HOW I’LL BE KEEPING BUSY AT HOME!

Hello, I hope you're all doing well, as well as you can be and you’re staying at home as often as possible.
What an awful state of affairs we're all dealing with right now! I truly can't believe what is going on with Coronavirus, it feels like we're living through an episode of Black Mirror, it's crazy! I hope you're all staying safe and being sensible with regards to staying home as much as possible, taking care of (but staying away from) the elderly ones in your life and that you've not stockpiling(!!!) There is enough for everyone if we all work together and be sensible, the scenes I've seen online and on television is utterly ridiculous so please let us be sensible.
I didn’t go out out all weekend which was frustrating at the time as this weekend felt like the first dry weekend of the year and the first weekend that I actually wanted to go out and socialise... Typical! But alas, I’m glad I did and after Boris’ announcement yesterday it’s going to be the same story for the next couple of weeks, at least!

Speaking of Boris’ announcement yesterday it’s all so very scary that he hasn’t officially closed down all bars and restaurants. As my loved ones work and own businesses in the hospitality sector it’s so hard to see and hear the worry on their faces, the uncertainty is painful and it really is so hard not to panic. One thing that is getting me through though is remembering how we’re all in this together. When everything gets a bit much (which it did yesterday) I have to think about us all, the bigger picture, how we’re all going through this, how we’re all in the same boat and sadly others are in much scarier positions. My friends postponed their March wedding yesterday which was heartbreaking, George is worrying constantly about the safety of his amazing staff and his business and all I want is to hug my Nanna, which I of course can’t do right now.
All that being said we’ve got to stick together, to try and be positive, to stay indoors as much as we can and hope that this too shall pass.

But anyway, I'll stop going on now.
It's always hard with these types of things as I feel I do have a duty to discuss these topics and to drive awareness to such matters, however like you I am learning every day. I am watching the news and reading articles at any given opportunity to try and educate myself on the best course of action for myself and my loved ones. I also don't want to highlight such a thing too much in case there is someone out there who is using the internet to try and escape such news. So with that, I'll leave the doom and gloom here and get cracking on with today's blog post instead.

I thought it might be nice to chat about some of the things I’m planning on doing whilst staying home. It can feel a little bit daunting to be told to stay home and to not have an end date in sight so I’ve come up with a little list in my notes of things I plan to do, to achieve and to try out whilst the uncertainty remains. This list, I hope, might help you to try and keep busy, to stay positive and hopefully have a little fun at home along the way.

1. Business as Usual- Where Possible
I’m hoping to be able to continue to write here on my blog, to shoot content at home and in my garden and to create some kind of new normal amongst the chaos. Writing is my therapy so I’m going to get up early as always and I’m going to start my days writing as normal. The imagery that goes alongside my writing might be a little less fancy but I’m going to try my best to stick to my usual work routine. I’m going to take this quiet time to design for Saturday By Megan Ellaby and get ahead on next years designs through researching, sketching and planning which always works to lift me up.

I appreciate this isn’t possible for everyone but what I’m saying is to try and do what you love every day. Whether that’s working out; exercise at home using just your body weight or anything you may have kicking about (I’ve heard tins of beans can work well as weights) perhaps it’s a pamper session (they’re v good for the soul) or maybe walking your dog, in quiet spaces of course, just do something that you love and try and create a little bit of normality in your world.

2. Do a puzzle or play a game!
I mentioned just last week how much I’m loving jigsaw puzzles right now and right on cue the amazing Ravensburger puzzle group sent over a care package of some awesome puzzles to get stuck into. Puzzles and games are great ways of building your spirits, of switching off from the world, particularly the inevitable scrolling of social media and spending time with those you live with in a way that allows you to escape from reality for a time.

3. IGTV
I’m going to create some videos for IGTV, something I’ve wanted to do but always put off in the past. Now I’m stuck at home I’m going to have a good brainstorm and a good play around with that part of the internet to create something fun and inspiring around fashion, beauty and interiors. Whether it’s for my channel @meganellaby or for @saturday_bymeganellaby I’m excited to explore this feature a little more. If there is anything you’d like to see then please do let me know.

4. Doing something I’ve always wanted to do
Over the past few years I’ve mentioned how I’d love to explore a new hobby. To try something out and have a creative outlet that is away from the online world. This awful situation is my opportunity to do that and it could be your opportunity too.
Last week I made an order on Amazon of some large canvases, some acrylic paints, brushes etc and I’m going to give painting a whirl.
I love art, yet I struggle to find exactly what I’m looking for at a price I can afford so I’m going to try creating my own. I’m really rather excited to do just that so if there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, now is your time.

5. Home renovations
We’ve been in our new house since September and as you know we’re taking it veeerrrrry slow when it comes to decorating or putting our stamp on the place. We have a few ideas for a couple of rooms within the house and I think we’re going to get cracking on them whilst we’re staying put at home. It would mean a quick pop to B&Q so if it’s appropriate we’ll go and get the supplies we need to set to work injecting some colour into our space.
Similarly with the garden, that needs some TLC after a very wet winter as I’m sure many of you can relate to so now’s the time to get stuck in,

6. Have a clear out
Whether it’s your wardrobe or your kitchen cupboards or that dreaded drawer of doom that everyone has filled with things that don’t have a home, now is the time to organise.
My wardrobe isn’t in need of a clear out but my cupboards certainly are so I’m going to use this time wisely to pull everything out of the kitchen cupboards, the sideboard in the hallway and the boxes that are still unpacked in our basement and I’m going to find some order amongst the craziness. I always find organising and keeping busy with some menial task like that is a great way to switch off from the world.

7. Read
An obvious one but if you can switch off to read a book then that’s always a good place to start. Check out these book club blog posts here for some inspiration.

So that’s 7 things I have on my list so far for how I’m going to be keeping busy during this uncertain and really rather scary time. I’m sure hoping the list will grow a little bit as we go but if you have anything to add I would LOVE to hear it.
Stay safe, try and stay positive and make sure to stay connected with your loved ones, they’re only a phone call away.

Lots of love

x M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROSIE BUTCHER