After several days of cooking, cleaning, repeat, I'm reminded of some of the not-so-fabulous parts of being a mom at the holidays. While thankfully the pros definitely outweigh the cons, I'll admit, moms make a lot of the holiday magic happen. From decorating the house, wrapping the gifts, creating the holiday meal and my personal favorite, cleaning the house. (tsk, tsk.)
And that, as well as having several little dirty hands and faces around my house, is the reason I now love aprons. They solve so many issues and let's face it, they can dress up your yoga pant ensemble in a whole new way. No longer does your look say, "mom that can't fit in her jeans," but says "mom that's trying to create delicious meals and a clean house" (you notice I used "trying," right?) I strive for the later one everyday.
Over the last few years I've collected a few aprons, some that will never been used like the signed ones I cherish from Ted Allen and Paula Deen. Then there are the ones that are so cute, I reserve them for only AFTER I've made the mess to look cute when other people enter the room (or that moment when Food Network comes to my house to start filming my first cooking show.) Other aprons I have are so ugly, they should never see the light of day, so while I don't mind getting them dirty and greasy, I just should let them go. Really.
Then I was introduced to the flirty and functional aprons from Hot Mama Aprons. (How apropos for me in so many ways, tee-hee!) These locally made aprons created by Dallas mom, Jennifer Carr, were the product of a mom suffering from the same predicament; she was trying to find something that was cute to wear, but she didn't mind wiping her hands on...so she actually sewed the hand towel right into the apron. (Why didn't I think of that, right?)
Kinda amazing, I think. And apparently, Paula Deen, the gals at Southern Living and many others thought the same thing, so her designs received lots of press. And when Paula and Southern Living says "two thumbs up", you know that you must have done something good.
And just like a good Southern woman should have, Hot Mama Aprons even have a holiday design, so you can look your very best even when you might be doing some dirty work. At least you'll look good. And with a long holiday season in store, you might just have to buy two (especially since it's free shipping for a limited time!)
Now go be the hostess with the mostess (or at least look like it.)