Simple Joys of the Week, August 10th Edition (Early Release!)

Since I'm jet-setting (er, getting in a car and driving a couple of hours to Delaware...) today, I thought I would go ahead and share my SJOTW a day early--fun and unexpected, isn't it? So, lets take a look! 

Here are the simple pleasures that have brought a little joy into my life over the past week...what has done the same for you? 

Hear: "Give Love" by MC Yogi

Like any hip-hop loving yoga teacher, I'm a big fan of MC Yogi, and an even bigger fan of his latest album, Pilgrimage (just came out in June!). Have you heard it yet? If not, and you like uplifting, yoga-inspired hip-hop, I definitely recommend it! One of my favorite tracks on the new album is "Give Love," which you can listen to below. I've added it to my August class playlist, and think it's a really fun addition to the more upbeat part of my flow sequences :)

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See: White House Tour

After living in DC for almost 3 years, Ben and I finally went on a White House Tour last weekend (courtesy of one of our dear friends who has gotten a coveted White House Aid position!). Although it was about 10,000 degrees outside and we were all sweating our faces off while waiting in line outside The White House, it was really amazing and totally worth it once we got inside. Sadly, Barack did not come by to say hello (I kept hoping he would!), and sadly, I did not get an improptu invite to his birthday celebration that was going on later that day (sigh...), but it was still very cool to see the inside of his digs. I was actually really amazed by all of the art that hung on the walls, and it was very neat to see inside the building that I've seen on TV so many times. Fun times in DC! ;)

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Taste: Whole Foods Veggie Rolls

Random, I know, but I really do love Whole Foods Veggie Rolls and until last weekend, I hadn't had them in forever. I know that usually, grocery store sushi can be questionable, but in my opinion, it's not at Whole Foods! The reasons I love Whole Foods rolls? They don't skimp on the avocado (I mean, look! Chock full!), they use brown rice, and they give you lots of ginger--which is one of my favorite parts of  eating sushi. As a side note, Ben thinks its really annoying whenever I get veggie rolls and call them sushi ("they're not sushi!"), so I guess I need to work on that. Oh, and the other best part of this meal? I made some homemade edamame as well--YUM.

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Smell: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare's "Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel"

Remember when my wedding makeup artist scolded me for not having a "skincare regimen" at my age? Well, she can stop worrying, because I have one now. And a very exhausting one, at that! Last night, I started the last step of my "pre-wedding skincare regimen," Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare's "Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel."  After trying it for myself, I do have to admit that my makeup artist may just know what she's talking about... I used both steps and came out to show Ben last night, and he said, "I've never seen anyone's face look so clean." That's a pretty big endorsement, huh? I'm supposed to use it for 60 days, so I'll let you know how I think it works once I've done so!

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Touch: Dress Fitting!

As I mentioned on Monday, I had my dress fitting on Sunday. It was very nerve-wracking to be standing up on a pedestal while a seamstress tugged and pulled at my body, pinning my dress where she was going to take it in or alter it (I started sweating uncontrollably, haha!), but when she was done, my dress felt amazing. I absolutely loved it. It's super comfortable (feels like I'm wearing a nightgown!) and (hopefully) it will now fit like a glove. There were a number of other brides there as well,  waiting to get their dresses fitted, and it was just a really interesting atmosphere, all of us ladies watching each other get picked and pulled at, and chatting about our upcoming weddings. It's all pretty crazy, isn't it? 


Well, now I'm off to pack and get ready to head out for the weekend! I hope your week was FULL of simple, sensory joys, and that you weekend contains many more moments that make you smile...

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

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