Vanilla Cupcake Mix...yum!
Mixing it up with my hand-mixer (should have used the stand mixer)
Baking up nice and fluffy
Cooling down a bit before frosting
Frosting with the homemade Sprinkles recipe
These are nice but they are missing something...
Little cute brown and pink dots from Sprinkles!
Overall I think it was a pretty good mix. It has that "homemade" taste to the recipe, pretty good but not as much flavor as I would have liked. It's a good gift idea for someone who has everything and you could include cupcake liners and cupcake picks.
Moving on.
Have you ever been in a friendship funk? The kind of funky place where you start to lose your faith in people? I have several friends that I am pretty close with and love them dearly, so this isn't about them (love you ladies and you will see this because you all have blogs!). But, lately I have been thinking a lot about people that I'm not very close with anymore. Why is this? Do friendships go through cycles? Does anyone else experience this?
The girls I was friends with in high school, we don't even speak. One of my best friends from college dropped our friendship, during our beach week, right after graduation! I couldn't even believe it! Since then friendships have come and gone, so what in the world makes a lasting friendship these days?
Personally, I think it comes down to integrity, something that is lacking in our society today. Should I really have to pull someone's teeth to RSVP to a party I'm hosting? Why should a yes or no response be so hard? Should I keep sending birthday cards, anniversary cards or anything else to someone who can't even remember to pick up the phone for my birthday? When I got married I thought all my friends would get excited. Instead I feel I got just the opposite. Of course, there were the few, true-blue gals who stepped up to the plate, so I don't want to make it seem like nothing was done for me. But, I even had someone tell me they wanted to throw a shower, which never happened. Instead I planned my own shower with my mom.
Here's the question. Do you just keep on doing kind acts for people when you know you won't get the same done for you? Or, do you just keep doing what you do, even if you don't get a single thing back? My mom always says "you just keep being you" but at some point don't you just want to give up?
I recently saw on Kelly's Korner that she started a new bible study called "Lord, Change My Attitude." I ran out to Lifeway Bookstore right away to purchase it. I opened it up and the very first chapter was called "Stop Your Grumbling!" Wow, that really hit me hard. Even my husband had to agree with the title! I want to keep being me and not let issues like I've talked about here bother me, but it's hard to let go of them. I pray that my friendships now can become stronger and I can let go and stop grumbling about the ones that have hurt me in the past!
Thoughts?
27 comments:
Having passed the half century mark (ouch) I've seen many seasons of friendship, including all you mentioned. I'm going through yet another. Not really having a complete understanding of why these particular seasons occur, I cannot share a sound reason. However, seasons are a part of life - that much I know. We're to hold our plans loosely and rely on The One Who is closer than a brother, for mere mortals will always let us down.
As there are seasons in life, the change of seasons effects friendships. Sometimes, I've learned, it's a very good thing. For me, as well as the friends (or, former friends).
Your mother is right in her encouragement for you to *just continue being you.*
Blessings,
jAne
RSVPing.... so crazy annoying and my biggest pet peeve!
Cupcakes... loved the review and the pictorial!
Friendships... none left from HS, all from my college sorority. Same ladies, for the past 10 yrs- but in the same token, these friendships have changed.
I have one great, amazing, friend. I dont know what I would do without her.
ps- love this post!
I completely understand where you're coming from with the friendship thing sweetie... your true friends will be there no matter what, and the older I get, I realize there are friendships that almost fizzle out because of a variety of things that you can't change. You should only focus on those people that return the kind gestures you do for them and that really are worthwhile... there's my advice!!
P.S. those cupcakes look great!!
Oh girlfriend, this is totally up my alley! I have realized in the past couple of months, that it's not about the quanity, it's all about the QUALITY. And I too, have a friend that I feel only calls when she is bored, and has nothing else to do. Although I do cherish our friendship, so what DO I do? Keep calling her, keep sending her cards? I could literally go on for hours about the whole friendship card, so I'll be looking to your responses for advice of my own! haha!
But, friendships do come and go, and your TRUE friends will be the ones that are there with you, right by your side, supporting all that YOU do, at all times. Hope it helps :)
Love the cupcakes btw!
I do believe friendships come and go. I hardly talk to any of my high school friends anymore either. I am a firm believer in the idea that I would rather have 1 very close best friend instead of 15 "friends". I am very thankful for the close friends I do have. I agree with Jennie...it's all about quality and not quantity.
Totally hear you on the friendship issues! I have an amazing core group of friends, but some people that I thought I was close to from high school and college just seemed to disappear after the wedding and after i got ill (the two happened almost simultaneously, so I'm not quite sure what the main factor was. It was heartbreaking because I'm very loyal and would have done anything for these people.
My cousin has always told me that your 30s are so much better than your 20s because things are more in place, and I think that is so true. In a way, I think that your 20s are almost worse than your teenage years...there's no plan to follow anymore, and while it can be exciting and wonderful at times, it's very stressful. If you are single it can be hard to have married friends, if you are married it can be stressful to have friends who are more financially secure, etc. etc. etc.
I've just come to a point where I spend my time and energy on those core friends and I leave the door open for the old friends. I'm always open to re-starting a friendship, but I make the people who have always been there a priority :)
I like this episode of how i met your mother: http://www.cucirca.com/2008/06/03/how-i-met-your-mother-season-4-episode-8-woooo/. I mean I love every episode, but this one kinda rang a bell when I had some friendship issues :)
WOW! Boy do I know how you feel :) It happens and what can you do but hold your head up high and keep making new friends. I really believe in continuing to seek out new people. It's hard for me to keep in touch, but my best friends are those I don't have to talk to every day to be their friend..I can see them once a month or pick up the phone once every two weeks and we pick up right where we left off.
i saw those the other day! glad they turned out well..i'm gonna have to pick them up!
I love this post. i think girls sometimes go through cycles of friends, and periods of your life. and the grumbling! woah did you hit a nerve! i need to make myself a sign that says NO GRUMBLING!
have a great week!
I need to go buy that book....
There are definitely seasons of friendships, it is hard in your mid-twenties when we are all so transient and just getting established in our careers, marriages, etc.!
I believe that friends/people come in and then out of our lives for many reasons. I look at it as a season of sorts. It can be very hard though. I agree as well, just be you :)
Cute cupcakes! Love them. I hear you about the friendship thing. It has happened to me too. Your mom is right, keep being yourself!
that looks DELICIOUS! I think I may have to make some for my hubby :)
oh lord girl, do not even stress!! some people are just not good friends, and they'll flit from group to group, never actually doing anything more than giving superficial friendship. keep being a good person, and good things will come to you - i firmly believe that, and it sounds like you're inherently good (i.e. you do it because you want to do the right thing, not because of the rewards) - remember that! also remember that people were raised differently - maybe they didn't call on your birthday because birthdays weren't a big deal in their family, or they were taught not to acknowledge them as women got older. at the same time, if you're the only person putting the effort in, then treat 'em like a guy and play hard to get! if they don't try, you didn't want them anyway :)
i havent had a cupcake in years! and those look soooo delicious. it always seem i lean toward the brownies. :)
I totally know what you mean! Now that I am married and have children, I have found it hard to be friends with people who aren't married or don't have kids. It's not that I don't try, but our priorities are different. I think part of this crazy thing called life makes us go through stages, including the people we are friends with. It's sad when a friendship fizzles away, but amazing when you find a new friend that you thought you wouldn't ever have that much in common with and they end up bringing out the best in you! And those cupcakes are making a pregnant mama hungry!
You have such a sweet blog - thanks for the comment on mine... yours is so sweet! I will have to come back more often :) *your newest follower*
Elizabeth, thanks for visiting my blog today! I'm SUPER impressed that you could give up texting... I feel like that might be harder than Facebook.
I love your blog & will definitely be back to follow along!
E
Thanks for stopping by my blog:)
Your cupcakes look delicious! Sadly, we have no cupcake shops/chains where I live. Can you believe it?
I completely understand your friendship funk. I would say I have a lot of aquaintances, but as far as "friends" or a "best friend", not really. My husband is my go to person, but sometimes it would be nice to have a bff like in high school:)
Sprinkles Cupcakes at Williams Sonoma - I had no idea. Thanks for sharing, that makes me so excited!!
Friendships - I have been having those same thoughts recently, and questioning why should I keep doing things when it seems like 'they' never care.
I will share with you what the Lord laid on my heart, 'Take my emotions and my whining out of it. If I truly feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to send a card, call, or even give a gift then I will do it, no expectations planned. I am obeying what the Lord has placed on my heart, and that is all I need to be worried about. God will take care of the rest.'
This has really helped me have peace about so many things. And I know I am being obedient. I will also say, that a few times the Lord has lead me not to call or send a B-Day, and I have truly had a peace.
Some friendships we have a season, and others we have for a lifetime. I am trusting the Lord with my friendships, just as I trust Him with my marriage and career.
Have a blessed evening.
Kim
Thanks for visiting my blog! Those cupcakes look yummy!!! I want some right now!!!
I think friendships CAN be cyclical, as much as that pains me to say. Not that one ever loses love for the other, but sometimes people just grow apart for a little while. It's weird how the strangest of events seem to bring them back together, too. I was having a similar dilemma with an old friend ... would call and call with no returns, she forgot my birthday, she came in town and didn't call ... and then we met up at a mutual friend's funeral (horrible excuse for a reunion, I know), and she told me about how she had been struggling and soul-searching.
I say keep doing what you're doing. It sounds like you send the cards because you enjoy doing it. Sometimes, I think we fight battles that we think are too big to burden someone else with, so we just become kind of stand-off-ish.
You never know. That card or email or phone call or whatever may be just what they need!
And Sprinkles ... YUM. The Rodeo Drive Sprinkles was around the corner from my old office, and it was responsible for many a lonely night in the gym.
girl- i have been in the same friendship funk! it sucks feeling like you're the one who always is considerate, giving, caring, and making the effort. let me know what you do to get out of it!
Those cupcakes look wonderful!
Here's the question. Do you just keep on doing kind acts for people when you know you won't get the same done for you? Or, do you just keep doing what you do, even if you don't get a single thing back? My mom always says "you just keep being you" but at some point don't you just want to give up?
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
I am so here right now. I mean, you took the words right out of my heart, because this is exactly how I feel. God has really had to soften my heart toward the people that I've literally poured myself into, only to get nothing. No real sense of a genuine friendship. No quality time invested back. It's not that I DO the things to get something in return, it's almost like I do them to show how nice it is to have someone think about you. Kind of like a hint, ya know? But, God has really been dealing with me on the fact that not everyone needs me the way I think I need them. I love what jAne said, we hold our plans loosely, and rely on the ONE who is closer than a brother. People will fail us. And as much as we want some inkling of a clue in return that maybe, just maybe those certain friends appreciate us - we have to learn that who we are is not in who we know.
Anyway, you're not alone here. I completely understand. Until we have it all figured out (ha!) we'll just have to keep being ourselves. Regardless. Thanks for posting this!
I am sooo glad I found your blog today! You need to right a book about this! I just lost a friendship the other day! First friendship ever lost! I am hurt by it....I have always had lots of friends and still do, but this one was a newer friendship like 1 1/2 years but we became really close, or so I thought....I wear my heart on my sleeve and I agree with what your mom said "keep being you" that is exactly what my mom said and I just did a post about it this morning....
Thanks for the pick me up
Summer :0)
I am now a follower
I saw your blog today and found it very interesting. I am 52 and still have some of the same problems with friends. I have one best friend that I can call on for anything but lots of drifters. They drift in and they drift out. Sadly this is just part of life weather you are 25 or 52. Somewhere along the way you just have to learn to love what God has given you.
The One Who is closer than a brother, for mere mortals will always let us down.
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