This post presented in a plain brown paper bag!

Recently I have stumbled across a few party planning blogs and stay at home mom blogs that have made me feel very inadequate as a mother and a home maker.

I thought, before blogging, that I was a pretty fun mom. I do projects and story times and play groups. I throw pretty fun kids parties.

Then I see these crazy blogs where women have a different elaborate tablescape every night for dinner.

They craft and they sew. They make their kids' costumes. They throw parties that are not only fun, but perfectly designed. Everything I do suddenly seemed so pathetic.

Then, the other night I went to Enrichment Night at church, and quickly remembered why I am in Primary. I am not Relief Society worthy. I taught in there for 2 years which I loved but I never put a tablecloth out or brought in table decorations. Just not my thing! Does the Spirit feel more comfortable in a room with a lace tablecloth?

Well, since I have gone back to Primary I have apparently forgotten how Relief Society is supposed to be done.

I signed up to bring brownies to Enrichment. That's easy enough, right?

I baked brownies, yummy ones too, in a 9x13 Pyrex pan and then threw the lid on top and off I went. As I strolled with confidence into the kitchen I noticed all the other brownies. They were on platters, or cake pedestals with doilies. They were sprinkled, and powdered sugared, or topped in marshmallow and fudge, or chocolate chips, or frosting with pecans. So, so pretty! I would have just thrown my brownies down and ran but I hadn't even cut them yet, let alone prepped them for a photo shoot. So I had to hang my head and cut them right there in front of the Enrichment Committee. I then took the walk of shame and placed my eye sore brownies on the dessert cart still nestled in the pan they were baked in (GASP!).

I had a good feeling that I would be taking home a pretty full pan of brownies at the night's end. I was correct. Only two pieces were removed, probably out of sheer pity, or maybe whoever took them was running around with their head thrown back laughing and showing everyone else until they were all laughing together.

I went home and my kids spent the next day begging for more brownies. They don't care about doilies, I make good treats. And I throw good parties.

My house is not cutesy or flowery but it is that way because I like it. I don't like clutter. I don't have anything out that doesn't serve a purpose. I don't hang stuff on the walls. I don't put stuff on the counters (EVER). If people give me figurines I usually give them away. I don't hang up curtains. I am just not the pictures and pillows and knick knacks type.

But my house is clean and every bit as functional as any house you see on these perfect mommy blogs. I don't need to feel inferior. I appreciate the talents of others (sometimes even covet a little bit) but honestly even if I had an eye for decorating I would probably still have a pretty minimalistic approach.

I am who I am and I like things the way I like them. And just so you know, my food is good. So even if I give you a paper plate, tell you to dish up for yourself and then seat you on a folding chair at my kitchen table that has never met a tablecloth, I suggest you eat. It may not be pretty but truthfully, did a doily ever make anything taste better?

Alright then!