Like most of you, all of my travel plans for 2020 have been gutted and rescheduled; but we still need to take time off. I have been mostly off work this week, and it has been fantastic. I was a bit apprehensive because it is only maybe the third time in the last five years that I took time off work without going anywhere. I considered checking into a local hotel for a free day and ultimately decided against it and spend time in this apartment I pay for (lol). I have scheduled things I would usually not have time to do to give me the vacation feel. 

My staycation itinerary includes at-home facials, home manicures/pedicures, and sleeping in, which is still waking up at 6 a.m. but not getting out of bed until 9 a.m. I enjoy cooking meals from scratch, so I have been doing that often and having a wine glass with my meals when I feel like it. I am going hiking (found several trails in my city and going for hikes has become my favorite thing), catching up on my Netflix list and reading list, and planning a socially distant picnic for labor day. It has been surprising and restful, and I have not had to spend a lot of money getting it.

Here is this week's offering - take as much as you need.

Our “King”; Our superhero, is gone, and we are not ok. Reading about the passing of Chadwick Boseman was one of the hardest things I have dealt with because he made our community proud; he reminded us of our worth; that we have always been great. He gave us more than we can ever put to words, and I am forever grateful.

Those show on my Netflix list that I finally got to watch - Her Mother's Killer (A Columbia Drama). It is so good; even Cosmo had this to say about it. If you don't mind subtitles, you should add this to your list.

This ode to NYC got me (I think we can all write something similar about our cities in light of COVID; As one who spent seven of the last 8 (pre-COVID summers) in NYC - I could relate to this words.

This mother's COVID ordeal while also caring for her newborn diagnosed with COVID was one of the most gut-wrenching things I have read about COVID. She shares some crucial points at the end of the piece, which is very valuable.

I will be making pies over the long weekend and looking forward to making pie crust for the first time in a while. I will be using this tried and true recipe by Joy The Baker.

Florence and Italy have been on my mind this week; seeing Florence stories from folks currently traveling through Italy has me daydreaming a lot.