Welcome to Take One of February’s Secret Subject Swap. This week, 15 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.
Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:
My subject is: I used to say “when I grow up I’m going to but now . It was submitted by: Quirky Chrissy. Here goes:
When I grow up I’m going to . If I had a penny for every time I said that growing up I’d be rich. If I had a minute for every time I thought that, I’d live to be a zillion. If I had a brain cell for every time I was convinced of that I’d have a memory. If I had a . . . you get the idea.
The truth of the matter is that we all want to think, in that moment, that we’d do so many things differently when we could. But we don’t have the means to do what we’re longing to do, and once we have the means we’re left longing to be back in that moment. This, my friends, is where the term “vicious cycle” must come from. Have you ever seen a dog chase it’s tail? Don’t laugh, you’re doing the same thing.
So yes, my smart-ass-past-self did think many, many times over the years that I had ALL of the answers and when I grew up I’d remember each and every thing younger-me didn’t have the means to do and I would go out there and show the world how it’s done. So let’s see how I did, figure out the success rate, shall we?
When I grow up I’m going to eat cookies and candy for dinner.
But now I’m lucky when I can find one in the packet, and I’m talking 5 minutes after I buy them.
When I grow up I’m going to stay up all night.
But now I’m exhausted (thanks, kids), half the time I can’t wait to get to bed.
When I grow up I’m going to drink as much as I want.
But now I see the folly in that. Because when a lot goes down, it frequently comes back up (so to speak).
When I grow up I’m going to just take off whenever I want.
But now I spend most days telling myself “you will not run away from home today, you will not run away from home today, you will not . . . “
When I grow up and graduate from college I’m never going to write another paper again.
But now . . .
When I grow up I’m going to have a chef to prepare whatever I want whenever I want.
But now I not only cook (sorry, kids) but I bake . . . for pleasure.
Tie Dye Cupcakes
When I grow up I’m going to never go to a Doctor or Dentist again.
But now I find they’re the only people who listen to me.
When I grow up I’m going to dance all night.
But now I have trouble getting up off the couch.
When I grow up I’m going to grow my hair until I can sit on it.
But now I hate it. It takes forever to dry, hours to straighten, it’s too thin to be long and I look like I keep my hair brush in a shopping cart along with the rest of my belongings.
When I grow up I’m going to live next door to my best friend.
But now I live 1500 miles away from, pretty much, everyone.
When I grow up I’m going to let my kids do whatever they want.
But now, not so much.
Tie Dye Cupcakes
©www.BakingInATornado.com
Ingredients Cupcake:
1 box white cake mix with other ingredients specified on the box
3 (3 oz) boxes of (different colors) jello
Ingredients Frosting:
1 (3 oz) box jello
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup boiling water
Directions Cupcake:
*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put cupcake papers into 24 muffin cups. Spray a small amount of nonstick baking spray into each cup.
*Prepare cake batter as directed on box. Divide into 3 bowls. Mix 1/2 jello package (about 4 TBSP) into each bowl.
*Put about a TBSP of one color batter into each muffin cup (you don’t need to be exact), follow with the next color, then the next. If any batter is left, continue spooning into cups. Where the colors go doesn’t matter as long as all cups are filled to the same level.
*Bake per cake package directions. Cool completely.
Directions Frosting:
*Put jello, sugar and vanilla into a metal bowl. Beat on high while slowly adding the boiling water.
*Continue to beat on high until it’s of frosting consistency, about 8 minutes.
NOTE: This is not my recipe. This is one of those recipes that everyone has and that I’ve had for so many years I don’t even know when or how I got it.
Yes to all of them. Especially the living 1500 miles away from everyone! And, isn't it funny how priorities change as we age and some how end up back where we started? Bell curve of life....
ReplyDeleteI like that, the bell curve of life.
DeleteHa I said the same thing.. priorities just change, who knew?
DeleteWe went to Friendly's yesterday, and I thought of you, Karen and Tracy. Yes, they still have Conehead sundaes and clamboats.
DeleteI didn't think Friendly's was around any more. Now I'm jealous!
DeleteKaren, this is FANTASTIC! I got goose bumps reading it because it is That. Good. I could relate to every one of these statements. Girl, you nailed it! One of my favorite posts!! XOXO
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how many of us said all the same things about when we grow up, and are now all taking it back.
DeleteI love what you wrote, it made my cry and laugh. I know all the things we thought our life would be like or what we wanted... I sometimes want to kick my younger self in the butt, LOL.
ReplyDeleteGreat job babe and thanks for hosting this AGAIN.
I'm basically publicly kicking my younger self in the butt with this post, LOL!
DeleteKaren, I remember thinking all of those "When I grow Up" things. Man, we were so naive. I know you don't live next door to your best friends, but would you have ever guessed that a bunch of new friends would only be a click away?
ReplyDeleteI do still, however, want cookies and candy for dinner. We have to stay young in some ways, right?
Great job, girl. XOX
Yes, I truly love having so many friends just a click away. It's like you're all in my living room, but less crowded . . .
DeleteMy favorite is the last one. We all thought that right? We thought are parents were SO MEAN and we'll let OUR kids do whatever . . . Then you grow up and have kids of your own and realize, oh shit, they were right.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the last one too. I laugh when I hear that from my kids now about THEIR future kids . . .
DeleteRight there with ya! I have a list of "when I grow ups".....However I would have never thought it would feel this awesome to be a mom, so I will sacrifice those for the "never knew".
ReplyDeleteI agree, that's what we don't know when we're younger, that it's well worth the sacrifice.
DeleteThis was a great prompt for you. What am I saying...you could write absolutely anything. As soon as The Plague officially leaves our house, I am totally making these cupcakes. They look amazing! Another brilliant post Karen!
ReplyDeleteYou need to kick that Plague in the butt. It's SO overstayed it's welcome (OK, it was never welcome but you know what I mean).
DeleteGreat Idea!! this is a fun ideal
ReplyDeleteThanks Maralana, we really have fun doing them. It's such a fantastic group of talented bloggers!
DeleteIt's amazing how much we all have said that very same statement but never followed through with it ... or look at what we said and are like, that's too much damn work!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up ... argh!
xoxo
Lanaya
Yeah, I keep telling my kids to stop growing up so fast, but they just won't listen!
DeleteYou speak the truth!
ReplyDeleteGood heavens, just last week I announced something that I was going to do when I grow up.
Turns out I didn't know anything compared to the aged and wise specimen I am today. :)
If you run away, can I join you for a few days? I could use some more sleep, lots of laughs and no teens... No teens. :)
Hell, yeah. If I run away you are definitely someone I want with me. I'll need you to amuse me. That's what you meant, right?
DeleteI love having ice cream or cake for dinner. Being an adult has perks and I am not afraid to enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteMe too. Only now I have to share the ice cream or cake. So not fair.
DeleteOMG!!! "When I grow up, I want to be a singer."
ReplyDeleteThat was younger Sarah.....
Grown-ups made being an adult look fun....SOOOOO isn't! lol
LOVED this 1!
. . . and can you sing?
DeleteThat depends on who you are talking too. lol.
DeleteMaybe one day, I'll make a video of me singing and will share it with the world. lol
Now THAT would be a fun post.
DeleteSO True! ALL of it- right down to the living miles away from my BF (she's in Scotland :( ), and the last bit about letting your kids do what they want, I'n still figuring that one out...
ReplyDeleteAnd then your kids get old enough to do whatever they want no matter what you say, that's fun too, NOT.
DeleteI remember the staying up all night part...and, I did do that in college, but now, I'm so glad to be in bed by 10!!! Those cupcakes look awesome, Karen! I would love to make them...if I had jello....and, I don't wanna go to the store *pulls a scowly face*!!
ReplyDeleteI look back at college and wonder how I could have possibly managed to graduate considering how little sleep I had. Ah, to be young.
DeleteLife just changes so much doesn't it! it's funny to see how our perspectives change as we get older. I love your post. Thanks again so much for allowing me to be involved. I've had fun today.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you decided to join in. I enjoyed reading every single one!
DeleteAwesome take! I really love that you gave so many answers. I wanted to live next door to my best friend too...And all of my besties live a million miles away too! I hear ya.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun prompt, thanks!
DeleteTo be young again... Now I find myself saying by the time I turn (insert age) I'm going to... I guess we never grow out of it or at least I didn't.
ReplyDeleteJae Mac, I'm Just Sayin'...(Damn!)
No, not just you, we all do it. One of these days I'm going to succeed at one, too.
DeleteI just LOVED this! I can hear myself agreeing with most of your sentiments, word for word even! It is so funny how time and perspective change, well, perspective...Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit it was a fun prompt, really got me thinking. Looking forward to what you'll come up with for your prompt.
DeleteIn reading your list of "things," I had to laugh as I pretty much agreed with every one you posted, thinking, that's me...
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed. Take care, Slu
I think I hit on things many of us say before we grow up and realize how naive we had been.
DeleteThat is hilarious! I loved it! So funny I think almost all of the things you listed I thought the same....boy were we wrong....boy did we think we had it all figured out....lol funny how life is.
ReplyDeleteYou put it perfectly "boy were we wrong . . .boy did we think we had it all figured out". And now I know my kids are thinking the same things about when they grow up.
DeleteGreat post. I had the aame sentiments on a lot of them. Sometimes though, I fe like I havent yet grown up.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel like I haven't yet grown up, too. And sometimes I feel like I'm about 190 years old.
DeleteOh Karen,
ReplyDeleteI love it. I can relate so much to this. I as an adult have no interest in stay up super late, getting out of the house, not writing, live so far away from my closest friends, etc. Reading this was like we had sat down and had coffee and you read my mind. = )
Irish Carter
www.dedicated2life.com
Don't think I can read your mind, but I wouldn't mind that cup of coffee . . .
Deletewhat a fun post...and as I see my children getting older and wiser I see this cycle repeating in them with my own eyes!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I can just see my kids saying all these things too!
DeleteI want to be you when I grow up ;) And by growing up, I mean figuratively since I'm probably older than you. I wanted to be an actress or a lawyer. I was lofty. I ended up being an accountant. Go figure. My oldest daughter wants to raise sloths...I'm hoping this is one of those "When I grow up..." moments we call all laugh about someday.
ReplyDeleteYou're not older than me, and you wouldn't want to be me. Although I do not have any kids that want to raise sloths, so there is that . . .
Delete