it feels great knowing that I was responsible, made a good choice and used my time now wisely so I can have fun later. Yay!

I like natural light.

2010-04-25T17:55:00.000-04:00

When I was younger I always used my overhead light in my bedroom. When my dad came in he would always turn it off, open my curtains more and tell me that overhead lights "sucked up my self esteem." Of course I thought he was crazy and more adorable for it but, despite not believing him, I have grown to have a similar aversion to overhead lighting. There is something about large, bright, artificial lights that just...annoys me. Though I don't think my self-esteem is being affected, I definitely physically and mentally react to these obnoxious and distracting lights and turn them off whenever I can. At school my overhead light is only used when serious business is being conducted in mirrors or if (the horror!) it's too dark outside that even table lamps aren't bright enough.

In any case, natural light is so refreshing. It is warm, comforting, and fresh all at the same time. It has the ability to warm or cool any room and just makes me happy when a sunny day's rays fill my room just right that it makes everything bright and cheerier. So thanks, Dad, for passing along your words of wisdom!

I love conquering obstacles.

2010-04-24T16:53:00.000-04:00

This summer I conquered a mountain and today I conquered a 6.8-mile cliff walk up and down steep, steep stairs. I love challenging myself with these tests of my physical and mental strength. I feel empowered and motivated to prove to myself that I can climb that mountain or power-walk that distance. I put my head down, focus, and push ahead. And when I get to the end and realize I've done it, that's such an awesome feeling! Yes, my body will start screaming in a few minutes but at that moment right at the end it is humming with excitement and energy, pushing me even further. I always feel tempted to do the "Victory!" pose but I think I'll save that for a really amazing accomplishment like the Appalachian Trail or Mt. Everest. For now I'm satisfied with just pushing myself in these little ways that make me proud to be as strong as I am.

I like Swedish meatballs.

2010-04-23T20:17:00.000-04:00

I love Swedish meatballs. As I mentioned before, my mom used to take my brother and me to Ikea for dinner sometimes just because we (and my mom) loved the Swedish meatballs so much. At some point my mom started making them at home with a sauce packet from the grocery store, handmade meatballs and egg noodles (which is perhaps the traditional preparation)--like the picture shown above. Swedish meatballs are delicious in either preparation and I think I prefer my mom's style even though the Ikea style is lighter and has the delicious lingonberry sauce. The noodles and the gravy and the meatballs are just such a unique dish with a lovely savoriness to it. It's just perfect in every way. When I get home from Italy it is one of the things I will request for dinner. Yum!

I like doing nice things.

2010-04-22T13:50:00.000-04:00

I got my tax return a couple of days ago and was ready to just keep it in my bank account and forget that it was money I hadn't really been expecting to ever get back. Today while reading for my Economics class, though, I was reminded about kiva.org, an organization that deals in microfinancing where people can loan out small amounts of money to entrepreneurs in developing countries. These loans have a very high rate of repayment (Kiva quotes theirs at more than 98%) and help get people off their feet--a win-win situation!

I used my tax return and loaned money to five different people/groups. One loan is to a group who run a furniture making workshop in Uganda and one is to a woman in Nigeria who runs a general store. I also loaned to a groups in Vietnam (all women), Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines who raise and sell livestock. I am so excited to be a part of this opportunity to help people work their way to a better lifestyle and can't wait for them to prove me right by paying back the loan so I can turn around and lend the money to someone else. I just feel so good!

I like hiking.

2010-04-21T21:11:00.000-04:00

Hiking is just so much fun. You're outside in (hopefully) good weather, enjoying the sun and the fresh air as well as some energizing exercise. I love getting all geared up in my hiking boots, baseball cap and packing a backpack with trail snacks and water. It makes me feel like I'm going on an adventure--and I am!

I love to hike in the woods amongst the trees--they provide shade so you don't get too hot or sunburned, they smell terrific and are just so beautiful! Also, they have those awesome burbling streams. Being in the woods, or anywhere suitable for hiking, is just such a nice change from normal life in the suburbs, the city or even the country. It is remote and wild and makes you feel like a more rugged, independent person. Who knows if I'd be able to survive in the wild if something happened but the empowerment hiking gives me makes me feel like I can.

I like pignoli cookies!

2010-04-20T19:32:00.000-04:00

Though they are usually circular whereas those pictures here are crescent-shaped, pignoli cookies (loosely named after the Italian word for pine nut) are always delicious. They are almond-y (I think that's the flavor), lusciously chewy and covered in pine nuts. You've most likely never heard of them and probably never seen one but they are full of Italian goodness.

I first had one courtesy of my amazing family who bought some at the Vaccaro's stand in Annapolis's Market House. Vaccaro's is an Italian bakery based in Little Italy, Balitmore but has a couple of chains and stands throughout Maryland and Washington, DC. They brought the pine nut-encrusted cookies home and reluctantly shared with me and forever made a mistake. I am hooked, no pignoli cookie is safe from me and whenever I am nearby at my favorite sushi place, I must go visit Vacarro's flagship store and buy myself a cookie or two.

Oddly enough, here in Italy it is hard to find a pignoli cookie. First off, no one knows them by that name and always looks at me funny for bastardizing the word for pine nut (pinoli). Perhaps they are specific to a certain region of Italy (Vaccaro's is a Sicilian bakery) but the only place I've found them (in their proper form) is in Genoa. I always make sure to look in every Italian bakery I come across (or most of them, at least) but I am usually disappointed. Where ever they are, though, they are full of deliciousness waiting to be gobbled up!

I like breakfast.

2010-04-18T14:53:00.000-04:00

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. From a simple cereal and milk to a larger meal like pancakes, eggs or French toast, breakfast food is just wonderful. They can be light or hearty and are ALWAYS the perfect way to start the day. I need breakfast in order to be able to function and if I don't get it, I am moody! Typically I have cereal (Cheerios, Chex or Special K) and milk but every now and then I enjoy a large breakfast, my favorite being with pancakes. I just cannot imagine a good day without a proper breakfast and, in fact, I could eat breakfast food at all times of the day!

I like brie.

2010-04-10T19:30:00.000-04:00

Brie is delicious: nutty and creamy and smooth with that little bite from the skin (which I do eat). While I do enjoy baked brie (wrapped in filo dough and usually with apples and some sort of cinnamon filling), I prefer brie to just stand as it does normally. With crackers, apples or bread or in a sandwich, I love brie in almost every way it can be eaten!

I like bread.

2010-04-09T14:43:00.003-04:00

Bread is positively delicious. I have a "bread problem" where, occasionally, I just cannot stop eating it. Being in Italy for the semester makes this even worse as fresh, artisan bread is absolutely everywhere. Sliced, torn, toasted and cold, bread is a perfect palate for many flavors and foods. I like it especially plain or with jelly--nothing complicated. Though I know whole grain bread is better for your health, I just cannot resist the fluffy, sweet flavor of white grain bread. Mmm!

I like my name.

2010-04-09T02:23:00.000-04:00

Though my name is technically Margaret (named after my great-aunt Marge who is responsible for my college education), absolutely everyone calls me Margo.

I love my name--it's unique, cute and definitely fits me well. When I tell people how I got the nickname, I tell them that my aunt thought of it, inspired by the comic strip Apartment 3G in the newspaper. One of the main characters (the moody/occasionally bitchy brunette) is named Margo and apparently stuck in my aunt's mind as a good nickname for me. I cannot thank all who were involved enough--I love my name!

I don't know if I can go through my whole life using it, though--at some point I should switch to Margaret, shouldn't I? It's always been a sort of old woman name to me so I guess when I get to the point where I feel like I am old enough to fit the name, I will change.

I like the expectant smell of flowers waiting to bloom.

2010-04-06T09:50:00.000-04:00

Flowers are just starting to bloom in Italy. I walk past a path lined with tulips ready to bloom and I can just smell them ready to burst open. It is a contagious feeling and it has me so excited for the day they do bloom. They will burst forth in all their glorious color and make my day just a little brighter (and sweeter-smelling!). I cannot wait.

I like vistas.

2010-04-04T17:59:00.001-04:00

Crap, it looks like I have already done this one... However, it can be said again. I recently went to Trapani, Sicily for Spring Break and it was absolutely lovely. Most of the days were sunny (though not so warm) and I got to go places with gorgeous views from above. Vistas provide such a wide view of ones surroundings and, taken in with one long stare, they are still awesome to behold. Rich colors, expansive land and water, it is all so beautiful to see at once and I will never tire of it.

I like sailboats.

2010-03-29T16:13:00.000-04:00

Sailboats are so much fun to be in. You're out on the water in the sun and cool wind but also a part of the process of the movement by working towards it. The sailing part and making the boat sail is so nice to be a part of. Capturing that perfect wind and feeling yourself carried away with the excitement of the boat picking up speed. On top of this, sailboats are beautifully graceful to watch. They are large and white and move across the water smoothly. They are just so enjoyable to watch.

I like the gust of wind from when people walk past me at the gym.

2010-03-25T07:08:00.000-04:00

In order to not return home as an elephant, I have been working out at a gym here in Alba. I'm not much one for exercise but I hate the idea of hating the way I look so I strive to offset my eating with exercise (and smart food choices). I typically run/walk on the treadmill and, in doing so, there is not much air circulation and I get hot very quickly. When someone walks by me, however, the gust that follows them is so refreshing that I inwardly wish they would just continuously walk past me during my entire workout. However, they never do and I am left wanting and waiting for the next time someone walks by. Sigh.

I like libraries (the rooms, not the public buildings).

2010-03-24T16:27:00.000-04:00

Libraries are so comforting. I love the idea of being surrounded by a large collection of my own books. All ordered and shelved, looking attractive and impressive in their bindings. I love the idea of someone coming in and seeing my books and getting excited at the titles, sharing their love for the same books as I do. I love the idea of walking into the room, picking out a favorite and sitting down in a comfy chair to read for an afternoon. An endless supply of books that make me happy to be an English major rather than the ones that just make me feel burdened and weighed down by saying the same thing over and over. That sounds so good to me right now.

I like gardens.

2010-03-23T18:22:00.001-04:00

Gardens are such breaths of fresh air. Especially in the Spring when one hasn't seen a flower in a long time, newly bloomed gardens are so refreshing. I love to walk by them and see the well-tended flowers bursting forth into the new warmth of the changing days--it makes me so happy and excited. Flowers are so simple and so beautiful and they really just make me giddy. My mom has always done a lot of gardening though I don't know if she always enjoys it (it's hard to tell) and so I have fond memories of flowers and bushes like tulips, daffodils, lilacs, lilies of the valley, irises and forsythia in our garden. I hope to one day have a nice wildflower garden that makes me happy and feel at home.

I like horses (have I mentioned that?).

2010-03-17T18:19:00.001-04:00

Haha. It bears repeating. I just cannot say enough about my love for horses.

I like boutique chocolates (especially truffles).

2010-03-15T11:38:00.000-04:00

Oh goodness. While I do like chocolate, I typically prefer the lighter sweetness that one gets from baked goods as you have seen (here, here, and here just for starters). However, boutique chocolates are a special treat. They are rich, well made and usually horribly delicious. Truffles are my favorite with their chocolate moussey center and the cocoa powder on the outside. Yum. A lot of the time, though, I am afraid to try chocolates because I don't like it when they are filled with cherry cordial or coconut or other un-chocolately things that people put in them anyway--I prefer nutty or pure chocolate palates instead. Even with their price tag, boutique chocolates are fun to get every once in a while as a sweet treat--I certainly take advantage of it!