Is Quarantine & Lockdown Making You Crazy?

Everyday can seem monotonous + like groundhog day right now, especially if you are living in a colder climate + pretty much stuck indoors. I try to remind myself, the sun will be shining again soon + the snow will be melting away.

Until then, I've put together some helpful tips that I have been using as I try to stay sane during these uncertain times. I hope you enjoy these helpful tips. I'd love it if you would share what you have been doing to stay sane as well! Ok, let's dive into it! Check out these tips + let me know whatcha' think......

Rearrange!

Being in the same environment day in, day out is draining. Try rearranging your living spaces to create fresh space. Everyone I know is doing this + everyone I follow on Instagram is doing it too + honestly, it's a fun creative outlet. Instead of shopping, you get to discover stuff you already have in a new light or switch out things from other rooms. The possibilities are endless, really! Have fun with it...nothing is set in stone!

Declutter!

I'm sure many of you have seen The Home Edit series or Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. You might even have their books. If you have not, I highly recommend both to get you inspired!

A cluttered space makes for a cluttered mind. If you are a pack rat + messy, just pick one thing per day if it seems too overwhelming + work yourself up from there. Pick a drawer one day, then another drawer or cabinet the next, or if you are like me, do all the drawers! Move to your closets another day, then your children(s) toy room, kitchen pantry, fridge etc. It's a great time to put together items for the less fortunate + our homeless communities. Find out what organization in your area needs items the most + donate items there.

Go through your important papers and make sure you don't have extra things you don't need. Perhaps, you the next step you can do is create a binder for ONLY important papers. After, putting them together, be sure to purchase a fireproof document bag for these important papers.

Another thing I have been doing slowly but surely, has been organizing and uploading ALL our family photos. God forbid, something happened to our house where the pictures were in danger, I wanted to make sure that I have all of our photos uploaded online.

I keep the photos on a private family website that I created via Shutterfly + I also uploaded most of the photos to a private Facebook. If something ever happens to those, then don't worry, my OCD already took care of that + I made other multiple back ups to storage the photos. It was fun to put all these photos in some sort of chronological order + also gift some of the extra copies to family. Now, our photos have a easy to find system for when we want to make a card or switch out a frame or just pull them out + relive all the wonderful memories together!

Give Yourself Some Credit!

It's normal to feel like we're just existing right now, but give yourself some credit. I'm serious. That is an achievement in itself! Truly. At the beginning of quarantine, I honestly didn't get out of bed some days. Some of it was from insomnia + debilitating anxiety + some days, I got in a real deep depression that made me feel frozen in place. Be gentle with yourself + also, seek help if you are feeling like it is getting worse. I will talk more about mental health in upcoming posts, so I do hope you stay tuned for those posts. Just please hear me when I say, give yourself credit. You are doing the best you can given these circumstances.

Find the silver lining, if you are with family, pick movie nights, pick a recipe to cook together or take turns, take time for yourself with a bubble bath or hot shower. Read a book that you've been putting off or listen to a funny, upbeat podcast. I will have an upcoming post with my favorite podcasts! Or write. Write like you've never written before + get it all out. It's so therapeutic to write. Once you get going, I guarantee you won't wanna stop! I have an Erin Condren Life Planner™ which was gifted to me by my parents as a birthday present this past July...get yours HERE.

Routine!

Question if your routine is working for you right now, do you have one? If not, try + create a routine that involves getting outside + do things you enjoy. I have to say, my Dad is really the best when it comes to routine. He has been working out every day doing his favorite YouTube workouts like Bowflex with Tom Holland + Bodyfit by Amy. I commend him so much, because he does them religiously + he also just wrote a post we are going to share on Tuesday where my Dad wrote about his 50 pound weight loss + health journey. I know you will be inspired by his story + I can't wait to share.

There are also so many wonderful tutorials on YouTube as well to learn something new. Key in anything you have an interest in and viola! You now have a new hobby to dive into + learn about more + more each day. Do you need a routine to help your mind + slowing down? There are also wonderful video meditations you can do to help you relax + quiet your mind. There are ones that are short + there are ones that go on for hours if you have trouble getting to sleep. There is also something called a sound bath. Look it up on YouTube + let me know what you think after you have tried it out.

One of the last tips I want to share with you (I'm sure I will have others in future posts), is the one below + I think is the most important + achievable.

Daily Well Being Check In...

I have a list of 5 things that I consider an important part of daily self care. I will do a daily well being check-in to see where I am at in the day and enjoy those 5 things. They include:

• 72 ounces of water

• 30 minute walk

• 15 minute workout

• 10 minute meditation

• 10 minute journaling

Please let me know if this post helped you

+ let me know some of your tips on staying sane during these times.

Drop me a few lines in the comments below.... I look forward to hearing from you!

One last thing, here is a video called "Andra Tutto Bene" which is Italian for, "Everything Will Be Fine" which I thought of when I saw the photo above of the two little girls holding signs out of their window.

Non-Toxic HAIR Care Products

It's important to be selective with what you put in your hair to keep it healthy. The brands & products below have been in my current rotation for the past couple months and years.

There are a variety of unisex products that can be used for various hair textures. These products will nourish and condition your hair while smoothing flyaways to reduce frizz.

I've been drawn to oils for so many reasons, but to support healthy hair was on top of my list. With that said, I'm excited to share more about the brand, dae, whose Prickly Pear Hair Oil I use religiously!

Since using these clean, non-toxic brands and products, my hair has never been smoother or healthier. I also majorly contribute my plant based focused lifestyle and good gut health to good hair.

But, if you are not plant based, the following foods are great for healthy hair and hair growth: eggs, berries, spinach, fatty fish ( salmon, herring, mackerel ) spinach, avocados, almonds, sunflower seeds, sweet yellow peppers, oysters, shrimp, black beans & soybeans.

I usually wash my hair every 2-3 days for proper regulation of natural hair oils. Washing your hair less often will also help regain your hair's natural body & luster. I've included 2 of my favorite shampoo and conditioners below.

I love Ursa Major & I've recently started using Act+Acre for the past couple months & I've really been loving that brand as well. Act+Acre also makes an amazing Cold Pressed Scalp Detox which I talk about more below and HIGHLY recommend!

And without further adieu, here are the brands & products below that have been in my rotation:

dae

Prickly Pear Hair Oil

Infused with the sweet aroma of a blossoming prickly pear cactus, this hair oil is a multi purpose miracle worker! I love to use it as a super-smooth finish on my dry hair, breakage remedy on my damp hair, or as an overnight hydration treatment. Then go one step further & employ its desert magic to transform dry patches into moisturized skin.

dae's Prickly Pear Hair Oil only contains natural colors & should be stored out of direct sunlight to avoid fading. Another reason why I love & support dae is because:

For every dae product purchased, they donate 15.8 gallons of water to charity: water a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean water to developing countries.

While access to this basic need may seem like a given, 785 million people live without it. charity:water works with local experts & community members to find the most sustainable solution to delivering safe drinking water, in turn helping to improve each population’s overall health & economy. To purchase dae's Prickly Pear Hair Oil, click here.

OUAI

Rose Hair & Body Oil

This protective hair oil & hydrating moisturizer that doubles as a perfume does it all!

A fusion of rose hip oil, shea oil & absinthium oil restores moisture, adds a dewy glow, calms frizz & leaves you smelling like OUAI's velvety-rich rose fragrance Melrose Place Eau de Parfum.

To give you a bit of an idea of the scent, the Melrose Place Eau de Parfum is scented with rose, bergamot,

lychee, cedarwood (helps with hair strength) & white musk. To purchase, click here.

Ursa Major

"Go Easy" Shampoo & Conditioner

I'm not the only one in love with Ursa Major's "Go Easy" Shampoo & Conditioner. The ZOE Report called it "a total groundbreaker" & I couldn't agree more!

This sulfate-free shampoo & conditioner thoroughly cleans and conditions your hair without stripping it of its natural oils & helps promote a healthy scalp.

The shampoo is made with balsam & macadamia and the conditioner is made with jojoba & sandalwood. It's unisex & is formulated for all hair types. To purchase, click here.

Act+Acre

"The Essentials"

Act+Acre's Cold Pressed Scalp Detox has entirely improved my scalp health, which in turn has strengthened my hair follicles.

"The Essentials"

(Hair Repair Set for Oily, Dry or Damaged Hair)

includes the following 3 products:

Cold Pressed Scalp Detox,

Cold Pressed Hair Cleanse &

Cold Pressed Hair Conditioner.

To purchase, click here.

Me

(hair by the amazing, Reggie Alonso)

Leave me a message in the comments below & let me know what

non-toxic products & brands that you've been loving!

GREEK Goddess Bulgur BOWL

This Greek Goddess Bulgur Bowl with roasted chickpeas, harissa hummus + cucumber feta salad is one of my absolute favorite bowls to make. Full disclosure though, my brother actually generously gifted a few of his HelloFresh packages to us + this recipe was included in one of the bags. I make this bowl on my own now by shopping for the ingredients (thanks to Prime Now + Whole Foods contactless pick up) + it's now in our weekly meal rotation!

There are so many reasons why we love a grain bowl… but the main one? We get to enjoy our favorite veggies, proteins, cheeses + sauces, all at the same time. This Greek inspired version stars one of our favorite ancient grains—chewy, nutty bulgur—topped with roasted chickpeas + onions, a refreshing tomato-cucumber salad, tangy Greek vinaigrette + salty feta cheese.

Smoky, harissa-infused hummus + a chopped dill garnish complete this un-bowl-ievable meal!

Allergens: Milk • Wheat • Eggs

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 can of chickpeas

1 persian cucumber

½ cup feta cheese (I use: Violife brand non-dairy feta)

½ cup bulgur wheat (I use: Arrowhead Mills brand because it's both organic + non gmo)

1.5 ounce Greek Vinaigrette & Marinade Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10

1 tablespoon harissa powder

¼ ounce of fresh dill

1 red onion

4 ounces of grape tomatoes

½ cup hummus (I use: HOPE brand

because it's both organic + non gmo)

Dash of sea salt

Dash of pepper

2 teaspoons of avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10

Instructions

• Adjust rack to top position + preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash + dry all produce.

• Drain + rinse chickpeas; pat very dry with paper towels. Peel, quarter + thinly slice ¾ of the onion (you’ll use the remaining onion in step 4).

• Toss sliced onion + chickpeas on a baking sheet with a large drizzle of olive oil, 1 tsp harissa powder (you’ll use more in the next step) + salt.

• Roast on top rack until onion is softened + chickpeas are lightly browned, 18-20 minutes. Note: It’s natural for chickpeas to pop a bit while roasting.

• Meanwhile, in a small pot, combine bulgur, 1 cup water, ½ tsp harissa powder (you’ll use more later) + salt (we used ½ tsp kosher salt).

• Bring to a boil, then cover + reduce to a low simmer. Cook until water has absorbed + bulgur is tender, 12-15 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

• While bulgur cooks, trim + halve cucumber lengthwise; slice crosswise into ¼-inch-thick half-moons. Halve tomatoes. Very thinly slice remaining onion. Pick + mince fronds from dill.

• In a medium bowl, toss together cucumber, tomatoes, half the minced dill, half the Greek vinaigrette (you’ll use more in the next step), half the feta (save the rest for serving) + remaining onion. Season with salt + pepper.

• Drain any excess water from bulgur; fluff with a fork. Stir in as much remaining Greek vinaigrette as you like. Taste + season with salt + pepper.

• Place hummus in a small bowl. Stir in a pinch of remaining harissa powder. Note: Taste hummus + add more harissa powder if you like things spicy.

• Using the back of a spoon, spread hummus on one side of each serving bowl. Divide bulgur between bowls. Arrange roasted onion + chickpeas + cucumber feta salad on top in separate sections. Top with remaining feta. Sprinkle with remaining minced dill if desired + serve.

If you make this recipe or any of the recipes that I share, please be sure to use the tag

#NicoleDeRosaLifestyleRecipes

on

Instagram

@nicolederosalifestyle

I love seeing your pictures + comments!