What are your confessions?
My confession…
I remember being bored at 17, flipping through my mom’s magazines, waiting for my friends to pick me up. Good Housekeeping, Better Foods, and Country magazines were stacked neatly in a pile near the recliner.
Who reads this crap? I’d think to myself. Do women really scurry to their mailboxes for Good Housekeeping, eager to find what new exciting bathroom makeover awaits them?
Maybe my mom did not know that Redbook and Glamour were chock full of tips on how to look amazing AND please your man!
Or maybe she was wise enough to know that her 17 year old skimmed her magazines and she didn’t need her reading about “pleasing” anyone unless it entailed cleaning a room or folding laundry.
Bored, I would toss the magazine into its now messy pile…someday I would subscribe to saucier magazines.
And that someday was last weekend at the grocery store.
In preparation for down time, I quickly browsed a rack of magazines while the checker scanned my groceries, and then grabbed the magazine that made the most sense.
You’ll be surprised to learn that I passed up Redbook and Glamour and even People or USWeekly for a copy of O Magazine.
Oprah.
And that’s not the worst of it. I was so pleased with my O Magazine experience that I actually got online and subscribed.
Am I a hundred?
And that’s not the worst of it.
After subscribing to O Magazine I was encouraged to spend just five dollars more for a YEARS subscription worth of a second magazine. I totally have five dollars so I subscribed to that one too.
Ahem.
It’s…Good Housekeeping.
I don’t know what’s happening to me.
******************
Erin says
I have never once read O Mag….but I like Real Simple, have you read that? Lots of awesomeness in that mag, let me tell you!
June Freaking Cleaver says
I think O and Good Housekeeping are writing to your demographic…so you’re not old, you’re a vibrant consumer, and advertisers pay big bucks to get your business!
Good Housekeeping has been around forever…they must be doing something right.
And Oprah? She can put in what she damn well pleases, she has all the money.
Booyah's Momma says
You’re not 100. Maybe you just have far more willpower than those of us who can’t stay away from the People or US Weekly.
Unfortunately , I can’t say the same for myself. I like reading smut… and I cannot lie.
Kim says
You have evolved! ;-) I love O Magazine but sometimes I wonder if Oprah really needs all those advertisements to keep it going. I mean, it’s Oprah – one of the richest women in the world.
mjrodriguez says
I love O! Although I haven’t quite subscribed yet….but any day now… :-)
Holly L says
I scare myself with those magazines…I even get suckered into For Women First and that type. I am 110…I swear.
Chanel says
I actually picked up a Good Housekeeping magazine shortly after I got married(I was 27). At the time I though it would help me to be a better housewife…WRONG! I still suck at being a good housewife.
So don’t feel bad…you’re not 100. maybe 58 (j/k) but not 100 yet. Step away from the magazine rack and run…
Dominique @Dominique's Desk says
I haven’t read those magazines you mentioned. I now only flip through kids mags.
Kisha Floren says
Oh man, we are getting old. When did that happen?
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Oh boy!! Good Housekeeping!!!!!!!! Yikes.
Gigi says
Like someone else said – add Real Simple to the mix. That totally nixes the Good Housekeeping. I wouldn’t say we are getting old – I’d say that our tastes have matured and evolved.
Tanya says
My mom totally had and still does, those magazines. They were piled in a basket in the living room. I think that started my magazine addiction! O does have some good articles in it. I absolutely love Real Simple and Better Homes and Gardens. But my faves have always been cooking magazines :).
CDG says
You’re so not old!
I can’t afford magazines, but I read a lot of my Mom’s, my *Mom’s* subscriptions when she’s done with them. Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Yankee, Family Fun…
They’re just magazines.
Right?!
Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity says
Isn’t it scary (and weirdly comforting) how we are turning into our mothers? YIKES!! :)
Caroline says
I hear you on the magazines! I’m addicted, I’ll read ANYTHING. But, I do subscribe to Glamour, oh, well, and Our State – definitely a mom magazine! I guess we are getting old.
Hey, thanks for what you do. This linky stuff is fun!
Amanda says
Last year I had a subscription to Glamour magazine, when it was done and I could get another one through my debit card bonus points, I chose Better Homes and Gardens, and then a friend got me a subscription to Country Living.
I’m only 25, I should still be reading Cosmo and maybe even Redbook!
Peg says
Bless your heart! I think that means you are growing up! Isn’t that a frightening thought. I do stuff like that all the time and then wonder when I turned into my mom.
Momma Drama says
I’ve never read O magazine, but maybe I might pick one up after this post and the comments! The only magazine I get is People. In the Mail. Yes, I paid for people… 6 months… I was pretty much blackmailed :) I actually read those magazines when I was younger for the crafts – I remember Redbook had some of that “pleasing your man” talk in it!
Los says
Ooff … Oprah’s magazine ?!?!?!
I think I’m ok with Good Housekeeping, but not Oprah …. Are you eagerly anticipating the launch of her cable channel?
Jennifer says
So you are becoming your mom, too? Scary isn’t it?
I don’t subscribe, but secretly, I nab a Martha Stewart every time she comes out with one of those Halloween, Christmas, Easter, or Summer special additions. It calls to me at the check out counter….like the chocolate covered cookie dough bites :)
Diane says
You know, I never thought about it but while I used to get Cosmo and Redbook and Glamour, I’m now getting Southern Living, Country Living, Real Simple, O, and Better Homes and Gardens! I don’t even know when it all happened. ~:o
Angelia Sims Hardy says
You totally need to offset that with a nice leopard print outfit or hot pink headband (a micro mini?), just to maintain you hip coolness. Please don’t start wearing those “house” dresses all day and night too. :-) Haha.
I have a confession on the writing prompt. Please don’t disqualify me. I wrote my post. Every word, one that had been in my head since I discovered something…AFTER I wrote it, but BEFORE I published it. I thought. Dang! Wish I could have used one of Mama Kat’s prompts this week. I went to check the prompts again…and what do you know? CONFESSION. I <3 Usher.
In my defense, since I saw the prompts earlier in the week it had to have been subconscious, right? Get out of my head woman! LOL.
blythe says
Eh… I’m 23 (and childless, though a nanny) and my favourite magazine is Family Fun.
I’m in no position to judge.
Paula Kiger says
I wonder what I would have written about if I had picked the “confession” prompt. I have been wanting (but lacking the courage) to write about flatulence in the workplace – maybe I missed my chance by choosing a different prompt!!
We used to visit my grandparents who lived in a small town, so when there weren’t peas to shell I would root through their magazines. The Grimaldi family (of Monaco – Princess Grace and crew) were all over every mag I touched. And since Caroline was my age I was truly transfixed. Still am!
Amethyst Moon says
I’ve been a good Housekeeping fan for years, I keep hoping that reading it will make me good at house keeping…*looks around* nothing yet, keep reading.
liz says
I think that as long as you embrace your less-glamorous side, that’s all that matters.
Bethany says
Shame, shame, shame. Oprah.
I guess we all turn into our mothers eventually. I think that’s why my husband married me – he thinks my mom is hot.
ElizOF says
I read O magazine (subscription) and Good Housekeeping and enjoy both. Nothing wrong with GH as they do have excellent articles that are usually quite helpful. Enjoy it!
Jaci says
I subscribed to a few magazines through Girl Scouts. They had a couple 2 for 1 deals, so I got Redbook and Glamour packaged together. Redbook? Great! It’s like Cosmo for married people. Glamour? Oh, dear gawd.
I opened my mailbox and found some girl from Glee (I don’t have cable–pop culture FAIL) struggling to hold a too small sweater over her bottom girlie bits. She looks awkward and embarrassed (em-BARE-ASSED) like I just walked in and caught her about to DO IT with her boyfriend on my couch. I feel like the mom catching the babysitter. It’s currently laying on my bathroom floor FACE DOWN because it embarrasses me to even be caught reading it. And I have a years subscription. dooh!
Sugar Mama says
Every January I treat myself to 5 or so magazine subscriptions with the goal of not buying any from the magazine stand at the check out. It’s worked pretty well, and I’m sure I’ve saved a ton.
I try to have a variety of subscriptions; House Beautiful and Food Network to “W” and InStyle. I have read just a few “O” magazines and I love that they include so many articles worth reading, not just a bunch of glossy ads.
Good Housekeeping…. I don’t know what to say to that one. ;o)
Kelly Deneen says
lol. Sometimes it’s painful to grow up. ;)
Ashley says
Is it weird that I loved these magazines when I was 17? :D
LindsayDianne says
My mom used to drag me to home depot all the time.
Same idea. :)
dgmommy says
I think this is the most hilarious confession! I love it. And I love O. No, I don’t subscribe, but I bring stacks of back issues home with me whenever I visit my mother (who has also yet to reach 100).
gina says
I bought Glamour not too long ago and couldn’t figure out why I loved it so much a few years ago.
Jennifer says
Oh look, Kat’s all grown up.
littlemissgonnabe says
I remember when I used to spend my money on vogue or W magazine…. now I too, find my self drawn to a more grown up publication (love Today’s Parent!)
9
Julie says
I have subscribed to both of those… more than once. And both times I’ve looked at myself thinking “when did I become this person.” I’ve since abandoned both of those… and am now a “Real Simple” girl. I’ll probably be back though. I read them both in the check out lines often.
Jennie says
I too used to read Seventeen and Glamour and now I passed those to subscribe to Parent and Good Housekeeping :)
BalancingMama (Julie) says
Funny – I have Southern Living and a parenting magazine right now. Cosmo used to be so exciting and dirty… I haven’t even considered looking at it in years. Me = BORING!
Jennifer says
Oh, man, that’s rough. Although I think it may be worse that my husband subscribe for me with his extra points Martha Stewart’s Living.
WTH am I Doing says
Love this! I have moments of “How the hell did I get to this point…?” all the time! LoL I start getting excited at the prospect of new appliances or furniture…*sigh*
pamtastic says
Oh my grilled cheezus! I can totally relate! Except it was my grandmother and Reader’s Digest. I love, Love, LOVE me some Reader’s Digest! There…I said it…outload…and I don’t care who reads it!
Miss Angie says
It’s true, we turn into our mothers…
jackie says
I can relate! I still like my People magazine, but some of the other magazines are definitely not what I used to read when I was younger.
Lauren says
I subscribed to Coastal Living magazine because I like the pictures, and seeing the ways people remodel their homes to look more beachy. I mean, come on, I’m a 20-something college student. I SO do not have the money to be thinking beach houses right now. However, I did go for more practical subscriptions for myself, as a writer, such as The Writer Magazine and Writer’s Digest. However, I’d really like to subscribe to Redbook. They just did a total remodel on their magazine, and I must say I really love it.
Michelle says
Oh how funny. Yep, you’re officially an old lady. Glad you enjoy your magazines though. We all need our bad habits, right? Then again, I could spend days reading Cooks Illustrated and figuring out how their recipes really make the dishes that much better. I’m a food geek, what can I say?
Jen says
Oh I know the feeling. I first subscribed to O Magazine about four years ago… when I was 25!!! Who reads O when she’s 25??? It’s been a downward spiral ever since. I’m on the email newsletter distro, and I watch her show daily. I’m pretty bummed it’s the final season.
Pooba says
You totally are a hundred. Actually, with the addition of good housekeeping, you are a hundre and five!
Nicole @ MTDLBlog says
I love Oprah! You’re not a hundred, you just want to find your ultimate purpose in life and read a good book! Oh and let’s not forget her Favorite Things!! Cover to cover, it’s worth your $20 per year.
MommaResa says
My mom subscribes to Good Housekeeping, and I totally steal it out of the mail pile before she gets home. I hide it in my laptop case and take it to work with me the next day.
I love it, and I’m not 40 or a hundred, or a hundred and forty. I’m twenty-three and addicted to Good Housekeeping. :)
Holly says
My magazines are Family Circle and Better Homes & Gardens! LOL!! I LOVE them!! ;D
Marni says
It never ceases to amaze me how much more I understand my parents as I age. *Sigh…*
PS. I just “liked” you on Facebook!