Simple Joys of the Week, April 6th Edition

What a week!?  Not only has the weather been *absolutely amazing,* but as you know, I've been on a bit of a staycation this week since my parents have been in town...we've been frolicking around the city, spending time outside, and going out to eat, and it's been wonderful to take a bit of time "off" while they've been in town. They leave this morning, so now it's back to reality, but first, lets reflect on a few simple, sensory joys from the past 7 days...

What brought you happiness this week? My favorite moments are below:

Image via louisdietvorst.wordpress.com

Hear: The following quote...

"Everything has a crack in it. That's how the light gets in." -Leonard Cohen

Don't you love it? My Dad shared it with me, and I think it's just beautiful. It may be my new favorite quote, as I think that we're all broken in a way, but it's our complications and our journeys--what has brought us here and made us who we are--that gives us our depth and allows us to truly shine. It's a great quote to apply to our yoga practice, as well; I don't think I would have learned anything from yoga if I wasn't a bit cracked from the get-go...

---

See: Art at the Hirshorn, and especially, this picture taken there--> 

Can you believe this picture of me and my Dad? I haven't done ANYTHING to it (Instagram or Photoshop-wise), this is just how it came out! We took it in the "Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color, and Space" exhibit at the Hirshorn (totally strange exhibit, btw!), and we're both totally obsessed with it. It was taken in a room that displayed a neon blue piece of art...don't you love it? Anyways, we really enjoyed our trip to the Hirshorn, which embarrassingly enough, I'd never been to before. You know how when you live in a city, you hardly ever visit all of the amazing offerings that it provides? That's one of the reasons that I love having people visit--it makes you take the time to go see these places, and you always have a blast. So yeah, lots of visual joys there :)

---

Image via blogs.westword.com

Taste: Starbucks Skinny Decaf Vanilla Latte (that's a mouthful!)

Crazily enough, I've never had a Vanilla Latte before. Probably because I gave up coffee about 2 years ago, and since then, I try to enjoy tea whenever I'm out and about. But, this week I was craving something warm, semi-sweet, and not *too* sugary, so my Dad recommended I try a latte. So I did (the decaf, "skinny version"), and I loved it. Um, yum? Why did no one tell me how good these are? I don't think that they're a delicacy that I could enjoy too often--only once in a while--and I don't think I would like them with whipped cream or full milk (might be too heavy?), but this kind, from Starbucks, was delish. New treat for this girl...!!!

---

Smell: Spring flowers!

As you all know from my post on Wednesday, I'm obsessed with the arrival of spring. As we spent time outside, walking around DC over the past few days, I just couldn't get over how beautiful everything was. I mean, some of these flowering plants and trees are just the prettiest things EVER? And you have to admit that nature is really amazing--that it produces these colors naturally?!? That these plants all blossom at the same time in the spring!? That they smell so amazing and give everything a springtime scent? I just adore it. It's a sensory explosion and I love every aspect of it. Have you stopped to smell the flowers yet this spring?

---

Touch: Riding a bike outside :)

The wind in my hair, the cool breeze, the sun on my skin, the exertion of pushing the pedals as you move up a hill, the speed as you coast down, and the fact that biking is a fun, active way to spend time with the people you love--what could possibly be better? Yesterday, my Dad and I went on a long bike ride on the Mt. Vernon Trail, from Arlington to Alexandria and back.  Sadly, Ben and my stepmom, Anita, couldn't join us, as both were feeling under the weather, but my Dad and I still had an amazing time. Can we all agree that there is absolutely NOTHING like being active and moving outside on a gorgeous day? It was SO much fun. Best SJOTW, for sure :)


Did you find some time to get outside and soak up the spring this week? If not, be sure to do so this weekend--there really is something magical about this time of year, and if you don't stop and pause soon, you just may miss it.

Have a colorful weekend (full of simple joys!)!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

---