Simple Joys of the Week, July 26th Edition

Although I've had a fairly calm and relaxing week (as compared to usual),  I woke up EXHAUSTED this morning. SO tired. I have no idea why, but it made me feel very grateful that today is Friday, so that I can get some longer nights of sleep over the weekend. Ahhhh. 

While I sip my chai tea and try desperately to wake myself up (I decided to skip the 6:45am yoga class and signed up for the 9am, instead), lets talk SJOTW. What has brought you joy over the past week or so? My simple, sensory pleasures from the past 7 days are below:

HEAR: "Same Love" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
I've literally listened to this song about 20 times this week. I'm obsessed with it. Amazing message, amazing cause, amazing chorus and beat, amazing video (you can watch below). I love rap songs that actually promote something positive--like this song does with marriage equality--and hope that you enjoy it as much as I do...

SEE: My new "Hand Embroidered Hoop Art"
Um, did you see my new wall art pictured above? I'm in love. It's a little something that I decided to treat myself to last weekend (from Mally Moon's Etsy shop), and when it arrived in the mail on Wednesday, I was overjoyed. I think it's one of the funniest phrases ever, and I love having it hand-embroidered on a hoop (I love the irony and sassiness of this piece). Doesn't it just make you smile? 

TASTE: Tea out of my new handmade mug
See a theme this week? Handmade household items. When I was in TN a few weeks ago, I decided to get this handmade mug from a booth at a market, to commemorate the trip AND because I thought it was gorgeous. I'm a huge fan of really, really big mugs (I like big cups of tea), so buying this one was a no-brainer when I saw it. I've been loving drinking out of it this week. 

SMELL:  The Pool
Have I overused the pool as a SJOTW this summer? Maybe. Probably. But, I've really enjoyed afternoon trips to the pool over the past few months, so I have to include it again today. To me, going to the pool is synonymous with relaxation. If I make plans to go to the pool with a friend, it means that I've decided to take an afternoon/day off, and that feels really luxurious. Therefore, last Sunday's trip to the pool with some friends was a really wonderful simple pleasure [Even if I did get a rash from using a different sunscreen/from the sun? My skin is cool]. 

TOUCH: Teaching Hip Hop Yoga
I know this is a stretch as my "touch" of the week, but you guys, teaching Hip Hop Yoga at TSA last weekend was one of the funnest things I've ever done; It was definitely my favorite class that I've ever taught.  The energy in the room was unbelievable, the DJ was fabulous, we were all dancing and shaking our asanas, the practice was upbeat and heated, and as one student said to me afterward, "You were glowing with happiness." Seriously, I was so happy. Thanks again to all who came! We've already booked another one for September 13th :) 

Oh, and about the selfie. I'm embarrassed. That was my first one. I took it because Ben wanted to see my hip hop outfit and is out of town (he's been in Cape Cod for the past week). Then, I forgot to take any other pics at the actual workshop, so it's the only one I had to use and I figured it was better than nothing. I guess everyone has to have a first selfie, but still, sharing it makes me feel like a looooosseeerrr.

I hope that you, too, had a week full of the simple joys in life, and that they continue right on into the weekend. Don't forget to pause and reflect on your SJOTW, before they're lost in the ebb and flow of life...

I plan to celebrate the last weekeend in July (what the what????) by enjoying 2 nights in a row of dinner with friends, attending a TS teacher tea, doing lots of yoga, working on a custom cake topper order (so fun!), going on a LONG walk, and going to a Fringe Festival play put on by a fellow Tranquil Spacer. A weekend chock full o' fun + relaxing plans, just like I like it (I become quite the social butterfly when Ben is out of town!)!

Have a beautiful Friday, everyone :)