One year after major pandemic lockdowns and life is feeling a little mundane, even for this home-body introvert. Here’s what I have been up to lately in a collection of images I am about to delete from my phone…
Golden hour shining on my work-in-progress sofa refresh.
Cosy-ing up my home. Since we moved to this new apartment last October, I have been looking for a new couch that fits the space. Our old Ikea Kivik was the right size, just not comfortable enough for us for hours of state-mandated at home lounging. Plus the cover, while practical, was just too dark and rough on the skin. After way too much hemming and hawing, plus frustration of not being able to test sofa’s in person (for obvious reasons) I decided to do what I should have done in the first place. Make do and DIY my dream couch. This is a sneak peak of the transformation, the full reveal will likely be ready many months from now if I ever get up the stamina to break out my sewing machine again.
Top view of me juicing carrots in my favorite (also only) apron.
I finally purchased a juicer a few months ago. The whole blending and straining process got old really fast. Honestly, this was a worthy investment and I am barely even bothered by the number of parts that I have to assemble, disassemble and wash. 2019 Gina may have said something like “who has time for all that,” but post-2020 Gina, well thats a different story.
My first glass of self-juiced apple juice. Can you tell how proud I am from this photo? Also, there is a chocolate cake under the bowl in the background of this photo. Balance.
I have also been learning Arabic recently. It’s amazing to be learning something new and prove to myself that this 30-something year old brain can in fact learn brand new things as complex as a new language. It’s slow going but it feels like such a wonderful investment in myself these days.
Close-up of a recent puzzle I assembled.
I picked up puzzling sometime around the holidays late last year. It started with a single 1000 piece Wysocki puzzle and that was all it took for me to become obsessed. This activity brings me so much focus and peace (when I first typed this I spelled it “piece,” I told you, puzzle obsessed). It’s a perfect activity for my overly active mind because I am able to single-task letting, hours pass my in what feels like just minutes.
Me, sitting on the bed looking in the mirror on one of the warmest days of 2021 thus far. Wearing my Two Days Off Indya Tank and Safia Midi Skirt.
And lastly, I have been working a lot. Of course. Just over here keeping my business afloat while also trying to nurture the hundreds of ideas in my head without losing my sanity. Something I have been trying to remember when I feel the self-imposed pressure is that there is no playbook for entrepreneurship, and certainly not one for running one during a pandemic. So I can feel liberated because that means I can play by my own rules and do what feels right.