Wow, so much has changed all around us since Friday. We are self quarantining over here in an effort to do our part to stop the spread. It is certainly very sad and we are trying to focus on the positive and keep all those affected in our prayers. I have completed some very welcome distractions for you while you are homebound. I know it is hard to turn your attention towards something other than the news…I hope this helps a little!!!!
Here are some museums that are offering virtual tours:
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
For a full list of all the museums, click HERE
A really great up to the minute paper to read with interesting pop culture stories is The Daily Mail www.dailymail.com. You can lose yourself for a while reading along and they have great royal recaps too!!!!
I love shopping at flea markets. There are a bunch of Instagram sites that hold online flea market/antique sales. Here are some of my favorites!!
How about making a scrub for tired skin (adapted from Allure.com):
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
This scrub will leave your face dewey , calm and refreshed (just what we need right now). The sugar and lemon help to exfoliate dead skin cells and the olive oil helps to restore your skin to a healthier and fresher place!
You are going to LOVE this 60-second Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug recipe! (adapted from purewow.com)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 egg
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons chocolate chips
1. In a large mug, melt the butter in the microwave, about 15 to 30 seconds. Add in the sugar as well as the light brown sugar and stir to combine. Next, add the egg and vanilla extract, and then whisk together.
2. Add the flour, baking powder and salt to the mug; stir to combine. Continue by stirring in the chocolate chips.
3. Put the mug in the microwave and heat for about 1 to 2 minutes until cooked. Another way to check is to insert a toothpick into the center and make sure it comes out clean. Once cooked throughout, serve immediately and enjoy.
When it comes to buying a gift for the foodie in your life, you want to give them a gift that will not only make them smile but make their taste buds dance. One of the most appealing things about food lovers is that they are up for trying many new and different food sensations.
Image Credit: Pexels CC0 License
So getting a gift that will appeal to their tastes couldn’t be easier.
Selection Box
We don’t mean one of those chocolate boxes you get in your stocking at Christmas. We mean a selection box of food treat from one of their favorite places or somewhere they have been coveting!
There are so many places popping up all over dedicated to providing you with a taste explosion in new and wonderful ways, you can be sure to find a place that ships to your location. Whether you are buying for someone with a sweet tooth, think cheesecakes, cupcakes or even giant-sized candy, or for someone with a more savory habit – think a soft pretzel gift box, gourmet chips or even give the gift of pizza!
Experience Days
How good are they at creating a new food or even following a simple recipe? A foodie experience day can range from sampling the wares of a local or national company to getting stuck in trying your hand at being the next best thing to hit the kitchen since Julia Child!
Simply find out what they would enjoy the most then you are good to go!
Subscription Box
Subscription boxes are becoming more and more popular. You can get such a variety these days you will literally be spoilt for choice.
From Hellofresh to Natruebox and Dinnerly to the snacktastic Graze box. The choice is up to you. you can gift a one-off foodie box crammed full of the latest releases to the market in food and drinks. Or you can gift a longer-term subscription box filled with everything they will need to create mouthwatering meals without having to shop around!
Novelty and Branded Items.
Who doesn’t love a good branded item? From their favorite eatery, chef or even food brand. Have a little look around and see what housewares or even fun novelty items are around based on the recipients favorite food or drink.
Visit a store or look online for fun gift items that are practical too! Think spice sets, a range of different flavored oils, or even a cheese making kit!
Appliances
If your foodie also loves to cook themselves, then why not see what appliances they have been looking at buying and help them out by buying it as a gift. For the budding baker, food mixers are always a welcome idea as are tools and accessories that will help them bake easier.
Chopping boards, Knife sets, tea towels, measuring cups and mixing bowls. All well used and no doubt welcome gifts for those who feel more at home in the kitchen feeding the family!
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
I never wore glasses. I just started to have problems reading lately and I decided to go to the eye doctor. I learned a lot and thought I would share it with you…. If you’re on the lookout for new glasses and you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a new pair or you’re buying your first-ever glasses, you need to be sure you’re buying a high-quality pair that is going to last. Whilst you may be overwhelmed by all of the options at first, there are lots of things you can ask yourself to ensure you’re buying the perfect pair. From setting yourself a budget to choosing where you’re going to buy them, the more you’re thinking about it the easier the decision will be. With that in mind, here are 5 things to consider when buying new glasses:
– Do You Need To Get Your Eyes Tested?
One of the first things you need to consider when it comes to buying new glasses is whether or not you need to get your eyes tested first. Although you don’t have to get your eyes tested every time you buy new glasses, it’s definitely something you should consider if you haven’t had them tested in a while. If you’re worried and you need a little bit of encouragement, you can find out what to expect at your next eye test here.
– What Is Your Budget?
Another important thing to consider is your budget, as this will determine how much you’re going to be able to spend on your glasses. Whether you have a small budget or a large budget in mind, setting this in advance will make your search much easier. If you’re having an eye test, you need to consider the cost of that too.
– Where Do You Want To Get Them From?
Once you know what your budget is, you need to think about where you’re going to be getting your glasses from. Whether you’re going into a store or you’re thinking of ordering them online, you need to ensure you’re going somewhere that is trustworthy. For the best places to buy glasses online, you can visit this site here.
– What Brand Do You Want To Buy?
Another important thing to consider is the brand of glasses you want to buy. Whether you want store-brand or ray ban glasses, having this in mind before you start shopping will make things much easier. If you don’t know which brands are best, you may want to do a little bit of research.
– Do You Need Insurance?
Finally, you need to think about whether or not you’re going to need insurance. Buying glasses can be incredibly expensive and although you will have to pay a monthly fee for your insurance, it’s much better than having to pay for a new pair should something happen to them. As they’re easy to break, having cover should be a priority.
Are you thinking of buying new glasses soon? What do you need to consider in order to ensure you find the right pair for you? Did we miss anything? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
I know it is hard but we all need to keep calm and carry on our daily routine. I was texting a friend tonight and said, if this continues, I am going to need some strong meds!!!!!!! I am in shock with what is going on all around us. I think I can help a little. A while ago, I installed the Calm App. It is full of tricks to help you reduce anxiety. But recently, I discovered The Calm book. And, I thought I would give it a try. To get your own copy or for more information….click HERE.
Based on the popular iPhone app, a visually exciting, practical, and playful interactive guide to twenty-first-century meditation that provides simple tools, tricks, and habits to find tranquility and focus, improve creativity and productivity, achieve better mental and physical health, and ultimately transform your life.
Achieving mindfulness doesn’t require a huge lifestyle shift or special training. It’s about mastering simple habits that work with the demands of your busy life. It uses the abilities you’re born with: creativity, spontaneity, and awareness of the world around you. There are no rules to follow or break. Everyone can achieve calm—including you.
In Calm, Michael Acton Smith combines fascinating neurological research, ancient wisdom, and real-life experiences to demystify meditation and show you the many simple ways to be mindful everyday. Crafted to resemble a journal, filled with beautiful and inspiring artwork, and divided into eight life-balancing sections—Nature, Work, Creativity, Children, Travel, Relationships, Food, and Sleep—Calm can help you change your perspective and rediscover the pleasures of the world. Each section blends fascinating research, creative prompts, activities, instructions, and insights that will stimulate your senses and inspire you.
Calm can be used multiple times a day or whenever you need it to find a little peace. Take a walk without a fixed destination, savor a piece of chocolate on the tip of your tongue, plant a seed, doodle aimlessly, turn off your mobile phone for five short minutes. Smile, breathe, and go slowly. Calm your mind—and change your world. – Amazon.com
I think one of the best things we can do to stay healthy, not just during this outbreak, but all year round is to increase the immune-building foods that we eat.
Vitamin Booster Smoothie
Up your vitamin quota with help from this bright and fresh smoothie. Orange, carrot, celery and mango pack a nutritious punch
adapted from goodfood.com
Ingredients
- 1 orange, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 sticks celery, roughly chopped
- 1 mango, roughly chopped
- 1 cup water
Put the orange, carrot, celery and mango in the blender, top up with water, then mix until smooth.
White Bean Dip
A dip filled with beans that are filled with beta-glucan and zinc – all immune-boosting properties.
adapted from Food Network.com
1 (14 ounces) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
6 sprigs fresh thyme leaves, stripped from stem
Coarse salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons chives, chopped
Pulse all ingredients except chives in a food processor or until a smooth paste forms and transfer to a bowl. Serve on bruschetta or as a dip for fresh veggies and garnish with chopped chives.
Chicken and White Bean Soup
Rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup.
adapted from Eatingwell.com
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
- 2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
- 1 2-pound roasted chicken, skin discarded, meat removed from bones and shredded (4 cups)
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in sage and continue cooking until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth and water, increase heat to high, cover and bring to a boil. Add beans and chicken and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Serve hot.
Egyptian Tossed Salad
adapted from EatingWell.com
This superfood salad will boost your immune system. You can eat it in a pita or on top of a chicken cutlet or on its own.
Ingredients
Ingredient Checklist
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ⅓ cups diced cucumber
- 1 ¼ cups diced tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
- ⅔ cup diced green bell pepper
- ½ cup diced radishes
- ⅓ cup diced yellow onion
Whisk lime juice, vinegar, cumin and salt in a large bowl. Add cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, bell pepper, radishes and onion; toss to combine.
Let’s take a break from the Coronavirus for a minute to talk about the Shop Bop sale..You have 2 days left to grab some of the best clothes of the season at discounted prices. I know it’s so hard to get our minds off of this very unfortunate situation but just take a minute to check out this sale!!! Don’t worry, I’ll be back tomorrow with more Corona coverage!!!!
This top is a little more pricy but it is a great wardrobe staple..
Everyone is always asking me for a great black blazer, here it is!
There is something about the look of this dress that I LOVE!
This is a perfect piece for the spring/summer long dress trend…
I brought this on my girl’s bday weekend and everyone was asking where they could get one!!!
This might be my favorite dress in the sale!!!
I have been looking forever for a leopard blazer!
This top is so pretty..I can see it paired with white or light denim jeans!!
I really like this top too..the color is so great!
