4.6.20

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Friends, 

Hope you’re welcoming the start of a new week with a positive outlook. Each day that goes by is one day closer to the finish line, so to speak. But lately it can feel like the finish line keeps getting purhsed further from us – as if we’re running a never-ending marathon we didn’t sign up for. To make the sprints feel more like walks in the park, I try and occupy my day and mind with tasks and happy distractions.


Some days are harder than others, and when I’ve ventured too deep into a scary, stressful and unsettling mental rabbit hole, I find it helpful to rely on a play by play. Instead of feeling lost and overwhelmed and unsure of what to do with myself (ever catch yourself staring blankly for minutes on end in a panicky daydream or is that just moi?) – I just follow the script. If you too get endorphins from crossing an action item off a list, then perhaps some of these happy distractions will speak to you in some way. It’s my hope in sharing this that they do. 


So in no particular order (and purposely leaving out the time dedicated to jobs and children, since those tasks are bespoke), here are 20 things to do to keep the quarantine blues away:   

  1. Take a long walk around your neighborhood while you listen to an audiobook. I’m currently on The Dutch House and I can’t tell whether I love the story or the fact that Tom Hanks is reading it to me more.  

  2. Try out a recipe – this one, this one & this one have been on heavy rotation in my house. Send the recipes you like most to your friends and family. Plan a day when you make the same dish and share it over Facetime for an unbiased, virtual cooking competition based on trust.

  3. Work on (another) puzzle.

  4. Clean out and organize the photos on your phone. Send photos to be printed on Mpix and frame them or make a photo album using Artifact Uprising. 

  5. Flip through a coffee table book (when do you ever have time for that?), take photos of what make you happy and share on your Instagram story (it may make those who see it happy, too).  

  6. Make Easter treats like these for your friends that live close by. Pack them up pretty and do a distant drive-by salutation and delivery over the weekend.  

  7. Bust out your stationary and send some surprise snail mail to those you miss most.  

  8. Clean out your closet – organize clothes by color, send stuff you want to sell to The Real Real or Dora Maar, donate the rest. Check out Thrift & Tell’s Closet Edit Tips if you need help getting started. 

  9. Do a virtual workout class – I just started Sculpt Society and am really into it.  

  10. If the day allows, grab a blanket and go outside. Bring a snack, watch the clouds, play some music. I’m feeling this playlist put together by the folks at Zimmermann.

  11. Make friendship bracelets and mail them to your friends and nieces.

  12. Color yourself happy – Miron Crosby and Karen Mabon are having fun coloring competitions at the moment and Pauline de Roussy de Sales, one of my favorite illustrators, just released these coloring pages for Collyer’s Mansion. 

  13. Make a fancy cocktail – here’s a good one. Play around with the recipe and make it your own so you can impress friends at your first post-quarantine party.

  14. Take time to set your table – pair and rearrange linens & dishes to make dinnertime great again. Read this article and be inspired. If you’re feeling it, go on an Etsy treasure hunt for fun tableware like this set of glasses and these vintage candlesticks. 

  15. Pop in a gummy or put on a patch, light a candle, take a long & hot shower/bath, put on a robe, allow yourself to decompress.

  16. Start a backgammon competition with your roommate. Keep score and whoever wins has to give the other a trophy (i.e., a gift) post-quarantine.

  17. Change into PJs, put on a mask.  

  18. Facetime friends & family – face to face contact has magical healing powers, people.

  19. Watch a good movie – my friend Molly Moorkamp made a list of 85 “stylish, inspirational or comforting” movies, if you need some ideas.

  20. Listen to this song (play it, Sam) and if you must, allow yourself to cry (we all need a release) – but above all, remember the fundamentals: it's still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die - the world will always welcome lovers, as time goes by.

I don’t need to tell you that what works for me may not work for you – you know that already. But I do need to tell you that I want to be sensitive to those who might see this list as rubbish – either because they’re glued to a work-from-home desk, trying to survive yet another day of homeschooling, or simply don’t have the time/space/desire to do any of the above. That’s more than okay – we’re all doing whatever works to adjust to this new normal.

Please feel free to forward to the list-lovers in your life. Thanks for allowing me to continue taking up some space in your Monday airwaves – preparing these Notes for you brings me much joy and is my favorite to-do list item to cross off.

xx Natalie

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3.23.20

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Friends,
I’m so grateful for your positive reaction to last week’s Note - I’ll continue taking up some space in your Monday inbox as long as you’ll have me. 

Thank you for sharing your favorite small businesses with me. Last week presented many lessons - one of these was learning about new brands and products sold by companies that are really feeling the impact of this crazy time. I'm happy to report that over half of the products (27 total!) in this Note are sold by small businesses! 

One more thing: I’ve started taking long walks around the neighborhood every morning with my husband, Jamey and son, Whit. Yesterday, as we were on our familiar stroll, we stopped at an intersection that presented the choice of turning left to head home or going straight and continuing the walk. I turned to Jamey and asked, “should we keep going?” and he aptly replied, “sure - what else would we do?” 

While he meant it as a quip on our (lack of a) Sunday to-do list, his response stuck with me and his words came to mind as I built out today’s Note. Let’s keep going- not just because it’s the obvious choice (what else would we do?), but because it’s the powerful and exciting one. Let’s continue finding ways to be together whilst apart  - whether through emails, messages, video calls, stories or what have you. I’m choosing to keep on keeping on - and I hope this Note encourages you to do the same, as your feedback has done for me. 

Sending you a virtual cheers and hug from afar - be well! 

Natalie

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3.16.20

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All,

I hope this Note finds you healthy and well. I debated the propriety of sending you an email today - I recognize and feel the uncertainty and anxiety of this unsettling time. Frankly, it’s hard to know what the right thing to do is in this moment. 

Based on your feedback, I created this Note with the intention and hope that it will be a welcome distraction - an uplifting message in a sea of updates. I purposely send Notes at the start of the week because Mondays can be a buzzkill - a day you dread checking your inbox. As we all start this week of unknowns together, my only wish is to remain being a positive message (or a gateway to some retail therapy, should you want it). 

While I always strive to incorporate products from smaller retailers and lesser-known brands, today’s Note admittedly is not comprised entirely of products from small businesses. Recognizing the fortunate position I’m in that allows me to connect you with retailers, it’s a goal of mine to support those that might be hurt the most throughout the next few weeks. To that end, I welcome and appreciate your input on which small businesses you think I should know about. 

Sending you happiness always, 

Natalie