Boomers, empty nesters, parents, and adult children have shared with me that part of the overwhelm during holidays, is thinking you need to impress.
Key word is need. Real word is want. Ask yourself, “Do I want to do this today or is there a little holiday hammer in my head pounding me to do it all in order to hear the raves and wows of others?”
Kathryn said I could share her story.
She was having women to her home for an evening gathering of desserts, cheeses, fruits, wines and teas. They hadn’t been to her home.
Clue one…they have never been to her house, where’s Ms Martha Stewart when you need her?
Clue two…it is a work night.
Clue three….she was traveling the next morning.
Good hostess that she has always been, she moaned, searched for easy home backed desserts, and dashed to the market. She knows she is great cook, not a baker. But she is going for it, fingers crossed, that the recipe is easy and a winner.
Pumpkin bread with spices with a lemon light glaze.
Cracks eggs, beats dry ingredients, spices, organic canned pumpkin, sprays two loaf pans, stirs in chopped walnuts, and pops in the oven for an hour.
Done. Time for the slice and taste. YUCK…THIS TASTES TERRIBLE.
Plan two…dash to Trader Joe’s in hopes of buying a dessert, cutting it in a way that it looks homemade, triangle pumpkin squares and cut off the crust. Plate and surround with red grapes. Plate of chocolates. Sandwich cookies she quickly assembles: vanilla wafers, mascarpone, nutella, and orange marmalade. Plates those on a blue plate.
Lesson learned…none really. Kathryn knows herself. She will moan next time, and still try to be a baker. She might taste test the recipes earlier on her husband, although he likes everything, but mostly her.
I will write you a follow up when Kathryn calls from the morning airport to tell me if she got any wows or raves, or people politely said, “I am not hungry, just finished dinner, thanks.” Her back up for a WOW is that her home is beautiful because she puts objects and her photos, and colors together like best friends.
Thanks, Natalie
Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org
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