Simple Joys of the Week: July 22nd Edition

Whew! It has been one. hot. week. And here in D.C. it's supposed to get up to 116 (with the heat index) today, so it's not looking good for my weekend dream of relaxing outside on our balcony any time soon :( How have I made it through the suffocating heat and kept cool this week? Read on for my simple, sensory joys of the week...

Photo via www.beautyeditor.ca

Hear: Pixie Cut News!!

I know, what does that mean, right? Well, one of my besties got her long hair cut into a pixie last week--what I told her was one of the "bravest things anyone I know has ever done." Exaggeration? Maybe. But still, it's very brave and I'm so impressed by her ability to take the leap...plus, it looks AMAZING on her! I mean AMAZING. I don't want to embarrass her anymore, so I'm not going to mention her name, but she has definitely inspired me to do something daring...just not sure what (I could not pull off a pixie with my "melonhead"!). I'll think about it and once I figure it out, will take you along for the ride ;)

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Taste: Vanilla Birthday Cupcake from...you guessed it, Georgetown Cupcake

As much as I hate to admit it, there's just NOTHING like Georgetown Cupcake. Their long lines infuriate me, the fact that they have a TV show is pretty ridiculous, and I dislike all the hype surrounding the brand name, but they are truly worth every bit of it. One of the treatment therapists at Tranquil Space brought a dozen into the studio this week as a treat, and I was lucky enough to be able to indulge in a Vanilla Birthday Cupcake. To say it was divine is an understatement. Sensory overload and melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Best treat of the week, hands-down!

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See: OPI Charged Up Cherry

This week I decided it was time to branch out once again (giving OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark and Funky Donkey a rest) and have settled on Charged Up Cherry as my latest and greatest fun new summer color. I got a pedi with this color last night and it's very exciting, although I'm still getting used to how electric it is! Feels like a party on my toes :) Another thing I loved at my new-found pedi place in the new 'hood? They give you a hot stone foot and leg massage during your pedicure. What a nice touch/added detail! Again, it was a wonderful sensory treat :)

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Photo via certifiedblogaholic.com

Touch: Supine Twist Assist

I absolutely adore Supine Twists in yoga. I wrote briefly about this pose in one of my posts last week, but I didn't mention the luscious assist that can be done in this pose. This is one of Ben's favorite assists that I give him, and I was also given this assist in a class that I took this week, reminding me how amazing it feels. How do you do it? Place one hand on the top knee, the other on the opposite shoulder and gently apply pressure in both directions, taking the twist a bit deeper. Ahhhhhh.

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Smell: Oil Paint :)

Have I used this one before? Probably--and if I haven't, I'm surprised--but it doesn't really matter because this was truly one of my biggest joys of the week.  I was SO happy to get back to painting yesterday, and the strong smell of my paints and oil medium was a welcome scent as I got back into it. I'm still working on this painting (update pictures coming soon), but am going to start a few others that have been waiting on the back-burner next week. As I mentioned in my post about the importance of creativity yesterday, there is nothing like getting back to your favorite creative endeavor. I also took the time to hang up a number of my yoga paintings on the wall in my space (to see them all together)--the pic is to the left :)

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And that's it! Another week has flown by...what brought you simple, sensory joy this week?

Have a wonderful Friday and a glorious weekend!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine