Happy first official day of summer/summer solstice! Can you believe it's already here? And as usual, this week FLEW by! ​So let's slow it down and reflect on the past 7 days, shall we? Here are some of my favorite simple, sensory joys from the past week...

HEAR: Charlie Mae's made-up songs
Is there anything better than listening to a toddler sing made-up songs loudly? Especially when they narrate what's happening at the moment while singing (ie. "I'm going to the grocery store with my mommy and my daddy and we're in the car and I'm buckled in my carseat...")? It's the CUTEST and I'll never stop being tickled by it. Gosh these toddler days are adorable (and so, so, so tough, too). 

SEE: Always Be My Maybe {Netflix Original RomCom}
It's been a loooooonnnggg time since I've watched a RomCom; I don't watch much TV these days and when I do it's usually a show with Ben (and he's not a huge RomCom guy). But last weekend when he was coaching basketball until rather late, I decided to watch this movie that I'd been hearing about and it did not disappoint. It was a classic RomCom in the best of ways and I really enjoyed it! I need to get back to my RomCom roots STAT. I miss them!

TASTE: Homemade Brownies 
We had a Father's Day get-together with Ben's extended family last weekend and one of his aunts made some *delicious* homemade brownies. I hadn't had brownies in a long time and they were melt-in-your-mouth incredible. Charlie Mae, who had never had a brownie before, agreed (lol). 

SMELL: Ouidad VitalCurl Define & Shine Styling Gel-Cream
I've been using this gel to style my hair in the summers (scrunch + air-dry) for quite a few years now, but this week was the first time that I'd used it in 2019 and I'd forgotten how good it smelled. I'd also forgotten how great it is to let your hair air-dry into wavy curls on a hot day! It's so much easier (and cooler). 

TOUCH: Afternoon catnaps
I've reached the point in my pregnancy where I'm always pretty tired and if I were to lie down--no matter the time of the day--I could fall asleep. So, for the past week or two on the days when Charlie Mae is home from daycare and I put her down for her nap, I've gotten SO tired that I've had no choice but to take a quick snooze (15-30 mins) on the couch before tackling my usual nap time to-do list. I'm normally not a great napper but I am right now and these quick naps have been life-savers.  

...That's it for me this week! I hope you can find the time to reflect on your simple, sensory joys of the week today, too. 

Have a lovely weekend!

It's been another tough week [more family issues], which is why I missed my normal weekly blog post for the first time in a LONG time; whoops!

But despite it being a hard week, there were still lots of lovely experiences sprinkled throughout...isn't that how life goes? The good and the bad all bundled up into one big mess of ups + downs...

So, here are some of the positive, simple joys that made this stressful week more enjoyable:

HEAR: Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend
My dad + brothers turned me on to Vampire Weekend's new album and I'm loving it. I listened to it all week long and found it to be the perfect listen-while-working music. Check them out!

SEE: Charlie Mae catching "critters" at the beach
We've had some epic June beach days lately, and since I bought Charlie Mae her first little net last weekend, she's been LOVING catching what we call "critters" at the beach. These critters are mostly shells, sea snails, and tiny hermit crabs, but she gets a huge thrill out of catching them and then putting them into a bucket. It's beyond adorable to watch how excited she gets. {Don't worry--we put them back when she's done!}

TASTE: Family ice cream night
Is it weird/annoying if I list ice cream as a #SJOTW every week for the rest of my pregnancy? Because that just might happen. We've been going once per week as a family since it got warmer and I have to say, getting ice cream together and sitting outside to eat it really is the best. 

SMELL: Haircut
I got a haircut this week (my last before baby!) and it felt SO good to be pampered a bit. You know that just-styled, my-hair-smells-different-because-someone-else-did-it-with-different-products scent? I love it because it's a nice reminder that I took care of myself ;) 

TOUCH: Early morning walks
We went on two pre-work/pre-daycare family walks during the week this week and both were such a special way to start a regular day. Did Charlie Mae have to eat breakfast in her stroller to make it happen both mornings? Of course she did! But she loved it and so did we so it was a win all around. 

...And there ya go! I hope you can find some time to reflect on your simple joys of the week today, too. ​

Btw: we're 1 month out from my due date today. AHHHHHH! So crazy!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Another week has flown by! And I've got a toddler who is "ready to play" with me this morning (aren't they always!?) so this edition of #SJOTW will be short + sweet...

HEAR: 3 Girls, 1 Keith
Season #3 of Amy Schumer's podcast is finally out (on Spotify) and as expected, it's hilarious! I binged the whole season while I worked this week and loved it. I'm such an Amy Schumer fan. 

SEE: Back porch living
It's been a gorgeous week and because of this, we've been living on the back porch. I've been working out there every day, we've been eating all of our meals outside, we grilled out, and I've been working out and doing yoga back there, too. Now if only the pollen would go away, it would be PERFECT. 

TASTE: First Four Seas Ice Cream of the season!
We went to our favorite local ice cream spot, Four Seas, as a family last weekend! Charlie Mae obviously LOVED it (she finished hers and started in on mine) and so did her parents ;) Yum! I see lots more Four Seas in our future this summer...

{Btw: I interviewed the owners of Four Seas for Built on Cape Cod and they were SO interesting to talk to! I loved learning more about one of my fave local businesses. You can listen to the episode here.}

SMELL: Chicken Pot Pie from Centerville Pie Co.
This local pie shop (just a few mins from our house) is the best. We like to get a few frozen "dinner pies" from them and keep them in the freezer for nights when we have nothing on-hand for dinner. We enjoyed one this week and it was SO tasty. Plus, it smells delicious when baking in the oven!

TOUCH: Chiropractor adjustments
Thank goodness for the chiro! Adjustments from a good chiropractor are SUCH a life-saver--especially when you're pregnant and your hips and lower back and freaking out about it. If you're local, I can't recommend my chiro [Dr. Ryan Casagranda] enough. I always feel 10x better when walking out of his office. 

...And that's it for today! Hope you had a wonderful first week in June and that you can find some time to reflect on your SJOTW, too...

Last day of May, oh-em-gee!  I'll stop there because I don't want to become a broken record (too late for that?) but you know what I'm thinking <insert big eyes emoji here>. Also, the fact that tomorrow is June 1st means that my July 14th due date is right around the corner and that's just bananas.

So, to get our minds off of the quick passage of time, let's talk SJOTW, shall we? Here's what brought me happiness over the past 7 days... 

HEAR: "What Fresh Hell" Podcast
I've been looking for a good mom podcast (or #momcast as we call them in the biz, hahaha) for quite a while now. Last week, a fellow mama (shout-out Lindsay!) emailed me recommending I check out "What Fresh Hell," and I'm so glad that she did. It's funny, realistic, and down-to-earth. If you, too, are on the search for a momcast, I definitely recommend you check it out!

SEE: Alias Grace (on Netflix)
Alias Grace has been one of my favorite books ever since reading it for a high school English class. I've probably read it 3 or 4 times at this point, so when I finally talked Ben into watching the Alias Grace Netflix miniseries with me last weekend, I was pumped. We're only two episodes in so far but we're both into it and I'm so glad to see that they did the novel justice with this show. 

TASTE: GoodPop Organic Freezer Pops
As much as I like making our own popsicles out of 100% fruit juice, I always wish that our moulds weren't quite so big (for myself and for Charlie Mae). So last week, when I saw these 100% fruit juice freezer pops on sale at Whole Foods, I thought they would be a great, smaller popsicle option to have on hand--and they have been! They're delicious and the perfect [smaller] size. Yum :) 

SMELL: First cookout of the season/year!
We had our first cookout of the year on Monday and it was SO enjoyable. I had forgotten how great it is to be able to cook a bunch of delicious food on the weekend and then continue to eat it for dinner all week long. Also, the smell, the company (we had friends over), the outdoor living + eating...it's all so wonderful! Summer: we're ready for ya. 

TOUCH: Family walks + hikes
We went on two big family walks last weekend (one on the sidewalk, one in the woods) and both were really fun. I've been having a lot of pregnancy-related hip and lower back pain (I'm getting old and Charlie Mae is getting heavy!), but even so, it felt great to move and be together outdoors. Warm weather changes everything!

And there you go; another week (and another month) in the books. If you haven't had a chance to reflect on your SJOTW or even your Simple Joys of the Month, now's your chance to do so! 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. 

Oh you guys, I am so tired these days! I don't know if it's Charlie Mae's earlier + earlier awakenings (all before 6am this week...), if it's just the reality of getting deeper into my third trimester while being a #toddlermom, or if I'm just getting old (lol), but something is going on and it's leaving me pooped!

That being said, this week was a really lovely one! The weather was incredible and overall, I'm feeling much better [than when I was super sick for so long]. I hope your week was beautiful, too!

​Here are a few of the simple, sensory joys that brought me pleasure over the past 7 days...

HEAR: "Love Like This" by RY X
This song is on my May class playlist and I love it. RY X reminds me a lot of Bon Iver, who I adore, and this song is beautiful. Listen below...

SEE: First real beach day with Charlie Mae
As I already mentioned, this week has been gorgeous weather-wise, and on Wednesday Charlie Mae and I packed up our beach stuff (while wearing pants and long-sleeves, since it wasn't *quite* warm enough for swimsuits yet), and headed to the ocean. We spent about 2 hours making sand castles, collecting shells, and enjoying the sunshine, and it was glorious. It made me SO excited for actual beach weather and reminded me just how lucky we are to live here. 

TASTE: "The Yellow" smoothie from The Local Juice
If you're local and haven't had a smoothie from The Local Juice yet, you're missing out. Seriously. "The Yellow" is my favorite (I like to add kale) but they're all divine. Charlie Mae loves them, too (I also sneak some kale into hers...don't tell). Such a treat to make it there this week. 

SMELL: New Rothy's Slip-On Sneaks
I am OBSESSED (and you know I don't use that word lightly, hahahahha) with my new Rothy's! I've been wanting a pair of these shoes for at least a year now, and finally decided to ask for them for Mother's Day. I got this pair of their sneakers and have basically worn them every single day since they arrived. Next up: I definitely need a pair of the The Point flats. I just can't decide on the color...

Side note: These shoes are made from recycled plastic bottles! Amazing! And I know it sounds like this is sponsored, but it's not. I'm just a really happy customer ;) 

TOUCH:​ Baby kicks + movements
I can't believe I haven't mentioned this sooner! I love feeling our baby's movement inside my belly SOOOOO much. I don't think I'll ever get over how magical it feels. And this babe is a crazy mover (from what I understand, my placenta is in a different place this time which also allows me to feel way more), which I adore. Every little kick reminds me of how excited I am to meet him and how grateful I am that he's safe in there. 

And that's it for this week! I hope you have an amazing Memorial Day weekend and that you're able to find some time for some serious relaxation.

​Enjoy!

It's Friyay! And I'm *finally* starting to feel better (thanks, antibiotics + steroids!)! I'm so relieved because we have quite a busy weekend ahead of us (I've got a workshop, regular class, and wedding day yoga class to teach!).

But before we jump into the weekend, let's switch gears and reflect on the past week, shall we? Here's what brought me joy over the past 7 days...
​
HEAR: "Front Porch" (album) by Joy Williams
Remember how I said I went down a Civil Wars wormhole last week? Well this week I discovered that the female counterpart from that band, Joy Williams, just put out a new solo album and it's incredible, too (of course). I've been listening to it all week. Here's the amazing title track from the album:

SEE: ​Wine Country
Have you watched this Netflix movie yet? I know it didn't get the best reviews--and sure, it wasn't the best movie ever--but it made me LOL many times and it was just so nice to see my old friends Amy + Tina (plus Maya who I also ADORE) back on the screen together. Def recommend you get it on your watch list if you're a fan of these ladies'!

TASTE: Dinner outside at Baxter's
Last weekend, we had our first outdoor dinner [on the water] at local favorite, Baxter's. I'd forgotten how amazing it is to sit outside when you have a toddler--there was so much more for her to see + do and Ben and I were able to enjoy our dinners much more than we can when sitting inside. Made me very excited about summer!

SMELL: Freshly-mowed grass
To be fair, we don't really have an official "grass lawn" (haha). It's weeds, some grass, some crab grass, and some dirt/sand. It's not the prettiest, but it's the best we're going to have for now and I just keep reminding Ben of that fact (he's not happy about it). Anyway, this week he finally mowed our "lawn" for the first time this season and it made me feel like spring is really here. #itsthelittlethings

TOUCH: My Snoogle Pregnancy Pillow
Welp...it'd been a long time since I'd last used this pillow, but the time has come in this pregnancy and I'm now LOVING it again. I remember being SO sick of it by the end of my pregnancy with Charlie Mae, but this week it was a very welcome sleeping companion. Hooray for contraptions like this that make it easier to get comfy when your belly is huge ;)

And that's it for this week! I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at my *last workshop before baby* tonight (it's sold out so too late to sign up, sorry...). ​

Have a GREAT weekend and don't forget to reflect on your #SJOTW today, if you have time!

It's been such a beautiful week! Exhausting, too, because Charlie Mae has been on a weird early wake-up kick for the past week or so (waking up over an hour earlier than she usually does every. single. day.), but beautiful and fun, nonetheless. How was your week? 

Let's reflect by looking back on our simple joys...

HEAR: "Billie Jean" Cover by The Civil Wars
I was revisiting an album by one of my favorite [now defunct] duos this week  and came across this cover that I had forgotten about. It's SO good! You can listen on Spotify or below:

​
SEE: Charlie Mae in her new room!
Last weekend, we moved Charlie Mae downstairs into her new room to make room for the babe upstairs (I know, I know, this move could be related to her early wake-ups, but those started two days before we moved her so I doubt it). Before the move I was really nervous about how it would go and how she would handle being in a new room, but she's LOVED it! She was super excited and took to it immediately. It's been so sweet to observe. 

TASTE: Whole Foods' 8 Grain Sandwich Bread
I know this seems lame, but let me just explain--this bread has been our household bread for the past few years. I love it. We all do. But Ben recently switched up where he does our weekly grocery trips and thus, stopped getting this bread. It was missed--sorely (mostly by me). So this week I threw in the towel and went on a special WF trip to get this bread. It's been sooo nice to have it back in the house!

SMELL: Pedicure
I got a pedicure yesterday after WAY too long! And it felt SO good. Those massage chairs, I swear. I need one at home (but I know it would never be the same...maybe I need an actual massage?). Anyway, the moral of the story is #selfcafe, ya'll, no matter how simple. It's important. 

TOUCH: An actual yoga class (haha)
I've done a lot of yoga on my own throughout this pregnancy, but I haven't been able to make it to many actual "regular" yoga classes (lots of BUTI classes, though) due to my schedule, sickness, etc. But yesterday I went to one! And it was divine, even if I did feel totally beat up and had to modify half of the class (lol). Nothing like slowing it down in yoga, huh? [Thanks for the great class, Molly!]

And that's it from me this week! I hope you can find some time to reflect on your #SJOTW today, too, and that all you mamas out there have a great Mother's Day. I'll catch you back here next week!

And just like that, it's May 3rd. Now that we're in May, I feel like we've reached the home stretch of this pregnancy, which is insane. When your due month is just 2 months away, things start feeling *very* real. So how about we slow time down by reflecting on our #SJOTW? Here's what brought me joy over the past 7 days...

HEAR: "I am Enough" by Beautiful Chorus
This is my May savasana song and I love it so much! I love almost every song put out by this group, but this is a special one. Listen below (all of my yoga class playlists are here).

​SEE: Fiiinnnaaallllyyyy cleaning out/organizing/Marie Kondo-ing the basement 
I've had "clean out the basement + garage" on our household "tidying" list since January. We saved them until the end because we knew they'd be such big undertakings (and so far, the basement has been) but it has felt SO good to chip away at this big project over the past two weekends. I think we'll finish it this weekend and I'm pumped! The amount of NASTY bug-carcass-filled dustballs I've vacuumed up are scary, but we're almost there. 

TASTE: Ben's birthday cake [my family's favorite homemade Sour Cream Pound Cake/our birthday tradition]
Charlie Mae and I made Ben our traditional family birthday cake last Friday (so fun) and after his small family bday party on Saturday night, enjoyed it for a few more days--well into this week. There really is NOTHING like this cake. I can't imagine a family bday without it ;)  
​
SMELL: Made-from-scratch chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven
I guess it's been a sweets-filled week around here--whoops! But Charlie Mae LOVES baking with me and she's been home a lot lately! And how can you tell a toddler 'no' when she looks up at you with those big eyes and says, "Mommy, can we make some chocolate chip cookies?" You can't. You just can't. So we made some yesterday and they were enjoyed by all! 

TOUCH: Being cough-free for the first time since April 3rd (HALLELUJAH!)
I started coughing (from what I found out two days later was the flu) on April 3rd. Last week, I was finally put on antibiotics for what had turned into pneumonia and a sinus infection. By Sunday, my coughing was officially gone; all it took was 5 days on antibiotics and the cough that had rendered me sleepless for almost a month and left me with a pulled rib muscle was gone! I usually hate antibiotics but this time I am completely grateful. Thank goodness for feeling better again.

That's it for this week. As always, I hope you can find some time to reflect on your simple joys of the week today, too...

Today is Ben's 36th birthday! When we first started dating he was a spry young 22, so this is mind-blowing to me. I won't go on and on about him here (I'll save that for my bday social media posts, haha), but I will say that I am just so, so, so, so grateful to have Ben as my companion/partner-in-life and the father of my children. He is one special guy and I'm excited to celebrate him this weekend.

But for now, let's get to #SJOTW. Here's what brought me happiness over the past 7 days...

HEAR: Charlie Mae on Easter
Charlie Mae LOVED Easter. In fact, she loved it so much that for the past few mornings when she's woken up, she's said [sadly], "I want more Easter." We even did an Easter egg hunt in the house yesterday before day care to appease her longing (lol). Anyways, on Easter, what I loved most was hearing her squeal with complete and utter excitement every time she spotted another egg. It was PURE childhood joy and it was magical. 

SEE: Longbourn by Jo Baker
This book was recommended to me by my friend + favorite book critic (of course), Jessica Christensen, and it has not disappointed so far. It's the story of Pride and Prejudice from the point of view of the servants of the household, and it's really, really good. I've been having to force myself to stop reading and go to bed each night this week. It's also making me want to read P&P again when I'm done! It's been too long since my last reading of that classic. 

TASTE: Easter Treats (obviously)
I think the only time I ever have jellybeans is on Easter--and even then, I try to eat them very sparingly--but man, are they tasty and do they take me back! Charlie Mae doesn't like them for some reason (weird?) so I got to enjoy a few of hers this year and they sure were delicious.

SMELL: Spring flowers
Cliche, I know, but true! We're finally starting to see some actual flowers blooming here and it's beautiful. It's also super fun to show Charlie Mae how to smell the flowers--she gets a big kick out of the different scents. 

​TOUCH: S l e e p ! ! ! 
I've still been pretty under the weather from the everlasting flu that I caught at the beginning of the month (just found out I have pneumonia and a sinus infection, which are both common leftovers from the flu), so getting as much sleep as possible has been crucial this week. I was coughing so much that it was hard to sleep, but the past few nights the coughing has been a bit better so I've really well and I'm extremely thankful for that. Nothing like sleep to make you feel better!

...And that's it for this week! I hope you can find the time to look back and reflect on your #SJOTW today, too...

​Have a great weekend!

Oh you guys, it's been quite the week and a half. In case you missed it on social media, I'll catch you up: last Thursday, I came down with a bad case of what turned out to be Flu B. It landed me in the hospital over the weekend and I've been sick ever since--the sickest I've been as an adult, I believe.

Then on Tuesday, Charlie Mae started showing some symptoms, so I took her in on Wednesday and found out that she has it now, too. Luckily, hers doesn't seem to be as bad since she got the flu vaccine, but it's still super sad. {Keep your fingers crossed for Ben!} 

But during this time, I was mostly in bed, feeling like I was dying, falling further and further behind on life, work, baby preparations, and taking care of my child, and it was no bueno. I'm finally back to functioning (although not quite 100% yet) and am hoping to be back to teaching tomorrow morning. PHEW!

So, simple joys. These are going to be *really* simple because I haven't been able to do much or experience much since I got sick...

HEAR: Maren Morris' New Album, Girl
Maren Morris put out her second album last month and I've been enjoying it ever since. It's quite poppy, which doesn't bother me at all but does make me wonder if she's on the T. Swift trajectory...either way, I def recommend it!

​SEE: Charlie Mae eating ice cream
If there is one thing that makes our girlie happy even when she's sick, it's an ice cream cone. I took her to get one after her pediatrician's appointment on Wednesday and it was adorable watching her eat it and seeing how much joy it brought her. I have to say, when it comes to ice cream, I understand the feeling ;) 

TASTE: Getting my taste buds back ;)
I always forget how much it sucks to lose your sense of taste until I lose it and then get it back...taste buds are amazing! Sure is nice to taste my food again.  

SMELL: Throat Coat Tea
I haven't been able to smell anything since I got sick, so I'll just say this tea, since it's a favorite when my throat hurts and I'm coughing as much as I have been. My mom sent it to me when I first got sick and I was so appreciative. 

TOUCH: Sleeping 
When I was super sick, I was coughing so much that I couldn't sleep (plus Tamiflu causes insomnia for me, so that didn't help). All I wanted to do was sleep and I couldn't. For the past two nights I've finally been able to sleep again and it has been heavenly. THE LITTLE THINGS, AMIRITE!??!

And there you have it! The most basic of basic simple pleasures. I hope your week was better than mine and full of life's little joys! See you back here next week.  

Here we are at the end of March and I can hardly believe it!  Now that I'm pregnant, these weeks passing so quickly have an entirely different meaning; what do you mean I only have 4-ish months left to prepare for this little babe joining our family? How can that be possible? And yet, here we are, knocking on the door of April. 

Thus, I'm thankful that this blog forces me to slow down + reflect on my #SJOTW, which in turn helps to ground me + keep me from getting too spun up about what lies ahead. 

​What made you smile over the past 7 days? Here are a few of the little things that brought me happiness...

HEAR: "Saturday Nights" by Khalid
Have you heard this song? Ben and I are both obsessed and it's been in our heads all week--ever since he asked me to dance to it with him when I came down from putting Charlie Mae to bed on Tuesday night (LOL but also very sweet). You can listen below:

​SEE: Amy Schumer Growing 
Fellow pregnant ladies + Amy Schumer-lovers, you NEED to watch this Netflix Special about being pregnant! It's so great. I watched it on Friday night while I worked on the couch (Ben was coaching) and it made me laugh so many times. She's spot-on. 

TASTE: Hard Boiled Eggs
Buying this Dash Quick Egg Cooker a few years ago was one of the better $16 investments I've ever made. I've been eating 1-2 hard boiled eggs almost every single day of my pregnancy and they've been such a great source of protein when a lot of other protein sources turn me off. 

SMELL: Aloe Gel
Welp, I've now had a bizarre itchy rash on almost my entire body for almost 2 weeks and of course, I'm blaming it on pregnancy sensitivities + hormones because I cannot for the life of me figure out what's causing it (and it's not getting better--ahhhhhhh!). Because I hate putting medicated cream on my body while pregnant, I bought some 99% pure Aloe Gel at Whole Foods this week and it's been providing a lot of relief. Hooray for natural remedies!

TOUCH: Pedicure
Life has been so insane over the past few months that I haven't even been able to find the time to sneak out and get a pedicure. I usually go during a work day when CM is at daycare (and just bring my laptop and work), but even that had proved to be too much until yesterday. I finally found a window of time (and the motivation to make it happen) yesterday afternoon and it was great! No more dry, creepy toe talons on this girl. You're welcome, yoga students (HAHA). 

And there you go! Another week of simple joys in the bag. Hope you can find the time to reflect on your #SJOTW today, too. 

​Locals: I'm teaching my Spring Awakening Detox + Restore workshop at Centerville Yoga tonight (6-8pm) if you're around. Would love to see you there!

Hope you have a great weekend *full* of simple, sensory pleasures...

Some weeks are such a blur! And this one definitely was. I have an astounding amount of work on my plate right now (which is great--I'm thankful for it!), so I basically spent every "free" moment of the week on my laptop, working on logo designs + websites and emailing clients. But it's all fun work that I love so I'm not complaining ;)

How was your week? I hope lovely and filled with simple joys! Here are some of the little things that made me happy over the past 7 days...

HEAR: "Yoga Feels" Playlist on Spotify
I can't remember how I found this playlist (I didn't make it, I just stumbled across it), but I found it about a year ago and have been following it ever since. The person who created it adds a few new songs to it every month and it's not your average yoga playlist--a lot of the songs aren't songs I would actually play in my classes, but I love flowing to them. I did a home practice to this playlist earlier this week and it was just the lift I needed. If you're on Spotify check it out!

SEE: The Marvelous Ms. Maisel
You know how when you're part of a couple you have the shows you watch together and the shows you watch separately--if your partner isn't home or has fallen asleep on the couch? Well, this is my new only-me show and I'm loving it. It's just the lighthearted, fun little piece of entertainment that I need right now and I'm already looking forward to watching it tonight while Ben is out coaching. 

TASTE: Lemon Ginger Energy Bites 
At the Yoga + Ayurveda Mini-Retreat that I co-led last weekend, my co-leader, Maria, made these amazing Lemon Ginger Energy Bites for us. The recipe above isn't the exact same one she made, but it's close enough. They were SO delicious! Now I just need to motivate myself to make them at home...

SMELL: Interior house paint drying
While I don't actually like the smell of paint drying, I do love when a house project is finished, so this week the scent of paint was welcome one. In preparation for Baby #2 we're going to be moving Charlie Mae's bedroom downstairs, and as a part of that we had to convert a weird former-closet-turned-shelving-unit in our guest bedroom back into an actual closet. We had our favorite local handyman do this for us and he finished the project this week. It may be the most expensive basic closet anyone has ever paid for (lol), but we're excited about it. Hooray for home improvement! 

TOUCH: Sunshine + bubbles 
We've had a few sunny days in the past week that were just warm enough for us to put on our coats and get outside for a few hours. During this time we spent LOTS of time blowing bubbles, swinging in the hammock (or on the swings at the playground), and coloring in chalk. And truly, one of my favorite things is just sitting in the warm sun with Charlie Mae, blowing bubbles. There's a meditative quality about it that slows me down and gets me grounded. She's my little mindfulness teacher! Also, thank goodness for spring weather. 

And there you go! I hope you can find some time to reflect on your SJOTW today, too...

I'm sorry, but how is it mid-March? I mean, this is getting ridiculous. Especially with a pregnancy/baby countdown going on each week...

So let's slow things down! Here are a few of the simple, sensory pleasures that brought me joy this week...

HEAR: To Live and Die in LA [Podcast]
Have you heard of this podcast? It's another investigative true crime series, but this one is about an ongoing, open Missing Person case and it's crazy (it's also very sad, of course). I started listening this week and have already binged all 5 available episodes. Highly recommend if you're into these kinds of shows, too!

SEE: Warmer temps/CM at the playground
It's been much warmer outside this week, so on Wednesday Charlie Mae and I ventured to the playground for the first time in months. There was still quite a bit of snow on the ground in the shady spots, but the swings and slides were dry and she was so thrilled it was like she was at an amusement park. And it made me very excited for actual spring. 

TASTE: Blueberry Rx Bars 
I've been a longtime Lara Bar devotee, but when I got pregnant, they started turning me off for some reason (argh!). So, I turned to Rx Bars in the hopes that they would be a better fit for my hormone-fueled taste buds and they were! Especially this flavor. They've been my go-to on-the-go snack for a while now and I'm so thankful for them. 

SMELL: Fire in the fireplace
Somehow, we just had our first fire of the winter (I know?!) last weekend and we all loved it. I guess we'd forgotten how relaxing and beautiful they are?! Although I'm definitely ready for spring, I wouldn't mind another fire or two before we say an official goodbye to winter...

TOUCH: This Maternity Sweatshirt
I got this super comfy French Terry maternity sweatshirt in two different colors and it has become my uniform. Leggings, a tank, + this sweatshirt pulled over = what I wear basically every day. If you're pregnant and have a middle-to-biggish size bump, you need one. 

And there you go! I hope you can find some time to reflect on your simple joys of the week today, too. 

Also, if you're local, there's still room in my Inner Spring Cleaning/Yoga + Ayurveda Mini-Retreat with Maria Ferguson this weekend! It's Sunday from 11-5 at Centerville Yoga. Check out the details + sign up here. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Above: the best shot I could get of my dad + CM together during his quick visit this week. The girl HATES pictures! At least my dad looks happy ;) 
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It's been two weeks since my last SJOTW and a lot has happened in my little world in those 2 weeks. As I wrote in yesterday's newsletter, I've been IN IT with my mom's health and that has been consuming most of my time and energy lately. I was in GA taking care of her last weekend and then I got sick for a few days when I returned, so it's all been a bit of a blur...

And yet, here we are! March, International Women's Day, and *almost* Daylight Savings Time. Phew. 

So, let's go ahead and talk SJOTW. Here's what brought me joy over the past 7 days:

HEAR: "If You're Going Through Hell" by Rodney Atkins
Funny enough, this old country song by Rodney Atkins has been in my head all week. Don't worry--I don't think I'm really in hell right now (haha)--but I do love the sentiment behind the song and it's an oldie that always gets me up and going. I've listened to it multiple times over the past few days and it's made me very happy. 

SEE: My dad
My dad was coming through Boston on his way home from a trip to Maine earlier this week, so he stopped by for 36-ish hours and it was really special. He and Charlie Mae have gotten super close and it warms my heart to see them together. She kept telling me that "Baba is my best friend" and I could hardly stand it. 

TASTE: Kayak Cookies!!!!!!
These are hands-down my favorite cookies and it had been waayyyyy too long since I'd had one. Yesterday, I interviewed the owner/baker/founder of the company for Built on Cape Cod (get excited about that one!) and as a thoughtful treat, she brought me some cookies. Ben, CM, and I enjoyed them together after dinner last night and we were all in heaven. Btw, you can order them online and I HIGHLY recommend that you do!

SMELL: Honey
I recently read that honey is just as effective in treating a bad cough as cough medicine, so honey has been my treatment of choice this week. Obviously, being pregnant, there's not a lot you can take to treat bad colds, congestion, and cough, so I've just been trusting my body to get over it and using honey, tea, and cough drops like a champ. I think it's working! {I know honey doesn't really have a scent, but just go with it...}

TOUCH: Caring for my mom
When a loved one is sick or dealing with major illness and you live far away, it feels really bad. Before going to see my mom, I felt so distant and helpless--like I wasn't doing enough. Obviously just a few days with her still wasn't enough (and I'll probably go down again soon), but it did make me feel better to see her, touch her, and be able to help her with the things she can't do for herself right now. 

And that's it for this hard week! I hope you can find some time to reflect on your #SJOTW today, too.

Quick reminder: this Sunday (3/10) is the last day to enjoy early bird pricing for my upcoming 1-day Yoga + Ayurveda "Mini-Retreat" at Centerville Yoga on 3/17. Learn more and sign up here.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Phew, it's been a week​. But we made it to Friday and life is still moving forward and we just do the best we can, right? So here we are. 

And here are a few of the simple, sensory joys that have brought me happiness during this challenging week...

HEAR: "Don't Hold Your Breath" by Wookiefoot
This song is on my February class playlist and I love it. It always comes on at just the right time in my classes and provides a wonderful energy boost when we need it. Listen below.

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SEE: Charlie Mae playing in the snow
Watching children play in the snow is magical. It just brings them so much joy! We didn't get a ton of snow this week, but we got enough for Charlie Mae to spend a few hours scooping it up with a shovel and having the time of her life. I loved watching her have so much fun. 

TASTE: Homemade Rice Krispie Treats
I had a crazy pregnancy craving for Rice Krispie Treats last weekend, so I looked up a recipe (here's the one I used), bought the ingredients, and Charlie Mae and I made them one afternoon. How long has it been since you've had a homemade Rice Krispie Treat? Do you know how delicious they are? And how easy they are to make? We all loved having them around over the weekend (Ben enjoyed them a little too much...) and I have to say, I'm tempted to buy more ingredients this weekend...

SMELL: Aquaphor Healing Ointment
I know Aquaphor doesn't actually smell very good, but it has felt so good on my crazy dry winter skin (and expanding belly). We have tons of the stuff leftover from when CM was a baby, so I've been using it myself and been quite pleased with the results. 

TOUCH: Haircut
I got a much-needed haircut yesterday and it felt so good! And my hair feels so healthy! You know the feeling so I don't need to explain it to you, but I really needed that little pick-me-up. 

And there you have it! I look forward to seeing some of you at tonight's [sold out] workshop and I hope your weekend is full of simple joys.