Today I’m sharing a before and after tour of my kitchen remodel with you through pictures and videos.
Before and After Kitchen Remodel (video)
If you’re like me you love a good before and after. I love watching HGTV with my husband and watching a whole house undergo a transformation in about 30-60 minutes. It’s so satisfying.
For the past 5 weeks I’ve been an eye witness to my own kitchen remodel and it’s been a lot of fun! I have loved being able to watch the whole process from demolition to finished product. I am happier with the end result than I thought I would be! I made a video so you can see the kitchen remodel afters better than you would be able to in pictures.
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The idea…
Greg and I had an idea to make better use of the space in our kitchen.
As you can see in the picture we had a wall that wasn’t being utilized to its full potential. There was also an arch that we wanted to knock down to make the kitchen look bigger and brighter.
I feel like this part of the remodel was the biggest transformation ever! Look how that wall filled with cabinets and the arch knocked down makes such a big difference!
We also decided to pull out the island and make it much larger.
You can tell how much floor space we had between where the kitchen ended and where the living room started.
So why not pull the island out and make it larger?
There’s still plenty of space for a walkway but now the island is a beautiful centerpiece of the kitchen.
Don’t you love the clean lines on the ceiling now?
The arch gone really makes it so much more open and bright! Everything just flows and is less choppy.
We chose a 3×6 inch gray subway tile as the back splash. I love how the tile goes around the kitchen window. The sink is a composite material and is one huge vessel with no dividers. I love it already!
One thing that I am so excited about is my new Cafe Range. It is dual fuel so it has a gas top and the oven is electric. Perfect for cooking and perfect for baking. The double oven is a huge bonus and perfect for the many batches of cookies I’ll be baking. The hood is GE and it’s the first time I’ve ever had a proper venting hood!
I am in love with my kitchen and am so grateful and happy to have it completed! Now to get cooking!!!
Contractors and Materials…
Contractor: We hired a general contractor to manage the whole remodel. Scott Janke did a wonderful job and his guys do meticulous work. I can honestly say that I was happy with the timeline he followed and the quality of work that was done. They did demo, installed can lights, fixed tile, knocked down the arch, installed under-mounted cabinet lights, put a gas line in, tiled the back splash, installed the gas range, etc. I recommend hiring Janke Contstruction for your remodeling projects.
Counter tops: The counters and sink were from Marble Ventures. They are a white quartz with gray specks. The quartz is from Han Stone and it’s called Aurora Snow. The sink is a composite sink and it’s called “smoke gray.”
Cabinets: The cabinets were made and installed by Legacy Mill. We went with a soft white color and the island is called pigeon gray. The drawer pulls are a brushed nickel (T-bar pull brushed nickel berenson hardware). Legacy Mill worked so hard to meet our timeline expectations. We were so grateful and happy with the work they did.
Back Splash: After searching fruitlessly for the perfect subway tile in gray all around town I finally ordered a tile online from Home Depot. I was crossing my fingers that it would be perfect. And it was! The name is “Jeffrey Court Wolfe Grey 3 in. x 6 in. Glossy Ceramic Wall Tile.”
Stools: I ordered my bar stools from Amazon* and assembled them in about 30 minutes. They are super cute and you can easily wipe them off.
Range and Hood and Microwave: I ordered the range, hood and microwave directly from GE. I haven’t use them much yet because this project literally got finished yesterday. But I can’t wait to start using them!
- Café™ 30″ Smart Slide-In, Front-Control, Dual-Fuel, Double-Oven Range with Convection
- GE® 30″ Wall-Mount Pyramid Chimney Hood
- GE Profile™ 2.2 Cu. Ft. Countertop Sensor Microwave Oven
Flooring: We kept the same tile flooring that we had before. It is Mohawk brand and it’s name is Treyburne Antique Chateau.
Thank You Giveaway
Because I’m so appreciative of you being here I’m giving away a $50 Amazon gift card. To enter the giveaway tell me one creative or non-traditional way that you have helped or served someone during this quarantine period. I love hearing fun ideas like this! Please leave me a comment below to enter the giveaway. We need some positivity in our lives right now!!!
The giveaway will end on 4/24/20. Thank you for being here and making this blog possible!!!
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I have been delighted to see that there are so many loving and generous people in our world today. It has been a year of isolation for all of us and often the news that we see or read about is all negative. I live in a 55 and over community and it seems with each year we see more and more people trying to find a new way to get along in this world as a “new” single due to divorce or being widowed. As my way of dealing with Covid isolation I make a point to check on these neighbors. Some of the things I do are taking someone to the dentist, Checking on another person when her lights were left on inside and out for a extended period of time but she was not seen moving about and was not answering her phone, Holding a ladder regularly for a man who insists on trimming his trees and bushes, and of course (since we don’t go out anymore and I am always cooking) sharing the bounty from our kitchen with anyone that would like it.
This last part is due to spending this year practicing your recipe’s in my Instant Pot a couple of times a week. Thank you so very much for making it so much easier to learn this new way of cooking!
What a great find. We are remodeling our kitchen and having been using the Instant Pot for our meals. Thanks for more meal ideas. Also questions: I also like to cook and bake. Have you liked your quartz counter tops? Can you oil them and put bread dough on them without staining etc. What color is your paint in the kitchen area?
Thanks
I’ve liked them. I worry about them so I am very careful and haven’t put anything hot on them or oil. I have a sherwin williams paint called agreeable gray.
Woww!!! OMG!! This is the real job you have done it. I am stunned with this exceptionally awesome before and after look of your kitchen. The remodelling job you have done is really beautiful and very inspiring, keep sharing more!!
I have done videos for our children’s ministry.
I’m so excited to see some of these comments!
I’ve been calling my Mother, making cards, and mailing cards as often as I can!
Beautiful kitchen.
I just wanted to comment on your kitchen. It was not bad before but it missed the mark in many areas. You must have wondered “why did they do that”? The subway tile is beautiful. the longer wall of cupboards makes sense. I disliked the curved upper wall, thought it strange, and think your new open kitchen is bright and open.
I am still working up to using my InstaPot. having bought it summer before last. I’m scared of it.
I help my husband doing updates from our Kentucky Governor, Andy Beshear’s daily speech on what s going on in our state relating to Covid 19. We are deaf. We watch and write down the notes with important information. After this, I set up his iPhone and start LIVE thru Facebook. He gives on a summary on information thru American Sign Language. Our deaf people love what he s doing. Even more, many deaf people outside our state are watching our show daily. We also do Facebook LIVE on ringing bell as everyone in our state is doing at 10:00am daily. I use our multipurpose room’s light switch to turn the light off and on while my husband does the sign language with ringing the bell. We answer any questions they ask thru Facebook. We really enjoy helping out our deaf community thru Social Media since second week of March. Stay safe! God bless!
I wanted a unique way to think healthcare workers. So, I created a stop motion video using a dry erase board and cute stick figures. 🙂
I think your new kitchen is amazing! Rotating the island made a huge difference! I made PATRIOTIC Masks and pet bandanas for my neighbors, friends, relatives, vet personnel and mail persons. But I think my biggest contribution is offering smiles and engaging people in short light-hearted conversations, especially those who seem to be frustrated and/or upset. Sometimes it just helps to realize that we are all in this together and thanking a store employee who has just been berated by an angry person for doing his/her job can diffuse tension. Helping a person to find a substitute for the elastic that is no longer available makes the project less daunting. I try to make people feel better, and appreciated…and even if it doesn’t help them, it helps me!
We made dinner and dessert for our missionaries here in our branch in South Dakota! One of them was having a birthday! It was fun to find an instant pot recipe that was gluten free to make for him! I love all of your recipes! Your site is the first place I go to when looking for recipes. I use your instant pot greek yogurt recipe at least two times a month! Your kitchen makeover is beautiful! I am sure your family will enjoy for years to come! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve made meals and treats for my neighbor who lives alone. I’m sure it’s awful to eat and cook alone for months on end.
I have made masks for neighbors, my mail carrier and her mom. Also have put little goodies out for my postal carrier and send coloring and simple worksheets to my 2 younger grand children
I have been helping my sister who had a double mastectomy a couple of weeks ago–providing care, cleaning, cooking and other help she needs. I have also been sending out cards to people, collecing and distributing masks.
Made several masks. I’m one of the high risk, so I don’t get out much these days. I daily make a point to contact my sister, living in another stat. We use to communicate every couple of weeks. Also try to touch base with friends via phone weekly. A lot are like me, older and live alone, it’s nice sometimes to just hear a voice.
Have been making and sending cards to friends many miles away. I want them to know how much I appreciate their friendship. I have also been making new dishes and treats for my husband, daughter and grandchildren. Today I baked a lemon Bundt cake that everyone loved when we tried it a couple of weeks ago. We all need to feel loved during our lockdown.
I have been baking and cookie for our elderly neighbors
I have been making fabric masks for the hospitals and for friends and family. We are also ordering from our favorite restaurants once or twice a week to help them . We don’t want them to close because of lack of customers. Since we are under stay-at-home orders, we are also doing video conferencing with family. This is especially important for us to stay in touch with our younger grandchildren.
our family has supported our small locally owned restaurants by ordering take out a few times a week from places we always thought “i wonder how they are” but never visited. we have tried so many different places in a five mile radius of our home. yay local!!!
I have made face masks for family and friends and also joined a team making masks for local hospital. I have made a few meals for my mother in law and my mom who are both staying home in the safety of their homes. I have also crocheted flowers and tucked them inside encouragement cards to send to family and friends. Praying this pandemic ends soon and our lives can get back to normal!
P.S. This is my favorite place to come for Instant Pots recipes!
I’ve made hand sanitizer and bread for my friends. Feels good to do something for them after they did so much for me while my husband was in and out of the hospital from Nov-Feb.
This is one of the best articles I have seen in a long time! Thank you for sharing~
https://mlmimprovementsllc.com/kitchen-and-bathroom-remodeling/
I love your kitchen!
I am a kindergarten teacher. Staying connected to my students is so important! So not only do I send a weekly academic calendar for them to use, I also video chat and send many videos. The kids loved seeing me in my jammies doing Letter Aerobics with my homemade pom poms.
I sent my niece and nephew a 6′ ‘inflatable rainbow for the rainbow project.
Beautiful kitchen
I am so jealous of your beautiful kitchen! I was supposed to have an IP gathering so I could help my nieces with their new IP’s but then this happened so we moved to a Zoom gathering. I have been using Zoom to stay connected with my family and friends.
Love your kitchen! I’ve had to face time my grandson. We sang happy birthday to my daughter in law from 6 feet away from her doorway. I took loaves of bread to neighbors. Trying to find some way to serve everyday…
TI try to call or FaceTime with my parents everyday. I sent a note to my niece and nephew that live 1,200 miles away.
I have used many of your recipes and loved most of them. Some I have tweaked for my own tastes but for the most part love them as you have presented them. Next I plan to try your South Dakota reciped for Indian tacos. Sounds so good, I can’t wait.
Love your blog here. I receive your recipes in my email for the instant pot. I have tried several and just used your instant pot pot roast one last night. Through reading your recipes and directions I have also learned a great deal about how to use my instant pot and how to adapt my own recipes to use in my instant pot. I have several of your recipes magneted to my refrigerator door. Lol. I plan to try each of them this week. I’m enjoying cooking again because of you. Thanks.
Love your updated kitchen! Turning the bar the other direction and making it longer was a great idea!
Our son-in-law got laid off the first week of the quarantine. He has been doing college classes online (and working full-time) since January, but has now decided to do a college boot camp, so he can get done quickly and find a job faster in the field he wants. We donated our stimulus checks to get him started. It is such a blessing to know he’s doing his best to provide for our daughter!
Love the remodel!!! I picked the exact same tiles for the backsplash in my new house that’s being built. Good to see them on your’s. Now I know I’m going to love them :))). Cannot go out so helping friends by having them call me and vent when necessary. I have big shoulders and don’t judge.
Love the new kitchen lots of questions. Where do you store your pots? Do you have a pantry? Did you reuse any cabinets from the old kitchen? How long since last renovation?
I store the pots in a deep drawer. I have a food pantry and I also have an appliance closet. I didn’t reuse the old cabinets. This home was built in 2005 and this is the original kitchen.
I have sent my father food deliveries when able. He and his wife are both over 80 and live out of state in a home alone. She is a survivor from a brain aneurysm and stroke who recently broke her hip at home during this crisis. With both time spent at the hospital and now in an acute rehab facility, he has been unable to visit her due to social distancing constraints. Having some alternative food options is all I can muster at the moment since I’m a front line healthcare provider who needs to be present and accounted for during the pandemic.
I am a district resource teacher, and I created flash cards for my teachers to send home to their special ed kids and families. These kids are not able to do traditional paper-pencil worksheets or attend classes online. This way parents can be involved productively. I am trying to think “outside the box” and think of new ways to reach these kids. Am currently tinkering with making online books personalized for each student.
Love your kitchen! 😍
Being an art teacher at a therapeutic day school, I’m sending my students postcards to draw on and mail back to me. I am writing a simple encouraging message on one side, so that they can create their own image on the other. I’m hoping to share it online with their classmates as we finish up the school year remotely.
I’m a MS math teacher and love what you’re doing! Hang in there!! Teaching remotely is so time consuming, and we are missing out on what we love most about teaching – interaction with those kids! I’m always thrilled to see mine via Google Meet!
Thanks for encouraging your students in this way!!
I have been making face masks for my community. I have now sewn over 100. My small ministry during this time of need
Our church has collected and donated socks and hand/ feet warmers to the homeless. I am volunteering at a mobile food pantry.
I have worked at and donated to my school district’s program to provide food for our students and their families during our school closure….I’m a teacher who misses her kiddos!!
We donated some food to our church’s
food bank that’s being used now to help feed families of those who aren’t able to work due to jobs closing down. I’ve also put in several hours as a teacher prepping everything for online learning. It’s definitely a lot more work than meets the eye, but I’m grateful to still be able to having a paying job as well as a chance to check in on my students. 😊
I made chicken vegetable soup for a friend who has leukemia. She recently had a bone marrow transplant and is now home recovering. Made banana bread for my sister-in-law and nieces.
I have another friend in the hospital who was just diagnosed with leukemia. Keeping in contact with her and her husband in hopes of encouraging them.
On Easter I wrote encouraging messages in chalk on the sidewalks of my kids and grandkids home.
LOVE your remodel! It’s not in out budget right now but was happy to get some new windows and an upcoming paint job! Will keep your photos as an inspiration. Happy Cooking! Keep ’em coming!!!
Beautiful kitchen remodel!
Made gift bags for hospital staff in my area for Easter stuffed with candy, and cleaning products and masks in hopes of brightening their day even for a moment during this pandemic.
I haven’t done much to help with this disease. I manage an apartment building so I have sanitize door handles and railings like crazy. I cleaned out 3 different apartments since people moved out. It has been a crazy couple of weeks. I have helped my 5 year old with her homework since their schools are closed.
I have been sending cards and texting people I met on a missions trip who are also in quarantine and trying to be an encouragement to everyone I come in contact with.
Your kitchen is beautiful! I had my left knee replaced 3 weeks before things were shut down so I haven’t been able to do as much to help out as I would like but I did make masks for my husband and i. I also have a daughter who works at an essential business so I made her a couple of masks too.
I went into the hospital just before this all happened…two kidney stones removed and straight into a rehab facility that was locked down the day after I entered.
My family has only been allowed to visit me by standing outside my window and talking on the phone.
It has been hard on all of the residents here to not have their families around them but I did notice that many had bird feeders outside of their windows. My husband set up a feeder for me and I asked if it was ok if he filled he other empty feeders. The residents were thrilled to have the birds visiting their feeders again and it made me feel good too!!!
What a wonderful husband! Get well soon!
I donated some masks to a local senior housing community, I also grocery shop for seniors in the community.
I work at a pet food store in Oregon and I am giving people free samples before they receive there special order of food and delivering dog food to customers after my work shift is over.
I love your kitchen makeover and enjoy kitchen design.
Made cloth, pleated masks with elastic for employees out of left over quilting material.
I love you kitchen!
I made 30 masks for the local hospital to be used over their N95 masks.
I helped organize a birthday parade for our Zumba instructor. It turned into a dance party in the street. The neighbors even came out and joined us.
Helping my family and friends by picking up whatever they need when I’m out and staying positive for my 5 kids that miss school, teachers, and friends! Your churro bites made their day this week!
I helped coordinate volunteers from our parish to reach out and check in on the over 600 elderly from our church. Thankfully, most were doing well; just lonely. They appreciated having a chance to chat and to know that they weren’t forgotten.
I have been donating Pampered Chef insulated lunch totes filled with snacks, lotion, lip balms & water bottles to local ER nurses & doctors in the Metro Detroit area. Just a little thank you.
I made some handmade cards to mail to friends for random holidays ( national donut day etc.) to bring smiles. I also made masks for my 100 year old great aunt who lives over 1000 miles away in a nursing home. Finding small ways to help others makes things seem so much better than they appear. Love your recipes and your website. Thank you so much for sharing!
Love the kitchen! Everyone can always use more cabinet space. My husband and I cook a little extra at supper and he takes a plate to an older lady that lives a few streets over from us and makes sure she has everything she needs.
The remodel is wonderful!
I have written notes of thanks to my customers and final consumers of my farm product, REAL MILK. I am working on bringing fruition to a long term goal of REAL MILK in food pantries thru sponsors, processors and farmers.
We are using excess sheets to sew PPE gowns for a rural nursing home in our state. They are having trouble getting PPE.
Your new kitchen is beautiful. I can’t believe it only took 5 weeks to complete. A little girl in our neighborhood was turning 5 right after the shelter in place order came last month. Her mom asked if neighbors would put happy birthday signs in their windows since they couldn’t have a party with her friends, but they go for a walk everyday. Many people including us did, and she told her mom it turned out to be the best birthday ever.
Great job with your kitchen. I love your backsplash! Thanks for giving out the details of the products you’ve used. Instead of having are usual big family gathering for Easter this year, I made the food, packaged it up according to the individual and delivered it to them!. It was fun and happy to take the precautions of keeping everyone safe.
We have a barn with a small apartment in it in our hurricane getaway property. A tornado went thru the neighborhood and leveled several homes ( 5 people died). We offered our Apartment to our next door neighbor’s Mom and dad who had lost everything they owned. Their son has helped us out and looked out for our place when we aren’t there so it was nice to be able to pay his kindness back when we could.
Love your new kitchen! My mom passed away in 2005. She was a seamstress and had bins and bins of fabric. I gave all the bins to the local senior center for their mask projects for the seniors. I have also gone around my home getting all my books that I have read and am giving them away online in our local town’s Facebook group to those that need something to read. All I ask is that when they are done, to sanitize and pass them along to the next person. Because I am at home so much I’ve also done some Spring cleaning and de-cluttering. We have a silly amount of blankets from over the years and we are going to be going to our women’s shelter and donating all the blankets (washed of course) as well as clothing and some overstock of toiletries. We know that the shelters are suffering too since not being able to get donations since folks can’t go shopping much.
Great job, Now I need to get to work.
Whenever I go into “the city” (I live in the middle of nowhere) I send out a message on FB asking if anyone needs anything. If somebody does, I get whatever they need and leave it on their doorstep. Lots of people in our community do that for each other. Small town living is nice.
Beautiful! Congratulations on your new kitchen! I love the grey and white theme. Happy cooking!
Kaitlyn @ Oh, the Places We’ll Go!
I’m over 60 with asthma, I work in a hotel near Yosemite. We all had our hours cut, I asked to be cut back as much as possible due to being in a high risk category. Small businesses up here are struggling to stay open. One local restaurant added family meals and very reasonable delivery, so every other week we purchase one, and since there’s only 2 of us, and the meals are big enough for a family, we asked the restaurant to pack it up in two separate packages, we offered to pay extra, and we split with the neighbors who are both disabled.
We live 25 minutes from the grocery store so I go get supplies/ groceries for us and our immunocompromised bachelor neighbor. Also, I like to send out funny memes that people have made about the toilet paper shortage just to brighten the day.
Like so many others Making Mask has been big on the list… I handed them out to the Post Office, UPS drivers, grocery clerks and Library as well as family and friends because those have been my lifelines.
The other thing I am doing is sending a few select stupid and silly links and jokes to a few select crazy people I know and love…
Since I work in a grocery store as well as a Pharmacy Tech, I’ve been delivering food and medicines to those not able to get out to do so. A blessing to help now and always!
Thanks for all you share and have enjoyed many of the recipes. Your kitchen is awesome! Enjoy your new playground!
I baked rolls for some of my neighbors for Easter, and I have written greeting cards for many neighbors to say hello and spread cheer and hope.
I am currently making masks for first responders, friends and family.
I am an Infant Toddler Teacher so I really can’t zoom my class like most teachers can. However, my head start center teamed up with a local food bank to create a grocery pickup for our families that had needs not being met. Our first day open we served over 30 families with supplies such as non-perishables, laundry detergent, thermometers and toilet paper. For those families that couldn’t drive we delivered their goods to their door steps (we have 5 different locations so it was ALOT of driving). All in all it was just something small we could do to help support our families and was totally work all the sweat and tears.
I donated to a friend who is a Rodan+Fields consultant to provide hand lotion and lip balm to local nurses. Also helped a local Girl Scout troop provide GS cookies they were unable to sell because of the virus to local healthcare providers.
Love your kitchen!
As a sewist, I am making masks like most people who sew. The few times I have ventured out to a grocery store, if I see something that I know someone mentioned not being able to find, I will grab it for them. I live in a rural community where the closest grocery store is 25 miles away. It’s important to help those who need it when you can.
I have to be honest, I have had so much service done for me and my family during this time and most of it involves secret drop offs. My son just returned from his mission so we put our whole family in quarantine. When we came home from the airport, there was a sign hanging up on our railing and our table was filled with baked yumminess. During the next two weeks I received several texts that someone had done a drop and dash on my porch. AND another person had excess energy and make a porch decoration for us. I am surrounded by goodness!
Grocery shop for my at risk parents. We also put different artwork in the front window every week for other kids walking by to see.
Nothing super special but my family and I have spent a lot of time packing and delivering food boxes to our community along with an outreach program through our church. Our food pantry is closed and we are simply trying to make sure that hose in need have food each week. I am also making cookies and banana bread and delivering randomly to friends/family.
I have sent my friend boss a gift card to one of her favorite lunch places since we cant have lunch together. Also I sent my brother a Starbucks gift card. It said i hope you had a Brew-iful birthday. I left bad that they couldn’t go out. They ordered food deliver and got the wrong orders. Plus i saw that the dogs at the Chicago Animal Control didn’t have good treats so i mailed them some.
I made sure that my elderly neighbors had my cell and work phone numbers so that if they need me to shop for them on my way home from work, they can contact me. We share vegetable plants and water each other’s gardens. They actually do as much for me as I do for them.
The kitchen is beautiful! Truly a classy transformation! A space you will love to be in for sure!
My kids and I have been helping to feed the homeless during this time. We’ve been serving meals at local schools and with the leftovers we ride around and find people to bless! My kids look forward to it each day!
Beautiful kitchen remodel! whenever I go out (keeping it to once weekly) to any different necessity shops, from the cashiers to the small business owners, I bring fresh flowers in easy to carry containers to let them know they’re appreciated!!
Love the kitchen!
I have opened my home to two friends and their four cats during this time of need. It’s actually nice to have them here for companionship.
We hid Easter eggs in a friend’s yard for their kids to find, I sent a care package to a friend that needed some cheering up, my kids drew pictures for their great grandma.
This is an eye opener for me. I have asked my elderly neighbors if they need anything on my trips to the store or my single, widowed neighbor if he is ok but that is not much of a change during this pandemic. I will reach out and help more to serve the community at a time like this. We recently did the backsplash to our kitchen which took months to do! This time layed off work has made me decide to finally finish it. That is why I looked at your site. I still need more space but I love seeing others ideas.
My sons and I live with my mom. I’ve worked from home for years, but my mom, who is almost 70 (she’s retiring in August) has to keep working because her work is considered essential. So, I’ve been just being her moral support, above and beyond as usual. It has been tough on her and just being a shoulder for her, and someone for her to lean on, has helped her tremendously.
Thanks for the giveaway. Stay well.
I work midnights Wed through Saturday. Every weekend when I get off I go grocery shopping for my in laws & my mom then I leave it on their porches (I work at a hospital so I don’t want to risk contaminating them) so they don’t have to leave the house.
A few years back I went back to work ft at the local preschool/headstart as a “Family Service Assistant” (FSA) my job was to help the moms/dads of the children enrolled with everything and anything to help them become the best parent they can be. I did home visiting, all the “front desk” work and participated in P/T conferences. My job as an FSA was to provide info on helping kids do homework, start routines with in the family to build family bonds, help get info to them on bedtimes, balancing working as and parenting as working parents, getting apps filled out for government assistance, our local food bank, you name it. Needless to say some moms and I became fast friends. I have one mom in particular who has become one of my most loved humans. She went through alot and I was there to help her through a divorce and she is a “kick butt” mom. I watched her go through the divorce, go back to work ft, all while raising her 2 boys on her own and reconnecting with her 1st child she gave up for adoption 21 years ago and ultimately having him move in with her. I no longer work at the preschool but we remained super close. Her hours have been cut at her job due to this virus and her 2 other school age boys are home indefinitely, just as my 3 are. They go to the only school together in our small rural town, her youngest and my youngest basically grew up together, attending the same preschooland elementary. I know shes gotta be struggling, and I know even though I constantly ask if shes ok she says yes she isnt. I have been making her dinners once a week, big enough to have another meal, at least, to help her out. Especially when she works non stop. Her boys helped my 19 year old daughter move into her new apartment and used the 1st meal I ever made them as a “thank you” for the boys helping my daughter. I tell her you worked a morning shift and know the last thing you wanna do is work 5am-2pm and go home and cook, i accidentally made enough for 2 trays, I’m dropping 1 at your house.I make any excuse I can come up with for my reasoning, because I know shes struggling with being able to buy groceries especially when the kids are all now home for all 3 meals and snack. Our grocery bill has quadrupled since our 3 boys still in elementary are home due to school closing. We at least are the lucky ones where my husband was deemed essential and are still getting our 1 income. I do this not for kudos but because she is my friend and I want her to not worry at least 1 day after coming home from work about what shes going to cook for dinner or where the money will come from. I know others in our small rural town are struggling and I want to help with the stress of that, especially for people in my life who mean the world to me.
I’ve bought supplies and cut material for masks that my dil sews and distributes. Shes a gifted bridal seamstress.
If I win, I’ll buy more supplies for ppe.
I love your kitchen remodel, looks great!
It’s not a unique idea but being the food service director of two private schools, we’ve made lots of meals to continue serving the kids in our schools and the community.
Everyday my coworkers and I, the 7 of us are the food service team have, have packed over 250 breakfast and lunches for the children of our school district. The bus drivers and classroom aid of our district then deliver to the children at home. After work i have been doing the shopping for my in-laws, who are in their 70’s, and a couple other who shouldn’t take the chance of being exposed to Covid-19. Then home to my family. No where near as challenging as being in the medical field, but rewarding to know those kids have something to eat. Your kitchen was beautiful before remodel. After the remodel makes it AMAZING!!! THANKS for sharing.
Retired earlier this year from a career as an RN. Shortly after retirement, I began a full-time “job” making mask covers for my recent co-workers. I don’t think I’d make it as a factory worker. I am so sick of making masks, but the need continues. I have slowed the pace way down, but there is still a need locally.
Had retired from nursing literally weeks before this all blew up. Concerns for my recent co-workers and a shortage of PPEs threw me into a different full-time job — making mask covers, so that an N-95 could be worn under it for many hours, instead of being a single-use mask. I am very tired of making masks, but have continued at a lesser pace. Still producing some for our local volunteer fire department, and continuing to comply when a non-sewing friend asks for one.
Our 5 year old grandson and 9 months old granddaughter have been living with us for a month now and will stay until the all clear is given. That’s the only way for their parents to continue to work. It reminds me of stories from WWII and the children being sent to the country from the cities. We don’t have any magic wardrobes for the kids to get to Narnia though. I’m on oxygen all the time so my wife has to do the running for anything outside of the house.
My sister and I, 70 year old twins, live together and help each other. Today we were in the yard doing some watering of garden and flowers and we met the newish neighbors across the street. Two younger women, a schoolteacher and a writer with a 17 yr. old daughter. We traded some seeds and plant starts as they were just starting their garden. They had sunflower starts.
Since my family is scattered across Canada and the US, we have always kept in touch by social media and the occasional phone call. Now with this pandemic we seem to have stepped up our game and call more frequently instead of just social networking. I have a daughter still at home in and we have been exercising more, going on long walks and more importantly bonding in the kitchen. We have been trying new recipes every day that we find online and also you daily emails. Then we post the results on Facebook. I think I’m going to start searching diet recipes soon. But we love food so much…
Your new kitchen is lovely. I have the same colours in my kitchen, but your kitchen is much larger than mine. I would kill for a kitchen like yours.
Thank you for all your daily recipes
We have a bit of acreage and have chickens. I take fresh eggs to the fire Dept down the road, as well as our local PD. I Also take them to work so no one has to worry if they can‘t find them at the store. I only ask for egg cartons. ;). when we’re out doing our hunting and gathering, Ill do “random acts of kindness” – the guy at the gas station got hand sanitizer since he did t have gloves; I drive my family crazy when I approach someone about how they’re wearing their mask and why they shouldn’t. And I work at our local hospital. I really appreciate the instant pot meals that are quick, so I can make a hot meal when I get home. Dinner can cook while I catch a shower. 🙂
Also love your new kitchen:)
I have been making sanitizer to give to people who need it.
I have been sewing cotton face masks for members of our family. I made four for my daughter, who passed two of them forward to a store clerk she met who was unprotected and did not have time to make any herself. She was very appreciative, and I touched by my daughter’s kind gesture. Our family has been blessed not to have contracted the virus so far by abiding by the recommendations of Governor Herbert and other government officials. I will soon be teaching a neighbor how to sew masks as she wants to rev up her sewing machine and make some for her family.
Karen, your new kitchen is beautiful and certainly more functional than before!
Love your kitchen. Congratulations, I am so happy for you.
Since I am 65 years old I do not go out very often, laundry, garbage and mail are all coordinated together. However, I do shop online for friends and relatives and add their requests to my order. We then coordinate a pick up for them.
Shared TP!!! And anything else anybody needed in my area…
Went shopping for elderly. Called and encouraged the lonely widows. Did window visits with nursing homes.
I just emptied my fridge today to donate to a local family in need
Well, do I feel like a slacker! Besides the Virus Stay-at-Home orders for older [72] & compromised people I have been ‘self quarantined’ with a broken ankle. Still in a boot [right foot – no driving] since January 27. My husband is 73 & still working part time in an essential business as well as doing all the grocery & other shopping. Usually I have my 5 year old granddaughter on work days for our daughter, but with her job furlough we have tried to keep her so they can get shopping done without taking her in public shopping places. Also, since we miss her we have been doing an Instant Pot family meal at least once a week. We have also ordered take-out & gift cards from 2-3 of our favorite ‘local’ restaurants to help them through this terrible time for small businesses. I pray for all of the families who have lost loved ones & for the health of all of the medical, police, fire, & other first responders trying to keep us safe. Now, love the make-over & your choices! Everyone, stay safe & healthy – thank you all for what you are doing for others!
I love your kitchen. Great neutral colors. I want a dual fuel oven like yours. Amazing upgrade to your kitchen.
My service was that I made some fun baskets for Easter for some neighbor kids across the street and next door. I put plastic eggs filled with candy and crayons in the baskets. It was really fun to leave on their steps.
Love your new kitchen, you are lucky you have SO MUCH ROOM
My daughter and I helped at our Bishop’s storehouse filling orders. I’ve been seeing face masks for my neighbors and friends. My daughter and I will be delivering food to elderly people who can’t get out, through a local food bank. I have loved this time we’ve had to slow down and look for ways to serve others, to be instruments in the Lord’s hands.
Sewed masks for the hospital. Ck on neighbors and shop for them if they need anything.
At 73 and immune system compromised I haven’t been out except to walk our dog. My awesome husband goes grocery shopping. My friends and neighbors know I’m a seamstress so I’ve made many a mask on request. I’m friends with a younger mother of four who makes and sells newborn items online. In two days my embroidery machine ran 14 hours making embellishments for her baby hats. Never bored. Always crafting. 😍 your new kitchen!!!
I want to say that while the emergency and doctors and front line personnel will always receive my greatest gratitude; I do want to recognize all of the “little people”. My entire family is essential and none of are doctors or “first line” personnel. We work at the four of us…1 is a dispatcher ….he gets all of the chemicals where they need to go, 2 is a welder he is making whatever is needed at this time to fight this pandemic, 3rd is a warehouse worker who is making sure that companies hospitals and anyone who needs it gets the needed items during this time..last is me … I feel like I am the least needed…I work at a mom and pop liquor store….I am told that is essential so the alcoholics don’t take up beds for those at most risk for COVID 19. This does not even begin to cover any or all of the millions of “little people” who are still working at great risk to themselves and their families. We the “little people” do not have access to PPE..that is protective gear qualified to fight this pandemic. We go to work each day with bandanas or t shirts on our faces in attempt to protect us. This does nothing. We all are at risk tremendously each day and sure do not want to contribute to the angst of our doctors and nurses but we have no choice. So what have I contributed creatively? What I can. I make masks for those that come into my store out of double layered paper towels, 2 rubber bands and a couple of staples. That is my 5 cent solution because we can afford nothing else and no one wants to wear their own. Ok so let me get off my high horse and thank ANYONE AND EVERYONE that is still working…bus drivers, truck drivers, farmers, manufacturers, warehouses any retail outlet whether online or brick and mortar, restaurants and bars, grocery stores, behind the scenes folks keeping our infrastructure in place (internet, electricity, gas, oil, water), anyone that is giving someone a break right now knowing that they will be repaid as soon as possible, anyone that is a delivery person for any service as u r vital right now. Anyone that spreads a smile each day regardless of how they actually feel. For all of those that feel like they have become the gestapo since this started, you are not alone. Thank you for listening I needed to get this out.
I haven’t been able to do much, I’m high-risk for complications so I’ve mostly been huddled at home with my also high-risk son. I was able to do one good deed – I rescued a dog that was in an abusive situation and placed her with a friend who desperately needed a companion, so it worked out good 🙂
Love the kitchen remodel! I’m jealous, our house isn’t big enough to support a bigger kitchen. We cook nearly everything from scratch!
My mom has Multiple Sclerosis, so I’ve been calling her daily and running any errands she needs, or stocking up on plain BK Whoppers so she can freeze them and have an easy meal 😂. She’s crazy, and I love her. I’ve also helped my local yarn shop with ways to sell yarn and make money during this difficult time.
Well that was a fantastic make over. Great place to do all your cooking in.
Thanks for all the good things on your sight and for sharing.
Your kitchen is gorgeous!!! I love the choices you made.
Our church has been letting the homeless put up tents on the grass and park their vehicles there for a “safe haven”. The Pastor checks on them daily taking temperatures and oxygen levels plus making coffee and distributing bread products. I go on Saturday and help out with meals that 4 local churches serve from 11-1 and then go on Sunday mornings and make oatmeal in my Instant Pot for them (3 to 4 full pots). The Pastor videos the church service with only 4 people in the Sanctuary and a couple of us make sandwiches and serve whatever we can find in the kitchen for them to have lunch. We have from 60-80 that we serve on Saturdays and 40-60 on Sundays.
I’ve no need for the gift card but thank you for extending the offer – very kind of you!!!
Your new kitchen is beautiful!!! If it’s not too personal, may I ask what type of storage you included in your island configuration? I am designing a 7ft. x 5 ft. island and am looking for new ideas (if you have time).
Thanks for all you do !
My family have made baked goods, bagels & bread, for family and friends. Door delivery and dash away. My husband has worked very hard creating Zoom calls with people all over the world to call square dances to folks in quarantine. The dancing is focused on couples and singles to dance and come together to meet new dancers worldwide. The smiles from old and new friends is a great lift me up for all evolved. I have been very focused on home schooling a special needs teenager.
I have also been unpacking from a big move. Our home burned down February 2019 and we just rebuilt. I got a new kitchen too…😄
I just loveme your new kitchen!What a big difference from before and after.I am in the middle of having mone done bit it’s at a standstill now becuz of the virus going around.ugg..Right now the only appliance I HAVE IN MY KICHEN IS THE FRIDGE AND THE ONLY APPLIANCE I’M LIVING WITH THESE DAYS ARE MY INSTANT POT AND AIR FYER. UNTIL i get my new kitchen in.Best of luck with your beautiful new kitchen.I love it 100%.😄☺
I don’t have to much to give, and am terrified to go out in public as I do have MS and no spleen. But a dear friend sent me a large sleeve of the N-95 mask. I have been taking and passing these out to my local store workers and online friends.
I am in love with your new kitchen, it’s simply gorgeous!
A few years back I went back to work ft at the local preschool/headstart as a “Family Service Assistant” (FSA) my job was to help the moms/dads of the children enrolled with everything and anything to help them become the best parent they can be. I did home visiting, all the “front desk” work and participated in P/T conferences. My job as an FSA was to provide info on helping kids do homework, start routines with in the family to build family bonds, help get info to them on bedtimes, balancing working as and parenting as working parents, getrinf apps filled out for government assistance, our local food bank, you name it. Needless to say some moms and I became fast friends. I have one mom in particular who has become one of my most loved humans. She went through alot and I was there to help her through a divorce and she is a “kick butt” mom. I watched her go through the divorce, go back to work ft, all while raising her 2 boys on her own and reconnecting with her 1st child she gave up for adoption 21 years ago and ultimately having him move in with her. I no longer work at the preschool but we remained super close. Her hours have been cut at her job due to this virus and her 2 other school age boys are home indefinitely, just as my 3 are. They go to the only school together in our small rural town, her youngest and my youngest basically grew up together, attending the same preschooland elementary. I know shes gotta be struggling, and I know even though I constantly ask if shes ok she says yes she isnt. I have been making her dinners once a week, big enough to have another meal, at least, to help her out. Especially when she works non stop. Her boys helped my 19 year old daughter move into her new apartment and used the 1st meal I ever made them as a “thank you” for the boys helping my daughter. I tell her you worked a morning shift and know the last thing you wanna do is work 5am-2pm and go home and cook, i accidentally made enough for 2 trays, I’m dropping 1 at your house.I make any excuse I can come up with for my reasoning, because I know shes struggling with being able to buy groceries especially when the kids are all now home for all 3 meals and snack. Our grocery bill has quadrupled since our 3 boys still in elementary are home due to school closing. We at least are the lucky ones where my husband was deemed essential and are still getting our 1 income. I do this not for kudos but because she is my friend and I want her to not worry at least 1 day after coming home from work about what shes going to cook for dinner or where the money will come from. I know others in our small rural town are struggling and I want to help with the stress of that, especially for people in my life who mean the world to me.
Oh jeesh I’m sorry I dont know what I did but I replied to you not posted a comment! And I cant find how to delete it sorry!!💙
Love your new kitchen! So gorgeous! Love those lower drawers!
I have been sewing face masks for some of my family members. Also helping some co-workers get ready for online tutoring with our students!
My Bible study friends and I have written cards of encouragement to those that are living in local nursing homes. Also, the Spanish speaking congregation from our church has had a great hit from this economy crash. So we have been collecting food for them as well. It’s been awesome!
Donating everything from extra kitchenware, (almost brand new electric pressure cooker, off brand, I cannot part with my Instant Pot!) furniture, clothes, food, cleaners, fans, space heaters, etc. due to downsizing…..because of COVID-19…I’ve donated perhaps much more than I normally would because so many are out of work due to businesses temporarily closing and/or going completely out of business…I’m also moving someplace where I won’t have a job, but will be closer to family. I’m single, I can do without a lot of furniture. Families, especially those with children, will need things like lamps, dining room furniture, perhaps a bed, shelving units, dressers, mirrors, side tables, etc. all those things that make life feel “normal”. I think many families will be forced to make changes, move to other states, or downsize, face changes where they will have to let go of a way of life they’re used to, will no longer be able to afford “new”. Most of these items are gently used, practically brand new. Yes, I absolutely could have sold it all on Craigslist, and could have used the money for moving expenses. I’ll move in with a CordeRoy combo bed/chair, chest to put a TV on, and a small prep table for appliances, massage therapy equipment, for furniture, that’s about it….even giving away my freezer chest!….when I moved to California, I depended heavily on second-hand goods from charities to furnish my first home out here, I feel it’s only fair that I provide as much as possible to others who may move to this state relocating for work. I’ve lived without much before, I’m single, I can do it. Families, especially those with kids, need a furnished home to have that secure, stable feeling to grow up in.
I can’t do much since I am a disabled 77year old woman. But I have been ordering a delivered meal 2-3 times a week to help the restaurants in town. I love your kitchen.
Karen your new kitchen is absolutely beautiful!!!! Love it, I work at our Pediatric / Womens Health Center serving the Maritimes. Work continues for me which I am so grateful, however in my downtime I made my mom a lemon cheesecake in my instant pot for her birthday and delivered it to her doorstep. I also created a Instant Pot binder cookbook complete with page protectors and dividers, makes things so much easier for meal planning. Keep on keeping, your videos are a joy to watch. Thank you 😊
Your kitchen looks beautiful and roomy.
I bring my home grown eggs and baked goods to older people in my community. I helped deliver some ” May in April” baskets to older members of our church that might be struggling with the COVID 19 scare. I send lots of cards on a daily basis as cards of encouragement.
Well, I am a full time care giver for 100% disabled husband and i make sure he has all that he needs for his day to day stuff. My mother died recently and my step dad (age 85) that has heart disease & diabetes could not get out to buy food and the stores up there were not stocked with anything he needed and we live 2 hours away. I sent him a care package with enough canned and packaged foods for a month. I also have made over 20 masks for the hospitals and and 20 more for friends and family. Note: I finally found baby wipes at costco today but still no toilet paper to be found.
Your kitchen is amazing! Love the thought you put into all the details. Enjoy!
I haven’t done anything too out of the box (yet) except made masks for family and neighbors and just trying to keep in touch with some of our elderly church members by calling, sending cards, etc.
I facilitate bereavement support groups and of course, we haven’t been able to meet in person. Many of my participants are completely alone and in this time of social distancing the isolation is really difficult. I’ve been sending them all a group email every few days with something motivational and uplifting. I encourage them them to “reply to all” with what’s going on in their lives, things that are difficult, etc. Then, others respond to them with words of encouragement and hope. While I would rather meet face to face with them, this has been really successful in bringing people together during an extremely difficult time in their lives, made even more stressful by the pandemic.
Oh, and by the way, your kitchen is beautiful!!!
We cooked our traditional Easter meal, but before we ate, we dropped off some of it for my elderly sister-in-law who lives alone in a senior complex. Since we couldn’t go in to eat with her, we used Zoom to share the meal with her (from our respective homes) while we were all eating dinner at the same time.
We don’t have grandkids who live nearby, but we have friends with two small kids that we’ve sort of “adopted”. The family is military and their relatives all live out of state. Their 2-year-old calls my husband and I “Bompa” and “Bomma” (Grandpa and Grandma). We dropped off Easter baskets at their house for the little ones.
My niece and her husband’s family lives nearby. They have several kids and she’s pregnant again. With the quarantine, it’s difficult for her to get out to go shopping, so I did her Costco shopping for her and took it to her.
I made 35 masks for friends and family members and gave them out to anyone who needed them.
We have a good friend who is going through a divorce and didn’t have anywhere to stay due to the cost of living here in California, so he has been living with us since December. His young kids come and visit him (and they sleep here on the weekends) at our house, since he has shared custody. For Easter, we stayed upstairs so he could have an egg hunt for his kids in the main living area of the house and share some family time alone with them.
We are calling other members of the church to be sure they are OK or they need anything. We then relay the information to the Pastors. Also just say a prayer with them.
Your new kitchen is beautiful!
I stayed away from everyone so during the second week of isolation I could start taking my mom to radiation treatments. We avoid everyone as she is more susceptible to things now. Trying to keep mom safe by avoiding everyone but her.
My Mom and I walk every day and say hi to people who are also out.
Oh this isn’t creative at all – but one of the most useful things I’ve done was deliver some toilet paper to a co-worker who was not having any luck finding any in stores. The creative thing I’ve done was making and sending Easter greetings to family, friends and co-workers who I wouldn’t see in person.
Your new kitchen is beautiful. I wish you many happy times cooking in your new space.
P.S. I am using my Instant Pot (which I bought last November) for the first time. Hooray! Thanks for all the cooking inspiration you provide.
I’ve helped a friend keep up on changes with Corona Virus by phone as we are both high risk, what she was eligible for,should receive, and keeping her more upbeat as well as myself.
My friend Andy was hospitalized after testing COVID-19 positive, and he was placed on a ventilator. He was there for several weeks and the prognosis was very scary! I delivered a tasty meal to his wife and daughter who were quarantined at home during his hospitalization! The meal included two of your 365 Days IP recipes: Instant Pot Greek Spaghetti, and Instant Pot 4-Ingredient Banana Bread, as well as salad and bread! They loved it. This week we got the great news that Andy was released from the hospital, and able to return home just in time for his wife’s birthday. We celebrated his homecoming and his wife’s birthday with a drive-by parade of friends and family! Woohoo!!! So grateful to be reporting a happy ending!
I have sewed about 40 face masks for family and their work places. I also deliver meals once a week to seniors.
I make greeting cards with rubber stamps. I am sending cards to women in my bible study group and others (people in retirement centers) cards with words of encouragement!
I have made fabric masks for my family and given fresh lemons to my neighbors.
I have discovered that I can “bake” in my Instant pot using your suggested egg bite molds and voila! Success! So much fun. Since I live alone, my neighbors and friends are getting samples of food in baggies and recipes from you through me. My next door neighbor and I “meet” on opposite sides of our fence and enjoy “coffee talk” over six feet apart but enjoying my latest cooking adventure. Thank you!! Your kitchen is a dream! Enjoy!!
I’m helping our neighbor plant their garden including sharing my onion sets and seeds.
Your newly remodeled kitchen is beautiful!! I have been trying to spend more time visiting with my parents. They are older and have medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus, so I have been doing all the shopping for them. Just trying to help them from being exposed!! Thank you very much for the giveaway!! 🙂
Sewing face masks for family 😀
We have decided to serve another family at least one day a week. A few of the things we have done is grocery shop for those who can’t go out, deliver a persons favorite treat, and put a food box together for a family friend that had to close down her business until she can reopen. It has been fun and I hope my daughter is learning the importance of service!
Besides baking bread and cookies for neighbors and trying many new Instant Pot recipes (thank you!) for my kids/grandkids, I created a prototype for a simple mask using as a model one recently brought back from Taiwan by my grandson. Because I am a quilter, I have a huge stash of fabric but needed to find a good supply of bias tape and elastic cord. After much searching, both items have been ordered in bulk from Amazon and should be received in a week or so. In the meantime, I can wash and cut the fabric (two pieces per mask) and make the pleats. The masks will be donated to family, friends, medical facilities, and wherever they are needed.
I’ve been shopping for everything my mom needs.
I’ll take your before kitchen…they’re both gorgeous. I can’t wait for my kid to be out of college (not much longer) and then I’ll do a bunch of remodeling of my own.
I live in Earthquake country, and after surviving Loma Prieta and learning about having enough supplies for a week, I’d always kept at least three week’s worth of food and paper goods. Then in Jan and Feb, my fav market had $5 sale of my fav toilet paper and another week had a $5 sale of paper towels. So I got my limit of 4 each time thinking it’ll last me until it goes on sale again.
This allowed me to help out my hairstylist/friend and another friend who needed both. When I get food delivered, I ask the person if they have everything they need.
And never did I ever think that I needed hand sanitizer or masks or gloves! Oh well. I’ll add it to the earthquake kit for the next crazy time.
Thanks again for your emails with inspiration and joy. And may you and your family stay safe and happy (and sane)
I am a Registered Nurse in the ER at our community hospital. One issue we’ve been having wearing masks every moment is skin breakdown behind our ears from the loops of our masks. I’ve been sewing buttons on headbands and straps to help prevent some of this.
Well not original, as many others are also making masks, but I’m keeping my neighbors (one a Sheriff, and another a Nurse Practitioner) supplied with masks!
I made masks for my family. Not too terribly creative but necessary.
I have been cutting out & sewing face masks for Medical Teams International . They are donating them to first responders: firemen, police, etc.
I started on April 2 & try to do 10 per day so my total now is 152 masks. Anne Waldal
I love your Kitchen, mine is very small! I do not like mine at all. How have I helped, i try to make sure my husband is fed and gets enough sleep before he goes to work. He is a Nurse Practitioner in the Trauma Unit. Trauma patients come in with the coronavirus and he is working 7 days on!
I made some masks for my Nero surgeons staff. They saved me from 2 brain tumors and I wanted to give back.
1) My dad and his wife were bored. I know they like playing board games, so I found this website boardgamearena.com. I setup a zoom call and invited everyone to a game. Now it’s our weekend routine to play games together.
2) My next door neighbor turns 3 this weekend. Since there won’t be a party, we gave her the present early and we made this cute Happy Birthday banner that will go over the fence tomorrow.
Ooooh, I can’t wait to check out board game arena! We usually do JackBox games.
I have done a couple things.
First, made full-face masks for a Thursday group of elderly ladies that I meet weekly with. They are all in their 80’s. I’m the youngest at 71, and they such wonderful mentors to me.
Secondly, I prepared my entire Easter dinner, (potato salad with hard cooked eggs), pickled beets and eggs, (with some those IP cooked eggs), baked ham with glaze, and a cherry topped cheesecake. Dinner was then packaged up and delivered to my elderly sister who is confined to a local retirement community. These items were all foods that she made over the last 60 years for her family. Since her children don’t live close by, and are like the rest of the world, on stay-at-home isolation, I just couldn’t let her be alone without the memories of her yearly Easter dinner cooked for her family. She was so happy and it really boosted her morale and spirits.
Love the extra cabinetry & counter space. I have such a small kitchen and would love the extra space! Great job!
Karen, it’s beautiful! Thanks for sharing it!
Ok sorry if I’m an old fuddy fuddy but not the least interested in you kitchen unless its dirty. As long as its clean I’m here for the S.F. and low carb recipes. What you do and far as decorating and or rebuilding your house is your business, not mine, I could never afford anything like that so why bother to look at others and dream and cry that I can’t have. Just keep the recipes coming, Allie
Love your blog! I have been reaching out to Mom’s in my area and finding out what little treats their families might like. Then I work with what I have on hand (and incorporate Aldi finds generally) and leave little surprise bags on porches to help entertain the kids for a few hours.
I love your new kitchen. I have been reading to my younger grandchildren over FaceTime. The older ones I just FaceTime to keep in touch. Trying to answer any questions about this pandemic I can help with. It’s not much, but it seems to be helping my daughter who works from home.
Hubby and I are volunteering with a nonprofit which is providing food to thousands of people in our area who are sick or out of work due to the pandemic. Also we gathered sheets, pillowcases and T-shirt’s to be used for face masks.
Great changes! I’m happy for you! I’ve served thru zoom calls & google meet/hangouts checkups with the youth in my neighborhood and all my neighbor family. It’s hard but it’s made me love them more.
Hi Karen,
Your kitchen looks great! Everything in it looks wonderful. You are right, the back plash looks beautiful. Your remodel makes me dream about the day we remodel our kitchen AND have it turn out great too. I just thought I would mention now as well, that I regularly make yogurt in my instant pot and I am pleased with all my results so far. Thanks for all your recipes. Take care!
I am an avid reader. I read e-books online and have received many from friends who know how much I love to read. I sent 20 of my favorite e-books to a group of people who seem to have trouble managing what to do when staying in the house day after day. I also love to cook and make a new recipe every other day… If it’s a good one I send it out To another group of people who always complain they have no time to cook.
FYI love your new kitchen!!
Hi, I LOVE your new kitchen, very sleek and pretty. I am getting a new kitchen also, doing it in soft whites and black granite. And I love that big island. I know you will love that. As what I have been doing besides cooking, ha ha. I have been making face masks for people. Sent family that live in other states some etc. Problem when there was no more elastic around to purchase. Sooooo, the next best thing is make your own clothe ties like the doctors and nurses used to wear on their surgical masks. And come to find out, the nurses and doctors like the ties better than the elastic, since the elastic hurts the ears after a 12 hour shift they said. Thanks for the opportunity for the gift card, but more important than that is for all of us to be safe and stay healthy. God Bless everyone. Claudia
I just redid my kitchen and I love how you went so much lighter as I did.
To help local restaurants I am posting my takeout from local restaurants on social media and recommending people do take-out once a week if they can afford it. Local restaurants are the heart of the community!
I do community meals 4x a year at our local shelter with my women’s club. Since we can not make the meals anymore and serve them, we are making cash donations to the shelter instead.
When I go to my local food warehouse, I ask neighbors what they need so I can buy food for people who really need them and can not go out themselves.
Wishing you and all your followers health and safety during this trying time.
love your blog,
Roberta
I’ve started a small background garden and sharing eggs from our chickens with friends.
I love the large island!!
Husband & I donated what they needed to make masks for hospitals & what was left selling to whoever needs them
Also cooking Instant Pot meals, & buying carryout food for our Son who lives nearby.
I also love HGTV! So many ideas so little cash to do them. That’s a dream kitchen. I have been answering questions for part time cooks that are now full time and need ideas. Keeps me busy.
I have been making masks for my daughter that works at Menards and some of her fellow workers , masks for a friend and now for my other daughter that is in Health Care, her husband and two of my granddaughters and one husband.
I know a family in a rental house that the husband is still working but the mom is home with a 3 year old and one in kindergarten. The one in school needs to do her eLearning but it is extremely difficult to try and take her to the library and watch the younger one at the same time. I had a couple of older tablets that I wasn’t using so I gave them one and it works great for her school work and learning. Just today I was told the youngest one accidentally broke the charging plug on the tablet so I gave them the second one I wasn’t really using anyway so that she could continue her school obligations. The family was very appreciative and it made me feel good as well. Now I have a reason, once this stay at home is lifted, to go buy me a new one.
I have been feeding my neighbors who have been working all this time. One is n the medical field, and the other two guys are in the construction field. All these people have to be out in this to help keep everyone who has the virus. My instant pot, and my oven, have been busy with all these great recipes from your site.
Thank you for all the help you give to us. Your kitchen is beautiful, and I’m quite jealous of it. Happy you got yours done the way you like.
As a 76 yr. old, very X executive chef (long, long ago!), and an enthusiastic slow cooker fan, I fell in love with my Instant Pot this Christmas (my present to myself, what else?). When the virus hit, being in the at-risk group I was chained to my house (no fishing or fish-n-chips at the local bar). Disgusting as it was for me, I found my son, a very good traditional cook, in the same situation (stuck working from home). Telling him about my Instant Pot successes (maybe bragging a bit) he told me he’d got one for Christmas but it was still in the box! Course I introduced him to ‘365 Days of Cooking’, my Pinterest boards (big what not to do and help section), and suggested a few recipes to try. Now, even though our feet are cemented to our houses, we txt often about IPot success and recipes. So, I choose to think that there are occasional pluses that have come from this extremely trying time.
I have been trying new recipes and then sharing the goodies with my son and his family. Kitchen is very nice and I appreciate the beautiful cabinetry as my husband has a small cabinet shop.
I love the bright open New kitchen! I am packing food for needy students that bus drivers in our district deliver also we are making masks.
Hi!
Beautiful kitchen!
I’ve made masks for all of my family, including those in several other states and even my parents in Canada.
Now, I’m making masks to donate to my local hospital and clinics.
Johanne
I love to bake, especially bread, but flour and yeast are almost impossible to find in our area. A friend did find 2 bags of 2 pounds of flour and she gave me her own 3 packs of yeast. I just have had to use most of her flour plus some of my supply to bake her a loaf of bread once a week. Her flour is long gone but using my supply is a joy to repay here.
Your kitchen looks beautiful. I have been using FB and Twitter to post uplifting and encouraging messages, stress management and gratitude. I am praying for leaders and frontline workers and checking in with older adults we know.
I am a Family and Consumer teacher. I am helping my student plan and budget for meals! I also made a “Everlasting Hug” quilt for my friend that is struggling with Stage 3b lung cancer and I have been making face mask for friends and families!
Removing the arch and extending the cabinetry on the side wall DID make all the difference. I did my kitchen last year and choose almost the exact same cabinets. Mine are cream though. I painted the remainder of the kitchen without cabinets and granite Grey!
During the last few weeks, I have sent several care packages to my sister in laws sister who just had a baby a few months ago and can’t get out now. We don’t live near each other so it’s the least I can do.
I hang a bag with my crocheted dishcloths and a homemade loaf of bread or cookies on friends and neighbors porches to brighten their day. I have curbside pickup scheduled for Saturday to replenish my yarn supply cause I’m a dork 🤓
I’M SO JEALOUS OF THAT KITCHEN!!! I just got married a month ago and we are starting to look at houses to buy, the kitchen is what draws me in to some of these houses. I work as an academic advisor for UT San Antonio, my students all still need help and support so we are all working remotely… which was an interesting transition. Everyone has had to work together and brainstorm the best ways to help our students virtually. Definitely a new challenge!
Love your new kitchen
We moved into our home last May and we’ve decided to flip the kitchen we had a old galley kitchen our new to us house was built in 70 and no one had done anything
So were flipping it to the dinning room trying to open it up just a bit it’ll be a L shape
Husband is doing on weekends and after work
when we started I said I just didn’t want to have to wash dishes in the bath tub haha so far we doing good
It’s been a few months can’t wait for it to be complete
Love you recipes and share with friends and family
Thank you
JoAnn
I read books to my granddaughter via messenger. She LOVES being read to and while is is only 45 min away, it seems like we are in different continents!
Hello,
My story is not of making masks but rather helping my best friend in the whole world. My friend suffered a bout of pneumonia when her children were little and they almost lost her. It permanently damaged her lungs and she is in the high risk category for catching Covid-19. She retired at the end of the school year last year and was looking forward to traveling to Germany to see her son who is in the Air Force and then take a river boat cruise to Prague. Sadly that has been cancelled. She is forced to stay at home because of her risk. I have been making sure everyday that she is talking with someone other than her husband. I have played ” Ding-Dong” leaving her flowers, and other things to keep her world happy. I text her when I have left the item on her porch. She comes to the door and we “air hug” , her from her porch and me from the car. It’s been hard. We are used to seeing each other every other day at the gym, going to the movies, going on our local yarn store crawl in the spring. But not getting the chance to see her son I think is the hardest of all. Anyway, that is what I am doing.
Wew’re making masks for local nursing homes and hospitals.
I have helped by doing some shopping for others and calling my elderly relatives that have been so restricted to their homes.
My best friend is a nurse in Long Term Care and they have no PPE so I made masks for her and her shift coworkers so they would have some protection. I also helped make some scrub hats for the nurses of the ICU to cover their hair and protect their ears from wear and tear damage. Everyone is working so hard, and they are so appreciative of the support.
I love FaceTiming my elderly relatives who can’t leave the house. It makes me put my makeup and do my hair so that’s a good thing!
Hi Karen,
Congratulations on your new Beautiful and Very Functional kitchen makeover. It looks fantastic. Today we had Shelf Genie shelves installed in our kitchen pantry, bathroom, and bar cabinets, and share with you the excitement. We had all of the kitchen drawers and island outfitted with the Shelf Genie’s 12 years ago and love so just had to add some more. You will love YOURS as well.
I want to let you know that we have all your Insta Pot recipes and really appreciate your sharing them with us.
Stay Safe and Keep Well,
Brigitte & Richard
I made a couple of videos for the school I work for to help kids handle anxiety and frustration. It was a fun way to help!
I made masks out of quilt fabric for my brother to wear to work. Love your kitchen!
Love your new kitchen! We haven’t seen our 4 grandsons in a month so we’ve been baking treats and sending all but a few to them. It’s our way of letting them know we’re still here for them.
I have been cooking and baking for people that can’t get out.
Oh my gosh – your remodel is beautiful. What a great change for you and your family. Love where you placed your microwave, the extended island, and backsplash. You’ll enjoy that for years to come. 🙂
As for helping others during C-19…
My first assist is keeping bottled water and bottled Gatorade in a cooler outside our front door for anyone making deliveries. I’ll keep doing that until this is over. It’s a little token of appreciate but it seems to be appreciated by the delivery persons.
My second assist is checking in on our neighbors, especially the older women who lives alone next door. During my grocery store runs I’ve picked up needed items for some of our neighbors that have physical or health issues that prevent them from going out. Again, not a huge help but if we all do a little someting, right?
I have made masks and donated them to family and friends. I usually work at our local food bank but have had to stop because of risk to myself and husband. Since I am unable to work there now, I made a donation to help them feed those in need.
I have made and am still making fabric face masks for family and neighbors. I have made them using fabrics of The Beatles, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Chili Peppers, Farmall Tractor Scenes and Flowers.
I have been working at home 10-12 hrs a day but at night and weekends I made 40 headbands with buttons for my neighbor who is a nurse. She has been popular handing them out at the hospital. I just got 20 more delivers so I will be sewing more this weekend. I love your new kitchen. It’s beautiful. Stay safe.
I am a quilter. So I made masks for hubby and myself then made them for people in government apartments in my small town
I love your kitchen. Fantastic look.
To help during this pandemic, I used offered my talents to the students on the campus where I work to set up virtual private networks so that they could do their on line courses and graduate on time. We had canceled all classes at the beginning and sent 90 percent of our international students home before travel was locked down. This meant many nights spent setting students up and assisting, the many many time zones were a challenge. In addition, I was considered essential and had to physically report to work 5 days a week. Sleep was a luxury, but worth it to see the gratitude and the pressure it relieved on the students, they had enough to worry about..
I have been calling different friends on different days checking make sure they have everything they need! I’ve been busy in my sewing room too, quilts, heat pads, table runners, placemats, Easter dresses and of course face masks!
While getting supplies at a big box store I picked up some things that my neighbor wanted.
Love your new kitchen!!! Thinking the juices are flowing for new yummy meals. Thanks for always sharing, and have a blast in your new kitchen!
I have made 780 masks for companies my son represents through his job. It has been a family expetience, like an assembly line ,cutting, sewing, turning, , pressing, pleating, pressing again and then seeing again. Then cutting strings and removing pins. It has been a family experience with my son, daughter in law, grandson and granddsughter. Lots of memories made too.
Also, what was the name of the company where you got your clear containets?
Hello! I’ve been receiving your recipes for a couple years now. 🙂 Your kitchen looks great. It’s so fun to have a beautiful area to prepare meal so for your family! During the quarantine my husband and I have helped deliver groceries to some elderly people here in our city if Cleveland.
I work in the Guidance Department of a middle school. We are coming up with creative ways to keep the student motivated and emotionally supported during their eLearning. We are doing this via zoom and mailings. Students are having a rough time. Not all have the “perfect” home life and they look forward to coming to school. With eLearning, this doesn’t happen. We have to be there for them. Whether it is a quick email, or zoom to talk, we do whatever is needed.
Hello! I’ve been furloughed from my job for the last month. At first I was filling my time homeschooling my 7 year old granddaughter. Good thing the only qualification was that I had to be smarter than a 1st grader. It’s sad to be out of work but I am so grateful to have been able to spend the time with her and her two year old sister and to be able to help out my daughter with their care as she is an essential worker in the medical field. I have also sewed masks for family and friends. Your kitchen is beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
The kitchen is beautiful. My gift is I have made over 600 masks for our community, made them available for free and by donation. I have raised over $600 for our food bank.
Your kitchen is stunning! I love HGTV and would love to do a remodel on many parts of my house- haha. We have been checking on a couple of elderly neighbors and have helped out our local food bank a couple of times. Thanks for doing the giveaway!
Beautiful remodel!! I love how you extended the cabinets and island. I would have done the same thing! So much wasted space before.
I’ve been sewing face masks to donate to hospitals, and also to friends and family. Even found that I can use a piece of pipe cleaner for the nose piece!
I’m a retired RN. At the beginning of the virus situation I joined a FB healthcare workers forum. So many heart wrenching stories. I’m not in a place where I can return to work so I leave a little prayer on the posts that touch my heart so. Some may never be read, but God hears! I’ve also been making masks for my friends on the frontlines.
been taking friends’ dogs out daily with my dog on our long walks because most folks cannot leave their houses. what a beautiful makeover…so much more roomy now…I love it!
We have been actively attending drive-in church sitting in our cars tuned to 104.1 fm. We sing our hymns loud and proud and off key to boot but it has been so fun and a different way of having church we can share with our grandkids, if we ever have any.
Your kitchen is beautiful. I liked it before but I love the after. We may be starting a remodel in the next month or so and I know how it can cause a lot of frustration while living in the house but I’m still looking forward to it.
I’m a card maker and a knitter. I started by knitting 45 premiere hats which I donated to a local hospital nicu ward. Then I made six hats adult and children’s sizes and gave the to a local shelter. Now I have been mailing out cards – I call them hugs/smiles with a fold in the middle- to my friends and family just to keep in touch. It keeps me feeling hopeful and I know the recipients are grateful to have something unexpected to smile at.
I hope that you and your family are doing good while managing a “new” way of life. Thank you for your videos, I love them.
I food shop for several elderly neighbors .
PS Love the kitchen.
I am making masks for ourselves and to contribute the mask collection at church for people who need them.
I’ve also been hosting Zoom connection meetings with friends.
My husband loves to bake so during this time, he’s gotten really bored and needed things to do. He’s been making all sorts of goodies, chocolate chip cookies, snicker doodles, peanut butter puff cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, etc. Our family can’t possibly eat all of those cookies (I didn’t mention the cakes & pies!) so we decided to start playing ‘ding doing ditch’ and leaving goodies on our neighbors steps, with a note, of course, asking them if they need help and to enjoy the goodies. We live on a cul-de-sac of 13 homes so it’s become a fun way to meet the neighbors via cards, notes of thanks, and… Goodies!
We made cookies for some of our friends. Love your kitchen, great use of the space.
I drive an hour every morning to watch my 2 year old granddaughter while her mom(my Daughter) works from home and her dad still leaves the house to go to work. On the way home I put my phone on blue tooth and call friends and family that I usually don’t get an opportunity for a lengthy call. Using my instant pot when I get home! Love your kitchen and your recipes!
Your kitchen is absolutely beautiful! I love everything about it! I’m not very creative, but one thing I’ve enjoyed is having online Zoom meetings with coworkers who are widows and feel isolated right now. Several of us connect with them and talk and laugh for an hour or two. It helps them to feel less alone, and we all feel better after a good laugh!
I have been sewing facing masks for family and friends. My husband has 3D printed behind the head strap holders for masks to keep the elastic off your ears.
I’m staying home. Only going shopping every two weeks. I use to go twice a week or more before. Like you I do enjoy cooking now I have more time to cook. Thanks for all your great recipes & information about the Instant Pot. I have shared your web site with many of my friends.
I’ve been on the “virtual frontline” with students, providing emotional, social, and academic support weekdays!
Amazing kitchen!! I have been picking things up for friends and family if I am already out and about.
Karen – I LOVE your remodel! We’re in the middle of planning ours. Once the quarantine is over, it’s on to the demo!
I’ve been sewing masks and giving them to my friends/ neighbors as a creative outlet and a kindness.
I have been weekly mailing homemade cards to the frontline responders at the hospital in Vancouver, Washington. A request went out for people to mail cards to them and I knew that was something I wanted to do. My hope is my cards bring a smile to their tired faces.
I am 70 plus with preexisting conditions but have continued daily to manage a small rural grocery store. I have spent countless hours searching for those items in most demand in order to serve my customers.
Thank you for your hard work. We are blessed to have people like you working hard to help others.
Wow, your before looks fantastic too, please ship that kitchen my way! Congrats!
I decided to try making homemade tamales for the first time on my own using the recipe my mother used. They are time consuming so this was a good project to try out. I shared the 4 dozen with my family (18 in all!) and they thoroughly enjoyed! For my family, it is comfort food that we were raised on. If mom was still with us, she would be very proud of me ♥
I have been sewing face mask for family and friends, I have been sewing buttons on headbands for nurses to wear to keep the elastic off their ears from their face mask, and I have been doing all the shopping for my in-laws who are in their 80’s. Not to mention that when I do go out shopping I ask my sister in law if I can pick her up anything as she is babysitting her grandson who is under a year old.
I love the transformation! You already had a beautiful kitchen, but updated it nicely! I, too, have made face masks for family and friends. I also made caps for my niece who works in the ER. I recently retired as a speech-language pathologist and am volunteering to provide speech therapy for a friend’s child via Face Time since services are up in the air for many children.
I’m sewing buttons on headbands to help the nurses at my daughter’s ER in Kansas and to a friend’s sister-in-law in California. Wearing masks for 12+ hours a day really hurts their ears! The buttons allow the masks to be hooked there, thus relieving the constant pressure behind the ears.
Since, I am only allowed out for doctors visits due to health issues I am doing weekly calls, emails and good old fashion notes to family and friends. Hooked up with some people I haven’t heard from in a while. 😊😊 Love thekitchen!
I’m a frontline healthcare worker, and I’ve been proactively calling my patients to provide telemedicine and keep them out of our clinic full of sick people.
On a side note, I have directed my kids to become pen-pals with their grandparents, to try to take some time away from screens and give them some “art” and “writing” homeschooling time!
I work on the frontlines with adolescents in a residential treatment facility. Then spend my evenings homeschooling my own teenage boys.
I made lasagna in my instant pot and brought half to the elderly lady who recently moved in across the street. She is alone. Her daughter lives 1000 miles from here
Hi ,, I love your kitchen. We are gonna remodel ours after everything gets back to normal. I have been sewing masks for so many people. I even sent some to my sister in California for a home health agency. I probably have made over 400 and still making more. So nice to be able to help someone in all this. Stay well and God bless you and your family.
I have been working from home and using my instant pot a lot to try some new recipes. Since the recipes are usually make more than enough for us, we have been taking food to our windowed neighbor lady who seems o really appreciate the meals and a little human contact.
I make fluid art jewelry which is a good diversion right now. I donate it to animal shelters for fundraising…who doesn’t love unique jewelry and helping animals at the same time!
I am grandma raising two wonderful grandchildren. Keeping them safe and happy is my primary goal.
I have been helping neighbors who can’t get out with groceries and any other items they need. Several people in my community have been in need of items they can not locate and in need of so I have been fortunate to be able to share with those in need. I live in a wonderful community and anything I can do to help others, I am blessed to be able to do.
Your new kitchen is absolutely amazing and beautiful. Enjoy and stay well and safe.
My granddaughter lost her job in the restaurant sector and was quite depressed. I made her a special dish, baked cookies and cake and delivered it to her apt. Distancing then drove to my other granddaughter and left a goodie bag saw my great grandson from 6 ft and went home
Love your new kitchen! It is so beautiful, sleek and functional! May I please come live with you so I can use your kitchen?!!! 🙂
When I commented on the fantastic kitchen, I missed the requirement to name something I have been doing to help others. I have been making masks for a local healthcare worker, plus members of my family that need the masks to perform their jobs. Also have loaned a box of movies to a dear friend who just completed 6 weeks of high dosage chemo and is facing 6 weeks of radiation. Hopefully she can find a few she hasn’t seen yet or some old favorites to help with being homebound. Love to you all. Please stay safe and healthy.
Your kitchen looks great. I have been making face masks. I made them for the Intensive Care Unit for one of our local hospitals so that patients could be protected, then I made some for family and friends who fit in the category of immune compromised or target age group, like me. My husband has had to continue working because his business is essential so he has a couple as well. All in all I have made 49 so far. I have been able to make good use of supplies I have on hand. It is a small gesture, as some of the local quilt shop have been gathering them for the county but at least I can help people I know who would otherwise not be able to get one.
I have been shopping for my 88 year old father who lives alone. I have made quit a few of your instant pot recipes and taken him dinner. He loves each one. Also, I have been working on masks to give away.
Your kitchen is beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.
We only have four houses on our road One night, we each brought our own chair and our own drink down to the end of my driveway (widest point in road because another driveway is across from it) and we all sat 6 or more feet apart and had a one hour “cocktail party”. Another thing I did which is different – I learned how to make face masks and after making a few for myself and husband, I made two more and mailed them to his sister who lives in Queens, NY – just two blocks from the hospital that is at the epicenter of their outbreak. She doesn’t sew and couldn’t find any to buy.
I have made some really cute cloth masks to give to my fellow nurses at the hospital that I work as well as family members.
I have a vinyl side business. I made decals for cars/mugs with a stethoscope, heartbeat, and heart for about 10 different frontline workers as donations and a token of my appreciation for their hard work! 🙂 I’m excited to see them in use! Hopefully they’ll post them after receiving! ❤️
Your kitchen is really amazing! I am green with envy!
I have a friend that spends a lot of time alone as her husband is till needing to work outside the house. I text her when I go out for a walk in the evening and she comes to the back screen door and we chat for a few minutes before I finish my exercise.
I pick up a free lunch for my disabled grandchild. They are allowing me to pick up a free meal for my 95 year old neighbor also. Since my grandchild cannot drink the milk given (usually six cartons), I find a homeless person and give it to him/her. Everyone profits from it.
Beautiful kitchen. I’m hoping to brighten up our kitchen too in the fall. 🤞
I brought in my neighbors trash cans while out for my walk. It’s the small things, right?
Getting groceries or other needs for a few high risk people in the neighborhood.
I have went in local website in my immediate area (5miles N ,S,E W) and posted I can shop for neighbors that can not get out and drop off on porches for them!
My mother is 88 and lives alone. A couple of days a week I use my pressure cooker to provide meals for her. This week I made her a pepperoni pizza. Just want to keep her safe!
I love your kitchen remodel!
During the quarantine, my family and I have been helping an elderly neighbor clean up her yard and in return, she plans to make a donation to a local food shelf. I am a school social worker and have been doing lots of zoom meetings with kids, adults and making yoga videos for kids to help them stay focused and calm.
Love your kitchen!! My children and I have reached out to several of the elderly or people that are sick and not able to go out. We either just talk to them on the phone and try to make them laugh or we find errands for them, do grocery shopping, or whatever they need. It feels so good to help other people during this time!
I started a family “good news, cheer each other on” group using an easy app and even my 83 year old mother participates. I’ve also been making masks, like everyone else.
Looks great!!
We live out in the country, so it is very hard to get food delivered. One night a week, three families that all live on the same road decide on a restaurant to get curbside pick up from. Everyone places their order and one person runs to town to do the pick up and delivery!
We took in a teenager to live with us so that he wouldn’t put at risk his high risk grandmother and brother that lives with him because he works in an essential business and comes in contact with a lot of people.
I have been learning to see, and have made masks for neighbors and coworkers. I’ve also been sending flower packets in letters to friends and those I feel are lonely.
I have been making sure that the ‘Blessing Box’ at my church has food in it. Checking every other day.
I order groceries online to be picked up for my 86 yr old amazing mother every week. I call it payback for all the years she has helped me. I would still have done it without payback just because she is my mother 🙂
I’ve been tech support to everyone in my family as they do video conferencing galore! We’re also sewing masks because the more people that wear masks, the more protected my immune compromised husband is!
I work in Quality Care at a hospital where I live and we have made PSA videos on masking and donning and doffing for the community and other caregivers.
I’ve been researching recipes for friends who don’t really know how to use the internet as most of them are seniors. This has been fun as so much out there these days.
I cook for four, although it’s just hubby and myself. I pack up meals for our son (he lives alone) and for my MIL and my husband delivers the homecooked meals to them.
I have been looking after my Granddaughter & helping her with her schoolwork during this trying time.
My mission is not yet complete but I have tried to learn text to speech software to help a visually impaired friend navigate the Walmart grocery website better.
I have a former student who has a very compromised immune system and to help him handle not being able to leave the house we FaceTime a lot, play games, music, chat. Anything to help him through his day. My own kids are all out of the house so I don’t mind spending my time with this former student who makes everyone laugh and realize what a wonderful young man he is.
BTW, your new kitchen is beautiful. I’m envious.
I am a teacher and along with my fellow teachers, we took pictures of ourselves waving, printed them and taped to the insides of the windows delivering breakfast and lunch to all of the students in our school district!
Since I am remote teaching, I use my InstaPot almost every day to cook dinner, so my roommate and I make enough to take a meal next door to the elderly woman who lives in the other half of our duplex. She loves that we share and check in on her every day.
Putting out inspirational signs in our front yard to be seen by all that walk, run, drive by the yard.
I’ve been checking with the neighbors in our little community to get them anything when I have to run to the store.
The one creative or non-traditional way that I have helped or served someone during this quarantine period was by donating blood. I donate platelets every two weeks and I will continue to do so because the need for blood products does not stop because of COVID-19. Next Monday I will make my 250th lifetime blood donation.
Since we have a more relaxed schedule, my kids and I have been bringing in all of the garbage cans on our street on garbage day 😊
I absolutely love your kitchen update, what a neat upgrade for your family!
I donated games for kids to play at home.
I made several masks out of socks and gave them to the homeless.
I just got done baking apple crisp, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cream pie cookies, AND brownies! Some for us, some for our vet since one of our dogs needs to go, and some for my grandparents. I can’t wait to see their faces when I drop them off (at a distance of course 😉 )
It doesn’t seem like much, but I’ve helped several people with making meals out of what they have on hand, and teaching them how to build a pantry to sustain themselves without running to the store every day. So many of my friends don’t have a ton of cooking experience and are afraid to experiment with recipe substitutions, so I have them send me a list of what they have, and I tell them what to put together. 45 years of making do is serving me well these days!
I’ve united our Monday night rosary group by using “FreeConferenceCall.com” so that we can continue with our gospel sharing and prayer group, and we all seem to feel more connected again.
My daughter is a nurse where she says that the masks are under lock and key. I am sewing masks as fast I can. She is sharing them with others.
We went to the nursery and picked up the tomato plants for our relatives so that they did not need to risk exposier either to them selves or others.
We brought my husband’s grandfather into our home to die of cancer because we didn’t want him to die alone in the nursing home with no family around. With covid we would not have been allowed to visit him. It was sad and hard, but best for him.
I have three relatives in nursing facilities and all are in a lock-down with no visitors. So far there hasn’t been any with viruses. One has FaceTime and we are working on getting it set up with another one.
I’ve sent cards to family that are far away. My kids and I also picked up trash along the school baseball fields to help clean up.
I make Elderberry Syrup in the instant pot to boost our immune systems! Love the new kitchen!
I sewed up some face masks and offered them to members of our community.
I hung wallpaper in my daughter’s half bath!
I’ve been coming up with ideas to help parents of younger kids in our neighborhood.
I can’t sew, but I’ve donated fabric to be used for fabric masks.