Favorites of Quarantine 2 months in.

While I will also have a favorite products of 2020, several of these will likely end up there as well, I feel like I need to cast very special attention to the items that helped me through the last 8 weeks of Quarantine.  Maybe I will do a favorite of Quarantine part 2,  but here's what I'm working with so far...

FOOD: As some of you know I have dietary restrictions---that I don't always follow because YUMMY FOOD, but Quarantine has been good. Meals are made from scratch or are one of these select items that I know I can eat without issue.

BREAKFAST BAR: Enjoy Life

Is an amazing company that is free from the major 8 allergens and then some (see label below) - Which means they are my happy food.  I have found that some of their products are dry or unpleasant for me, but these bars make my morning.  I buy a sampler box about once a month.  It comes with 30 bars in 3 flavors:  Chocolate-Chocolate chip (probably my least favorite of the 3 but still good just a little drier), Sunseed Crunch (if you like sunbutter you will love this bar), Caramel Apple (my favorite of the 3). The brand makes other flavors of bars, but this box is the most convenient and affordable way for me to get them.

PIZZA: I LOVE pizza, but when you put gluten and dairy together I tend to struggle, it's one OR the other. So I am head over heals for Udi's Sweet Potato Crust Pizzas Specifically the BBQ chicken option. It's spicy and little sweet because of the crust and FULL of protein which is an added bonus. We always have at least 1 in the freezer right now. 

Udi's BBQ chicken with Sweet potato crust

Ice Cream: I was okay when I gave up "real" ice cream because of all of the soy based options, however I now really struggle with soy, probably more than with dairy. SO, the difficult task of finding a dairy free soy free ice cream.  PS there are only like 4 options and Oatmilk isn't very good. 

Thankfully So Delicous makes a cashew based snickerdoodle ice cream.  Snickerdoodles are possibly my favorite cookie flavor so this is a win.  Even J admits it tastes good--but I'm not sharing. 

Caffeine: I don't drink coffee. I cannot drink coffee.  If I don't get caffeine daily I get a migraine, if I get a migraine, caffeine is one trick to fixing it. So I have starting drinking pop again. 12 oz a day (maybe a bit more if Rum is involved) and my soda of choice is Dr. Pepper.  In the last 2 weeks, I have also started to alternate a Dr. Pepper with a homemade English Breakfast Latte (almond milk of course).  It works well for me and I still get the caffeine I need this time without the carbonation and sugar, I don't have a milk frother stick, If quarantine drags on much longer I may invest, as thats thing I miss from Starbucks--Foam.

Adult Beverages: I don't drink beer any more, I suppose I could, I just haven't. I still enjoy cider- but only 3 in 8 weeks--Maybe my Tavour box will come eventually.  But in quarantine I have switched back to hard liquor. I will be the first to say that I am NOT making strong cocktails in quarantine, but it's nice to have a drink at the end of the day. - I'm clearly already home and not driving anywhere so I'm safe I'm fine please no badgering.-


ENTERTAINMENT:
Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon etc all are important during quarantine, because there is A LOT of time to chill.

Youtube: SORTEDfood.  
Recipes, funny videos, food blogs, 15 mins average episode length and they are doing stay at home videos too, which is fun.

Netflix:
NCIS the original only. Currently on Season 11- To be fair I started re-watching them in January. - Seriously slowed down after Tony left, it's just not the same dynamic, I can't "binge it" any more.
100 Humans: Great mini-series to learn about your own habits, and the people around you. Great conversation starter. Also Women are the better sex.

Hulu:
Was for Grey's Anatomy, but that season has ended. 

Amazon: At the start of quarantine J & I watched a lot more movies. We re-watched all of Hunger Games- it seemed appropriate, Ford vs. Ferrari and a few others. It's nice to have "Date night" even if you're just on the couch.

What am I listening to:
Well I made a whole blog post about it, so rather than re-write all of that here, you should go check it out there-->  Quarantine Music


SELF-CARE:
 Spa at home is a crucial component of Quarantine life. Here's what I've been doing.
 Elemis Enzyme Peel Once a week or Bi-weekly this has saved my skin. It leaves my skin smooth and it smells great.
Purlisse Polish Peel Once a week or alternating weeks with the enzyme peel. It's really quick (2 minutes) if I don't have time for a full mask and it smells great as well (watermelon)
Shaving Creme You'll find it in the Men's shaving aisle- it's $6 at Target and works wonders. It's not sticky the way many creams are. It does not lather, but goes on thick like frosting, leaves skin smooth no bumps or razor burn.
Lux Floss The joys are in the little things, like coconut dental floss.

Blue Light Glasses I had no idea I'd spend so much time on the computer when I got my new glasses, so I have invested in a pair of blue light prescription glasses from Eyebuydirect.com They were very affordable. I have another backup pair from them as well that I equally love and wear often.

Lip Gloss/ Chap stick- Sugar by Fresh has my favorite lip products ever. I love their lip pots but the stick is just so much easier to re-apply throughout the day. It leaves my lips feeling AMAZING- I suffer from super dry cracked lips normally. But this stuff saves every day.  While I have been having a lot of fun with make up during work time, my lips need to recover when I'm not in screen time mode, and this is what does it.