If you follow me on Instagram (where I'm focusing most of my social media energy these days) you'll know this already, but if you don't, I'll say it again here:

We had a really hard week prompted by a scary/horrible incident that happened on Monday. I'm not ready to talk about it yet, but I will eventually, I promise (and I'm not fishing here, it just feels weird to not mention this big thing that turned my world upside down this week...but I'm still too upset to really put it out there and want to finish processing before I do). 

That being said, we're all okay(ish) and I don't want you to worry.  AND I want to say that even though it was a bad week, there was still lots of beauty and simple joys to be had around here. I went to a lovely yoga class yesterday that was much-needed, we've had some great weather, we got together with friends twice, and I've also enjoyed the following...

HEAR: "Between" by Satsang and Nahko
This song is on myJune class playlist and I love it. It's so fun and uplifting! It made me smile a bit every time it came on while I was teaching this week. Listen below: 

​SEE: A gorgeous bouquet of flowers from Bee & Blossom
I have the best friends. I really do. And I'm always even more thankful for them when things are hard because they are 100% there for me. Also, they're crazy thoughtful! Case in point: I received the most beautiful bouquet of flowers  from one of my dear friends yesterday and they brightened my day immensely. Shout-out to local florist Bee & Blossom who did such a wonderful job, too! 

TASTE: First two cookouts of the season
We had some family over for a cookout last Saturday and then on Sunday we (and by "we," I mean Ben) fired up the grill again and cooked enough food for the entire week; I had forgotten how delicious grilled summer meals are! And how fun it is to eat outside on the back deck! Yum (and thanks for being our Grillmaster/Household Chef, Ben!).  

SMELL: Beach with my girlie
Charlie Mae and I went to the beach for just a short trip this week and it was really wonderful. It makes me so happy that she loves the beach as much as she does and I still can't believe that she's going to grow up as a Cape Cod girl (!!!). The beach is truly one of my main happy places in life and this week's trip reminded me of how grateful I am that we ended up on this gorgeous sandbar. I'll never get sick of the sensory experience that is the beach; it's a healer, that's for sure. 

TOUCH: Patagonia Better Sweater Jacket
I know I just said that we had gorgeous weather this week--and we have--but believe it or not, it has still been light jacket season on Cape Cod, especially in the evenings. I got this jacket through a sweet deal my younger brother secured via his hustle skillz (haha) and while he didn't understand why I would want to order a jacket in May, I'm so glad I did because I've already worn it a bunch of times. I love me some quality Patagonia! ​

And that's it. Life has it's ups-and-downs, but it's simple pleasures are always there, shining light on [sometimes] otherwise dreary days. 

I hope your week was also filled with small sensory pleasures. See you back here next week. xo

Wow, what a week! It was super fun + jam-packed and I am exhausted. And not from momming, mind you--this time it's from teaching yoga!

I taught my "Juice + Loose" Morning Yoga Challenge this week and it wiped. me. out. Adding five 6:30am classes to my already full weekly schedule was a lot; good thing I had a *total* blast teaching it or I wouldn't feel quite as satisfied with this bone-tired feeling ;) 

How was your week? I hope it was wonderful and you can find some time to reflect on the little things that brought you happiness today. Here are my favorite simple, sensory joys of the week...

HEAR: 30 for 30 Podcasts, BIKRAM 
Have you heard of this podcast? The most recent season, Season #3, is a 5-part docu-series on Bikram and it was fascinating. Horrifying and horrible but really well done and very eye-opening. If you have any interest in the yoga world at all, I highly recommend it (and even if you don't--it's a great podcast!). I listened to the entire thing in just two days. {Thanks to all of my students who recommended it to me!}

SEE: Rhododendrons in bloom at Heritage Museum & Gardens
The rhododendrons are in bloom on Cape Cod and they're beautiful! Last weekend we joined some friends at Heritage Museum & Gardens for some kid fun + flower-spotting and it did not disappoint. The gardens were so beautiful and we all had a wonderful time! Charlie Mae really loved the carousel (riding on the "neighs").

TASTE: Morning cereal bonanza 
Charlie Mae was uninterested in all of our usual breakfast options this week (and come to think of it, so was I), so we came up with a new breakfast that we're both loving. It's basically everything you can think of poured into a bowl with milk on top: cheerios, granola, walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, berries of some sort, and shredded coconut. Each day this week we sat side-by-side with two spoons and shared a bowl in the morning and it was really sweet. A little messy, but sweet nonetheless. 

SMELL: Pedicure
I finally got a pedicure this week! It had been waaaaayyy too long. And sure, my big toe chipped just a few hours after getting it, but it still felt wonderful and all of my toes but my big toe look good so hey, whatevs ;) 

​TOUCH: Soft toddler skin
Charlie Mae is *obsessed* with being "makey" (naked) right now, so I've gotten to spend a lot of time cuddling and rubbing her soft-as-velvet skin this week; as you can tell, I'm not disappointed about it. Yes, of course this means that it has also been harder to get her dressed than usual, but the soft snuggles have made it all worth it. 

...And that's it for now! Thanks for stopping by + thanks to everyone who joined me for my morning yoga challenge over the past 5 days :) 

I hope your weekend is chock full of simple joys!

Oh wow, look at that--it's June! Me oh my this life is a quick one. But June feels like a very exciting month and I'm ready for it.

How was your week? I hope it was good! Mine was quite full but also quite enjoyable. I started working with a business coach for the first time ever (!?!?), had an exciting meeting about a new venture (stay tuned for deets!), did a new yoga photoshoot, found a hurt baby bunny (see my recent Instagram post for the story), got a lot of good work done, and got some quality family time in. Win-win-win-win! Only downer = the hives + itchy rash that has been spreading all over my body this week due to an allergic reaction, but ya win some ya lose some, right?

Anyways, lets talk simple joys. Here's what brought me happiness over the past 7 days...

HEAR: "Tequila" by Dan + Shay
Ben is currently obsessed with this song, and thus, had me listen to it a bunch of times this week/made me watch the music video with him (it's an intense romantic drama, haha). Because of this, I also became obsessed with this song and therefore, it made this list. You can watch + listen to an incredible acoustic version of this song here. So good!

SEE: Halt and Catch Fire
Ben and I have been on the prowl for a new TV show that we would both enjoy; we landed on this one on Sunday night and were immediately hooked. It's based in the early 80s and is all about the race to create a personal computer--but that doesn't make it sound good and I promise it is. It's like Mad Men in that it's centered around the characters' relationships/office politics and the drama that occurs as they push boundaries and try to create something new. Highly recommend!

TASTE: "Cultivate" Juice from The Local Juice
It had been too long since I'd enjoyed a juice from my fave local juicery, and I was lucky enough to pick up a bottle of "Cultivate" when I was over there for a meeting this week. As usual, the juice did not disappoint and I felt healthier just holding it in my hand (HAHAHA but you know what I mean, right?). 

Sidenote: I'm doing my second "Juice + Loose" morning yoga challenge at Centerville Yoga starting on Monday--and tomorrow is the last day to register! The classes take place every morning from 6:30-7:30am (M-F) and after each class you get a Juice from The Local Juice. Yum! Reserve your space here. 

SMELL: Mulch
We finally laid mulch in our yard last weekend and it felt so good to get our spring yard work done! Plus, it was totally adorable because Charlie Mae got really into helping. She would scoop mulch into her little sand bucket (with her little shovel) and then carry it to where we were working and dump it out. She also loved opening and closing the gate for the wheelbarrow and talked about the mulch all weekend long. It was pretty great. 

TOUCH: Licks + nuzzles from horses (!!!)
We took a family walk to visit our local horses on Sunday (one of CM's fave things to do) and when we got there, the horses ran over to us immediately (a first) and wanted to interact! They licked my hands, nuzzled me with their lips, let me pet their heads, etc., and it was the best. Especially because it brought Charlie Mae SO much joy to see them do this. Such a simple pleasure ;) 

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

Have a lovely weekend.

Memorial Day weekend is here! This means that it's also the start of the busy tourist season here on Cape Cod, which is a huge energetic shift that totally sneaks up on me every year. But I'm excited--I love this season SO much and have so many dreams for the summer--specifically beaching with Charlie Mae as much as possible ;) Ahhh I can't wait! 

But enough about my dreams for the future--lets reflect on the past week! What brought you joy over the past 7 days? My #SJOTW are below...
​
HEAR:"Sunu" by Rising Appalachia
I love this song! It's so energizing! It's on my May class playlist and I find it to be the perfect yoga song. You can listen below:

​SEE: Family playtime outside
Last Sunday was a really special family day. We've gotten to the point where we have to protect our Sundays with a vengeance (doesn't life always try to sneak into Sundays?), but we did and therefore, had a lovely day. We went on a family walk, ate pancakes, spent quite a while playing in puddles, went to the park, played basketball, and had a delicious homemade dinner together. It was a blast. These are the kinds of days that I want more of and am trying to really appreciate as they're happening...I know we'll look back on them so fondly when Charlie Mae is older. 

TASTE: White wine ;) 
I was on a serious red wine kick over the winter, but this past weekend was one of the first times this year that I wanted white over red, which I took to be a good sign because that meant that it was sunny and warm outside for once [doesn't that make all the difference?]. So, we've been drinking a refreshing Pinot Grigio over here this week and it's been divine. 

Sidenote: I never understood the whole mom + wine thing {the memes, the jokes, etc.} but now that I am a mom to a toddler, I get it. That first little sip of vino after an exhausting day has never been so good ;)  

SMELL: Lavender + Rose Native Deodorant
I know I've mentioned my love for Native Deodorant here before (it's a natural deod that actually works!!!!), but this month I decided to try a new scent and I'm LOVING it. It smells incredible; seriously, it's like rubbing an essential oil on your skin but it's deodorant. I love it. 

TOUCH: Biofreeze on my sore neck
I did a sponsored post for Biofreeze forever ago {shout-out!}, and because of that we have a lot of Biofreeze stock in our house, which I'm super thankful for these days. As I mentioned last week, my neck has been crazy sore these days, so I've been loading up on this little product and it works wonders. Menthol FTW!

And there you have it. I hope you had a lovely week full of simple joys, too. 

​Enjoy the long weekend and I'll see you back here on Tuesday!

Wow, it feels like it's been forever since my last edition of #SJOTW! I was sad to miss it last week {while traveling} but was happy to be totally present on my LOVELY trip to TN with my friends (more on that below).

How was your week? I hope it was full of simple pleasures. Here are a few of the little things that brought me joy over the past 7 days...

HEAR: "Good Kisser" by Lake Street Dive
I posted about this song on my Instagram story but in case you missed it: you MUST listen! It's so catchy and great! I literally had it in my head ALL day yesterday. All day. But I'm not complaining because it's that good. My friend Laura recommended it to me and I am so glad she did. You can listen below: 

SEE: Everything on my trip to TN...
The trip that Charlie Mae and I took last week/weekend was SUCH a special one. Not only did I get to see my dear, dear friends Laura + Jessica, but we got to see Jessica's new farm, we got to meet her newest addition (5 mos old) and her 3-year old--who I had only met once before (unacceptable), they got to know CM better, and we got to watch our kids play together. The trip was total Soul Food and I'm so thankful we made it happen. 

TASTE: Mother's Day Breakfast (Homemade pancakes + eggs)
Ben isn't always the best at holidays, but he pulled it out for Mother's Day this year. I came home from the trip to flowers, a card, and a gift, and he made *delicious* buttermilk pancakes + eggs for us on the morning of. Hooray! 

SMELL: Windows open = fresh air
It's been a windows open kind of week. In TN it was *crazy* hot and the open windows allowed for a nice breeze (and wafts of farm scents which I totally loved). Since coming home it's been much cooler, but still warm enough to open the windows and get some fresh air, listen to the birds, and clear things out. There's just something about letting the outside air in (if it's clean)...three cheers for spring temps! 

TOUCH: Inversion Table
My weird neck issues have reared their ugly head again as of late, so my immediate solution was to get an inversion table. I've been wanting one for my lower back issues forever, but when it came to my neck, I knew that hanging upside down would be an immediate help. So, I got one on Craigslist (duh) and it has been great. Obviously it hasn't magically cured me, but I can tell it's been making a difference. Total win for just $60. 

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

{Oh, and I'm looking forward to seeing some of you at my Slow Down + Restore workshop tonight! There's still room if you want to join: sign up here.}

It really, truly, *finally* feels like spring on Cape Cod! For real this time! We had our first two 70+ degree days in a row this week and it was seriously mood-altering. I went to the beach, worked outside on the back deck, did my Momma Strong workouts outside, and Charlie Mae and I spent almost 2 hours at the playground yesterday; warm weather is life-changing.

How was your week? I hope equally-energizing and beautiful. Here are a few of the simple things that brought me joy over the past 7 days (warning: many of these #SJOTW are about the warm weather, I couldn't help myself!)...

HEAR: "Walking in the Sun" by PANG!
This song was the perfect anthem for me this week ;) I found it on Spotify (of course), included it on my new May playlist, and have been loving it ever since. Listen below:

SEE: Sayde at the beach // Charlie Mae at the playground (aka, my girls enjoying the warm weather, as mentioned above)
Finally being able to enjoy this beautiful place where we live is such a gift. I think our long ass winter and lingering cool temps have led me to be even more thankful for the warmth than I ever have been before, and I know Sayde and Charlie Mae are feeling the same way. At the playground yesterday, Charlie Mae would shout, "I wuv it!!!!" every 15 minutes or so, and I felt like doing the same. In her own way, Sayde uttered the same sentiments on our walk at the beach the day before. THE SUN: WE WUV IT!!!  

TASTE: Ben's birthday dinner (+ cake!)
We celebrated Ben's birthday with family last weekend and the meal was INCREDIBLE. His mom made his favorite homemade Chicken Parmesan with pasta and salad, and we finished with my homemade Sour Cream Pound Cake (which you know I only make twice per year--just on family birthdays!). Yum. 

SMELL: Apple Cider Vinegar, fresh ginger, + lemon water
If you've seen one of my Instagram stories over the past few days, you'll know that I'm a week into drinking this beverage every morning when I wake up and it's been great. I'm doing it because I've heard of ALL of the health benefits of doing this for *SO* long now (Google it) that I thought I should get on the bandwagon. Definitely gets you up + moving! 

​TOUCH: Sand between my toes
I usually wear my sneaks for walks on the beach (so I can walk faster and my feet won't get beat up) but for this first long walk of the season I just couldn't. The warm sand felt like a little mini-pedicure on my toes and I even walked into the cold water a few times just to soak it all up. I sure missed you, beach. And man I love living 5 minutes from the beach. 

There you have it! Quick programming note: there will be no #SJOTW next Friday because I'll be traveling to visit my BFFs (with Charlie Mae in tow) in TN. Bringing my laptop and toddler--along with all of the other gear that requires--is just too much. I'm sure you understand ;) 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend chock full o' simple joys!

Hey, Friday! This week was so fast and so fun and so normal and I loved it. I'm feeling really grateful this morning, despite waking up with tons to do (but no childcare) and making a classic tired person mistake: I tried to be sweet and make Ben's coffee for him before he got up, but forgot to add the coffee grounds ;) Oops!

Anyways, lets chat simple joys before my baby wakes up! How was your week? Here are a few of the simple, sensory pleasures that made me smile...

HEAR: Charlie Mae singing "Happy Birthday"
It was Ben's birthday yesterday (35!) and Charlie Mae has been singing "Happy Birthday" all week long because of it. She doesn't know all of the words and is still a bit shy about singing sometimes, but she LOVES the song and her little singing voice kills me. Kills me. It's so squeaky and quiet and musical and I can't get enough. 

SEE: In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney
Have you heard of this book? Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge wrote it and it features "inspiration and advice from over  100 makers, artists, and entrepreneurs." It's REALLY inspiring. Also, she did an incredible job of featuring unique women from all over and all walks of life. I've had a hard time reading it before bed because I keep having to stop, pull out my phone, and jot down a quote I want to remember. So good! 

TASTE: Chimichurri Sauce from Spoon and Seed
Locals, have you had this incredible sauce at Spoon and Seed? It's the best! We went there for Ben's birthday breakfast yesterday and as usual, I got an omelet that came with this sauce. It's so tasty and I loved every minute of eating it. Just watch out for the cilantro/parsley in your teeth ;) 

SMELL: Flowers blooming
Finally!!!! It felt like spring would never come and now it's finally starting to blossom around here! It's like I forget--every year--how exciting it is when color starts to pop up all over the place/in unexpected little corners of the world. Charlie Mae is also marveling at the flowers, which has made it extra-special this year. Three cheers for Spring!

TOUCH: Backpack carrier 
I mentioned this backpack carrier briefly last week, but I have to highlight it as an official "Simple Joy" this week because it has been a game-changer. Charlie Mae is at that age where she doesn't like to be in her stroller for very long anymore (because she wants to walk on her own, duh!) but she's not a fast enough walker to go on long walks or hikes yet. Enter the backpack carrier, which has allowed us to go on tons of long walks in the woods, which I couldn't love more. Charlie Mae loves it, too, and so does Ben (we went on a long family hike last Sunday and it was the best). 

So many more, but I'll stop there ;) What brought you joy over the past week? Can you find some time to reflect today...? And before I close, a few quick reminders and announcements:

-I've got two workshops coming up/rapidly approaching! Both are at Centerville Yoga + Wellness Center in May:

• The Journey to Self-Love (co-leading with Erin of Beautiful.NaturalAwakening): Sunday, May 6th from 2-4pm
• Slow Down, Restore, + Recharge: Friday, May 18th from 6-8p

-Just 3 more days on enter the "Ultimate Yogi Instagram Giveaway" that I'm a part of...follow me on IG for all of the details! I'll repost the directions in my feed + story today ;) 

​-My May newsletter will come out next week. If you're not on the list you can sign up below:

Have a WONDERFUL weekend, everyone! See you back here on Tuesday ;) 

Um, did you guys realize that it's April 20th already!? The fact that May is inching closer and closer is crazy, especially because it still doesn't really feel like spring around here...and also because in my mind, it's still the beginning of 2018. Oh, time.

How was your week? Can we slow things down by reflecting for a moment? Here are a few of the simple, sensory pleasures that brought me joy over the past 7 days...

HEAR: "Most People are Good" by Luke Brian
I know this country song is super cheesy, but I kind of love it and agree with the sentiment. I do believe most people are good (despite all of the horrors in the world) and I do believe you "love who you love and [that there] ain't nothing you should ever be ashamed of," and yeah, I also believe that "most mama's oughta quality for Sainthood" (hahaha!), so I'm into it. I'm a cheesy country fan through-and-through ;) You can listen here. 

SEE: Charlie Mae enjoying the great outdoors
Although it wasn't super warm, it was warm enough last Friday + Saturday for us to get outside with Charlie Mae. On Friday I went on a hike with a friend and wore her in my new backpack carrier (thanks for the hand-me-down, Abby!), and on Saturday we took her to a local park that she's totally obsessed with. It's so amazing seeing her come alive exploring new places/the outdoors after *such* a long winter with very little exploration. Summer is going to be so amazing!

TASTE: Date night dinner
Ben and I had a casual date night on Sunday night and it was long-overdue and delicious. It had been a while since we'd gone out to dinner just the two of us, and let me tell you, eating my dinner in peace, without feeding/running after/taking care of a toddler the whole time was a dream. I actually tasted and enjoyed my meal + glass of wine! Hooray! Shout-out to my MIL Susanne for babysitting so we could make this happen.  

SMELL: Simply Sugarless Blueberry Muffins (aka homemade toddler muffins) baking in the oven
I've been wanting to make these muffins since WAAAYYYY back in March, 2016, when we first posted them to the blog. But alas, it took me until now to get to them. That being said, they're delicious and smelled so good while baking! And Charlie Mae loves them! We made them together yesterday and it was the best. Thanks for the recipe, Sara, and thanks for the help, Charlie Mae (HAHA).

TOUCH: My new short hair (!!!)
I chopped off all my hair this week and it feels ahhhhhh-mazing. I was super scared to do it (as you may have seen on my Instagram Story) but now that it's done, I feel free and light and more easy-breezy than ever; who knew I would LOVE having short hair? Also, I got to donate 10+ inches to Locks of Love, so that made it extra worth it. Thanks to my amazing hair stylist, Kate Scott, for your talent and patience as I freaked out in your chair! 

...And there you have it. I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of simple joys--and that you can find some time to reflect back on your past week today...

See you back here next Tuesday!

Hey hey Friday! Here we are--ready to kick off another weekend! It's supposed to be in the 50's on Cape Cod today (I'll take it) and Charlie Mae and I have plans to go on a morning hike with some friends, so I'm excited about what lies ahead...but first, we need to talk SJOTW.

How was your week? Full of simple pleasures, I hope? Here's what brought me joy over the past 7 days...

HEAR: The Pitch Podcast
If you like Shark Tank, Startup, How I Built This, or any podcast or show about entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to investors, then you need to listen to The Pitch. It's one of my favorites these days. I love hearing about the businesses people are starting, I love hearing the investors' feedback and thoughts on those businesses, and I love the whole startup world in general. Check it out! 

[Note: I know I've mentioned this podcast here before, but that was a long time ago and I felt like it needed another shout-out. Esp. because I've been enjoying it so much lately.]

SEE: Finished work projects
I know this sounds boring, but you know when you have a super productive week and you're able to knock out a few big projects that have been looming? That's what happened in my world this week and it felt AWESOME. It was so great to have 3 full daycare days in a row and only a handful of extra calls/meetings so that I could really focus on my workload, and it was exciting seeing my recently-finished products being used out in the [internet] world right away. Three cheers for productivity! I'll share some recent projects here soon...

TASTE: Theo Salted Almond Dark Chocolate
I have decided that this is officially my favorite dark chocolate brand. I love every single variety that they make but am stuck on this flavor lately. It's SO delicious and a small amount goes a long way (as does a large amount, hahaha). 

SMELL: My morning cuppa Tazo Organic Chai Tea
I buy my AM tea in bulk (to save $) and ran out for a few weeks. I had ordered more but it got held up in shipping and yada yada yada I had to rely on my back-up English Breakfast for about 2 weeks. I know it doesn't sound like much, but let me tell you, my first day back with my old fave (last weekend) was divine and I've been appreciating my morning cup even more this week. It's my favorite way to start the day! 

TOUCH: Swinging in the hammock
Charlie Mae is OBSESSED with swinging in our hammock. It's not exactly warm enough for hammock swinging around here yet, but I brought it out last weekend anyway and all she wants to do is swing all day err day (which you'll know if you saw my Instagram story last weekend, ha!). And you know what? I enjoy a good hammock swinging session, too, so it's been lovely. It will be even lovelier when it's just a *smidge* warmer ;) 

And there you go! Another week of simple joys has come and gone. I hope that you can find the time to reflect on your SJOTW today, too.

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here on Tuesday! [As a reminder or in case you missed it: I'm moving my blogging days to Tuesdays and Fridays for the time being, so you'll find new posts those days and not on Mondays + Wednesdays for now...]. 

​Another Fri-yay is already here! These weeks...I won't even say it because I know I'm a broken record...

How was your week? We had a great one around here--my dad was visiting, we had a super special Easter, and Charlie Mae was in wonderful spirits (every week that goes by during which she isn't sick and/or teething is such a gift). 

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

HEAR:​ "Laya" by Good Vibes Collective
This song is on my April class playlist and it's so beautiful. It's the perfect yoga song--repetitive, long, beautiful, and doesn't have any recognizable words. You can listen below: 

SEE: Charlie Mae on Easter // Charlie Mae and my Dad together
I couldn't pick just one so I had to include both here. First, Charlie Mae had THE BEST Easter and it was such a joy to watch her enjoying it. She was honored at the Unitarian Church where Ben's family has been going for years (CM is the 5th Generation to enter the doors!), she had a blast hunting for Easter eggs in the yard, she ate her first 4 jellybeans (which she loved), and we had a big family dinner at our house during which she was the starr (hehe!) of the show and totally soaked up all of the attention. Also, her little Easter dress was so adorable I could hardly handle it. 

And Second, I loved seeing my dad and Charlie Mae interacting during his visit all week. It's so hard when your family doesn't live close by, but it's extra special when they do come and you can see how quickly they reconnect with your child (and quickly she makes them a part of her world). It was a great visit!

TASTE: Easter Dinner
Although we "hosted" Easter dinner, Ben's family (and especially his mom) made almost everything and brought it all over to be served. The food was SO good, as were the desserts (of course)--especially the little bunny cupcakes pictured above, which Ben's mom made from scratch. It was so great hosting a delicious meal but not having to do any of the prep/cooking!

SMELL: GT's Gingerade Kombucha
This Kombucha is the best! I love it so much. The addition of ginger is clutch--give me ginger on anything + everything and I'm a happy gal. I enjoyed a bottle of this Gingerade over the course of a few days this week and it hit the spot. 

TOUCH: Play-Doh
Our girl got some Play-Doh in her Easter basket and although she's never been a fan in the past, she's finally fallen in love with it and it's been great. Play-Doh is fun for everyone, ya know!? We've had some good times making little sculptures this week ;) 

And there you have it: another week full of simple pleasures is in the bag. I hope you have a lovely weekend and look forward to seeing some of you at my workshop tonight!

Oh, and don't forget to take a few moments to reflect back on your SJOTW today if you can...it's such a great way to memorialize all of the little things that make life enjoyable. 

This was such a good week! It was the first in a while where nothing crazy happened (no one was sick, we had no big storms, no trips were canceled, there were no sleepless nights, etc.) and it felt lovely to settle into a bit of a routine and get caught up on life.

I hope your week was similarly [wonderfully] mundane!

And now lets talk simple joys: here are a few of the sensory pleasures that made me smile over the past 7 days...

[PS. In case you didn't see on social media, my trip last weekend got canceled. Not because of the weather, but because Charlie Mae came down with a high fever the night before we were supposed to fly out together. So that's why you won't see any TN trip-related simple joys below (sigh).]

HEAR: "Speed of Sound" by Communist Daughter 
I heard an interview with two members of this band (a husband + wife duo) on one of my favorite podcasts, Death, Sex, & Money, and had to listen to their music afterward. Of course when I started listening I was immediately hooked and the rest is history. You can listen to one of my favorite songs by Communist Daughter here. 

SEE: Ben's excitement re: starting his basketball business
Ben decided to turn his volunteer basketball coaching "side-hustle" into a real business (still a side hustle though, of course) and I couldn't be more excited for him! He launched Swish Private Basketball Coaching this week (with a little help from his wife, of course), and it's been so lovely seeing him come to life as he fields calls, books court time, and finds a way to monetize what he has already been doing and loves SO much. I adore small businesses--no matter how small or how part-time they might be!

TASTE: Family trip to Steve & Sue's Par-Tee Freeze (our fave soft serve ice cream spot)
Charlie Mae has been asking for ice cream a lot these days. Oops. We gave it to her when she was sick and we were desperate to get her antibiotics down her throat (medicine milkshake, anyone?) and since then, she wants it all the time. So last weekend, after she had been asking for ice cream all week long, we promised her we would go get some on Saturday night. It was so fun sharing my cup of soft serve with her and this little trip made me very excited for summer when we can go and sit outside while eating it. I love being an ice cream family :) 

SMELL: Fresh-smelling yoga clothes thanks to my winning laundry combo, Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder + Rockin' Green Active Wear Detergent
I gave Rockin' Green a shout-out here back in January, and now I need to share my love for Charlie's Soap's Laundry Powder, too, the other piece of my laundry puzzle. A lot of my [expensive] yoga clothes had gotten pretty icky from years of teaching in hot studios, and these two products have revived them and gotten rid of the smelliness for good. Here's what I did/do: every once in a while, I soak everything in the Rockin' Green to get rid of all of the smelly bacteria that builds up on active wear. Then every time that I do a load of my yoga clothes, I use Charlie's Soap as my detergent. This combo has gotten rid of the stink and saved me from having to buy all new clothes. Yay! 

TOUCH: Playing outside with sticks, grass, bubbles, etc. (aka a spring-like day!)
Charlie Mae was home from daycare yesterday and it was a GORGEOUS day. It was sunny and 50 degrees out, so we spent the morning playing in the yard, going on a walk, getting out her new Elmo bubble-maker and dancing in the bubbles...and it was the best. We're so ready for warm weather around here! It's going to be life-changing with a toddler! We had so much fun yesterday and I love how having a child makes you get outside and play in ways you never would otherwise. 

And there you have it! Another week + another month in the bag. Woah. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a lovely Easter *full* of simple joys!

When it comes to the past few weeks, I feel like our household has been limping to the finish a lot lately. This week was no different--between the storm that knocked out our power and whatever sleep issue Charlie Mae is going through right now (it's always something as a parent!)--we just barely made it to Friday. But we made it! Hallelujah! That's something worth celebrating. 

Oh, and I'm sorry that I missed Wednesday's blog post...we had no power or wifi and I just couldn't find a way to make it happen with Charlie Mae home + no internet. Such is life.

But enough about that (Debbie Downer much?), lets look at the positive side of the past week! Here are some of the simple, sensory joys that made me smile over the past 7 days. What brought you happiness? 

HEAR: "Walk Into a Storm" by The Lone Bellow
I haven't had a ton of time (or power) to listen to music this week, but when I did get a chance to listen, I was listening to this album by The Lone Bellow. I was in love with this band back in 2015, but then kind of forgot about them until my dad mentioned their latest album last week; I immediately started listening + we picked up right where we left off--they're so great! You can listen to their newest album, "Walk Into a Storm," here. 

SEE: Power coming back on!
When you've been out of power for over 24 hours and it suddenly pops back on, it is the biggest relief EVER. It's amazing how much we take electricity for granted and how much we rely on it to do everything--from making toast, to helping our children sleep (hello, sound machines!), to drying our hair. We are all out of sorts for those cold 24 hours in our powerless house, and I've never been more excited to see the lights come back on. Phew. 

TASTE: Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps
These little snacks are SO delicious! I'm sure you've had them, but if you haven't and you're a salty, crunchy snack-loving person (who isn't?), get ye to a grocery store stat and pick some up. We bought a jumbo bag last weekend so Charlie Mae and I have been crunching on them all week and we're basically addicted. They count as veggies, right!!? ;) 
​
SMELL: Coffee
I don't even drink coffee anymore, but I still love the scent of a freshly-brewed pot in the morning and have gotten used to having that smell in the house every day. When we lost power and Ben wasn't able to make his AM coffee, the house felt emptier somehow, and I found myself missing that morning scent. It was lovely when it returned on Thursday morning; all felt right in the world again. 

TOUCH: Hot fire in the fireplace
During our power outage, we were extremely thankful for our fireplace. It was the first time we've ever used it out of total necessity (as opposed to just enjoyment) and it was a life-saver--especially with a toddler around. And yes, despite the annoyance of not having power, there is something super special about total quiet and no electricity with a fire burning. [But I'll still take power any day!]

And that's it for this week, thank goodness!

​Now I'm off to try and catch up on all of the work that I'm behind on because of our two powerless and internet-less days. I hope you have a productive Friday and relaxing, warm, stress-free weekend! ;) 

Woah you guys, where did this week go? I've been teaching my "Juice + Loose" AM Yoga Bootcamp this week, so have taught a yoga class first thing in the morning (every day) and then again in the evening  (3 of the past 4 days) and it's been awesome but it has made this week fly by at an alarming speed.

Also, I'm tired! But in a good yoga + work way, not in a I-have-a-sick-child-so-am-not-sleeping way ;) 

How was your week? I hope wonderful + full of simple joys! Here are a few of the sensory pleasures that made me smile over the past 7 days...

HEAR: "Painter (Valentine)" by Lapsley
This song!! It's so good! It's on my March class playlist and it's one of my favorite songs that I've come across in a while. It's a great yoga song, too (IMHO).  You can listen here. 

SEE: AM Yoga Bootcamp yogis
Teaching a 6:30am class every morning has been really refreshing and fun. Also, I've been super inspired by everyone who signed up and came to class every day despite the power outages and crazy weather we've had over the past week.  It's been really beautiful teaching as the sun comes up and watching these yogis start their days by moving, breathing, and stretching. I think I need to find some 6:30am classes of my own/to start taking myself! 

TASTE: Ginger Tumeric Steamer from Sunbird
I went to this fabulous local coffee shop (that I never get to anymore) for a meeting yesterday and this drink knocked my socks off. They had me at "Ginger Tumeric," but when I saw that it was also a hot steamer I was 100% sold. If I could drink this beverage every day I think I would be a better person. So delicious!

SMELL: Anything/everything because my sense of smell has been gone for a week (!!!)
When your child keeps bringing home new sick germs from daycare every day, you inevitably get sick over and over again, too. As Charlie Mae got better last week, I got worse, and had to get on antibiotics for a sinus infection over the weekend. Bleh. Along with this infection I lost ALL sense of smell + taste and just started getting them back yesterday. It felt so good to smell and taste again! I missed these senses! 

​TOUCH: Fisher-Price Little People 
If you have a toddler I'm sure you know what I'm talking about here, but in case you don't, Little People are exactly what they sound like--little plastic people with little plastic worlds that kids love (or at least my kid loves). Charlie Mae has quickly started amassing a collection of Little People and she has a blast playing with them, thus, so do I. But really, it's adorable watching her interact with theses toys and playing with these people [with her] reminds me SO much of the games that I played when I was a child...we have fun ;) 

And there you have it! Thanks so much to everyone who has joined me for my AM classes this week + to everyone who has wished me a happy blogiversary and/or filled out my reader survey over the past few days ;)

If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, you have until Sunday night to do so! All you have to do is answer a few questions about yourself + the blog. The link is here.

Have a great weekend! 

Oh wow, we went through the wringer this week.

The stats: two last-minute trips to the Pediatrician with a miserable, sick child, four fevers over 102 degrees, one night where we only got 2 hours (ish) of sleep, four prescriptions picked up from the pharmacy, and too many tissues + tears to count. Phew. Now Ben and I are both feeling under the weather and are just hoping that we don't get what Charlie Mae had... 

But even though this past week was a hard one, it was still full of simple joys, which played a very important role in keeping our spirits up. Here are a few of the simple, sensory pleasures that brought me happiness over the past 7 days: 
​
HEAR: "River" by Eminem (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Somehow I completely missed the fact that Eminem put out a new album back in December. I became aware of this fact when I heard this song on the radio the other day and semi-freaked out. I immediately started listening to his new album on Spotify and while I know it hasn't gotten great reviews from the critics, I'm a fan (as usual). I haven't gotten through the whole thing yet, but am excited to do so while working today. Listen/watch the video here. 

PS. When I asked Ben about this song/Eminem's new album he said, "That's so 2 months ago," and then proceeded to tell me that I was losing my touch and quickly becoming an outdated mom (with a smirk on his face). Ouch. 

SEE: The beach on a sunny day in February
It was SO gorgeous here this week! The sun was out, there were multiple 50-degree days, and while my mom was still in town and Charlie Mae was actually feeling okay for a few hours on Tuesday, we snuck down to the beach for a [slow + meandering] walk. I've missed the sunshine and the beach and it was so great to be back. 

TASTE: La Croix Cúrate Kiwi Watermelon Seltzer
Fellow seltzer lovers, have you tried this flavor from La Croix? OMG! We usually get Polar Seltzer, which we love, but forgot to get our normal allotment this week so I picked up this special pack from CVS when I was there picking up prescriptions. Wow. Each time I cracked one of these bad boys open this week I felt a real sense of excitement. The little things!!!!

SMELL: Emergen-C
Yep, another beverage-ish SJOTW and not an exciting one, but a must-have when you're trying to fight off all of the sick germs. I tried to drink an Emergen-C packet every day this week, and while I forgot some days and they still didn't keep me 100% well, I tried. 

TOUCH: Charlie Mae's cool skin (after having a crazy high fever!)
Holding your child while she's sweating, moaning, and has a super high fever is no joke. It's scary, heartbreaking, and stressful. Charlie Mae had a fever of 104.3 degrees for over 2 hours on Monday night, and when it finally broke and her skin felt cool again, I was extremely relieved. Ever since then, I've ben so thankful for her cool skin every time I check her forehead (which is a lot). 

And there you go! That's it from me for now. I hope your week was healthier than mine and that you've got a relaxing/fun/exciting weekend on the horizon...

Oh, and there's still time to sign up for my Juice + Loose AM Yoga Bootcamp at Centerville Yoga which starts on Monday! This 1-week series comes with a cold-pressed juice from The Local Juice after each morning's practice and you can sign up through tomorrow. Reserve your space here through Saturday, 3/3 :)

Last Friday in February, whaaaattt? Such a weird short little month, or as Charlie Mae would say, "teeny tiny."

How was your week? Mine was lovely and quick and as usual, full of simple joys. Her are a few of the sensory pleasures that made me smile over the past 7 days...

HEAR: Totally Laime 'Blast from the Past' Episodes
One of my favorite old comedy podcasts, Totally Laime, is coming back next week (!!!), and as they are gearing up for the launch, they've been re-releasing one old episode every day for the past 10 days. It has been really fun to listen back, hear some old episodes that I [somehow] never heard in the past, and get ready for their triumphant return. 

SEE: Charlie Mae + "Deema"/Grandma
My mom came in town yesterday afternoon and it had been a while since she and Charlie Mae had seen each other. Charlie Mae was a little shy at first, but once she started to get more comfortable she started showing off + doing all of her tricks (mostly bouncing, spinning in circles, trying to jump, and running), integrating 'Deema' into her games, and bringing her lots of toys to hold (one of CM's favorite activities). It was super sweet to see them interacting and brought a big smile to my face.

TASTE: Ricola Cough Drops
We've all been fighting something off around here, and while I think we're over the hump, I've been thankful for Ricola Cough Drops this past week, which have been a great resource for both me and Ben. Nothing like a little throat soother when you feel those coughs coming on (especially while you're teaching a yoga class!).  

SMELL: Wet Dog
I know this sounds like a bad smell, but let me tell you, everything related to Sayde is a simple joy these days (ever since we had to send her away for 3 long weeks). From her stinky breath (which we say we hate but we also kind of love), to her popcorn-scented feet, to her wet dog smell when she comes in from a walk in the rain (like she did this week), I love all of her dog scents. She's the best. 

TOUCH: allBirds Wool Runners
I got my second pair of allbirds sneakers for Christmas and once again (and unsurprisingly), have been LOVING them. These really are the most comfortable tennis shoes I've ever worn and I adore how they look, too (so simple and clean!). I've been fighting off the urge to get a pair of their Wool Loungers (we're trying to watch our spending these days)...but they have a new rose pink special edition and they're so pretty! Aghhhh. 

And there you have it! I hope your week was full of the simplest of joys, too. 

Oh, and a quick note for my local yogis: if you're planning on joining me for my upcoming Juice + Loose Morning Yoga Bootcamp at Centerville Yoga this March (March 5-9th), early bird pricing ends in just 5 days! This 1-week series comes with a cold-pressed juice from The Local Juice after each morning's practice (talk about a simple joy!). Snag your spot here. 

​Have a great weekend!