Most Dolls have experienced a break up that really shook them. Throw a pandemic into the mix and you better believe that this has been a rough one for Dani. This Doll’s relationship with her then-boyfriend became very strained during the Covid-19 pandemic and although they tried to work on it, it soon became clear that it was time for Dani Doll to move on and move out. Enter: Blue Crates.
(Dani here)! First of all, thank you to each and every one of you who reached out on Instagram. Caitlin and I both decided to lead our accounts with honesty – and that comes with the “messy” parts too. Keep reading for the whole scoop.
We have always been advocates of social justice and equality for all and in our quest to support the Black Lives Matter Movement, we were introduced to Blue Crates, a black owned business. Now we’d like to introduce Blue Crates to you.
Blue Crates is an on-demand storage and moving company. What this means is… If you’re living in a Chicago apartment or condo truth be told, you always feel like you need more space and more places to store your belongings. Blue Crates is the solution, you can store your seasonal wardrobe and holiday decorations or even utilize the service to store your items during a move.
You can listen to our latest Doll Talk Podcast episode with Mike, the owner of Blue Crates, here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1019914/5123395
It all began during the shelter in place orders, I was craving some serious space in my West Loop apartment. It became clear that Blue Crates was the best option to help me out.
It’s so simple, you register online at https://bluecrates.com/ and they deliver your storage boxes and wardrobe boxes. When you’re done filling up the boxes, Blue crates sends someone to come and pick them up. You keep a log of your items being stored and when you need your stuff again you can order it to be delivered by a click on your computer screen.
I had originally planned to store my Fall/Winter wardrobe and Christmas decorations but the universe had a different plan for me. My relationship with my then-boyfriend Kevin became very strained during the Covid-19 pandemic and led to us breaking up. Blue Crates has been a Godsend because the boxes showed up at the perfect time to change from storing a wardrobe to moving out of our shared apartment.
With Caitlin by my side, I found the strength to pack up and move out. The road to healing has began and I will let you all know when I am ready to start dating again. Until further notice, Blue Crates will store her items using one of their affordable plans.
I’m taking this post as an opportunity to share with you 5 tips about how I’ve managed to heal and move into a better place post breakup.
- Surround yourself with people who love you unconditionally: This can be certain family members or friends. These people love you no matter what so don’t be afraid to be messy in front of them. I have no idea where I’d be without my nearest and dearest. They have moved me, helped me store my belongings, housed me, fed me, hugged me, wiped my tears and have made sure that everyday I’m doing better than the day before. My break up started mid May and finally concluded with a move out on August 1st. The hardest time for me was during the actual move out process. I allowed myself to feel all the ways my soul needed to feel. Struggled with the loss, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep and wanted the pain to go away. I decided to take the healthy route to healing and limit drinking or activities that would put more stress on my body. Stay away from people who are energy vampires or selfish – Now is not the time to deal with their drama. You need to focus on you.
- Get out in nature: Luckily, I have a best Doll out in the Aspen area and she welcomed me with open arms to spend 10-days at her home. While I was in town we hiked, took a boat down the river and camped by the Roaring Fork River, something I’ve never done before. Reconnecting with nature shifted my perspective in a very positive way. I understand that going to Colorado may not be an option for everyone. Find a local forest preserve and get lost for a few hours. Sit by a lake and stare aimlessly at the waves or look up some local camping spots and get off the grid. Being in nature is grounding, helps you see the bigger picture and calms your entire being.
- Take care of your mental health: Don’t be so hard on yourself. My mental health was most important to me and I found a therapist to guide me through this difficult time. If you need a therapist and budget is an issue here are some resources that are willing to work with you, explain your Covid financial situation and what is happening with you – They want to help you.
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- Community Counseling: 778.769.0205 / https://www.c4chicago.org/
- The Family Institute at North Western University: 847/733-4300, ext. 748 / www.family-institute.org
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- Selfcare: Make sure you work out to keep your endorphins pumping through your body and stay in shape. Get a massage or a facial – Relax. Keep a routine. Commit to the breakup by blocking your ex on Social Media and other forms of communication.
- HAVE FUN! Keep yourself occupied with things that make you happy. Focus on your happiness. Stay busy and keep exploring. I’ve come to learn that like so many events in life, breakups are a redirection of energy. Dive into work — When you’re ready join a dating app — I joined Hinge for the first time and I’m really enjoying being open to meeting new men.
You can listen to our latest Doll Talk Podcast episode with Mike, the owner of Blue Crates, here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1019914/5123395
We would love to share the gift of Blue Crates with you – Use the Code Doll1free for your first month of storage for free. Storage plans start at $10 per month.