How to Create Family Fun in the Kitchen

Family time made fun and easy, have fun in the kitchen with your kids on a budget, Budget-friendly kitchen essentials you’ll Love

One of my favorite things to do on Sundays is to spend time with my family in the kitchen.  And luckily, one of the things we love most about our house is how open the kitchen is to the whole house. We can be in the kitchen and still feel part of everything that is going on. But, what makes cooking so much fun lately is that my oldest son Roan loves to cook. This is a blessing during the week when I just don’t have the energy. He’ll cook up his favorite dishes.  Steaks with Roan’s “special sauce” and Caesar salad with homemade dressing and croutons. It’s really good.

As part of the Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart Influencer Network, every month we are given a design theme or challenge. This month we were asked to share how Better Homes & Gardens products from Walmart help us enjoy relaxation or family fun activities at home. This is a sponsored post, but all the opinions are our own. We have included convenient affiliate shopping links. Be sure to check out more inspirational budget-decor ideas from the BHG Live Better Influencer Network this month.

Finding Time for Togetherness

As my boys get older and are now in their pre-teen and teenage years (Roan is 13 and Reese is 11), it definitely has become harder and harder to get them to “hang out” with mom. Roan and Reese like sports, not shopping. They like video games, not fashion. They like watching YouTube videos, not watching romantic comedies. Go figure!

Most of you already know that I am not a huge fan of cooking, but did you know I have always loved to bake? Yes, it’s true. Chalk it up to a sugar obsession that has been around since my childhood. I actually still love to bake. I try not to give in to this passion of mine too often because it’s pure sabotage to my diet, but when I can spend time with my son, I’m all in.

 

Pumpkin Spice Season is Officially Here

This past Sunday Roan and I decided to combine one of his favorites, pumpkin bread, with one of my favorites, cake, and try out a new recipe.  We actually combined two recipes.  The first was from Martha Stewart.  I loved the sound of their Pumpkin Spice Cake & Honey Frosting …but the cake was for a 9″ x 9″ pan and I had my heart set on making a Bundt cake.

Then I found the recipe from the blog, Two Peas and Their Pod,  Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting which looked perfect. Since I didn’t have any confectioners sugar on hand I decided to mix the recipes, combining the Bundt cake recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod with the Honey Frosting from Martha Stewart. One less trip to the store is enough to make this mama happy.

 

 

Making Memoreis…

The recipe was simple to make! No special equipment or techniques needed. I would call it a fool-proof recipe.

Fool proof unless you count the mishap which occurred when I was icing the cake. Suddenly the entire thing slipped off the counter and fell upside down on the kitchen floor. I thought all was lost and paused for a moment with my head in my hands, then calmly decided to see what could be salvaged. I picked up the cake (which was incredibly still in one piece) and put it back on the stand.

The perfectly drizzled icing was now a bit of a mess, but Roan and I managed to use the last of the frosting to cover it up. In the end it wasn’t perfect, but we were happy with the way it came out. The floor was covered in honey, butter and cream cheese but what would a good cooking adventure be without a bit of a mess?

My New Kitchen Island

First of all, who couldn’t use more counter space? Am I right? I am absolutely in love with my new kitchen island from Better Homes & Gardens collection available from Walmart stores and Walmart.com. Quite honestly, I never would have anticipated just how useful this island would be. I thought I had enough counter space, but I was wrong. This island bridges the gap between my counters and is amazingly helpful.

Style & Quality Craftsmanship

Next, let’s talk about the quality of this piece. It is extremely sturdy and made well. The counter top is faux cement and is as beautiful as it is durable. Everything about my new island is functional as well as stylish. I love the charming farmhouse details, including the rustic finish and hardware. Having an extra hand towel nearby is also super handy!! The modern farmhouse style adds charm to any space. The neutral finish helps it blend with just about any color palette.

 

I Love Versatility

I always say value lies in the versatility as well as the craftsmanship. This piece has so many uses that I know I’m going to enjoy. The casters allow it to roll easily to serve a variety of functions. They lock so you can use it as a solid addition wherever you want. But I can definitely see using this as a coffee station or a serving station for a dinner party or event. I love not only the additional counter space/work space it provides but also the additional storage.  I can see this cart working well in a craft room or a laundry room just as well. Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart does it again, Friends.

Did someone say ‘More Storage’?

I love the versatility of the second shelf. You can raise and lower the height of the shelf quickly and easily to suit your needs, and you can choose from a flat surface or a slatted surface (like I have) which makes holding bottles of wine or sparkling water ideal. And do you love the wire baskets and trays I found? They mix so well with the farmhouse style I love so much. Don’t worry. I linked those too.

 

Copper Accents for Fall

I love decorating for fall. And while the kitchen isn’t the first place you think of for fall decorating it’s still fun to bring in some new touches that reflect the season. Can you think of anything better than rich copper accents for fall? When I was shopping at Walmart.com and saw Better Homes & Garden’s copper kitchen pieces I fell in love. This copper cake stand and faux wood round tray with copper handles are perfect.

Bring on the Farm House Details

How cute is this set of ceramic cow creamers. I love the farmhouse detail they add.

This Better Homes & Gardens 3 Bowl Condiment Tray with Metal Rack is a great way to serve berries and cream; the perfect complement to pumpkin cake, don’t you think? And a wire fruit basket in this antique gray finish adds another farmhouse detail.

 

I also found this farmhouse style 16-piece dinnerware set. I love the style. It suits our casual family lifestyle to a tee. This beautiful Acacia wood tray is also a win in my book. My kids often like to eat with their dad in the family room so this will get lots of use. #ICanNeverHaveEnoughTrays

The Key to Family Fun in the Kitchen

These days it seems we have to work harder than ever to create quality family time. With all the lures and all the distractions in this fast-paced digital world of ours sometimes it takes getting back to basics. That’s why I enjoy embracing Roan’s love of cooking. And when I can make the kitchen an inviting, work-friendly place that he’s excited to be in, nothing seems more important. It doesn’t matter what we’re cooking, it’s the time together that matters.

What do your kids love to do with you? We’d love to hear your stories.

With love and gratitude,

Interested in more ways to decorate on a budget? Here are some reader favorites:

“How to Create Budget Farmhouse Room Transformations” 

“How to Create a Fresh Budget-Friendly Outdoor Oasis”

“12 Easy Inexpensive Tips for Outdoor Entertaining”