happy friday

Spring is just around the corner! I know this because Nathaniel's birthday is March 20, the First Day of Spring!  We were outside in near 70º weather yesterday-- the sun was shining and the daffodils and crocuses are blooming! The cherry blossoms in D.C. should be showing soon too (Just south of us)! The Daylight Savings Time change occurs on Saturday night which is not good news-- I lose my hour of sleep-- but that means that our days will feel longer and brighter.

Usually right now I'm leaving to go do my Pilates lesson downtown, but I did that yesterday! My instructor has become a friend... someone to look forward to seeing and exchanging little snips of news from the week. I think it truly is the perfect form of exercise-- I can do it on my own and I use the apparatus at the studio. It creates a long, lean, strong physique and balance. This is the key: Balance. Not only in the physical sense, but emotionally and mentally. These things all work together. After a Pilates session you should feel light and happy! It never feels like work... I feel like I just got a massage after I do it! I also just finished reading Gary Calderone's The Pilates Path to Health: Body, Mind and Spirit which is a great overview of Joseph Pilate's life and inspiration and how Pilates or Contrology as Joe called it, promotes complete health. Brooke Siler's The Pilates Body is another excellent book I'd recommend, that has all the exercises you can do at home on the mat!

On Tuesday was the best day: my friend Erinn from Philly came into town and we had lunch and then I showed her around Central Market. We also discovered BellaBoo, a really adorable children's shop with lots of toys and clothing for little ones. It's fun to show people around town because I end up discovering things that I go right past all the time. I am planning on exploring Erinn's town in another month!

And last, but not least, is a note with a drawing that I received from my favorite cartoonist (Nathaniel) taped to the microwave. It states: "I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite restaurant on the Citadel."  I take that as the ultimate compliment from my teenage son! ;D

Have a great weekend!!!