What a whirlwind these last few months have been. Really this whole year! January started out so strong with my Dopey Disney trip with all my awesome races followed by our amazing Caribbean Disney cruise. Then February flew by in the blink of an eye. Next thing you know, March hits and life literally stops. Quarantine starts and the country shuts down. It’s been crazy to say the least! Since we’ve spent the last 8+ weeks in quarantine, I thought I’d share my life lately in quarantine!
Lately I’ve been…
Reading…
The Kept Woman by Susan Donovan. This is what I’m currently reading for my book club and I’m happy to report that I like it so far! It’s definitely engaging and has me wondering how the story is going to unfold. I’ll admit it’s taking me longer to get through because I’m so exhausted that reading puts me to sleep! On the plus side, it helps me fall asleep at night. I’ll be sure to report back with how I liked it when I finish. I’m almost halfway through and recommend it!
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal. I started reading this before we chose a book for our book club, and I put this one on hold. It wasn’t drawing me in as much as other books, so I didn’t have a problem doing so. That being said, I’m not that far in and just getting to know the characters. I’ll be sure to report back when I am able to finish!
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. This was our last book club book and I loved it! Highly recommend this one as an easy read with a great plot twist. It was fun and engaging, so perfect for reading by the pool or on the porch this summer.
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover. OBSESSED. I really love Colleen Hoover and she did not disappoint. This book had me had me hanging on to every page just dying to know what was going to happen next. I dealt with pregnancy insomnia before I started taking half a Unisom to fall asleep (yes, it was okayed by my doctor) and I stayed up past midnight a few nights reading this one.
And just a heads up, Regretting You and When We Believed in Mermaids are both books I checked out from Kindle Unlimited. So if you like reading and are interested in having tons of books at your fingertips, give Kindle Unlimited a try! You’ll even get your first month free to see if you like it!
Listening to…
The Birth Hour Podcast. I mean, I’m pregnant and I love this podcast. I actually listen to it even when I’m not pregnant because I love birth and listening to birth stories!
Crime Junkie. If you’re fascinated by true crime and aren’t listening to Ashley Flower’s podcast, you need to now. Every week she leaves me excited for the next episode. She’s a great story teller and advocate for solving cold cases!
Generation Why. Another awesome true crime podcast. Some episodes are better than others, but I really enjoy the podcast!
I’m definitely interested in starting some new podcasts! These have just been my recent go tos. Here are some other podcasts I’ve been listening to the last year, if you’re a podcast lover like me. I’d love some suggestions in the comments!
Watching…
Downton Abbey. I know, I’m behind the times! I started watching this show at the beginning of quarantine and now I’ve finished. Such a great show and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction. You can watch it on Prime!
Outlander. Speaking of historical fiction, this is a great one! The first 3 seasons are on Netflix while 4 & 5 are on Starz. I read all of these books and they’re amazing. The show does a great job following them!
Dead to Me. Season two was just released and I’m already hooked again. Both seasons are currently on Netflix!
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. JP and I just started this show and we’re really enjoying it so far. We’re just a few episodes into season 1 and it’s definitely a good laugh. Check it out on Prime!
The Outsider. I read this book for my book club a little over a year ago. The book is a Stephen King novel, so you know the show must be dark. The show was done very well, but we haven’t finished. This pregnant momma couldn’t quite handle the darkness, so we took a break.
Community. Late to the party again on this one, but it’s a fun and easy show to watch! Definitely recommend it as a filler show that will make you laugh.
Purchasing…
Comfy tops: I need some fun shirts that I can wear at home and will fit my growing bump this spring and summer! You can click the images below if you want check them out. (Pssst…they’re all under $20!)
Arts and crafts: Chloe is all about arts and crafts these days, so we’re plowing through craft supplies. Here’s what I’ve purchased recently.
Dry Erase Sleeves for all of her worksheets. Random craft supplies for her to make any creation she wants. (This one has been a BIG hit for just $18!) Hapinest stamp and sticker set. We have this unicorn and friends set, but they have tons of other options!
Self Care Products: I need these to keep me sane and feeling good during this time. Self care is so important and even more so when you’re stuck at home and try to find joy in the little things! You can never go wrong with a good nose strip (peeling them off is so satisfying!), clay face mask (this one is my favorite and lasts forever) and some special hair care.
Looking forward to…
Growing this precious baby. My next doctor’s appointment is actually today, Monday 5/11 as this post goes live! I’ll get to hear the baby’s heartbeat and have my blood drawn for all of the first trimester tests!
Visiting Julie in Ft. Meyers next month. We originally planned to go to Disney over Mother’s Day weekend, but that obviously didn’t happen. Instead, we pushed our trip out to the end of June. If Disney is open, we have every intention of going. If it isn’t, we’re planning to spend some extra time at the beach! Either way it will be a wonderful trip. I need travel to fuel my soul, so it’s going to be an amazing time with my bestie!
Working out…
Pretty much daily! I’ve been taking the kids on walks or runs every single day. It’s how I get to spend some time outside of the house during quarantine!
If you follow me on Instagram (@amysbalacingact), you see that I’m still putting up a workout of the week every Wednesday! Follow along to join in on the fun!
Here are also a couple older workouts I’ve done from the blog archives lately:
Core Burning Pyramid Workout – I even had JP do this the other day and he woke up quite sore afterwards!
UNO Workout – This one is fun and challenging! You can even get the kids to play along or draw the cards for you. It’s one of my favorites and I loved doing this when I taught group fitness!
Summertime Arms – Since I’m in tank tops everyday already this one is needed. I also posted another killer arm workout on Instagram that had my biceps sore for days!
Ready for…
Quarantine to be over. Things are starting to open up in Texas which is nice, but it still isn’t the same. Maybe it’s not that I’m ready for quarantine to be over, but I’m ready for life to feel normal again. Sadly I don’t see that coming anytime soon. Not until we have a vaccine.
I spent all of quarantine at home while my husband went to the store. Since I was pregnant, he felt very protective of me. Last week I finally went to the store. Nothing crazy, just a trip to Trader Joe’s. I loved being able to go to my favorite grocery store, but the whole trip felt a little sad. We had to wait in line to go into the store. Everyone was wearing masks, so you can’t see a smile on someone’s face. On top of that, everyone just kind of avoids each other! I’ll be over here dreaming of the day that things feel normal again!
Happy that…
- My family is happy and healthy.
- This baby is growing strong and will be bringing more joy to our family later this year.
- I’ve had this time to give extra love and time to my babies. They may drive me absolutely nuts some days, but in the grand scheme of things, this slower time has been precious.
- I can still run and workout to keep my sanity.
- My husband still has his job and is able to take this time to work at home and be near us.
- I could honestly go on and on!
That’s our Life Lately in Quarantine.
Things have been far from glamorous, but life lately in quarantine hasn’t been all that bad. I found out I was pregnant during quarantine after all! There have definitely been ups and downs, but we’re surviving!
I’d love to hear about your life lately in quarantine. Share what you’re reading, podcasts you’re listening to, shows your watching, products you’re buying, things you’re thankful for or anything else you’d like!
I literally was just watching the new season of Dead to Me on Netflix while I was working out this morning. LOVE that show! I also want to check out that true crime podcast…sounds really entertaining!
Yes! Dead to Me is so good! I’ve watched the first two episodes of this season so far and can’t wait to see what happens!
Wow girl! You’ve been keeping busy! I just recently finished all the outlander seasons on Netflix and I’m obsessed!! I havent’ seen a Dead to Me but that sounds like a good one to add to the list. For Mother’s Day we ended up getting pizza and watching the last Star Wars that was added to Disney+. Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day too!
Outlander is SOOOO good! The books are awesome too if you like reading! I highly recommend them!
I LOVED the first season of Dead to Me, I’m glad to hear that season 2 is just as good! Thanks for the book recommendations too, I am in need of some new books to read.
So far I’m definitely into Dead to Me! It picks up right where it left off with more twists along the way!
Wow you’ve certainly been busy during quarantine and you’ve got some great advice & inspiration here!
Thank you! I’m trying to keep myself and the kids busy since we’re at home so much more!
I heard Downtown Abbey is worth watching. I will say, I’m disappointed in the new season of Dead To Me. I did love season two of After Life. If you haven’t seen it, you should!
Definitely give Downton Abbey a watch! I loved it! Bummed that you didn’t like season 2 of Dead to Me! I’ve only seen the first two episodes so far. I have seen After Life so I’m adding it to my list!!