I’m sick. A nasty stomach bug yesterday, and today the lingering side effects. I’m taking it easy today work-wise, and tying to let myself rest instead of pushing myself to do the million things I want and need to do. I’m hopeful that by tomorrow I’ll be back to feeling about 75% better (if not more) so I can get back to my normal routine of cooking, doing dishes, answering a billion questions from the kids, doing a million billion loads of laundry, working on DIY projects, and oh yes, work. 😉
I’m grateful my kids are old enough that they can easily entertain themselves and can manage to make their own lunches (though sometimes it gets all Lord of the Flies if there’s only one portion of a snack food left). They also managed to take care of me a bit which is a nice bonus.
If your kids are younger (and believe me I was there for a long time) you can read about how I entertained the kids while I was sick in years past.
The key for me to survive a stomach virus is to not think about being sick too much because I HATE being stuck in bed, and I HATE being sick. I’d much rather be stick on a beach somewhere with cocktails and a great book. Since I’m not, I distract myself with things I found online below. Whether you’re sick, browsing online over your morning coffee, or catching up on the latest online these are worth clicking through.
Reading Material
Sometimes you find a blog that you have to devour. Whether it’s the storytelling, or the humor, the voice of the blogger draws you in and before you know it you’ve spent hours browsing their archives for more nuggets.
Manhattan Nest is a DIY/home blog written by Daniel, a freelance writer and interior decorator based in Brooklyn. Somehow he turns every post into a story that blends humor, honesty, and real life advice with a side of self awareness that’s amusing. Recently Daniel and his fiancée, Max, bought a really old, really in need of love home 90 miles north of NYC. Seeing it through your own eyes you would probably think it is a mess that someone would have to be crazy to take on. Seeing it through Daniel’s eyes however all I see is the gem behind the grime and mess, and the potential it has.
Another home blog, this one about restoring an 1880s Victorian in the ‘burbs’ of Philly, Victoria Elizabeth Barnes is someone you’ll wish you could call a friend. Her tales of CraigsList scams and victories are punctuated with her knowledge of how ridiculous it all seems. Since the house is mostly finished too, there are a treasure trove of past projects, photos, and Craig’s List purchase stories that will make you laugh while you eat up the eye candy that is her home. Her blog recently was ‘found’ by many people, something I always wish for when I read an as yet undiscovered gem.
What to Watch
When I’m sick I want nothing more than to watch something GOOD. No, Real Housewives doesn’t count. Instead I find myself watching or re-watching some amazing shows via the apps on my iPad.
Orange is the New Black has it all dark humor, amazing characters, and drama. Just be careful, you won’t stop watching once you start. With 13 episodes available for streaming on Netflix you will want to binge watch this show. Set in a women’s prison it starts by following the lead character, Piper Chapman, who gets sent to jail for running drug money a decade earlier for her girlfriend (who happened to be a drug dealer). The first episode is a little slow, having to set up the backstory, but it quickly grabs you. I won’t give away details of the plot, but I will only say this is an amazing ensemble cast, and each actor brings so much depth to their characters-even when they seem to be unlikeable you like them because you feel like you really get to know them. I’ve also been reading cast interviews, and I love to see what the real life actors have to say. The series is based on a real-life story which I’m also reading (so far the series is better).
House of Cards is another Netflix original series that I’m watching again. It’s just so, so good. There’s a steely resolve to the characters so that even when they step morally or ethically out of bounds you still have a sense that it’s real. Set in DC, Kevin Spacey brings gravitas and a dark streak of humor to his Southern Congressman. Robin Wright plays his wife who has a humanity that’s hidden beneath her icy exterior. The show has been nominated for 9 Emmys, and it deserves every one in my opinion. This is another series you can binge watch, with all 13 episodes of Season 1 available on Netflix.
I’ve also watched Pitch Perfect again, because it’s just so fun and funny. I know, old news, but I could watch it over and over and still laugh every time.
Also, you should watch this video. It’s not only funny, but it’s a smart business idea. I already signed up for the service, HelloFlo.
Other than watching and reading, I’m sleeping and consuming massive amounts of water and ginger ale. While I hate being sick, at least I’ve found a few ways to pass the time.
I promise to be back tomorrow with a fun little giveaway, and more.
Kelly
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