How Dorinda Medley *Makes It Nice* During Her Berkshires Self-Quarantine
The Real Housewives of New York City mom shares how she's staying busy and positive at Blue Stone Manor during trying times.
Dorinda Medley's famous Berkshires, Massachusetts estate, dubbed Blue Stone Manor, is known for its boisterous and boozy parties, over-the-top Christmas decorations, and the iconic, hotly-debated fish room. Lately, though, the vibe on the property is calmer and more peaceful.
While the world deals with the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), The Real Housewives of New York City mom and her daughter, Hannah, have left their Manhattan apartment and are hunkered down at their weekend home indefinitely. And in true Dorinda fashion, the entertaining pro is making the best of a tough situation: "You know, I never really get to spend a lot of time up here," Dorinda shared with BravoTV.com. "I’m a weekender, I come on Friday and [leave] on Monday morning. So, it’s been really nice to dig in up here."
Still, even in the most beautiful of homes, self-isolation can cause anyone to get a little stir-crazy. In her own words, here's how Dorinda adds a little something *nice* to every day.
1. Get outside
The great thing about being up here [in the Berkshires] is I can walk on my property because I have 13 acres and it helps so much just to get outside, for me, and listen to nature — and realize that, you know what? This too shall pass. Because like it or not, nature continues on. There’s a lesson in that. The birds are out, the trees are going to blossom.
2. Tackle projects you've been putting off
Do some projects that you’ve been putting on hold that you feel like you never have time to get to... We’ve been doing a lot of fun, little projects. I start off with a tremendous list — an ambitious list every day. And then, about 3 o'clock I give up and I just go to sleep.
3. Try a new hobby
I’ve been practicing a lot of Jell-O recipes. I’m back into Jell-O. I was at [my mother's] house a week ago... So, I had taken a box over and she actually had an official 1970s Jell-O book… Jell-O used to be very big when we were growing up. It was the happy dessert that was low-cost.
4. Give in to the process
When I first came up [to the Berkshires], I was like, “Oh, Hannah, we’ll go up for a couple of weeks and we’ll come back.” We barely packed enough contacts. And now, I’m just like, “You know, this is it. Until otherwise notified, this is it" — which is great because it’s allowed me to reset a bit.
Give into the process. You know, we have to stop thinking, “How long? How long? How long?” And start being like, “This is the real. This is where we are right now.”
Season 12 of The Real Housewives of New York City premieres Thursday, April 2, at 9/8c.
