Simple Joys of the Week, November 11th Edition

Happy 11.11.11, all! Crazy fun with numbers, isn't it? I don't know why, but these oddly numbered days always make me happy :)

Anyways, I'm super-excited today because my BFF (and future Maid of Honor!) Kelly came in town last night, and we have a full weekend of talking, fun meals, yoga, and wedding dress shopping (the search continues...) ahead of us. As I always say, there's NOTHING like spending time with your besties. So, before I jet off to bounce around town with my dear Kel, here are my simple, sensory joys of the week.

What made you smile over the past 7 days?

Hear: Pink Friday by Nicki Minaj

A year or two ago, my little brother told me, "Mary Catherine, have you heard Nicki Minaj? You would love her. She's the best female rapper out there." Well, I'm old now and it takes me a lot longer to figure things out, but he was right! As a HUGE fan of rap and of powerful female artists, I think she's pretty incredible. Yes, she's can be kind of nasty and definitely says some crazy things, but doesn't every rapper? I say good for her for going out there and doing what the boys do--much better than a lot of them do! And good for me--now I have a bunch of new female power music to listen to while I'm painting! Listen to one of her tracks that really shows off her rapping skills below (warning: not for those who don't like rap--or curse words!)...

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See: This Cupcake Tree. OMG.

I found this image on one of my favorite wedding blogs, Green Wedding Shoes, and fell head-over-heels in love with it. I mean, what could possibly be better than a tree of cupcakes? It's completely adorable and I want one! Not sure if it will actually happen in my wedding (or in my lifetime), but I want one! As I mentioned in my post on Wednesday, I've been scouring the wedding blogosphere for creative and unique ideas, and I just can't get enough. People think up the most amazing things!!!

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Taste: New Tea Organizer from Ikea!

Remember how I've been crazy obsessed with tea lately? Well, playing right into this obsession, look what I bought at Ikea this week!? A tea organizer! How amazing is that? I've actually been wanting one for a while, but just hadn't gotten myself together enough to even look for one online, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this Floogen (just kidding! no idea what they called it...) in the world's largest store. I know you can't taste it, but now I can find--and taste--my tea much more easily, so I think it works ;) And it was probably only like $1.99 or something!

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Photo via afullheart.com

Smell: Crisp fall air

I know that I've already raved about the fall this week, but I really do just adore it and I think you can smell it in the air...everything smells clean, cool, crisp (did I already say this? And did I mention that this is one of my favorite words?). During one of my noon yoga classes this week we left the door to the studio open for the entire afternoon and it was just sublime. Can't. Get. Enough.

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Touch: Leg Warmers from Sock Dreams (my new favorite sock shop!!!!!)

Okay, I know that the name of this site is SUPER cheesy, but actually, it really does sell the socks of your dreams--promise :) Last week I bought 2 pairs of leg warmers and 2 pairs of knee-high socks (both are perfect for wearing over leggings to yoga on a cool day!), and when they arrived I was giddy. The packaging was so special (recycled paper tags wrapped around the socks with matching strands of yarn) and all of the socks are super-soft and comfy. A fun way to spice up your fall wardrobe for cheap!

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And that's it for now! Did you ever think you would see a picture of Nicki Minaj and a tea organizer in the same post? Hehe ;)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine