During this time, two things have completely changed for me: I’ve been cooking more, and one of my favorite activities, going to the grocery store, has been tainted. Instead of a fun, almost relaxing experience, it’s now a stressful one I try to avoid at all costs. But since I’m […]
Daniel Modlin
22 posts
Now is a great time to take on some projects, and an all-time favorite of mine is making ice cream. Growing up, my dad always wanted to make Meyer Lemon sorbet from the tree in the backyard, and when we finally got him an ice cream maker, he was delighted […]
Exercise is great. But exercising when you don’t even know you are is even better. With a stability ball as a chair, you can strengthen your core while working. Or you can do an intense ab workout on them, whatever you prefer. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home office […]
One of my fondest memories is when my good friend discovered the Chemex pour over. I remember going to his house and watching him go through the whole routine — weighing beans, boiling water to the exact right temperature, and pouring it in concentric circles over the grounds. It seemed a […]
I love coffee, but tea is a close second. Coffee always feels more like a go-go-go type drink. I’m literally drinking coffee to stay awake. But tea is more of a ritual, a ceremony. Whenever I drink it, I get to sit back, relax, and enjoy the presence of others, […]
If you’re looking for a way to stay occupied, you could bake bread or pick up a new hobby, but better yet, why not go back to school. Online classes are a great way to learn a new skill during this time. Whether that’s how to make a great cup […]
Now is an excellent time to take advantage of all your backyard has to offer. Sunlight, fresh air, and blue skies are hard to come by these days, but there is an abundance right outside the backdoor. And while your work from home set up might be a thing of […]
Whether you just got a new puppy or have had a dog for years, you probably already know that your dog bed better be washable. While I love dogs, they are prone to messes. Even though dogs should instinctually not relieve themselves in their beds, things happen. Whether that’s them […]
During this time, I’ve felt more connected to a lot of my friends. Not the ones I live in the same city as, but ones from other parts of my life, who I may have talked to less when things were normal. Now, Zoom has leveled the playing field and […]
Just because you can’t walk into your favorite local store right now doesn’t mean you should stop shopping there. In fact, they might have exactly what you need to feel normal again. Whether it’s a perfect quarantine dress or some home goods to spruce up your space, these stores are […]
I don’t know about you but my routine has been disrupted. It seems like everything is off, even things we don’t normally talk about. We’ve been spending more time indoors, exercising less, eating differently, drinking more, and all of these things change and affect the way our bodies work and […]
I am fortunate enough to be quarantining with my girlfriend. Some people are trapped at home, with their kids around 24/7. And while that might be stressful, what’s even more frightening is going through all of this (gestures wildly) alone. If you know someone living alone right now, a small […]
While I might have some controversial opinions about cats, there’s one thing I can say for sure: they’re pretty easy to care for. Unlike their canine counterparts, they are easily entertained and don’t require much maintenance. A litter box and a few toys is really all you need. But, if […]
I think proper drinkware is essential. You have to have a good rocks glass (clear preferably), a good highball, and wine glasses are a must. And even though we’re all cooped up, that doesn’t mean you should stop doing things the way they were meant to be done. A Moscow […]
Ali Philippides is the Senior Product Manager here at the Beast, and while I’ve only known her for a few months, I’ve already heard plenty of stories about her going from (pretty much) couch to marathon. I’ve always wanted to run a marathon, and really enjoy long distance running, and […]
Getting a gift for no reason is always nice. It makes it feel like the holidays are upon us. Well, the good part of the holidays: the presents (and the food). Giving gifts after all, is just a thoughtful way to show that you do in fact care. Even now, […]
Construction noise is just a thing we have to learn to deal with. So is our partner’s snoring (not saying that mine does, I’m probably the one). But we’re allowed to try to make our lives easier, especially now, with little hacks. One of those is ear plugs. Ear plugs […]
I have been typing a lot. I’m typing right now. And when I’m typing, I have to hunch over my laptop, and slouch my shoulders. It really hurts my back. And then I got an external keyboard. It has really helped me by creating some distance between my screen and […]
It’s starting to get warmer, and even though I have AC, I am someone who is perennially hot, especially at night. A great way to avoid this is with an additional fan. Box fans are great options because they’re sleek and can be easily stored when you’re not using them. […]
Being at home this long, or really, just in one place for this long, has led me to see how much waste I produce. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot more than I thought. But I’m not here to shame anyone, in fact, quite the opposite. I think there are plenty […]
During this time, I have been on a hunt for the perfect quarantine clothing. Up to this point, I feel like I’ve done pretty well so far, but a big area that has eluded me has been shoes. I’ve even gone so far as to wonder if shoes are really […]
Part of why I love reading books is because I love talking about books with other people. And Pulitzer Prize winning books are always thought-provoking, of course, but even more so, they give us all a reason to all get on the same page. This year’s winners are all excellent, […]