50 Favorite Things...

No, I'm not Oprah. And I don't have one of those fancy blogs that has sponsors who do give-aways. So, don't get your hopes up. There will be no things given away for free here. Sorry.

But I was inspired by a friend and parent of a former student of mine to come up with a list of 50 of my favorite things. It can include anything from the simple everyday things to the more rare or extravagant things. I think the purpose of this is to help give yourself a reminder of all of the good things you have in life that bring you joy. You should also have a goal to do at least one of those things each day (the more, the better).

So, here we go. In no particular order:

1) playing with my kids
2) reading
3) baking
4) watching movies at home
5) laughing (probably my #1 fav. and it goes hand-in-hand with many of the things on this list)
6) going to church
7) watching tv
8) visiting my family
9) playing board games (something I don't get to do very often anymore, but have loved since I was a kid)
10) staying in a hotel (I get relaxed just thinking about it)
11) date night
12) a good cry (you know, via a book or movie...or song or commercial...)
13) going on vacation
14) family pictures
15) hanging out with friends
16) singing
17) dancing
18) listening to music
19) doing anything or nothing in particular with Kevin
20) catching up with old friends (via facebook or get togethers)
21) blogging
22) doing small acts of kindness (just a little something to brighten someone's day)
23) brainstorming (I'm much better at coming up with ideas than I am acting on any of them)
24) word play
25) doing crafts with my kids
26) being pregnant (I never felt healthier than when I was pregnant)
27) short hot baths (so hot they hurt at first)
28) looking at old pictures
29) writing
30) listening (Ever since middle school, I've kind of been the one that people have come to with their problems or stories. I've always liked listening. I've felt honored to be the one they come to. I don't pass judgement, and I don't offer suggestions/solutions unless I'm asked. I think sometimes people just need to vent or get things off their chests and that sometimes that in-and-of-itself is more help than anything I could say anyway.)
31) taking a nap
32) passing on traditions/childhood favorites to my kids
33) holidays
34) pedicures (I've only had two in my whole life, but they were both wonderful.)
35) getting complimented
36) road trips
37) coloring (yes, in coloring books)
38) finding new clothes or shoes that actually fit
39) giving gifts
40) praying
41) sitting in silence
42) taking care of others (Even in high school, I was known as motherly.)
43) happy hour/girl's night
44) weekends away (whether with Kevin or with the girls)
45) watching movies at the theater
46) eating cereal at night
47) watching my kids sleep
48) cooking with Kevin for our friends and family
49) sleeping in a freshly made bed
50) watching football (I've watched the Cowboys since middle school. In high school, I was one of the few in the band that actually watched the games. I loved watching my little brother play when I could. As time consuming as it was, I was stoked to be able to start Mason down the football path this year as well.)

So, that's that. It took me much longer than I thought it would to make that list. I'm sure there are things that I left off. I'm sure that this list will change as time goes by. But for now (until I can think of anything better) this is it. So let's say that rather than being a list of my top 50 favorite things, it's really a list of 50 OF my favorite things. And at the very least, it has shown me just how much joy I take in doing the things that I do every day.

Any thoughts? Do you have a list of your own? The ball is in your court!