Alright, I can’t be the only one who’s buying some crazy stuff while cooped up inside these past 6 months. Online shopping always gets me a little too excited and before you know it, I have 10 items in my cart that I “HAVE TO HAVE”. And with 1-click purchase power, I’ve spent my entire paycheck on something ridiculous in a matter of seconds.
But not all my purchases have been so crazy. Here are some of the investments I’m quite proud of from the past several months.
A Simple Countertop Wine Rack
I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’ve been drinking more at home since the lockdown in March, and have been regularly stocking my home with bottles of wine. At first, they would line my counters, standing up like soldiers side by side. Every day I worried about accidentally knocking one over if I wasn’t careful. There’s long debate whether wine should be stored on its side or not, but either way having a classy, mature space to organize my new collection became a clear necessity during quarantine. I opted for this inexpensive 9-bottle countertop rack sold on Amazon. It’s been a great addition to my kitchen ever since!
A Hybrid Bike
This is my latest purchase but probably the one I’ve been considering the longest, and easily the most expensive. While it’s been years since I’ve ridden a bike, living in Richmond has inspired me to get back on the bicycle saddle. Maybe I was inspired by my proximity to the Virginia Capital Trail or seeing the new bike lanes recently painted in my neighborhood, but the decision was cemented when I realized the impact it could have if I were to replace driving with biking and cut down my carbon emissions in the future.
Other people were also inspired to purchase bikes recently, and until I started my shopping pursuits did I realize how hard it would be to buy a bike right now. After calling around all of the local bike shops, I finally spoke to the people at Pedal Power and a few weeks later they had a new bike in stock that they held for me to come check out. The staff at Pedal Power were extremely kind, helpful, and made sure I got all of the stuff I needed. They even offer a year of tune-ups for free.
While the selection wasn’t vast, the 2021 Kona Dew I ended purchasing is a great fit. Pictured above, this gravel hybrid bike, who I’ve named Diana, is a dream to ride. We’ve only gone out for three long rides to-date, but I’m excited about the future adventures that await.
A French Press
So it took me until July to realize that I needed to upgrade my home coffee game. I’d grown too accustomed to splurging daily on fancy espresso drinks from my local coffee shop for upward of $5/latte (dairy alternatives are mad steep). What started as my personal contribution to Ironclad, a Richmond business I love and couldn’t dare let go under as a result of the lock-down, became a needless gash in my income and I was unnecessarily hemoraging money to fill my addiction.
After spending two weeks away in July using this Le Creuset® french press nearly every day, I couldn’t imagine my future without it. So I purchased one for myself from Crate&Barrel, ensuring I could get it in the exclusive Ink blue color to match my other dinnerwear.
Numerous Indoor Plants
Perhaps it’s because I missed getting out into nature or because I wanted a way to brighten the space I felt trapped inside of, I’ve added five new plants to my already lush living room since the lockdown started. All were purchased and potted PlantBar here in Richmond, another small Virginia-based company I’m very fond of. Not only did I feel good about supporting another local business, but there’s evidence to support that having and caring for indoor plants could help with stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
A Bunch of New Spices
As previously mentioned in my last post, I’ve been spending more time in the kitchen exploring ways to cook new ingredients and trying out new recipes. So naturally, I’ve needed to spice things up, stocking my cabinet with new spices I’ve never cooked with before, including turmeric, curry, Italian seasoning, cajun, everything bagel blend, dill, ginger, and many more.
An Educational Sake Subscription
If you can’t go to Japan (or any other country right now) why not bring Japan to you? And what better way than to experience the foreign country than through the national beverage, am I right?
Truthfully, while all my friends were baking bread, learning to play the guitar, or starting a side hustle on Etsy, I decided to combine two of my favorite hobbies – travel and drinking and embrace a new interest of sake tasting. So I subscribed to a bi-monthly subscription box with Tippsy. Each box had a few sample bottles and cards outlining all the information about each sake – where they’re from, details on their taste profiles, how they should be served, etc. It’s been a great way to learn about sake and try different kinds, risk-free.
Everyday Athleta Masks
Up until last week I’d been rotating between a few disposable masks I’d acquired and handmade masks I’d grown impatient with hand washing every so often. I was craving a set of easy, adjustable masks I could just toss into the washing machine with laundry. That’s when I was served an ad for Athleta masks on Instagram. I was interested but not ready to commit.
A few days later I was talking with a friend about seeing them on Instagram, when she confessed that she’d already purchased the same ones and they were on their way to her home that very day.
Still not 100% convinced I should buy them, I saw another friend post about purchasing them on social media with a raving review of their comfort, simplicity, and reliability. “OK. I’m sold,” I thought to myself, and within minutes had the masks in my shopping cart and purchased with Apple Pay. The masks arrived 3 business days later and I’ve been pleased with my purchase since.
What pandemic purchases are you proud of? Share in the comments.
Marissa Osowsky 