There’s no question that all of our lives have changed this year. With many of us still under Shelter in Place orders and working from home, this time of uncertainty has made it difficult to see all of the positives that have come along with it. The fact of the matter is, we are spending more time with our families, we’re talking to one another more, we’re picking up the phone, video chatting, and even writing one another hand written notes of encouragement.
Spending time with family…
One of the things that has come out of being at home since mid-March has been the opportunity to spend more time with my family. While most of you don’t know, my mom and I currently look after my grandparents, so we’re a multi-generational home. I’ve also been spending more time with my adorable cat Gracie who is 1 1/2 years old now. She loves spending time curled up on the couch in my writing studio while I work my normal hours from 8-5 via my laptop, or curling up in one of her favorite perches by the window on the sunnier days. (We’ve had quite a few of those thank goodness) She will no doubt have a lot to say when I go back to the office!
Here are a few of the ways that we’ve been spending time together…
Taking breaks throughout the workday just to check up on one another.
Watching some of the Instagram LIVE chats from accounts we both enjoy.
Cooking meals in the evening.
Taking little drives up the road, or walks to the end of the driveway to get a little fresh air.
Listening to audio books together.
More time in the kitchen…
Another positive is spending more time in the kitchen in the evenings and on the weekends. While cooking (which I love) can seem a bit of a chore from time to time after a long day in the office, it’s been a very relaxing way to unwind at the end of the day during this time.
We’ve been picking up our cooking (and now baking) supplies on the weekends at our local Fresh Market which is where we’ve felt the safest thanks to all of their safety protocols in store, and I’ve been honing my baking skills on the weekends which has included two online classes with Molly Wilk. So far I’ve made the most delicious blueberry muffins with almond crumble, chewy chocolate chips cookie bars (I’ll be cutting the butter ratio on this one the next time I make these and perhaps sub goat butter which I’ve been trying to use more due to my allergies with cow’s milk) and the next recipe I’m baking will be these Jammy Crumble Bars with Bonne Maman’s Blackberry Jam.
Reading more (instead of being constantly on Netflix)
This time at home has also offered more time to catch up on my reading. I’m notorious for starting books and then life gets in the way and I never see how they end. So this year I’m determined to not only finish every book I start, but to share more interviews with authors here on the blog.
Just a few books I’m currently reading…
A Hundred Suns // Karin Tanabe
The Jane Austen Society // Natalie Jenner (coming out 5/26)
Enjoying life’s little luxuries
When we do pop out of the house for a bit, clad in our face masks with hand sanitizer at the ready as soon as we leave the store, I’ve really enjoyed taking the time to enjoy the little luxuries in life, like the excuse to wear a new outfit/pair of shoes, or to buy a beautiful bunch of flowers (like I need any excuse for that one!)
What are some of the ways that you’ve been filling your days with something positive and what are you looking forward to the most when it’s safe to get back to some of our ‘normal’ routines?
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