Things that are good for the soul

Yin yoga.

Doggie kisses.

Orchids in bloom.

Talks with kindred spirits.

Homemade vegan apple ginger crisp.

Freshly squeezed organic orange juice.

Hummus made with caramelized onions and red wine.

A piping hot bowl of butternut squash and collards soup.

Driving with the windows down and good music on the radio.

A rosewood and cedar-scented candle burning slowly on the table.

Little and big synchronicities that make me feel like the universe is reading my mind.

A Non-Cheesy Valentine's Day Playlist

For Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share some of my favorite love songs. 

Arms of a Woman - Amos Lee

Maybe You Can Owe Me - Architecture in Helsinki

If You Find Yourself Caught in Love - Belle and Sebastian

For Emma - Bon Iver

Sea of Love - Cat Power

I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie

The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson

Love and Some Verses - Iron & Wine

Both Hands - Jay Brannan

Helium Hearts - Jason Reeves

I'd Rather Dance With You - Kings of Convenience

Use Somebody - Kings of Leon

Always Love - Nada Surf

Slow Show - The National

Such Great Heights - The Postal Service

Loving You - Paolo Nutini

Samson - Regina Spektor

To Be Alone With You - Sufjan Stevens


Enjoy!

All links lead to iTunes.

This weekend

A challenging hot yoga class. 

Day trip to Patapsco State Park for a hike along the river.

Side trip to Conscious Corner (so-named for its cluster of green and socially conscious businesses ), where we collected organic produce from Roots Market, browsed eco-friendly home goods at Nest, and savored a divine meal at the vegan bistro, Great Sage. (Jason, a devout omnivore, raved about his green chili enchiladas and chocolate lava cake.)

Freshly pressed green juice from my new juicer: kale, romaine, cucumber, celery, apple, carrot, and ginger.

A bath infused with Epsom salts and lavender essential oil where I enjoyed the latest issue of a favorite publication.

A single perfect mini phalaenopsis orchid plant, my Valentine's Day gift from Jason. 

Speaking of which...Happy Valentine's Day! I'll be back soon to share a playlist of my favorite non-cheesy love songs.

This week

This week has been about: 

Slowly easing back into yoga (I took a week off while sick with the flu) and enjoying the sensation of re-inhabiting a strong and healthy body

Apple cinnamon oatmeal with blueberries and almond milk 

Writing content for my new website, to be launched next month (more on this soon!)

Pondering an incredible IIN class on the tenets of Ayurveda by Dr. John Douillard

Enjoying chewy sesame cookies and peppermint green tea via a sweet care package from my mom

Anticipating the changing of seasons, as days grow longer and the teeniest, tiniest suggestion of spring seems to hover in the air (I can't stop looking at pictures of flowers, like the one above)

Conversations with Jason about our goals and dreams, exploring the possibilities of the various directions life might take us in the coming years

Swooning over a sample of raw vegan triple-layer coconut cake from Whole Foods (oh.my.god.so.good.)

Reading and re-reading Mark Bittman's A Food Manifesto for the Future 

Catching up on my blog reading

What's new in your world this week?