Blogging: A Vicious Cycle

In my short time as a blogger, here's what I've discovered: in order to be a prolific blogger, you must have a wealth of topics (or just one really relevant/funny/touching story at a time) that will allow you to regularly post. However, I find that I am hardly interesting enough to even think about blogging if I haven't been insanely productive during the week. I sit around thinking, "Well, I could use this time to blog, but what would I blog about? Even I don't want to listen to me talk right now." BUT when I'm so busy being busy, I don't have time to blog, even though as I am doing these marvelous things, I am forever thinking, "I need to remember to blog about this"! Is this why people have Twitter instead of blogs these days? Is it easier to just tweet these things as they happen? I don't know... I think you end up with an inane stream of ramblings. Remember that time that Jennifer Aniston dumped John Mayer because he was tweeting too much? Yeah, it's like that.

Nevertheless, I've been stupid busy here lately so there is plenty to share. Here are my Top 5 Awesome Things this week, starting with my favorite thing that I bought.

#1) Healthy Steps Serving Utensils
In my ongoing quest to be less rotund, I have found that constantly breaking out the measuring cups has a tendency to really just depress the shit out of me, which then makes me go back to my previous gluttonous ways. I do measure quantities because it is absolutely necessary, but I hate coming to the dinner table and flaunting my need to restrain myself.

Thank you Healthy Steps for solving my portion control woes!

These little guys tell you right on the spoon how much you can have.  For example, the starch spoon reads Starch: One serving.  Now I can just happily scoop out my starch that I love so much and move on! There are measuring cups for nuts, a scoop/excavator that grabs exactly one serving of ice cream, and the coolest little individual pasta measuring cups.  I can't wait to get mine back from Everly who has been playing drums on the couch and put them to use. 

#2) Exercises I Can Do In 10-minutes at Home
What the hell? It took me 31 years to figure out that if I get up and do a round of crunches, a round of squats, and a round of girly push-ups in the morning, I will have more energy, lose weight, and not have to suffer the stares at the gym on a daily basis.  I thought it would be pointless if I wasn't going to the gym for at least an hour 3x a week, but after watching Jennifer Hudson on Dr. Oz (I know that sounds cliche, but television is limited here.), I thought I'd give it a try.  And holy hell, it works! Which leads me to #3...

#3) 5 Pounds
Watching my portions and doing 15 minutes in the mornings has lead to me losing 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks.  My energy is up, which should be apparent by my excessively long blog out of nowhere, and I am having less stress.  That's right...my children are just as out of control as before, but I am less likely to lock myself in the bathroom and cry.  It's a win-win!

#4)  Texas Workforce Commission Getting It Together (Finally)
You know those people who make signs and brag about how they are making it on $9/hour after losing their $60K/year job rather than receive unemployment? I'm not that guy.  I'm the girl who is on unemployment because my kids having shoes was more important than me making a point, so you can imagine my frustration when TWC cut my unemployment for 2 months because, while I have a degree and can't get a job, any old idiot can work there.  In a miraculous turn of events (Thank you, baby Jesus!), they reversed that decision this week and paid back the $3,000+ that I was due.  Even more happily, like the minimum wage braggarts, we learned to live on less so there was plenty to go around and some left over.  Mommy got her shop on!

#5) Quality Time With My Children
We took the last half of the week off and spent it in Heidelberg with my darling dearest. The Army was already paying for a two-room suite with a kitchen so we were able to cook in and walk to the parks.  I took the kids bowling, which went surprisingly well with Genius Boy whipping me and Danger Girl. We enjoyed air hockey, movies in bed, and even took in a movie early in the week.  I'm so glad I've had the energy and patience to do this, and really, I'm glad that I've been unemployed in that sense.  I would rather have a job for my own mental stability, but the time I've spent with my kids has been invaluable. 

Book of the Week: The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew

In short, The Help meets The Secret Life of Bees. Told from the point-of-view of Jubie, a 13 year-old middle child, The Dry Grass of August is about a family and their black maid, Mary, during the fearful time of segregation and civil rights.  Jubie is on the verge of young womanhood, but she is naive to the real world struggles of the people in her life.  Her mother is a country club wife, while her dad is brooding figure prone to black moods that never end well for Jubie.  When the family breaks down in an intolerant part of the south, trouble is brewing for Mary and the whole family.  Watching Jubie and her family rise and fall again and again is a satisfying experience from the reader's viewpoint, and the end result is marvelous.

I must rant, and so I shall.

(Juju gods, please do not punish me.)

WTH is wrong with parents these days? Two stories caught my attention tonight.

#1) Girl (15 yrs old, I think) who runs away and then gives a false name to cops is deported. Grandmother cries foul.

Well, first of all, she shouldn't be running away. Second of all, it is against the law to give a false name to the cops. Finally, this is what is wrong with her...someone always covering her ass; let's just be honest. Someone trying to hide the missteps of their child by blaming the law. You are telling me what? They should've ran her DNA? She gave a name, had no ID, and that name just so happened to be on the list, so she got deported. THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.

#2) Boy (8th grade) is in school with a handgun, raises it at cops and bystanders, refuses to put it down repeatedly, says he isn't afraid to die, and then runs. Cops shoot 3 times, and the boy dies. Dad cries foul.

Do I even need to break this down? This kid, may he rest in peace, shouldn't be wielding a gun at anyone, much less the cops. I don't care that it was a pellet gun - who can tell that from a distance? I sure can't. I've held my nephews pellets guns up close, and they don't look harmless. The dad is bitching that the cops shot him in the head instead of a non-vital organ. Well, he was running - I'm sure they didn't aim for the head and actually land it while he was dashing away. They can't be that good. Now a family has lost a child. Now, these cops have to live with this guilt and sadness, and I know that they will probably be put on leave and then on trial. For what? Because somebody's kid really needed an ass whooping but took the law in his own hands and ended up dead instead? I won't say "That's what you get" because that is somebody's son, and they are devastated, as they should be. However, I will say this...

Parents need to stop making excuses for their kids and looking to place the blame somewhere else. This blame shifting starts with something simple - like excuses for bad grades or disrespectful behavior - and then it turns into a sense of entitlement on the part of the child.

I hope that grandmother gets her kiddo back and that the girl has learned a lesson. I hope that the family of the dead boy finds peace in the truth. What I really hope is that the parents of this world wake up and realize that their kids aren't always innocent or being targeted. Sometimes, they are just being bad. We all have to face that fact as parents, hard as it may be for all of us (me included), and the sooner we do, the better off this country will be.

My Top 10 Books of 2011

This year has been my top year for reading. Considering the eReader craze, all of the driving and flying from TX to the east coast then to Germany, and my complete lack of employment, this should come as no surprise. I would be hard pressed to put a number to it, but I would say at least 30 books this year. These made my top ten for the year.

10. Echoes by Maeve Binchy: It would be a bad year if I didn't read a Maeve Binchy novel. This one was published back in the 80's, but I really wanted to get my hands on some older Binchy for my summer reading. A tale about a young girl who comes from nothing in small-town Ireland, Echoes follows the life journey of Claire O'Brien who meets challenge after challenge in her short life. She is bright and spirited, and she reminds me a lot of yours truly. In fact, I often imagine her with big ears, limp hair, and freckles. That's one cute Claire, if you ask me. :)

9. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner: I practically had to beg, steal, and borrow to get this novel because I had just arrived in Germany and found out my Nook wouldn't download here. Then I was once again faced with the poor fare at the library on our meager post. It finally came in late July, and I think it was worth the wait. It received mixed reviews online, but I really loved it. It challenged my views of motherhood and forced me to like that stupid bitch India (one of the main characters) by the end of the book, so that alone is worth placement on my list. She really is horrible - a cat is a better mother.

8. Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult (Summary from JodiPicoult.com) "What happens when you do all the right things for all the wrong reasons? As an assistant district attorney in York County, Maine, Nina Frost prosecutes the sort of crimes that tear families apart...But when Nina and her husband Caleb discover that their five-year-old son Nathaniel has been sexually abused, that distance is impossible to maintain." This novel was actually published in 2002, but I just stumbled upon it this summer. Talk about a total mind blower. It's not just the controversial topic that she is tackling in the novel but the absolute way she manages to turn the tables on all of the characters repeatedly.

7. Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy: I bought this before leaving for Germany and packed it in my bag in case I was without my Nook. Thank God for that because I couldn't use my Nook when I got here, and I was so homesick that I really needed some Maeve Binchy to rouse me out of my funk. She never fails me. (Summary from Amazon) "In vintage Binchy style, a cast of colorfully eccentric characters living in a snug Dublin neighborhood seamlessly weave in and out of each other’s lives, united by family, faith, friendship, and community. When a young alcoholic learns he has fathered a child with a dying woman, he must step into the role of father, protector, and provider to his infant daughter, Frankie, in a matter of weeks."

6. The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird: For a short summary and total review, check out my Book Whore review (http://www.bookwhoreblog.com/2011/11/betrayal-of-maggie-blair-by-elizabeth.html). Let me tell you how mystical this book was to me. It was on the "New Books" shelf at the Grafenwoehr library, which could mean anything since it is the size of a gas station, and it randomly caught my attention. I literally looked at the cover, skimmed the back, and checked it out thinking that I was ignorantly succumbing to the "judge a book by it's cover" logic. Pleasantly surprised doesn't even begin to describe my feelings about it. A tragic but rich story about a girl who is orphaned and barely escapes the fire, The Betrayal of Maggie Blair was magical and refreshing. No vampires. No fairytale creatures. Just one small girl fighting for her life when everyone was on the hunt for witches. I loved it. In fact, I think the book may have found me, instead of the other way around.

5. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: (Summary found at Amazon) "...offers a harrowing and horrifying account of the forcible relocation of countless Lithuanians in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country in 1939...Sepetys, the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, estimates that the Baltic States lost more than one-third of their populations during the Russian genocide. Though many continue to deny this happened, Sepetys' beautifully written and deeply felt novel proves the reality is otherwise. Hers is an important book that deserves the widest possible readership" I was completely unaware of this part of history. Completely. And I can't even tell you how I came upon this book (recommendation, maybe?), but it was harrowing. That is the only way to describe it. This is not my typical read, but I think it is a must for anyone.

4. The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare: This is a series of books, and every last one of them is FAB-U-LOUS. If you want to read the summaries, check out Clare's fantastic website at cassandraclare.com. I think I might actually die before the next one is released in 2012, but Clare is due to come to Munich this year (in March, I think), and you can bet your butts I will be there.

3. The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare: Again, this is an ongoing series of books. First was Clockwork Angel, and Clockwork Prince was just released on the 6th of December. I was reluctant to leave the Shadowhunter world of the Mortal Instruments for the much, much older Shadowhunter world of 19th century London, but Cassandra Clare's stories just suck me in. Once I've cracked one of her novels, I might as well live in it because I am good for nothing until it is done. This particular series has great twists, delightful characters, but most importantly, a remarkable setting that you can almost smell it's so real. Did I mention that the guy on the cover of her latest is delicious? I'm pretty sure that he is barely legal, if at all, but I can't help it. I've got total "Taylor Lautner Syndrome" for the Clockwork Prince cover boy.

2. Sudden Independents by Ted Hill: This is the best novel that you are not reading at the moment. Independently published by the author himself, Sudden Independents is set in a post-apocalyptic U.S. where the only people left are the children of the former inhabitants who all mysteriously died from a plague once they reached adulthood. I've become a complete junkie for this book. In fact, Mr. Hill probably thinks I am stalking him at this point, or at least he should, because I am dying to get my hands on the follow-up, Hungry Independents. This book would make the most kick ass movie EVER. And I want to play Ginger.

1. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins: This is the best novel series that every damn person I know is reading at the moment. Want to know how good it is? My husband is currently on the 2nd book even though he has (self-professed) not read a book since he was in the 5th grade. In fact, I had to go by him a Kindle so he would give mine back. (He like to got dealt with.) The reason everyone I know is reading it is because it's phenomenal. You don't have to like any certain genre - YA, post-apocalyptic, romance - because this series has it all.

Having bad juju? Read one of these gems and lose yourself in someone's plight. Your juju outlook will turn around in no time.

Happy New Year, Party People!

It's that time of year, junkies. Time to shrug off the heavy burdens of last year and take that first fresh breath of change. To get you moving in a positive light, I've dug up some inspiring quotes. Set some goals, eat your New Year's day dinner, and witch yourself into the perfect 2012.

Oh, ye of little faith:
"You must acknowledge and experience this part of the universe. Karma is intricate, too vast. You would, with your limited human senses, consider it too unfair. - Kuan Yin

2012 is the time to do YOU:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

And while you are out there empowering yourself, raise up that person next to you:
"By a divine paradox, wherever there is one slave there are two. So in the wonderful reciprocity's of being, we can never reach the higher levels until all our fellows ascend with us." - Edwin Markham

The best way to get away? Journey of the mind:
“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” - Confucius

Don't let the bad juju get you down. Don't count out any moment as being meaningless:
"It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end." - Ursula K. LeGuin

Here's hoping you find some good juju in 2012.

A Girl On Fire

  I'm no technology snob, but I am a total book fiend (hence, my guest posts at my SIL's page http://www.bookwhoreblog.com/).  If I was a Barbie, I would come with a library card and a novel in-hand. I love the smell of a new book - it's absolutely euphoric - so I was very reluctant to give up the feel of a paperback in my hand for some sort of mini-laptop.  I was really surprised, however, when my man got me a Nook. The eInk was great, and an eReader is super convenient when you have a giant purse full child-related paraphernalia and don't want to fumble for your latest read. I was totally "nooked". 

Imagine my extreme pleasure when my early Christmas present turned out not to be an Estee Lauder gift set but instead a shiny, super-advanced Kindle Fire.  I can get magazines, books, email, Facebook, and, most importantly, apps - particularly an app that allows me to text people in the states (I've been phoneless since setting foot in this technology-forsaken wonderland of medieval architecture).

While I do miss my eInk, I am nooked no more.  Now I am a girl ON FIRE! 

And I am especially fired up (read: only slightly in a state of extreme annoyance) because Ryan has hijacked my present so that he can get the latest Field & Stream.  For the last 2 hours.  

Evidence of Said Hijacking

Tell me: have you succumbed yet to the eReader craze? If so, which brand do you have and do you prefer it to an actual book?

Yumtasticness: Jello Pumpkin Spice Pudding

What is better than dessert heaven?

Dessert heaven for about $0.96, that's what.

That's why I am singing the praises of Jello Pumpkin Spice Pudding.  Call me crazy (I know you all do it anyway), but this little seasonal product was the inspiration for my blog. 

You see, we have been especially broke this holiday season what with me losing 42K a year and the ridiculous cost of living on a remote ass Army post in Germany, and I have found it especially hard to overlook this particular bout of bad juju.  Nevertheless, I always try to fancy up Sundays with comfort food, including a dessert.  While perusing my local commissary, I came across this wondrous seasonal delight, and I loved it so freaking much I wanted to share it with everyone!

Unfortunately, Facebook's new format (dammit) often buries my important statuses under things like "Nicole is 12,567th in a game to win an iPad by playing endless rounds of Bejeweled" or some such nonsense.  That's when it hit me! I should make a blog. 

For less than a dollar, I had a great treat for the fam and some inspiration.  I'll be damned, but Bill Cosby was right all along.  As follows is the recipe I use for pumpkin spice pie, which is actually a cream cheese based pie that you can use with any pie filling. 

Pumpkin Spice Pie

1 - box Jello Instant Pumpkin Spice Pudding, prepared according to directions
1 - graham cracker crust
1 - package of cream cheese softened at room temperature (go ahead and get the cheap kind - no promos here)
1 cup of powdered sugar
Cool Whip

Prepare the Jello pudding according to directions.  While it sets up, mix with a blender the cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Add the sugar slowly unless you like cleaning your entire kitchen when you are finished.  This needs to be blended well because your guests will not appreciate lumps of cream cheese in their pie.  Spread the cream cheese mixture in the pie crust first.  Then top with the pudding mixture.  The pie needs to go in the fridge for at least 3 hours but can stay in their as long as necessary.  Before serving, top with Cool Whip.

This basic recipe can be used for any type of pie filling, such as cherry or blueberry, or another flavor of pudding.

Welcome, future Juju Junkies

This is Good Juju, a place where I come to post about the latest product, book, or recipe that I am fawning over. I really love to share (read: hear myself talk), and I have decided that the limits of social networking have become intolerable (read: Facebook has restrictions on how long I can talk in one rant).

The name comes from a phrase my mother has used my whole life, "juju". She would shout this at the screen when Magic Johnson would go for a free-throw ("Juju, janky ball!") or when we were playing board games ("Juju, janky dice!"). It was comical when I was young, but, now I realize this might be why the Celtics were champions 8 times in a row. When I turned 30, I adopted "juju" for my own, sharing it with my friends, as a less patronizing way of saying "that's life".

Even though we are all at the mercy of Murphy's Law, I know that the remedy to "the blahs" is just a good laugh or good read away.  So try a new recipe, throw on some wild purple eyeshadow, and drink life as it comes.  Here's hoping you find a little good juju today. :)