Top 10 RomComs (romantic comedies)

After reading this article titled Top 10 romcoms of all time (via The First Post), I just had to share my own list of top ten romcoms: Bringing Up Baby (1938) - Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant This old-fashioned screwball comedy is also on my list of top ten favourite movies. It's a very funny movie about an eccentric woman and her pet leopard called "Baby" and a harried paleontologist (Cary Grant). If you ever feel depressed, you should watch this movie. It is guaranteed to lift your mood and make you smile. The Philadelphia Story (1940) - Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart This movie is another one that is also on my list of top ten favourite movies. The storyline is about a wealthy divorced woman about to get married again and how she ends up torn between her fiancé, her ex-husband, and a reporter. The sterling performances by the three lead actors make this delightful movie one of the best ever romantic comedies. French Kiss (1995) - Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline This movie is a perfect romantic comedy in my opinion. The movie has the perfect balance - it is very romantic but also very very funny. And it's another movie that is on my list of top ten favourite movies. The chemistry between Meg and Kevin in this movie is incredible. The biggest surprise is that Kevin Kline (an American actor) plays the part of a Frenchman and he is very, very convincing. Plus it's filmed in France - definitely a bonus for any romantic movie! And there is a lovely, evocative soundtrack with the best song saved for last as the credits roll - Charles Trenet's "La Mer", performed by Kevin Kline in French. The perfect finishing touch to a perfect movie! Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) - Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Simon Callow, John Hannah This British movie is popular with everyone and for good reason. It's romantic but also laugh-out-loud funny and also quite poignant. The famous scene where Gareth (Simon Callow) is having his heart attack and Charles (Hugh Grant) is desperately looking for Matthew (John Hannah) always gets to me. And then the funeral...when Matthew makes his speech and recites "Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden. Notting Hill (1999) - Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts This British movie is a sweet and funny story about a very rich and very famous American movie star and a British bookshop owner who works and lives in Notting Hill and how they meet and fall in love despite their hugely different lifestyles. The characters are played to perfection against the backdrop of London. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks This charming movie has the perfect stars and a sweet and totally believable romance, which is engineered by the young son of a widower played by Tom Hanks. The movie has all the right ingredients for a genuine romantic comedy plus one of the best movie soundtracks with songs such as "As Time Goes By" and "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante and "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette. While You Were Sleeping (1995) - Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman I love this movie because all the characters are so darn loveable - not just the main characters. It's about a young woman who saves the life of a man and while she visits him in the hospital, his family mistakenly assume she is his fiancée. I adore the interaction between the characters of the man's family. It's very believable and also very funny. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) - Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth This British movie is based on the novel of the same name written by Helen Fielding. The author admitted that her novel was based upon Jane Austen's book, Pride and Prejudice and also the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. So it's a nice little "joke" and a bonus that the actor, Colin Firth was cast as Mark Darcy since Colin Firth played Mr Darcy in the BBC production. Bridget Jones is a loveable character and her being romanced by two handsome men who are also very opposite characters makes for a very funny and very sweet romantic story. And the American actress, Renee Zellweger is impressive in her role as the very English Bridget Jones. Her accent is perfect. Overboard (1987) - Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell Goldie Hawn plays the part of a rich, spoiled woman who ends up developing amnesia after a fall (as you do in movies!) and being tricked into believing she is married to a widower (Kurt Russell) and mother to his four very badly behaved children. It's a predictable romantic comedy but it's still very funny and good family entertainment. And the chemistry between the lead actors is very real since Goldie and Kurt are a couple in real-life. Something's Gotta Give (2003) - Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves Who would have thought that Jack Nicholson could play a romantic lead and be believable? Well he did and he is. I was also surprised by the chemistry between Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. It really works. I love this movie because it shows an older couple in a romantic movie and it's not insulting or demeaning in any way. In fact, the characters are lovable and quite believable. I also love the way the movie portrays a younger man (Keanu Reeves) falling in love with an older woman. Again, it's quite believable. And why not? This is just a delightful romantic comedy. What do you think of my list? Which romcoms would be on your top 10 list?

Mercer's 2009 Quality of Living survey: the world's most liveable cities

Clean, safe and a little bit dull... the world's most liveable cities In a survey of the world's most liveable towns, published yesterday, European cities dominate but not the European cities that you might imagine. Paris comes only 33rd, between Adelaide and Brisbane. London comes 38th, jointly with Yokohama. The city with the highest quality of urban living in the world, according to the survey, is Vienna, followed by Zurich and Geneva. Auckland and Vancouver come joint fourth. All of these cities have a reputation – perhaps undeserved – for crashing dullness. Cities with romantic, glitzy reputations, from New York (49th) to Rome (55th), fare badly. (link via independent.co.uk) Mercer's 2009 Quality of Living survey highlights - Global European cities dominate the top of the ranking Vienna scores highest for overall quality of living, Baghdad the lowest Singapore ranks top for city infrastructure; London ranks eighth Mercer’s Quality of Living ranking covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments. Top 5 cities - Overall: Vienna, Austria (1st) Zurich, Switzerland (2nd) Geneva, Switzerland (3rd ) Vancouver, Canada (tied 4th) Auckland, New Zealand (tied 4th) As an American I think this is disappointing news : No American city comes in the top 25. What do you think of the survey results?

Scarborough: the most English town in England

By St George, resort clear winner for its Englishness LOOKING for somewhere traditionally English to spend St George's Day? Try the East Coast around Scarborough. The borough council, whose district includes Whitby and Filey, has more businesses and organisations with English characteristics per head of population than anywhere else in the country, according to a survey intended to promote St George's Day. Scarborough district has a cricket club, tea rooms, fish and chip shop, holiday camp or morris dancing troop for every 618 residents, claims the local information website, locallife.co.uk. (link via yorkshirepost.co.uk) I've seen a lot of England and we have visited the Yorkshire area many times (particularly York) but we haven't actually visited Scarborough. Now I think that we should plan a visit - it does indeed sound like a quintessentially English town. Do you live in Scarborough? Or have you visited the town? Do you agree that it is probably the most quintessentially English town in England? About Scarborough (via EnjoyEngland) Scarborough-Online Bradford most 'English' city, says St George's Day study The famously multicultural city of Bradford has emerged as one of the three most "English" places in England for patriots to spend St George's Day. The Yorkshire manufacturing, tourism and university centre comes second only to the coastal town of Scarborough and the Cornish district of Penwith for traditional English activities per head of population. Curries may win it more headlines, but Bradford has one of the country's highest ratios of fish and chip shops to people, and an astonishing number of cricket clubs and leagues. (link via guardian.co.uk) The top 10 in the survey, commissioned by the website locallife.co.uk, are: Scarborough Penwith Bradford York Blackpool Brighton and Hove Hastings Westminster Harrogate Tower Hamlets What do you think of the results of the survey? Do you agree with the list or are there other places in England that you think are more "English" and should be on the list?

Six Plants I Can’t Live Without

Now this is my kind of meme! This is something fun for everyone who enjoys gardening (as I do) - share your list of the six plants you can't live without. The meme is explained in this post from the "diggin' it blog" in The Christian Science Monitor:The six plants I can’t live without These are the writers of ten garden blogs across the US taking part in the original meme: Diggin' it blog - The Christian Science Monitor The Grumpy Gardener - SouthernLiving.com Digging Defining Your Home Garden Fairegarden Fresh Dirt - list to be posted soon Gardening With Confidence Hoe and Shovel Jim Long's Garden - no list posted yet Sweet Home and Garden Chicago

I think all gardener's should feel free to participate in this meme so I've come up with my own list. It wasn't easy but I've decided these are my six plants I can't live without:

1. Lilac - We always had lilacs at my parent's house so I love them partly because of the feelings of nostalgia when I see them - and especially in the spring when I enjoy their heady scent - but also they are just so easy to grow and they are a fantastic old-fashioned plant to have in the garden.

2. Lavender - This is one of my all-time favourite plants. I love the different varieties and the fantastic scent and the way they attract bees. It can also happily flourish in containers as well as in the ground.

3. Marigold - This is another plant that I grew up with and I've always adored. I love the cheerful colours and all the different varieties. 4. Rose - I've always loved roses but found them difficult to grow in Minnesota where the growing season is so short. To be living in England where roses grow almost like weeds, I am in heaven! Roses are definitely a must-have plant in my garden!

5. Common box (Buxus sempervirens) - A beautiful, sturdy evergreen plant for topiary and hedges. I have some growing in pots and some in the garden.

6. Sunflowers - This is such an attractive plant and easy to grow and it attract bees and birds.

Okay it's your turn: name the six plants you can't live without and post the list on your blog and then put the link to your post in the comments.

I think it will be interesting to see what plants are on everyone's list!

Top 10 English foods

Simon Majumdar ( the co-founder of a food blog called Dos HERMANOS ) has an interesting article in The Times, Top 10 quintessential English foods.

Simon's top ten English foods are:

1) Melton Mowbray Pork Pie
2) Fish and Chips
3) Black Pudding
4) Kippers
5) Parkin
6) Cornish Pasty
7) Potted Shrimps
8) Grouse
9) Treacle Sponge Pudding
10) Cheddar Cheese

I think Simon's choices are interesting but my list of the best foods England has to offer is quite different.

My top ten English foods are:

1. Fish and Chips
2. Shepherd's Pie
3. Cheddar Cheese
4. Cornish Pasty
5. Yorkshire Pudding
6. Cumberland and Lincolnshire sausages
7. Lancashire Hotpot
8. Bakewell Tart
9. West Country Clotted Cream Tea
10. Full English Breakfast

What about you? Do you agree with Simon's choices? What English foods would be on your list?

Quirky Movies: 8 personal favourites

I love quirky movies especially the ones that make me laugh out loud. Here are eight personal favourites: Bringing Up Baby - a classic screwball comedy starring Katharine Hepburn, and Cary Grant. The movie is about a pet leopard called "Baby" and hilarious circumstances involving the leopard. French Kiss - a delightful romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline (as a French man!) and it's filmed in Paris, and the French countryside. It's very sweet and also very funny. It's one of my favourite movies and I love to watch it over and over again. It's that good. Meet Joe Black - a fantasy movie starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins about the meaning of life and death. It's a movie that makes me laugh and makes me cry. I simply love it. Beetlejuice - a dark comedy/fantasy/horror movie that is very quirky and extremely silly but immensly fun to watch. Michael Keaton is outstanding in his role as Beetlejuice. Millions - this is a lovely movie which is very funny but also quite sweet and definitely quirky. James Nesbitt and two very talented child actors are the charming stars. Volver - a very funny, dark comedy filmed in Spain starring Penelope Cruz. The story revolves around a group of women in Madrid. In fact, it's a film almost totally without men and shows how women support each other. The title of the film - Volver - means "Coming Back," which throughout the course of the film applies to a number of scenarios. Grosse Pointe Blank - about Martin Blank (John Cusack) who has found a lucrative career as a hitman. He then returns to his home town of Grosse Pointe, Michigan to attend his High School 10 year reunion. The film is set in the 80s and the wonderful soundtrack reflects that music era. Keeping Mum - a very funny black comedy. It stars Rowan Atkinson as an absent-minded vicar of a rural parish in England and Kristin Scott Thomas as his bored wife. Maggie Smith is their charming new housekeeper with a very unusual way of solving their problems! What quirky movies have you enjoyed watching?

20 silly questions asked by tourists

20 of the most inexplicably simple queries fielded by tourism officials. My favourites: "Are there any lakes in the Lake District?" "In what month is the May Day demonstration?" "Why on earth did they build Windsor Castle on the flight path of Heathrow?" "Is this where Sharon and Ozzie actually live?" Asked a visitor to Osborne House, Isle of Wight "Can you tell me who performs at the circus in Piccadilly?" "Why did they build so many ruined castles and abbeys in England?" (link via telegraph.co.uk)

Comfort foods: What's your favourite?

Recipe swap: comfort food It's time for all of us to exchange tips, ideas, and recipes to banish melancholy and spare the budget. What's yours? (link via Word of Mouth blog in the Guardian) These are some of my favourites: Meatloaf and mashed potatoes Shepherd's Pie (substitute lamb with beef to make Cottage Pie) Spaghetti and meatballs Lasagne plus garlic bread and a salad Hamburger, french fries and a chocolate malt Scones with jam and clotted cream plus a pot of tea Chicken soup Scrambled eggs and toast Cinnamon rolls A Bacon Sandwich

Apple Pie

What are your favourite comfort foods? If you decide to post a list on your blog, be sure and post a link to it in my comments.

The most powerful women in British theatre

Judi Dench and Helen Mirren ranked among powers of theatre The veteran actresses are among a clutch of stars including Rachel Weisz and Rosamund Pike to appear in a list of the 20 most powerful women in British theatre. The American actress Gillian Anderson, who has been described as an "honorary Brit", also makes the power list compiled by Harper's Bazaar and the jeweller Tiffany & Co. (link via telegraph.co.uk)

Life in England: Ten rants and ten raves

10 things I dislike about living in England:
1. Everything is very expensive!
2. Surveillance society (Big Brother Britain): CCTV (Britain is the most watched nation in the world!) - ID cards/databases; and a plan to monitor the e-mail, telephone and internet browsing records of every person in Britain.
3. Anti-social behavior (hoodies, yobs).
4. Small houses - no built-in closets and most have no basements. Also, even detached houses are built very close together. If you're lucky, your house might have a utility room for the washing machine and dryer. Most houses don't though so the washing machine is in the kitchen.
5. Congested roads, parking on pavement (sidewalk).
6. Awful customer service.
7. Pervasive drinking culture ("Binge Britain").
8. Litter - everywhere.
9. Separate hot and cold water taps. This drives me crazy.
10. TV licence - I resent this compulsory, annual tax to support the BBC especially with the advent of iPlayer. I think it's very unfair that everyone in Britain still has to pay their TV licence fee while the rest of the world can access BBC programmes for free via iPlayer (which is supposed to be limited to the UK) simply by changing their IP address!

10 things I love about living in England:
1. Temperate climate - it seldom gets very hot (hence no air conditioning in houses) or very cold (I'm from Minnesota so this is especially appreciated).
2. Gorgeous gardens! - and able to garden all year round.
3. History everywhere you look - ancient buildings, cathedrals and castles!
4. NHS (National Health Service) - it's not perfect but medical care is available to everyone and you never get a bill.
5. Teashops - tea and scones!
6. Theatre; pantomimes.
7. Traditions like mince meat pies and crackers/paper crowns at Christmas; May Day and  Morris Dancing.
8. Stunning scenery - the beautiful countryside, houses with thatched roofs, tall hedges alongside twisting country lanes, lakes/mountains, and narrowboats on canals.
9. Pubs (public houses) - not just a place for a drink but a friendly place to meet and eat pub food; welcoming convivial atmosphere - cozy in the winter (many have a real fire) and pub gardens to sit outside in during the summer. 10. The charm of English seaside villages and towns. The seaside is never far away.

Favourite TV character

My favourite TV character is Jessica Fletcher (played by Angela Lansbury) from the show, Murder, She Wrote. I love the fact that the character is a strong, independent, older woman. And as well as being very intelligent and feisty, the character is always kind and polite. I also love the fictional town of Cabot Cove, a cozy coastal town in Maine, where the character lives. The theme tune is wonderful too: Murder, She Wrote - Opening Titles Jessica Fletcher is my all-time favourite TV character but there are many other TV characters that I like a lot so here's my (long) list of runners-up: Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and Dr. Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce) in Frasier Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) in Foyle's War Jim Rockford (James Garner) in The Rockford Files MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) in MacGyver Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk) in Columbo Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) in Monk Quincy (Jack Klugman) in Quincy, M.E. All the characters in West Wing particularly C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) All the characters in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air All the characters in Malcolm in the Middle Tom (Richard Briers) and Barbara (Felicity Kendal) in The Good Life The Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, Constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) in Due South. I love the character plus there's the phwoar factor! Okay, it's your turn. Which TV character is your favourite?

20 YouTube clips set in London or about London

This list of YouTube links contains some real gems: 20 great London YouTube clips (link via timeout.com) My favourite is #12 ‘London Can Take It’ - very inspiring indeed!

Ten Twitter sites I like. Do you Twitter?

Do you Twitter? I created an account about a year ago but I never use it.

Recently, I decided to do a bit more research about it and found these useful links:

Twitter: Why It's So Great and How To Effectively Use It
What Is Twitter? A Beginners Guide
via The Guardian Video: How do you use Twitter?
Much Ado About Twitter ("some basic info you need to know")video by NancyMarmolejo
Twitter etiquette: 14 Ways to Use Twitter Politely
5 Terrific (and Unusual) Twitter Uses


And I found some cool Twitter sites:

londonweather
BarackObama
10 Downing Street
TheWhiteHouse
WritersWrite.com
greennews
moneywatch
nomorespending
Twitter Moms
fitnessguy
Okay, so now I'm thinking perhaps I should use Twitter.
Please help convince me that Twitter is definitely worth using by explaining how you use Twitter and share any interesting Twitter sites you know about.

Handy Halloween Links

It's nearly Halloween (Oct. 31) so here are some handy links to help you prepare for the fun: Video: How To Carve a Pumpkin How to make Toffee apples Party Games and Recipes! Make Your Own Costume - Simple Costume Instructions Halloween Crafts & Activities (for young children) Halloween Crafts - Free projects/ideas Halloween Hang-Ups Free knitting pattern for The Curly Purly Pumpkin Jean Greenhowe's Halloween Ghosties - free pattern

Podcasts: 10 favourites

I love listening to podcasts. My current favourites are: 1, Driveway Moments: NPR What is a Driveway Moment? ... Rather than turn the radio off, you stay in your car to hear the piece to the end. 2. This I Believe: NPR Based on a 1950s radio program of the same name, Americans from all walks of life share the personal philiosophies and core values that guide their daily lives. 3. Wiggly Podcast Listen to Heather Gorringe, managing director of garden supplies company Wiggly Wigglers. 4. A Way with Words Public radio’s lively language show, with Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. 5. Grammar Grater a weekly podcast about English words, grammar and usage for the Information Age - with host Luke Taylor. (Minnesota Public Radio) 6. Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing - Hosted by Mignon Fogarty. 7. The Word Nerds A podcast about words, language, and why we say the things we do. 8, The Naked Scientists Podcast - interactive science, medicine and technology weekly live radio show with Dr Chris Smith. 9. The Satellite Sisters - Radio show featuring five sisters talking about women and real life. 10. Amateur Traveler - a travel show that helps you find the best places to travel to. Note: You do not need an iPod to listen to podcasts, as they are simply MP3 audio files that can be played back either on your computer or any MP3 player Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are your favourites?

The 500 Greatest Movies of all Time?

According to Empire Magazine, these are The 500 Greatest Movies of all Time The top ten: 1.The Godfather 2.Raiders of the Lost Ark 3.The Empire Strikes Back 4.The Shawshank Redemption 5.Jaws 6.Goodfellas 7.Apocalypse Now 8.Singin' in the Rain 9.Pulp Fiction 10.Fight Club What do you think of the list, particularly the top ten? Personally, I'm surprised - and quite disappointed - at the movies on the list. I don't like violent movies (usually) so it's probably no surprise that I strongly disagree with the top ten list. They might be good movies, but are they really the "greatest" movies of all time? My own list of top ten movies of all time, would be a lot different: 1.The Wizard of Oz (1939) 2.Gone With The Wind (1939) 3.E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 4.Bringing Up Baby (1938) 5.The Philadelphia Story (1940) 6.Doctor Zhivago (1965) 7.It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 8.L.A. Confidential* (1997) - this one is violent but it's excellent! 9.The Lord of the Rings (2001-03) 10.The Remains of the Day (1993) *Another movie that rates being on the list and ties with #8, is The Bourne Identity (2002) Now, just to throw a spanner (wrench) in the works, I have a completely different list of top ten movies that I consider to be my (current) favourites - but they don't necessarily qualify as the top ten best movies of all time: 1. Bringing Up Baby (1938) - absolutely perfect movie, thus it is on both of my lists. 2.The Philadelphia Story (1940) - ditto 3.Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) 4. Groundhog Day (1993) 5.Steel Magnolias (1989) 6.As Good As It Gets (1997) 7.French Kiss (1995) 8.Meet Joe Black (1998) 9.Beetlejuice (1988) 10. 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) What movies do you think should be on the top ten movies of all time? And do you have a completely different list (as I do) of your favourite movies?

Top ten online newspapers & other favourite news sources

I am a real news fiend and read a lot of news everyday. My favourite newspapers online are:

1. The Times
2. The Guardian
3. The Independent
4. The Telegraph
5. International Herald Tribune
6. The New York Times
7. The Washington Post
8. Star Tribune (Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota)
9. Chicago Tribune
10. USA Today

Other news sources I like to read regularly are:

• Habitat - Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles
• Environmental News Network
• Watching America - Discover What the World Thinks About U.S.
• NewScientist - the latest science and technology news from around the world.
• Digital Spy - Showbiz, entertainment & media news
• NPR - National Public Radio (USA)
• TIME Magazine
• Wired News
• Slate Magazine
• Salon
• Newsweek
• Arts & Letters Daily
• The Ecologist

Which websites do you like to get your news from?

Pet Peeves

These are some of my pet peeves:

• "Handbag dogs" - dogs are not fashion accessories!
• People who talk during a film at the cinema.
• Magazines sealed in plastic wrap so you can't peruse it before deciding to buy it.
• Newsreaders/weathermen/weatherwomen/ who mumble.
• A lot spelled as alot. A lot is two words!
• Cars parked on the pavement (sidewalk).
• Litterbugs.
• People who mow their lawn very early in the morning.
• Referring to The New York Times as The Times. Wrong! The Times is published in London, England, and is the only newspaper called The Times.
• People who stop and stand still at the bottom of an escalator.
• Book and movie reviewers who divulge too much (spoilers) and/or reveal the ending. I really, really hate this. It's possible to review a movie or a book without giving away the whole story and without revealing how it ends.
• Adverts at the cinema.
• Junk mail. (Yes, I've registered with the mailing preference service but it doesn't stop all junk mail)
• TV licence.
• Separate hot and cold taps. Don't even get me started on this (archaic) aspect of British plumbing - it's a huge pet peeve and most other American expats will say the same.
• Blogs with black backgrounds and white print. Why? It's nearly impossible to read.
• When people say "get over it" - how rude is that?
• Parents who use pushchairs (strollers) as a weapon.
• Roaming cats doing their 'business' in my garden.
• Dogs running off lead and dog owners who don't clean up after their dogs. Yuck!
• Charge for tipping included in restaurant bill. I prefer to judge whether the food and service is good enough to earn a tip.
• Drivers talking on mobile phones.
• Patio heaters.
• Able bodied drivers parking in disabled parking bays.
• Free offers...that aren't. It's either free or it isn't.
• Animals dressed up in clothes or costumes.
• Body piercings (eyebrow, belly button, cheek, tongue, nose, etc.).
• Tattoos
• Little girls dressed provocatively.
• Babies/young children dressed in clothes that have rude or vulgar words printed on them.

What about you? What are your pet peeves?

100 Best YouTube Videos for Teachers (and non-teachers too!)

SmartTeaching.org provides a cool list of 100 Best YouTube Videos for Teachers. I don't think you necessarily have to be a teacher to appreciate the list though! I'm not a teacher and I think the videos are fascinating and educational. I'm sure that most everyone can enjoy watching the videos and learn from them.

Words & phrases that I like

After posting about some words and phrases that I dislike, I thought I'd write about some words and phrases that I like: 1. "The whole kit and kaboodle" - This expression always makes me smile. It's an amusing way to say the whole amount or all of it. 2. "Cahoots" - This is another word that I find amusing to hear or to say. To be "in cahoots" means secret partnership or conspiring together. 3. "Picnic" - I love the sound of the word and saying it makes me think of a warm, lazy summer day outdoors with good food and good company. 4. "Serendipity" - The word sounds nice to say and the meaning of the word (when you accidentally discover something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely)is also pleasant to think about. 5. "Quirky" - This is another word that is fun to say and has a fun meaning. 6. "Puddle" - It makes me think of the delightful aspect of rain, when you see children aplashing and having fun. 7. "Skedaddle" - It may be rather an old-fashioned way to say "I'm going to leave now" but I like saying it. 8. "Bumblebee" - I like bees and I like the sound of their name. 9. "Bamboozled" - it sounds better than "cheated" or "tricked" and it's fun to say. 10. "Kerfuffle" - It's fun to say, and a lot nicer than saying a disturbance or a fight. 11. "Meander" - it's something I like to do and the word is fun to say. 12. "Pocket" - a simple word for a useful thing. Related posts from my blog: What do you call your evening meal? What did you say? American English vs British English Should we give up on spelling correctly? Words (and phrases) I dislike