So yup still under quarantine. I am still trying to find some balance in all of this. New updates that as taken place relating to Covid-19 is that some parts of the United States have either opened or will reopen soon. I am no expert but I know for my family we are still mandated for quarantine so at home is where we shall stay. When the country does open up I will be waiting at minimal an additional 2 weeks before we are out and about. The reason is simple, my two older kids have asthma and I am not willing to allow them out until I can feel assured that things are better.
Mother’s Day and Birthday Plans
My plan is to continue my Toibration. Toibration is a 10 day celebration that I have been doing the last few days to celebrate myself. I have always found a way to celebrate the things that I love and although its looking like its going to be indoors the show must go one. With my birthday being on Mother’s Day I have requested breakfast in bed and to be able to not have to clean, cook, or lift a finger. I want to drink wine, and watch anything I want indoors without disruption. The reason is simple nothing says your day than being able to be by yourself. Won’t be any visitors regardless if we are off of quarantine or not. Read above on my reasons.
Week’s Mindset
This has been a really positive week as well as a hard working week. At the time of my typing I have already did three over an hour workouts. This is a welcome increase in energy. I think the weighted blanket is working to settle my sleep. I have to admit I am still going to be late at least 2 or more days a week but at least when I do my sleep is concentrated. I should have my weighted blanket in the next couple of days to go with the weighted eye mask. I need energy to manage all of the moving parts in my home. Emotionally I am still all over the place. Some moments I am fine and the other I am not. I have decreased the amount of news drastically. Not keeping up with every detail has been helping calm down my anxiety.
Kids and Anxiety
We reached out to my kids’ guidance counselor to find ways of supporting them during this time. As much as I want the to remember this time as fun I want to be sure that emotionally and mentally I can support questions in the right way withhold giving them more than they need. The news is affecting me so I wouldn’t want to do anything that would set them to go left. Counselor suggested in check in moments. Asking them how they are feeling separately and collectively. So far its been working and we haven’t noticed. She also gave advice according to what they have been working on when they were with her. I am hoping soon they will have sessions with her. We also find music to be helpful. We take dance breaks in the day or we watch shows geared towards positive messages that enforce the ideals that being at home is necessary, safe, and can be fun. When they have moments of stress we talk to them and don’t yell when they don’t agree with the sentiments we are attempting to express. They are respectful children and I want them to be able to tell me without me or my husband blowing up at them.
Working Out
My workouts in the beginning of this and really the whole time until this week wasn’t as strong. I was feeling some way about it until I had to remember that this is a pandemic. This isn’t energy decrease that happens from time to time. People are dying and when the energy returns it will. So far this has been the week it has. So I have been working out at night because unless I get up at like 7 am daily it won’t get done. So now workouts are apart of my night routine. I am multitasking by watching a show while I workout. This has given me almost 2 hours of work out time. It’s easier for me to do when I focus on movement and the show at hand. If you are like me in the beginning and finding out that the last thing on your mind is working out, its okay too. This notion that the house has to be clean at every second, balanced meals, and working out are great for those who can achieve it. For the rest of us who aren’t alien its okay for us to move as we need. Yes working out helps to combat that Covid-19 15 as “they” claim we will have, but its a pandemic nothing is normal right now.
Online Shopping
Yes for me shopping has increased. It has increased because I attempt to get the necessities to avoid the going into the stores. So if I can order shelf items or snacks I do so. We only go into the grocery stores for refridgator foods etc. It makes it easier. That and wine with Winc which you know you can save $22 off your first order and free shipping. Wine is important to me. I need to be able to keep a stash but I have always been the type to have a glass often.
Highlights
La Colombe did a national cold brew contest. The winner was gifted a years supply of coffee. As much as my family think I am crazy for knowing my national holidays, it paid off. I was the winner of a year’s worth of their amazing coffee. Anyone who has followed me in the past knows I caffeinate until I can wine. Everyone has their go tos and these are mine. I also won a Veet kit. My ladies know what that means. When the kit gets here, I will be doing an un-boxing and showing you my favorite products. We need Veet right now I plan on going from hairy Toi to smooth Toi in no time. Stay tuned for that content. I also since last weekend switched over from .com to a .org website. It looks almost identical but we got a new address. I love the move and the fact that I can control advertisements. 
Partnerships
I am also a SHE Media partner. That means I am partnered with the company that brings you Blogher, SHE Knows, and StyleCaster. I am really excited! So a lot of movement within the fact that a lot of these goals were on my 2020 vision board and thankfully I have been able to crush them before the 6 month mark. As more partnerships arise and they are on their way, look out for them. I also have a sweet partnership that has been established. I want to wait to see how we open the country opens up before I speak on it. However a clue, one of the Sweetest places on Earth. Toitime will be hitting the road and traveling as soon as we are all able to. 
VLOG
So take each day one at a time. When your mind isn’t overwhelmed with stress and anxiety do at least one thing in each area of improvement that you seek. Those small steps or even big steps will get you closer to the intended goal. You have to work your plan if you plan to make the plan work. I am more and more determined to look back at this as a small drop in the bucket. I am in the field looking for a Vlog camera so if you know of a good one, let me know but by the time the country opens up I will most definitely have to have one to fulfill my contractual obligations. For any of my VLOG please go to YouTube and see my videos that I have uploaded. I am working on making them better as I am in the early stages of this. This downtime I am using Adobe to help me create content and have this skill down as another level of greatness that Toitime is branching out to be. I will still be writing best believe me. Writing is my first love. You remember when I didn’t want to be on camera, everything that I have been doing has said no that won’t work. So as scary as it is I have to do it. I can’t be Toi of Toitime behind a laptop.
Stay Home
Thank you to all of you who are staying home and flattening the curve. Thank you to everyone on the front lines. I am grateful for those who are out here taking care of the sick. If you aren’t staying home to save yourselves and those around you, please consider doing yourself a favor. I hope you are safe and I pray safety for your loved ones. Remember to reach out to those you want to connect with. Also don’t feel obligated to stay online longer with others that you don’t want unless its work related. If you got 20 minutes and you can’t give 25, simply don’t. I would tell who you are communicating with that you only can give 20 minutes and move on. It doesn’t matter that we are home. Give your 20 minutes and move along. I spend a lot of time with companies on Zoom for Toitime and work that to be honest, I can’t always give more than my 20 and I don’t feel guilty about it. Have a great end of the week, I will be attending the Digital Blogher Parenting Conference on Friday (tomorrow, April 24th) and you know I will come back with the recap. I will also have Sunday Message and Monday Motivation for you as well. Stay safe!
