Favorites of the Future First Family

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Joe Raedle, Getty Images

The Obamas: A Peek Inside Their Personal Lives

On January 20, 2009 Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. We have learned a lot about him on the campaign trail, but before he and his family move into the White House we thought we would take a closer look at some of their most favorite things.

From favorite restaurants and TV shows to hobbies and favorite vacation spot click through our gallery to learn a little more about your future leader and his family.

First Up: Michelle Obama's Hobbies

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Michelle Obama's Hobbies

Before the campaign, Michelle would get up at 4am every day to run on the treadmill. On her Facebook page, she lists her interests as "Being a mom and Sudoko."

(Source: NewYorkTimes.com, Facebook)

Next: Meet the Obama Kids

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Scott Olson, Getty Images

Meet the Obama Children

Barack and Michelle Obama have two girls. Ten-year old Malia Ann was born on July 4, 1998, while 7-year old Sasha was born on June 10, 2001. They were both born in Chicago.

Both children currently attend the private University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in Chicago. The Obamas will be sending the kids to the private Sidwell Friends school when they move to DC.

Next: Favorite Restaurants

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Bob Fila/ Chicago Tribune

Favorite Restaurants

Among the Obamas favorite places to eat in their hometown of Chicago are Topolobampo, RJ Grunts, Sepia, Spiaggia (pictured), Italian Fiesta Pizzeria, Valois Cafeteria and MacArthur's.

The Obamas plan to bring the chef of Italian Fiesta Pizzeria to Washington to make pizza for the inauguration.

(Source: Chicago Sun Times, CenterstageChicago.com)

Next: Favorite Chain

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Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Pizza and Talk

According to the New York Times, Michelle has spent most Saturday evenings for the past decade with two friends and their families, most recently at a local California Pizza Kitchen where the group recaps the previous week.

Next: Michelle's Favorite Casual Wear

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Kevork Djansezian, AP

Michelle's Casual Wear

During the campaign the future first lady wore a lot of off-the-rack clothes from popular retailers, including the Gap, J. Crew (pictured in), White House/Black Market and H&M.

Michelle Obama told Jay Leno on 'The Tonight Show' that she and her husband had a policy of spending only their own money on clothes during the campaign. Her interview came right after revelations that the Republican National Committee spent $150,000 at high-end retailers for vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin.

(Source: AP)
Next: Michelle's Designer Clothing

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Michelle Obama's Designer Wear

You won't only catch Michelle Obama in casual wear. Some of her couture designer outfits have been turning heads. Couture designer Maria Pinto is a favorite and designer Thakoon Panichgul went from being a no-name to a fashion sensation when Michelle Obama wore his rose print shift dress the night her husband accepted the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August.

(Source: LATimes.com)

Next: Barack's Fashion

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Jewel Samad, AFP / Getty

Barack's Fashion

Hart Schaffner Marx suits top the list of brands Barack Obama likes. He really likes the Gold Trumpeter line. Custom-made suits sell for around $1,300 and off-the-rack suits for under $1,000. According to the company Obama owns three gray and three navy blue suits.

(Source: USAToday.com)

Next: Favorite Vacation Spot

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Marco Garcia, AP

Favorite Vacation Spot

Hawaii has been the place of choice for the Obamas when they have taken breaks from the long campaign. Barack spent much of his childhood in the Aloha state and has friends there. His grandmother, who helped raise Obama, lived there until she died recently.

Obama got criticized by some for vacationing there this past August while in the middle of his presidential campaign.

(Source: CBSNews.com)

Next: Favorite Foods

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Favorite Foods

Barack: Loves chili, Mexican food and pizza, especially from Italian Fiesta Pizzeria in Chicago. Also likes vegetables, especially broccoli and spinach and dislikes beets.

(Source: Votesmart.org, NYTimes.com)

Michelle: In addition to Mexican food she loves macaroni & cheese and french fries.

Obama Kids: Fried chicken and macaroni & cheese

(source: ABC7Chicago.com, AP, webMD)

Next: Favorite Snacks

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James F. Quinn, Chicago Tribune / MCT

Barack's Favorite Snacks

Likes:
Planters Trail Mix: Nuts, Seeds & Raisins
Roasted Almonds
Pistachios
MET-Rx chocolate roasted peanut protein bars

Dislikes:
Mayonnaise
Salt and vinegar potato chips
Asparagus

(Source: NewYorkTimes.com)

Next: Favorite Sweets

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Favorite Sweets

The Obamas love Fran's Chocolates, an artisan chocolate brand from Seattle. The president-elect prefers Fran's Smoked Sea Salt Caramel in Milk Chocolate ($24 for a 16-piece box); wife Michelle prefers dark chocolate, says Sean Seedlock, Fran's marketing chief.

(Source: USAToday.com)

Next: Favorite Drinks

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Honest Tea

Favorite Drinks

Barack is a fan of Black Forest Berry Honest Tea. He also likes water and dislikes soft drinks.

(Source: USAToday.com, NYTimes.com)

Next: Michelle's Favorite Cookies

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Michelle Obama's Favorite Cookies

According to Family Circle Magazine Michelle Obama loves to make shortbread cookies.
Get Michelle's Recipe

Next: Favorite Hobbies

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Barack Obama's Hobbies

In his spare time, Obama enjoys basketball, writing, cooking, dancing and loafing with his kids.

Next: Barack's Favorite Gum

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Obama's Favorite Gum

Barack is a smoker and to fight the habit he chews a lot of gum. His two favorites are Nicorette and Dentyne Ice.

(Source: NYTimes.com)

Next: Obama Children

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Hobbies of the Obama Children

Malia is interested in soccer, dance and drama, while Sasha is interested in gymnastics and tap dance. Both take piano and tennis lessons.

(Source: AP)

Next: Obama's Chicago Home

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Jerry Lai, AP

Obama's Chicago Home

The Obamas live in a large, stately brick home on Chicago's South Side with an estimated value of $1.9 million. The Chicago Tribune describes it as a "96-year-old Georgian revival home that has four fireplaces, glass-door bookcases fashioned from Honduran mahogany, and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar."

Next: What Cars They Drive

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Ford/Daimler Chrysler

What Barack Obama Drives

Obama drives a Ford Escape hybrid. He also used to own the Chrysler 300C, but in May 2007, CarandDriver.com criticized Obama, saying: "(Obama) comes to Detroit and blasts automakers about the need to build more-fuel-efficient cars and then drives off in his personal Chrysler 300C?" Since then, Obama has reportedly gotten rid of the Chrysler.

Next: Barack's Family

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Barack's Parents

Barack Obama Sr. was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.

Barack's mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas. Barack's parents met at the University of Hawaii. His mother was a student there, and his father had won a scholarship there. Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia.

Next: Michelle's Family

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Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Michelle's Family

Mother: Marian Robinson (pictured) is a widow and retired bank secretary who has taken care of the girls when the parents have been on the campaign trail. She will probably be a frequent guest if not a resident in the White House to help raise the children.

Father: Fraser Robinson, a former boxer, suffered from multiple sclerosis from age 30. He met and liked Barack, but died in 1991, a year before the Obamas were married.

Brother: Craig Robinson, 46, is head men's basketball coach at Oregon State University.

Next: Barack's Childhood

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Barack's Childhood

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. His father was an economist from Kenya and his mother was an anthropologist from Kansas. In a third-grade essay Obama said he wanted to become president. The Illinois senator graduated from Harvard Law where he was the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review.

(Source: NYTimes.com, ChicagoTribune.com)

Next: Michelle's Childhood

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Paul Beaty, AP

Michelle's Childhood

Michelle Obama was born January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois. Michelle was raised on Chicago's South Side (pictured) in a one-bedroom apartment. Her father, Frasier Robinson, was a city pump operator and a Democratic precinct captain. Her mother, Marian, was a Spiegel's secretary who later stayed home to raise Michelle and her older brother, Craig.

(Source: Biography.com)

Next: Obama's Education

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Education

Barack: J.D., Harvard Law School, 1991; BA, Columbia University, 1983; Attended Occidental College.

Michelle: Majored in sociology at Princeton, where she graduated cum laude in 1985. She went on to earn a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1988.

(Harvard pictured at left)

Next: Obama's Professional Life

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Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

Careers

Before entering politics Barack was a civil rights lawyer at the law firm of Miner, Barnhill & Galland. He also taught at the University of Chicago Law School.

Michelle joined the University of Chicago in 1996 as associate dean of student services. She is currently on leave from her job at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she's the vice president of community and external affairs.

(Source: Biography.com)

Next: Church

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Obama's Former Church

In May, Barack Obama resigned from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The resignation came days after a visiting Catholic priest mocked Hillary Clinton there, and after his minister of about 20 years, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, drew unwanted attention as videos of his fiery and controversial sermons surfaced.

Next: Barack's Barber

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Barack Obama's Barber Shop

For the past 20 years the president-elect has gotten his hair cut at the Hyde Park Barber Shop.

According to barber John Smith, "I think this place is his place of reality, where nobody asks him about politics or -- what do you think -- about anything. He could sit back and just talk about sports," said Smith.

(Source: SunTimes.com)

Next: Obama's Doctor

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Barack Obama's Doctor

Hyde Park internist, Dr. David L. Scheiner, has treated Barack for 21 years.

There have only been minor problems through the years -- stuff like rashes, respiratory infections etc. Scheiner noted a history of cancer in Obama's family. As for Obama, "his own history included intermittent cigarette smoking," Scheiner wrote.

(Source: WashingtonPost.com)

Next: Obama's Wedding

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Gavin Averill, Getty Images

Obama's Wedding

Barack and Michelle first met in 1989 when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of Sidley Austin. They got engaged in 1991 and married October 3, 1992.

Their wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. Rev. Jesse Jackson's daughter, Santita (pictured), sang at their wedding. She and Michelle are childhood friends.

(Source: Rockymoutainnews.com)

Next: Astrological Signs

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Astrological Signs

Barack Obama: Leo

Michelle Obama: Capricorn

Malia Obama: Cancer

Sasha Obama: Gemini

Next: Favorite Musicians

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Charles Dharapak, AP

Favorite Musicians

Both Michelle and Barack list Stevie Wonder among their favorite musicians.Barack also likes Miles Davis, Jennifer Hudson, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Johann Sebastian Bach (cello suites), and The Fugees.

(Source: Votesmart.org, ABC.com, Facebook.com)

Next: Favorite Authors

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Favorite Author and Books

Among Barack Obama's favorites are 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X'; 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison; 'Moby Dick'; Shakespeare's tragedies; 'Parting the Waters'; 'Gilead' by Marilynne Robinson; 'Self-Reliance' by Emerson; The Bible, Lincoln's collected writings.

Michelle Obama lists Toni Morrison (pictured) as her favorite author.

(Source: Votesmart.org, Rockymountainnews.com )

Next: Kids' Favorite Books

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Favorite Books

Michelle Obama says on her Facebook page that the family reads a lot of kids books in their home. 'Harry Potter' books are current favorites. Malia is a big fan of the books.

(Source: NYTimes.com, Facebook)

Next: Favorite TV Shows

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Favorite TV Shows

Michelle Obama: Sex in the City, The Sopranos and HGTV. She also enjoys repeats of the Dick Van Dyke Show.

Barack Obama: 'SportsCenter,' C-SPAN

(Source: Votesmart.org, ABC.com, Rockymountainnews.com)

Next: Favorite Movies

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Favorite Movies

Barack Obama has mentioned 'Casablanca,' 'Godfather I and II,' 'Lawrence of Arabia,' and 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' among his favorites.

On Michelle Obama's Facebook page she says she has only seen children's movies recently and mentioned 'Enchanted' as one she enjoyed.

(Source: Votesmart.org)

Next: Celebrity Crush

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Stephen Shugerman, Getty Images

Michelle Obama's Celebrity Crush

Will Smith recently appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show to promote his new film "7 Pounds." Oprah showed him a clip of Michelle Obama saying that her celebrity crush is on him. Could it be the ears which mirror her husbands?

(Source: Oprah Winfrey Show)

Next: Children in White House

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Children in the White House

When Sasha Obama moves into the White House she will be the youngest resident since John F. Kennedy Jr. (pictured with sister Caroline) resided there in 1963.

Other young White House residents have included Jenna & Barbara Bush, Chelsea Clinton and Amy Carter.

Next: Birthday Parties

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Obama Children's Birthdays

In a recent interview with People magazine the Obamas were asked about a rumor that they don't give their girls presents for their birthdays. They confirmed it and said they instead spend hundreds of dollars on a birthday party and movie tickets and pizza and popcorn. They want to teach their kids limits.

(Source: People.com)

Next: Kid's Allowance

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Obama Children Allowance

In that same People interview it was noted that the daughters get $1/week allowance for doing their chores.

(Source. People.com)

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