Simple Joys of the Week, July 20th Edition

Welcome to this week's edition of SJOTW! So glad you're here :) I have to say that I had a hard time picking what I wanted to highlight this week, as it was just so full of new things, but I *think* I've narrowed it down... 

So lets just jump right into it, shall we? What brought you joy over the past 7 days? My favorite simple pleasures are below...

Hear: "Such Great Heights" by The Section Quartet

You know how sometimes an instrumental version of a song can be even better than the real thing? That's almost how I feel about The Section Quartet's version of "Such Great Heights" (I'm still trying to decide which one I like more). It's a beautiful song and I just LOVE the way that they've interpreted it. If you've never heard it, listen below! I've added this song to my July Class Playlist (coming to my playlist page soon, I promise!) and have been loving listening to it while I teach. Then, it came on while I was setting up for my watercolor workshop yesterday, so I knew it was meant to be my auditory SJOTW! Such a pretty song...

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See: A rainbow (!!!)

Last weekend, as Ben and I were driving home from the massage that put my back out (fun, fun!), we saw this rainbow in the sky. It was so special and we could see both ends--it was really big and it felt like it stretched right across Arlington! Although I couldn't get a very good picture since I was lying flat on my back (and was in total pain), I think you can still get the picture here. It was really beautiful and I couldn't remember the last time that I saw a rainbow. They are so magical, aren't they? Also, just wanted to let you know that I'm almost healed from my back issue, and am looking forward to taking my first yoga class of the week this morning. Woohoo! Wish me luck :) Nothing makes you appreciate yoga like a week without it....

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Taste: Two super sweet gifts from friends--Rose Sugar from Paris and "Wedding: A Tea for Marriage" (so beautiful!)

How sweet are both of these items? They were both gifted to me this week by different thoughtful ladies, and I think that they'll go together perfectly. I mean, how sweet (literally)? The rose sugar has real rose petals in it and the tea tin is the cutest. thing. ever. I have to admit, I'm a sucker for anything that says "wedding" on it these days, as it feels like it's quickly approaching, but seriously, how adorable!? I look forward to enjoying both as I work on wedding projects this weekend! *And I know, I'm kind of cheating here since I haven't tried either yet, but I know I'm going to love them. Sometimes you just know... ;)

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Smell: Surya Incense

As a part of the forever exciting Yogi Appreciation Week at Tranquil Space, I decided to treat myself to a bunch of new incense. Among the selections? Some new Surya incense scents, which I really enjoy. The rose is amazing, and I'm having fun trying out the sampler, as well. I love me some good incense--especially when the apartment smells totally funky from Ben's nightly broccoli cooking. I mean I love broccoli, but could it make the space any smellier? I used to make it in my dorm room in college, so I can't really talk, but STILL! So yes, incense is critical :)And Surya is divine. Ahhhh....

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Touch: Teaching yesterday's watercolor workshop :)

I cannot say how much fun I had yesterday! I taught 8 lovely ladies some of the basics of watercolor painting (with a break for yoga and some amazing, homemade vegetarian meals!) and it was extremely enjoyable. It was so interesting to watch the retreaters slowly unwind as they settled into life away from the city and began to create. At first everyone was a little nervous, but as they began to play and to open up, it seemed like a lot of those normal inhibitions and self-judgments disappeared. I also got a chance to connect with how much I love teaching art to others, and definitely want to continue to do so through workshops and events in the future. Oh, and the touch part? Working with watercolors, of course. They have such a wonderful flow  to them--just like yoga :)

And by the way, you know what's wonderful about reflecting on your simple joys of the week? It helps you get over all of those not-so-simple-or-joyous moments of the week, because as we all know, there are always plenty of those, too. This week I was stung by a bee, had to drive 2 hours in a VERY scary lightening storm (feel so lucky to have made it home safe!), and put out my back, but after looking at all of the wonderful things that happened, I feel insanely grateful for the past 7 days. 

Life is so full of treasures--take some time to look back or you might forget about them! 

For a few more fun shots from the watercolor workshop yesterday, see below! You can click on an image to enlarge, scroll through the gallery, and view the captions. Thanks to the wonderful women who joined me and to Kimberly Wilson for inviting me to come be a part of her retreat!

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I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Try and make some time to reflect on the past week...it's good for the body + soul :)

Namaste!
Mary Catherine