Happy April, everyone! I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way, but March was a complete and utter blur. Isolation and self-quarantine have brought out some weird thoughts and emotions for me personally, so I hope you’ve been able to prioritize mental health, including self-care, as much as possible. On a more positive note, though, it’s also opened up a lot of free time in my schedule. Probably the biggest silver lining is that I’ve come across some really awesome new stuff over the past few weeks, and I wanted to share some of my favorite things with y’all in today’s post. It’s all quarantine-friendly, too, so I’m hopeful you guys will love it, as well.

So, without further ado, here are 10 of my favorite things I found this past March–

1. Virtual Game Nights– If you haven’t had one yet, virtual game nights are an absolute blast– and a great way to stay social while in self-quarantine. A few fun games you can play over video chat are charades, Scattergories, Taboo, and Monopoly, although there are a bunch more. Learn how to host your own here!

2. William Sonoma Chocolate and Wine Pairing Kit– If you want to take your virtual game night and/or video hangout to the next level, why not organize a fun virtual chocolate and wine pairing? Our friends Ben and Liz dropped off this pairing kit, along with mini carafes of different wines, for our own virtual wine and chocolate pairing, and it was a blast. Highly recommend– even if you do it alone! 

3. Pull-On Knit Jeggings– I think it’s important to feel good while working from home, but I also think comfort is king. These cozy pull-on knit jeggings feel like pajamas and look like legitimate work pants. They come in 12 colors, too!

4. Eve Hansen Sheet Masks– Stress does all kinds of nasty things to my face. I decided to try these collagen-boosting sheet masks to give my skin an at-home detox, and they’re amazing. They’re totally natural (vegan and cruelty-free without sulfates, parabens, and phthalates), too, and make my skin feel it’s gotten a spa-quality facial. Highly recommend!

5. Tiger King– I know everyone and their mom are talking about the Tiger King docuseries on Netflix, but y’all– it’s really as entertaining as they say. What a bunch of absolutely insane characters. Definitely worth a watch if you haven’t already! Here are a few other must-watch shows and movies (old and new)–

• Onward– Incredibly sweet and heartwarming!
• CATS– Absolutely horrible but somehow super entertaining at the same time.
• Fleabag (Amazon)- Irreverent and hysterical!
• Comedic oldies but goodies— The Office (Netflix), Parks and Recreation (Netflix), Schitt’s Creek (Netflix), Bob’s Burgers (Hulu), and Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
• Suspenseful oldies but goodies– Broadchurch (Netflix), True Detective (HBO), and Law and Order: SVU (Netflix; new episodes on Hulu). 

6. Be Luminous Yoga– I’ve never been a yogi before, but I thought online yoga classes could be a fun way to try something new, get exercise, and practice self-care during quarantine. We’ve been streaming Be Luminous Yoga’s classes for the past few weeks, and I’m hooked. They’re easy enough for beginners like me but offer variations to make them more difficult for advanced yogis like Kyle. Sign up here (your first class is free during the month of April; after that, unlimited online classes are $39/month). You can also learn more about their 21-day “Tend Your Garden” yoga and meditation challenge here!

7. Playground Sessions– I’m learning to play piano! I’ve seen so many people utilizing this extra time at home to try something new, so I figured I’d jump on the bandwagon. I did some research about the best online piano courses and landed on Playground Sessions. In addition to ranking #1 on like a dozen lists, it was co-created by the Quincy Jones and is taught by the Harry Connick, Jr. I bought a new keyboard, signed up for an annual membership, and am super pumped about reconnecting with music!

8. Instacart– If you’re running low on groceries, consider signing up for Instacart. Not only are you keeping yourself and your family out of harm’s way, you’re hiring someone who may need work right now. Plus, the new “leave at door” option is amazing for avoiding physical contact. Just a tip, though– you probably should wipe down your groceries and wash your hands after unloading, just in case. Also, consider leaving an additional tip as “hazard pay” for your shopper’s hard work. 

9. Marco Polo App– Marco Polo is a free (and safe) new app that combines the best of texting, social media, and video chat all in one. It essentially enables you to talk to friends and family face-to-face, regardless of whether or not they’re Apple or Android users, in groups and one-on-one convos without spamming you with ads or stealing your data. In a nutshell, it’s a much better/safer/family-friendly version of Snapchat, and it’s awesome. 

10. Hospital Donation Drives– No surprises here, but hospitals are in desperate need of personal protection equipment right now. At the start of the outbreak, they were essentially ransacked for masks and gowns. Now, those on the front lines (doctors, nurses, techs, etc) have little to no protection from COVID-19. It goes without saying, but it’s messed up. If you feel like you’re in a position to help, search hospital donation drives in your area. If you have any personal protection equipment you can spare, please consider donating it. For those of us who don’t, see if you can provide food or snacks for the healthcare providers working overtime– or ask if you can make homemade face masks. Full disclosure, though– there’s speculation about how protective they really are. No matter how you choose to help, kindness is contagious, and it’s needed more than ever right now. 

And there you have it! If you’ve got any show, movie, game night, or comfy clothing recommendations, I’d greatly appreciate them. Thanks so much for reading, y’all!

Also, PS- I hope you’re all staying safe, healthy, and in good spirits. For those of y’all who’ve been personally affected by the coronavirus, stay strong and know you’re in my thoughts and prayers. Also, if there’s anything I can personally do to help, please let me know. 

Photography by Catherine Rhodes.