Photo by Victoria Bilsborough

This quarantine period has been... weird. I've had days of crippling anxiety and fear, which is far from fun. But I've also had days of profound gratitude and joy because I've re-introducing things into my life that have helped me feel more consistently energized than I've felt in the past four years. It's kind of scary how easy it is to get caught up in the mundane parts of life and work and feel like your soul has been sucked away. I knew that if I didn't focus or prioritize adding happy activities into my schedule during this shutdown, I would seep into a deeper depression. Personally, long periods of boredom lead to heavy periods of depression in my life. It's a patterned I've noticed over and over since I've graduated college. And it's a cycle I'm committed to breaking. I knew I had to be proactive and push myself to do at least one fulfilling activity a day to stay in a healthy mindset, so that is exactly what I did. Here are a few activities I've been prioritizing during the shutdown to take care of my mental health. Since these habits have reignited something inside me, I plan to keep prioritizing these activities even when quarantine is over.

Color or paint while watching trash reality tv shows or any funny show.
Love Island (UK and AU version), ALL of the shows under the 90 Day Fiancé Umbrella and Marrying Millions have entertained me so much. I never liked reality tv until maybe a year or two ago but now I'm addicted. If reality tv isn't your thing, I've been loving uplifting comedy shows like Brooklyn nine-nine, Blackish, Schitt's Creek and The Good Place. Pretty much any show that can make us laugh should be prioritized right now. The more good vibes, the better.  And to avoid feeling like a useless slob while watching hours and hours of TV, I've found that coloring in an adult coloring book or using my watercolor paint kit has legit been feeding my soul. Guys, I feel so refreshed and relaxed while exploring my artistic side. Here are a few coloring/watercolor books I've been loving or  I want to buy (*affiliate links). Maybe I'll start a portfolio for my artwork lol.


Take an online class in a fun or stimulating subject 
I feel the most fulfilled when I am learning or improving a skill. That's why I love the art of dance so much. Exploring and learning new choreography is challenging, fun and gives me a sense of accomplishment. But I've also been spending a lot of time diving into finance courses (learning about money is really fucking fun, just trust me and try it) as well as career skill courses, fitness courses and hobby classes. I want to learn calligraphy, fashion illustration, improve my handstands and upper body strength, etc. Between my dance conditioning/flexibility classes, choreography classes, twerk and floor work classes, career classes and art classes... it's pretty hard to feel bored.

Have a dance party 
Dancing has been one of my favorite outlets since I could walk. Although I dedicate a lot of time to taking dance classes so I can train and improve my technique, blasting music and dancing in the privacy of my own bedroom is still one of my favorite ways to spend an hour or so of my day. Especially if I have a glass of wine or a Truly drink in my hand. It's freeing and it's not like anyone is watching so it really doesn't matter what I look like. It's just a form of fun and excellent cardio.

Play Sims Freeplay or Animal Crossing 
So I'm not going to lie, sometimes I get real addicted to video games... like on a "drop a lot of money and set alarms to finish timed tasks in the game" level. Oooopps. I'd like to think that I've outgrown that bad habit since I now limit how much time I spend playing games, but they are still hella fun. My quarantine roommate just got a Switch and now I kind of want one. Video games are an amazing way to escape reality for a little bit. As long as you aren't blowing a lot of money on games and extension packs (like I did in the past), go forth and conquer lol.


Go for a walk and listen to a podcast, call a friend/loved one... or drink
One of my roommates and I went for a walk by the water this past weekend and a few restaurants along the shore have cocktail stands. This was one of the highlights of my weekend. Something so simple and cheap was so uplifting. It's easy to fall into the trap that I need to spend a lot of money to have fun, but this quarantine has been a great reminder that I really, really don't.

Turn my meals into luxurious experiences
Now I understand why so many European cultures take their time eating meals. It makes the day so much more fucking fun. I wrote a post listing a few of my favorite ways to turn an ordinary meal at home into an incredible experience. I hope it gives you some practical, affordable and inspirational ways to enjoy your next meal.

Read
I personally like to read books at night because I know I usually fall asleep if I read at home. I end up melting into the couch, chair or bed unless I'm drinking a cup of coffee while I read. But reading blogs and digital media articles is hella fun too. I love sipping on a cup of tea while I catch up on my favorite blogs and lifestyle sites. Such an easy way to take a mental escape for a little bit.

Work on my passion project aka this blog. 
I love writing and creating. I love curating collages and piecing together looks. I love having wine-filled photoshoots. I love having a platform that I can turn into a business with hard-work and dedication. I know that blogging is far from everyone's cup of tea, but I believe everyone has multiple things in their hearts that they have been dying to pursue. And one of those things has to be possible to do from home. The best part is, you don't need to try to be the best or figure out how to monetize that passion unless you really want to. There's nothing wrong with pursuing a goal just for fucking fun or to build self-esteem. I have friends who have been using some of their time at home to take their workouts to the next level, caught up on their reading lists, worked on writing books, researched more about their dream career fields, learned how to make fancy cocktails, taken their businesses to the next level, like honestly the list goes on and on. Doesn't really matter what you do, as long as it helps you feel energized and you see it as a way to escape as opposed to seeing it as a responsibility.

I hope seeing what I do for fun encourages you to add more fun to your daily routine. Just because something works well for me, doesn't mean it will work well for you. It's all about trial and error. But I'd love to learn what you've been doing for fun these past few weeks. The more ideas we share, the better. Thank you so much for spending a moment of your day to read this post. Your support means the world to me.

Photo by Linus Mimietz

Before the world went into disarray, I rarely cooked and ate dinner at home. My evenings consisted of dance classes in the city or picking up something quick to eat after a long day of work. That being said, I barely made an effort to turn dinner at home into a luxurious experience. But ever since lock-down began, I'm really starting to see and reap the benefits of a slow and lovely home-cooked dinner. And there are so many small, affordable, and impactful ways to take any ordinary dinner at home up a notch to make it feel like a treat. Here are a few ways I plan on turning more dinners at home into a warm and cozy experience:

• Drink a glass of wine (or 420 it) and play music while cooking. TBH, this is the only way I actually enjoy cooking. I need to be entertained while I'm cooking or else it feels like a chore. 
• Light a Candle and dim the lights. This is the easiest way to totally change the atmosphere and pretend like you are dining in a nice restaurant.
• Pick up fresh flowers for the table. Trader Joes has such cute and cheap floral options. Plus you can shop stress-free since TJs has really great social distancing practices. 
• Put on a classic movie while eating. There is something just so romantic and enchanting about old Hollywood movies. One of my favorites is Clue (1985). It's honestly hilarious, the fashion is fun and the movie is a little dark... aka it's right up my alley. 
• Plan a virtual dinner party with friends and play a game. Virtual charades sounds hella fun in my opinion. You can assign everyone to teams and each player can donate $5 to go to a charity that the winning team gets to select. 
• Add a fun dessert to the menu. There are so many healthy alternatives to our favorite desserts now so even if you are watching what you eat, you can find a way to indulge a little. 
• Wear something you feel cute in. A white cozy wrap sweater and white cotton shorts make such a cute and comfy outfit. I personally feel a lot more inspired when I feel cute. Just adds a little more umph to my day, plus you're ready to take a thirst trap and send it to your Snapchat bae or IG story (don't act like you don't do this because we all do).   

This is a ritual I want to continue for the rest of my life. Obviously, it's impractical to tell myself that every single night I'll do this... but one to two times a week sounds easy enough. Cheers to enjoying the slower moments in life. Wishing you and your loved ones a cozy and lovely day.

Photo by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian

I've never really thought of cooking as a fun activity to pass the time, but now that we are adjusting to this new lifestyle, we all have a lot more time on our hands. So I figured, now is a great time to take an activity that seems more like a chore to me, and turn it into a luxurious experience. Cooking is a lot more fun and relaxing when you play great music, light a candle and sip on a glass of wine or a fun cocktail. Here are a few recipes I'm craving this week. Cheers to a week of hearty and satisfying meals enjoyed in our cozy homes.











Thanks so much for taking a moment to read this post and support my page. Tag me on IG if you end up making one of these dishes! I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy! Until next time.

Photo by Micheile Henderson

Honestly, there's no point in even commenting on how insane the world is right now. We are all experiencing this unpredictable era together. But just because our anxiety might be at an all-time high, doesn't mean we have to let our emotions take control. And I believe that if there were ever a time for responsible retail therapy to have a purpose, that time is now. But remember, the key word is responsible. There are a few things I've recently purchased or have my eye on that I know will add a little bit of happiness to my days as we wait for this cover 19 pandemic to end. Creating a happy and tranquil space in our homes is probably one of the best things we can do for ourselves right now. Cheers to another week of creating our own happiness!