Series Make More Good

Mornings! Ugh! Not one to pop out of bed — bright-eyed and bushy-tailed — before your alarm goes off? Obviously, good mornings start with a good night’s sleep. Beyond that, there’s still plenty you can do to make your mornings just a little better. You’ve got this whole adulting thing.

The time we get to spend together as a family is precious. We can never seem to get enough of it — especially when it comes to busy weeknights. Whether your family consists of you and four kids, or it’s just you and your roommate, there are a few things you can do to make your weeknight dinners better than ever. We can’t stress enough how important this is.

When a friend or family member is sick, overwhelmed, homebound, or taking care of a new baby, we say what we can — So sorry. Thinking about you! — and then, because we know that won’t make everything better, we do the next best thing: We bring them food. Food speaks for us when words fail, which is why putting together a thoughtful, personal food care package is one of the kindest things you can do for a struggling friend or loved one.

The best thing you can give to new parents (aside from sleep, which is surprisingly hard to gift wrap)? It’s not toys, baby clothes, or anything that makes noise. It’s food. And some celebratory bubbles. Chances are, these new proud parents put a ton of work into getting themselves and their nursery ready for the new arrival, but they probably forgot about the fact that they’ll need to eat almost as often as the baby. This is where you come in.

Conversations with old friends, especially ones we haven’t seen in a while, can often be done in the past tense. You talk about situations that you shared together or people you used to know, and maybe you might gloss over what’s happening in your current lives.

Bringing food to friends is one of the joyous chores of adult relationships: you get to celebrate new babies, grieve with your best people, and share in nourishing your circle through food. There are some guidelines for bringing food to new parents or sick work friends, but there are also commandments to make the most of bring food to friends and keep you, the gifting cook, sane. While a home-cooked meal is deeply appreciated, it really is the thought and effort that counts.

Teacher Appreciation Day is technically in May, but with the holidays coming, you might want to give your kid’s teacher something in the next few months. Something that shows her how much you and your child appreciate her. Something that lets her know she’s doing a great job. And something that’s not an apple! Perhaps something like this adorable gift box?

As negative as our silly world can be at times, it’s also full of inspiration. Look on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook at any given moment and you’re sure to see (at least) a few super-inspiring quotes. The same can be said for your kitchen — if you were to get any of these adorable prints from Etsy, that is. (Note: You can download and print some of these out yourself and some get printed and shipped to you.

During the weekday crazies, getting dinner cooked and onto the table can feel chaotic and chore-like. But it’s actually pretty special when you think about it, and there are plenty of things you can do to make it so much more enjoyable. Here are some ideas. You can’t always have your dream kitchen, but there’s still plenty you can do to make sure you enjoy spending time in the kitchen you do have.

Community gardens can do a lot to make more good: Studies find they help reduce crime, bring in new businesses to the area, create a better network of neighbors, and have a positive effect on property values. Some community gardens even deliver fresh food to the people who need it the most. That all gets a (green) thumbs up, right? Here’s how you can get the green light to put your green thumb to work. Not all gardens are the same. Some are just designed for plants, bushes, and flowers.

Even if you like to clean, chances are it’s not your favorite thing to do. We can’t blame you for that, but we can help you make it more fun. Because it’s gotta get done, so you may as well enjoy yourself as much as possible while it’s happening. Just because you’re cleaning doesn’t mean that’s the only thing you have to be doing. You can multitask like the best of them!

Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts (Charlie Brown! Snoopy! That too-smart-for-her-own-good Lucy!), was one of the most influential cartoonists of all time — and he might have inspired people to eat a little more chocolate, too. You can print it out (for free!) and hang it up in your kitchen or office. Although it’s basically impossible to track down where or when Schulz famously said (or wrote?

Even if you’re not ready for a full-on kitchen makeover, there are plenty of smaller projects you can tackle to make your kitchen a bit happier. It’s all those little touches — creative storage ideas, prettily patterned dish towels, and artwork that can stand up to a few spaghetti sauce splashes — that make you and your family want to spend even more time in the most popular room in your home. Here are 10 small projects to give your kitchen a little love.