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Day 8 - BRADnana bread?

Whenever I share a recipe in my Instagram Stories, a few of you send me a message saying I should totally have a cooking account of some sort. While I see a bright future in that, my schedule is always very tight! But stay alert, who knows where I’ll be next year! (Definitely doing something like this)

Today, on the eighth day (I’m starting to sound biblical), I want to share something VERY easy to put up in a few minutes.

You might think: What, banana bread, again? (Hey, do you eat banana bread often? How lucky.)

Yes. Banana bread. Everyone should know how to make it, it saves ripe bananas, it’s quick, easy, humble. The real prince of homemade goods. If you don’t have chocolate chips, just know that you can use chopped chocolate bars, and in my opinion, those are better!

Be sure to wash your hands as much as you can. I can’t stress this enough, remember why we are social distancing in the first place? Good? Good.

BRADnana Bread

Mash 3 ripe bananas

Add in 1 1/2 cup of flour (it can be gluten-free, Bob’s RedMill 1:1)

Pour in 3/4 cup of sugar (or Monkfruit)

Add 1 tsp (teaspoon) of baking soda

A pinch of himalayan salt (or regular salt)

Add 1/2 cup of vegetal oil or non dairy butter

Crack 2 eggs

1 tsp of Vanilla extract

Add chocolate chips!

Mix everything and bake at 180ªC for 45-60 minutes, every oven is different!

You can tweak the banana bread, adding some cocoa powder (which you will replace from the 1 1/2 cup of flour), matcha powder, walnuts, cardamom, cinnamon… The sky is the limit.

 A good combo to honour Joe Black (Brad Pitt) would be to make a nice spread with:

Peanut butter

A pinch of cinnamon

A pinch of maca

And you might be wondering: Why BRADnana? Part of the ritual of making this recipe is that I will follow with a movie session, and definitely choose a film with Brad Pitt because he is the prince of my heart.

-Matcha, please!

[matcha-please]

Day 7 - Plant your greens

Time to give back to mother nature, to put your green thumb to the test and brag about it on social media. If not now, when?

Most homes have a pot with dirt, forgotten by the passing of time and neglected by the young adult curse. I can’t count the times I’ve tried to grown my own avocado plant, failing each time.

If you live in a desert, like I do, congratulations! You have been blessed by the cacti gods.

Cacti are less likely to die if you forget to water them. Hurrah! I can pretend I’m good with plants for a second!

Here is how I layer up the soil and other stuff to keep my cacti healthy: - Soil - Dry leaves, some fresh leaves, but mostly dry leaves Mix the soil and the ‘organic’ stuff like dry leaves. - You can decorate with pebbles if you want * This is how my dad has been caring for his cacti for ALL his life, he taught me and yes, there is a lot of fancy things you can add to your cacti. But this is the easiest, cheaper way. Remember that cacti don’t have fancy soil normally so, let’s keep it real.

I know there are a lot of new things out there to keep cacti super luxurious, but ain’t nobody got time for that.

How I care for cacti: Water them once a week, place them in direct sunlight, talk to your cacti, name it, Cherish it.

Note that you could also plant aloe vera, which has a LOT of properties for your skin or healing wounds. You only need to water the baby every 20 days or so, give it a regular dose of sunshine, and presto! - Matcha, please!

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Day 6 - All ears, all ears!

You probably won’t believe when I tell you I once had a small podcast to talk about series. It was super indie, all online traces of it are gone. But it was mine, and it helped me understand the importance of audio content and edition.

Podcasts are an amazing form to create content for busy people. You can listen to it when you’re working out, on your way to work (ha, not the case, stay at home, buddy!), while taking a bath or when you’re decluttering your closet.

It allows you to learn about a new subject without the ‘hassle’ of reading. I love reading, but podcasts are much more dynamic and there’s always one that suits your taste. Most podcast have two people discussing a subject, there’s background music, special effects… Like radio, but better. Radio is so polluted with advertisements and trash music, I have started to question if radio has come to its demise.

Some of you already know that I’m an avid listener of the Serial Killers Podcast. Normal people listen to some great podcasts, like ’Se Regalan Dudas’ or ‘Martha Debayle’. I’ve never listened to them, but if it’s your thing, use this time to catch up on the latest content.

Spotify, ParCast, Gimlet Media, Wondery, Apple Music and iHeartRadio are just a few of the platforms where you can find interesting podcasts!

Back to the beginning of this post, isn’t it crazy how quick normal people could have access to buy good microphones? In my time (yes, I’m already in that phase) it was all recorded from my laptop or my cellphone, I’m literally smiling at how fun it was to clear the audio, add some background instrumental music, effects. I sure had free time back then, the perks of youth.

I’m always willing to add new podcasts to my list, so feel free to give me some recommendations!

- Matcha, please!

[matcha-please]

Day 5 - Key key with your friends

Who says you can’t have a party? Modern times require modern solutions! FaceTime, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Snapchat… You name it. The options are endless.

Virtual meetings sounded like a futuristic scenario in 2080 Japan, but the truth is that it’s a great way to connect with your friends that you haven’t seen in a long time or reassure your relatives that you are doing fine.

Why not make it extra and play dress-up? Remember that New Year’s Eve funny hat? The Elton John’s glasses? The world is your oyster. You could even make it thematic: detectives, famous characters… You name it.

Did you know that Power Point parties are a thing? I’m still waiting for my group of friends to step up their game and jump in the boat! For the sake of keeping things really, really extra, you could even seize the occasion to prepare yourself a fancy cocktail (or mocktail) you have been eyeing on Pinterest for a while. But because I’m a simple woman with a simple taste (yeah, right), you will have to pry the irish cream on the rocks from my dead hands.

There are amazing options to play with your friends. Pretend You're Xyzzy is a popular website where you can set up your private online room and invite your friends to play this hilarious, dark humour game, a la Cards Against Humanity.

The Jackbox Party Pack was introduced to me in 2016, and I simply adore this game. You can buy it for about $25 use and you and your crew only need their phone to play. The group call and Jackbox combo is a no brainer, but beware, it’s very tempting to roast your friends!

Have you ever tried to have a virtual hangout with your friends?

Was it a hit or a miss? Fill me in, I need the tea!

- Matcha, please!

[matcha-please]

Day 4 - Mmm... serotonin!

I am not an exercise psycho. Never been. But I do recognise that working out definitely liberates that sweet serotonin which I’m so deprived of. Stress, my friends.

Listing the benefits of exercise seems repetitive, deep down you and I know that we can’t stay lazy forever. Today I want to focus on the mental benefits from my experience.

I don’t do a LOT of exercise. I regularly step in my elliptical bike, choose uplifting music and disconnect myself from the world for about 30 minutes. I used to think more time was better, but lately, 20 minutes have been enough. This comes from someone who hated the mere concept of exercise.

If you’re used to it and you do it like a pro, like, with a schedule, congratulations, you probably find my input to be hilarious! Doing 20 minutes of cardio with 30 seconds of intense jogging (or whatever you call it) give me the much needed serotonin and don’t leave me exhausted and wishing I never did it in the first place. We all start somewhere, and that’s where I’m at right now.

Some days, I can barely find the strength to wake up. PCOS and depression do that a lot. I can’t help it. It’s not a sleeping issue, I sleep about 9 hours every night. I meant to be less grumpy about it, but I think talking about it spreads awareness and some women might even feel like they’re not alone out there. I hear you, girls.

But not all hope is lost! For now, and back to the point, exercise has been a life saver! It allows me to think of literally NOTHING and that is the most liberating feeling in the world. I’m not thinking about e-mails, bills, work. It’s magic. While outdoors workouts are way better for a number of reasons like mother nature (It sounds weird, I know), for now, try to find something to do indoors. Functional workouts can be found pretty much everywhere on YouTube!

If you have a yoga mat, like I do, try to enjoy your indoor moment and treat it as something special, because it is! Introvert but make it fashion, wear those neon leggings, friend.

Have you ever tried the downward dog position? For reference, I’ll add an image below, because I don’t think I can take a picture of myself doing this:

The important is to keep your palms wide open on the floor, as they are the ones supporting most of your weight. Breathing is such an important part of exercising, I almost forgot to write about it. Breathe deep, and slow. If you inhale during 4 seconds or 5, try to exhale in 10. There must be a scientific answer as to why doing this helps me when I’m doing yoga, my teacher would probably roast me for not knowing, but. Just do it, it helps. The key is to listen to your body, we don’t care how far you can keep your hands from your feet, that’s not the point of the pose. This is a resting pose, or restorative. You can bend your knees if it hurts, or use a pair of blocks if your hands can't reach the floor to keep your knees straight. Up to you!

Doing the downward dog makes my blood go to my head, and I guess that’s the amazing thing about it. It feels like my spine is stretching, and if you work in an office like I do, you will soon realise that you NEVER change your seating position in ALL day. Also, using our phones and scrolling all day… is your wrist feeling good lately? Probably not. This position is an ALL AROUND WINNER, probably my favourite yoga pose. Perfect for people who will never be yoga masters, like myself.

Back problems? We don’t know her.

Anyways, alternating cardio and yoga is a perfect combo to stay sane on this social distancing journey! Enjoy the moment, I really mean it. CARPE DIEM!

- Matcha, please!

[matcha-please]

Day 3 - Bookworm

Ah, the wonderful habit of buying new books without having touched those I have at home. My greatest obstacle is the noise, so when I read, it’s for short periods of time or at night, which isn’t ideal for my sleep cycle.

I have found that I can read with music and not loose the concentration needed to pay attention to my book. Generally, movie soundtracks make a great background music, depending on what I’m reading. I avoid reading using digital devices because I don’t own a kindle (yet) and I really enjoy the feeling of turning the pages. Archaic? Definitely. Better? Doubtful.

Read, digital or not! If you find that a book seems threatening because reading over 200 pages seems like a chore more than a hobby, try to find an audiobook. The goal is to stop scrolling without purpose for a moment or leave your phone in another room.

15 minutes at a time, if you have entirely lost the thrill of it. Reading is like the gym of your brain. You will increase your vocabulary, your memory will improve, and your knowledge will grow.

Oh, and for the love of all things. If someone lends you a book, GIVE IT BACK!

What are you currently reading, and what is your favourite genre?

- Matcha, please!

[matcha-please]

Day 2 - Home SPA

2020 didn’t start like everyone expected at all, don’t you think?

High levels of stress have an important impact in our mental and physical health. Let’s talk about how used we are about pressure, that we even invented the ‘works well under pressure’ in our CVs like it’s the next big achievement. The physical response to stress is like feeling edgy at all times, then suddenly burn out. Personally, I feel constantly exhausted.

An average person juggles with 2 works, family, friends, relationships, permanent notifications, endless e-mails, bills, car fixes, trying to cook healthy, insane amounts of caffeine and at the very, very end, doing something for themselves.

And it’s crazy that we feel guilty for doing something seemingly unproductive instead of doing all the things I listed above. Listen. You’re already at home. What is there for you to lose? Try to forgive yourself for putting you in the last place! It’s a hard thing to do, but trust me, you deserve this ‘me’ time.

If you’ve followed my advice and you already have a nice candle, incense or diffuser you like, let’s start there. If you’re making home-office, you might think of wearing your pyjamas all day, but I’d suggest you try a little harder and wear something comfortable, but not your sleepwear. Yoga pants, sweatpants, that comfortable sweater, cloud-like sleepers. Why? I think it’s important to separate your sleep cycle from your day ( and a shower doesn’t hurt anyone) but still be able to move freely.

Anyways, moving on! Gather the following once your work time is over:

· Clay mask

· Sheet mask

· 1/2 cup of Epsom salts (you can buy them online)

· 1/2 cup Brown sugar

· Honey

· Moisturiser or lotion

· 2 or 3 small towels

· Soaking bucket for your feet (optional)

· Warm water

· Blanket (optional)

First, let’s start with the face. Apply your clay-mask of choice all over your face except your eyebrows, eye area or on the lips.

While it dries, fill a soaking bucket with warm water. The warmer, the better, just make sure it doesn’t burn. Put the 1/2 cup of epsom salt in the water and soak your feet for as long as you can. Remember how Chandler LOVED the Epsom salts? I’m sure you will, too! In Chihuahua, you can find them in Alsuper Reliz, it’s the only place where I’ve seen them. If you don’t have a bucket, you can scrub your feet with a warm, damp towel. If you can listen relaxing music, do it! You can always elevate this experience with ASMR or Tibetan Bowls Music. Once you feel like it’s enough, pat your feet dry and moisturise with cream or lotion.

Once you feel the mask is dry, use a damp towel to cleanse yourself. Do NOT rub too hard, remember that your skin is like a delicate silk. While your face isn’t entirely dry, use that sheet mask you’ve been saving for a special day. Next is your most, most precious things. Mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar with sufficient honey and scrub your hands for 60 seconds, then rinse with warm water. Pat dry softly. Grab your moisturiser or lotion of choice (I would suggest to go fragrance-free) and give your hands the luxury treatment they deserve!

Finally, wrap yourself with a blanket while the time for your sheet mask is over (don’t let it dry on your face or you might regret it!) and make yourself a hot cup of tea or cocoa. Breathe. Life is good.

How do you practice self-love? I’d love to hear new things to add to my Home SPA routine!

- Matcha, please!

[matcha-please]

Day 1 - Welcome home!

Our current lifestyle has us completely drained. We vicariously leave the house during the weekend in order to stay sane, and on week days we are left with the house chores, work planning, and just trying to put ourselves together after our daily jobs and stress. This brings up the question: Do we enjoy being home?

If your answer is that your house is just to sleep and shower, the next days of social distancing might sound like a nightmare to you. You’d be surprised to read that I’ve met people who are scared to stay inside because they fear to be alone, or feel their home is ‘too cold, too empty’. Let’s try to figure out if we can change that.

What makes you feel good? It can be a colour, a scent, or even a sound. Try to incorporate some elements that make you feel happy. If you share a house with other people, your room can be the perfect place to start. If you like 80’s music, create a playlist with your best tunes and enjoy it! If neutral colours bring you peace, try to keep your walls decluttered and re-vamp your space with new curtains or even a paint job.

I’ve found that scent is an essential part of being relaxed. A candle is the easiest, cheapest way to set up any mood you want. Before you chime in saying you are not a candle person: the scent options are literally endless, so find one that makes you feel comforted. Remember, we are trying to survive 14 days of social distancing, so I would probably avoid anything minty or citrusy for the next couple of days. But if the freshness and tangy scents bring you peace, go on!

Replacing your light bulbs can be life-changing. Cold light tends to keep us alert, so try to find natural or warm alternatives. Bold colours will keep our brain active, so lean towards something muted. Do you have a preferred set of bedsheets? Time to use them!

Remember: Your wellbeing is a special occasion, being home should be special every day.

What is your favourite space in your home? Let me know!

- Matcha, please!