Hello from my (imperfect) kitchen!

HELLO! This probably isn't what you expected, LOL!

This morning I sat down to do work and research a possible WEBINAR that I'd like to do. I've been thinking about this for a while--my favorite thing about my job is INTERACTING WITH MY COMMUNITY (love you!) and a webinar would be a great way to bring valuable information to my people and getting to interact with my community--and also (hopefully) attract new people into my community. Because bringing new people into the fold is an important part of my business and I'm often thinking about how I can do that.

My son, Beck (5 1/2) went to a Lego camp today (theme of the camp is "Chemistry"...not sure how that is going to play out!). He's there until 3pm so I have a short day to do a lot of work (which is my norm!). Scott, my hubby, took Beck to camp and then came home to do some work as well. We both sat down at the kitchen table.

Here's Scott focusing intently on his work! Behind him are all our holiday cards we've received. To his left is our Wall of Art that Beck started. A lot of the pictures are Beck's but many other people have contributed--anyone that visits our home is invited to draw or paint a picture to hang! Scott, my sister, Erin, my , Josh, his friend, Jordan, my niece, Jennie and I have all contributed to the wall!

And here I am in all my non-glory! Still in my pajamas (but wearing a yummy sweater over them), no make up on...I hadn't even brushed my hair! And YES--that's a cup of espresso next to me! I don't drink coffee but I do drink espresso (coffee is too acidic for me). Sometimes I give it up and sometimes I don't...it's something I'm learning to live with!

So you see...I'm not perfect. That's important to know because in today's world we are bombarded with images of perfection all day long and boy can that make us feel like WE ARE NOT ENOUGH.

But guess what?! Those images--whether from commercial ads or people's Facebook feed or Instagram feed (or whatever the latest social media trends are out there) are CURATED. THEY ARE NOT THE MOMENT TO MOMENT REALITY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES. Now--you know this in your heart but your mind...your mind will try and trick you into believing that those images are TRUTH. That somehow, everyone out there has:

• Perfect bodies
• Perfect clothes
• Perfect homes
• Perfect jobs
• Perfect skin
• Perfectly toned abs
• Perfect children (ha!)
• Perfect relationships

So to disabuse you of the notion of perfection in my world (not sure if you had that notion but just in case!), I wanted to share a slice of my life. I'll also show you my kitchen, which is truly one of the ugliest kitchens I know of! Truth is, I have often sought to HIDE how un-pretty my kitchen is from you guys!! (That said, I've also dreamed of creating a YouTube channel called, "Beautiful Food from an Ugly Kitchen."!!)

Oy. HARVEST GOLD. Yup. Our home was built in 1970 and this is the original kitchen with the exception of the stainless steel dishwasher! I didn't arrange anything for the photo--note spoon left on counter (not sure who left that!).

Our stove has only TWO working burners and it isn't repairable because...well...1970. The hood to the stove hasn't worked for months. The tile...well, it pains me daily to see it, LOL! That's a pot of oatmeal on the stove left by Scott. The window looks out to a little "courtyard" that is actually sort of cool--we have a builtin BBQ out there.

There's very little storage in my kitchen which drives me mad! Note the mason jars lined up against the wall to the right of the (harvest gold) sink! What I wouldn't give more more counter space!

Speaking of counter space..

This is a little something we've actually titled our "clutter counter"! How many of my OCD peeps out there are going crazy seeing this?! Truthfully--it isn't in that bad a shape today! Often it is worse! Check out the lefthand side wall--see that thing that looks like a radio built into the wall? THAT IS AN INTERCOM SYSTEM! OMG! It was put into the house in...you guessed it...1970! It doesn't work (or barely works) anymore yet there it is, a huge eyesore. Although it is slightly amusing!

To the right you can see my purse with my red wallet sticking out. The peppermint bark was a gift from friends--we aren't going to eat it (LOVE YOU Kathy and David! Sorry!)--Scott is taking it to his work (is it bad that we pawn off stuff we would never eat to co-workers?!). The piece of paper stuck to the oh-so-brown cupboard says, "EVOLVE--DISCONTINUE" LOL! Sounds so funny but what that is, is an organization I've been donating $39 to quarterly for the past couple of years but I want to discontinue it and donate that money in a different direction this year...I still haven't done it despite the big ole note on the cabinet (I'm busy!). The white refrigerator isn't from the 70s--I think more like early 90s.

SO. YEAH. Super IMPERFECT. Somehow in this crazy small, disorganized and highly unattractive kitchen, I manage to make some killer green smoothies and other yummy, healthy meals. I hope there's some small amount of inspiration there for you!

I will also add that due to the fact that everything in our kitchen is falling apart, we are FINALLY going to be updating it. But that feels SCARY because it is a lot of money and seriously--I've never done anything like that before (spent that kind of money, ordered new appliances, etc...). But we have to do it! I mean...only TWO WORKING BURNERS on the stove! (although last Thursday we hosted a Chanukah party for 65 friends and fried up 250 latkes on those two burners! WOOT!). If you have any experience updating a kitchen and want to lend me advice, feel free to do so!

So what's the point of all this? Well, first and foremost--NOBODY'S LIFE IS AS PERFECT AS IT SEEMS. So STOP comparing yourself and remember that EVERYONE IS TOTALLY MESSED UP!Hee hee! I actually think that's probably mostly true to one degree or another.

BUT SERIOUSLY--one of the biggest things we all suffer from in life is the idea that we are "not enough". And that's simply not true. You are beautiful and YOU ARE ENOUGH. I promise. Readjust your thinking on that because you know what? THE WORLD NEEDS YOU! And the more you think, "I'm not good enough etc etc" the more you hold yourself back from KICKING ASS!

Okay...signing off now. Don't forget to come hang out with me and others from this magnificent tribe in the 28 Day Total Food Transformation. Eating right truly does help you to KICK ASS in this world. I promise.

Sending you SOOOOOOO MUCH LOVE!

Elijah