So obviously everyone right now is catching up on their favorite shows, and making “Movie Night” the daily norm. I am totally guilty - my boyfriend and I watch a new movie practically everyday day and we’ve already finished The Good Place, a few Netflix docuseries, and rewatched all the Harry Potter films.

But sometimes I need a little break from the screen… to catch up on other things “I never have time for” like reading or listening to an episode of podcast!

So today we decided to round up what we’re reading & listening to incase you are looking for a break from your TV screen as well! You can find all of our book picks here if you’re interested in purchasing them!

SERI

If you guys follow us along on Instagram (which how could you not?!?!) then you know she is running around all day chasing after her kids. I think everyone can relate right now…. taking care of a house, a business, and children is EXHAUSTING. A friend of hers recently recommended The Lazy Genius… It’s a podcast about simple ways reinvent things in your life! A few examples of episodes are: Change Your Life Chicken, Reading in Odd Circumstances, and How to Be Happy with the Gifts You Give. Check them out if you’re look to spice up your quarantine routine!

SHAYLAN

I listen to music nonstop - in my headphones while I work all day and on our speaker if I’m cleaning or cooking, etc. I tried to get into a few podcasts - but I just can’t do it. I’m not the most patient, and even listening at 1.5x speed I find myself silently yelling at the people to hurry up and get to the point. Just not for me. 

I love to read though, always have, and one of my new year’s resolutions was finally join our library. I got my card earlier this year and, before they closed,I flew through a handful of books. I’ve been working on filling my ‘cart’ with ones I want to take out when they eventually reopen. I tried diving into a new book a couple weeks ago but for some reason during this quarantine I just could NOT get focused so I gave up. I am definitely planning to re-read the Harry Potter series for the millionth times soon…I consider them the paper equivalent of comfort food. 

• The best books I read before the library closed

  • The Woman in the Window - A.J. Finn 

  • The Home Edit - Clea Shearer & Joanna Teplin

  • When Life Gives You Lululemons - Lauren Weisberger

• The books in my ‘cart’ for when they reopen

  • Save Me The Plums: MY Gourmet Memoir - Ruth Reichl 

  • The Office (The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s) - Andy Greene

  • Do You Mind If I Cancel? (Things That Still Annoy Me) - Gary Janetti 

  • Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA - Amaryllis Fox

  • The Boy from the Woods - Harlan Coben

One thing I have been devouring though is magazines (fun fact - I read them back to front). I feel like one of the last dinosaurs that subscribes to tons (Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living and more). There’s literally nothing better than bringing a huge stack fo the beach, or on an airplane (ugh, someday). In the meantime I’ve been enjoying flipping through mindlessly on my couch and before bed.

MAGGIE

I REALLY wish I could say I was reading more during this quarantine… but I actually haven’t been reading too much other than my quick skim of daily briefing on my New York Times app. This is mostly because I like to read at night, but every night I have been staying up so late working on art projects, which I usually do while listening to a podcast or watching a show! Mostly Game of Thrones re-watching…

I really do love my podcasts though, and it’s fun to just pop in my headphones and paint while catching up. My favorites are:

• My Favorite Murder

• Armchair Expert

• The Morning Toast

• This American Life

• Crime Junkie

For one quick book suggestions that’s perfect during this time, I’d say dive into Little Fires Everywhere, because then you can also watch the new show on Hulu when you’re finished!

NATALIE

I am definitely more of a podcast girl than a reader. As a kid, I struggled with reading and its just always seemed like a burden to me to read!

So for books this is what I’ve got:

• The Life We Carry by Allen Eskens - Couldn’t put it down when I read it!

• Serial Killers: True Stories of the World's Worst Murderers by Al Cimino - Ok not much to explain here as the title really speaks for itself, haha. What can I say - I love true crime!

• Harry Potter Series - I know, everyone says this but I am reading them for the first time because I’ve been yelled at too many times to count (Maggie & Shaylan are two of these people).

Maggie was really the person who got me into podcasts by introducing me to My Favorite Murder, now I’ve become obsessed and started listening to other podcast series as well!

Podcasts:

• My Favorite Murder - True crime // taboo story telling

• The Rewatchables - Analyzing popular movies (what made them awesome, whats not realistic)

• Pod Save America - Election // political updates from former Obama staff!

• The Big Picture - All about movies! Whats coming out, interviews with directors, and so much more!