I’m a Mashed Potato Liar.

Friends, I think my cooking abilities are on the rise.

It’s well documented on this blog that I have previously caught spaghetti on fire, and failed a handful of times to make cookies for Santa Claus last year, but I think I’m on the up and up now.

My brother-in-law and his husband hosted Thanksgiving for my husband’s side of the family at their home in Indianapolis. This is amazing because a.) that means I didn’t have to host again, and b.) I only had to make one thing to contribute to the meal. Easy.

I was asked to make mashed potatoes.

I don’t do mashed potatoes.

So, I went a different route.

Yes, I purchased six packages of Bob Evan’s brand mashed potatoes the morning before Thanksgiving (the cashier actually laughed at me), and put them in a crock pot to look like I made them. I even brought fresh chives from my parent’s house just to really make it look like I knew what I was doing.

Not a single person noticed.

In fact, I got compliments on “my” potatoes.

I’m a sham. But it worked, and that’s awesome. I would say I won’t do it again in the future, because that’s probably a lie. I’m sorry I’m not the potato chef you thought I was, family.

But I’m ambitious. I even brought a platter of ACTUAL HOMEMADE lemon gooey butter cookies to both Thanksgiving meals. Of course, THAT was the thing that was under suspicion.

I have proof.

Let’s just check out the comments on my nicely staged Instagram photo of me making cookies. Oh so blogger-ish.

What’s that? THE ACTUAL BETTY CROCKER COMPLIMENTED MY PHOTO AND ASKED TO USE IT?! Me?! The epitome of Betty Crocker failure?!

So yeah. I’m feeling pretty good about myself and my skillz today.

Thanksgiving itself was pretty uneventful, but lovely all the same. My mom, sisters and I went antiquing on Black Friday per tradition (only the best kind of shopping), and participated in Small Business Saturday by attending a local Downtown Party night. The things we came home with… well… you can see for yourself.

You mean you don’t buy cow skulls, doughnuts and Poo-pourri on Black Friday?

Dorothy and I spent all of Sunday wearing our PJ’s, playing Legos and watching football, because there is obviously no better way to end a weekend. Our Christmas decor is out, our home feels cozy, and we were exhausted.

I also haven’t cooked since Wednesday. Still riding high. 😉