Quarantine Vibes
O.K. so unfortunately Coronavirus and the Social Distancing/Quarantine has been a major topic of discussion lately. We both work in healthcare, so we can say, WE GET IT! Stay home. Wash ya hands. Here are some things we have come up with to help make the quarantine life more bearable.
Workout
HIIT Workouts Down Dog app is allowing free download and use till April! This app customizes workouts based on info you enter (i.e., length of workout, exercise level, etc.). They have also extended free membership for healthcare workers until June.
Bulldog Yoga is offering 30 free days of online streaming. If you’re into yoga, this is the one for you. We’ve attended a few of their live classes in Boulder, and we highly enjoyed them. Have yet to check out the online version, but, love that they’re offering a month free.
Duality Fit is providing free online live workouts and posting on demand versions as well via IG @dualityfit. Morgan goes to this gym in Denver and LOVES it. You only need a yoga mat for most workouts, but if you have exercise bands and weights, even better!
Food
We’ve recently posted a list of places in Boulder still providing takeout and pick up orders. For that post, click here. We also will link some of our friends lists for Denver specific info! Try New Denizen and Julie Likes Food.
Thinking about trying a meal subscription service? Now may be the perfect time. We have been using Every Plate, but there are so many good options. Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, etc. It’s a great option when trying to avoid the grocery store and for fun new meals to look forward to!
Try a new recipe at home! Never baked a cake? Now’s your chance! Brit + Co is offering a free cake decorating class! We also love to support local farmers and producers when cooking from home, and BLDRfly put together this great list of local farm CSA programs. If you’re looking to make a killer brunch, here is a downloadable cookbook from Syrup! We’d love if you posted your recipe ideas in the comments below.
Activities
Trails less traveled. We haven’t gotten a chance to go explore too much lately, but we did check out Rabbit Mountain in Longmont recently. It was a great easy/moderate trail with very few people. Gross Reservoir is not typically too crowded either. There are also different parks where you can maintain a safe distance from others, like Cherry Creek State Park & the Boulder Reservoir (open for walking, running, & biking but no water crafts).
Have a car picnic. The “shelter in place” order discourages regular picnics, but the car is perfectly safe with your quarantine partner(s)! There are so many beautiful pull offs in the foothills. Pack a cheese plate, park your car, open the tailgate, and enjoy the view!
Play a virtual game. There’s a new free app called House Party where you can play Heads Up, Pictionary, trivia, and a game similar to Apples to Apples while on FaceTime with your crew. We had such a blast playing with our friends! You can also use it simply as a video chat.
Virtual calls with friends & family. You can use Zoom for a virtual happy hour or morning coffee. Reconnect with old high school & college friends you don’t get a chance to chat with very often!
Find a new hobby! Learning new things is great for the brain (trust us, we work with old folks!). Besides, all of those things we always say we want to do.. well, now we might actually have time for them. Learn a new language (the Duolingo app is free!) or take an online course (tons free from Ivy League schools online here), learn how to play an instrument so you can serenade your neighbors or quarantine partners, you get the gist.
Be your own bartender or barista. Take this opportunity to learn how to make your favorite drinks. It can help you feel like you’re still in your normal routine and be a huge money saver in the long-run. Pick up/have delivered your fav local roaster or spirits and get creative (Bona Coffee Rosters is delivering for free btw).
Pretend you’re a wine connoisseur with an in-home wine tasting. The Wine Folly is one of our favorite books on wine, and it walks you through the flavor profiles of each variety and all kinds of interesting info. Some local wineries are offering major discounts on their wines with pick up and delivery available. Check out Bigsby’s Folly in Denver.
Listen to podcasts. We love to listen while walking the dogs or driving to the hospital! The Dating Game Killer (currently listening - the jury is still out), S Town, Up and Vanished, The Thing About Pam, Dr. Death, and Cold, just to name a few favorites. We’re big true crime fans, can ya tell?
Participate in an online book club, You can do curbside pick up for books at Barnes and Noble (they also have puzzles) and/or Audible is giving your first 3 books free for new members. Currently reading: Where the Crawdad’s Sing. Let us know your favorite books in the comments!
Start a blog - We didn’t think we could do it, but we did (technologically challenged, over here)! We use Squarespace, and it’s relatively simple. But there are tons of other platforms you can use. It takes a little time to get everything up and going, but you have tons of it rn!
Netflix & Chill. Re-watch your favorite series. Some of ours include: Handmaid’s Tale, Breaking Bad, West World, Bored to Death, Schitt’s Creek, Parks and Rec, and the Office. New things to Binge: Love is Blind, new season of the Ozarks, Hunters, & Tiger King. Watch Tidying Up with Marie Kondo if you want to be inspired to clean your entire house. Leave any other recommendations below!
Keep to your “normal” routine. A friend suggested this one, and it might be our favorite of them all. Do you typically workout in the am? Stream an online workout video every morning. Get dressed. Things like that are really important for mental health and will keep some normalcy within the madness.