All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, then success is sure.
Mark Twain
I got to thinking about confidence today. As far as ignorance goes - I got that covered. That “thinking” all started as I crafted a fine bowl of tasty mashed potatoes for dinner. Only the very best for my family.
I revved up that hand mixer while wearing black pants that I intended to wear out in public later in the evening… to my son’s soccer practice, but in public nonetheless. Despite my best efforts I found I was flinging chunks of mashed taters all over the kitchen and the aforementioned black pants destined for public viewing. I assessed the situation and dug out my apron.
In the moments between donning my 10 year-old, under-utilized apron and returning to tater-flinging (largely due the fact that the bowl I chose was far too shallow… but she was a favorite - a very attractive, delightful porcelain white bowl with a chunky rim… like you care…) I became someone else. “Jenny, the Wonder Cook”…. or “Jenny, Tater Beater Extraordinaire”… or “Jenny, Master of Food Stuffs”… or “Jenny - Butch, Baker, Fabulous Mashed Potato Maker.”
What I am trying to say is… I was rockin’ da kitchen in that apron. The potatoes that once caused me to wince became a medium with which to explore… craft… create. I added things… butter, heavy cream, garlic salt AND powder… a little cheddar… and a little more. Dietarily - BAD, but in every other way… so GOOD. I was a regular Edward Scissorhands of the kitchen. I think I even started humming like the Swedish Chef!
As I pondered my culinary transformation, I remembered other instances I have worn my apron. I remember feeling braver… stronger… more CONFIDENT. Could my apron be my muse? I consider myself a capable woman. I am not afraid to cook or bake or fry or toast or blanch… or roast or broil or whatever. Bring it. There are only a handful of dinner recipes I revisit… I suspect I have adult onset ADD. The old”stand-bys” are good, but I get SOOOO bored! This is why we don’t eat many of the same recipes over and over (unless it’s pizza). I usually try new recipes on new folks we invite for dinner (risky, I know). But, I figure the worst case - we order pizza, and best case - rock star!
When I went to BlogHer in July - Kerry, The Bloggess wore a “confidence wig” when she got to read one of her posts to the BlogHer ‘08 Conference attendees. I was all, “I like her! I wish I had the confidence to wear a confidence wig!!!” And when I got home I told people about this gal who wore a “confidence wig”… and I wish I had thought of that because it was so funny and clever… And during one of these conversations a friend told me she wears a “confidence hat” when she does crafts. It’s a hat like Martha (yes, THE Martha) would wear.
Guess what. I now have a “confidence prop”. I wear a “confidence apron”. She gives me creativity and empowers me to fling mashed potatoes… Gives me the strength to “throw in a pinch of this and a dash of that”… She leads me to swirl and flit from pot to pot - and sprinkle and toss and grate. My “condfidence apron”… I will probably never wear her before thousands, but that’s OK. Maybe I can think of another “confidence prop” for the day I appear before thousands and change the world… Or at least just make a few laugh so hard they pee their pants. Reach for the stars, Kerry… reach for the stars…
Come to think of it, I also wear “Confidence glitter”. I do. When I go dancing. I think the glitter helps me emotionally separate from the fact that there are real people around. When I wear my “confidence glitter” it acts as a curtain that separates me from reality, perhaps?
See? Mark Twain was onto something… a little ignorance sure can fool a girl into confidence… provided she can get her hands onto some good props!
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I should find one of those confidence props…they sound nifty.
Aprons totally make me cook better. Plus when hubs come home from work I do my best impression of June and say, “Hi Ward, how was your day?” Yes, he thinks I am a dork too :-)
I totally relate to confidence props. Ironically, mine is black. To wear anything/everything black. Perhaps I am from a shared gene pool of Johnny Cash!
I like confidence glitter when I go out dancing, too. I like to be sparkly! Which reminds me - I got me some sparkly Converse, but they are not red. The red ones don’t come small enough for my itty bitty feet. :-( But mine are SILVER, and I like them almost as much as if they were red!
Now the apron thing? I’m not sure even a magic confidence apron could save my cooking.
I would *totally* wear a magical confidence apron. It’d have to be magical to make me want to cook though.
Love the Apron blog! I am going to post my favorite apron pic for ya! I think you will like it!
Lisa
Shoot, I’d need a confidence apron, confidence utensils, confidence cook/bakeware, confidence food, and confident people to make me a goddess in the kitchen!