THE 50 STATES
Arizona's Saguaro National Park is named for a candelabra-shaped type of this plant
a cactus
"When the Moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's" this, that's love
amore
Uncommon, or steak with a cool red center
rare
As the saying goes, this animal can't change its spots
a leopard
This word refers to the supports placed at either end of your collection of Simon & Garfunkel biographies
bookend
Created to serve the former Northwest Territory, Northwestern University is in Evanston in this state
Illinois
Rachael Ray says her very first word was this, the Italian word for wine
vino
Uh-oh, someone left the door this way, partly open
ajar
The heart of this long-necked mammal can weigh about 20 pounds
a giraffe
Here are some "terms of" this: my little schmoopy, pookie, pumpkin & my darling
endearment
In "Field of Dreams" a question is asked, "Is this heaven?"--No, it's this Midwestern state also known as "the Corn State"
Iowa
Hopefully, you haven't had any bad encounters with these photographers who follow the famous to get their shots
paparazzi
Meaning super luxurious or stylish, it was also Victoria Beckham's Spice Girl name
posh
The bottlenose species of this critter looks like it's smiling, but that's just the way its mouth is shaped
a dolphin
To compete for a prize
contend
Connecticut is bordered to the west by New York & to the east by this, another 2-word state
Rhode Island
Spelled as one word or 2, it means outdoors, as in dining outdoors
al fresco
This adjective invoking morning moisture is applied to skin that looks hydrated, glowing & smooth
dewy
Dian Fossey was an expert on mountain gorillas; Jane Goodall studied these apes in Tanzania
chimpanzees
When Andrew Carnegie got his first of these monthly checks, he cried, "Here's the goose that lays the golden eggs"
dividend
Hells Canyon & Snake River sound daunting, but Sun Valley & its ski lodges in this state offer respite
Idaho
Italian for "baked earth", it's a type of pottery made of baked clay
terra cotta
File under "Z"--this word means comical or just plain ludicrous
zany
This flightless bird ranges in size from blue (smallest) to emperor (largest)
a penguin
Someone who throws money away on things they don't need might be called this compound word
a spendthrift