Obviously, healthcare workers, poll workers, grocery store employees/other essential workers and delivery services (FedEx, UPS, USPS) win the award for the real MVP. This is more a fun, trivial list.
Shipt, Instacart, Uber Eats, TrussvilleToGo – Until the last month, we used Shipt (Target and Publix) and Instacart (Aldi) for all of our grocery needs. We had few instances where an item was missing, expired, not the right thing. Overall it was a wonderful service and I highly recommend. And then we have our local food delivery service and Uber Eats for all the restaurants around here. Some of our local places never did offer curbside, or have done away with it, so these services have been great for that.
Curbside – After about 8 months of using delivery services…those fees and tips add up and make the grocery bill ridiculously expensive. Most stores have mastered the curbside pick up option, and that is what we do now. I hope curbside is something that sticks around after the pandemic. I really love that other retail stores like Best Buy, Lowe’s and Michaels have been offering curbside as well. There is nothing I hate more than walking around Lowe’s, so to have them find the stuff for me and bring it to my car is priceless!
Coffee – I am exhausted all of the time now. Waking up early, working out, working my full day and having Zoe home with us 24/7 doesn’t give me any down time, or time to myself. Coffee runs deep in my blood and is the only thing that gets me through some days.
Streaming Services – I think we all appreciate having YouTube, Netflix, Prime, Disney+ and whatever else right now.
Skincare – Has anyone else really mastered their skincare this year? I have always had a skincare routine, but I never really focused on procuring products that would really work for me, and eliminating unnecessary steps. I did some research, changed a few things out back in April/May and never looked back. I think face masks, hair masks and other products have allowed us to feel lux and take care of our skin, and forget that the world around us is burning. At least for those 10-20 minutes.
Loungewear – Sweatshirts and leggings. My new uniform of life. Nothing more needs to be said here. I will say, I didn’t have a great collection of at home clothes before March. When I realized that we were going to be home for longer than 2 weeks, (LOLOLOLOLOL remember when we thought it was only 2 weeks?????) I started investing in some loungewear. I have found some fantastic new favorites, and I am sure you have too.
Outdoor Furniture and Activities – We moved in to this house just a few months before all this went down. Back in April we invested in some really nice outdoor furniture. I am so glad we did. We literally spent time on our back deck at some point every day for months. As well as corn hole, sprinklers, blow up pools, bikes, scooters, balls, outdoor playhouse, side walk chalk, wagons, soccer goals, etc. All of it has earned its keep in our garage because it has entertained us for more hours than I ever knew it would just this year alone.
Walks – I don’t know about you, but when it wasn’t as cold…I was taking daily walks. Walks in the morning alone after my workout, walks with Zoe throughout the day, a family walk in the evenings when Chris was done working. The outdoor fresh air and moving…it does things for my sanity and my soul. I haven’t been taking as many lately with the cold spell we have had come through here, and I definitely notice a difference in my mood. I have also loved Andrea’s Walk and Talk series on Instagram. I have never recorded a walk and talk myself, but I tune in to every single one of hers. Thank you for being a light, Andrea!
Books – Escaping to another land in a book outside of the pandemic has been invaluable. Shout out to Lindsay for her virtual book club, too. It is literally the only face to face adult only interaction I get outside of Chris and zoom meetings for work.
Memes – Because if you can’t laugh, you’ll cry.
Crafts and Baking – What else do we have to do on a rainy day? I have definitely invested more in crafting supplies this year. Between home schooling and just needing something to do on a rainy Saturday, it has been a great distraction! I have also tried so many new recipes this year! Remember when everyone was making banana bread and sourdough bread?? Now everyone is posting about hot chocolate bombs. They seem to labor intensive for me. Have you made them?
Christmas – This is the first year it has been acceptable to throw your tree up and start playing the holiday jams on November 1 without taking crap from everyone. Any year I believe you should do you and do whatever makes you happy and sparks joy. No one needs the negativity. But this year especially! The Christmas spirit is really helping me get through these last two months. Thanksgiving was hard not seeing family, and Christmas isn’t going to be looking much better given the rise in cases. At least Christmas movies, driving to see lights, playing elf on the shelf every night, baking cookies, shopping for gifts, etc is bringing some normalcy and joy!
What have been some of the MVPs for you in 2020??
10 Comments
Did you hear me shouting yes, yes and yes! So many things that I took for granted that have gotten me through this crazy roller coaster of a year! I am certainly proud of you for making the most of it! Have a wonderful weekend my sweet friend!
LOL remember when we thought 2 weeks? Wow. I do want to ask though – what are the rules where you are? B/c while school here is hybrid, 99% of people are back AT work, in the office, shits back to normal. Of course – our numbers are through the roof, and we are all still in masks. Our governor is an IDIOT. We should still be at least SOMEWHAT closed…
We have a mask mandate, rural counties are a lot less strict on following than they should be. Most schools are in session here and over a virtual component of some kind. That may be 100% virtual or half a week virtual with staggered in person classes to keep the number of students down. Most people are also back to work. We pulled my daughter from daycare, but the school she goes to is closed right now for the third time for a COVID positive teacher. Numbers are through the roof. Too many people acting like a pandemic isn’t real.
I love this list and can co-sign almost all. 🙂 Book club has been really wonderful for me – I need the interaction. I’m doing curbside now, too. Those fees were more than I spent commuting!
I do love all the curbside and delivery options. So nice. Books for sure. Memes. Oh goodness, yes. I really do need to just laugh about the craziness sometimes.
-Lauren
The drink whenever you want meme is sooo funny and so true. I love coffee and wine. They have helped me get through this thing. And getting deliveries and store pick-ups have been amazing. Plus some of my favorite restaurants have done the curbside pick up and it has been sooo nice. Have a wonderful weekend.
I love this so much! Delivery services have been a lifesaver and there are so many things that felt natural and common before that I definitely took for granted. We also purchased some good outdoor furniture and it was a huge blessing this spring/summer. I really enjoy picking up from some of our favorite restaurants and would continue even after this if they keep it up. It makes eating out with the boys less stressful lol. I hope you have a great weekend!
Memes have truly been a saving grace for me. On days I feel like I could just cry, they have made me laugh till my stomach hurt.
I love this so much!! I think Streaming services just win this year for me!! That and coffee like you said!
I remember thinking of all the things we could get done around the house having those “2 weeks” at home – ha! Never in my wildest dreams did I picture this. Although, I have enjoyed the ability for us both to be working from home. And YES to curbside pick up! I plan on continuing to use this option for groceries well after this pandemic sees itself out the door. It’s beautiful to add all our groceries to an online shopping cart, and pick up for free at a scheduled time instead of going into the store for an hour + each week. Game changer!