I love my favorite outfit - American Apparel triblend deep v’s, skinny jeans and black flats. When my hair sits just so and completes my perfect outfit with perfect hair. I love hot chocolate on a cold day. I love sitting Borders for hours reading books in a comfy chair. I love my diamond earrings, even if they are teeny tiny.

I love days when I don’t feel huge and feel confident that I look good. I love when I look in the mirror or step on the scale and feel okay. I love having cuddling up under a blanket all the time, even if it’s summer.

I love cuddling up and watching movies. I love having my hair played with. Speaking words and phrases that make no sense to anyone else. Walking down the street, fingers intertwined. I love moments when I feel that there is nowhere else I’d rather be.

I love puppy kisses and puppy breath. I love little paws bounding to the the door when I walk in waiting to pounce on me as soon as I bend down to say hi. There is no better greeting in the world - doggy drool and all.

I love coming home after a long day of work and hopping in my bed. Going to sleep early and waking up feeling ready to take on the day. I love staying in bed all day with good book and my laptop. I love thunderstorms and hearing the pitter pat of rain on my window. I love chocolate chip and walnut cookies.

I love the days in spring where Chicago suddenly comes alive after a long, frigid winter. I love walking around downtown at night. I love driving up Lake Shore Drive and seeing the skyline come into view all lit up. I love night games at The Cell.

I love getting mail. Packages and handwritten letters. I love ordering myself things and still get excited opening it, even though I already know what it is. I love journaling in my little moleskine. I love brand new pens and fresh pages.

I love playing “if I had a million dollars” and making wish lists. I love all the things that go on my wish lists, Zac Posen, Miu Miu, Chloe, Luella, a little Marc Jacobs and an LV Damier Azur Speedy.

I love when the lights go down at the theater and when previews start, they might be the best part of the movie. I love soft pretzels and cheese. I love Jets to Brazil - it’s the perfect driving music. I love Grey’s Anatomy, even though it’s gone progressively downhill.

I love photo booth pictures. I love holding on to little things, like ticket stubs to bring back moments in time. I love pinkish purple stargazer lilies and pink tulips. I love good morning text messages. I love cheesy reality television shows.

I love how a sunny day always manages to put me in a good mood. I love spending the day outside. I love planning vacations. The magic of Disney World. The tacky, but amazingness of Las Vegas. I love ice cream sundaes and how they can always make everything better.

I love the color burgundy and all it’s shades. I love pesto sauce and pasta. I love Etsy and looking for new things to buy. I love spoiling my puppy rotten. I love going out to dinner and more likely then not, ending up at Hooters. I love cheese fries.

I love dreaming about the future, all the things I will do and have. I love that I have hope, no matter what.

*From She Likes Purple: I challenge you to make your own list. The only catch? You can’t include a single person you know on your list. No “I love the way my husband laughs” or “I love hearing my little girl call for me.” It’ll be tough, I know. But this particular little exercise is about stripping away everyone who defines you and figuring out what you (not his partner; not their mother/daughter/sister/friend) love.