52-week blog challenge - week 2

My favorite things...

When I think of this phrase, I am immediately transported to scenes from my childhood favorite movie, The Sound of Music. 

{Seeing Salzburg was surreal...}

I cannot count the number of times I have sung that song in my life. Some very distinct times in my memory are the years I worked in landscaping. I was hot, tired, miserable and I would sing this to myself as I worked, because, you know, Maria does this "and then I don't feel so bad!" It kinda worked...
I've decided to do a list of my top 10 favorite things (of the moment...as an ENFP, it's almost always changing). There are some that stay consistently in this list (the closer you get to 1), but other things are added based on my current mood.

10. The country

Yes, I am a country girl. That will never change. I love vast areas of trees, pastures, hills, and two-lane country roads. It's actually been hard living in a huge city, because I don't have easy access to that revitalizing non-urban environment. I miss driving down country roads with the windows down, music loud. Passing cotton fields, woods, open pastures dotted with hay bales. Watching the sun set over the trees with the crickets singing in the background. It's so refreshing.

9. Dressing up
I like to dress up and look girly. I like to wear things that sparkle and twirl. I like to feel pretty. I also like to dress up like a princess sometimes.

8. Puppies

I love our dogs. I love cute, cuddly bundles of fluff. I love watching them play and run. I love that they love unashamedly and wholeheartedly. Complete devotion. If only people could love as well as dogs do.

7. Notes
I love receiving cards and notes from people. My bedroom walls are covered and the walls of my classroom by my desk are plastered with notes from my kids. I have boxes in storage that are full of notes from friends and students. It's amazing how one simple little thing can speak volumes into your life.

6. Coffee shop heart-to-hearts
I love coffee. I love friends (both the people and the show). I love hours of talking and catching up.
Some of the best conversations come from long, heart-to-hearts over a cup of coffee against a chill coffeehouse backdrop.
{Interested in these coffee shops? Left: Gossip Coffee Place / Right: My Little Melbourne}

5. Musicals
I don't have time or space to list off my favorite musicals (Sound of Music, Kiss me Kate, White Christmas, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Greatest Showman, Hairspray...I digress...). I love watching them. I love singing with them. I love re-watching them. I love dancing to them. I hold my breath sometimes in my favorite scenes because I can scarcely tear my eyes from what is happening. Pure magic.

4. Dancing

This is following quickly on the heels of musicals because they are so connected. Growing up watching musicals, I realized that music and dancing go hand-in-hand. I can hardly sit still when I hear good music. Sometimes it just pulls at your soul and you can't help but feel it come out in your body. In my head, the choreography just comes. I can't explain it. I can't always express it. But it's there - coursing through my body and my mind with every beat of the music. I have had the chance while teaching in Budapest to choreograph (with two very talented friends) two musicals. It has been an amazing adventure and a dream come true.

3. Laughing
Laughing is one of my favorite things to do. It releases endorphins and is a natural way to relieve stress! And it's just plain fun and enhances many a wonderful memory!

2. Music
Music is the heartbeat of my imagination, the dance that my makes life enjoyable, the steady thread that connects my dreams and desires. I cannot imagine a world without music. If I could have a life soundtrack, creating music for every moment of my time on earth, I would. It would be like living in a musical. Yay! I love making music. I love singing. Special moments are enhanced by music. I love listening to music when I've had a bad day or when I'm on top of the world. Music has the ability to completely relax and soothe you, but it can also add to the energy in a football stadium.
I step to the beat of my own music...and you can't stop the beat.
Current favs: La La Land soundtrack, The Greatest Showman soundtrack, anything Pentatonix, Ed Sheeran and Beyonce singing "Perfect", most country (especially Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, or Dan+Shay), and Hamilton.

1. Family
I owe it all to them. They have supported me and encouraged me for my whole life. They are an integral part of everything I do and almost every memory. I have two wonderful parents, who have made sure I know what it looks like to love the Lord and each other. I have a fantastic older sister! She knows me better than anyone else. She's married to a wonderful guy who has settled into our family very well! I have a younger brother who keeps me on my toes and is always ready to dance with me or laugh with me (except when I make him mad)! I love my family!!!!