These weeks...this life...so fill of ups and downs. Such a rollercoaster!

As I'm sure you saw, we lost my Great Aunt this week. But also my dad and his girlfriend were in town through yesterday (when my dad returned early to be with grieving family), and having them visit was really, really wonderful. But also I was pretty sick the first few days of this week, which was a bummer. But also we had a promising lead in the Sayde situation (fingers crossed + please send good thoughts!). It all just keeps on coming, doesn't it? The good, the bad, the sad, and everything in between. This is it, y'all.  

So lets talk simple joys. What made you smile this week? My favorite simple pleasures of the past 7 days are below...

HEAR: Without Fail Podcast
Another great podcast! There are so many good ones out there, with more amazing shows popping up every day, but I was an immediate fan of this one. It's hosted by Alex Blumberg, CEO of Gimlet Media and former host of Startup (Season 1 is one of my all time fave seasons of any show), and he interviews successful people in a really honest, down-to-Earth way. Worth a listen, I promise. 

SEE: Charlie Mae with my dad + his GF, Emily
During this visit, I saw Charlie Mae at her most comfortable with my dad and Emily. She's always loved both of them, but on this trip it felt like I could really do anything I needed and she was fine staying home with them. They put her to sleep 3 of the 5 nights they were here, they watched her when I had meetings, they let me sleep when I was sick and she was fine turning things over to them...it was so great seeing her have so much fun with family AND realizing that someday, maybe they could come stay with her while Ben and I go on vacay (a girl can dream, right?)... 

TASTE: Anniversary dinner (we went on a date!!!)
Ben and I went on a date while we had built-in childcare + celebrated our anniversary! It was so delicious and fun, despite the fact that I was sick on the date (#momlife). We went to our anniversary dinner staple, Villagio Ristorante, and as usual, it did not disappoint. 

SMELL: Cough drops + honey
Charlie Mae is obsessed with honey (because of course she is) and because of this, we've been having honey on toast quite a bit these days. Or should I say, she's been having honey on toast, and when she doesn't finish hers, I do, because it's really delicious. I was also extremely thankful for honey in my tea this week, as it was a big help in keeping me from coughing while teaching yoga--as were cough drops. Cough drops + honey to the rescue!

TOUCH: Shipping out a BIG wholesale greeting card order (500 cards!)
Last week, I received my biggest wholesale card order to date. For a small "shop" like me, 500 cards is a ton of cards to package up and send out all at once. I hadn't realized how long it might take me alone, so when my dad and Emily volunteered to stuff cards for me while they were here--and it then took the two of them a couple of hours to complete (!!!)--I was extremely thankful. Shipping that big, heavy box out yesterday felt great.

And there you go! That's it for this week. I hope you can find the time to reflect on your #SJOTW today, too. 

Btw, have you listened to Built on Cape Cod yet? This weekend is your chance to catch up; a new episode drops Tuesday!

Oh my goodness, these weeks are so tiring! Not every week [well...kind of every week because #momlife], but the really busy work weeks in which your toddler also takes 7637456 hours to do anything--especially got to bed, go to the restroom, or leave the house... 

Also, it's fall now and waking up at 5am to teach every morning this week (for my seasonal AM Yoga Challenge) has been weird; it was like waking up in the middle of the night every night. Phew. 

But I hope you had a great week and are enjoying this gorgeous fall so far! Also, I hope you can find some time to reflect on your simple joys today. Here are some of mine...

HEAR: "August & Everything After" by Counting Crows
I've been on a throwback music kick lately and have been listening to some of my favorite old albums while I work. This one still holds up all these years later and brings me just as much joy now as it did back in 1993 when it first came out (although I think I actually "discovered" it quite a few years after that...). You can listen to one of my favorite songs from this album below.

SEE: A clean house
I've mentioned this here many time before, but I'll say it again for anyone who hasn't heard me say it yet: hiring a cleaning company (shout-out CleanGreen!) to clean our house once per month has been one of the best "investments" we've ever made. And I say investment because it feel like that--an investment in my sanity and in taking care of our house. Anyways, they came to clean this week, which forced me to spend an hour "straightening" before they could come deep clean (as you do), and after they left I felt 10x lighter. The best!

TASTE: Homemade Scones {at Captain David Kelley's House, a B&B here on Cape Cod}
Charlie Mae and I were invited to a special breakfast at this local B&B on Friday and it did *not* disappoint. The owners, Rick + Tom, are famous for their "Scone Wars" competition, which has resulted in the best scones I have ever tried, hands-down. Charlie Mae agreed--she ate almost 2 on her own! So, so, SO delicious.

SMELL: Badger Sweet Orange Aromatherapy Massage Oil
I decided to switch it up and change the massage oil that I use when giving assists/teaching yoga, and I'm really glad that I did because I discovered this amazing scent. It was hard for me to make the switch after using my old scent (Lavender + Balsam Fir) for almost 4 years, but this was worth the switcheroo. 

TOUCH: Chilly air when sleeping with the windows open
Sleeping with the windows open [in the spring and fall] is so lovely. I adore chilly mornings and the kind of weather that requires a comfy sweatshirt and thick socks. Not to be the most cliche/basic girl ever, but I love the fall! This is my season. 

...And there you have it! Have a wonderful weekend. Ben and I are celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary tomorrow and my dad is coming in town for a week, so it should be a fun one around here!

I'll see you back here next week.

This week in politics...ugh. I'm not even going to go there except to say that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is an American Hero and a very, very brave woman. I have so much respect and gratitude for what she is doing. 

Where am I going to go? Simple joys, that's where. Here are some of the little things that brought me happiness over the past week...

HEAR: Doctor Death Podcast
Have you listened to this podcast yet? It's another super addictive one; it's really disturbing, too--but very eye-opening [especially in it's exploration into the medical community/medical "business" in our country and how it can fail to keep us safe from bad doctors]. Highly recommend! I blew through all 5 episodes in just a few days. 

SEE: Friends/people (haha)...while staying out past 11:30 for the first time in months (years?!) at an actual party (I know, who am I!?!?)
I know some moms bounce back to their social lives right away after having a child, but I am not one of those moms. As you know by now, Charlie Mae never took a bottle and breastfed before bed until like 14 months, so I was the only one who could put her to sleep for a very long time. Combine that with our long road of sleepless nights and the fact that I teach 3 nights per week and you'll see why I haven't gotten out much since she was born. But this past weekend my dear friend turned 40 and I made it out WAY past bedtime. I had a *BLAST!* I haven't laughed that hard in quite a while and being a person--an adult at a party--instead of a mom or a wife or a solopreneur felt really, really amazing. I vow here and now to do more of it. 

TASTE: Breakfast out with the fam [at Spoon & Seed]
Last weekend, we went to breakfast as a family at one of our favorite places and as usual, it did not disappoint. Charlie Mae even ate an entire (huge) piece of French Toast (what she chose off of the menu, of course)! It was lovely leaving the house for Sunday breakfast + enjoying a good meal together. Again, it had been a little too long...

SMELL: Fall
Cliche, I know, but it has felt like fall here over the past week or so and I am not upset about it. Sure, sunshine + beach days are great, but man does fall feel like a breath of fresh air after the crazy summer. I can't quite name the scent outside, but it's crisp and refreshing and makes me very happy. 

TOUCH: Ice pack on my foot (oops)
Charlie Mae and I were dancing/jumping up and down/acting crazy yesterday and I turned my ankle in some stupid way, landed on my foot, and got pretty injured. At first I went down a rabbit hole of assuming I'd broken my foot and wouldn't be able to do anything or teach for months and freaked out [inside], but once a few hours had gone by and I was able to start hobbling around again, I came down off of that cliff. I'm still limping and it's swollen pretty badly, but I think I'll be okay. Phew. That being said, our handy dandy ice pack has felt SO good on my foot. 

Other very simple SJOTW? Launching Built on Cape Cod (have you listened yet?), reading This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare by Gabourey Sidibe (so good!), and seeing all of your sweatshirt/pullover pre-orders come in! Thanks so much to everyone who has placed an order :)

Last promotional note of the week: there's still room in my Juice + Loose Morning Yoga Challenge at Centerville Yoga next week! It's Monday-Friday from 6:30-7:30. Details here.

Woohoo! Getting to Friday feels really exciting today--I need a weekend right now. This week was another one full of Sayde-related ups-and-downs (we thought we'd found someone who was going to adopt her and then he changed his mind...sigh) but we got through it and now we're here.

I'm headed off to Love Yoga Fest (Cape Cod's yoga festival) in a few to teach a morning class so I'm going to jump right in: what brought you joy over the past week? My #SJOTW are below...

HEAR: Eminem's new album, Kamikaze
Did you see/hear that Eminem dropped a surprise album out of nowhere on August 31st? And that it's getting rave reviews and is really good? I've been loving it and am really happy that he's bounced back after his poorly-reviewed album last year. Warning: if you didn't like Eminem's music in the past, you still won't like this one (duh). But no matter what you think of him, you have to admit that he's a CRAZY talented rapper!

SEE: Queer Eye on Netflix
I was listening to a podcast and someone said that this season's Queer Eye makes them feel like all is right in the world and I have to agree. It's SO good. Ben and I are both totally into it and QE has become our new carefree, feel-good, go-to show. And we can't get enough of Jonathan! Ahhhh! If you need a good emotional boost you should watch it immediately. 

TASTE: BeReal Edible Bakeable Cookie Dough
OMG, you guyyyysssssss, I was given a container of this new cookie dough by the fabulous Jitka Borowick after a meeting we had the other day and it blew. my. mind. It's organic, plant-based (?), and gluten-free and you might think that that would mean that it isn't very good but it is divine. Seriously. It's made right here on Cape Cod and I am obsessed. I can't wait to share it with all of the gluten-free people in my life!

SMELL: Ouidad Vitacurl Define + Shine Styling Cream
My hair isn't naturally straight or curly; it's naturally frizzy, lumpy waves. As you can imagine, that's not a great look. BUT, the good news is that I can go straight or wavy-curls depending on the products I use, and I'm very thankful that my stylist (shout-out Kate Scott!) introduced me to this cream. It has worked wonders on rainy weeks like this past week and has saved me many hours of blow-drying lately. Oh, and it smells great, too ;) 

​TOUCH: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
While filing this book under "touch" might be a bit of a stretch, calling it a simple joy (despite the fact that it's heart-wrenching) is not. Even when a book is emotionally challenging, reading at night before bed is ALWAYS one of my favorite simple joys of the week--and when I come across a book that I can't put down, it's always a really good problem. This book falls into that category. It's been on my reading list forever and when I finally got it I finished it in just under a week. It's a serious must-read. 

And there you have it! Hope to see some of you at the festival this weekend! If not, I'll see you back here next week. 

​Hope your weekend is full of simple joys!

Hello, mid-September! Another crazy week has come + gone and here we are: SJOTW-time! I'm going to jump right in today because I've gotta be back on mama duty in just a few...

Here are some of the simple pleasures that brought me joy this week. What made you smile over the past 7 days? 

HEAR: "I Am Light" by India.Arie
This song! It's SO beautiful. I heard it in another instructor's class (shout-out Stephanie) and immediately added it tothis month's class playlist. It gets me every time + makes me feel all warm + fuzzy inside. You can listen below: 

​
SEE: Charlie Mae using the potty (!!!)
Seemingly out of nowhere (to me, at least), Charlie Mae is potty trained! Last Friday she was walking around naked in the morning (as you do) and she just went into the bathroom and peed in her potty on her own.  When I saw what she did I knew it was go-time, so I read everything I could find about the 3-day potty training method, we cleared our schedule, and by Monday she had it! I hope it doesn't sound like I'm bragging here; we've had SO many parenting challenges that I have to celebrate the small wins as they come. And I can't take any credit--the girl was just ready. Phew and hooray! 

TASTE: Kashi Original 7 Grain Crackers
It's been a while since I've praised these crackers and it's time I do so again; they are my absolute fave and have been for 10+ years now. Over the summer, our Whole Foods stopped carrying them and I couldn't find them anywhere--it was a cracker drought and it was not great. But then last week I went to another local grocery store and found them there AND they were on sale--it was a miracle! I bought almost all of the boxes off of the shelf and am now willing to bet that I'm the most Kashi cracker-rich person on Cape Cod. They're soooo good!

SMELL: New Nike Free sneaks [gifted from my brother]
My youngest brother, Patrick, interned at Nike this summer and got a very sweet employee discount. As a part of that discount, everyone in the family got a pair of Nikes at some point over the past few months, and I was lucky enough to get two (thanks, Patty!). The most recent pair that he got me is this pair of Frees and they are crazy comfortable. I mean, crazy. I had some Frees years ago but they've really upped the comfort factor since then. 

TOUCH: Indoor Cycle class at Elite Nation Cycle/Wellbeloved Wellness
Speaking of things that I had or did years ago: spin classes. I was pretty into spinning for a little while when I lived in NYC, but had only taken one spin (or "indoor cycle," as it's now called) since I lived there. Enter Elite Nation Cycle and I'm really enjoying it again! I've been going to a 6am class on Thursday mornings and I love getting that intense workout + wake-up first thing in the AM. Man those classes make me sweaty, too.

And there you have it! If you're local, I hope to see you at Centerville Yoga tonight for my seasonal slow flow + restorative yoga workshop from 6-8pm (sign up here). If not, have a great weekend and I'll see you back here next week!

What a weird week! I've been a bit off, have you? I think it's because we were traveling through Monday, and then came home to a short 4-day week in which we were trying to cram everything in and recover from a trip. That's always a doozy for the old mom-noggin ;) 

But lets jump right in and talk simple, sensory joys, shall we? Most of mine are centered around our trip to GA for my grandmother's 90th birthday party because it was a really special trip. My biggest SJOTW was being there to celebrate her with my extended family, of course. We haven't all gotten together like that in a really long time and there was so much love for my grandmother in the room; she is a very special person. Also, Charlie Mae was a TOTAL rockstar on this trip so that helped ;)  

What brought you happiness over the past 7 days? I encourage you to take a little time to reflect today, it always helps me slow down time and connect with a sense of gratitude. Anyway, here are my fave simple pleasures from this week...

HEAR: Room for Squares by John Mayer (circa 2001)
I posted about this on my Instagram story, but I'll say it again here because it was a big simple joy this week: I revisited this album from my high school years this week and it took. me. back. I still know all of the words and it reminds me so much of that time period of my life--especially of cruising around in my first car and feeling really free (but of course I was also a total mess emotionally because: adolescence). Anyways, I love the album despite the fact that John Mayer is so insufferable now and listening to it has been really fun. 

SEE: Charlie Mae with my family
I know I say this every time I see family, but seriously, it was incredible seeing Charlie Mae interact with my side of the family on this trip--especially because she is so verbal now and can really communicate and play with them in a whole new way. She bonded with my brothers more than she ever has before, she knew everyone's names and wanted to know what they were doing at every moment, and she seemed to really connect with them as her family. It was beautiful to watch. 

TASTE: Breakfast at The Flying Biscuit Cafe in Atlanta (esp the grits + biscuits...OMG!)
My brother told me that this restaurant (now a chain) has become a touristy place, but I remember when the first location first opened and we could walk to it from where we lived and it was a total local's spot, so I will always feel like a special local's-only find to me. And every time I go home I have to eat there--I don't think the quality of the food has changed at all in 25 years and I love it so much. Where are the "Creamy Dreamy Grits" on Cape Cod, y'all?  

SMELL: Raw Sugar Hand Wash
When we were at my dad's house, he had this hand wash sitting on the counter in his bathroom. Every time I washed my hands I thought, "Woah, Dad, look at you with the special expensive organic hand wash!" Turns out you can just get it at Target and it's not that expensive but it sure looked like a luxury product sitting there in his dad bathroom. And oh, the scent! So good. 

TOUCH: Playground workouts in GA 
One of Ben's best qualities is his ability to turn any wooden or metal structure into a workout apparatus. On our trip last weekend, he did just that at the local playground (x3!). While Charlie Mae played, we rotated playing with her or pushing her in the swing and did three different playground workouts over the course of the trip. It was awesome! It kept me feeling good while eating all of the foods in Atlanta and was a fun way for us to bond. Thanks, Ben!

And there you have it. See you back here next week!

I hope your weekend is full of simple, sensory joys. 

Today is Charlie Mae's 2nd birthday! Our little nugget has been around the sun twice now. I can hardly believe it.

Obviously, this means that I had to interrupt my regular SJOTW programming to share some pics of our girlie + turn this week's edition of this column into a Charlie Mae-focused extravaganza ;)

So, here are some [mostly] Charlie Mae-centric simple, sensory joys from the past week + summer...

HEAR: Charlie Mae's singing voice + wide range of songs
Charlie Mae can sing, y'all. She knows so many songs that they're not worth listing here at this point, but suffice it to say that she can sing the the entire ABCs and has been singing happy birthday to herself, to Sayde, to her blanket, and to all of her stuffed animals for weeks now. I love how high, loud, and off-tune her voice can be when she sings and how much she enjoys singing everything from show tunes to Elmo songs. We have fun.

[PS. I have a great video of her singing her ABCs that I'll share in my Instagram story today if you want to see it!]

SEE: Charlie Mae wearing the two *adorable* handmade dresses that she was given as birthday gifts
Do you see the precious dress that Charlie Mae is wearing in her 2-year pic above? That dress was HANDMADE by Starr Struck's very own Sara! She sent her two handmade dresses that arrived last week and they are both the sweetest things ever. Thanks SO much, Sara!  

TASTE: Family ice cream outings
This summer has been a really busy one for us as a family (work-wise + schedule-wise, not necessarily social engagement-wise) and we haven't spent as much time together as a family unit as I would have liked. But, we have made the time to go out to ice cream as a family at least once per week, and it's been a definite highlight. Charlie Mae can eat some serious ice cream and so can her parents, so we've all enjoyed it. We went this week and as usual, it was delicious and fun. 

SMELL: Charlie Mae's scent
I know I'm not the only crazy person who smells my child's clothes, blankets, and pajamas after I take them off of her, right!!?!? It's a pretty wild thing how biologically, we are so drawn towards the scents of our loved ones. Even if I had no other senses, if I smelled Charlie Mae, I would recognize her anywhere; it's my favorite scent in the whole wide world. The biology of motherhood is pretty awesome. 

TOUCH: Wrestling with Charlie Mae on the bed
Yesterday, despite having plans to go to a playground and then storytime, Charlie Mae and I ended up spending the entire morning at home, instead. The reason for this? We were just having too much fun. And when I asked her if she wanted to go, she said, "No, stay home and wrestle and snuggle with mommy." So that's what we did (after I picked myself up off of the floor where I had become a puddle of love). Snuggling and wrestling in "the big bed" with Charlie Mae is one of my favorite activities. 

And there you have it! Just like that, it's been 2 years since I gave birth to Charlie Mae; and what a wild, beautiful, exhausting, and love-filled 2 years it's been! 

If you missed the first year or so of her life as it was captured here on the blog, you can check out the posts below to get caught up:

• Charlie Mae's Birth Story
• Charlie Mae's Newborn Shoot
• Charlie Mae's First Birthday Party
• Charlie Mae's First Birthday Shoot
  
  

Thanks for being a part of this motherhood journey with me! 

I almost didn't have it in me to write a blog post today. It was another really hard week around here; one of the toughest in a long time.

In fact, when I think back on this summer, I realize it's been a pretty hard one for us, in general. Life has thrown quite a few challenging blows our way since June, and sometimes it's really hard to keep going with the basics--especially the optional responsibilities like writing SJOTW every Friday--when life is so emotionally-draining.

But then I sat down to see what would come out when I started writing and I realized, hey, even though this week was tough there was [as usual!!!] still so much to be thankful for. Especially simple things. So here goes...

HEAR: Bluetooth in my NEW car 
We found out late last week that my car was done (for us). We've put enough $$ into it in the past few years that we had decided if and when it needed a ton more work, we would cut our losses and just get a new one. That time finally came last week, so last weekend, we went and got me a new car (more on that below!). One of my *very* favorite things about my new car? The bluetooth. I've never had bluetooth before and it's a game-changer. From listening to podcasts, to playing Charlie Mae's favorite music, to talking on the phone, it's the BEST. 

SEE: Leslie Patricelli Board Books
If you have a toddler, you must have some of these books. You probably already do, but if you don't, get some immediately. They're some of my absolute favorites; I love the illustrations, I love the simplicity, I love the humor, and I love what they teach Charlie Mae. Sara (Starr Struck's very own!) sent us a package with 3 more hand-me-down Patricelli books yesterday and it was so fun reading these new books at bedtime last night. 

TASTE: Burrito from our FAVORITE burrito place [that I thought had closed!!!! Shout-out Mi Pueblo!]
Earlier this summer, I went to our favorite burrito place on their last week of being open. They confirmed that it was their last week when I sadly picked up our to-go order, and that was that. We've been missing it ever since. But yesterday, we were near it's old location and hungry, and Ben said that he wanted to double-check that they were really, truly closed (I assured him they were). But they weren't!!! We were THRILLED! Somehow they were able to stay open through the summer, so we got burritos yesterday and they were just as tasty as ever. Burritos FTW!

SMELL: New car
As I've already mentioned, I got a new car this week. But what I haven't mentioned? I've never had a new car. Not a single one in my entire life--every car I've ever driven has been a family hand-me-down or used (in fact, Ben and I did a whole podcast episode about this years ago. You can listen here). But this time, I got a new car and it feels SO special! I keep telling Ben that I feel like I look so flashy driving around in it and he has to remind me that it's the world's most basic car (a white Toyota RAV4) and that I look very normal and completely blend-in. Haha! Anyways, it's so fun + it's got that new car smell which is really something when your old car smelled like stale cheerios and sunscreen...

TOUCH: Charlie Mae snuggles
I know I talk about Charlie Mae snuggles all of the time, but this week, she really did make everything so much better. I feel so lucky to be her parent. I feel so lucky that she's ours. I've found that as a parent, whenever you get devastating family news, looking at your wondrous child who is unaware and just wants you to play with her and snuggle her helps you reconnect with just how lucky you are to have what you do have, and keeps you going in a way that you might not if you didn't have your child. She really is the best.

I hope I don't sound too cryptic and annoying in today's post...just like when were dealing with the Sayde tragedy earlier this summer (BTW, we're *still* looking for a home for her if you have any leads!), when it was fresh and I was still processing everything, I wasn't ready to talk about it here. But eventually, I was able to. Same goes for this recent sadness--I promise I'll talk about it eventually, I'm just not ready to yet.

If nothing else, I hope that today's post reminds you that even when life hits you with a big blow, there are still many glimmers of joy to be found (especially if you just happen to buy a new car that very same week, HAHAHAHA).

Thanks for keeping me positive by showing up here to read, and thus, keeping me showing up and reflecting on my SJOTW. 

I hope your weekend is a lovely one!

It's Friday again! They just keep on coming, don't they!? Oh, life. 

No time for messing around today so lets get right down to biznass; here's what brought me joy this week...

HEAR: I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions by Santigold
My brother sent me a text about this album a few weeks ago saying that Santigold is one of his favorite new artists he's come across in a long time; I immediately started listening--because he's a music snob but he has good taste--and I was hooked. She's so great! Listen to one of my faves from this album below:

​
​SEE: This video [of an amazing lady killing it at Missy Elliot karaoke]
Some people just have it, ya know? And this woman, she does. This video made my week and maybe my month. I feel like she is basically me in another 10-15 years. Scroll down on this article to view the full video. It's SO good! The sound effects are the best. {Shout-out to my friend Jessica for sharing it with me!}

TASTE: All of the summer fruits.
We've had the following fruit in the house this week: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and watermelon. We're living the summer fruit dream over here and it's making m really happy. Well actually, I would have been happier if I didn't feel the pressure to save most of the berries for Charlie Mae, but still, SO good. 

SMELL: Charlie Mae's hair while I breastfed her for the last time
I'm sure you already read the post about it, but in case you didn't, it's here. So yeah, nuzzling Charlie Mae's hair and smelling her amazing scent while trying to soak up our last breastfeeding "session" was pretty special. And sad (but in a good, love-filled way). 

​TOUCH: My new yoga tanks--they're in!
I am so happy with how my new yoga tanks turned out. ​They're super comfy, stretchy, soft, and roomy. Just how I like my yoga tops ;) Hopefully you've already received yours + you agree (if you pre-ordered)...and to those who didn't pre-order but want one, there are only a handful of smalls + mediums left so buy quickly! 

Also, a huge thanks to everyone who joined me for my AM Yoga Challenge this week! It's been *SO* fun and a total #SJOTW. Oh, and the beach last weekend--that was another great simple joy (but you can only list the beach every Friday of the summer for so long, you know!?!?). 

Have a great weekend!

Boom: here we are. First Friday in August. This is Charlie Mae's birthday month (she'll be 2 on the 24th!) and I can't believe we're here already. 

Also, happy International Breastfeeding Week! I started a post about my breastfeeding experience (we're still going but it's coming to an end) and had hoped to get it up this week, but alas, it will be coming next week instead. Stay tuned for that (for those of you who care about BF, haha). 

In the meantime, lets talk simple, sensory joys! Here's what made me smile over the past week....

HEAR: Amy Schumer Presents: 3 Girls, 1 Keith Podcast
I love Amy Schumer so it's no surprise that I also love her new podcast. Not sure why it took me so long to find out about it (it came out in late June) but I'm glad I finally did! If you like her humor, you'll really enjoy this one. 

SEE: Charlie Mae with her "Mingo" float
Charlie Mae's Great Aunt (shout-out Ninny!) gave her a flamingo float at the lake last weekend and it basically made her life. It also made mine to see how much she LOVED riding in this thing and floating in the water. She even tried to ride it at home and was kissing it all afternoon. We're headed back to the lake with Mingo today; I can't wait to watch her fall in love all over again. 

TASTE: Plum tomatoes from our very own tomato plant :) 
I don't have a green thumb and would never pretend that I do. I love the idea of being a person who has a veggie garden in the backyard, but at this point in my life I'm just not there. Maybe in a few years...(a girl can dream!)? However, my mother-in-law planted a few tomato plants in pots for us at the beginning of the summer and they've now been producing ripe tomatoes and it's so fun! They're really tasty--like little pieces of healthy candy. 

SMELL: Rodan + Fields Lash Boost
To be fair, I don't know if this has a scent or not, but I'm going to pretend it does so that I can give it a shout-out. If you've seen me in-person lately, you might have noticed that my lashes are WAY longer than they've ever been in my life. That's because of this little product that I've been using. It's like clear eyeliner that you just swipe onto your top lash line at night...a few weeks later, voila! Your lashes are super long and lush! Huge fan. If you need a R+F rep/contact shoot me an email and I'll connect you with mine :) 

TOUCH: Cleaning out my studio (!!!)
I'm sure you saw on Instagram (and the blog post about my original art sale), but in case you didn't, let me tell you that I spent a few hours cleaning out my workspace this week (it had become almost unworkable + super overwhelming) and it feels AMAZING. There's nothing like a big cleaning to make you feel refreshed + more clearheaded, ya know? 

And there you go; another week in the books. I hope you have a lovely weekend and can find the time to reflect on your simple, sensory joys of the week today, too. 

Also: my Juice + Loose AM Yoga Challenge is happening next week at Centerville Yoga! There aren't many spaces left but you can still sign up through Saturday. Learn more + reserve your space here. 

Have a great weekend!

The last full week in July has come + gone...I hope you guys are mentally ready for August because I'm certainly not! Charlie Mae will be 2 next month (?!!?).

But how was your week? As usual, mine was crazy fast, crazy full, and totally enhanced by all of the simple joys that I was able to experience. Here are some of my faves...

HEAR: "Boys" by Lizzo
Once again, Lizzo FTW! But seriously, this artist is killing it! Listen to this song that she just put out and tell me it isn't one of the catchiest things you've ever heard:

​
​SEE: Charlie Mae's first 95% independent outfit
You may have seen it in my Instagram story, but in case you missed it, please look at the pic above. This outfit is the first outfit Charlie Mae has picked out completely on her own and then put on [mostly] by herself (I helped her pull up her pants + attach the velcro on the turkey bib). The girl's got style, huh? The best part is that she wore this outfit for the majority of the day on Sunday. Ben and I were dying.

TASTE: Broccoli + Kale Slaw Kit from Trader Joes
Have you had TJ's Broccoli + Kale Slaw before? Oh wow, is it tasty. Hot tip from my dad's GF: don't use all of the dressing included in the kit. Use just a tiny bit of that dressing and mix it with rice vinegar. Then pour that mixture over the salad and toss. SO good! I ate two full bags on my own over the past 7 days. 

SMELL: Dr. Praegers California Veggie Burgers
I love these veggie burgers so much! I add cheddar cheese and eat them on toasted bread and find them to be divine for a *FROZEN* veggie patty. I don't actually know if they smell amazing while cooking or not, but I do think they're delicious and make them in the Toaster Oven so I know there is a scent associated with them ;) 

TOUCH: Lake-lounging with Charlie Mae
We went to a local lake with some family last Friday and it was just the perfect spot to spend time with a toddler on a hot day. The water was warm, gentle, and shallow, the sun was perfectly intense, and there was no one there but us. I loved just sitting in the water with Charlie Mae while she played. #sweetsummertime

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

Have a great weekend!

This week = exhausting.

Emotionally, because of the Sayde post and all of the time spent processing, discussing, and working on finding her a new home, and physically, because my days with Charlie Mae have been starting much earlier. 

As she's gotten older and the summer has continued, Charlie Mae has slowly been moving up her wake-up time...she used to sleep until 7 or 7:30am every day, but over the past month she's moved to 6:30, then 6, and now, this week, she's settled at about 5:45. NO!!!! I think every parent reading this knows just how I feel. 

Anyway, even though this week was a tiring one, I was still able to identify lots of simple, sensory joys when I reflected back on the past 7 days.

What brought you happiness this week? My #SJOTW are below...

HEAR: Music + podcasts from my phone via my car speakers (aka I got an Aux Cord)
This is embarrassing, but I had absolutely NO idea that there was a thing called an "aux" outlet in my car and assumed that because I don't have a tape deck (haha) and my car cigarette lighter is broken (also haha) that I had no way to connect my phone to my car speakers. WRONG! My friend Olivia showed me that for the price of a $5 aux cord, I now have in-car iPhone listening capabilities. Welcome to the future, Mary Catherine. 

SEE: The outpouring of love + support re: Sayde
I have seriously been blown away by the response to Monday's post about Sayde. Thank you all so much for the support, messages of love and understanding, and interest in helping us find her a new home. Many of you have asked me to keep you updated and I promise I will; at this point we still don't have any promising leads but we're going to continue making calls and sending emails on our end and in the meantime, hope that some of the shares from all of you will reach the right person. 

TASTE: Ice Cream on National Ice Cream Day
Duh. But also, every day is National Ice Cream day in our family. Charlie Mae loves ice cream just as much as (or more than?) Ben and I do, and that's saying A LOT. Nothing gets our girl more excited than the words, "Want to go get ice cream?" We can't even keep it in the house because if she sees it, she wants it for every single meal. And I get it, I really do. [Also, the addictive quality of sugar is scary.]

SMELL: Neuro Style Protect HeatCTRL Iron Hairspray
Since I got my hair cut short, I've been straightening it a lot more after blow drying. When I told my stylist this, she recommended this product to protect my hair from the heat. I don't know if it's saving my hair or not (lets hope so!), but I will tell you that it's one of the best smelling products I've ever used. I smell it in my hair for at least 24 hours after using it and it's divine. 

TOUCH: Being pain-free after dealing with a *very minor* injury
I always forget how much it sucks to be injured until I get injured. I just ALWAYS take my health for granted until something goes wrong, and this past week's minor injury was no different. I had a weird wrist sprain that flared up late last week and lasted through Tuesday; it was so painful that I went to that place in my mind where I thought it was possible that I would never be able to practice yoga in the same way again. Then after a little rest it just went away and man, am I thankful to have a working wrist again. I love this old body of mine--weird aches + pains and all.

Other SJOTW? An impromptu family trip to the beach yesterday (SO lovely), a butt-kicking Barre class that left me super sore (in a good way), the perfect weather we've been having, a much-needed therapy session, and of course, lots of amazing snuggles from both of my girls. There's just so much to be grateful for in this life. 

Also, a reminder that my new yoga tanks are available for pre-order through Monday! Here's a blog post with the scoop and here's where you can purchase yours. Thanks to all of you who have purchased already!

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here next week. 

Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week. Mine was so quick it's silly, but we won't go there because I'm sick of that sentiment... ;) 

Thanks for all of the feedback you've sent my way regarding my new yoga tank design! So glad you guys like it :) The voting is fairly neck-in-neck between your 2-3 top favorites, so if you haven't voted yet please do so before the end of the day today so that it's easier for me to decide which shirt to print!!! I'm quite torn on my favorite, too.

But enough admin, lets talk about our simple, sensory joys of the week! What made you smile over the past 7 days? My favorite simple pleasures are below...

HEAR: Drake's new album, Scorpion
There are many reasons that I love Spotify, but one of the main ones is that I get to hear albums like this one--albums that I might not have bought before but am curious to listen to--right when they come out. And guess what? I'm really loving Scorpion so I'm glad that I got the chance to listen! Drake is seriously just too cool for school and I'm starting to think that I'm a bigger fan than I realized. 

SEE: Tell Me Lies: A Novel by Carola Loverling
I starting reading this book (from my Summer Reading List) late last week and it has been keeping me up every night reading because it just feels so real and it's so heart-wrenching. It's about this on-and-off again, unhealthy relationship that starts in college and continues after. It's a really interesting story about the power of chemistry and why so many people return to toxic relationships (over and over again) despite knowing that they're toxic. I highly recommend it! 

TASTE: Watermelon watermelon watermelon!
We have been eating SO much watermelon around here. We just can't get enough! It's the best. I might even go out on a limb and say it's my favorite summer fruit...

SMELL: Hydrangeas in bloom!!!!
Hydrangeas don't really have a scent per se, but I had to include them here anyway because the hydrangeas on Cape Cod are all in full bloom and it is GLORIOUS. Every year I forget how beautiful they really are and then they bloom and I'm just in awe. We have one monster plant in our front yard (pictured above; our others are growing slowly) and every time I look at it I feel happier. 

TOUCH: Charlie Mae's "new" house
Our sweet daycare provider had a neighbor giving away an outdoor playhouse and when it was offered to her, thought of us instead because she knows how much Charlie Mae loves outdoor play structures (and we didn't have any! #momfail). We picked it up on Wednesday night and Charlie Mae has basically been living in this thing. It's so sweet to play house with her and although it might not seem like it would be, it's a very tactile experience. We do a lot of "cooking" + "eating" with grass, rocks, dirt, flowers, etc. It's great. 

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

Have a wonderful weekend!

What a weird week, huh? So strange when a holiday falls on a Wednesday....especially when you live in a summer vacation spot and it's like the whole world descends on your stomping grounds out of nowhere!

It's been 2 weeks since my last SJOTW and I have to say, I missed writing it last week while on vacation (not enough to pull out my laptop and write, of course, but I was aware of the loss, hahaha).

That being said, I won't dwell on Nantucket here (I said enough about it on social media last week), but suffice it to say that the trip was AMAZING. It really is one of my favorite places to spend time. Especially since it's so easy to get to but truly feels like a removed island, away from it all. 

How was your week? Wonderful and relaxing, I hope? Here are a few of the sensory, simple joys that brought me happiness over the past week. I hope you find some time to reflect on your SJOTW today, too...

HEAR: "Sri Gurvastakam" by The Polish Ambassador
Yogis and yoga teachers: put this song on your class playlists! It's on my new July playlist and I'm loving it. It's perfect for those parts of class when you want to build energy and kick things up a notch. Find all of my playlists here or by following me on Spotify. 

SEE: Charlie Mae + the "Baa Boys"
Yesterday, me, Charlie Mae, and her Great Aunt Nancy went to a local farm called "Saturday Farm" to meet two sheep (one of Charlie Mae's favorite animals). Charlie Mae was head-over-heels for these sheep and I loved watching her watch them (and touch/chase/talk to them). Kids + farm animals are just the cutest together. 

*One more huge visual SJOTW this week: when Charlie Mae wanted to wear her "packpack" to daycare on Monday to show all of her friends. I almost started crying when I saw the image shown above. I MEAN...!!!!!!

TASTE: Ice Cream from The Juice Bar 
One of my very favorite things about Nantucket? The Juice Bar! Deceiving name, I know, but their ice cream is INCREDIBLE. We had it multiple times on our trip last week, including on our last night (Friday) as a final hoorah. So good. 

SMELL: July 4th grilling/cookouts (cliche but true)
We enjoyed two 4th of July get-togethers this week and both were FULL of delicious food made on the grill (and off of it). It was really hot and I may have been sweating while eating (not my favorite thing), but there's something about eating outside in July that just feels right.  

TOUCH: Swimming in the ocean
As mentioned above, it was SUPER hot here this week and thus, the ocean felt really good. We went swimming multiple times when we were at the beach on Wednesday and it was heavenly. I love the ocean so much and still cannot believe I live right by it...will I ever get over this fact?! 

And there you have it. I hope you had a lovely week, too. Enjoy the weekend and I'll see you back here next week!

This week. Man. Way better than last week from a personal standpoint, but way worse if you look at our country as a whole.

Ever since hearing about what's been happening at the borders last weekend, I've been totally heartsick for the affected children + their families, and I'm sure you have too (I know most people are, no matter their political beliefs). I won't harp on it here but I will say that I haven't said anything yet because I haven't found the words. I have donated, though, and that's the least you can do if you're heartbroken, too. Here's a link where you can donate to Together Rising, which is doing wonderful work to help these families. 

But just like I said last week, even when bad things are happening all around you, you can still find beauty + joy in the world.  So here are some of the simple pleasures that brought me happiness over the past week...

 HEAR: Caliphate {Podcast from the NYT}
I am addicted to this podcast. Another binge-worthy, super eye-opening, very educational series that I *highly* recommend. It's about the Islamic State and Isis and although that might not sound like my usual podcast cup of tea, I promise you that if you listen, you will be hooked. Also, it's made me feel much more informed on what has happened in Iraq over the past 15 years.

SEE: Ben at the beach on Father's Day
I haven't seen Ben as relaxed and happy as he was at the beach on Father's Day in a loooong time. We woke up, had pancakes (I made them from!), and then got our butts to the beach for 3 hours straight. It was glorious! It was the perfect temp and despite Ben and I both getting super burnt, the day was perfect. 

TASTE: Graham Crackers
I've become SUCH a mom; and I've become that mom--the one who said she wasn't going to let her young child have anything artificially sweetened and is then so desperate to get her child to eat more (Something! Anything!) that she buys graham crackers for her when she wants them at the grocery store (at least they were organic? HAHAHA). And then guess who gets addicted to the grahams? That's right--this mama. But they're soooo good!?!?

SMELL: Hair cut 
Does anyone else LOVE how your hair smells after you get a hair cut? And does anyone else have a dog who goes crazy sniffing your hair when you get back from said hair cut because your scent is so different? I got my hair cut yesterday (I went a little shorter!) and it was great. It makes me feel so pampered and fresh. Shout-out to my fab stylist Kate Scott! 

TOUCH: Elite Nation Cycle class
One of my amazing clients and favorite places to take fitness classes {Wellbeloved Wellness} opened an indoor cycling studio this week! I took my first class there on Monday and it was a blast. I hadn't done cardio like that in a long time and I left feeling really good. It's a "ride to the beat" studio so the lights are down, the music is up, and you feel like you're in another world. Loved it! Highly recommend if you're local. 

And that's it for me this week! We leave for a week-long trip to Nantucket tomorrow so I'll probably be quiet over here next week, but I'll see you back here the week of July 4th!

​I hope you have a wonderful first official weekend of official summer ;)