Oh 2020… You have not begun the way I was hoping. Coronavirus has hit the world in pandemic proportions. With social distancing and quarantining being the thing to do, I figured I would share some wisdom when you’re stuck at home.
My life has changed very little because of quarantining and social distancing. Working from home, being an extreme introvert, and having a very tiny social life means I don’t leave the house all that much. I have become quite the connoisseur of staying in. I’m quite the indoorsy lady. Beau misses the dog park, but she doesn’t mind the extra cuddles I’m able to give her because of my sluggish work schedule.
Read a book. This requires nothing but a cup of tea and a book. Dog cuddles make the activity even better.
Play board games. My personal favorite is Scrabble; it’s good for the brain; it’s good for the competitive spirit; it’s good fun.
Have sex or masterbate. Whatever. Enjoy your significant other or yourself. You deserve it.
Binge watch a cooking show. Find something ridiculous you want to try. Then try and make it. I suggest the Great British Bake Off. I have made several pastries in varying degrees of success.
Declutter. This is boring, but it will make you feel absolutely amazing when it’s all done. You also get bragging rights about not wasting your quarantine and being a badass.
Take up yoga/pilates/zumba/working out. I won’t do this, but I know some people have. It’s a good way to get flexible since we’re being forced to be flexible with our schedules.
Download Duolingo and learn a language. Try Gaelic or Welsh or Vulcan. It could be fun and funny to show off your Elvish skills when you can go to bars again.
Watch those movies you’ve been wanting to watch but have never had the time to watch. Seriously. Dedicate a two day spree to watching those movies. We all have a list of them on Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, or all of those. You know you want to.
Cuddle your dog. If you don’t have a dog, adopt a dog!
Call the people you’ve been meaning to call or text them or even write a letter. They’re great; you miss them; reach out. I do love sending a good letter, but I’m a weirdo. I think we should bring letter writing back, though.
Have a photoshoot. For real. Grab those clothes you LOVE but never have a chance or reason to wear. Head out with a friend or a tripod somewhere cute and take pictures. You deserve it. Plus you’ll have something cute to remember this disaster of a time.
bisous und обьятий, RaeAnna
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Last month, I surprised Dylan with a day trip to Dallas to experience the Texas State Fair because it had been on our list of things we need to do as Texans. We had such a blast, we decided to incorporate it into our monthly routines. Not a trip to Dallas or the State Fair, but a fun day for the two of us to enjoy each other. Tuesdays are the easiest for us to both get away because he doesn’t have class or work, and I can plan my work schedule to make that day empty.
The first Tuesday of every month is henceforth blocked off for couple time. We rotate planning. The State Fair was my surprise. Last Tuesday was Dylan’s day to plan for me. I was a little anxious because he hasn’t planned anything for me since the first…. week we dated over three years ago. He did well, though. It might be a new chapter in our coupledom.
I woke up and started working because that’s who I am. He told me I needed to be ready to go by noon.
By ready, he meant: put on comfy clothes and don’t do your makeup. I was a little nervous; he might be taking me to workout… which would have been the opposite of a happy surprise. We ended up at Cryo Recovery in Vintage Park. I had never done cryo nor had Dylan, so it was a really fun first time experience. They’re great! I would absolutely do it again. Dylan broke his back in the Marines, so we try a lot of things to help ease his pain. This worked so well for him. I have aches and pains from past injuries, and boy did I feel bouncy and ready for the day! We also did compression and freeze facials. My skin felt so good!
We bopped home after Cryo to let Beau out and put on pretty people clothes before heading to the next activity. Obviously food. Most of our activities involve or revolve around food. Indianola was a great place to load up with yummy food. Try the brussel sprouts; they’re great!
Getting ready to watch Casablanca at the Rooftop Cinema Club. | Sweatshirt | Jeans | Boots | PurseBeing our cute, loving selves.
I’m not a drinker, but Dylan loves beer, and I’m always up for a good root beer. I do love brew tours and wine tours; I just can’t participate. We headed over to Saint Arnold’s Brewery and enjoyed a tour of the brewery and some drinks. Dylan would like you all to know he beat me at Jenga. It was a very good game, but I did lose.
North Italia has great desserts, so we enjoyed a coffee and dessert there before heading to Rooftop Cinema Club to watch Casablanca. I LOVE old movies. They’re gorgeous and wonderful, but I’m ashamed to say, I’d never seen Casablanca. Now I have!!! We had so much fun cuddled under warm blankets watching a great movie.
It was such a fun day. I absolutely loved it. Next month, I have to plan something for him. I’ll keep you updated on what we do! After the fact because sometimes he reads this, and I don’t want to spoil the surprise.
bisous und обьятий, RaeAnna
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Outdoorsy is not necessarily the adjective I would attribute to myself, but I do love the great outdoors. When traveling, I tend to find myself doing as many outdoor things as any adventure enthusiast, so travel me is gung ho outdoorsy.
Lake Tahoe has been on my places to visit for a long time, but I never had a reason to go until recently. I was already trying to figure out a way to make it back there before I had even left. I’ve seen a few lakes in a few corners of the world, but I’ve never seen a lake quite like this. The water is indescribably beautiful. Clear and turquoise. I half expected to see dolphins or whales. I’m not an idiot, I know they don’t live in lakes, but I’ve only ever seen water like that in very specific places in the ocean.
Being completely honest, I had never really thought of where Lake Tahoe is. I knew it was somewhere Californians visit. It straddles the California-Nevada stateline. I stayed in South Lake Tahoe, which is on the California side. Between the North and South sides is a rivalry. On the plane, I sat next to a lady who lived in South Lake Tahoe, and the man sitting next to her lived on the North. I would love to say I’m exaggerating when I say things got heated as they debated which was better, but I put my headphones in to better ignore them. I saw no blood, so there’s that. From what I gleaned from the locals is the North side is made up of twelve(?) towns. They’re more remote and quiet with less walkability but the same amenities as the South, more compact, touristy, and robust, side of the lake. South Lake Tahoe is one city with more ski resorts and better walkability. It just depends on what you want atmosphere wise. I haven’t been to the North side, but I hear it’s great.
Channeling my inner Aquaman.View from Cave Rock.
Places to Stay Hotel Becket is where I stayed. It’s cute, clean, and within walking distance of just about everything you could want. It looks like an old motor lodge that has been completely renovated with modern amenities. Honestly, there are tons of places you can stay around Lake Tahoe. There is no shortage and something for every budget.
Enjoying the boat tour of Emerald Bay.
What to Eat Riva GrillThe Riva Grill is a gorgeous restaurant with an amazing view of the lake. It’s beloved by the locals and this tourist. You can even park your boat at the dock and eat and outdoor patio for warm days. The food is really amazing. I don’t care for crab, but their crab risotto is superb. One of the reasons I fell for this restaurant is their sense of humor. The signature drink is the Wet Woody. I don’t drink, but they made me a Virgin Woody. Best drink ever. The drink menu is full of risqué details and double entendres. Driftwood Cafe is in Heavenly Village across from Hotel Becket. Family friendly with large portions, it’s a great place to start your day with a hearty meal before hitting the slopes, the trails, or the water.
Sitting on the Nevada-California state line.
Things to Do Water Sports are one of the biggest draws to Lake Tahoe. The waves are even big enough to surf. Shocked. But true. From jet skis to water skis, there’s something for everyone on this lake. Snow Sportsare a huge draw in the colder months. I wasn’t lucky enough to be there for the snow, but I’ve been told the skiing and snowboarding is amazing. Hopefully, I can make it back soon to experience it for myself. Clearly Tahoe is a clear kayak rental. It was absolutely amazing. The water in Lake Tahoe is so clear you’ll want to be able to see it as much as possible. Clearly Tahoe offers guided tours around the lake in their completely transparent kayaks. I’m a huge fan of kayaking, so this was amazing for me. At night, they offer LED tours, which allow you to see the lake in a completely different light. This really was incredible. Hikingopportunities are everywhere. Cave Rock is an easy hike with a stunning view of the lake. There are tons of places to hike and stop to take in the beauty or capture a picture. There’s also a great overlook of Emerald Bay. Heavenly Village is a cute shopping area full of stores and restaurants nestled into the bottom of the mountain. It’s a great place to find a bite to eat or pick out a souvenir. I got a little work done at a coffee shop because workation! California-Nevada State Line is a great picture opportunity. I like to call it my Walk to Remember moment because I was two places at once. If you walk about a quarter mile up the mountain on the road going through Heavenly Village, you’ll find a great spot where the line is in the road. Boat Toursare an amazing way to see the Sierra Nevada mountains and the lake. We took the Emerald Bay boat tour out of Zephyr Cove. It is gorgeous. The water is a beautiful emerald color. Plus you can hear fun facts about the Lake and the history surrounding the area. Vikingsholm is a 38 room mansion on Emerald Bay open for tours. I wasn’t able to visit it, but I did get to see it on the boat tour. It was gorgeous. Hopefully, I’ll be able to see it the next time I visit.
A tea house on an island in the middle of Emerald Bay.
