How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel and Still Eat Real Food - The Destruction

We are just starting our second week of our kitchen remodel. And yes - we're still eating real food! In case you want to catch up on what we're doing, you can check out my first two posts here and here on our project.

There has been a ton of PROGRESS in just the first week!! The dust as a result of the destruction is starting to drive me a bit crazy. There, I said it!! Of course, I've been taking pictures everyday to keep track of progress.

So, here's the first week run-down and the destruction which ensued.

Day 1 - Demolition day. The wall came down which turned out to be load-bearing (oops!). The floor, which we had planned to re-use, all needed to come up. I consider this a blessing as the floor would've been trashed in all the other work that has transpired since AND the fact that we could be a bit sloppy if we needed to when painting.

Day 2 - Electrical work. Not much to show other than an open wall.

Day 3 - Nothing major happened other than all the drywall was gone!

Day 4 - Electrical inspection and drywall work

Day 5 - More drywall work

Days 6 & 7 (Saturday & Sunday) - painting

[caption id="attachment_790" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The final color for the kitchen is "Mackinac Island" by Dutch Boy. Love it![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_791" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This is the mudroom (formerly the pantry). Love this color: Wild River (Pittsburgh paint).[/caption]

Real Food?

Why yes, we are eating real food!

Our meal plan for the week was pretty good. Friday night we ended up going out to eat instead of making salmon burgers. Saturday, however, we grilled some awesome grass-fed burgers for dinner while taking a painting break.

The boys enjoyed having hot lunch but I'm noticing that my oldest son's skin is flared up with his eczema. I need to watch this: could be food but could also be a virus that he's been fighting off. Or, it could be all the construction dust around the house. Either way, I'm so glad this project has a super-fast turnaround!

I'm finding that I do more in the living room when it comes to preparing food: breakfast for sure (obvious) but also dinner and lunches. It's just easier not running back and forth up/down stairs.

On Thursday, we had sloppy joe's and I had to make myself a grain-free bun. LOVE THIS RECIPE!

Week 2 Preview

Our meal plan for the second week is in place. We tend to settle into patterns, repeatable meals that are fast and easy to prepare. Tuesdays that means "taco" night (er, nachos on the grill). Thursdays is sloppy joe's. During this project, we're going out to a local restaurant which features "Wednesday Wing Night". That leaves Monday as our crockpot day and Friday as "we'll see how it goes". Meaning, if we go out to eat Friday, we stay home Saturday. I'm trying to keep eating out just to two nights per week. Hot lunch on Thursday for the boys (burgers) and my youngest asked to have hot lunch on Wednesday (beef nachos). I'm on the fence for Wednesday but we'll see.

Work for the week includes cabinet delivery (Tuesday) and installation (Wednesday and Thursday). The counter top fabricator will be coming by on Friday to measure and template out our solid surface counters. Saturday we have Sears delivering our appliances. Sometime in here the floor will also be installed.

So, here's to SURVIVAL!! Will check in next week!!

In good health...
~Anne