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By Katie Bianco, Jess Feldman, Holly Gambrell, Michele Kettner and Jennifer Zeleski
Getting a leg up
Ever since I left the office and moved to 100% working from home, I admit I have yet to put on makeup even once. And I have been rotating the same two pairs of leggings and two pairs of jeans with alternating tops. Wear them, wash, repeat. The most embarrassing part? Both of the leggings I’ve been lounging in are maternity wear. My youngest just turned 2, so this is not a good look. While the moms among us will likely all say it’s easy to put yourself last (especially during a global crisis), this week, I’m going to practice a little self-care in the form of retail therapy. My much-hipper colleague put together this loungewear roundup and I plan to order a few new leggings and tops for my work-from-home wardrobe. I’m also going to order one of these dates in a box so my husband and I can have some one-on-one time once the kids go to bed. But I’ll probably draw the line at putting on makeup. -Katie Bianco, Editor
Stress eating
At the beginning of quarantine, it felt like everyone on social media was starting a health kick. Online workouts, meal prep with nutritious recipes, going on daily walks (So. Many. Walks.) … You get the point. I’m sure your Facebook feed has been the same. I’ll admit, at the beginning of all this I was (almost) the same way. Then I realized that I have maintained a nutritious diet for the entirety of my adulthood, which hasn’t been that affected by the quarantine, and I workout regularly, which I’m still doing now on top of all those extra walks. But I think it’s worth mentioning that if you’re indulging during this pandemic and not becoming your fittest self, that is a-OK too. Have a cookie. Eat that mac and cheese—we all need comfort food right now. When you’re going stir crazy and get a craving for dessert, head to these 18 ice cream shops offering curbside pickup that are also following CDC guidelines to keep you safe. True sweet spots! -Holly Gambrell, Digital Editor
So much (virtual) family time
Until recently, the only time I had ever heard my parents use the word “zoom” was when they described my energy as a child, or when someone was driving over 15 miles per hour faster than them on the highway. Now, between family FaceTimes, Skype sessions and Google Hangouts, Zoom has become a regular word in their repertoire, and it has made its rounds in our family as a new way to connect everyone together … all the time. Our conversations consist of a handful of family members, close and extended, with a glass of wine in hand, and almost always hedge around our communal uncertainty. But this week, I’m using these tips gathered by my colleague on how to make our virtual family times even more engaging. Maybe we’ll hop on the dressing-up trend or play a funny game, or maybe I’ll bring my own childlike “zoom” energy back and have them watch my very own virtual cooking show. First up, how to make a beginner sourdough bread loaf, from their youngest millennial. -Jennifer Zeleski, Editorial Assistant
A motion picture is worth 1,000 words
One of my favorite pastimes as a teenager was sitting down with my mom to watch A Cinderella Story, which we did almost every Sunday afternoon for about a year. I know that sounds crazy, but at a time where hanging out with Mom didn’t seem too appealing, that fictional relationship between Hillary Duff and Chad Michael Murray always seemed to give us something to talk about. Now in my 20s, living with my family again for the first time in years, film is still what we bond over (with more complex storylines, of course). In the past month, we’ve watched 15 movies, all of which explore alternate realities that appear to be much more appealing than this one we are currently living. If you too are seeking a cinematic escape, here are some must-watch flicks set right here in Northern Virginia. My personal favorite on the list? Ben Affleck’s Argo. -Jess Feldman, Editorial Assistant
Let’s go to the movies
One of my favorite weekend activities is heading to the movies. I love grabbing a buttery bag of popcorn, getting a seat in the back of the theater and catching the latest box office hit with friends and family. Before theaters closed across the country, my excitement was off the charts for the March openings of both A Quiet Place Part II and the live-action remake of Mulan. Now, I am filling my weekends with endless hours of streaming. I’m talking biopics, rom coms, Academy Award-nominated films (yes, I sat through the full three and a half hours of The Irishman), anything to fill the time. This week, I will be kicking off the weekend by cozying up on the couch to watch Lionsgate’s livestream of Dirty Dancing. Not only do I get to enjoy this classic Swayze flick for the 100th time, but I will get to support the Will Rogers Motion Pictures Pioneer Foundation, which provides financial assistance to furloughed theater employees through these unprecedented times. So, grab some microwave popcorn and the leftover Easter candy and sit down and have the time of your life. -Michele Kettner, Editorial Assistant
