#coronavirus

(PT 1)Do You Really Need🍭It?…..

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

On a tight budget, time limit, and limited stock, simplicity is the key to grocery shopping in these times. You may have to wait outside an hour longer than you anticipated.

There’s no telling what tomorrow will bring regarding rules and regulations for essential stores. Shop as though your life depended on it, without the stress. Pick up the essentials first, the basic staples, the most nutritious foods the body needs. Consider the rest extras, to supplement your pantry, or add-ons you could live without.

This thought process used to be challenging for me, when I used to rely more on snacks. You will improve over time, and there’s no better time than now.

There are many items in the grocery store that you just don’t need, omitting them from your list is a good start. Bunkers all over the store are packed with boxed snacks, full of sugar, salt, and preservatives. I haven’t seen a shortage of boxed snacks in a grocery store yet, and the prices are pretty good on those items. I don’t forsee an upcoming shortage of those packaged foods anytime soon. The news has yet to report on any possible shortages on chips and cookies.

If you have a favourite not so healthy snack, pick it, choose one and buy it in bulk. Ration it, create portions for the week, and have it as your main “guilty snack”. I eat pretty healthy on a daily basis, but I can admit to my borderline sinful sweet tooth, that I’m still working on curbing.

This quarantine time has put my sweet tooth to the ultimate test, for obvious reasons. I have found myself buying my favourite candy of all time, “hot tamales” to carry me through. As of now I haven’t felt the need to buy them, my cravings have subsided with work! I will share more of my tips in my next post.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Follow me @:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

(PT2)I’m😞Worried Too,☝🏼BUT…..

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

Continuing…

Before I left, I imparted words of encouragement on him, words that I had been telling myself:

Things may get WORSE, and very soon, but for now, these are just changes. It’s going to be different around here, but not completely. There will be some stores open to buy basic needs, even if it’s only two or three. It’s going to be okay, all you can do is stay aware, watch the news and relax.

This was all my intuition and common sense speaking, I have to protect my health from more than this virus. I was starting to get migraines that come when I worry, at the thought of figuring out what more to do. That was my warning to sign to relax.

I’m worried too but, I love the lessons that I’ve learned thus far. I am so blessed to have the food and I shelter I have as of now. All the food in this area is not going to run out over night. Folks are just in a panic and frenzy, I can’t let them throw me off my game. I’ve been through it before, fear can not take over my faith now.

All the while I am still worried, just eighty percent less than usual. That’s good enough for now, until the next step is announced.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Follow me @:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

I’m😞Worried Too, BUT….

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

The first day of the store shut downs, I had a deep conversation with a local produce market owner about the pandemic. He was expressing how worried he was about the government enforced shut downs and how it’s going to affect his business. He explained that the border shut down puts his shop in jeapordy, and if things don’t change in a week, he’s in big trouble. He said, “What are we going to do??? All the stores are closed. How are we going to feed our families??? After next week if this doesn’t change, I don’t know what I’m going to do…” He was very emotional as he spoke of the street, which is most popular for it’s restaurants and shops. His eyes were full of fear, and I felt his pain.

It was five o’clock in the evening, and the lights were out for majority of the stores and restaurants on the street. It looked very weird, I had never seen this time of day so dead outside in my life. It felt unreal. I was worried too, as I carefully picked out my items, overthinking my tight budget. I chose to buy many bags of rice from him instead of the franchise store. I like to support small businesses, especially in these times. I visit his shop at least once a week, and I told him that I appreciate his store and his prices. His care for his customers, and fair prices is better than a franchise grocery store. I told him that as well and he smiled as he thanked me.

Although everything seems to be going haywire, I know I will be okay, because of what I have already overcame in my life. But I am still worried, I will admit.

I left him with some wise words of encouragement, that came from my intuition. I will continue in my next blog.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned 🙂

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Follow me @:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

Just Some Thoughts🤔:While We Keep Our😷Distance…..

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

There’s no way I could be bored in admist of the quarantine/chaos/calm this virus has brought to Toronto. Simply observing what’s been going with my fellow man amazes me. I feel as though I am in a movie, not reality. As I woke up this morning I forgot all about it, but after a few seconds passed, It hit me, Oh yaaaa thaaat! Then I sighed, feeling irritable.

Back in high school, I used imagine how it would be to live through a pandemic or plague of the past. Watching documentaries in history class had me fascinated. I couldn’t believe how they adapted to the situation, and they didn’t have the technology and freedoms that we have.

Last week in No Frills, a professionally dressed lady approached me asking if there actually was NO more toilet paper. We were standing in front of bare shelves. I understood her shock, but it surprised me that she looked so puzzled as to what to do next. I proceeded to let her know that a few dollar stores and markets up the road probably had some in stock. I knew that most folks in that area were only going to No Frills, which puzzled me. I was right, the few stores I went in had lots of toilet paper. The prices and sizes were actually fair, and no lines to stand in. Since we are supposed to be practicing social distancing, it was a safer way to go.

People were crammed in those long lines at No Frills like a can of sardines. I decided to take a risk and try a few independent stores. I assumed more people would do the same but, nope!

There was an influx of people headed towards the busy No Frills, I had a feeling majority were going in for bulk toilet paper at a “fair” price. I thought to myself, I guess people can’t get used to not buying certain products from different stores???

I don’t know what it is, but I feel fear is taking over basic common sense, and it’s bigger than toilet paper.

Take Care and Stay Safe, and Stay Tuned 🙂

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Follow me @:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W