Hey there :)
How have the last few weeks treated you? Probably a few odd and stressful days, but hopefully plenty of bright spots too!
As I write this, Josh is watching a movie about a haunted dress, Reggie is snoozing in a patch of sunlight, and I'm perched at the counter, oven in plain view, waiting on a Betty Crocker vanilla cake to finish baking. Apparently, the three of us have comfortably settled into our personal clichés during lockdown lol.
I'll confess, some days in The New Normal are much easier to navigate than others. They all start the same way. Reggie wakes up at 7AM without fail, demanding breakfast. We feed him, walk him. There was always lots of rush hour traffic in our area, but the streets are so quiet now. I still find it creepy. Then Josh gets ready for work while I have coffee and watch an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. (I'm almost on season four.)
That's pretty much where the routine ends, after which point I somehow manage to fill up all those hours before dinnertime. Reading, more dog-walking, making coffee (so much coffee!), eating snacks, this blog, phone calls, video-chatting with Domenic... Turns out there is plenty to do in a day and I'm so, so grateful.
A few new things have also gone down since my last note, if you'd like to hear about them :)
Started wearing a mask in public
The first time leaving home with a mask on was strange, almost surreal. This was back in April, before more people jumped on the precautionary bandwagon. With a pink polka dot mask strapped to my face, I definitely stood out. I felt hyper sensitive to every passing glance and sidewalk side-step. And there were MANY.
Turns out, wearing a mask also had a cool perk: It seemed to freak people out, so they'd give me sooo much space in the grocery store lol.
The best part is snatching off the mask when you get home. Your humid face (so gross) is finally released from confinement and you can enjoy big gulps of fresh air again.
Made some epic meals
I hate cooking. Or so I thought.
The problem isn't a question of skill (I'm decent enough in the kitchen). Thanks to the lockdown, I realized I actually just dislike cooking at the end of a long, exhausting workday. The last thing I want to do when I'm home is get busy peeling, chopping, simmering. And why bother having so many delivery apps programmed into your phone if you won't use them?
Bratty and hyper-privileged and ridiculous, I know. Sorry.
Now that I'm home ALL THE DAMN TIME, I've challenged myself to cook more often than not. Delivery splurges are saved for the weekend. It's been kind of fun!
Some meals turn out less stellar than others. I made a marinade using full-sodium soy sauce (instead of reduced), creating an epically salty and inedible dinner. My bad.
On the flip side, there have been some truly STAND OUT winners. Like, dishes so good we started making them weekly, including...
Slow baked sweet potato
Butternut squash soup
Crunchy roasted chickpeas
Pasta all'ubriaco (translation: drunk pasta)
Planning to share these recipes on the blog real soon, so stay tuned :)
Domenic started walking!!!
The little jalapeño is on the move! Domenic is getting stronger, faster, and more confident on his feet every day. Definitely bittersweet to watch him grow via screen instead of in person. I just focus on how lucky we are to stay connected through tech :) because it's a helluva lot better than nothing!
Anyway. You haven't witnessed comedy until you've watched him shuffle around like a very sweet, drunk-looking toddler, bumping into things and only pausing to chug from a sippy cup.
My nephew is a source of pure joy for our entire family. He has such a fun personality! Cute, hilarious, a little bossy, so smart -- he's the best! I love him to pieces, even if he prefers video-chatting with Reggie instead of me.
Maintained a blog
A month later and we're still here! I assure you, no one is more surprised about it than me. There continue to be many moments of cringey self-doubt. That's fine. Someone once told me feeling uncomfortable doesn't necessarily mean you're doing something wrong. Sometimes, discomfort can lead to changes for the better. (The concept still keeps abnormal to me, I'm working on it.)
Let's all keep trying things that freak us out a little and see where they take us.
Enjoy the rest of May and don't forget your sunscreen :)
Stef xx
Image credit (all): The Sweet Occasion
