The regulars come to mind when I hear the term perfect pairs– al dente cooked mac covered by way too much bubbling cheese, a super moist cupcake with dreamy, whipped buttercream frosting, fluffy pancakes drizzled by an endless faucet of warm maple syrup, ripe strawberries dipped in glossy milk chocolate, and a plump summer dog hot off the grill with a big squiggle of spicy brown mustard. (Shout-out to my niece Sydney for the mouthwatering mac and cheese photo below.)
Ketchup and feta?
Nooo thanks!
A pair, however, that does not spring to mind is ketchup and feta cheese. This did not stop an energetic young Matty from exclaiming the wonderfulness of this yet undiscovered combo and trying it at every possible meal. (Parenting Tip: Never curtail the imagination of a child… even if you must occasionally suppress a gag reflex.) Yes thankfully, he did grow out of liking this creation.
Inedible pairs I like include sneakers, mittens, and socks. (My sister’s family dog Lacey absolutely loves eating socks she steals from their laundry room. Strange little pup but cute as heck.) Currently though, my favorite category of inedible pairs has to be leggings. (How else can I keep the faucet of maple syrup running without expandable waistbands?) Truth be told, I was a big fan of leggings prior to the pandemic. They are just so comfortable and easy.
Pairs of mine that have been sadly neglected since COVID took hold include jeans, boots, and earrings. (I’m sure Michael doesn’t care that I’m not decked out in fine jewelry for dinner. I do wear fun slippers, though!) My BFF Robyn is freaking out that her boot collection which usually receives heavy rotation this time of year, is sitting idle in her too big closet while she waits for a literal shot in the arm before dressing properly again. I hear ya, Rob.
I have to admit that I also have several items (still with tags), waiting to see the light of day. And I hope that when I wear those new Athleta hybrids, funky snakeskin boots, or sparkly studs beyond the confines of my four walls, someone notices my perfect pair. (Wink.)
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