Ten Words
Friday, July 24, 2009 at 5:15PM in opinion 
One of my favorite people (and best friends!) in the world, Dawn, aka @lettergirl --who writes a blog called Not Going Postal, issued a challenge the other day. Pick your ten favorite words, and describe why they're at the top of your vocabulary. She chose great words, yes?
I've been thinking for a few days about my words. It's hard, you know! My favorites, I guess, are simply words that make me happy, thrilled, or excited. Words that get a good reaction out of me. And as I type this, I'm still thinking! Here's my take on ten words.
1. Family Yeah, this is at the top of my list, because I do adore my family. I have been blessed with a fabulous husband and four great kids. Sure, we have our ups and downs--who doesn't? (Funny--as I'm writing this, the kids happen to be driving me insane. If I hear "Mom! Mom!" one more time in the next 20 minutes, I'm on strike till tomorrow, hehe!) But in all seriousness, my family makes me happy. My husband is still like my boyfriend. I hate to see him leave in the morning, and I can't wait for him to get home in the evening. He makes me feel like I'm still the 19 year old girl he met years ago. That's not always easy to come by!
2. Friends Because as great as life can be, it's no fun without friends. I have some of the best friends I've ever had at this point in my life. Family is awesome, but sometimes you just need to let loose and be stupid with your friends.
3. Autumn It's my absolute favorite time of the year. No question. I love every single thing about it. The cooler air, the fall foliage, apple picking, searching for the perfect pumpkin, fall baking, the smell in the air...I could go on and on, seriously. Everything about it makes me happy!
4. Blizzard While we're on the subject of seasons and weather...my second favorite season is winter. And oh man, do I LOVE a good blizzard! Or five or six! The more the snow, the better. When the weather people start mentioning a "blizzard," I get as giddy as a schoolgirl. Snowdays, snowball fights, everyone at home--safe, cozy and warm. (I fly my freak flag proudly.) Oh, and a football game in a blizzard? The BEST.
5. Football So exciting! I have my husband to thank for my football addiction. I think I've even surpassed him in the football fan area. Don't sass me about my team, or you may just reach for the chips and salsa and pull back a stump. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady? Would definitely be on my "what 10 people would you love to have to dinner" list. I count down the days from the Super Bowl to opening day of the upcoming season. When the sports guys start mentioning training camps in the summer, I get that happy feeling in my stomach. It's coming. Soon.
6. Chocolate Just because it's chocolate.
7. Food I love this word. Not only do I like eating food--but I like cooking it, reading about, and writing about it. Oh, and photographing it! Still practicing those last two things. I also love serving it to family and friends.
8. Music Who doesn't love music? I mean sure, you can find people that don't like football or chocolate or snow--but everyone loves music, right? It also makes me happy. It's always on in some form--in the house or in my truck, or--in my head. Can't live without it. Listening to some right now, in fact!
9. Cupcake Yes, really. I have always loved that word. Not only is it the promise of something deliciously cakey and good to come--but I love the way it sounds. Cup cake. Cupcake. Cup. Cake.
10. Books I have always loved books. I can't remember a time when I didn't. I love the feel of a book in my hands. The sound when you toss a paperback on a table and makes a "thwack!" Or a hardbound--it makes a "thwump." I love the smell of books. Libraries? Smell awesome. I love the sound that a brand new hardbound book makes when you open it for the first time, and test the spine. It crackles.
So...those are my ten words. Now I want to hear yours!
Elle | Print Article | Share Article | Email Article | 17 Comments tagged Ten words, books, food, football, seasons
Reader Comments (17)
Oh this was a fun read Elle. Lovely your 10 &, they are worth the thought. It's set me thinking of course...family,food,friends,photography,driving,coffee,rain,baking,books,music! That's the 10 off the top of my head!! I feel good already! ♥
What a fun exercise! You have some of the same favorite words as me: autumn, blizzard and football! I'll have to post my 10 favorite words on my site. I'll let you know when I do it. (Oh yeah, Bill and Tom would be on the top of dinner guest list, too)
I love your list. Although I only like Blizzards at Dairy Queen. LOL Thanks for posting. =)
Great idea! ;) Loved reading it!
Awesome list. I have been meaning to make my own, but am a horrible procrastinator.
BTW...I also love blizzards, but don't tell Hubby. Blizzard would never be one of his top 10 words.
I love your list! "Autumn" is a really good one - only down here, it brings to mind cooler tems, lower humidity, and hopefully the end of hurricane season! :-) I did a list, too - hope you'll stop by to check it out. Have a great day, gurl!
Oops! That should have said "lower temps!
let's see:
Family
Mom
Dad
Love
God
Music
Shoes
Travel
Home
Winter
and i could go on, but i think those sum it up pretty well! Loved ur list! And, I'll fly the freak flag with you. LOOOOVE snow!
Hi Elle! This is my first time reading your blog, and you had me at hello! First of all Autumn is not only my absolute favorite season, it's also my favorite thing in general, pretty much. Do you have Susan Branch's book 'Autumn'? If not, get it!
My ten words are on my blog, stop by any time :)
yours, dawn
Love this! I will have to do this after my hiatus!
I just love Autumn too, although I always describe it as Fall. Far and away my favorite time of year.
I always adored Julia Child. My favorite memory of her is not so sentimental but practical. Omelets were always a problem for me until one day I watched Julia and Jaques Pepin doing omelets on PBS. It clicked...Voila! I'm a pro at omelet making now. Thanks Julia!
Elizabeth in Austin, TX
Ooh, I love this idea! And your words -- especially autumn (which is in a neck-in-neck tie with summer as my favorite season), food and books. Hooray for books! :)
this is such a fun exercise. when i first read the instructions i took the literal meaning of favorite word, as in the spelling of a word or how it sounds and not so much the meaning behind it, if that makes sense at all. for example, Massachusettes used to be a fave of mine because of the amount of Ss and Ts and i had the hardest time pronouncing the word right but the word and state itself holds no meaning to me.
i'm going to have to think really hard about this exercise (i don't know why, just that it's making me think). i'll be back.
Thanks so much for your comments, everyone!
Love lists like this -- really gives pleasant insight into someone. My husband would be all over the blizzard. But we're weather starved here, so go figure. Autumn and all that goes with it is wonderful to me as well!
My favourite ten words which make me happy...um, i'm thinking:
1. summer, 2. sunshine, 3. thin, 4. running, 5. yummy, 6. freedom, 7. massage, 8. lumpi (my dog's name), 9. punchika (my cat's name), 10. family (everything related to them). nice idea to think about 10 fav words!
you have a nice blog!