Not going to lie, I think all of us are very happy to see March come to an end. We don’t need to say anything more than that. The silver lining to all of this is that the team had to get VERY creative with our favorite things this month.
I, personally, found this to be very cathartic to write because it forced me to think of some things that were good and positive this month. If you’re finding yourself a little down in the dumps, may we suggest doing this exercise yourself. Find a notebook, and just jot down a few things that you liked about this month, maybe something you’re grateful for. It’s guaranteed to provide a feel good moment for you to find some peace.
Sarah: My fav thing this month has been the Runkeeper app. I have been tracking my runs on Runkeeper for 7 years, but I have never appreciated it more than these Quarantine times. While I usually wait until it gets a little warmer to run outside, I’ve been using running as a way to get out of the house and moving. I often struggle with keeping a consistent pace, so I like how Runkeeper tells me my pace in real time. With more time on my hands, it’s been fun to look back and compare routes and times from previous runs. I’ve also been setting goals for myself each week as a little more incentive to get out there. Plus, my brother, a fellow Runkeeper user, gets a notification every time I go for a run. He’s sure to provide feedback on all of my stats and give me a nudge if he hasn’t seen one of my runs in a while.
Franny: This month I’ve been trying to go to the grocery store as little as possible (due to you-know-what). So I’ve been using up the miscellaneous things in my pantry and freezer - cans, nuts, oats, seeds, etc. As I’ve discussed previously, coffee is a huge staple in my life and I always enjoy it with non-dairy milks like oat or almond. I go through gallons so quickly though that it is hard to avoid the store. And then I realized I had all the ingredients I needed to make them at home! (all natural ingredients + no social interaction + delicious in coffee = happy Franny). So I’ve been making it all, oat, almond, and most recently cashew milk. I used this recipe from Katie + Cookie, it is so simple. The milks I made are so much more flavorful and creamy than what you buy in the store. I don’t think I will ever go back.
Tessa: Since everyone seems to be cooking more these days, why not throw you some recipe inspo for this month's fave! I've been a fan of Minimalist Baker (aka Dana Shultz) for a few years now mostly because her recipes are typically quick, easy, and require limited ingredients...my kind of cooking! My latest obsession is her 1-Pot Golden Curry Lentil Soup. It's perfect when you want something comforting but still healthy. I also love doubling the batch and freezing it so you have an instant dinner on nights when you get home late from work or just have zero desire to be in the kitchen. If curry and/or lentils aren't your jam, she has about a million other recipes so I'm pretty confident you'll be able to find SOMETHING you like.
Meg: True story, I was going to make Trader Joe's Scandanvian Swimmers my monthly fave because I've been stress eating them by the bag. But in all seriousness, I'm in the midst of a big move and have been spending my extra time Marie Kondo-ing my apartment - especially my closet. To do this efficiently, I turned to Thred Up's Clean Out Kit. ThredUp is an online consignment shop that accepts gently worn clothes, shoes and bags for resale. Here's how it works -- ThredUp mails you a 'Clean Out' bag with a prepaid label, you fill it (it's big!!) and drop it off at FedEx or USPS. They'll inspect all items, donate the ones that don't meet their standards, and then pay you out (although the payout is very minimal) when your product sells. If your main priority is giving a new, better home to that dress you bought but only wore once, then you should def order a Clean Out Kit as a great quarantine activity!
Tory: Oh, you like my Rachel Pally Jumpsuit? Thanks, I got it for our trip to Mexico in mid-March… Yes - you guessed right, we didn’t get to go on our trip because #socialdistancing. BUT I did get this amazingly cute jumpsuit in preparation for our trip, and BOY, am I glad to have it. It’s literally the perfect thing to wear when you can’t leave your house. There are a lot of benefits to this thing right now: 1. It’s soooo comfortable and soft. It’s like wearing a cloud. 2. It’s cute and normal looking and NOT PJ’s, so you won’t look like a slob on your Zoom meetings. And 3. It’s only one piece of clothing AKA less laundry AKA more time to read, stare at yourself in the mirror, or do whatever you’re doing to avoid losing your mind right now.
Claudia: This month while we are under self-quarantine I am taking the time to focus on my skin. Since I am not putting on makeup for the foreseeable future I can really let my skin breathe. I ordered a few products from The Ordinary, one of my favorite skincare brands. It’s a clean beauty brand and really affordable so it’s a win-win! I got their hemi-squalane oil which is great hydration for both your skin and your hair. I also got their Peeling Solution mask. Warning: it stings a lot. But I do think my skin is already improving! I definitely recommend checking out their site for any of your skincare needs. There is something for everyone!
