So far 2020 isn’t turning out to be what any of us expected. It was just announced that California’s shelter in place would continue until May 1st which is necessary, but also hard to adjust to our new way of life. Obviously this won’t be forever, but the past two weeks have felt like months. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky because I already worked from home, but the day to day struggle is real. Business has slowed down, I am trying to shift some of my content and like everyone else I feel anxious about the unknown. I know many of you are also having a hard time so I thought I would share some of the ways I am adjusting the routines I looked forward to and creating new routines that make me happy.

I also finally tackled something I have been meaning to do forever and organized my Pinterest boards. I had started cleaning them up at the beginning of the year and then of course got busy and fell off. It feels so good to have a fresh batch of inspiration and to build out some new boards. I will be adding a lot more from my shop pages to these as well because I know some of you find Pinterest easier to shop from.

Spending time rediscovering our apartment has really made me love it more. We are all so busy and life has a way of being so scheduled and routine it can be hard to take the time and just be in your living space. Now that I am home almost 24/7 I have spent a lot of time re working certain areas. The biggest one for me was the kitchen. I am spending so much more time cooking in there, so I wanted it to feel completely clutter free and functional.

As I delve deeper into cooking, I will start sharing more of my recipes. I have made it a goal to start cooking healthier meals (to balance out the baking) and making more jarred items I love – like jams and pesto. I am starting to shift my perspective and look at this time as an opportunity to hone my cooking skill set and try out new recipes that may be more time consuming.

I went through and tossed any old items in the pantry, ratty dishtowels and accents that were just taking up counter space. I also incorporated some new accents that seem so simple, but make me excited to spend more time in the kitchen. You were all so kind when I shared my kitchen tour, so I am excited to take you through more rooms in our apartment. One routine I am continuing even though I have no where to be – is waking up at the same time, making my coffee and stretching. I usually put on a playlist and try and start the day on a good note.

My Kitchen Staples

Making wellness a priority is a huge one for me. Since I can’t go to the gym or get body work done (I have seen someone for my back and neck pain for years) I have to make the most of what I can at home. Getting exercise in some facet is so important. I am still not doing full on workouts at home, which I will hopefully start to pick up at some point. For now I am trying to go on long walks, foam rolling, using videos online like the Tracy Anderson method and a short routine similar to what I did at the gym (squats, lunges, planking, abs).

What I find equally as important is winding down at the end of the day. A mask and a hot bath has been known to solve a lot of my problems and gives me something to look forward to. I shut my laptop and my phone, turn on one of my more relaxing playlists and take time to zone out. I have slowly been investing in nicer bath and body products that truly make the whole experience feel much more spa like. I also went through our bath towels and got rid of anything that had seen better days. I ordered a few more of my favorite towels because they are 20% off with code ATHOME.

Mask & Bath Staples

Grocery store flowers and a fresh candle can go a long way. Although I am missing one of my favorite routines of picking up fresh flowers from our local flower shop, grocery stores seem to be fully stocked on flowers. I try and grab a bunch whenever I go and reach for varieties that tend to last longer – hydrangeas, stock, greens. I also pared down my vase collection which felt great to go through.

Candles always help me set the tone and feel cozy at home, so having a few of my favorites around makes the biggest difference. The two I have been burning on heavy rotation lately are Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey and Cire Trudon Abd El Kader. They both smell so fresh and springlike, which adds such a comforting feeling to our apartment. Our sense of smell is so powerful and I completely believe something as simple as a candle can help transport us. I understand not wanting to burn through all of your nice candles at once, so I also use these pilar candles which are great or even an unscented pilar. My new Simon Pearce hurricane just came and it is so beautiful – I had my eye on it forever and it did not disappoint. Here are some of my favorite spring scents with some cheaper alternatives linked as well.

Spring Candle Staples

Other routines I am also looking forward to – spending more time reading, starting to journal again and pick up a new hobby. I haven’t narrowed down a good hobby, but I will keep you posted when I do. I want to use this time to not be so hard on myself. Some days I feel extremely productive and other days I don’t want to do anything at all. It is an extremely weird time and hard to adjust our mindsets. We are all creatures of habit and having those habits turned upside down feels off. So be easy on yourself and take it one day at a a time!