If you have followed me for awhile, you already know my kitchen is my happy place. It is the heart of my home for me. When I walk into my kitchen, I want to feel peace, love, and calm. I want it to be a safe space where I can create, experiment, and just be myself with no judgement. There is something about being in the kitchen that lets me get lost in what I am doing, and honestly, I love that feeling.

I have always loved cooking and baking. I don’t bake nearly as much as I would like to, but cooking has always been something I truly enjoy. I think the difference now is that I find even more peace in it. There is something about preparing my own meals, knowing I took the time to make something for myself, and feeling that sense of accomplishment when it is done. Then, when I have leftovers that can go into the freezer for future me… well, future Shelly has been pretty thankful for past Shelly lately. 😂

There have been times I have opened my freezer, pulled something out that was already prepared, and literally said out loud, “Thank you Past Shelly!” Then I laugh because honestly, Past Shelly really did me a favour. Those little moments remind me that the things we do for ourselves today really can make life easier tomorrow.

That is one of the biggest things I have learned through resetting my kitchen. When things are set up in a way that works for me, everything feels easier. I am not searching everywhere for what I need or walking back and forth trying to find things. Everything is getting a place, and I am slowly creating a kitchen that works for how I actually live.

Now let’s talk about the freezer empire because that was definitely an adventure. 😂 When I organized it, I learned something very important about myself…

I shop too much!

I mean, I knew I had food, but when everything was organized and I could actually see what I had, I realized I had A LOT of food. Like… a lot! 😂 And honestly, that was a really good thing to realize because now I can focus on using what I already have instead of constantly buying more.

Meal prepping has made such a difference for me. I prep my produce, portion it into one or two cup packages, label it, and freeze it so it is ready when I need it. No more standing there in the morning thinking, “I don’t have the energy to chop all of this today.” It is already done and waiting for me.

One of my favourite things to prep ahead is bacon. Yes, bacon. 😂 I cook it, cut it into bite-size pieces, freeze it, and then I can just grab what I need and put the rest away. It saves so much time and honestly, future Shelly appreciates that one too.

Now, having a smaller kitchen has definitely been a challenge. Some days I look around and think, “Where am I supposed to put everything?” 😂 Even after decluttering, it still feels like there is never enough room. But I am learning that my kitchen doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be practical and set up for me.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your kitchen, my biggest advice is to start small. Do not look at the entire kitchen and think, “I have to fix all of this today,” because that is when we freeze and don’t know where to begin. Pick one drawer, one cupboard, or one little area and start there.

When I was going through my things, I created three piles: Keep, Maybe, and Goodbye. The Maybe pile was actually really helpful because sometimes you aren’t ready to make that decision right away, and that is okay. Going back through it later gives you a chance to look at things with fresh eyes and decide if it really needs to stay.

Your kitchen doesn’t have to look like someone else’s kitchen. It just has to work for you.

A huge part of my kitchen creativity comes from my A Spice Affair spices. Honestly, they inspire my recipes like crazy! Most of the time, I start by thinking about which spices I want to use together and then build the recipe from there. I think about the protein, the vegetables, and all the flavours I want to bring together.

My recipe creation process is probably a little crazy when I actually think about it. 😂 I start at my laptop, create the recipe, print it, change something, walk into the kitchen, change something else, and then start cooking. Things get crossed out, new ingredients get added, things get removed, and somehow by the end, a recipe appears.

That is honestly my favourite part.

Of course, Sir Kit Kat has been supervising this entire kitchen reset, although I don’t think he is overly impressed with my cooking adventures. 😂 His official Kitchen Supervisor report card would probably be a D-. Apparently, I am a little too much when I am cooking, dancing, and singing in the kitchen. He prefers to supervise from a safe distance, which honestly is probably the smartest decision he makes all day. 🐾

My biggest kitchen reset win has been getting a little more organized every day. I am getting closer and closer to where I want it to be, although if I would stop changing my mind about where things should go, I might get there a little faster. 😂 But that is okay because this is my kitchen and I am figuring out what works best for me.

A kitchen isn’t about having the perfect space. It is about making the best of what you do have and having fun with your cooking.

So if your kitchen feels overwhelming right now, just breathe. Have faith and take your time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was anything important.

Walk into your kitchen. Stand there for a minute. Look around. Open your cupboards. Think about what would make your life easier. Draw it out if you need to. Make a plan. Pick your starting point.

You don’t have to do everything today.

Dear Reader, remember that your home doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Your kitchen doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to be a place where you feel comfortable, where you can take care of yourself, and where you can create little moments that make you happy.

Take your time. Celebrate the little wins. Be proud of the progress you are making.

Because those small steps really do add up.

Until next time…

Grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and remember…

You are doing better than you think. 💜

Love Always,
☕ Shelly