Quarantine Day 14: Fri-Yay and Self Care

Friday has a whole new meaning in this environment. Yes I am still going to be at home, in my joggers, not going anywhere but I will be doing it without working and homeschooling. This week has been a lot—-professionally, mentally, emotionally. I need a break. I need to put my social media timers back on my phone, grab a good book, and sit by the pool all.weekend.long! I need to turn off the news and turn off my mind.

We have to remember to take care of ourselves! Each night, we have ended out on the patio, hanging out with each other and watching shows together. It’s been a good way to end the day of highs and lows. We have no bedtimes and no expectations. It’s been working for us. I hope the weekend is an extension of that.

Some things I’ve been doing to keep calm and stay focused—

-We have the Magnolia Table Cookbook and Huckleberry Cookbook. Both are full of yummy recipes and tons of baked goods. We’ve made banana bread and chocolate chip cookies and both were a hit. Macie helped with the banana bread and Henley with the cookies. It was a good one-on-one activity with each of them.

-Getting outside. We’ve been on walks, runs, bike rides. We’ve colored the sidewalks with positive sayings and Henley has played cops and robbers with Ted on their bikes. It’s been great to get fresh air—-I definitely recommend it!

-We finished season two of the Masked Singer and started season three. It’s been so fun having a show the whole family can watch. It’s also super funny to hear Macie say “I definitely recognize the tone of her voice” to one of them and it ends up being someone like Patti LaBelle. :)

-I’ve been reading. Just finished Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers. I have come to learn I either LOVE her books or really dislike them. This one was the latter. I did like the characters (the 9 perfect strangers) but I didn’t care for the main premise of the book and the main character that was associated with it. I am starting Love Lettering today which has good ratings so I’m optimistic it will be a nice, light read.

-Pool side snacks. Last week, I was craving a really good charcuterie board. I just wanted some indulgence. When I ran to the store, I stocked up on some goodies. I added some things I knew the girls would love and it’s become a highly requested item around here. We’ve done it a few times and it’s a hit every time—-who knew my kids loved brie on a cracker with raspberry jam! Not me! One thing Henley always requests for our board is black bean hummus. I’m sure I’ve shared it before but it is so quick and easy to make and always a crowd pleaser!

-A long bubble bath with super hot water and my kindle is one of my favorite things. This is my current favorite bubble bath and has been for a while—-just reminds me of sleep. We used to spray our pillows with this scent so the moment I smell it, I’m transported to a different time.

-Lastly, I just got this shirt from TellTale—-only thing to do this weekend: STAY IN!

What are some things you’ve done to stay calm and grounded? Please share. We can all use suggestions in these times.

Before I go, this commercial is so great. Have a good weekend.

Mere