So, We're All Bakers Now...

...and professional chefs, organizers, carpenters, make-up artists and even teachers.

If you go by what the empty supermarket shelves or curated Instagram posts are telling us, our collective #QuarantineLife has turned us into Ma & Pa Ingalls, doing things for ourselves that many of us have been outsourcing for years.

But if you’re struggling a little bit with getting your skills up, we’ve got a (digital) book for that!

B A K I N G
Happiness Is Baking by Maida Heatter
We could all use some cheering up, and some folks believe that baking can (and probably eating all the products of said baking) bring you joy.

Pillsbury Baking Hacks: Fun and Inventive Recipes with Refrigerated Dough
Maybe you can’t work magic with flour and sugar—or more likely, your market is out of it. This book is a cheat-sheet for yummy treats.

Baking Without Sugar by Sophie Michell
We’re looking out for your waistlines and dietary needs: here’s a book for those who’d rather not get diabetes while self-isolating.

 

B U I L D I N G
The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects by Spike Carlsen
Are you lucky enough to have some land around your home? Here are some projects for making sustainable outdoor items.

Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with Your Kids by David Erik Nelson
This is a good resource for keeping the kids busy and holding cabin fever at bay.

The Complete Guide to Cabinets & Countertops: How to Customize Your Home with Cabinetry
If you’re sheltering in place with a handywo/man, use this book to update the kitchen that, by now, is annoying to look at.

 

B E A U T I F Y I N G
Make Your Own Pure Mineral Makeup: 79 Easy Hypoallergenic Recipes for Radiant Beauty by Heather Anderson
You’re not leaving the house anyway, might as well play dress up with your own homemade makeup.

Drawing Faces for Beginners by Craig Nelson
It’s still possible to have brunch or cocktail parties with friends around the clock; just draw portraits of them to pin up around your apartment!

52 Weekend Decorating Projects
Now, I’m not suggesting you’ll have 52 weekends in quarantine, but you are going to be home for a while. Why not make it pretty?

 

B A R T E N D I N G
The Bloody Mary: The Lore and Legend of a Cocktail Classic by Brian Bartels
I personally don’t understand why anyone would want to drink tomato juice, but if the bloody mary is your drink of choice, here’s a fun book for you.

Eat Your Drink: Culinary Cocktails by Matthew Biancaniello
Some of us like to spend this time being fancy; this book has recipes for artisanal cocktails that will make your IG feed the envy of your followers.

The Cocktail Guide to the Galaxy by Andy Heidel
This book combines nerdy pop-culture and cocktails in a way that’ll help the time pass seamlessly.

B R I G H T E N I N G
Simple Organizing by Melissa Michaels
Room by room, you can bring order to your space with the help of this book (and combat the feeling of ‘disorder right outside your door!).

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Are you the last person to get on the KonMari bandwagon? Well, here’s your chance to find happiness in an organized space.

Organizing for Creative People by Sheila Chandra
Some of the messiest people I know are writers, artists, and musicians. But there’s hope for us yet!

BONUS: Share Your Projects with Us!
If you end up baking, building, or beautifying anything while sheltering in place, send us your photos at BPLbookblog@gmail.com or tag us on instagram with #BPLDIY.