Welcome to The After Hours Dreamer Kitchen, where we’re figuring out dinner, saving our sanity, and occasionally ordering unnecessary things from Amazon.
Let me tell you how this started.
I was tired.
Not just regular tired. I’m talking about that special kind of tired where you’ve worked all day, your brain has approximately three functioning cells left, and somebody asks the dreaded question:
“What’s for dinner?”
And suddenly, ordering takeout sounds like the greatest invention in human history.
Between working full-time from home, building The After Hours Dreamer, and trying to have an actual life, cooking dinner had become another thing on my never-ending list.
Some nights we ordered food. Other nights, everybody just fended for themselves.
And honestly?
I was over it.
Enter the $39.99 Crock-Pot
This past Friday, I decided it was time for a new Crock-Pot.
I texted my husband, Jessie, and told him we needed to start saving money, especially with how often we’d been ordering takeout.
But there was another reason, too.
I wanted to make sure Jessie had actual home-cooked meals to take to work instead of constantly relying on TV dinners.
Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave when life gets busy. We’ve all been there.
But I wanted us to have better options.
Something he could pack for work. Something the kids could grab whenever they were hungry. Something I could enjoy without spending my entire evening cooking.
Basically, I wanted to feed my family without running myself into the ground.
Surely that wasn’t too much to ask, right?
So I started shopping around and found a digital Crock-Pot on sale at Target for $39.99.
SOLD.
Nothing fancy. No expensive kitchen renovation. No sudden transformation into a domestic goddess.
Just me, a slow cooker, and the hope that maybe dinner wouldn’t require the last bit of energy I had left.
Except apparently, I cannot be trusted to walk into Target for one thing.
Because while I was there picking up my Crock-Pot, I also ended up buying a set of T-fal pots and pans and some new spatulas.
Were those part of the original plan?
Absolutely not.
Did they come home with me anyway?
You bet your ass they did.
There I was, trying to save money on takeout while simultaneously upgrading my entire kitchen.
The math was questionable, but the enthusiasm was real.
And then something happened.
I got excited about cooking again.
Which, apparently, is dangerous for my Amazon account.
When the Dreamer Gets Inspired, She Orders Shit on Amazon
Because Friday’s Target adventure apparently wasn’t enough.
By Saturday, my Amazon deliveries were arriving.
A chicken shredder.
A tortilla warmer.
A panini press.
Yes, a panini press.
Because apparently, somewhere between buying a Crock-Pot and deciding to cook more, my brain decided we were opening a restaurant.
We’re not.
We’re just trying to eat dinner without losing our minds.
But you know how it goes. You get excited about something, start imagining all the things you could make, and suddenly Amazon is delivering equipment for a business you don’t actually own.
Welcome to my brain.
And before anybody asks whether I actually needed all three gadgets, let me tell you something.
I’ve used every single one of them minus the tortilla warmer(which I’m sure works great), and they work wonderfully.
The chicken shredder makes dealing with shredded chicken easier, the tortilla warmer is handy, and the panini press has already earned its spot in my kitchen.
Were they impulse purchases? Absolutely.
Do I regret them? Not one bit.
Now, whether I’ve actually saved money yet after this little kitchen shopping spree is another question entirely. 😂
A little note from The AHD Kitchen: Since I’ve apparently appointed myself CEO of unnecessary kitchen purchases, I’ll be sharing the gadgets I’ve actually tried, the meals I’ve made, and whether any of this stuff genuinely makes life easier. No fancy kitchen required. 😂
Saturday: Apparently We’re Reorganizing the Entire Kitchen Now
So Saturday rolls around.
My Amazon deliveries are showing up. I’ve got my new Crock-Pot, my new pots and pans, and all these ideas for things I want to cook.
And apparently, that wasn’t enough.
Because somehow, Saturday turned into a full-blown pantry cleaning and organizing operation.
I’m talking about pulling everything out, going through what we had, rearranging things, and trying to make the pantry actually functional.
And I wasn’t doing it alone.
Oh, no.
My mom and Jessie got recruited into this little adventure too.
Because when the Dreamer gets inspired, apparently the entire household gets involved.
But there was a reason behind it.
If I was serious about cooking more often, I wanted to make sure my kitchen was set up for it.
I didn’t want to be digging through a cluttered pantry trying to find ingredients after working all day.
I wanted to know what we had, where everything was, and what we needed to buy.
Something that would make cooking easier instead of adding another layer of stress.
And honestly, getting that pantry organized felt GOOD.
Of course, once we finished, there was another project staring me in the face.
The refrigerator.
Yep. That needs to be cleaned out and reorganized too.
But you know what?
That can wait until this coming weekend when I’m off.
Because apparently, even my sudden burst of domestic ambition has limits.
One kitchen project at a time, people.
And after all that organizing, I still had a grocery run to make.
Which brings us to Publix…
Saturday Afternoon: The Publix Adventure
Now, you would think after buying all these kitchen gadgets, I’d be finished shopping.
Nope.
Because there was one tiny problem.
I had all this new kitchen equipment, but I still needed actual food.
So Saturday afternoon, I made a last-minute trip to Publix to get ingredients for the week’s dinners.
And here’s where things got interesting.
I was actually excited about grocery shopping.
For real food.
To cook.
At home.
Who even am I anymore?
Instead of wandering around wondering what we could order for dinner, I was thinking about meals I wanted to make.
Chicken. Chili. Pot roast. Pasta.
And apparently, my excitement was noticeable.
Because when I got to the checkout, the cashier was looking over everything I was buying.
So naturally, I started telling her about my brand-new Crock-Pot.
Because apparently, this is my personality now.
I’m the woman who gets excited about a slow cooker and tells strangers about it at the grocery store.
And you know what?
She was excited for me!
She said something along the lines of, “Oh my God, that’s awesome! Enjoy your new Crock-Pot!”
MA’AM. THANK YOU. I ABSOLUTELY WILL.
There I was, having a whole conversation with a Publix cashier about my new kitchen appliance like I’d just purchased a luxury vehicle.
And honestly?
I was having a great time.
I wasn’t trying to create some picture-perfect meal-prepping routine with matching containers and a color-coded calendar.
I was just figuring out what sounded good, what would feed everybody, and what I could make without spending my entire evening in the kitchen.
Nothing complicated.
Nothing fancy.
Just actual meals that fit our lives.
And somehow, a random Saturday grocery run turned into one of those little moments that reminded me how fun it can be to get excited about something simple.
Even if that something is a $39.99 Crock-Pot.
The After Hours Dreamer Kitchen Is Officially Open
And here’s something else that made me laugh about this whole experience.
When I opened my brand-new Crock-Pot, there was a recipe for pineapple salsa chicken right there on the box.
Now, normally, I probably would’ve glanced at it and moved on with my life.
But not this time.
I looked at that recipe and thought:
“Oh, that sounds good. I’m gonna make that!”
And just like that, dinner inspiration came from the packaging of the appliance I’d literally just purchased.
I hadn’t even gotten started, and the Crock-Pot was already giving me ideas.
Apparently, all it took to get me excited about cooking again was a new slow cooker and a picture of some chicken on a cardboard box.
Who knew?
And you know what?
I actually made it!
Pineapple salsa chicken served with rice became one of our meals that week.
Along with Mediterranean citrus chicken, pot roast with carrots and potatoes, and Italian sausage penne pasta.
And the family?
They’re actually enjoying it.
My son John John, who loves pasta, told me, “It’s delicious, Mom.”
My husband Jessie started eating his pasta before he even bothered sitting down.
Didn’t say a word.
Just started eating.
Honestly, that’s a pretty solid review.
My mom came into the kitchen, looked at the pasta, and said it looked like lasagna in the Crock-Pot.
She liked it, though, so we’re counting that as another win.
And my youngest, Hunter?
He was too busy gaming with his friends to come investigate dinner.
Which brings me to something important.
We Don’t Do Traditional Family Dinners, and That’s Okay
Jessie and I are millennial parents raising Gen Z kids.
Our house doesn’t operate on some perfect family dinner schedule where everybody gathers around the table at exactly six o’clock.
Everybody does their own thing.
Someone’s gaming. Someone’s working. Someone’s relaxing. Somebody’s hungry now, and somebody else won’t be hungry for another two hours.
We don’t have a dinner time. We have dinner availability.
And that’s exactly why slow-cooker meals work for us.
People come into the kitchen, fix their plates, and go about their business.
Everybody gets fed without everybody having to stop their lives at the same time.
Also, thank God they’re using paper plates.
Because I am not running a restaurant with a full-time dishwashing department.
And Some Nights? May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor.
Now, before anybody starts thinking I’ve transformed into some domestic goddess who cooks seven nights a week, let me clear something up.
Absolutely not.
Because even with my new Crock-Pot, fancy kitchen gadgets, and freshly organized pantry, there are still going to be nights when nobody is cooking.
Case in point?
Monday night.
I’d worked all day, and by the time I clocked out, I was DONE.
Not let me throw something together real quick tired.
I’m talking I have absolutely no desire to step foot in that kitchen tired.
So I made an executive decision.
Fend-for-yourself night.
And apparently, simply announcing that wasn’t enough. I had to make it official with our glowing kitchen menu board.
Yes. An actual menu board.
For a dinner service where I was absolutely NOT cooking. 😂
Monday’s menu?
“Fend 4 Yourselves. May the odds be forever in your favor. I’m tired, Grandpa.”
Listen, leftovers? Fair game.
Sandwich? Excellent choice.
Something from the freezer? Knock yourself out.
Whatever requires the least amount of effort?
Congratulations. You’ve found dinner.
And you know what? I’m perfectly fine with that.
Because the whole point of buying this Crock-Pot wasn’t to create another expectation that I have to meet every single day.
It was to make our lives easier.
Some nights, that means a home-cooked meal waiting in the kitchen.
Other nights?
You’re on your own, soldier. 😂
The AHD Kitchen has operating hours, and sometimes management is OFF DUTY.
And honestly?
That’s called balance.
The Biggest Surprise? I Still Get My Nap.
Here’s where this whole thing gets interesting.
I work full-time. And by the time I clock out, sometimes I need a nap.
Not a motivational speech.
Not another productivity hack.
A NAP.
And now?
I can take one.
Dinner can cook while I’m working. I can clock out, rest, and not immediately have to drag myself into the kitchen to figure out what everyone is eating.
That has been such a relief.
I’m spending less time stressing about meals, we’re relying less on takeout, and I’m actually looking forward to trying new recipes.
Who knew a $39.99 appliance could make such a difference?
This Isn’t Really About the Crock-Pot
Well, okay. It’s a little about the Crock-Pot.
But it’s also about finding ways to make life easier instead of constantly expecting ourselves to do more.
I’ve spent so much time trying to balance my day job, my family, my creative projects, and everything else that comes with being an adult.
And sometimes the answer isn’t working harder or getting more organized.
Sometimes the answer is making something simpler.
That’s what The After Hours Dreamer has always been about for me.
Building a life where I have room for the things I love, even while I’m still working toward bigger dreams.
And apparently, that journey now includes a Crock-Pot, a suspicious number of Amazon kitchen purchases, an unexpected set of T-fal cookware, a pantry overhaul, a last-minute Publix run, and a family that eats dinner in shifts.
Welcome to The After Hours Dreamer Kitchen
I don’t know where this little kitchen adventure is going yet.
Maybe I’ll share recipes that actually worked. Maybe I’ll share the disasters, because let’s be realistic, those are probably coming too.
I’ll definitely share the shortcuts that make life easier.
I’m not a professional chef. I’m just a working mom trying to feed her family, save a little money, and have enough energy left to enjoy her own life.
And if something makes that easier?
I’m willing to try it.
Even if it means ordering another kitchen gadget from Amazon.
Until next time, keep dreaming, keep creating, and for the love of everything, let the Crock-Pot do some of the work.
💜 The After Hours Dreamer