It's the last Friday that we'll be in town before Christmas! We're headed to Marco Island, FL tomorrow, and while I'm not looking forward to the travel day (I don't love flying with a toddler, no matter how amazing she is on the flight...), I am excited to be in the sun + take a week off from work. I know we all need one right about now!

So, one last #SJOTW before we head out...I'll be taking the week off from blogging, too (obviously), so I'll see you back here after Christmas!

Here's what brought me joy over the past 7 days. What made you smile? 

HEAR: The Dream podcast
Have you heard of this podcast? It was recommended to me by a bunch of people and I finally binged it while working this week; I'm so glad I did because it was really eye-opening. It's all about MLM's--the history and politics behind them, their shady practices, how they hurt people (and how they can help *some* people), etc. If you have any interest in MLM's or if you're involved in one, I definitely suggest you listen! 

SEE: The Color Purple (the book)
Somehow, despite being an English major in college and taking lots of advanced English classes in high school, I'd never read The Color Purple before. I'm not sure how this happened, but it did. And I didn't even realize it until I saw the book show up for free on Prime Reading (yay!) and read the blurb, thinking, 'Have I really not read this?' So I read it and I now understand why it's a classic. It is SO incredible.  It's still free on Prime Reading so check it out if you, too, missed it somehow!

TASTE: Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies 
Ben made us homemade cookies last weekend and they were the tastiest! He even added walnuts, just like I like them ;) My only complaint? I wish he hadn't eaten the majority of them so I could have enjoyed a few more (haha). 

SMELL: Sayde
Did you see on social media? Sayde came to stay with us from Sunday-Tuesday! It was SUCH a treat! Her new owners had to head out of town for a few days and asked if we would keep her. Of course we would! We fell right back into our normal routine and it was heavenly. I miss her so much--her warmth, her snuggles, her constant companionship, her scent. Having her back was really wonderful*

*But it was also a reminder of how hard it was to have her here and how hard it was to keep her and Charlie Mae separate all day long, so it validated our decision, too, which was good. 

TOUCH: Wrapping up my last week of Etsy orders of the season!
Today is the very last day that my Etsy shop will be open before Christmas. If you wanted to snag any last gifts--do so today! It feels weird to be closing shop before the final busy week of shopping, but it also feels nice to know that my crazy packaging and wrapping days are coming to a close for the year. Thank you SO much to everyone who shopped with me this season and all year long. 

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

Have a WONDERFUL holiday season and I'll see you back here once or twice more before 2019 (eek!). 

[Note: I know the above pic isn't great quality, but I just had to share it because I LOVE the fact that Uggs are thigh-high boots on a toddler and that CM likes wearing them so much, despite the fact that they're next to impossible for her to walk in. Also, this pic is an accurate representation of our home life right now and thus, is an accurate representation of this past week, too.]


Well, here we are: another Friday! This December is turning out to be a really weird one for us; we leave for a family trip t0 FL on the 15th, so this weekend is our last full weekend in town until Christmas. It feels strange to know that I'm shutting it down [work-wise + Etsy shop-wise] on the 14th--I've never called it quits so early in December before!

​But, I'm sure the break will be a welcome one once we're actually there and taking some time off. It's always just the build-up and preparation for travel that's the hardest, especially during the holidays...

How was your week? Can you take some time to reflect on your simple joys today? Mine are below...

HEAR: Hamilton and In the Heights Soundtracks
I've been on a Broadway Musical kick this week--specifically a Lin-Manuel Miranda musical kick ;) While I haven't seen Hamilton yet (waaahhhhhhhhhhhh), I did see Miranda's first hit, In the Heights, twice back when I lived in NYC and I loved it SO so so much. When re-listening to both of these soundtracks, I can't help but be struck by Miranda's genius again and again. He's just so incredible and so are his creations. 

SEE: House of Cards
Believe it or not, I'm new to this show. It was one of those classic couple things: Ben and I were going to start watching it together when Season 1 first came out (years ago now), and while I was out of town one week, he watched the entire thing without me. Even though he told me to catch up so we could watch Season 2 together, I was so mad that I never even tried to watch it and it has always been "his" show. But, he recently decided he wanted to watch it all over again this winter so here we are. We started watching it last weekend and I was hooked immediately. I finally get what all of the hype has been about for all these years!

[My only issue with House of Cards: I wish I didn't know what I now know about Kevin Spacey--or that he wasn't such a bad guy IRL. Do you, too, feel weird about watching shows with known predators in them? Should I not be supporting it in this way? Such a hard thing to navigate... Ugh.] 
 
TASTE: Smith Family Popcorn in Sea Salt Caramel
OMG, Ben's Aunt brought us this locally-made popcorn last weekend and it was de-licious. Ben wolfed down most of the bag one night after I went to bed (#typical) but Charlie Mad and I each enjoyed a little bit before it was gone and loved it. So good--and of course I adore that it's locally-made!

SMELL: Our little Christmas Tree :)
We got a cute little Christmas Tree last week (Ben insisted in a very small one this year, haha) and it's been bringing us all so much happiness. Every year I'm amazed at how special it feels to have a tree, twinkle lights, and wreaths up. It doesn't take much to make things feel Christmas-y and a little more magical around here, and I always appreciate it even much more than I anticipated I would. 

TOUCH: Home practice
As much as I have a love/hate relationship with practicing yoga at home (the dustballs on the floor! The toys and STUFF all around me!), there's just nothing like a really good home practice and I had one this week. I practiced right in front of the tree with some great music on in the background, and was able to tune out my surroundings and get into the flow. The best. 

And that's it for this week! I hope you can find the time to reflect on your #SJOTW today and that you have a wonderful weekend.

I'll see ya back here next week!

I can't even with the date today. I'm always that girl but seriously--how are we just a tad over a month out from 2019!?!?!? Ummmmmm.

Thank goodness for SJOTW because it makes me slow down and reflect on this life that is flying by at the speed of light.

What brought you joy over the past 7 days? My favorite simple, sensory joys from our trip home to GA + beyond are below... 

HEAR: Family drum circle/music circle/sing-a-long
My family is all about music. At my dad's house (where we stayed last weekend) he has basically every instrument you could imagine just sitting out somewhere within reach. This makes his house pretty dreamy for a music-loving toddler and an impromptu morning sing-a-long took it up a notch and left Charlie Mae beaming. Also, it made me MELT to hear her singing along with all of us [at the top of her lungs] while we sang her favorite songs (with my dad on the guitar and brothers on the drums, of course). It was so fun. 

SEE: Charlie Mae with my cousin's children 
Another sweet motherhood moment (isn't that what the holidays are for when you're a parent?): I got to see Charlie Mae interacting with/infatuated with my cousin's two children! They had never met before and although I would have loved for them to become inseparable immediately, they were slow to warm up and our visit was too short for that to happen, but it was still adorable to observe them playing tentatively together. 

TASTE: Thanksgiving (we did ours on Friday so it falls within this window!)
I mean, duh. I don't need to say much about this except that Thanksgiving food is the best. And sweet Ben basically made our entire meal for my entire family (and extended family) while we were in ATL, so it was extra appreciated this year. Yay for Ben's amazing abilities in the kitchen! 

SMELL: Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter
'Tis the season for super dry cracked skin and this is my favorite lotion out there right now. It's super cheap, smells DIVINE, feels great going on, and of course, is extremely affordable since it's from TJs. Try it! You won't be disappointed.  

TOUCH: Clean clothes/a fixed washer
We came home from our trip to a broken washer, which was kind of the worst (hello, dirty laundry piles all over the house!). But we had someone come fix it on Wednesday and just a mere $300 later (ha!), we're back in business. This whole debacle made me *very* appreciative of working appliances everywhere.

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

Have a wonderful weekend!

Welp, we're less than a week out from Thanksgiving and I can hardly believe it.

We're headed to GA late next week because we're having a small Memorial for my Great Aunt (who passed away back in October) on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We're actually flying out on Thanksgiving day because tickets were so expensive every other day + we have to buy tickets for 3 people every time that we fly now (bleh + bye bye all of our $$$!). Soooo...all of that being said, there will be no #SJOTW next week but it will be back the week after.

But lets get to it for this past week, shall we? Here are a few of the simple things that brought me happiness over the past 7 days...

​HEAR: Armchair Expert Podcast episode featuring Brené Brown
I love Brené Brown SO much. I mean, who doesn't? She's the best. I'm also really enjoying The Armchair Expert Podcast lately. So, when I saw that there was a live episode with Brené  Brown available for download, I was in. It was great hearing a super laid back version of Brené ​(not that she isn't always 100% authentic...) and I think it's def worth a listen. 

SEE: Our neighborhood on a perfect fall day
Last weekend we had the perfect fall day. We did a family walk through the woods and then raked our front yard (well, mostly Ben raked and then used the leaf blower, thank goodness) and the experience of it all--especially with a little toddler holding her rake and trying to "help"--was just so perfectly seasonal, sweet, and fun (until said toddler got hungry and tired and had a breakdown, of course). It snowed here yesterday/last night though, so I think we've moved through fall + right into winter...

TASTE: Date night at The West End
Ben and I went out on a date last weekend! It was our second in two months and I could hardly believe it! We went to local favorite The West End (it had been too long) and had an amazing meal. And of course we ordered my favorite, their Truffle Tots. While discussing how full we were and how we were having a hard time finishing the tots because of this, Ben introduced a new "family policy": 'no tot left behind.' I'm obviously a supporter. 

SMELL: Essential oils during a savasana assist (duh!)
On Wednesday I took a class at a lovely local studio that I don't make it to enough (shout-out Evoke Yoga!) and got an amazing savasana assist from the teacher (shout-out Jess!). During that assist she used some massage oil/essential oil that smelled heavenly. I didn't think to ask what it was and honestly, I don't even care, I just know that it was incredible and stayed with me for a few hours after the class. Ahhhhhh. 

TOUCH: Painting with Charlie Mae
I promise that I haven't pushed it at all (truly!), but Charlie Mae has gotten really into watercolor painting. She asks to do it all of the time now and obviously I don't say no. We've probably pulled out the paints at least 3-4 times in the past week and it's one of my favorite activities to do with her. I just wish she didn't always want to share the same piece of paper when we're painting together ;) 

And there you go! I hope your week was full of simple joys, too... 

Oh, and if you're a yoga teacher + you're local: there's still room in my Assisting Workshop at Power Yoga of Cape Cod {Harwich location} this weekend! It's on Saturday from 1-4pm. Learn more and sign-up here. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

What a week. Time change + darkness, election, more horrible violent tragedies (when will it stop/when will our government do something to make these shootings less frequent?), phew. It had all of the makings to be a hard week but wouldn't you know it? Simple joys to the rescue; it was still a really nice one. 

Also, on a lighter note: Daylight Savings when you have a baby/toddler. It really is THE WORST. I have been so tired this week and it's all because Charlie Mae is waking up way earlier every day because of DST! Fellow tired parents--I feel you. 

Now lets talk simple pleasures, shall we? What brought you happiness over the past 7 days? My #SJOTW are below...

HEAR: Old T. Swift albums
I went down a Taylor Swift wormhole while I was working this week. I wanted something fun to listen to and her music just felt right. I went back 3-4 albums and worked my way up and it was just what the Dr. ordered. Thanks for all the years of great music, Taylor! Keep it up! 

SEE: Fall leaves
The fall colors finally burst onto the scene here about two weeks ago and man, are they beautiful! It took a long time for fall to arrive but now that it's here I'm doing my best to soak up every second of it that I can. 

TASTE: WTR MLN WTR (Cold-Pressed Watermelon Juice)
One of my students gave me this treat after a sweaty class on Tuesday night and it was SO so good. Have you tried it? It seems like watermelon juice is everywhere right now and I see why--it's super refreshing. I'm such a beverage gal and love trying new ones--especially when they're as yummy as this one. 

SMELL: Simply Sugarless Homemade Blueberry Muffins
Do you remember this recipe that Sara shared for my old column "Simply Sugarless"? Well, it's become a staple around here (when I can find the time to make them) and both Charlie Mae and I are obsessed. I think she ate like 6 min-muffins yesterday and that's about it (whoops). At least they're super healthy and sugar-free!

TOUCH: My new sweatshirts! 
As you may have seen on social media, my new sweatshirts came in and I LOVE them. This is the comfiest sweatshirt I've ever owned--hands-down--thanks to the vintage French Terry. I've been wearing mine all week (honestly, I just make this stuff because I want it). There are a select # of each size still available in my Etsy shop, but when they're gone, they're gone, so snag yours soon! Thanks to everyone who already ordered one :) 

And there you have it. I hope you have an amazing weekend and I'll see you back here next week!

First Friday in November and where has 2018 gone!?!? Yet here we are. I won't go on and on about this but W O W. Lets slow things down by talking simple joys, shall we? 

Here are a few of the sensory pleasures that brought me joy over the past week...

HEAR: "No Roots" by Alice Merton 
I've been hearing this song on the radio and every time that it comes on I think about how much the singer sounds like Florence from Florence + the Machine (who I love). I finally looked her up on Spotify this week and listened to her music (not a lot more on there, unfortunately) and found out that I really like her! Listen to a snippet from this song below...

​
SEE: Charlie Mae on Halloween
I already posted about this on social media but I'll say it again here for those who missed it: Halloween with a little trick-or-treater is SO much fun! I was surprised by HOW much fun we had! Because she's not super open with strangers, I thought there was a big chance that Charlie Mae would hide in my legs every time we knocked on a door and a neighbor answered, but she didn't! She looked at each person who opened the door and said, "twick or tweet!" It MELTED me. After every house she would look at us and say, "no go home yet okay?" She obviously loved it as much as I did. 

TASTE: Halloween Candy (duh)
I mean...obviously. We have a bunch of mini-Snickers and Peanut Butter Snickers leftover and wowee are they good. I know you get it and also I need to get these things out of our house stat. 

SMELL: (2) Trips to Coonamessett Farm! 
We went to Coonamessett Farm last weekend for a hayride and some fall festivities, and then we went again yesterday with some friends because we loved it that much. I adore everything about a farm in the fall--the smell, the leaves, the squashes and pumpkins, the animals (of course!), and how happy Charlie Mae is when she gets to run around in big spaces outside. Definitely worth the trip if you're local + have kiddos! 

TOUCH: Preparing my art + products for display at Centerville Yoga + Wellness Center this month
I prepared and then hung my art and some of my products at Centerville Yoga this week, and it was so freeing to have a workday where I was on my computer less than usual and was using my hands to wrap, label, and prep products instead. If only I had more time to concentrate on this part of my business! #solopreneurproblems

And that's it from me for this week! What brought you joy over the past 7 days? I urge you to find some time to reflect if you can...

Also, a friendly reminder that today is the last day for early voting in MA! I'm headed to the polls later this morning + am excited to exercise this right. I hope you'll join me if you haven't already!

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

Thank you all for the outpouring of love + support this week. Thank you to everyone who reached out and shared your stories with me; it's been an emotional week, to say the least. Not because of what I went through or even because of the emotions that were stirred up by writing the post or by sharing it, but because I really came to understand just how many women I know have gone through devastating pregnancy losses without my ever knowing. 

As many of you have commented, you just never know what someone is going through. You really don't. 

But despite it being an emotionally heavy week, it was also a good one. That's life, isn't it? Here are a few of the simple, sensory joys that brought me happiness this week...

HEAR: "Digressions" by Lizzy LeBleu
One of my students (shout-out Stacy!) told me about this song and OMG, she was right, it is soooo up my alley. I think you'll know why when you hear it. Listen below/or on Spotify: 

SEE: My new planner (!!!!)
Is there anything better than getting your new planner? No, no is the answer! It's so exciting! I just got mine yesterday and while I haven't actually written anything in it yet, I can't wait to do so this weekend. Get out the pretty pens...

TASTE: Mango Limeade Polar Seltzer'ade
Ben's Aunt brought us a case of these seltzers last Sunday since she knows that we're total seltzer addicts. I had my first one on Monday while Ben was at work and was blown away. When he got home I watched him open one, take a sip, and then look at me with big eyes--"I know," I said. We were both in awe of the taste (lol), and I say 'were' because the case is long gone. We must get more. 

SMELL: Alpacas + goats 
I know this might sound like a gross smell, but I promise you, it's not to me--I love alpacas and goats SO much! They're some of my favorite animals, for sure. Last weekend, we went on a lovely walk to visit a local mini-farm and it did not disappoint. Have you ever watched a llama or alpaca chew? It's the best and I could watch it for hours. Ben and Charlie Mae loved them, too. 

​TOUCH: Snuggly slippers, space heater, + warm fleeces ;) 
It was 34 here last night and a high of only 58 yesterday! What the heck!?!?! It's been cold all week, really, so I've been bundling up and embracing the all the warmth that one can achieve with the right clothing + a space heater. We also finally turned the heat on Thursday night and that was nice, too. 

Other SJOTW? An amazing day with Charlie Mae yesterday, a few challenging yoga + barre classes (so great to be back after being sick + hurt!), warm Sayde snuggles, and again, all of your love in response to Wednesday's post. You all are the best. 

That's it for this week! I hope you have a lovely, simple joy-filled weekend.

See you back here next week!

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!