These days it seems increasingly challenging to stay amused while at home. We know that the right thing to do is to stay home and help flatten the curve; however, what's there to do at home? Keep reading for ten ways you and your family can keep engaged while staying isolated.
1. Garden
Dig up your green thumb; you'll feel accomplished as you watch your produce ripen before your eyes. The more fruits and vegetables you grow, the less you'll spend at the grocery store. As you begin your garden we recommend starting with Lehman's for all of your outdoor needs.
2. Bake or Cook
Hone in on your cooking skills in the kitchen and whip up something tasty. Walnut Creek Cheese is your one stop shop with deliverable ingredients from pastas and noodles to seasonings and spices. If you're a beginner in the kitchen, don't fret; Walnut Creek Cheese has a gallery of recipes directly on their website.
3. Start a Puzzle
Challenge your brain, the bigger the puzzle, the more isolation hours occupied. Village Gift Barn has a great selection of puzzles for all experience levels. We like this 1,000 piece American Roadtrip puzzle, but recommend viewing their full selection before committing to just one!
4. Play a Board Game
Who doesn't love game night? Get your competitive juices flowing and bust out the card table it's family time! If you've already played through every game you have on hand don't worry, Toyrifix has you covered.
5. Spruce up Your Space
Aren't we all bored of our surroundings by now? It's a great time to redecorate! Cottonwood Shanty offers a dreamy selection of home decor, but her roots started with her scrolls, and they might still be our favorite. No matter your design style, she has a scroll (or vase) for you!
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6. Spring Clean
The dust has had it's moment, spring is finally here and it's time to get cleaning! Push up your sleeves and get in those cracks, the more you do now, the longer it will take for it to come back. If you're a local, you're in luck, Keim has a Local Express Delivery Catalog full of all your favorite essential cleaning products. Supplies from Clorox, Dawn, and Meyer's aren't it, they'll even deliver your trash bags.
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7. Learn
There is no question, the opportunity to learn has never been more prevalent. Whether it's a new language or a new skill, we all have the time to polish who we are and what we know. In your educational endeavors we hope that you take the time to learn more about our culture and our people through the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center. While you're poking around don't forget to view a virtual 360° look at Behalt, a 265-foot cyclorama that chronicles the history of the Amish and Mennonites.
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8. Read a Book
Get lost in a book; read your children a bedtime story. No matter what genre you choose, the plot will transport you to another world. Use a local favorite when selecting your next read. Gospel Bookstore has so many options, they're sure to carry whatever you crave.
9. Stay Safe and Wear PPE
Your safety means a lot to us, our community has gone above and beyond to help combat against COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently recommended that Americans wear face coverings in public to help slow the spread of the virus. When you go in public (because everyone needs groceries eventually) make sure you're covered. Farmhouse Frocks is one of many local businesses creating coverings for the public. Get one, or give one, they'll handle it all! When you purchase from their store the proceeds cover the cost of materials, and keep their Amish seamstresses employed, and best of all, everything else goes back into our community. If you're going to shop, you might as well shop for a cause you'll feel good about afterwards.
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10. Spa Day
It feels good to feel good. Amish Country Soap Company has you taken care of. Soaps and lotions, bath and body, no matter your gender or age, they carry a wide range of all natural products great for all skin types! Run a bath and pop in a bath bomb, you'll be relaxed in no time!
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