AK Black Book

Self-isolation cheat sheet

We know what I intended to be doing. But how did quarantine turn out after all?

Cooking

This has been featuring strongly in the agenda and NOT in a “research healthy options to counterbalance inactive lifestyle” way. On the contrary, it has been super comfort, mostly fatty bites to counterbalance the pressing need for absent hugs. Alternating from savoury to sweet in a perpetual circle of fatness, I admit it has been ultra delightful.

Highlights include:

Falafel, Pizza, Prawn curry,
Quinoa salads (I don’t know how this made its way to the list)

Zillion-calorie morning smoothie (yum – I’ll get back to you for this one)

Bougatsa, Galaktoboureko, Tsoureki, Ice-cream

Trusting what the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay, Genaro Contaldo, Nigella, Akis, Argiro have to offer but also checking out niche bloggers & youTubers.

Workouts

There is no shortage of amazing workouts out there to suit literally a n y taste but it’s gonna have to be Tracy Anderson for me and I urge you to take a look. The woman has been training Madonna, Shakira & JLo, among others, and she can train you for free too while in quarantine. Or you can buy a full program if you prefer.
Fair warning : her routines are brutal.

Recommendations to get you going:
TA METHOD EXPRESS
(let it roll over to sections 2-6 for a complete workout or just do as much as you can handle )

TAM PRECISION TONING
(auto-play through to workout 4 or suit yourself)

The Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout
(this one is a full workout in itself)

Onwards, just keep exploring – she has tons of great material online.

Watching & Listening

I am well past my binge-watching glory and even now, I can’t seem to source enough time to indulge in this activity.

What I am watching & listening goes roughly like this:

Ozark (only series at the moment & highly recommend)

Russel Brand Videos

Garry Vee home sessions (vertical viewing though – constantly skipping to the parts that seem interesting)

Live performances from both professionals and courageous friends

The occasional blockbuster musical

Fitness, beauty & DIY videos

Beauty

The No-Makeup Makeup is king. You know, the one where you need to make a full effort to look as if you have no makeup on…

Some nutrition and MASKS whenever I get to remember.

It’s also time for a balcony tan.

Face yoga seems to be yielding results . Check out the links.

A sabbatical from all salon treatments is a must and will do wonders for the image. Just abstain and don’t try to replicate anything at home.

I am single obviously and don’t necessarily recommend this route if you are living with a significant other. Except for the No-Makeup Makeup which is an absolute must. Try your hand in it here.

Reading

Self-isolation has not promoted my reading habits in any way – on the contrary, I am reading less than my normal quota.

But what am I reading?

Some classics (e.g. Charles Dickens, Vassilis Vassilikos), poetry (my aunt has a new book out), Mickey Mouse (comes with the paper and is remarkably exhilarating)

My favourite blogs and newsletters, e.g. Mark Manson & Alain De Botton.

Art News, like mad, to get a feeling of the global community’s response to the emergency and determine what happens next.