Q(uar) & A is a series of interviews with some of our favorite storytellers and creators about how they’re living while in lockdown.

Chanel Parks is just a girl in the world, waiting for someone to tell her “that’ll do pig, that’ll do.”

Where are you currently sheltering in place? 

In Maryland with my sister, who has a huge house, a treadmill, a million TVs, a backyard, a deck, and suitable wifi. 🙂

What does your face mask look like? 

My main mask is one I ordered from a friend I met when I used to produce shoots for work. She has a namesake clothing brand, Simone, and she’s now dedicated to making these satin masks that are so luxe and wonderful. I mean, if I have to wear a mask for the next decade (lol), then it should be chic, no? It’s a delicate shade of pink and goes with pretty much every outfit.

Do you follow any kind of routine at this moment?

Hmm, well I’ve never been one to really have a set routine, because my mind is the equivalent of a Chrome window with 25+ tabs open. But, I picked up some habits lately. I now exercise which is wild, because I hate exercising. I try to do it at least 3 days a week at around 5 or 5:30PM. I do guided treadmill runs with the Aaptiv app and I also do strength/bodyweight exercises on the Nike Training app (PREMIUM IS FREE RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE GO GET IT). The Nike workouts make me say “fuuuuck” the entire time I do them, but they’re good. Another thing is that I try to do a creative project or two on the weekends, whether it’s collaging, trying an intricate makeup look, teaching myself a song on the keyboard, or cooking an extravagant dish.

What are some pieces of entertainment that you have consumed and loved during this time?

OK, for some reason I’ve been really bad at binge watching and by that I mean that I keep watching Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on Food Network (cable, baby!) instead of streaming. I’ve always been obsessed with Triple D and I watch the same episodes over and over. Now, though, Guy and his family are doing a quarantine version of Triple D where they Zoom with some of their favorite restaurant chefs and cook their famous dishes. It’s wonderful! His sons names are Hunter and Ryder and it’s like the whitest thing ever, but it’s wholesome.

Anyway, I did watch Normal People (so sad, so sexy!), I’m keeping up with Killing Eve, and my sister, her kids, and I were obsessed with Making the Cut, which is basically Project Runway but on Amazon Prime. Oh, and I’m reading Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides and I’m LIVING for this mythological tale.

Are you working on anything during this time? And if you’re having trouble “creating” things at the moment, how are you dealing, if at all? 

I always see myself as a writer, and that’s where my career started. But since then, I’ve distanced myself professionally from writing because I’m a big ol’ sellout. I want to write my own things, but I’m having a hard time actually committing to it. I have all of the ideas, they just need to bloom into reality. Also, I paid for Scrivener so I might as well use it. What I think is happening to me, which is something that a lot of people might be going through, is that I’m putting this enormous pressure on myself to create my magnum opus during “this time,” but in true Chanel fashion, if it’s not related to a job I get paid for, I just procrastinate. So, we’ll see!

Have you taken up any new hobbies? 

There’s the exercise thing! But for the first couple of weeks, I would do the mini NYT crosswords every night and then play Subway Surfers, the only phone game I will ever download.

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten so far during quar? 

OK, so my sister and I made Samin Nosrat’s The Big Lasagna recipe and I’ll tell you what I’ve been telling everyone: it’s BAAAANGIN. I made the lasagna noodle/sheets which was tedious, but so rewarding at the end of it. I recommend!

What’s your current iPhone wallpaper and what’s the story behind it? 

A few months ago I found this photo on Twitter that is a grid of celebrities reacting to the La La Land and Moonlight Oscar debacle. I immediately made it my phone background (after having the same background for YEARS). My favorite is Ryan Gosling’s face because that would be my response. I don’t love that Mel Gibson is on this, but he’s usually covered up so it’s fine, I guess.

What’s the best quar purchase you’ve made so far?

Let me just say that the amount of things I’ve purchased during quar is ridiculous. Anyway, I was persuaded by a TV commercial to buy Tommy John underwear and it’s the best underwear ever. EVER. Honestly, I need to write about it because I am so impressed. It feels like you don’t have underwear on and it’s just like, ugh, so good.

Who are the writers, storytellers, or makers who are bringing you great joy right now?

Twitter.com.

Find Chanel on Instagram @chanelinezp and on Twitter @chanelinezp.