Simple Joys of the Week: June 17th Edition

Whew! What a fun, fast, full week! Also, it's now officially mid-June, which means we're on our way to the dog days of summer and I just can't believe it. But, with our first summer league softball game last night, a visit to the U.S. Open on Tuesday, and the 4th of July swiftly approaching, it's definitely beginning to feel like summer! Subsequently, my simple joys are definitely a bit more summery this week...

What's been bringing you simple, sensory joy this week? Read on for my faves :)

Hear: "Whole Foods Parking Lot" by Fog and Smog Films

OMG, I don't think you can understand how much I love this video/rap. Thanks to Mr. Tim Mooney for posting it on Facebook Wednesday--I've been obsessed ever since! Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely LOVE--and have always loved--rap (top 3: Eminem, Salt N' Pepa, & Ludacris). I also have a complete love/hate relationship with Whole Foods (although it's mostly love; I LOVE every single product that they sell, hate the prices but pay them anyway), so this video is a perfect fit. It's hysterical, but is also a really good song with a good beat and very talented rapper! I'm sold. I think you will be, too, if you take a look below:

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Taste: Summer Fruit Salad

Have I mentioned that I love fruit? Yeah, I thought so. But I really do. So, when we went to Whole Foods (see above) last Sunday, I decided to make a giant fruit salad to last the entire week. Ingredients: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, and green grapes. Stored separately and added to each serving? Watermelon. It was scrumptious. Ben and I ate it all week, and I just couldn't get enough. A great, healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, savor summer, AND indulge while reaping the amazing nutritional benefits of these super-fruits. Can't wait to pick out some new fruits for next week's salad!

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See: Poser: My Life in 23 Yoga Poses by Claire Dederer

Loaned to me by one of my amazing students, I started reading Poser this week and have been totally loving it. I've laughed out loud a dozen times, and I'm only on the 4th chapter. Dederer does an amazing job of describing how yoga feels when you first give it a try and definitely captures the many lessons that we can learn from our yoga practice (while also not taking herself, or yoga, too seriously). I also love the way that she describes the poses and the process of coming into the poses--she is VERY eloquent. I forgot to mention this book on my Summer Reading List post last week, but it's definitely a must-read for anyone who practices yoga and likes reading about other people's lives.

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Touch: My Summer Softball League Glove :)

So, I totally stink at softball. But, somehow I've now been on two teams in my life--one with a bunch of my friends in college (go Heavyweights!) and another with Ben's co-workers (a bunch of lawyers from the Department of the Navy). I'm literally the worst, but I still find it to be really fun once we get out there. And, silly as it sounds, I'm super-proud that I have my own glove, and really love how it feels when I wear it. Do I actually catch many balls with it? Nope. But do I care? Nope! Being outside on the grass, running around, trying to hit the ball...what is more summery (and American) than that? Also, we play on the ellipse down near the monuments, which is very picturesque and definitely allows me to enjoy D.C. a bit. This is our second season and we stunk last season, but we won 19-0 (mercy rule!) last night, so wish us luck this season! Maybe it's our time...

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Smell: A Fresh Nectarine

Yum. One more summer fruit addition to our household that I didn't mention above? Nectarines. Imagine a delicious peach without the fuzz, and voila! A nectarine. You have to buy them, wait until they're super-ripe, and then pounce--but if you get them at the right time, they're superb! I've been loving the smell of the ripe nectarines sitting in the fruit bowl in the kitchen, and this delicious scent has reminded me to eat one on a number of occasions this week. Yum!

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This week's theme? Fresh fruit (and Whole Foods!)! I. Love. Fruit. Period.

As always, feel free to share your simple joys of the week below :)

Namaste!
Mary Catherine