Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...

Brown paper packages tied up with strings; these are a few of my favorite things! 

In light of the "Oprah's Favorite Things" show (which should? be coming up? anytime?), and running with an idea borrowed from Amy W, I decided to compile a list of my own favorite things.  AKA, what you shall buy me for Christmas.  (Kidding, kidding!)  Of course, my list will be slightly different from Oprah's, because if you know anything about me from reading this website, I am not a bazillionaire.  (Thank you, Captain Obvious.)

So in no particular order, grouped somewhat-categorically, here are some of the things I use/eat/wear as often as possible, because I love them so very much.  And I recommend you try them, also.

1. My new Canon Powershot S3 IS, for its ease in use and quality of pictures.  Love it, Love it, Love it.  At first I really wanted the Rebel, but for a photography novice like myself this camera turned out perfect as I learn.  And the price was right.
2. Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely perfume, and Aveeno bath and body products.  I was once loyal to Bath and Body Works and their forever-expensive crap, but once I gave Aveeno a try it turned out that B & B was, well, crap in comparison.
3. New Balance gym shoes, and my new Columbia Bliss Ridge Parka Jacket (I totally did not pay the listed prices for either one of those babies, so give me a second to pat my back for being the Queen of What's On Sale.)  The nicest thing about that jacket are the stretchy fleece half-gloves that extend out of each sleeve.  And the warmness without bulkiness.  And the comfy fit.  And everything else.
4. Generally speaking, any home decor I can score on sale (or knock-off) from a Pottery Barn Catalog can make this list.  I would live in a PB catalog, and my children in PB Kids, if possible. 
5. Brand new Hanes socks that have never been washed.  Ahhhh so soft.
6. Palermo's Pizza on the south side of Chicago, Olive Garden salad & breadsticks, fresh veggies and dip (made with Knorr vegetable soup, baby) and Cracker Barrell hash brown casserole.
7. Gap Long and Lean jeans (you totally know the chick in the picture is me), Old Navy Perfect Fit tees, and LL Bean Fleece Scuffs.  I wore those shoes for two months straight after Jack was born.  Additionally, before he  was born they were the only things I could cram on to my swollen, sausage-like feet.  How's that for a mental picture?
8. Cinnamon Appleberry and Juicy Cherry candles from Yankee.  Warm and delicious.  I do not recommend the Buttercream Frosting scent.  Twenty four minutes into burning it will prompt you to dash out to the nearest grocery store and spend the afternoon sprawled out on the floor of the baking goods aisle wolfing down cans of frosting like the sugar whore you are.  But I would know nothing about that.
9. The Mariah Carey Christmas CD.  I first bought it as a senior in high school, have since replaced it twice, and it just doesn't seem like Christmas without it.  Even ho's can sing good Christmas.
10. The Fisher Price Aquarium Swing, and Touch and Feel board books for babies.  Jack has a bunch of the board books, and because of the over-the-top frequency at which they are read, when we sneak in a non-touch and feel book he slides his fingers down the pages with great confusion.   The Aquarium Swing was Jack's napping place up until he could physically crawl out of it.  It saved my sanity as a mother, and I recommend it to any new mom as a must-have if you like your sanity.  And you will find, you do. 
11. Warm, soft flannel sheets.  Any color, from any store. 
12. Carters fleecy blanket sleepers.  I am not sure exactly what material they are made from, but they are so comfy, warm and cute that my kids have had them in just about every size.
13. Act II Popcorn Minibags and Hershey's Chocolate Sticks - for a total of just two Weight Watchers points.  Perfect combination.  And while we're on popcorn, Garrett's caramel popcorn in Chicago once made Oprah's list, and now mine.  There is rarely a time anymore that I am downtown that we don't make a stop there.  And like Krispy Kreme donuts, it's best when it's still warm and fresh. 
14. My favorite movies that cause Kevin to poke freshly sharpened pencils into his eyeballs chick flicks of all time are Something's Gotta Give and You've Got Mail. 
15. And last but not least, how can there be a list of favorite things without the mention of my all-time can't-live-without companion, strawberry flavored ChapStick.  ChapStick brand only.  Imitations need not apply.

So now it's your turn!  What are some of your favorite things? 

Specifically, I am tagging Frema, Jenny, Cindy, Stacey and SJ.  Out with it!

Comments

[Stacey]

Oooh! I will get to my list soon...thanks for the tag!

I have "lovely" perfume on my christmas list, hoping to get some (and have somewhere to wear it!)

And carmex only, you strange chapstick person. ;)

[Frema]

Oh my gosh, I LOVE Mariah's Christmas album, released back when she was married and innocent and demure and didn't feel the need to flat iron the shit out of her hair. Sometime last year I lost it, and I'm so very, very sad. I want to buy another one, but....but....

Why the hell don't I just buy another one?

[Jenabeeb]

OK...I am not sure if I will be blogging again anytime soon, so I will just leave a comment on here answering your question. Allright? Allright.

But that will come tomorrow after I give it some thought...

For now, I just wanted to tell you that Oprah decided not to do her Favorite Things this year, instead on the day after T-Giving, she gave everyone in the audience $1,000 to give to their favorite charity/those in need.

Just so you know and are not looking forward to the show...personally it really started to irritate me watching it...grown women going absolutely hysterical over things.

[Jenabeeb]

Oh, and I thought it was CHERRY chapstick, no?

[Amy W]

Hey, if you are interested, I've tagged you today, check out my post.

[Amy W]

Sorry, but I don't know what happened to my earlier comment - so here it is again.

I LOVE Cracker Barrell's hash brown casserole. I wonder how many points that is in WW....

[SJ]

Hmmm, I can do this! I will post my favorite things soon! Thanks for the tag!

[Jenabeeb]

OK...Here goes, if it's not too late...

First to take off of yours:
1) I too just found Hanes socks. MEN'S Hanes socks. They are thick and comfy and cotton. As for other socks I love soft thick, fleece-y socks. Like from Kohl's...
2) Which brings me to another favorite "thing": KOHL'S. My favorite place to shop - especially Sonoma brand clothes on SALE!
3) Thanks for turning me onto another favorite thing, also as you mentioned - LL Bean fleece slippers. I wear them as regular shoes quite often.
4) Aveeno cream is also my favorite - nothing else keeps my hands and face from drying out.
4b) And with the weather we've been having, I agree with the comment above - CARMEX!
5) Dunkin Donuts Toasted Coconut donuts...yum!
6) Oreo cookies (need I say more)!
7) My Sonicare electric toothbrush. Finally made me get a good checkup my last time at the dentist. Is keeping my teeth cleaner, whiter, getting rid of plaque and keeping my gums from receding!!
8) Sams Club. I could live there. And when they're giving away samples, I could REALLY live there.
9) Lalo's Mexican restaurant, Cheesecake Factory (esp. the White Chocolate raspberry cheesecake), and Panera Bread.
10) Last but not least, my all-time favorite companion - feather and down pillows. Must always be in this combination.

[Will Shannon]

Garrett's Popcorn is almost a perfect food product. When I worked in the Loop, literally not a week went by without a stop there.

I also agree on the Cracker Barrell casserole...for which I have a recipe (sp?), if you were interested.