My Kitchen Adventures: From Chaos to Kinda-Delicious (and Why Bloom Helps!)

Okay, you guys. If you follow me at all, you know that the kitchen and I have a… complicated relationship hahah. Like, I love to eat, I love good food, but the actual *making* of it? Whew. That's a whole journey. I'm heavy on the “we're not good at” yet, but honestly, that's kinda the fun of it, right? It's all about trying, learning, and sometimes, just sometimes, it actually tastes good in the end! And let me tell you, having a little Bloom Shirley Temple by my side makes the whole process a million times better. If you haven't tried that flavor, you are seriously missing out, it's so good!!

Embracing the Kitchen Chaos

For so long, I felt this pressure to be, like, a perfect chef mom. You see all these amazing creators making these gorgeous, elaborate meals, and I'm over here like, 'Can I even boil water without burning it?' hahah. But you know what? I've learned to let that go. My kitchen is a place for real life, and real life is messy. Especially with three little girls running around! Cooking for my family isn't about perfection; it's about connection, about trying new things, and about making memories (even if those memories involve a lot of flour on the floor and a smoke detector going off, ngl). Tanner is usually my hype man, telling me it's delicious even when I know it's a little… experimental. He's the best like that.

We've had some epic fails, trust me. There was this one time I tried to make homemade bread, and it came out looking like a rock. Stella and Ozzy still talk about it hahah. But then there are those moments when something just clicks, and it's actually really yummy, and the girls are all like, 'Mommy, this is the best!' Those moments make all the chaos worth it. It’s about the journey, not just the destination, right? And the journey in my kitchen is usually pretty wild.

Finding My Rhythm (or Lack Thereof)

I feel like a lot of moms can relate to this. You're juggling a million things, and sometimes the thought of planning, prepping, and cooking a whole meal feels like climbing Mount Everest. My mom, bless her heart, raised me as a single mom, and she was a wizard in the kitchen. She could whip up anything from scratch, and it was always amazing. I think part of me always felt like I had to live up to that, but my life is different, and that's okay. I'm finding my own rhythm, even if it's a little off-beat.

For me, that rhythm often involves simple recipes, things I can throw together without too much fuss. Sheet pan dinners? Yes, please! Pasta dishes? My girls are always down for pasta. And honestly, sometimes it’s just cereal for dinner, and that's okay too! We're all fed, we're all happy, and that's what matters most. I'm learning to give myself grace, bc motherhood is already a lot, and adding unnecessary pressure about cooking just isn't worth it. I just want to create a space where my girls feel loved and nourished, even if the food isn't always gourmet.

The Bloom Shirley Temple: My Kitchen Sidekick

Okay, let's talk about my secret weapon for surviving kitchen adventures: my Bloom greens! You guys know I love my Bloom, and I've been a partner with them for a while now bc I genuinely use and love their products. But when they came out with the Shirley Temple flavor? Game changer. I'm not even kidding, it's like a little treat that also happens to be good for you. It tastes just like the real thing, but without all the sugar. So when I'm in the middle of a cooking session, maybe things are getting a little stressful, or I just need a little pick-me-up, I mix up a glass of the Shirley Temple Bloom, and it's just perfect.

It's refreshing, it gives me that little boost, and it makes me feel like I'm doing something good for my body while I'm doing something (sometimes chaotic) for my family. It's truly my favorite flavor, and I'm not just saying that. I literally crave it. We straight up drink these everyday, we love them over here!! It's just a little moment of calm in the storm of dinner prep, and I'm so grateful for it. It's like a tiny reward for trying my best, even when my best isn't perfect. And that's a feeling I love.

Cooking with the Girls: More Memories, Less Pressure

One of my favorite things to do now is get the girls involved in the kitchen. Yes, it makes things even messier, and yes, it takes twice as long, but the memories we're making are priceless. Stella loves to stir, Ozzy is a pro at pouring (with supervision, of course!), and even baby Cherry sits in her high chair watching us, probably wondering what kind of delicious chaos we're cooking up next. It’s not about teaching them to be master chefs right now; it's about teaching them to be comfortable in the kitchen, to experiment, and to have fun with food.

We make easy things together, like cookies or simple pasta sauces. Sometimes we just chop veggies for a salad. It’s about the process, about spending time together, and about them feeling like they’re contributing. I want them to grow up without the same pressure I felt, knowing that cooking can be a joyful, creative outlet, even if it doesn’t always go according to plan. And who knows, maybe one day they’ll be amazing cooks and they’ll cook for me! A mom can dream, right? :,)

My Unfiltered Take on Kitchen Life

So, yeah, my kitchen isn't always picture-perfect. It's not always gourmet. But it's real. It's full of love, laughter, and sometimes, a little bit of burnt toast. And that's exactly how I like it. I'm learning, I'm growing, and I'm having fun along the way. If you're like me and you're not a natural in the kitchen, just know you're not alone. Give yourself permission to make mistakes, to order takeout sometimes, and to celebrate the small wins. And definitely, definitely try that Bloom Shirley Temple. It's a game changer for real. What are your favorite easy family meals? Or your biggest kitchen fails? I wanna hear them! We're all in this together, and it's so much better when we can laugh about it. Love you guys sm!! ❤