Simple Joys of the Week, April 20th Edition

Welcome to this week's edition of SJOTW! As always, thanks for joining me :) I hope that your week has been full of the simple pleasures in life, no matter how packed or busy it may have been. Is anyone else feeling the spring frenzy coming on? I am, but I'm kind of loving it, too! There's just something about all of the activity in the spring that is really invigorating...

Anyways, read on for the small sensory joys that have brought me happiness over the past 7 days. What's made you smile? 

Hear: "Wrecking Ball" by Bruce Springsteen

When my parents came to visit a few weeks ago, my Dad brought me Bruce's latest album. My Dad is a TOTAL Bruce fanatic (I think we counted up that he's been to about 10 concerts in the past 10 years?), and he has been raving about how good his newest album is.  And I have to say that after listening to it for the past few weeks, I would agree. Obviously I may also be slightly biased, since I was raised in a Bruce-loving household, but I really do think it's great. One of my favorite tracks is also the album title, "Wrecking Ball." It's a beautiful song, yet still has all of the power, grittiness, and Americana feel of a typical Bruce song. Take a listen below and enjoy!

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See: This street/guerilla art :)

Remember WAY back in the day when I posted about my love for street art? Specifically, for "Guerilla Knitting?" Well, I saw my first DC guerilla knitting piece in Dupont Circle this week! It made me so happy that I had to stop and snap a pic--I mean, how fun is this? I think it's especially cute when people knit little sweaters for trees; it's such a sweet gesture and although I have no idea what the purpose of it was for this artist, in my mind it's a way to pay attention to, draw attention to, and care for a tree that would otherwise be ignored by your typical passerby. Plus, I love the bright pink here--very springy ;)

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Image via robynwebb.com

Taste: Baked Sweet Potato

I've literally had baked potatoes three different ways this week--mashed, fried (sweet potato fries = my favorite thing in the world), and baked. Does anyone else love sweet potatoes as much as I do? I think they're good every way EXCEPT with marshmallows and brown sugar on them (they're sweet enough already!). And they're good for you, too! Good week.

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Smell: Sweaty Athletes

Sounds gross, I know, but I've gotten fairly used to the smell of sweaty athletes through CrossFit, and last week's competition was so much fun that the scent was totally worth it ;) As I wrote on Monday, this felt like the last competition of the CF "competition season" (if there is one?), and I was so glad to be able to spend the weekend with some of my favorite CFDC peeps. I also had an amazing time just lounging around with everyone outside in the gorgeous spring weather in-between events; there's nothing like watching people give everything they've got, then go lay in the sun and eat while they prepare to do it again ;)

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Image via etsy.com/shop/LuciusArt

Touch: Ben's freshly-shaven face ;)

Since you all have already heard so much about our facial hair roller coaster at home, I had to share the latest--Ben shaved his long-lasting beard this week! It was so nice to feel his smooth skin again, and I'm counting down to this afternoon when he cuts his hair, because I feel like he'll finally look like himself again. Except for the fact that he had his beard for SO long that I honestly forgot what he looked like without it (!), and it's taken a while to get used to his hairless face again. Ever notice how when people shave their beards their upper lip looks really big? Haha! Anyways, the one thing I'm sad about is that now I can't get him this print for his birthday (next week!) anymore...you win some, you lose some, right?

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And with that, I'm off for a busy Friday--the start to a jam-packed, but very fun weekend. If you're in town and are a fellow TranquiliT fan, stop by and see me at the TranquiliT Spring Trunk Show at TSA tomorrow! I'll be hosting along with our wonderful Boutique Specialist, Patricia ;) Click on the image to the right to enlarge and read all the details...

I hope your weekend is FULL of simple, sensory pleasures. Don't forget to stop, reflect, and experience a sense of gratitude for the small things in life!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

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