In support of

Awhile back, my friend Kelly posted on her blog about products of which she was a huge fan. Today, I blatantly copy and give you my offering of not only products, but people, places, and things. Enjoy! (In no particular order)

1. The Nike+ running system. If you have the misfortune of hanging out with me in person, you’ve had to hear about this wonder ad nauseum. (And you thought it was bad on the blog!) All joking aside, I love this thing. It’s AMAZING! Having Lance Armstrong (I picked a male voice for my encouragement voice, because, come on, it’s Lance Armstrong!) offer encouragement and tell me exactly how much terrain I’ve suffered through and shuffled across is a motivator for me to keep going. And then there’s those moments right after a workout when someone else comes on to tell you how you’ve broken a personal record or increased your workout time or distance significantly. I never thought I’d be someone who really ran for exercise, but I do!

2. Rupert Penry-Jones. For those who don’t know, he’s a British actor. He played Captain Wentworth in the BBC’s recent adaptation of Persuasion (by Jane Austen) that was shown on PBS in the States. He made me happy in this role. Then, I upped my channel package on Dish Network and now have BBC America, which means I get to watch “MI-5,” a British show about spies and such that I watched part of on A&E way back in the day and really liked. Then it went away. And Matthew McFadyen left the show (and starred in the Keira Knightley movie version of Pride and Prejudice as Mr. Darcy). But now I can watch it again. And revel in the prettiness that is Rupert Penry-Jones. For someone who doesn’t really like blonde guys, this is a revelation.

3. Any hair product by Bumble and Bumble. (Except the hairsprays). These products are fabulous. My faves, you ask: Thickening Spray and Brilliantine. Buy it at the salon and fall in love.

4. Gordo’s Mexican cheese dip. I found this at the grocery store one day when I was really wanting nachos. So I bought it, and it changed my life. I only buy it once in awhile because I have no control when it comes to this stuff. If you like the queso dip at Mexican restaurants, you’ll love this. (And I’m a queso lover. Sometimes I get all confused and ask for cheese and queso at Mexican restaurants!)

5. Movies in the Park. Mindy and I went to Movies in the Park at Centennial Park to watch the Hitchcock classic The Birds. I enjoyed it immensely (the movie, being outside, eating junky food while watching little, screaming children run from crazy crows, and the frat boy Mystery Science Theater monologue going on to our right. Well, with the exception of the two frat boys who took the opportunity to cuddle throughout the movie.) I’m trying to convince Mindy to skip church in a couple of weeks to see The Goonies or Dirty Dancing. Because no one puts Baby in a corner. (We won’t talk about me falling in a hole at Mindy’s house after 11 p.m. and laughing really loudly at myself.) I did begin to feel a little slandered by all the bad things said about crows in the movie, though, because I am one. Mandy Crow. Wonder if that would work in a defamation case?

6. Santa Fe, New Mexico. I love Santa Fe. I love the square, all the shops, buying clothes and jewelry from outdoor vendors who probably just love people like me. I love the food, the landscape, the feeling of a completely other culture than the one I’ve grown up in, the history. And I get to go back in a few weeks. I can’t wait!

7. Starbuck’s Brazil Ipanema Bourbon Roast coffee. Now that’s a good cup of coffee, especially when freshly ground and brewed. If you want something a little darker, go for the French roast. Seriously.

8. Ice cream. It doesn’t matter if it’s from the store, low fat, or Coldstone. I’m going to like it. My fave’s include: Cake Batter from Coldstone, anything from Blue Bell, but especially Banana Split, Century Sundae, and Vanilla Bean, and Edy’s slow churned stuff that’s 1/2 the fat or sugar (or something).

9. Anything by Mac. Buy it. Love it.

10. Popcorn at the movies. You’re not American if you don’t love this fatty, buttery goodness. That costs WAY too much. I love it so much people take pictures of me holding big tubs of it. Just ask Mindy if you want to see that.

I’m sure there are so many more things to list, but alas, my children, this is the list for today. Enjoy, indulge, comment.