Feel Good Friday 22
Hello friends! Well, we’ve made it through two weeks at home, with the kids all at home, and we are all still standing. How about a round of applause for all of us who did it!? Last week was a bit different and it felt surreal… I felt like I was waiting for this nightmare to end and for life to just go back to the way it was soon. However, this past week, the reality and gravity of the current situation in America really sank in. Our North Carolina Governor stated that at the earliest schools would reopen May 15. (To be honest, I don’t think they will reopen at all.) With that news, I finally truly accepted that life has a new normal, and I needed to take control of it, rather than letting my anxiety take control of me. This week, I made a new morning routine for myself and that totally helped. It’s honestly similar to my old one, but a little more rigorous, and I am squeezing in 5 minutes of meditation to set my mind right before yet another day at home with the kids starts. Today I’ve gathered a few other things that have also brought me joy at home this week, and I hope they do the same for you. (I am an Amazon associate and earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)
Neil Diamond is the Cutest: Have you guys seen this version of Sweet Caroline? Neil and his dog are just the cutest! You must go check it out, and listen to the words he’s changed for current times… “Don’t touch me… I won’t touch you…. Sweet Caroline!” I’ve always loved his music, but this made me love him so much more.
Barre Workouts at Home: I am so thrilled that so many gyms and services are offering free streaming of workouts right now so that we all stay healthy and fit while cooped up at home. I have been eating way too much (eating my feelings and I have a lot of feelings), and it’s time to get that in check and burn it off! My friend Kelly, who happens to be my favorite barre instructor at my gym, has started creating youtube video workouts, and they are awesome! I’ve already done a couple of them and have plans to do more. Her workouts can always be done with minimal equipment so that anyone can do them. Here is one of her latest creations. Also, isn’t she the cutest? She’s got 3 kids as well, but you’d never guess it. How is it so quiet over there? And how is she in such great shape? 😉
Healthier Chocolate Chip Muffins: What was I just saying about emotional eating? It’s not just the eating… I find so much comfort in baking. The warm smells, creating something with my hands, and of course, licking the bowl all feed my soul. Years ago, I shared my own chocolate chip muffin recipe here, but this past week I tried a new one that was very similar and the touch of cinnamon made a big difference. They are delicious! Both recipes are lighter, and mine are a little healthier and have less sugar, so I am thinking next time I will just add cinnamon to my recipe. I actually need to update mine anyhow, because I’ve created a gluten free version. Would you like that recipe here?
Stay Home Fun: Wednesday morning, I finally really lost it and cried that I missed my friends, I missed my gym, I missed seeing my people, and I missed my routine. I am a Leo, and as much as I like my “me time” each morning, throughout the day, I thrive off of seeing people and feeling their energy. I am very much out of sorts. Letting those feelings out and saying them out loud, felt good, and then I decided just to have some fun. After seeing so many creative and fun ideas for photos on my facebook feed, I decided to have my own little shoot and thought about what props and costumes we might have on hand. Wilder had his Halloween costume, which was a tiger…. so I ran with that! My older kids didn’t want to be in it but they helped it come together. I set the camera on a tripod for Emmy to shoot, and Sawyer watched Wilder so I could edit my photo:
Lip Sync Silliness: It’s a funny thing, being alone in a house with a toddler who won’t leave your side, and two teenagers who hide in their rooms most of the time. The first week I was home with all of the kids, I made a ridiculous lip sync video and posted it on my personal facebook page as well as my instagram stories. My intention was to have some fun, make people laugh, and embarrass my kids who wouldn’t hang out with me. It turns out that my friends enjoyed it, so I made a couple more, even creating a video from a song request. They’re only about 30 seconds of silliness each, but I linked the all together in a video for you here. I have zero shame when it comes to just trying to make people laugh.
Reading for Pleasure: You guys know that I love a good self development book. In fact, I have one sitting on my nightstand that I took out from the library before it closed, and I also have one I am about to order. However, sometimes it feels great to just get lost in a fictional story. Our book club chose The Immortalists for March, and while it started out slow for me, this past week, I truly let myself fall into the story of the Gold siblings. I will soon be sharing reviews of my Feb and March reads, but if you are looking for something fictional to escape from our current real world, check this one out! You might recall you saw me last week reading it in my bathroom to escape.
Well friends, we made it through another week and right now that is something to be grateful for! As alone as we may feel, we are not in this alone. We will get through it together, if apart. Sending you much love and peace, and hoping this post brought a smile to your face or laugh to your lips! Be well.