23

HAMMOCKS. Just looking at a picture of one makes me want to lie down and relax. Sadly, this paper will never get written if I do that. Good thing I don't have a hammock!

22

CRAFTS. Making things is the most satisfying thing in the entire world, especially when it turns out great. For people like me who need things to do with their hands, this is extra nice.

21

MAYAN RUINS. Yes, I have been to the location where this photo was taken, and no, the photo does not do it justice. The mayans were ingenious, and their ruins (actually pretty complete, considering how hold they are) are an amazing tribute to their smarts.

20

CUTE ANIMALS. Can anything else cheer you up so quickly? C'mon, look at those kittens. Look at them. Are you still sad?

19

SALAMI! I'm not really sure I've ever met a salami I don't like. Inspiration for this post? The delicious authentic italian salami that my wonderful boyfriend brought me back from San Francisco... cured meat goodness.

18

YURTS. It is my dream to live in a yurt, at least for a small period of time. I once went yurt camping, and it was so glorious that I have no choice but to do it again. I also once went in a yurt while on a ski trip. They are seriously perfect. Geodesic domes are also way up there.

17

TRAINS. When I get on a train, I feel like when I get off, it will be the 1940's and I'll be meeting a mysterious man in a trench coat who will dramatically sweep me off my feet. Silly? Yes. Awesome? Yes.

16

BLANK BOOKS. There's nothing like the promise of those pages to convince me that I could be a famous writer someday if I only got around to it.

15

BONES! Best TV show ever. Actually keeps me thinking, witty, and lots of awesome dialogue. Only issue is that it doesn't come every week.

14

SEATTLE. I'm lucky that I'm so attached to my birthplace - I know a lot of people who aren't. Admittedly, I've only lived in one other place, but I just can't find anything wrong with Seattle. I guess we're maybe too good at recycling, or, y'know, placed in a geographic location that is too beautiful....

13

WORKING IN RADIO. Working in radio has seriously been such a welcome change from working in newspaper. It's instant. It's fun. I have so much control over everything that I'm doing, and I get to basically just mess around and make it work!

12

HOUSEPLANTS. At home, my house is full of houseplants. At school, I have always had at least one plant in my room. Right now, I have my favorite of all, a beautiful trailing philodendron that just keeps getting longer and longer. Having one just makes me feel at home.

11

LEMONS. I like lemon as a seasoning on basically everything, but especially like it in my water. I don't like the taste of water in the midwest, and a little squeezed lemon covers up that taste right away. On salad, on baked carrots... yes!

10

TAKING SHOWERS. You get warm, clean, and if you play your cards right, emerge smelling nice and fresh. What else does a gal need?