March Reflections

Welcome to March Reflections – where I reflect on possibly the craziest month of all of our lives. Let’s get into it! 

So….my February Reflections post seems so long ago. Everything was so normal and that virus we have heard all about wasn’t even really on my radar. 

And now, here we are. 

North Carolina is on a government mandated official quarantine for the next 30 days. Ben and I have already been staying at home for the last 16 days. 

Not even sure what to say in this post – I just wanted to check in. Say hi. That you’re not alone and that your feelings (whatever they may be) are 100% valid. I go from feeling fine to feeling panicked and never wanting to leave my house. From normal to anxious in a span of 10 minutes. 

Since I do my blog full time, I am very thankful to still be able to work from home. Both of my husband’s small businesses are considered essential, so even though they have taken a hit, they are still open. 

During these unprecedented times, there have been a few things that I’ve been doing to try and retain a sense of normalcy and to keep myself sane as we are stuck at home. I wanted to share those with you! I also wanted to share a few pantry meals that I’ve been loving. 

A Few Things That Have Been Helping Me

Going for long walks

Boy has this helped me! I look forward to it everyday. I saw a funny meme that talked about how they now understand why dogs get so excited and want to bolt out the door when you open it to go for a walk! I understand!

I have loved seeing Spring blossoms bloom during our walks everyday. Spring in NC is gorgeous, and I’m thankful that everything is popping up at just the right time. I love breathing in the fresh air, moving my body and holding Ben’s hand.

Baking anything and everything

It should come as no surprise that I love to bake. I’ve found that during this time of stress and uncertainty, one thing that still proves certain is that when you combine melted butter, flour, sugar, baking soda and chocolate chips, you will get a warm and delicious chocolate chip cookie. 

It will melt in your mouth and ease your soul. You’re able to put your focus on making sure the recipe is perfect, you get to taste the dough, and of course, the finished product. Highly recommend. 

Reading a book or watching TV! 

For me, doing one of these two things have been crucial in getting my mind off of everything. I’ve been reading a lot of 1) The Bible (NLT) and 2) Harry Potter. I’m re-reading the Harry Potter series and it’s been so fun. 

I’ve also been watching TV with Ben at night after dinner. We of course binged Tiger King on Netflix like everyone else in the world and WOW. Talk about a show that will get your mind off of things! That was insane. It’s like, I recommend it but also…be warned that it’s wild. 

Both of these things have helped put my mind in a completely different place, whether it be in the Great Hall at Hogwarts or in Oklahoma at a Tiger Sanctuary. Ha! 

Doing Yoga 

I have loved doing yoga during this time as well. I love that it’s time that I take for MYSELF every single day. Well, not everyday. Like, 4 days a week. Let’s be honest here, ha! 

I am still doing Yoga with Adriene – I love her so much and she proves to be a calming presence. I’ve been doing deep stretching, meditative practices and then some core yoga for abs! It gets my body moving in an intense yet respectful way. 

Facetiming/Skyping/Zoom Calling with Family and Friends 

Just because we are all stuck at home doesn’t mean that socializing is over forever. I’ve had probably 6-7 Zoom/Facetime calls with friends/family members at this point and they have all been so great. 

From Bible Studies to family get-togethers, it’s proved to be a great way to see faces that I love, talk about our feelings and catch up with each other. Highly recommend! 

Pantry Meals that I’ve Been Loving

Chickpea Curry 

This is a great way to use up some of those canned beans you might have!

It also uses coconut milk, which is a pantry staple for me. It’s spicy, creamy and delicious! 

Easy Black Bean Burgers 

We ate these every week pre-pandemic but we are still going strong!

These are another way to use up those beans…pair them with Baked Garlic Herb Fries and you’re all set! 

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread 

I’ve had a lot of ripe bananas lately so I’ve been making this amazing bread.

Great for dessert, a snack or breakfast! 

Spicy Fish Taco Bowls 

These have been a great way for me to use up some fish I had in my freezer.

They’re super versatile and delicious! 

Peanut Butter Protein Energy Bites 

These are perfect to have around when you get those 2 PM hunger vibes. They give you a burst of energy and are perfectly poppable!

Alright so. How are you guys doing? How are you feeling? I hope you’re all hanging in there. We are trying to. I think we’re all just doing the best we can. Please feel free to reach out to me if you need someone to talk to! I love y’all! XO – Haylie