Weekend Dispatch

After a looooong 15 months, things are slowly starting to feel normal again. That's not to say that it all hasn't been slightly anxiety-inducing for me. The thought of crowded restaurants where people are standing shoulder to shoulder while they wait for a table is not my idea of an enjoyable night out. While I'm happy that we can finally pony up to the bar and order a drink, I'm not thrilled about being barstool to barstool with an overly enthusiastic patron who's had just a few too many. For me, moderation is key to re-entry. So, I'm taking things slowly and trying to re-incorporate the things I've missed most about my pre-COVID life with the things I enjoyed doing during COVID life. I spent the weekend focusing on my own mental health by taking a long 6-mile walk on Saturday morning and catching up on reading and preparing for the week ahead on Sunday.

Here are a few other ways I recharged this weekend:

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Playing Favorites

Playing Favorites is a monthly series where I share my latest obsessions, favorite finds, and any kind of entertainment (books, movies, TV, podcasts, and magazines) that I am loving. Here's what I am loving this month.

1. Libby App

After COVID lockdown went into place last March, I found myself feverishly reading to distract myself from the pandemic. I was reading two to three books per week some weeks, and quickly found that the cost of buying books was mounting. Even with discounted books from BookBub, I was still spending too much on books that I whipped through in 2 days. That's when I read about Libby, the app that is basically your local library but in e-book form. Once you download the app, you connect your local library membership to it. You can browse all the e-books and audiobooks that your local branch carries and "borrow" them directly from the app. Libby has been a money-saver for me. Not only can I download books at no cost to me, but I can also read new releases for free! There is often a wait time to borrow new releases. I recommend hopping on the app the day the book is released to put it on hold. While you wait for it to become available, read other books that are available. Libby is so convenient, and I love that I can enjoy my favorite hobby without spending a ton of money.

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