Ideas for taking care of ourselves while staying home. Howdy folks, it’s been a few days since our last email. We’re sorting through some things here on the backend: trying to get a VERY tiny Facebook ad campaign going to generate more pickup orders and doing a little bit of self-care. Heard that! Your eyeballs rolled right? Yeah…“self care” can be a wishy-washy, woo woo term but right now, focusing a bit more on yourself is a good way to help make it through the social distancing. Below are several ideas for taking care of yourself until such a time that we can all start engaging with others.  Virtual dance parties!
If you follow us on social media, you might have noticed our Halsted staff had an impromptu dance party with passersby outside the windows. It was all good fun with everyone #socialdistancedancing. There’s no reason why you couldn’t have your own dance party via FaceTime. Pick a song and dial up a few friends!
 Write letters.
Yes, you could just text your family and friends but where’s the fun in that? Writing an actual pen-to-paper letter does take time and a little more thought than just jotting a text or email. But it provides your recipient with a spark of joy when they get a physical letter to read. Doodle in the margins or outside the envelope. Let the kids put stickers on it. Make it special. You’ll feel good and so will your friend. And buying stamps also may help the USPS.
Something smelly.
Smell is one of our key memory triggers and can help calm nerves, encourage fond memories, and allow us to meditate or reflect. Candles and incense are the obvious scented tools but also consider simmering a pot of spices in water on the stove. Consider lighting something nearby while you work from home or simmering a spice pot while helping the kids with homework. Something tasty.
Chocolate, vanilla, mint, …even salty carbs can all be used to create a tiny moment of joy. In moderation, of course. Don’t scarf down 4 pints of vegan ice cream in 2 days (BTDT). That’ll backfire and you won’t have any for the rest of the week. 😝 The point is, pick something you LOVE, even if it’s just one bite, and take it slow. Think on it as you taste it. Close your eyes. Enjoy. Trying new recipes.
Included below is our recipe for Mickey’s SOS Oatmeal Cookies. Jo created these to satisfy Mickey’s dessert cravings in a healthier way. They are from our current cookbook, which contains several recipes from our menu but also recipes that simply make sense for home, like these cookies. | 
