NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
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Welcome to our
November Newsletter
In This Issue:
Cook Remodeling Helps
Foster Family
How to Go Green When Remodeling
Low Carb Mashed No-Potatoes!
Secure Online Shopping Tips
Read on and
remember to share with
your friends and family.
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When the non-profit,
Boost a Foster Family
contacted Cook Remodeling to ask if we could add a bedroom so a family could keep a foster child, we wanted to help! They introduced us to a generous-hearted family who wanted to help a special needs child that required their own bedroom. Their own two sons volunteered to give up their bedroom and sleep in the garage to make it happen! After the family had adjusted to a new routine, the case manager made a home visit, and said they could not allow those sleeping arrangements. They were told unless they added another bedroom, the foster child would have to go back to an institutional group home.
The family did not have the financial means to move or remodel, and reached out to Boost A Foster Family for help, who then contacted us. We had never taken on such a large community project before, but we trusted it would all work out. We helped with the design and donated our time to be the general contractor and project manager. We shared this family’s need and mission with our community to help raise funds. Many people contributed, but thousands of dollars more were still needed. ABC News
broadcasted the story
and Bell Mortgage stepped up and donated $8000! We contacted suppliers and subcontractors, and were able to get building material donated from: Arizona Tile, Home Depot, and Alliance Lumber. The following companies donated both materials and installation: Gale Insulation, Apple Drywall, and Sundown Lathe & Plaster. Their generous donations made what was raised enough to get the project done. Our team even volunteered to work on Saturdays as needed to help the project progress.
November is a time to be thankful. We are thankful for our 38 years in business! For our loyal customers who tell others to call us, and who also call us again when it’s time for their next project. We are thankful our talented team and support professionals who share our high standards in service delivery. Because of all of you, we were able to take on this large community service project that will continue to enable this family to keep siblings together in a loving home environment. We all are impacting lives!
1 Thessalonians 1: 2
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KITCHENS:
An energizing kitchen where you gather and nourish the body and spirit.
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BATHROOMS:
A luxurious bath where you begin and end the day.
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GUEST HOUSES/OUTDOOR LIVING:
A space for retreat and enjoying the great outdoors.
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ADDITIONS:
Add value to your home and improve the quality of your life.
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Thank YOU
for
your referrals & reviews:
Virginia Revoir
Jennifer Kosik
Jim & Dianne Roberts
Kees Cusveller
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More people are choosing greener solutions in their everyday lives. We carry reusable shopping bags, refillable water bottles and walk when we can. We are conscious about recycling, and donating items not needed. How can we be green when remodeling?
- Increase efficiency: The greatest utility cost can be a poor building envelope. Have an energy audit done to find problem areas, and if windows need to be replaced. Have abundant natural light. Choose appliances with a high Energy Star rating, and faucets, showerheads and toilets that are Water Sense Certified.
- Choose eco-friendly: A better quality product will be more durable and long lasting. There are different materials for countertop, flooring, and the like, choose sustainable materials. Consider where a product comes from, local would be ideal or made in the USA rather than shipped from China. For bigger purchases, like cabinetry, check a company’s website to see if they have sustainability and stewardship practices.
- Have a healthy environment: Studies have found indoor air quality can be worse than the pollution outdoors. Plastics/synthetics, paints, varnishes, even glues, can off gas toxic fumes. Specify no to low-VOC products.
- Be universal: Make a home “senior ready” and be a visitable home for someone with physical challenges. As the large generation of Baby Boomers become seniors, and with few homes designed to meet the needs of aging, it can make your home more attractive to buyers when it is time to sell!
There can be a functional efficiency too. If there are rooms that are not being used as designed, e.g. a formal dining room, change the floor plan or repurpose the room to fit your needs and enhance your lifestyle.
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever;
1 Chronicles 16: 34
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Every person in the process was very professional and did a terrific job. The designer helped bring to life all that we were hoping for. Now that we are living with our new kitchen, there isn’t anything we can think of we wish we did differently. That is good design! All the workers were terrific! Everyone was so caring, friendly, and tried to meet our needs in a timely manner.
We highly recommend Cook Remodeling to everyone who needs any work done on their place. We want to thank you for a job well done!
John & Patricia C., Phoenix
Kitchen Remodel
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On-time, On-budget
Wow
results for 38 years.
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Call us for an appointment!
(480) 491-3077
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Traditions are comforting, and Thanksgiving definitely has an expected menu. Considering sweet potatoes are typical fare (they need no sweetening!), why have starchy white potatoes too? Rutabagas and cauliflower make great substitutes, and since they will probably be doused with gravy, people may not notice! Compared to white potatoes, rutabagas have 1/3 the calories/are lower in carbs, have more fiber and come from the cancer fighting cruciferous family. Try this recipe with chicken flavored vegetable stock. We can never have too many veggies!
Mashed Rutabaga & Cauliflower
Prep. Time 10 minutes, Cook & Finish Time 30 minutes
Serves 10-12 people
- 1 head cauliflower, chopped
- 2 medium/large rutabagas, peeled and shredded
- 3 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- ¾ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups No-Chicken Vegetable broth
- chopped chives and rosemary
- Chop cauliflower to about the size of hazelnuts. Peel and run rutabagas through a food processor with a large shred blade. Finely chop the garlic.
- In a stock pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic for about 2 minutes. Add the chopped cauliflower, rutabaga shreds and sea salt, stir to combine well.
- Add chicken flavored vegetable broth and black pepper and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally and cook until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat. If there seems to be an excess of liquid, remove—you can always add back in, to get the right consistency for mashed no-potatoes.
- With a hand immersion blender, blend vegetables until smooth.
- Top with chopped chives and rosemary.
Tip: Pour hot water into the serving bowls to help keep food hot longer, and the dish itself won’t be too hot to pass around the table.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9: 8
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We always start Thanksgiving day by going to Church to give thanks. Each year our parish collects food for the food banks which get depleted for the holiday, and the money collected at the offertory goes to a charity.
A teenager was sitting in front of us with his family, and he readied for the collection by retrieving a dollar bill from his pocket and waited for the basket to be passed to him.
I noticed a $20 bill had dropped out of his pocket onto the floor. I picked it up, tapped him on the shoulder and handed it to him. The boy smiled, and placed the $20 in the collection basket and passed it on.
After the service, the young man turned around to say he thought I was generous in giving a $20. I said, “Son, I gave a check donation. That $20 bill was yours that fell from your pocket. You are generous too.” I just can’t describe in words the look he had on his face.
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More and more companies are making it convenient to buy everyday goods online, with better deals and quick delivery as perks. Recently in the news, price comparisons were made of select products between Walmart’s online store and in retail store, and some items were less expensive in the store. When asked why that would be, the retail representative said they still want to attract buyers to the store.
As we approach the holiday season, the frequency of online purchases will spike due to busy schedules and convenience. It is important to remember that there is the risk of hidden fees, difficulty with returns, counterfeit products and identity theft involved with shopping online, and you should take the necessary precautions to protect yourself. Here are a few tips for secure online shopping:
- Stick with reputable brands and sources. Be wary of a pop up online ad or spam email with a deal that is too good to be true. Check the web address for authenticity, for online customer reviews, and for return policy. Try calling their customer service to see if you like the experience.
- Check for secure payment services BEORE entering your credit or debit card information. Secure payment services include third party providers like PayPal, or websites in which the URL contains an “s” e.g. ‘https://.’ Keep copies of transactions and receipts that will be useful in the case that a purchase needs to be disputed or a package is lost.
- Avoid making purchases on a public Wi-Fi network. It is risky. There are people who offer an authentic and secure sounding network just to capture credit card information. Bookmark a site to do later, or call and give the information over the phone.
I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
Psalms 9: 2
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