Simple Joys of the Week, Holiday Edition

Welcome to the last SJOTW for 2011! Crazy! In honor of the last installment of the year and because I missed last week due to the Christmas holiday, I thought I would go out with a bang and make this week's edition a bit different--thus, you'll see lots more pictures and my simple joys for the past 2 weeks recorded in list form in each category. Sometimes, it feels good to switch things up--plus, the holidays are just too full of simple pleasures to pick just one for each sense ;)

What has brought YOU joy over the past two weeks? If you have a second, stop and think about it--it's a great way to be reminded of all that you are grateful for during this time of reflection. My simple joys are below...

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Hear:

Jersey Boys Musical (amazing songs!)
The sound of my family's voices sitting around the table and talking
Christmas music (any and all...it's amazing)
Pandora Radio (can't get enough! It's on right now.)
A bunch of new artists/music given to me by my Dad when I was home
Laughter
Watching movies with the family
Crazy definitions read aloud when playing Balderdash

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See:
Family. Best part of any holiday season.
Amazing gifts (3 yoga-inspired gifts that I received are pictured below...pillow case, yogi frog, and bolster! yay!)
Christmas decorations, tree, ornaments, wrapped gifts under the tree, candles, stockings = everything Christmas :)
Home (feels SO good to see the places that I grew up and reconnect with my roots)
Wedding venue. Ben and I visited together while home...made everything feel real!
Rehearsal dinner restaurant (picked it out and booked it while home!)
The look on people's faces when they open surprise gifts

Taste:
Christmas meals at home with the family (3+!)
Homemade treats (see pic of my Dad with his pecan pie): cookies, pies, pound cake, Hungarian nut roll = YUM
Sun in My Belly Food Tasting (caterer for wedding...we've decided to go with them!)
Lowcountry Barbeque Food Tasting (another caterer tasting...delicious!)
Clementines (ALWAYS remind me of home and the holidays)
Meals at my favorite restaurants at home: Everybody's and Flying Biscuit Cafe

Image via harrietcarter.com

Smell:

Holiday scented candles (they're everywhere at home!)
Christmas meals cooking in the oven
Home (there's always a scent, isn't there?)
Evergreen from Christmas tree
Rain (it did rain a lot while home, and there's definitely a scent to the rain :)

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Touch:
Warm & snugly Christmas gifts: hand-knitted arm warmers, new slippers & PJs, and SmartWool socks (pictured below!)
Feeling the heat while sitting by the fire
Sleeping in my bed at home
Game pieces/cards in my hands...feels like fun and relaxation :)
Napping on the couch (by the fire!)
Going on walks in the warm GA air
Throwing the frisbee outside after eating a HUGE Christmas dinner
Hugs from family
The heat in 2 hot yoga classes (with my Dad at his studio)

And THAT is why I love the holidays :) So here's to another weekend full of simple joys and a BRAND NEW year that holds many, many more.

Thank you for reading all about my SJOTW in 2011! Happy *almost* 2012 :)

Namaste,
Mary Catherine