If you follow along on Instagram, then you may have seen that I’ve been sharing my 10 favorite things that have been keeping me sane during this time at home (check out the highlights here). Well, I thought I’d gather all the information to live in one place on the blog for your reference!
Here we go!
10. Atlas Hammock Straps and ENO Hammock
These hammock straps can be used anywhere! My friend’s son put a hammock in his closet and on his bunk bed. But really, all you need are two poles and you can have a hammock anywhere in your house or outside in minutes!
We are spending all our time in the hammock. My son has been reading his book in it, and it is where I go and rock to stay sane. I would never be able to put up a hammock by myself without those straps! Also, my son particularly likes the ENO hammock because he can cocoon himself in it! Head to InstaStories to see my more on how to use the straps!
9. Doing yoga in my new favorite workout tank
To stay sane, I have been doing a lot of yoga on my One Peloton app. I recently did a post on my new favorite workout tank that meets all of my requirements! It doesn’t show cleavage, covers the stomach, doesn’t hug the mid-section, and it’s flattering. Check out the blog post for more information on the tank, like sizing and fit!
8. Seeing people helping people
One of my favorite quotes is by Mr. Rogers, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” Which brings me to my friend, David Peck (custom wedding dress and gown designer in Houston), who is being a wonderful helper during this time! He has been making free masks to donate to the medical community. He recently received a request from the Houston Fire Marshal for an additional 4,000 masks. It costs about $4-5 to make each (that’s just bare bones, no markup at all).
If you’d like to help him fulfill the request, you can donate here. He is also selling masks in fun prints as buy one, give one on his site, and has instructions on how to make your own masks.
7. A go-to, easy hairstyle
Thanks to my friend, Traci Ling, for teaching me this easy hairstyle! It has been my go-to recently. It’s cuter than my usual bun or ponytail, and it works on thick hair, think hair, long hair, short hair… you name it! You won’t believe how easy it is! I call it “everyday twisty hair”, and it is a great style to help you feel put together in a matter on minutes. Head here for a quick video tutorial on how to do this hairstyle!
And if I actually take the time to blow dry my hair these days, I don’t want to kink it by putting it up. But, sometimes I want to put it up so badly (cue everyday twisty hair)! Which is why I have been reaching for these spin hair pins that Traci introduced me to. They keep my hair in a bun without kinking it! I have thick hair, so I have to use three. Head to Instastories to see a video of how I use the pins!
6. Ina Garten (AKA Barefoot Contessa) Recipes
If you haven’t heard of Ina Garden, you might know of her as the Barefoot Contessa from the Food Network. In case she wasn’t already well known for her delicious recipes and hit TV show, she has recently gone viral for this much needed dose of laughter on her IGTV.
All humor aside, she has good recipes for staples like potatoes and corn. The ingredients are usually very basic and can be found in your pantry. Here are some recipes I recently made- smashed sweet potatoes and fresh corn salad.
I’ve also been loving the Food Network app! You can type in “mashed potatoes” and it will give you the top 4 rated recipes. Then you can look at the recipes and decide which one you want to use based on the ingredients you have available! Hopefully this will inspire you to make some easy and delicious meals at home with simple ingredients you already have! Head here for more Ina Garden recipes.
5. Honest Beauty Mascara
Sometime staying sane looks like swiping on a bit of mascara. It helps when the mascara is epic! Let me know if you are already a fan of this mascara or if it becomes your new favorite, too! Head here to see me apply the mascara on IGTV!
4. Paint by Numbers
I’m always on the lookout at antique fairs for old Paint by Number paintings to use as artwork for my boys’ rooms. Then I ran across Reeve’s Paint by Number paintings on Amazon and thought, “we can make our own artwork!” Plus, we’ll have something to show (a memento of sorts) for these hours at home!
When it’s raining outside, this has turned out to be a really fun activity! I bought one of my boys the lab puppy because he loves dogs, and I got my other son the rhinos, the horse for myself, and the ship for my husband! I plan to frame them when we are done!
3. My favorite self tanner (face and body)
You know that after vacation tan/glow that always makes you feel good when you look in the mirror? Well, I’m tricking my brain into that feeling with my favorite self tanner! I don’t tan naturally. If I’m in the sun, I burn. Every time.
I’ve tried so many at home self tanners but could never find one that didn’t leave me feeling sticky, smelly, and worried my tan was rubbing off. Thanks to a nice sales associate at Ulta, I finally found Tan Luxe! Ya’ll, I love this stuff so much! Head here for my blog post all about it!
OH! And be sure to wash you hands thoroughly after applying, so your palms don’t turn funky colors. Everyone’s a pro hand washer by now anyways- ha!
2. The best chocolate chip cookies EVER
My boys requested that I make “the best chocolate chip cookies ever” from the blog! I never thought I’d be the mom who gets a request like that from my kids! All the credit for this recipe goes to my friend, Kristen Opry. So thank you, Kristen!
I continue to get messages and emails about how great these cookies are. My whole family gets excited whenever I make them! Make sure to tag me if ya’ll make these during this time at home, so I can see your amazing baking skills! These cookies will also be so great to make for get togethers and celebrations once things get back to normal. Something to look forward to! Head here for the recipe or check it out below!
1. A natural, everyday makeup look
One of the things keeping me sane right now is putting on a spot of makeup to make me feel “good”. I used to only have one look when it came to makeup, and it always included eyeliner. I had no idea how to do the “natural” look I see in the magazine. But my friend and celebrity makeup artist, Tonya Riner, recently gave me a tutorial on how to have a natural look. I’ve been using all of her tricks, and I finally feel like I have a natural look I feel good about. Head here for the tutorial!
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