Current Mood : Quarantine Edition


So yet another month has passed and we're still in quarantine...

Reading...
William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Mean Girls
I just need light escapist reading right now and this is exactly that. Mean Girls getting the Shakespeare treatment is a perfect melding of pop culture and the bard. This is co cleverly done, witty and funny. The movie is a fave and we saw Mean Girls on Broadway last year and really enjoyed it. This book would be brilliant as a play.

Wearing....
Dresses
I've joined the no pants club and have been wearing dresses at home. They're just more comfortable. This Universal Thread number is super cute and the pink color makes me happy. It's also appropriate for wearing outside when I hang on our terrace.

Sleeping on...
Brooklinen Classic Percale Sheets 
Took advantage of their sale last month and added their classic starter set to our sheet rotation. They are soft and breathable yet crisp and maintain coolness throughout the night which is good for my husband who tends to sleep hot.  We got the graphite sheets and steel oxford stripe pillowcases. We change our sheets every week so we maintain a few sets. I believe good sheets are a wise investment since we spend a good block of our time in bed every day.

Eating...
Avocado Sauce
I'm obsessed with this bomb sauce and have been putting it on anything and everything. I adapted it from this recipe using a whole avocado and omitting the orange and maple syrup. It's seriously delicious and full of anti-inflammatory goodness.

Baking...
Banana Bread
Yes I've given into quarantine baking but it's limited to banana bread and my version uses coconut flour so it's keto and I'm not using any sugar. I worked off this recipe leaving out the honey and using almond butter instead. It came out good and has enough sweetness because I used 6 really ripe bananas but I still need to make some adjustments before I share the recipe here. The thing with coconut flour is that it's drier than regular flour so you need to increase the amount of moist ingredients. I prefer coconut flour because it is low carb, high protein, high fiber and more nutrient dense than regular white flour which is the worst. I'm not big on baking since I don't eat sweets but perfecting this recipe is kind of like science which is actually fun to me.

Using...
Ketchup
I've always avoided ketchup because it contains a ridiculous amount of sugar - about a teaspoon in every tablespoon of the standard stuff. When you give up sugar, you have to be conscious of foods with hidden sugars. The artisan ketchup I get from Move is made without refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup. It has a lovely smoky tomato taste that is tangy without being too sweet.

Indulging In...
Rakka Chocolate
I've given up a lot of things but not good chocolate. Rakka caught my eye because of their fair trade practices. Their chocolate is made with transparently sourced, traceable, high quality, single origin cacao. Their range made without cane sugar is right up my alley and it's delicious. I stopped eating sugar a number of years ago and I actively avoid food with processed sugar especially now because it increases inflammation which weakens the immune system. I have enough going on with my neck/arm pain that I don't need to lower my defenses and open myself up to getting sick more easily.

Getting Ready To...
Cut Our Own Hair
We're quite convinced there will be a second wave of this pandemic. It's just a matter of when. My husband and I got our hair cut together a few weeks before the lockdown. I helped him trim his hair a few weeks ago and he's close to needing another cut because his hair grows very quickly. Even if hair salons open we don't feel comfortable going to get our hair cut so we're now preparing to do it ourselves. We've been watching a lot of videos on Youtube and have ordered some tools. My bob is quite overgrown and unruly and I'm ready to do something about it. I have every confidence in my husband and even if he messes up, it's just hair.

Focusing on...
Managing Pain
So I'm in a much better place than I was last month. I have not gone to see my orthopedic doctor since it has to be an in-person visit but I have been taking it easy and careful to avoid anything that triggers pain. A pinched nerve does take time to heal and this means continuing to limit my screen time which is fine because I'm on a social media detox and too much news gives me anxiety. I have also cut down on cooking because some of the prep work requires me to bend my head down which hurts my neck. This means big batch cooking and heat and eat meals. I recently discovered Fulton Stall Market down by the Seaport. It's a cute indoor farmer's market that works with local independent farms and purveyors. Everything we've tried from them has been delicious and I'm considering joining their CSA.

My husband has helping as much as he can, He's been great about picking up take out and we work as a team when cleaning but he has been dealing with his own rotator cuff issue and shoulder pain. Yeah we're quite the pair but cleaning is not negotiable especially now. We've been wiping down high touch surfaces daily and cleaning our floors weekly.  I have a whole pain management routine that I repeat several times a day. It involves PT exercises, stretching on my foam roller, heat or ice treatment and wearing my neck traction device followed by a TENS treatment. Yes this is as time consuming as it sounds but worth it to manage my condition.

I've been asked if I will be blogging more during this time. The answer is not right now. Two to three times a week is all I can handle at the moment. I'm still doing some freelance writing work. I also really enjoy spending more time with my husband and working on my creative and home projects. I'm sorry if I haven't been visiting your blogs as much lately. I really need to maintain my wellness routine for my own good. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me privately to check in. As I've probably already told you, it means the world to me.

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Before concluding this post, I really need to address the disturbing racist events that have been happening this week and beyond in the US. Racism against Black Americans is not new and sadly neither are the senseless murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breyona Taylor and countless other black men and women. These people were killed because of institutional racism and the color of their skin. To continually see this happening is both heartbreaking and sickening. There have been protests happening around the country because people are fed up with America’s history of absolute failure to deliver justice in response to the loss of these lives. I get the frustration that has led to these actions but it's also worrisome because we're still in the midst of a pandemic and those who have taken to looting, arson and violent destruction may be obscuring the message of the demonstrations. One thing for sure is that this is not acceptable and should matter to everyone. Meaningful change and system reform must happen for this social injustice to be corrected. Unfortunately with this current administration that is not likely to happen. Racism is a deadly epidemic in itself. If you're not sure how to respond to what's happening, listen, educate yourself, learn how to become an ally. Use your voice to speak up, advocate for what’s right. We have been signing petitions and making donations and if you can/want to help you should consider doing the same.

Resources for education and ways to help:
Black Lives Matter Caard
Black Lives Matter Google doc
Anti-Racism Resources

Specific fundraisers honoring victims with petitions:
I Run with Maud
Justice for Breonna Taylor

Organizations that advance racial justice:
Black Lives Matter - The Black Lives Matter Movement which has been at the forefront of recent justice reform initiatives
Campaign Zero - Organization dedicated to fighting racial injustice and advancing solutions for racial justice.
Color of Change - Advancing policy reform to fight police brutality
Communities Against Police Brutality - Tackles police brutality through advocacy, political action, and education.
NAACP - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a civil rights organization that promotes advocacy, litigation, and education.
ACLU - The American Civil Liberties Union has a Racial Justice Program aims that fights for the rights of people who have historically been denied them on the basis of race.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Desmond Tutu 

15 comments

Emmylou said...

It truly is heart-breaking to see what is happening in the US right now:'( Due to a lack of real leadership, I feel like this is only the beginning and I truly hope I'm wrong. I can't believe that after all this time, we are still fighting the same issue...racism has no place in the world and yet here we are with leaders who seem to cultivate the divisiveness.:(

On a lighter note, thanks for the heads up about that Mean Girls book:) Sounds like a good fun read esp. during this time. And great to hear that you are managing the pain, chingu:) XOXO

R's Rue said...

Your posts makes me smile. Make me think.

ALLIE NYC said...

I know it is overwhelming. Truly. Every time I think things can't get any worse they do. And yes this has happened before and people have erupted and expressed their rage but not on this level. It has not been this bad since 1968. And we can lay this at the feet of the Trump administration and their blatant racism. Hiring someone like Steven Bannon, Peter Theil among others. Where they all get off scot free committing crimes. Seventy percent of Americans(of all colors) live pay check to pay check. Yes a portion of the looters are taking advantage but I feel in some way this diminishes the under lying disparities of those that prosper in the greatest country in the world and those that do not.

Allie of
www.allienyc.com

Hena Tayeb said...

You'd think it could get any crazier with the pandemic we are dealing with and then it does.. and as intense and stressful as it is.. it is something that needed to happen.. it was just a matter of time.. and all we can hope and pray as that we all come out stronger on the other side.. and remember to VOTE! (blue of course)
Mean Girls meets Shakespeare sounds intriguing.

Ivana Split said...

Health has to be a priority. It is good you are taking steps to manage your pain, I hope you two will sort out your pain issues as soon as possible. It is really frightening what is going on with the protests, especially with the pandemic. I hope it won't worsen the covid 19 virus spread in the states, that many people in close contact, it can't be good. The amount of violence on the street is very worrying. I can understand why so many are afraid. These are truly difficult times.

Shireen L. Platt said...

I couldn't agree more with you, Rowena, I feel the pain, the anger and frustration but I do think looting and arson send the opposite message. A change is desperately needed but I'm not sure fighting fire with fire is the right way. On another note, thank YOU again for sharing the avocado sauce recipe, will give it a try.

Carolina G. Ticala said...

Everything looking very nice! 👌👌👌 Have a great week! 🌈🌈🌈

Doctor Anne said...

Truly disturbing times with everything going on right now. But a change needs to happen, and as much as I would have hoped for a non-violent solution I do understand that this has been tried over and over again with no results.

Amy Aed said...

Baking banana bread sounds like a lot of fun! I've never tried to bake it myself but it sounds like it would be delicious and I'd love to give it a go!

I hope you are doing well :)

Eli Dou said...

I'm also wearing many dresses right now!! I love them!
And yes, what has happened in the US is so heart-breaking. I can't understand this hate... how someone can do that.
xx

Eli

Curly Style

Heather Noire said...

Such a great and inspiring post :) http://www.bauchlefashion.com/2020/06/how-to-wear-vinyl-pants-like-fashion.html

Dressed With Soul said...

For me it is totall the same, currently I'm wearing nearly only dresses. And if I opt for trousers I'm not satisfied with my look :) Love the dress on your mood board!
xx Rena
www.dressedwithsoul.com

Paola Lauretano said...

I totally agree my dear friend. Thanks for sharing this inspiring post, I love the pink dress!
Kisses, Paola.

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Carolina G. Ticala said...

Very interesting post! 👏👏👏 Thanks for sharing! 🌈🌈🌈

windowtothebeauty said...

This purple dress from the photo is very pretty 💜💜