So I NEVER thought in a million years that I would be writing a blog post about “How to keep busy during a quarantine. I will look back at this years from now and be like, “yea there was a pandemic and I lived though it.” I know this is a really hard time for you, it is for me too. We have people laying their lives on the line, we have teachers trying to conduct a class from home, we have kids that are probably driving their parents nuts because they are bored 24/7.
In this post I am going to talk about what has kept me busy for the past month and a half. When this all was first announced I thought it was crazy seeing people with gloves on in my store, now I’m the one wearing them and a mask. Scary thought honestly, this is a deadly virus and I’m doing everything in my power to come up with ways to survive mentally at home.
Working out and staying active is so important. If you don’t normally workout, make plans on a nice day to take a walk, either solo, with your dog, or partner, whichever, just get up and get moving. Matt and I got super lucky, our gym owner loaned members of the gym dumbbells and kettle bells. I mean his gym is surrounded by glass windows, safer we all store them then have possible looting. Matt and I also invested ($1100) in our Fight Camp boxing bag. This thing is so cool, you download the Fight Camp app and plug it into your tv and it teaches you levels of boxing! There is even sensors that you slip into you glove and connect to their Bluetooth and it counts your punches and let me tell you those hits feel good. This is the most intense workout ever and I’ve done Crossfit. Worth the investment I promise! P.S get 5%off your Goli Gummy order with my name samanthadiffer, just go to http://go.goli.com/samanthadiffer I take two a day in the am for more energy during my workouts. No more Apple Cider vinegar shots, just gummies!
My Blog!! I finally have the time to work on my passion. It’s hard to really put 100% into it with a full time job. So I’ve done a lot more research and have been learning new techniques and teaching myself on how to be disciplined. I’ve grabbed my planner and plan out my content by dayIt’s really helped keep me consistent and has made me more creative again honestly. I feel like as I’ve gotten older and into a more adult routine, I’ve lost my creativity and that is really more of who I am. I’m staring down at an incomplete image board I’m working on and remembering my younger days of when I consistently made these. Magazines were bigger back before Pinterest. So if you had a hobby that you once loved but got so caught up in lives responsibilities then tap back into that and let your mind wonder again.
House projects. Paint, yard work, rearrange furniture or just give your house a good deep cleaning. I’ve managed to paint my dark green wall, however it looks awful and had to ask my brother Patrick to come up one day soon and save the day. Yea I’m not a painter of houses. I’m thinking of painting it a pale pink. What do you all think? It’s so funny because I was never really a pink person, but now I’m starting to love Pink. Funny how we change as we get older. Now I’m not gonna go switch out my whole wardrobe but I will be adding pink pieces here and there. I’d really like to redo my whole office but that costs money so one item at a time I guess. Do you ever just look at rooms in your house and think, “I’m over this look and want to change everything. Well being at home a lot really makes you think. My one major room focus is my bedroom that desperately needs a makeover. I Don’t really love my bedroom set, but with a purchase of a new house at the time we opted in on a less expensive set and it’s just too masculine for me. Anyone have some great tips on how to ton down a masculine room with feminine pieces? Let me know please!
Lounge time. Yes sitting on your butt and watching movies and shows. This is the time to take a day during the week or keep it your weekend day and watch your Netflix show you need to catch up on. Or order a movie, we have three new ones out we want to watch. I bought new lounge wear in the beginning of all this (Matt was tired of looking at my old pajamas and this was a good excuse to buy them) We caught up on the masked singer, and Outlander, and now we have started watching the Prodigal Son (it’s OK so far). I’ve also been randomly watching my Sex in the City reruns, I do this when I’m feeling a little down. Also, food, lets talk food, this is a good time to work on your skills, or teach your partner. Bake and support your local food businesses. Come up with some new healthy recipes. Cook breakfast for dinner and make mimosa’s. Make fun alcoholic drinks and sit on your porch and have meaningful or silly conversations with your partner or friend over zoom and the phone. I’ve had 2 zoom calls so far with my girls just to check in and say hi and drink our wine and laugh. We all need each other right now, and its a good time to catch up with people who have been super busy in their everyday lives.
Online shopping, Sales are going on like crazy right now. I’ve gotten great deals on my Adidas shoes, $29. I bought a dress by Leith from Nordstrom for wedding events, I have this dress in 2 other colors so far and plan on getting more. I will be posting that one this week. (size up if you want a more roomy fit) I have a small in one but got this white one in a medium so its more forgiving in my thigh area since i’m thinker there. So size up if you prefer that. I also bought a white sweater that’s a good cool spring sweater. it has hole cut outs and can be paired with a cami underneath. I’ll be linking both underneath to shop those. I had to buy nails from ULTA and just treated myself to a Kendra Scott necklace, my first one ever and its pink. My favorite stores to shop online are Lulu’s, Chicwish, Nordstrom, Missguided, Amazon and Target! Treat yourself to something, we deserve it, just don’t go crazy over there.
Last thing that I’ve really been doing is organizing, my closet, my bathroom, and my thoughts. Clean out your closets and be ready to donate, put great condition pieces up on Poshmark. Throw away old makeup and skin care. Anything with SPF in it is only good for a year. So if your foundation is over a year please throw it away, old mascara and lipstick too.
So I think I’ve given some pretty good ideas for you all. Check out out my amazing Amazon shop, I’ve created some great lists to shop from. Amazon.com/shop/myemeralddiaries .
Please stay safe, wear your masks, practice social distancing, and just remember we are blessed, we have a roof over our heads that is our home not a hospital. We have food still and toilet paper is being restocked. Pray for those who are risking themselves at work, for new mommies to be, and for brides to be. I pray I don’t have to postpone mine, not because it’s inconvenient, but because Matt and I wanted to start a family ASAP, we are a little older and I just pray for a healthy baby. So yea I’m worried about upcoming events, but I just pray. Love you all!