Simple Joys of the Week, June 14th Edition

Oh my, this week has been a good one. I don't know exactly why, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I've been figuring out a new routine/schedule, and it's been really exciting to begin to turn my attention to painting more (yay for A Dress a Day!), blogging more (aka redesigning the blog--I hope you like the changes!!!), and teaching more yoga. It's been super fun and definitely full of lots of simple, sensory joys ;)

What were your SJOTW? Mine are below...

HEAR: Laura Mvula
If you've been to one of my yoga classes this week, you'll recognize Laura Mvula's songs from my playlist--I put two on this month's soundtrack simply because I think her music is amazingly inspiring. I've been playing her new album all week and can't seem to get enough. You can listen to one of my favorite Mvula songs, "That's Alright," below: 

SEE: Baby Birds on our balcony...
A short story for you: Although I'm embarrassed to admit this, we have a completely dead, old [formerly-live], mini Christmas tree sitting in the corner of our balcony. We put it out there two Januarys ago, right after Christmas, thinking we would keep it alive and use it every year--but that didn't last long. It died shortly thereafter, and somehow, we've never moved it. Picturesque, right? 

So anyways, a few weeks (months?) ago, I noticed that a bird had made a nest in it--kind of in between the place where the tree touches the corner of the balcony. Since then, we've witnessed a miraculous baby bird experience. The babies hatched, and although they were protected way down in their nest at first (we couldn't see them), we could hear them chirping all day long, and could see the parents bringing them food. Then this week, I woke one morning to find the babies out on the porch, exploring! They're SUPER cute and I'm totally in love (the closest thing we have to a pet right now). I can hear them chirping as I write this, and I just couldn't be more happy to have been a part of their life. 

Moral of the story: You should always leave dead Christmas trees from Christmases past on your balcony. Who cares about the dead pine needles that you track into your apartment year-round--it's for the birds!!

TASTE: Trader Joe's Freeze-Dried Mango
I bet you're sick of me talking about Trader Joes' mango products, but they have so many, and they're all so good, that I have to give them another shout-out. This time it's their Freeze-Dried Mangoes that I'm addicted to--they have no sugar added, no ingredients besides mango, and they taste like candy. They've been my dessert all week. 

SMELL: New TOMS
I have to buy a new pair of TOMS at least twice per year. Typically, my most recent pair starts to wear down after about 6 months of wearing them almost daily (!), and then I get super excited, as it's an excuse to check out the new styles and pick out a fun new pattern and/or color. This season, I went with Pink Ikat, because I don't have any bright pink shoes and well, why not? [Oh, and if you're new to SJOTW, know that I always put new shoes under smell, simply because they don't smell like old shoes often do, hehe!]. I heart TOMS. 

TOUCH: My Fitbit (!!!)
I know that I often say that I'm obsessed with things, but please know that I mean it more than ever when I say that I'm obsessed with my new FitBit. Ob. Sessed. I know I sound like a FitBit spokesperson, but I promise, I'm not (I wish!). I just love it. It's been really interesting to track my sleep, although I've been shocked to learn that I usually wake up at least 20+ times per night (and get less sleep than I thought I did because of this!), and the step tracking has been just as eye-opening. On the days I teach a lot of yoga I get around 10,000 steps per day, but then yesterday, when I wasn't teaching, I got around 5,500. Yikes. I can't imagine how few I got when I used to sit at a desk all day...

If you're in the DC/VA area and want to indulge in a seriously relaxing SJOTW, come see me at my Summer Restoration: A Restorative Yoga Workshop tomorrow night at Tranquil Space Arlington. It will be happening Saturday from 7-9pm and I promise, it's one of the best ways you could possibly spend a Saturday evening (hello self-care = a HUGE #SJOTW). Hope to see you there!

Here's to a wonderful weekend FULL of lots o' simple, sensory pleasures.