A PEEK AT WHAT'S COMING UP THIS MONTH AT RUNWAY CHEF HQ

Editor’s Note // Well, if there was ever a weird “Month Ahead” to write this would be it. I mean, truly, what’s ahead? Wine, baking and figuring out how to track down essentials? Preparing for an Easter spent indoors and a summer that may not include a single beach day? Or the grim reality of medical supply shortages, a spreading virus and people dying? Where’s the other option, the one telling us all that this is just a bad dream, or it’s all a big joke? April Fool’s! Gotcha! You don’t really have to wear gloves to open your mail or spend your time 6 feet away from other humans. Lol. Giggles. Laugh out loud.

You know, they say it takes 21 days to form a new habit, and given that we’re going on week three of all this, I feel myself personally teetering between thinking this can’t possibly be real and wiping down every door handle as if that’s something I’ve done always done.

Similarly, with the site, I feel myself teetering between keeping content going as usual and catering things specifically to what’s happening. With so much volatilitiy and unpredictability, I’m having a harder time than ever planning content in advance and sticking to an editorial calendar. For example, while I’m not doing much shopping, links to loungewear may just be the thing that those now working from home need, while others may only be concerned with making the most of their pantry staples. It’s hard to find the right answer, let alone any answer at all.

And it’s even harder to talk about what’s ahead when, truth be told, none of us really know. Here’s what I do know- it’s a new month, I’ve got all kinds of recipe ideas swirling around in my head, I’ve got a home I’m decorating, I still love to write and take photos, there is still joy, beauty and good to be find, and every once in a while I like to think I say something halfway funny. In other words, I’ll still be here creating content that I hope provides some entertainment, inspiration and/or education during this time. Below, I’m sharing a few thoughts and ideas that I’m currently planning for the month ahead {but please note that I’m keeping things flexible so some of these may change}.

In the meantime, can someone please find whoever is behind this April Fool’s joke and tell them it’s over?! Kthanksbye!

BLOG //

WEAR Lots of loungewear

EAT A whole lot of carbloading with my go-to pizza dough, the easiest cinnamon rolls + a favorite cozy pasta dish plus more cooking videos happening on Instagram

WANDER Starting to share some arm chair travel inspo

DWELL Another thrifting installment + starting to share some projects from our own home

GIVE Highlighting + giving back to different organizations that are helping during this time via our live #RChappyhour every Wednesday evening

CELEBRATE At-home date night ideas

WELLNESS Turning things in your kitchen into at-home spa treatments

SOCIAL //

Every month we use Pinterest to help us design our monthly mood boards. These boards then act as our guide when it comes to shaping the direction and look of the content for the upcoming month. Peek our APRIL BOARD to see what’s inspiring us this month {hint- it’s all about the home, baking + little joys}.

LIFE //

This month I’m refocusing my energy into two things I can actually control- working on making our house a home and adding little moments of joy wherever and however I can.

For the home, we’re focusing on bettering our work space, making our bedroom a haven for restful sleep {Anyone else struggling with sleep lately?! Hoping a little bedroom refresh will help…}, setting up our outdoor space {Because Lord knows how long we’ll all be quarantined and I need to get my sunshine somehow!} and working on our kitchen {because, we, like all of you, are currently in it all.day.long}.

For little moments of joy, I’m really trying to kick things up a notch to add the extra dose of positivity that life needs right now. I truly believe that no matter what is going on, there is beauty and good to be found in every day…sometimes you just have to work a little hard to find it. So whether that means making a special latte instead of just a regular cup of coffee or making a weekend breakfast {like pancakes or french toast} on a weekday or taking time to flip through an old magazine or spending an afternoon listening to a favorite record while sipping some wine or burning a lux candle that was being saved for a rainy day {cuz um yeah this is a rainy day}, popping a bottle of bubbly for no reason other than it’s Tuesday, savoring a chocolate bar, baking, actually stopping to smell a rose, making bread, pausing by an open window for a breath of fresh air…there are truly so many ways that you can easily add little joys to your day. You don’t need to spend a lot, if anything at all, to add some beauty and brightness to your life!

I challenge you to find ways to add some joy to your days however you can, and focus on the things you can actually control…because here’s the thing, worrying about anything else, worrying about things you can’t control, worrying about the current situation will never change the outcome.