Survival is such a strong word... but if you don't feel it's a necessary term to accurately portray quarantine — or 2020 in general — well then hot damn, aren't you just one lucky duck? I, on the other hand, plop on the couch at the end of each day thinking, praise wine, we survived another day in quarantine.
I get that quarantine is starting to soften a little {depending where you live}, but with the colder {and darker ::insert whining emoji::} months coming — paired with flu season — quarantine-woes are about to ramp right back up. I know I just gave you the worst feeling of dread, but I had to dramatically set this up so you fully appreciate my essentials for survival list ;-)
No way in 2020 {aka, hell} would I survive quarantine without each and every one of these things. I highly suggest you adding them to your quarantine kit ASAP. {Cuz, ya know, shipping will take 10-12 weeks. #kidding #hopefully}
DearMom Wine
Or, as I like to call it: pocket wine. The cans are so perfectly adorable that they have been easy to grab when we're headed out the door for a walk around the neighborhood, or to head to a picnic. Look, 2020 is hard, no one is judging you for pulling a tiny sippy-wine out of your pocket at the park. If they're staring, chances are they really just want to know where you got that... and if you brought more.
STOCK UP: My favs are Sparkletown {pop, pour into OJ, survive the morning} & Oregon Red {relaxation in a can}; $16.99 - 4-pack {also search local stores because they just popped up near me!}
TENS Machine
Right before quarantine set in, I became addicted to the chiropractor. Like, give me a quickie chiro adjustment over an hour-long massage any day. But then the chiro closed at the start of the pandemic, right about the time we moved, during which I threw out my back the worst I have in my life. I'm not talking "laid up" back sprain, I'm talking, it was so painful I couldn't lay, or even breathe. My chiro told me to get a TENS machine and Biofreeze. The hubs picked up this pocket pain pro and not only did it nurse me back to health after two uses, but I now have the mac daddy and it is LIFE-CHANGING, I tell ya!
INVEST: They're not expensive at all, and you can grab the pocket one from Target {$40}, or the mac daddy on Omron's website {currently on sale for $99!!}
TIU App
If you know me, or follow me on Insta, you know I'm a die-hard Tone It Up girl. For those who don't know, TIU is a workout phenomenon by Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn — aka K&K. They have free workouts on their website, host a handful of Insta-Live workouts each week from one of their TIU-trainers, anddd they have an app with hundreds {thousands??} of workouts. So many reasons I love TIU and their app, but my top reasons would be: K&K are in their late 30s and look BOMB so it's super motivational; they're hilar and real and FUN; their workouts are hard, no matter how many times you do them; and there's a workout for every body, mood, timeframe, or day.
YOU NEED IT: Tone It Up App; $99/year {you can do a 7-day free trial to check it out first! Follow my TIU highlights on Insta for my fav ones to try on demand}
Gear That Says Something
And not just says something, but supports something. I don't care what you support, but of all times, in all of history, you should be supporting something this year. It's just a bonus if the something you support comes with some cool gear so you can further the message. I adore @kbousq and all that she stands for {and teaches about social media}, so when she came out with this sweatshirt that gave 100% of proceeds to the Black Visions Collective, I had to have it. It's a conversation starter and stance-maker that I'm proud to rock {plus, it's stupid cozy}.
SPEAK LOUDER: This crewneck is currently sold out, but she restocks periodically {$36}! While you're there, peruse a little, because her other stuff is sooo cute, and also has a message.
Blendtec Blender
Besides SoulCycle, one of the things I missed the most when I stopped going into the office was my weekly South Block fix. If you've never had a South Block acai bowl you are missing out on so many taste buds. My Blendtec is the only saving grace to try and recreate my SB fav {warrior bowl, add coconut on top, almond butter on the side, get in my bellayyyy}.
BLEND IT: Blendtec with bonus smoothie-sized blender {$420} - This price is insane, I know. The hubs found it major on sale at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, so look around for sales! But hands down well worth the investment - I've killed many a blenders before and this one has held strong.
Oh So Retro Life Planner
You know people always say that when they decide to be a SAHM they wonder how they had so much time before? That's kind of how I feel about quarantine — like, how does being forced to stay at home now feel so much busier and overwhelming?! Here we are, quarantine-deep, and I couldn't find my head most days without my Erin Condren Life Planner. I scoured the earth for the perfecttt planner {I'm kind of a planner snob} and love that you can tailor it however you need {daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, 18-months, or all of the above}, and customize and personalize the look. I feel like every mom of a school-aged kid with 87 Zooms a week needs this planner.
PLAN IT: I have the Oh So Retro Life Planner and it's my life line; $41 {currently on sale!}
TanLuxe
Look, I don't know about you, but life is just better when you're tan. Even a slight glow makes me happier. Those indoor vitamin D lights {or whatever they are} sound great, but give me a little faux-glow and I feel like an insta-human. I'm buying stock in this stuff as we enter colder seasons and naturally become pasty, because quarantine + paleness does not = happiness in my book. This is my newest fav tan stuff — you add drops right into your regular lotion so there's no need to apply 16 different skincare products before bed #bless. No streaks, no smells, no weird fade, just pure golden glisten. I've had my bottle for 5ish months and it's not even halfway gone.
BE GOLDEN: I have the body one, but also use it in my face lo {$53}. There's a specific face one, too, if you fancy {$48}.
ALL The Crafts
If you've made it through quarantine without tie-dying, planting, or chalking something... what have you been doing with your time?! You've had to have run out of Netflix by now. I jumped on the tie-dye wagon pretty early, and that was just my gateway craft. Then I ended up with acrylic markers for coloring rocks #kidfriendly; fabric markers for turning my flares into a whole 90s vibe; all the scrapbook paper and mags for a vision board; glue guns for making my own masks #mamadontsew; and my latest: beads for mask lanyards! Now, I've yet to crack open the Cricut box, but that's my ultimate quarantine goal. Whatever you fancy, hit up Walmart, Michaels, or JoAnn fabrics and buy a craft — it's seriously therapeutic.
GET CRAFTY: A few of my favs: Tulip one-step tie-dye kit {$29.99}; Bead variety box for mask lanyards {$19.99}; Fabric markers {$12.99}
Stationary Bike
I find that term to be sooo boringgg, because to me, this cycle bike is more than just a stationary workout machine — it has literally been my therapist. Well, the bike is kind of like the couch — my actual therapist has been @bombchelledc. When SoulCycle closed, my soul went off to cry in a quarantine-corner — so when Michelle started doing cycle-guided workouts {and Zoom HIITs}, I came back to life. I'm not even kidding you that one day when I look back on quarantine, I'll wonder how we got through it and then I'll think of these rides and know — that's how.
RIDE IT OUT: First, buy the bike {$350}, then follow @bombchelledc, subscribe to her newsletter, and get free cycle workouts, HIITs, recipes, and mantra-reminders in your inbox weekly.
MASKS, DUH
Hi, did you think I could make a quarantine essentials list without masks!? What would be quarantine even without masks? Probably just regular life. We know dang well if I have to wear a mask while doing hair {and shopping, and hanging, and all the things} it's going to have to be cute, comfy, and breathable. I've tried my fair share and these two are my favs — one found on Etsy, and the other is shockingly... Hanes?! Yea, I was just as mind-blown, but they fit and feel the best.
MASK UP: My fav set from Etsy is a tie-dye set #shocker {$19.99 3-pack}; Hanes 100% cotton 5-pack masks at Walmart {$7.50}
Hang in there, guys, wear your mask, wash your hands, drink your tiny wine, and we'll all get through this together.
