Helllooooo! This is week 5 for us sheltering in place, and I know I am one of the lucky ones: I’ve been able to work from home, and stay out of society, and as of right now, I don’t have any symptoms.
I know a lot of us who have not been effected by this virus have thought we’d: learn something new, try something new, get a ton done, work out more, talk to friends more… and I can tell ya, I have done almost none of it.
I say almost, because I did clean all my closets (if you have been a reader for awhile, you know downsizing is my favorite thing to do ever) and took an entire carload of items over to Goodwill. Not much makes me happier than having a minimal, organized space to work and live in.
What I have not done is: eat healthier, lose weight, stop drinking, work out everyday, or learn something new.
And hey, that’s OK.
I also didn’t pick back up on this regular recipe blog, which I am definitely bummed about, and I didn’t pick back up on my YouTube senior yoga teachings, which I’m also bummed about. I’m learning to not be so hard on myself.
But what I did do is something pretty big, and something I want to share with you today – especially you who have not been physically effected by this virus.
I have spent a lot of time thinking over this question:
What are the things that I do not want to add back into my life once this shelter in place lifts?
The items that have come to mind have been a little shocking to me, some of which I never thought would come up. They are:
- Busyness
You know what I mean – running late, forgetting important things, feeling scattered – all of which comes from that overall feeling of “I’m so busy”. - Meetings
Oh my gosh – I get that meetings will never fully go away, but come on, how many hours are truly wasted each week discussing something instead of doing something? - Long and often hangs
I am an introvert. To the fullest extent. Give me a book, a cup of tea, and an afternoon, and I am my happiest self. Endless, long, drawn out conversations make me tired, grouchy, and antsy. I need time alone. Lots and lots of it. - Offices
Last year, our company more than doubled in size, and with it, we got a team of full-timers and a huge ass office space. And I got more and more tired, more and more overwhelmed, more and more busy. Refer back to #’s 1, 2 and 3: I need my alone time. The offices gotta go, and so, they did. I am welcoming back my work from home life with wide, open, thrilled arms. - Yoga teaching
Whoa, what? All that work, all those years of trainings? Yep, I don’t want to do it too much anymore. I quit the new studio I just joined in January, and am contemplating how often I want to continue teaching the one-off classes. I love it – and, it takes a whole lot outta me.
So, what about you? What do you want to keep out of your life after the shelter is lifted? And on the same note, what are some things that you want to add back into your life once you are able to return to some form of society?
During my old work life, I would come home every Friday night and bake something. It was my way of coming up with something creative, trying a new recipe from a chef I love, and getting my head out of my work and into my home. I lost that this year, and last year, and I’m getting back into it now – except every Friday has turned into every 2-3 days. Essentially, whenever we eat up current treat, I bake a new one.
This one is one I’m proud of: my quarantine cookies. You can probably use maple syrup instead of agave, and you can probably omit the coconut and use a different nut than a pecan. Try just using what you have in the house. The ingredients I added just happen to be ingredients I always have on hand.
I hope you enjoy.
With love,
Jen
Quarantine Cookies: Vegan + Chocolate Chip
Ingredients
- 1 c. rolled oats
- 1/2 c. pecans, sliced
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 1/2 c. shredded coconut
- 1/2 c. almond butter
- 1/4 c. agave syrup
- 1/4 c. dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3 tbsp. coconut oil melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, and stir well. I used a spoon to stir and combine; you could definitely use your fingers.
- Fill a small bowl up with water, and set it to the side. Dip your fingers into the water, and then using your slightly damp fingers, form the dough into 1" balls.
- Place the balls on the baking sheets, and lightly tap down with your hands.
- Bake for 12 minutes, and take a look at the cookies. They'll be slightly golden brown. If not, keep them in there another minute. Or like me, keep them in for 2 more minutes and allow the bottoms to slightly burn: that burnt caramel taste is my fave in cookies.
- Cool, and enjoy.