Simple Joys of the Week, October 26th Edition

Image via Facebook

October 26th...'tis the season for acorn hats, 'tisn't it? And don't you just love the little image above? It's right up my alley ;) Welcome to SJOTW! Here we are! Another week has come and gone, and in order to capture some of the little moments that are so quickly forgotten in life, lets stop, pause, and reflect for a few, shall we? Here's what has brought me happiness or made me stop and think over the past week. What made you smile, laugh, or sigh with relief over the past 7 days? 

Image via npr.org

Hear: Fresh Air Interview, "In Constant Digital Contact, We Feel 'Alone Together'"

I'm a fairly recent NPR addict (started listening while painting earlier this year, and now I listen to it every day and ALL DAY LONG on Thursdays), and my recent discovery on the NPR iPhone App (obsessed!) is that you can go back and listen to podcasts of all of the programs really easily. So, using this app, I listened this Fresh Air interview with Sherry Turkle, author of Alone Together, about how technology has completely changed the way that we interact and communicate--and it really struck me. As NPR explains in their synopsis, "Her research investigates how devices are changing the way parents relate to their children, how friends interact, and why many people — both young and old — keep their devices in-hand all the time — even as they sleep." The interview is extremely interesting and really got me thinking about how I interact with my technology and how it's changing my communication style. I urge you to listen to it--I think it will make you reflect, as well...

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See: Our newest piece of wall art -->

While away on our "minimoon," Ben and I went to a little antique shop, located across the street from our one meal out  during the trip (lunch), in downtown Ellijay, GA. When we came across this handmade sign, I knew that I just had to have it. We were in total relaxation mode, we were away from everything (including all of our technology--see above!), and I thought it would be the perfect reminder of how it felt to be in that space and how important it is to let yourself truly relax. I figured it would be fairly expensive for what it was (it's pretty big), but when I took a look at the price, I was super excited--$20!!!--that's what you get when you shop in small towns in the country ;) Obviously, we hung it up in our apartment last weekend, and it's been a fabulous reminder to slow dow this week.

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Taste: Clementines

It's Clementine season! Yippee! Are you as obsessed with them as I am? Aren't they delicious? I think they're so amazing that yes, I actually took the time to make this heart out of them--just so that I could take the picture ;) Anyways, we bought our first box of Clementines for the season last weekend, and they've been a perfect healthy snack this week. The only downside to these little juicy morsels of joy? The way that they leave your fingernails a bit orange if you eat too many...have you ever noticed that? Oh, and sometimes it can be frustrating when you eat one really quickly and then have to wait until you peel another one to keep enjoying it (#firstworldproblems)...ahh, the sacrifices we make to eat our fruit, right? ;) Hooray for Clementines!

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Smell: VOLUSPA "Crisp Champagne" Candle

OMG, this candle smells simply divine. It was given to us in a fabulous honeymoon gift basket that our Best Men and Maid of Honor put together for us, as a sweet morning-after-the-wedding surprise (!), and we've been burning it ever since we received it. It has a really strong--but not overpowering--scent, and although it may be hard to imagine what a champagne candle would smell like, let me tell you, it's amazing (and no, it doesn't smell alcoholic at all!). If you've never had a VOLUSPA candle, I highly recommend them, as they last forever and smell simply wonderful. Plus, the company was created by a cute husband and wife team--don't you love that? A special thanks to our Best Men + MOH: you are *too* sweet and now whenever we burn this candle we think of our wedding, our honeymoon, and the three of you!

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Touch: My newest pair of TOMS

I finally got them! The TOMS that I ordered months ago! It was quite the fiasco, as I ordered them, got them, and somehow they were way too big (does anyone else think that they may have changed their sizing recently? I had to order a different size than I did for my other two pairs!)--so I had to return them, they had a processing error, and about 2 months later, I finally got the new pair. But, nothing feels as wonderful to your feet as a new pair of TOMS, so it was totally worth the wait. Plus, look how adorable they are! They arrived just in time, as I had just worn a hole in my second pair. Do you think that means that I wear them too much? Then maybe I should also get another new pair for winter, so both last longer this time? They have some cute new knit ones for the holidays... ;)

So in summary, my week was chock full of simple, sensory joys. Other especially enjoyable moments? Getting back to taking class after being sick for a week, getting caught up on The Voice (my latest TV obsession), receiving a photography sneak peek from our wedding photographer, attending the Tranquil Space Foundation Annual Celebration, carving pumpkins with friends, going on The White House Gardens Tour, and of course, spending my Thursday painting :) What brought you happiness this week? I hope your week was FULL of enjoyable little moments...

On the schedule for this weekend? Cheering on my husband (!!!) at the NOVA Open Olympic Weightlifting Competition, teaching a "Jump Into Yoga 2" Workshop at TSA (more info here if you want to join!), assisting Advanced Teacher Training at TS, and hopefully, relaxing.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend and that Hurricane Sandy stays far away!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

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