This is a story of capitalism, big coffee, and the woman who would not be oppressed by their diabolical ways.
Okay, maybe that is a bit dramatic. Anyway . . .
I enjoy, crave, and need coffee, but I am often running short on time. When I was gifted a Keurig with its magical ability to deliver delicious coffee in minutes, it was this procrastinating caffeine addict’s dream come true. So when that one went kaput after years of service, I trotted out to buy a new one without one lick of research. The only thing on the shelf was the Keurig 2.0 and I thought, “Two point O? Fantastic! This will be even better!”
Except the 2.0 didn’t mean improved, it meant more proprietary. Seems the company’s K-Cup patent expired in 2012 and copycat K-Cups sprang up to take a bite out of Keurig’s profits. In response, Keurig developed the 2.0 that has a sensor to pick up the technology they embedded in the newly patented, next generation K-Cups.
This means old cups don’t work in your new machine even if they were designed by Keurig. Put an unlicensed or 1.0 K-Cup in your machine and you get this annoyingly cutesy message.
Okay, so no big deal. I only had three Earl Grey cups that weren’t working . . . or so I thought.
The ladies are from out of town so they spent the night at my house, and because my momma raised me right, I gave them full access to the Keurig with a refreshed and overflowing basket of K-Cups. I was feeling pretty smug about being a good hostess until I heard them call from the kitchen:
“Hey, none of these coffee things are working!”
Jessica is rightfully sad.
I have a penchant for buying in bulk at warehouse stores, but I lack the gumption and desire to rotate my stock. Seems I had just been dumping new K-Cups onto the old, but we had finally reached the bottom of the barrel so to speak. There were at least three dozen K-Cups that weren’t going to work in my machine. Now THAT is a big deal.
But there is a way around it! You just need heavy-duty scissors and scotch tape.
It’s really pretty simple. You just need to cut out the “ring” of a 2.0 K-cup. (There is also a gizmo you can buy on Amazon called a Freedom Clip, but I have not tested out how that works.)
You need to make sure to cut away the ridge or it will not fit in the machine.
Cut the foil out of the ring and just tape it on. While you really need to cut neatly, the taping is not as finicky. Just make sure the ring is seated on the cup and that you don’t tape across the center.
It worked! (To date, I have been able to brew ten cups of coffee with the one ring I cut out.)
And Jessica and Norine celebrated!
You know what would go great with that cup of coffee? Jess and Norine’s new book! These comic geniuses take all the highs and lows of parenting, apply the sciences to them, illustrate them up, and churn out humor we all can relate to.
Need an example? Check out this magnet gracing my refrigerator.
You can get your very own copy of their book on Amazon.
While chocolates, hearts, and flowers may be the way to some girls’ hearts, books are definitely the way to ours. If books fill you with a warm, happy feeling too, here are five that you might want to check out, download, or purchase for yourself or your sweetie.
And if you are interested in hearing us talk about one of these in real time, just click the podcast at the bottom of this post!
There is a reason this book made it on to nearly every “Best Of” list last year—it’s quite simply a remarkable gem of a book. With her unique gift for plucking the extraordinary from the every day, Offill doesn’t just offer up moments from a marriage but gives us glimpses of the diamonds hidden in the rough patches as well. Offill’s structuring of the story can be the reader’s hard work. Through her careful curation of snippets from the marriage at the heart of this novel, Offill leaves the reader asking on every page—how do these pieces fit together? what does this mean here?—yet these tenuous but important questions serve the story she is trying to tell. Marriage isn’t a straight narrative so much as a thousand shimmering moments—beautiful, terrible, and strange—and she lays them all out for us in this gripping, lovely book about what it means to take this particular trip.
You know how we feel about immunizations. Ellen wrote a great post about herd immunity and its current threat from the anti-vaxxer movement here. But this book doesn’t so much argue for vaccines as wrap itself around the very concept of innoculation itself. Biss’ pace is unhurried as she weaves personal anecdotes in with history, literature, and scientific research. The result is a captivating read on a subject we cannot escape right now. I cannot escape one of her quotes: “We owe each other our bodies.” An unputdownable piece of non-fiction that will keep you thinking long after you have turned the last page.
This book broke my heart a couple of years ago, but it never left me. It’s truly one of my favorites of all time, but it’s not easily summed up or laid out. Krauss, the wife of the literary superstar Jonathan Safran Foer, has a weighty literary talent of her own and she embues all of her gifts on telling this beautiful love story of a boy named Leo who loved a girl named Alma. That she lets this love story travel back and forth in time and be told from many angles is just a gift for the reader. This is a book you will cherish.
For a big, honking tome like this with a beautiful, intricate story to boot, you could totally be spot on in thinking, “Really, Erin? You serious?” Well, those who love the literary heavy hitters are already gonna be on board with this wide open, lyrical book, but even if you are just looking for a great story, trust me when I say that this book is for you. It starts as a father’s love story. Marie-Laure loses her sight at six years old and her father, a talented locksmith in charge of all the locks at the Museum of Natural History, uses his abundant gifts to help her learn to manage her blindness. By the power of Doerr’s narrative gifts, it morphs into something else entirely. There is so much good stuff in these pages and Doerr plays well with every character and theme he introduces. It may not be great literature, but it is a damn fine read and that is enough to keep you warm on a cold winter night.
This is the one book that I am telling everyone to read right now. It’s such a great all-around literary experience from the plot that sucks you in to the characters that pull you through to the questions it keeps asking you. I could go on and on.
In fact, you can hear me (and Ellen) go on and on about this book and other things too in our latest podcast. Just click it below!
Summertime is our time to hang out with friends, those who can hang with us poolside or between the pages of our favorite books. We love to recommend books to our good buddies, so we have created lots of book lists.
Check out some great ones for Moms here, here, and here. And some great lists for your kids here.
And we have five more to recommend that are perfect for the tween set also known as the 8-12 crowd.
1. When Life Gives You OJ by Erica S. Perl
Animal-lovers will flock to this book! Zelly is moving to Vermont and she desperately wants a dog. Her grandpa Ace comes up with a crazy scheme to convince her parents that she is ready for one: he makes her a dog out of an old orange juice jug. There is a lot to love about this book. The sweet but complicated relationship Zelly has with her grandpop Ace, her new friend who encourages her to stay true to her convictions even in the face of social pressures, and the subtle themes of responsibility and treating all people (even bullies) with respect woven throughout. The author even inserts some great education about the Jewish faith into the story as Zelly meets two families who are devout Jews in a town that where they are a distinct and noticeable minority. Kids will love the Yiddish glossary at the end!
2. Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt
So you had to know this book was special once you figured out that this sequel won the Newbery Honor Award, but it’s also pretty apparent from the moment you open the spine (without breaking it, of course) and settle into the pages. Thirteen year old Dicey and her three siblings were abandoned by her mother in a parking lot and she has heralded them safely to her grandmother’s house where this story begins. The truth and beauty of Dicey’s voice and story, the pace and strong characters, and ultimately the honesty that permeates from this fast-paced read are all part of its charm. Oh, and it was one of Erin’s favorite books from when she was on the cusp of teendom.
3. Nerd Camp by Elissa Brent Weissman
This funny, tender book about being true to who you are doesn’t ever come across as schmaltzy and boys will be laughing too hard at all the crazy adventures of Gabe and his friends at Nerd Camp to notice all the sweet stuff anyway. Gabe’s dad is getting remarried and he is getting a stepbrother who happens to be the very same age. This is great news for Gabe until he realizes that his new brother Zack is a cool skateboarder while he is, well, not. Gabe desperately wants to hide his geekiness from Zack and the story unfolds. In the end, this is a story about accepting yourself for who you are. It’s such a positive, upbeat story narrated by an engaging young voice that tween boys won’t be able to put this book down.
4. Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
Oh, we love a strong female lead and this book has one in the firecracker protagonist named Mo LeBeau. Big on personality and heart, this book is also a full-blown mystery topped with a little Southern charm. For a summer read, it goes down like a smooth glass of perfect lemonade. Your kids will be charmed by the quirky cast of characters and the precocious but believable dialogue.
5. Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Erin’s kids have been known to fall asleep clutching spy goggles and our friend Mary’s son brought his spy watch kayaking, hiking, and camping last week. Boys LOVE spy stuff. So a book about a school for spies? It has Hogwarts for Future Double Agents written all over it. Even the hero Ben is a little Potter reminiscent. Slow to warm up to the spy stuff, Ben wins in the end—making friends, helping to uncover the hidden mole, and getting his spy groove on. This book brings the action, ninja stars, and combat simulation (in the form of paintball—of course) to the CIA Academy and kids who enjoy a witty tale with a side of suspense will be delighted. This would be a great read-aloud for younger kids too.
But then sometimes we like to write a little bit more about a book that we think is a little extra-special. In this case, we like the book so much we are jumping on the book tour train.
If you haven’t heard of Angela Shelton, well, buckle up, this is about to get interesting. Angela describes herself as an author, screenwriter, performer, public speaker, and filmmaker. But she is so much more than a resume that would make a superhero tired. She has a wicked sense of humor and delights in fun and funny things. We appreciate such things here in The Sisterhood. We like women who carry the ball across the line, do a twirl, give a big enthusiastic two thumbs up, and then helps someone else cross that line too. That pretty much describes Angela. We reviewed Angela Shelton’s last book, The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton: Book 1: Crash Landing on Ooleeoo, because we liked her so much. We were pleased as punch to read such a delightful addition to the world of children’s literature.
Now we are happy to report that her latest book is enchanting as well and perfect as a read-alone for your favorite tween. We found it was a great read aloud for the younger set as well.
We toted this book on two summer vacations so far to read to our charges after busy days of surf and sand.
Full disclosure: No kids were paid to listen to or appreciate the books. They are just THAT good!
We are happy to report the masses were happy with their bedtime stories and we think yours will be too.
The Summary:
Eleven-year-old Madison Mae and her younger brother, Albert, want to help save the family farm during troubled times. When a mysterious Magical Hat Shop appears by their grandpa’s red tractor mailbox, the children meet Tilda Pinkerton who presents them with one-of-a-kind hats, causing new ideas and talents to suddenly burst forth. As a flood of harm comes rushing towards the farm, Tilda Pinkerton teaches the children how they can accomplish much more than anyone ever imagined. Increase your child’s vocabulary, self esteem and awareness of social issues, while they enjoy a great story! Tilda Pinkerton’s Magical Hats does it all.
The Sisterhood Review:
For the kid with a mind for the fantastic and whimsical, this book is a no brainer. Tilda Pinkerton is the definition of a good time and whenever she arrives on the scene with one of her hats, she leaves a little magic behind. We love that the kids in this book realize that they possess the power to change their lives for the better through the power of their own gifts and talents. The charms in this book aren’t flights of fancy, but real and accessible and wholly appreciated. Kids will love the special brand of magic sprinkled throughout the story coupled with the very real characters and the nicely paced plot. It’s a winner in every way.
Now, we weren’t lying about toting this book along this summer, so we asked a couple of the kids to give us their reviews.
Kid Reviews:
With her creative storyline and the fun coloring pages, Angela Shelton makes a great kid-friendly book. – Tatum, age 12
I wish I could really have a magic hat and a cat like Gabby Cat.- Jack, age 5
Magic is always a great addition to any book and this book does it just right. It has an actually good story and characters plus magic. It is a very fun story. I will write a book report about it! – Julia, age 9
I like the way the kids had to find their hidden talents to save the farm. – Gabe, age 7
Find out how Angela has incorporated the character of Tilda Pinkerton into an entire line of book projects, each geared towards a different age group at www.MagicHatShop.com
Okay ladies, it’s time to take back Mother’s Day and celebrate it in the way you desire. We may or may not have some teeny weeny problems with the workload and hoopla that surrounds this supposed day of honor. While we all love the handmade gifts and cherish them to pieces, we want to empower you to get your own gift, a gift that celebrates the truth of what it really means to be a mother. What is that gift you ask?
I Just Want To Pee Alone!
This book is a compilation of essays on motherhood from some of our most favorite bloggers on the web. If only this had been around when we were new moms. Some of the things that happened during those early years just bordered on the ridiculous and we thought maybe we were “doing it wrong.” How great it would have been to have these stories not only for commiseration, but to lighten us up so that we could find the funny. This book is hilarious, tender, true and a reassurance that imperfection is normal.
We found ourselves wanting to leave each author a comment about what we thought about her piece. Blogging is about interaction. So since we do have access via the wonder that is social media (how cool is that?) we posed this question to several of the authors:
“How has it been having your words out there in book form without the immediate response and interaction you are use to having on your blogs?”
“Hmmmm….. For me it’s been really weird. Mine is towards the back, and I’m really used to people commenting right away on my blog posts – usually before I even get out of bed in the morning. So I immediately know if what I wrote was good or not. And my mom always calls me to talk about my post too, so I’m really used to that feedback too. I didn’t realize how important that feedback was to me (or those comments) until this book. I haven’t heard from a single person that has read my essay (not fishing for compliments here, I swear!). My mom hasn’t even read it. I’ve heard nothing. And it feels weird. And vulnerable.”
Our comment to Anna: You nailed the feeling of disconnect we have with our bodies after giving birth, the feeling that they are no longer our own . . . and you made us laugh with your imagery. Sad elephant indeed!
“It has been such a strange process! Instead of reading comments from the safety of the moffice, I get IRL (In Real Life) comments. I stand there like a deer in the headlights, praying that they liked it and hoping not to blurt out inappropriate comments about Susan’s 2 vagina’s. My mouth does not have a delete button, unfortunately.”
Our comment to Kerry: Why weren’t you there to tell our younger selves we were rocking it? We love ourselves now, but there was A LOT to love back then.
“When I put something out there on my blog (or Facebook, etc) I can immediately see people’s “Likes” and comments, whether they shared my post, and – if they did share it – what they said to the people they shared it with. There is immediate gratification: It Was Good or It Was Actually Not All That Good. Not only do I get the pleasure of not knowing whether people liked my essay, I get to feel the pressure of being the opening essay. So if mine sucked, would it hurt those in the back of the book? Would people skim my chapter in the book store and say “Meh. Not this time…”? When I am on my own, I’m on my own. This time, if what I wrote wasn’t good, it affected the others after me. Which makes me mumble anxious curses under my breath and reach for the wine.”
Our comment to Kim: No need to worry because you started the book off with a bang. You painted such a vividly hilarious picture of your time as a spa starfish, we felt like we were there with you every step of the way. Is that awkward?
“I’m still convinced mine is all wrong for the book. Not the right voice. So when I’ve had a positive comment or two trickle in, not at all like blog comments, I’m shocked, surprised, and more gratified then I would have imagined. But nothing compares to seeing friends I know outside the blogosphere buying the book and posting pictures of it to Facebook while I wait for them to let me know if they liked my piece or not. Most of my tangible, reach-out-and-touch-them friends don’t comment on my blog posts, so maybe silence is par for the course. Or maybe I crashed and burned. Maybe I don’t want to hear from them, after all.”
Our comment to Nicole: You did not crash and burn, my dear. You shone a spotlight filtered with humor on the ridiculousness of the parenting pissing contest. This line has stuck with us in particular: “We can’t judged ourselves but procreation; it’s a measure of nothing more than the result of biology doing its thing.”
“I’m glad to know I’m not the only one used to getting immediate gratification.<== that sounds weird! It’s been a thrill watching it climb the charts and seeing other bloggers review it. But I haven’t heard any feedback about MY essay and it’s odd. I don’t know what to think. My husband laughed at some of the others and didn’t say a word about mine. So I just don’t ask. But seeing the reviews on Amazon, the comments from people about the book in general getting them to laugh out loud after a crappy day- that is all worth it. Regardless of personal feedback- it’s still been awesome and I would do it again.”
Our comment to Rebecca: You created the best, funniest analogy for middle aged sex we have ever had the pleasure of reading. Life is lived more in the quickie showers than the long bubble baths anyway.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity to tell my story even if no one else liked it, but it’s been hard not getting much feedback. I know I’m not a popular blogger so I shouldn’t expect much, but it’s very easy to get paranoid that my essay stinks and doesn’t fit at all. I saw one review yesterday that did mention mine and it was very kind, so I started feeling tearful with gratitude and wanted to reach out and squeeze the woman, but I have no idea who she is. That is so different than a blog comment which you can always reply to!”
Our comment to Meredith: Your essay masterfully captured what it is like to be a daughter losing her mother. You expressed the tenderness, humor, and solemnity that washes over death and loss in waves. We were left not only thinking your essay was a great addition to the book, but that we would love to have you on our emotional support team any day.
“It’s strange and a little nerve-wracking not to have immediate commentary on something I’ve written, like I’m used to on the blog. But on top of that, my blog posts seem so much more fleeting – whether one tanks or takes off, it quickly gets buried under the rest of the week’s posts. This essay is like a post that keeps randomly popping up to the top of my blog every day, though! Luckily the book itself has gotten SO many amazing reviews, I just breathe a sigh of relief that, whatever people may or may not think about my essay in particular, at the very least it didn’t completely ruin their overall reading experience. Usually, with my writing, that’s the best praise I can hope for.”
Our comment to Robyn: As usual, you were hilarious. Birth plans usually scare us, but your step by step guide to having babies had us proclaiming, “Right on, Sister!” (and we may or may not have peed our pants.)
“So far all the feedback I’ve received has been fun and positive, and it’s always hilarious to hear people bring up my essay….”Soooooooo. About your vagina(s)……”
Our comment to Susan: No one deserves to have a baby doctor who is a “baby.” The best thing she did that day was give us all a side-splitting story to laugh at . . . and extreme gratitiude that we came out of our respective deliveries with the same number of vaginas we went in there with.
We also need to thank Susan for autographing our giveaway copy of I Just Want To Pee Alone! A copy that has NEVER seen the inside of either one of our bathrooms, we might (need) to add!
Giveaway runs until Midnight Monday, April 22, 2013
“What has been the funniest/weirdest “In Real Life” reaction to your book?”
Tracy said, “I have the hardest time telling people the name of the book because I was raised in a family that doesn’t discuss things that occur in a small room in the house that has a toilet and a sink. So, I blush every time I mention it. Which – is a tie in to my piece in the book about how I cannot teach my children anatomically correct terminology.”
Teri said, “So far, my daughter’s reaction to reading my submission has been my favorite. In my essay, I mention that my kid will eat food off the floor or a cheese stick that’s been sitting in her lunch bag for 2 weeks but I can’t get her to load the dishwasher without rubber gloves. Her response upon reading that part: I don’t eat food off the floor…………anymore.”
Lisa and Ashley said, “We were having a “blog meeting” at Starbucks, and we saw a mom neither of us know in real life reading our book. In our excitement we went over to tell her “Hey, we are in that book!” We expected a great reaction and much fanfare. Instead, she was a little standoffish and obviously unamused that we had interrupted her “me time”. She left shortly thereafter and didn’t ask us to sign the book or anything. We guess we gave her too big a “Dose of Reality” all at once!”
So are you getting the drift that you need to get this book and NOW!?! Enter the contest or order a copy to be expressed shipped to you, but just get it. We’ll leave you with the list of “Kick Ass Bloggers” who fill the pages of this perfect Mother’s Day gift.