April Monthly Scoop: Living in the Pandemic

Another month has come and gone, but unlike most months this past month has been filled with more pain, growth, and unknowns that many of us are not used to. Living in the pandemic has proven to be challenging. For those that feel like you have lost it all this past month, know you are not alone. Know that there is hope and know that even though this is easier said than to believe this too shall pass.

Title for Living in a the Pandemic April 2020 Monthly Scoop

That is why I am going to change monthly scoops up just a bit. You will still get all the behind the scene insight about the MCB as well as the Giberson clan, but I also want to give you some tips and tricks on what you can do (I am also doing these things because I am in this with you) to keep you busy and productive, yet enjoy this crazy time as much as you can.

My thoughts on this whole living in a pandemic situation are that it is something we cannot control. There is nothing we can do about it, and it is something that screams to me learn to let go and enjoy this crazy thing call life, at a reasonable distance from other humans of course.

Here are a few things that will keep you on your toes, keep you productive, and somewhat sane during this crazy time.

Things to do While Stuck at Home While Living in a Pandemic

Get your house organized. When we were all crazy busy with work and events we all used to complain that we never had the time to spring clean, to organize our house, to go through all our kid’s toys we continuously say they have too many of and let’s not forget that junk drawer and the “coat closet” that let’s face it has turned into the household catch all the stuff you didn’t want to deal with for the past few years.

Pick one project a day and get it done. When this COVID-19 clears you will be able to look back and say I did not just waste this time feeling worried and afraid I got things done.

Learn to apricate your kitchen. Being a home cook/food blogger, the top reason I hear why people don’t cook is that they believe they can’t or they view it as a chore. Learning to cook doesn’t have to cost a fortune, it doesn’t have to be frustrating or hard. Learn to apricate the kitchen, learn that cooking can be therapy and maybe even enjoyable.

So what a recipe you saw last week looked good and you wanted to try it but because it had broccoli in it and you can’t stand broccoli you said forget it. Recipes are just guides use one that you think you may like, add to it, subtract from it, create your own meal. Crank up the music dance around sing into the spoon, make a party of it, take that time to just let your creativity flow… you never know you may even love it!

Learn a new skill. Last month I was looking for a class to teach me some google ads skills and I found a bunch of classes for only $11 (on Udemy) and guess what they came with certificates of completion which will help me in the future! It doesn’t have to be work-related like mine it could just be a passion. You are stuck at home, learn something you have always wanted to learn you may never get this chance again.

Jane and I also found this app where we can learn new languages for free so we are also going to start that this month. It is called Duolingo so if you have wanted to learn a new language you should check it out and the cool thing is that it is set up more like playing games so it also fun.

Step out and get some fresh air. This one you have to plan it out because if you live in a city you can’t just step out whenever you want, but if you know the times when your neighborhood is quiet then take the time to step out and go for a walk. If you own a house with a backyard and it is a nice day, have a picnic in your backyard. A little bit of fresh air can really bring you a little bit of peace.

Just learn to enjoy this time. Yes, it is crazy, it is uncertain, and it is scary. I am not going to lie to you there have been times I have cried myself to sleep because I have felt so overwhelmed, however, just like everyday in this journey of motherhood I know I can’t get this time back.

No, I am not a perfect mom. If you talk to my sister in law she will tell you I am an extremely patient parent, however, I have yelled more this past week than I have this year as a whole. I realized the whining and the extra fighting is also brought on by fear. They are in this as deep as the adults. Our kids had as many questions to these situations as we do and they are handling it the best they can. Give them extra hugs and maybe an extra bedtime story. Enjoy the downtime with your family learn to appreciate it and the chaos that comes with living in the pandemic.

Some Final Thoughts About Living in a Pandemic

I know this time is hard and it is extremely challenging not to focus on all the what if’s and when’s and all the other questions, but fear and panic has never helped anyone. Doing that todo list that has grown over the past few years and staying busy and productive is a great use of your time. We all don’t want to look back on this time a view it as a waste we all want to look back on this time and say hey I am a step ahead now.

Grocery Shopping while Living in a the Pandemic

Now, let’s dig into some basic monthly scoop topics:

High Lights: Dispite the madness in the world the MCB is holding steady. I had to take an extra week off because… well… between my day job (which has always been a remote job), homeschooling, and life in general I got behind. Everything was written, but I still had to edit photos and recipes you know all the fine tuning stuff. But hey, no one is perfect right?

Changes:

Look Ahead: I had this year completely mapped out and the pandemic put a bit of a kink in my plans. Even though this site has always been based on family friendly recipes and lifestyle I am rearranging the recipes to show case some of new recipes that are both budget friendly and simple to help people through this crazy time.

Life Scrambles: Remote learning is going okay… it is really hard to motivate Ms. Jane some days and keep Eli from going crazy. All I can say is thank goodness for Easter and jelly bean season because there is nothing wrong with a little positive reinforcement and encouragement. (yes many of you call that bribery but I am just trying to stay sane here and no one is getting hurt so we are all good)

Reading: Oh how I miss reading a good book… but to be honest guys once I get a chance I am too tired to read anything other than the back of my eyelids.

Watching: Before the pandemic hit we promised the kids we would go to the movies, and when it hit… they were heartbroken. So when I heard that Amazon Prime and Fandango were going to stream newer movies I was filled with so much joy. So far we have watched:

Honestly guys at $4.99-5.99 per movie I spent less on all these combined than I would for us (a family of 4) to go to the theater and see 1 movie. Plus you rent it and you can rewatch it the next day because you have it digitally for 48 hours!

These were truly the perfect end of the week treat for the kiddos… and me.

Hooked on: Right now I am hooked on Microban 24 cleaner. I usually don’t use harsh cleaners with Jane’s repository issues, but considering the state of the germs I thought we needed some big guns. It protects surfaces for up to 24 hours which really helps put my mind at ease. No worries though I only picked up 1 bottle, and I am not sharing the link because a lot of places are sold out right now.

Excited for: Okay I am just going to say it COVID-19 to be over… a vaccine to be created and for this world to start healing. However, I do love seeing families together again and life slowing down a bit.

Future Goals: For the MCB to keep on running without any issues Hahaha (sorry I took an extra week off) and also to get back on track with work, life, and school.

I know these are challenging times we never thought we would be living in the pandemic ages but this is what we were all dealt. This is what we have to deal with.

What are some things you are doing to pass the time? I would love to know just leave your answer in the comments below.

Until Next Month