I like colorful leaves and black and white pictures, long walks and quick wit, big dogs and small towns, talking quietly and singing loudly, extreme weather and simple relationships. I straighten every picture I see, but rarely make my bed. I feel like I have wasted the day if I don’t spend some of it outside. I drive at least 9,000 miles before I get my oil changed.
I love cookies.
Cookie addiction aside, fitness and nutrition are very important to me, but I have no ability to self-motivate at the gym, so I do group exercise classes, and am getting certified to teach BodyCombat. I don’t run. Ever. But I’ll walk anywhere, and love skiing (though growing up in DE, there wasn’t too much of that), and any outdoor adventure-type sport.
I love to travel, especially to places with mountains and water. I’ve been lucky enough to go all over Europe, Australia, NZ, went to China for an urban conservation studio, and I lived/worked on a pony farm in Greece for three months. My itch to travel is only somewhat tempered by my inclination to nest.
I am interested in all things design and look like a perpetual tourist in the city because I stare up and point at all of the architecture rather than where I’m walking. I covet home improvement magazines, and before I move into a new place, I make a floor plan and/or 3-D model in SketchUp so I can plan where my furniture is going to go. That’s probably not something I should admit.
I’m really even-tempered and pride myself on being generally very reasonable. I don’t take offense easily to things, and always try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I appreciate consistency in others, so I strive for that in myself too. I have a great relationship with my mom (gosh, she’s adorable), and have a lot of smart, beautiful, wonderful girl friends, most of whom sadly live far away. I do, however, have relatively frequent angry outbursts at the television when Glen Beck or Bill O’Reilly start talking. Or when those obnoxious car commercials or South Park comes on.
Yoga pants, tank tops and cardigans are my favorite and most common attire, and I avoid wearing regular pants at all costs. I like going out, but tend to prefer places where you can carry on a conversation and not have to scream over really loud music, the exception being BBG/KKR night at Sisters.
Despite my inclination to go to bed at 9:30, I stay up every weeknight specifically to watch the Daily Show. If you don’t like Jon Stewart, we probably won’t get along. I like comedies and shows that depict happy, healthy friend/relationships. I hate reality tv, and especially shows that thrive on women being fake and bitchy to each other. They make my soul hurt.
The quality I admire most in people in general is genuineness/sincerity. I like people who are a little on the nerdy side, and who aren’t afraid to look silly for being excited or passionate about something. I admire intelligence, but a thirst for knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for learning, more. I appreciate people who are quick to laugh at awkward situations and slow to judge others, who don’t stress easily, and are happy content in both the same old routine and having new experiences.
I am looking for someone who is happy and secure, appreciates what they have in life, and is optimistic about the future, even if the present isn’t exactly what they had planned. Someone who likes to be outside as much as I do. Someone who can carry on a conversation and is genuinely interested in what the other person has to say. Someone who can appreciate the “finer things” but is also happy to listen to whatever is on the radio, or watch hours of HIMYM reruns on a rainy day while eating pizza or Chinese and hanging out in sweats. Pretension is a no-go. Playful is a must. Ultimately, I think all relationships (friend and romantic) should be easy and comfortable, silly, fun and supportive.
