Man, that felt good!

I hadn't anticipated how good writing a blog post would feel. I guess I forgot how good it feels to just create for the sense of creating. I execute, every day, all day -- it's literally my job -- get shit done. I suppose that I have just been on auto-pilot and I think it's been for years. 

So much happens so quickly. I get married, everyone gets married -- like 9 couples in 2012, there are wedding showers to host, ideas to pin, crafts to make, events to attend. It's time consuming but provides things to focus on. Next stop home purchase. Woah. No one can prepare you for that. What sounds so simple, isn't and then you are broke. Nearly two years later...it's kind of like, now what?

And I don't know. What I do know is such -- it's important to have a passion, many passions. It's time to do somethings, people!

5 years

Five years. I cannot believe that it has been five whole years that this blog has been live. It's been five years that no one has been reading this blog. Wow.

Re-reading through the posts, it's nostalgic, it's bittersweet, it's wild. 

From the looks of where I started, I was just about to start my first post-college job, the really terrible SEO job that was next to the bail bond shop and across the street from the chicken plant... where I only lasted 8 months until voluntarily quitting, siting that I'd rather be a waitress than work for a shady company that did not respect its employees and paid pennies to boot. What a bold move for 23 year old me! I doubt that I'd have that courage or conviction to do that today.

5 years ago. Adam and I moved into the house in that questionable area in Marietta (hey... but it was close to Whole Foods!), the one that had a rusted tub and secret closet bathroom. It was the house where we got engaged, where we first lived and grinded out those really poor, paycheck to paycheck years. Funny, looking back that life it sounds dirty and tough but I remember it with such fondness. It makes me wonder what the house looks like or even imagine what it would feel like to go back and live that life for a day.

The bittersweet. Realizing where I was five years ago, it truly shows that I need to be more appreciative of what I have. Back then, we truly didn't have a lot. Now, we likely have too much. But back then, we did it ... which is not to say that now we don't, it just shows me that I should be more present in appreciating all that I've got, the too much part.

All the feelings, all the things.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Bird

Let's first get the elephant out of the room. This blog will never be really frequently updated. So, I'm just going to have to live with that and you are just going to have to forgive me. I forgive myself.

Now, for the real deal. This year, Thanksgiving is happening a little differently. Normally, my sister and I slave all day in the kitchen to eat at my mom's house with our loved ones, always a different crowd. I take on the task (labor of love, really) of planning the recipes, trying new dishes, man-handeling the bird and timing the whole ordeal. This year, we're blending families as I am soon to be a real Kincaid, afterall! The beauty of this blend is two-fold:

1) What could possibly be better than being with ALL of your favorite peeps, celebrating our fortune in this great country

2) "Turkey Throwdown"

I've never been an athlete or mathlete or totally awesome at scrabble. I'm not the type of gal to win at poker or take the pot during March Madness...but I am competitive with my cooking and this year I will make the perfect bird. This year, two turkeys are happening. And even though I am creating the competition in my own head, my bird will prevail.I take great joy in the Thanksgiving turkey. In fact, I believe I actually have pictures of birds past...all golden and juicy with glory. This year must be the best ever.

Let's meet the contenders thus far, shall we?

I'll call this the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) Turkey. Ironically, it's formally called the "Michigander Way" and Adam's family is from Michigan (fate?)

A recommendation from a twitter friend @CaylaPriest, by way of Alton Brown

 I'm leaning heavily on the Michigan bird but certainly in pursuit of the most delectable bird.