ducks goose

04/14/2020

All-Day Loungewear Will Be Hard to Shake After Quarantine

Crafty face masks isn’t the only trend coming out of COVID-19, everyday loungewear is filling up laundry baskets worldwide. The new norm has us going from waking up to starting the day with little deviation in our comfy basics. Zoom meetings don’t see the pajama bottoms beneath the screen. Dressing well is lost on infrequent essentials marketing trips with a covered face. Comfort directs style. Though, for those who are starting to yearn for the fun of fashion, we’ve been tweaking comfort clothes with a personal take.

Loungewear style is mainstream, even your most stylish blanket can be a dependable piece.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

04/08/2020

Simple + Healthy Recipes with Shared Ingredients to Put Off those Market Trips

During isolation we’ve been trying to make positives out of a challenge. More time outdoors, reading scripture, crafts and eating well over asking the refrigerator for help. But we’re starting to crack. That beloved series on Amazon is running out. The only popsicle stick you want to see is one with a mound of ice cream on it. Before reaching for another bag of chips take a socially-distant breath and consider your options. You could either eat and drink your way through quarantine or take a healthier approach, perhaps even pick up some new skills like preparing simple meals and using shared ingredients for a variety of dishes to learn the importance of rationing and unnecessary shopping trips.

Banish shambled thoughts when looking in the fridge and stock up on healthy options, making meals that satisfy.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

04/01/2020

The COVID-19 Generation – Why these Kids Will Excel

During COVID-19 isolation, I’ve spent the most time with my 9-year-old son since maternity leave. His outlook has brought levity to the hushed discussions about another market run due to expired milk. Today, he recounted the days when kids put thermometers under hot water and dumped leftovers in the toilet in an attempt to sneak in a sick day. The idea is as bewildering as their innovative use of last night’s dinner.

Learning from home in COVID-19 isolation: Kids may be wearing the same pajamas as yesterday but they are more self-sufficient than ever.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

03/24/2020

Quarantine During COVID-19: 22 Positives

Worldwide everyone is sharing a collective first. One of those “who-were-you-with-during-COVID-19-isolation” moments. We’ve had to be inventive with new forms of toilet paper and virtual socialization. There’s the need to adjust to e-learning, where I see my son during snack breaks (hourly) or when he snatches the dog from my lap to use as a prop in his Tic Tok videos, but we’re coping for the sake of good health and to not transgress into one of those families who will forever be impaired. But there are upsides to doing our part to prevent the spread, and in the end we are sharing a challenge that will strengthen our bond.

Social distancing outdoors, learning the benefits of isolation.

22 COVID-19 Benefits:

The family gets a glimpse inside your days and it doesn’t involve wearing workout clothes and indulgent beauty treatments.
You don’t have to do the grind, can sleep in a bit longer and stay up later.
When you do go back to the office, school or those places you once dreaded, you’ll have a more positive outlook to return. That office mate who once annoyed you? He may even get a hug.
Everyone is on time for dinner.
Refining important skills like cooking healthy meals, home maintenance, food storage and cutting hair.
Understanding the importance of rationing and using what you need.
Easier to let go of the insignificant things.
Appreciation of the outdoors.
More in tune with the change of the season.
Enjoying exercise.
Focused study time.
Books are the new Netflix (without undermining the importance of Netflix).
Supreme opportunity to find healthy outlets–philanthropic, spiritual.
Being creative with free entertainment like scavenger hunts and telling jokes.
Less traffic.
Aside from potential toilet paper hoarding, limiting our carbon imprint.
More quality time with animals.
Wearing no makeup and being appreciative of your natural look.
An uptick in leisure activities like puzzles.
Being comfortable with alone time.
Cleaning and organizing your home, storage areas and car.
Strengthens the bond with your neighbors and community.

Posted By jdemontravel

03/16/2020

COVID-19 Survival Guide: 22 Ways to Cope in a Crisis

When you encounter fellow shoppers taking pictures of empty shelves and jamming jumbo packs of paper towels in the trunk of their car, it effectively defines a panic. We are entering a time of uncertainty, becoming a global community who share the challenge of isolation and its imposition. From hardship comes strength, so I find it productive to focus on the outcome. We will come through this and have a character-building experience, hopefully virus-free. Though loved ones and friends may handle adversity in different ways, be open to their coping methods, find ways to handle the challenges, and stay positive.

Art transcends the spirit in times of stress.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

03/09/2020

Pinkies Up: 5 Reasons to Make Tea Part of Your Daily Ritual

During COVID-19 isolation, ducks goose will be increasing coverage of wellness stories for simple, effective ways to stay healthy. Be well!

Why Tea?

In times of hardship, start drinking–tea that is. Prince Harry reportedly mended his rift with the queen over a cup of tea and, for avid tea drinkers, this does not come as a surprise. The warm elixir is more than a bag of leaves that detonates its amber glow in hot water, it transports without any narcotic side effects. Tea has traversed centuries and cultures for breaking down problematic talks due to the ritual. So what exactly is in this mystical cup that can soothe relations and the soul? Its healthy antioxidant properties, found in the flavonoids if you like to stay on top of your potential Jeopardy facts, may help prevent the free radicals found in cancer and heart disease. During this time of the highly contagious Coronavirus, warm liquids are natural decongestants. Use immune-stimulating properties like turmeric, ginger, honey and lemon for an added boost.

Have a tea tray readily available to promote hosting guests.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

02/28/2020

Why a Wabi Sabi Home Is the Ultimate Retreat

We could all use some Wabi-Sabi treatment in the home. In case you’re wondering, Wabi-Sabi is not a condiment that will clear out your sinuses but a Japanese aesthetic that embraces imperfection. Think old crooked floor boards, artisanal pots that don’t fit into one another, nubby blankets with a story, wicker baskets that perform a variety of tasks and an assembly of vintage seltzer bottles.

Colors, decor and pieces with a story are the narrative behind this kitchen that has an ample dose of Wabi-Sabi.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

02/21/2020

Over a Messy Workspace? Simplify with these Clean Office Ideas

The best place for a filing cabinet is in the swop shop. Did we just feel a flutter of hats hit the air in a free-up-menial-tasks moment of liberation? With so many things to love about our computer’s folders, our favorite is that it supports a clean office. By being diligent with a paper-free work routine, you get shot-outs from designers and environmentalists alike, a partnership we’re always behind. Next, avoid the typical trappings that make an office look like a We Work space by designing with options that are stylish, clean and practical.

Clean yet unique, give your office style with personalized design treatment.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

02/14/2020

The Ultimate Guide to Smart Packing for Travel

It’s a showdown of loaded stares, that one-on-one with the flight attendant who has the power to refuse your carryon on a maximum-capacity flight. Gone are the days of steamer trunks and hat boxes that can transport a fashionable wardrobe, which makes today’s packing a Chinese puzzle of sorts. Air travel has reached the same level of anxiety as the DMV or waiting room at the dentist’s, which makes smart packing crucial for a stress-free trip that can save money. Ever have to pay the penalty for overweight luggage? Smart packing is simple if you edit to a few easy pieces that are versatile, well made and coordinate with one another.

Consider your flight needs and only pack those items that will be used, which also saves on the potential of losing things.

[Read more…]

Posted By jdemontravel

02/07/2020

Best Coffee Table Picks to Style for Valentine’s Day

What coffee? Whatever the genesis, coffee tables are an essential design element in a space. They’re also a platform to create an on-trend update without a major expense or decor treatment you can tweak as regularly as an eyeliner color. Color is the main influencer for this Valentine’s Day table, which is not as overt as Hallmark hearts.