My Top 10 Guilty Pleasures

Ready for this? I've decided that since I'm always sharing my favorite simple, sensory joys, I should also break things down a bit and share not only my simple joys, but also my *guilty pleasures* (in the words of Merriam-Webster, "something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt").  Because we all have them, right?  You may already know some of mine, as they have definitely been woven into some of my SJOTW posts, but today, I thought I'd make it official. 

So here we go...! What are your guiltiest pleasures?

1. Reality TV. Specifically, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and The Bachelor Pad (basically anything Bachelor-related!). I know it's really bad, and fake, and scripted, but what can I say? I love it.  

2. Hiring a cleaning company. I know it's crazy when you live in a place that's 1000 sq. feet, but it is amazing and TOTALLY worth the $75. What would take us 4-5 hours literally takes them 1 hour. And they do a much better job!! Worth every penny to avoid the fights about how dirty our place is... 

3. BGR Sweet Potato fries--every Thursday night. Yes, it's almost become a tradition. Every Thursday night, after CrossFit, Ben and I go to BGR. We each get our respective burgers (their veggie burger is to die for!), and we split their sweet potato fries with rosemary + parmesan. I could eat them every day and never get sick of them! If you're in the DC area, definitely go there and try them...

4. Taylor Swift. I know that her music is geared towards high schoolers--or at least college kids--but I love it. So catchy and cute, and for some reason, it reminds me of a good rom com (another slightly guilty pleasure!). My love for Taylor kind of reminds me of my old love for Avril Lavigne...

5. Manicures. Pedicures I can justify, "for my job," but manis are a different story. I usually chip them in 1-2 days. My nails are short and I pick at my cuticles when I'm stressed or bored. I paint and do CrossFit and mess them up when I'm just walking around, being my clumsy self and hitting my hands on things as I walk--but still, I love them. And every once in a while, I treat myself to one. Crazy, I know!!

6. Bad rap music and/or bad top 40 music. I know it's embarrassing--I really do--but I just can't stop loving it. I like to blame Ben, the Top 40 King of the World ;)

7. Expensive yoga clothes. I spend a lot of time justifying it, but the truth is, I'm addicted ;) You've heard it already, so I'll save you the long-winded story, but, yeah...

8. MAC Sheertone Blush in "Coygirl." First off, I'm a blush addict. Always have been, always will be, and I blame it on my crazy pale skin. Anyways, ever since I discovered this blush in 2010, I've been a dedicated customer. And no joke, sometimes I put blush on 2-3 times per day, and I've only had to buy this blush twice since then--that's how long it lasts! It's the best. 

9. Ice cream. Enough said, right? I think this is a guilty pleasure for a lot of us. You could also just include "almost all desserts and sweets" here...

10. Brides Magazine. When I had just gotten engaged, and was given my first bridal magazine, I kind of freaked out. I was like, what!? I'm not the bridal magazine type! But, alas, I found out that I am. They really are fun to flip through, and yes, you really can get some great ideas from them. Do their "countdown checklists" freak me out every time I look at them? Yes. But still, a lot of fun!

So there you have it--a glimpse into my "dark" side ;) 

Guilty pleasures are an interesting subject for yogis, since we talk so much about saucha (purity) and brahmacharya (moderation). But in my own studies, I have come to the conclusion that as long as we indulge in our "guilty pleasures" sparingly--in moderation, with awareness, mindfulness, and understanding--that they aren't always a completely bad thing. But, when they begin to get in the way of our journey and/or our quest for our personal truth, or when they become a distraction from what truly important in life, then it's time to reevaluate...

What are your thoughts on this subject? 

Namaste!
Mary Catherine