i’m so curious how others are staying busy (or not) during this time, especially with children. today i wanted to share what we have been doing while we have been staying at home and obeying minnesota’s shelter in place orders.
getting outside
the weather in minnesota is unpredictable [it was 60 degrees one day and snowed the next], but when we can, we are getting outside. walks, scootering, chalk, easter egg hunts, painting … if there’s a feasible way to get outside, we are doing it. i’m also trying to get outside to walk on my lunch breaks during the week and even snuck in a few calls from the deck/patio. it’s supposed to be chilly here this week (30-50 degrees), but i’m still going to make a point to try to get outside when i can.
[attempting to] bake + cook
i’m using this time to try out new recipes that i’d like to add into our rotation. i’m trying to remember to keep calling the muffins i’m making “cupcakes” so logan is more apt to eat them #noshame. so far i’ve made these and these. the first ones were a hit with logan, but she wasn’t a huge fan of the sun butter banana bread bars. i thought they were great, but i think the texture was a little too different for my closed-minded-when-it-comes-to-baked-goods family. we also just made these and they seemed to go over pretty well!
arts + crafts
i bought myself a sewing machine for my 30th birthday (turn up) and amongst that, painting, coloring, and making jewelry, logan and i have been keeping ourselves very busy. i use a small ironing board as her “desk” in my cloffice where she comes and hangs out with me and we can make things together. i also have paints and canvases for us to use. when i need her to stay busy for a little bit when i’m cooking dinner or doing something quickly i picked up some of these for her to play with at the kitchen counter.
staying up to date, but not over-consuming the news
joey and i watch the briefings from our governor on a daily basis (meetings and distance learning allowed) and some national news coverage, but unless i’m being my typical enneagram 5 self and deep diving research on some specific aspect, i try not to over-consume. i will say that i listened to two really interesting podcasts with different renowned astrologers recently and appreciated their take on it. first podcast here, second here.
if you have any good, kid-friendly activities, send them our way! bonus points if it involves them putting their toys away 🙂