Simple Joys of the Week, January 11th Edition

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Happy SJOTW, everyone! I hope your week has been as relaxing as possible, and that you've had time to soak up lots of small, sensory pleasures along the way. As we move into the second weekend of 2013, I think it's important to stop and reflect on all of the many joys that we've already been able to experience this year. Maybe you took a fabulous yoga class, or were recognized at work, or enjoyed a wonderful dinner catching up with a friend--whatever it is, try to take a moment to feel a sense of gratitude for the experience...

Speaking of gratitude, here are the little things that I'm grateful for this week! What were your SJOTW?

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Hear: "Be Still" by The Fray

One of my students recommended this song to me in late-December, saying that she heard it in another yoga class and thought I would really like it. Well, obviously, I went straight home and listened, and she was right--I love it! So I added it to my January class playlist and have been enjoying it during every class that I've taught thus far in 2013. It's one of those songs that just comforts you--it goes in and touches you all the way to the bones. I only wish it was longer, so that I could use it for a savasana song (less than 3 minutes is too short for savasana!). Also, listening to this song has reminded me that I've always liked The Fray, so am not sure why I've never bought one of their albums!? I should do that ASAP. Anyways, you can listen to the song below:

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See: This fabulous tote bag that I received this week -->

As I mentioned last week, I've been having a great time coming home in the evenings to packages of belated birthday and Christmas gifts from my dear friends. Ever year, we tend to send each other's gifts after the holidays, and this year is no exception ;) So this week, I opened a package from one of my BFFs to find this hysterical and totally appropriate tote bag inside. I mean, can you believe it!? I think it is so funny and so true. I'm one of those people who thinks, "the bigger the book, the better," as that means I can enjoy it for even longer--and If there is one thing that all of my friends and I have in common, it's that we all LOVE to read, and can't ever get enough of a good book. Thank you, Kelly, for this perfect tote! It's going to be my new go-to, for sure ;)

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Taste: Eating gluten-free

Just as promised on New Year's Day, I have been eating gluten-free since January 1st (except for the time that I took one bite of a cracker at an event, because I honestly just forgot, and after the bite, remembered, and freaked out!). I was dreading this change, thinking it would be super hard and that I would be miserable, but honestly, it's been great. Lots of my favorite grains are gluten-free (rice, oatmeal, tortilla chips, quinoa), and honestly, I haven't really missed bread, crackers, granola bars, or cookies/cake/total-garbage-treats as much as I thought I would. Plus, my stomach has been feeling a bit better! I'll wait until the end of the month to make the final decision for moving forward, but so far, so good! Definitely worth trying and may be a new way of life for me...

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Smell: The beach (specifically in La Jolla, CA...)

Although this is kind of dishonest, because I didn't actually go the the beach this week, I had to include it because I am EXTREMELY excited about our upcoming trip to California--so excited, that I can already smell the salty beach air ;) Backstory: neither Ben nor I have ever been to CA (I know, crazy, right!?). We've both really wanted to go for a long time, especially since Ben was offered a job in San Diego in 2009 and I "made" him turn it down to move to DC (long story). So, we decided that since we never go on fun trips together, we haven't taken our "official honeymoon," we haven't seen San Diego and he could have an opportunity to work there again in the future, and since we're both dying to go somewhere soon, that we would just go ahead and book a trip to CA for April. And we did! We're going to stay in a little beach cabin in La Jolla (a beach town about 30 mins from San Diego) for a week in April, and we cannot wait. SB2K13!!!! (Kind of ;)

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Touch: My new "Yoga Mat Tie"

I know this seems like the most simple product ever, but that's because it is. And sometimes, you don't need all of the bells and whistles--you just need something streamlined and basic that does the job--and that's what The Yoga Mat Tie does. The owner of this company, a really nice yogi based in Boulder, CO, makes all of these products by hand and rides to the post office on his bike to ship them out (which I LOVE!). Recently, they sent me a sample to try for myself, and I have to say, it's been a great little solution for unruly mats (!)--especially if you don't need a mat strap, because you just carry your mat or leave it stored at your studio (like I do) or in your car. You can check out their entire line of extremely affordable mat ties on their website, here. Yay for small, handmade businesses! 

So there you have it--my SJOTW for the second week of 2013 ;) And guess what simple joys are coming up this weekend? Apartment de-cluttering project #2, a haircut (finally!), yoga, and some much-needed relaxation time. I'm also teaching a Newbie Yogi Workshop at TSA on Saturday from 5-7:3opm, so if you're new to yoga or know someone who is, feel free to send them along to join me!

I hope your weekend is *full* of the simple pleasures in life. Take a soak in the tub, go on a long walk in this unseasonably warm weather, get a mani/pedi, indulge in a yoga class or two, have tea with a friend, and/or snuggle up and read a good book. Take some time to nurture your body and mind--you need it (we all do!)!!!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

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