What I Have Learned from Cupcakes

“Mini me” cupcake

Pumpkin pie cupcakes

If someone who knows me were to play word association with my name, he or she might come up with editor, blonde, or short, but not before cupcakes. My obsession with cupcakes started five or six years ago. I blame artist Wayne Thiebaud, whose thickly painted pastries really captured my imagination. (I even wrote a short story about his piece Pies, Pies, Pies.) Though not a cook or even a baker, I follow recipes, hope for the best, and post photos of the results.

Unicorn poop cupcake

Today is my birthday, so it seems an appropriate occasion to reflect on my relationship with these classically celebratory confections. Here are some lessons that cupcakes have taught me about life and dessert:

Sometimes, the icing on the cake is literally the icing on the cake.
Making a mess is much more fun than cleaning it up.
Our creations inevitably fall short of our imaginations.
Even if you visualize something over and over, it will never happen exactly that way.
Having an obsession makes it easy for people to buy you gifts you’ll love (“Oh my God! Cupcake dish towels!”).
Measure twice, bake once.
Always keep chocolate in the house.
Think on your feet (and wear comfortable shoes).
Push yourself beyond what you know you can do.
There’s no shame in having an entire drawer of sprinkles (or an entire cupboard, room, or wing of the house of whatever you treasure or collect).

Graduation cupcake

Ultimately, for me, cupcakes are about spreading joy. As I say on my neglected Twitter page, I love baking cupcakes for family, friends, friends of friends, friends of family, and anyone who will make yummy sounds while eating them.

And I always bake a few extras for myself.

11 thoughts on “What I Have Learned from Cupcakes”

Julie Gardner March 31, 2014 11:59 am at 11:59 am

Happy birthday, wonderful friend. On my list of People I’m Glad I’ve Grown Closer to on Facebook, you are at the very top.

The icing on the social media cupcake, if you will.

Cheers!

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karengreenfield Post authorMarch 31, 2014 1:15 pm at 1:15 pm

Thank you so much, Julie! You are at the top of my list, as well, continually inspiring me with your wit and wisdom. (And now I’m pondering what a social media cupcake would look like…and taste like…)

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y. prior April 15, 2014 11:11 pm at 11:11 pm

Happy belated birthday -and it looks like you share your birthday with the Eiffel Tower. 🙂
well, I stumbled on your blog and really smiled with this “I follow recipes, hope for the best, and post photos…” ha!
~yvette

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karengreenfield Post authorApril 16, 2014 9:05 am at 9:05 am

Hi, Yvette! Thank you so much for the birthday wishes, and thanks for reading!

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1. y. prior April 17, 2014 10:44 pm at 10:44 pm
  
  thanks for the reply – and I look forward to peeking in on your blog each week – looks like you have some good stuff going on here. The metaphor post cracked me up – 😉
  
  anyhow, what brought me here was your Thiebaud reference – and later on I need to go and read your story relating to Pies, Pies, Pies.
  
  here is the mini video I put together – (take care)
2. karengreenfield Post authorApril 20, 2014 10:58 am at 10:58 am
  
  Thanks again, Yvette!! (By the way, I wasn’t able to view your video.)
3. y. prior April 20, 2014 7:11 pm at 7:11 pm
  
  I wonder why – well now you just may to drop on by my blog to see it – 🙂
  http://priorhouse.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/pies-pies-pies-and-did-someone-day-tee-bow/
  
  and I will double check the link in the meantime….
4. y. prior April 20, 2014 7:13 pm at 7:13 pm
  
  well here is the link again…. 🙂
5. karengreenfield Post authorApril 21, 2014 7:07 pm at 7:07 pm
  
  Yvette, your video made me very happy. Thank you!
6. y. prior April 22, 2014 9:21 pm at 9:21 pm
  
  🙂 Hope you have great rest of April….. and I look forward to checking in on your blog for the upcoming year.