Stephanie Bruce, author and creator of the DIY and food blog, Gathered In The Kitchen

About Me

Welcome to Gathered In The Kitchen—I’m so glad you’re here! I’m Stephanie Bruce, the creative mind behind this blog where I share my passion for DIY projects, delicious recipes, home decor, and family adventures.

As a busy mom who loves making the most out of every season, I find joy in transforming everyday moments into something special. Whether it’s whipping up a new recipe, decorating our home for the holidays, or tackling DIY projects, I love creating and sharing ideas that inspire others to gather with loved ones and make lasting memories.

What You’ll Find Here

  • Tried-and-True Recipes: From family favorites to seasonal treats, all crafted with love.
  • DIY Tutorials: Step-by-step guides for furniture painting, home decor crafts, and creative projects.
  • Home Decor Inspiration: Ideas for styling mantels, organizing spaces, and making your house feel like home.
  • Family Adventures: Stories from our travels, outdoor activities, and everyday family life.

A Little About Me

When I’m not blogging, you’ll find me spending time with my family, caring for our animals {horse, chickens, dogs, rabbits, cats}, and enjoying the simple things—like a good cup of coffee (or two!). I also love sharing snippets of our life on Instagram and YouTube, where you can catch behind-the-scenes looks at our projects and adventures.

Thank you for joining me here at Gathered In The Kitchen. I hope you find inspiration to create, gather, and make your own memories, one project at a time.

Let’s stay connected! Follow me on social media or drop a comment—I love hearing from you

Living My Dream

My husband and I dated when I was 16 years old for a short period. After a self-discovery break—typical 16-year-old girl issues—we reconnected and have been together since I was 19.

With college graduation and a marriage approaching, we decided to be brave and moved across the country to seek new and exciting opportunities. We were definitely on the 1950’s corporate ladder dream. My husband worked hard to receive promotions, went back to school to get his MBA, and we moved three times {and bought 3 houses} with the same company to three different states in 6 years time. All the while, I “retired” from Recreational Therapy to stay home with our growing family of three kids {and way too many animals} and dream up more and more recipes and house projects for us to work on during our free time.

I was living my dream.

Stephanie Bruce, author and creator of the DIY and food blog, Gathered In The Kitchen

From Ashes to Rebuild

After moving so many times, all of which were 1,000 miles away from our families, we decided it was time to “come home”, settle down closer to our parents and only be 160 miles away, haha! Not too close, but not too far away!

Life has its unexpected twists. Three months after making the cross country move to our 4th home 1886 Victorian home, tragedy struck. A lightning bolt turned our dream into ashes. But we discovered that with love, hard work, and community support, you can rebuild anything. And from those trials, Gathered In The Kitchen emerged stronger, filled with more passion and purpose.

Victorian home with roof removed and after photo of home complete with roof

Gathered In The Kitchen is about owning four homes in 12 years all in different states and renovating all of them! It’s about finding the strength to rebuild after all was lost in a house fire.

Through all our homes, renovations, and life’s curveballs, my passion for DIY, vintage finds, and beautiful craftsmanship has remained unwavering. I cherish this space where my style truly shines, and I’m thrilled to share it with you.

Join Our Journey

Whether you’re here for a recipe, a DIY project, or just to share in our story, I’m truly grateful to have you alongside. Dive in, explore, and let’s make memories together!