Foolproof Life Lately April 2020

I had big plans for this post because today I am celebrating two birthdays. One is mine, and the other is Foolproof Living’s.

I bought this domain seven years ago on this day. I had no idea what it would become. I was sad, lonely, and lost, but it offered a glimpse of hope.

Now years later, at 42, I feel similar emotions for a different reason. I am not going to sugarcoat it. Like most of you, I am struggling with the uncertainty and what is ahead of us. I miss the normalcy and cannot wait for things to go back to the way they were.

How Am I Supporting My Mental Health During This Time

They say the anecdote to sadness is finding things to be grateful for in your daily life and dwelling on them, even if they are very small. So instead of feeling all the feels, I wanted to share a few things that we are doing to bring some normalcy back into our lives.

• Daily Walks & Audiobooks: The weather is finally warming up here in Vermont, and I take every opportunity to go outside. I walk every single day for at least one hour. And since I can’t do it with a friend, I listen to audiobooks. It allows me to get lost in another world all the while I am active.
• Sleeping In: I am a morning person through and through. However, during this time, I am letting myself sleep in an extra hour. I still wake up rather early, but I no longer set the alarm. I wake up whenever I want to.
• Call my dad every day: My dad is in Turkey. He is at home and alone. I so wish he could be with us, but there is nothing I can do to bring him here. Instead, we FaceTime every day. I teach him how to make simple meals through the phone. In a weirdly funny way, it became our thing to meet up every day around noon, when it is dinner time in Turkey, to cook together. It is by no means ideal, but we laugh a lot.

• Call my friends every day: I make it a point to connect with a different friend every day. Whether it is on Instagram (the photo you see below is from my conversation with my friend Lauren) or a private chat over the phone, it brings me joy to chat with a friend.
• Using those things that I saved for a special day: Like most people, I have those things that I collect for “a special day.” Things like an expensive bottle of wine, a jar of my aunt’s sumac that she dried in her backyard, or my mom’s pearl necklace. I am using them every day now. I feel more than ever that the time is now. 
• Watch TV Shows: Before this whole thing, we decided to get no longer hooked on TV shows as we didn’t want to be sucked in. I am sure you know what I mean. But during this time, we are in front of the TV every night. We are letting ourselves watch whatever we want. If you need ideas on what shows to watch, we loved Succession on HBO, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime, and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Prime. 

• Put my husband to work and have him cook dinners: Dwight doesn’t consider himself a cook, but I believe if you can read, you can cook. So once a week, he makes us dinner, and we share it on Instagram.
  He is quite shy but loves the limelight, especially when some of my followers comment on what a great #instagramhusband he is. 

What Is Everyone Cooking:

One other thing I find comfort is cooking. Even though I cook for a living, I don’t remember the last time I cooked as much for as long as I have during the previous 2 weeks. Still, I am grateful for the fact that I have food to cook.

I am personally finding comfort in simple meals such as this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, Turkish Red Lentil soup, and a Simple Whole Roasted Chicken.

However, when I look at the analytics of my website, I see that my readers cook various dishes from the blog. Below are five recipes that have the most amount of clicks in the last two weeks:

1. Turkey Meatloaf: This should not come as a surprise. Turkey meatloaf is an American classic. This recipe has a ton of hidden veggies in it. Based on some of the comments I received, I think that is one of the main reasons why it is so popular.
2. No-Knead Artisan Bread & Olive Bread: I had never seen a time when people baked as much. This bread recipe has been a favorite amongst many. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on bread flour and active dry yeast, be sure to give it a try. I also have the same bread recipe made with olives, if you love chunky olives in your bread.
3. Almond Flour Recipes: People are in the kitchen and baking. Plain and simple. This post has over 25 people on it right now as I am typing this. If you are into playing with almond flour and want to try your hand in healthier baking, be sure to check it out.
4. Turmeric Latte & Turmeric Smoothies: This is not a surprise as we are drinking turmeric drinks every day. They are a natural way to boost your immune system. I especially enjoy a cup of turmeric latte after dinner as we are watching our shows.
5. Mexican Quinoa: This recipe was always a popular one. I guess most peoples still love that it is a one-pan dinner that you can make in 30 minutes. 

Before I let you go, I want to thank you for being here with me on this special day. These difficult times are not forever. I know we will come out of this stronger and together. Wherever you are, I hope you are safe and sound, my friend.

I am sending you all the positive vibes.