Back to the basics. I had too. We were tired, unhealthy, and had spent far too much money on restaurants and take-out food. I needed to get back into the kitchen.
This goal lasted two weeks before we returned to our comfortable pattern of picking something up on the way home, or ordering something in. Because of where we live, and me being celiac, our options are not many, and they are certainly not healthy.
Our waistlines were suffering and so was our budget but I could not seem to get motivated and back in the kitchen. After all, it wasn’t a very inspiring place to be. It is located in the middle of the house (open concept) and seems to kind of get lost in between the dining room on one end, and the living room on the other. Although it is in the centre of our home, it was not the centre of our lives and this was a problem because it meant we weren’t spending time there.
I started to think a lot about the kitchen; its purpose, function, and how it supports our day to day living. There was a time when all our meals were prepared in our home kitchens by the hands of people who loved and cared for us. There is something very special about this ritual and exchange. Coming together to prepare and share a meal not only fosters deeper connection, but it brings us back to our roots. Literally.
Somehow, we have moved away from these home cooked meals as a luxury, and view it more as a hassle. Constantly looking for ways to make meals faster, quicker, easier and keeping us out of our kitchens. I was suffering from this perspective for sure and I am not kidding when I say, suffering. I felt awful.
So, I gave my kitchen a mini make-over in an effort to get myself back into the space and cooking again. And the results were exactly what I had hoped. I fell back in love with my kitchen, started spending more time there and in turn, was cooking almost every meal at home. We started to feel better and, had extra grocery money at the end of the week.
When we have a space that aligns with our goals, it can support us in ways we never thought possible. My mini kitchen make-over cost less than $50.00 and has saved us that much almost every two days not eating out. Not to mention the price that cannot be put on our health.
If you are finding yourself uninspired and avoiding the kitchen, give the space some love and switch things up. By breathing life into the space, it will breathe life into us. And the kitchen is an essential example of this beautiful give/take relationship between our internal and external environments.
Whether you need some fresh flowers on the counter, or a new cookbook for inspiration, find what works for you and gets your creative foodie juices flowing. Spark that place inside of you that wants to create meals for yourself and your family that are filled with love and nourishing intention.
MINI KITCHEN MAKE-OVER
Here’s what I did to spice things up:
- cleaned out all the cupboards, got rid of any unnecessary items or duplicates
- re-arranged the contents of the kitchen for better function while working in the space
- wiped out, and wiped down all the cupboards
- cleaned out the fridge and re-stocked with fresh items
- emptied the pantry, did a purge and placed everything in organizers for quick access
- LABELLED – need I say more?!
- wiped the counters
- added fresh flowers and turned on the diffuser
- bought a new cookbook (The Love and Lemons Cookbook!)
- lit a candle
After that, you couldn’t drag me out of the kitchen! From that day forward, it became a daily practice to pull up a kitchen stool (which I had never sat at prior), make a cup of tea, and flip through my new cookbook. My Grandma would be so proud.
During this ritual each day, I choose recipes for us to try that expose us to new and healthy foods, and lead me out of my cooking comfort zone. I look forward to the time of day when I prepare our meals, and I know that I am doing so with so much care and love.
By feeling inspired in the space, I feel supported in my life and what once used to be something I dreaded and avoided, is now one of my favourite parts of the day. It is incredible what a ‘space-lift’ can do for your life.
Live well,
Cher
Have other places in your life that could use a space-lift? Feel free to contact me for a complimentary consultation.
