Simple Joys of the Week, January 18th Edition

YOU GUYS. Thank you so much for the outpouring of loving messages, emails, texts, comments, etc. this week.

I really appreciate all of the support during this exciting (but anxiety-filled) time. It's so nice to finally have everything out in the open (now you know why I was EXTRA tired over the holidays and during all of our travel) but it's also a little scary, too. So thank you for making it easier to share. 

As for simple joys, obviously one of my biggest simple joys from the past week was all of the sweet 'congrats' from all of you! But above + beyond that big joy, here are some others that brought me happiness this week...

​HEAR: Lizzo
I've been on a Lizzo kick all week. I know I've posted about her before but I've been back to listening while I work and was reminded of just how great she is. If you haven't checked her out, do!!! Here's one of my fave songs: 

​SEE: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix (and as a result, the book the show is based on)
I know some of you have been recommending this book to me since it first came out, but for some reason I was resistant until now--or until last weekend, when I watched the first episode of Marie Kondo's new show on Netflix (at the recommendation of a few of you) and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I've been losing my mind over all of the stuff in our house lately and this show (and now book, which I bought immediately after watching one show) was the right message at the right time. I want to get our house in order before Baby #2 comes! So I've committed to following the KonMari method just as described and even made a spreadsheet listing the tidying categories we're going to tackle each weekend now through late-April. I'm SO excited!!!! And as you can imagine, Ben loves it when I send him household spreadsheets while he's at work (HAHAHA). 

TASTE: Sea Salt & Vinegar Cape Cod Chips (see painting above!)
If you saw my Instagram post last night, you already know this, but I just have to say it once more here: these chips are the main food item I've been wanting to eat for the past few weeks of this pregnancy. I crave them all the time and I can't get enough of them (but actually I can so I've been limiting myself and trying to eat small portions). I loved balsamic vinegar during my first trimester when I was pregnant with Charlie Mae, but this pregnancy + these chips have taken it to an entirely different level. 

SMELL: Sayde's breath (HA! only half joking...dog people will understand)
Sayde is back visiting with us while her new owners are traveling and although it's challenging to have her for so long (life is just harder with her around because we have to keep her and CM separate!), it's been really wonderful, too. And Ben and I laugh so hard because she has the worst breath but she's so tiny and as gross as it is, we both kind of love it, too. It's just so funny when she yawns right in our faces (RIGHT in our faces) and she's so adorable that you can't be that grossed out ;) 

TOUCH: Cleaning out 6 garbage bags (!!!) worth of clothes to donate
Thank you Marie Kondo! Because of my aforementioned obsession with the KonMari method, Ben and I started "sparking joy" with our clothing last weekend and got rid of SOOOOOO many unused + unneeded items. It felt incredible! I'm pumped to tackle accessories, shoes, and books this weekend.

And there ya go! I hope you can find some time to reflect on your #SJOTW today, too...