May 9, 2020
We should be sending more care packages, yet another hand sanitizer round up and the handheld vacuum that changed my life.
Don't underestimate the power of a care package
We’re all having our own unique quarantine experiences… Beyond the obvious and significant adjustments that have come along with my son being home all the time, the whole remote learning thing (plus the TWO parent-guided projects that were just assigned—WTF?) and the stress associated with procuring deliveries for groceries and other essentials, my husband and I are lucky that our work situations haven’t changed all that much since we’ve both operated from home for quite some time. Sure, our work days are running longer than usual to accommodate all of the above, but we’re grateful nonetheless.
But with this said, a lot of my friends are literally on the verge. Between having younger children who require a lot more hands-on attention for school or just plain entertainment, and those who are trying their best to work full-time from home while tending to the kiddos’ every need and whim, there’s no denying that we’re all dealing with significantly more stress than usual, and feeling overwhelmed (at least a handful of times every day).
This is where random acts of kindness come in, and The Vanity Project just launched three easy-to-gift boxes that are sure brighten anyone’s day.
For friends and family who might not be as cautious as you’d like, the Stay Safe Essentials Box comes with Clean Freak Sanitizing Mist, a Bandit Bandana (for face-covering purposes), 20 pairs of nitrile gloves and 10 Biddettes (in case they didn’t stock up on toilet paper).
Know someone who’s feeling down? (We all have our moments.) The Cheer Up Essentials Box includes a cuddly Twoolie artisan stuffed animal, a sachet of Moon Juice Spirit Dust and bag of Haribo gummy bears.
And finally, you might want to treat yourself to the Self Care Essentials Box. Packed with The Vanity Project’s “The Fixer” CBD sheet mask, a Compartes Chocolate Bar, a Nite Nite sleep-enhancing sticker from The Good Patch, Moon Juice Spirit Dust and a Public Supply notebook.
Remember, everyone loves care packages—and a small gesture can give anyone’s mood a major boost!
Step up your hand sanitizer game
Remember when the shit first hit the fan and it was impossible to find hand sanitizer anywhere? Maybe you attempted to make your own with vodka or grain alcohol (oh, the prom night non-memories!) and aloe vera—or maybe you sat tight and made do with what you had. We may still be pretty much confined to home, but on the bright side there’s no shortage of hand sanitizer out there, and in fact, there are more options than ever (and they’re definitely a step up from Purell). Here a few to stock up on so you have a bottle in the car and all of your bags.
The best $35 I've spent during quarantine
As you may (or may not) know, I’m a bit of a neat freak. Under normal circumstances my main targets are preventing clutter by making sure everything is returned to its place and top-cleaning daily to keep things fresh between visits from my housekeeper. (I miss her so much.) Obviously that all changed about six weeks ago, and as soon as I check something off my cleaning to-do list, something else pops up. This past weekend I cleaned 5 bathrooms, the downstairs floors and kitchen—and even decided to yank everything out of the fridge and freezer do the shelves, bins and the way back and bottom. (Seriously, my fridge hasn’t been this clean since we moved in.)
The one tool that made all of this more efficient and thorough is this handheld vacuum. Smaller than a Dustbuster and USB-chargeable so it doesn’t have to live in proximity to an outlet, it is my new favorite gadget ever. Here are a few ways I’ve been using it…
I use an electric broom to vacuum my hardwood floors because there’s no way I’m dealing with the central vac. It does a pretty good job, but it doesn’t get ALL of the dust and hair that collect along the baseboards, but a quick pass with this vacuum does.
When I was cleaning the fridge, I used this to suck up all the crumbs before spraying all the surfaces and wiping them clean.
Taking the dog out several times a day inevitably means finding grass and leaves scattered around. A quick walk around the house with this vacuum saves my sanity.
My husband and son are messy—and it’s truly astonishing how many crumbs I find on the floor around our table. When the dog doesn’t do her job, this vacuum very well might save all of their lives.
Oh, and it doesn’t just suck… It's blows, too (I haven’t found a reason to use this feature just yet)! And in case you’re wondering, it’s super-easy to empty without making even more mess. Trust me, don’t even think about it—just get one!