Simple Joys of the Week, December 16th Edition

"I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes..." Christmas is all around us! My birthday is Monday! 2012 is right around the corner! Can someone say C.R.A.Z.Y. ? I am so looking forward to the next few weeks, no matter how busy they may be, but am also trying my best to live in the present moment and enjoy the time that is here, now, before we head to Atlanta next week (so excited to see my family!!!). Part of that effort? Taking a moment to appreciate a few Simple Joys of the Week! Mine are below. What were yours?

Hear: "Breathe" by Alexi Murdoch

I've been a sucker for Mr. Murdoch ever since I heard the song "Orange Sky" in the movie Garden State (amazing movie, btw!) years ago. Since then, his music was also widely featured in another film that I loved, Away We Go, and I became a surefire fan. This song, "Breathe" is from his 2005 album (cover pictured to the left), and it's a great one. I've been playing it in my yoga classes over the past week or two, and I've been loving it. Perfect song for yoga, wouldn't you agree? Take a listen below...

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See: New antique/vintage inspiration!

Yesterday, I hit a fun, new (to me!) antiques/vintage shop right down the road from our apartment. I've driven by it many, many, times, but never had a chance to pop in until now. And wow, jackpot! I picked up three vintage books, a pair of vintage shutters (to use in my studio and maybe in our wedding decorations?), an old Life Magazine, a blue mason jar, and some vintage photographs. It was great! I'm so inspired by anything and everything old these days, and can't wait to start creating with some of my new supplies. New year with lots more time for creativity, here I come!

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Taste: Royal Dansk Danish Butter Cookies

I know, totally weird, right? But this week, our building management company gave everyone in the building a box of these cookies (Dittmar buildings, anyone?). Before you judge a book by it's cover, let me just say that my Mom used to always get these cookies when we were younger, and I've always loved them--but I had completely forgotten about them until now! Granted, I probably don't need to be eating any more cookies at this time of year (I've seriously become a cookie-eating machine!), but they're just so simple, smooth, and delicious. Add a glass of milk and voila! They melt in your mouth :)

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Smell: Orange Pomanders

Do you remember these? Did you make them when you were younger? I did, and they smell absolutely amazing. For those who have never seen them before, they're basically just an orange with cloves inserted into the rind (I like to try and do a pretty pattern, but doesn't always work ;). I know they sound silly and simple, but they really do bring a scrumptious holiday scent into your home. I made two at the Tranquil Space Labs Handmade Hollyday event last night, and had a blast. The event bolstered my holiday spirit even more...yay!

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Touch: Making holiday popcorn garlands

How cute is this? Again, I made it at the holiday event last night and then added it to our little baby Christmas Tree when we got home :) There's just something meditative about stringing popcorn on a strand of thread--or in doing any activity with a repetitive movement--and I found it really relaxing and wonderful. Munching on clementines, chatting with good people, and stringing popcorn on a strand. So relaxing and nice? I'm really glad that I took the time to participate in such simple holiday crafts last night, and I encourage you to do the same. Bake or decorate some holiday cookies, make an orange pomander, create some handmade ornaments or gifts. There's nothing that gets me in the holiday spirit quite like making something :)

I hope you have a glorious weekend planned--and in between all of the shopping, holiday parties, events, gift-wrapping, card-writing, cooking, and errand-running, don't forget to take a moment to enjoy the simple things in life. The smell of evergreen or cinnamon, the taste of a scrumptious holiday treat, the sound of your favorite holiday song...

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

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