We are almost three weeks into our social distancing experience so I thought I would share seven that are giving me life throughout this journey, as well as what is/isn’t working for our family. I would love if you shared what is getting you through these strange times in the comments below – it’s a great way to come together and help each other through sharing ideas.
Photo by Sarah Harvey Photography
Slippers
I mean let’s be honest, I think many of us are permanently in our slippers these days. I’ve been wearing these cross-band Amazon fuzzy slippers for the past few months and they have held up well. Unfortunately these are on backorder for awhile so I’m linking a few other faves below too!
Marco Polo App
It’s a video messaging app that helps me feel more connected to friends and family. You can add groups of people to the chat if you have family or friends scattered in different locations. Download it here. And the best part is you can do it on your own time. You don’t have to respond right away.
CBD
I have been on the fence about dipping my toe in the CBD waters for quite some time, but if ever there was a time to try it and see if you notice a difference – THIS IS THAT TIME.I started taking Equilibria drops and capsules about a week ago. I have been taking one dropper full ( 1ml) of the daily drops about 30 minutes before going to bed each night. You simply hold it under your tongue for 60 seconds before swallowing. The taste isn’t awful, but it does have an earthy taste. They also make a convenient capsule too if the drops aren’t your thing. I am noticing a HUGE difference in my mood. I don’t get nearly as agitated with my kids, and overall I feel more focused even though this time is somewhat unpredictable right now. If you decide you want to try some and see for yourself, you can use code “emmyloustyles” to get 15% off your first purchase.
barre3
I wrote a blog post all about barre3 that you can read here if you’re not familiar with this workout. Our local Saint Louis studio has a special FB group for it’s members + they are doing IG live workouts from time to time that are free to non-members too. I just roll out a yoga mat, grab my weights, ball and band and workout upstairs. You don’t even need all props, but you can easily find these items online – shop below!
Baking
Whether it’s me baking something or just baking something with the kids to keep them entertained for a bit – we are spending a lot of time in the kitchen. I posted my easy chocolate chip banana bread recipe recently + a couple of weeks ago I shared this hack on my IG stories.
What you need:
- Pre made sugar cookie dough
- Store bought icing in a jar
- Sprinkles
- Pyrex baking dish
Bake the cookies according to instructions. Let cookies cool and then place cookies in a baking dish and let the kids go to town decorating with icing and sprinkles! The dish acts as a catch all to contain the mess a bit!
Wine
I mean this is a given. A glass or two after the kids go to bed has been our saving grace. I put this list together around the holidays and it includes 18 wines to try that are under $25.
Group Zoom Calls
We have had a few of these after the kids go to bed with some of our friends. It has been a great way to remember that we are all in this together and stay connected with friends in a fun way. You can sign up for a free account, but I think there is a time limit of 40 minutes per call.
What’s working for our family, and what isn’t
A few things that ARE working for us during this stay at home time…
- Making the kids get dressed each morning (Monday – Friday)
- Writing out a post it note with some things the kids want to try and do that day
- Taking a drive with the windows down if the weather is nice
- Keeping normal bedtimes for the kids
- FaceTime playdates with their friends (mostly Layla, she’s 6)
A few things that AREN’T working as well for us…
- Super strict schedules for the kids during the day – each day is different (aside from Layla’s daily call with her class)…sometimes we try to fit in her school work before the class call and some days it’s happening after.
- Kids arguing CONSTANTLY – I feel like every time I turn around they are arguing with each other over something
- Kids have a hard time entertaining each other. They seem to constantly have a question every other minute or want us to be always playing with them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying many of these moments but sometimes it feels IMPOSSIBLE to get anything done.
If you’re experiencing the same, you’re definitely not alone!
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