Juju O Juju

May 24, 2008 at 5:41 am (Products)
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Can you say, “Ahhhh, Juju?”  No, not “au jus!” - like in what we used to call “meat dippy sauce” as kids. 

It’s no secret - if Oprah even sneezes in the direction of a book or product, it’s an instant success.  Sooo many of her favorite things are a tad bit pricey for the average O show watcher.  In fact, I’ve always wanted to ask those women she has on the show who have run up their credit cards, “just how many Oprah Things have you charged in the last year.”

Recently I found something that’s “O Sneeze Worthy” and affordable for the gal on a budget. Say, Juju purse!  JuJu’s are a line of cool, affordable, stylish, plastic purses.  Yes, plastic.  And, although there are some leather models, the plastic styles are classic, yet trendy, yet multi-generational.  

This is the first product featured on the “O Should Know” blog - one that is perfect for any woman, young or old.  And, if you are a guy in need of a good “girl” gift for your wife, daughter or mother - perk up your eyelids.  And, if you are me - you can buy several in the last month because you are obsessed with every style and every color.  Not to mention that they can be wiped clean of kiddie paw prints with the handy-dandy household cleaner, Goo Gone (www.googone.com).  Uhmmm, people. . .I don’t think you will be touching your Dooney or Coach with Goo Gone. 

Available in black, coffee, mustard, lipstick red, tangerine, Barbie pink, avocado, white, pacific blue, perfect purple, cotton candy and navy - there is a Juju available for any occasion.  Since I started carrying Juju’s, my life is filled with handbag compliments and smiles.  As the mother of two small children, I was starting to feel my “hip and cool” persona had faded into my maternity underwear.  But, now I’m back - I found my Mojo with my Juju!  O really, you need to get yours back today.   

Check out www.jujuaccessories.com to see the complete collection of O worthy plastic purses, along with some cool accessories - which of course, I have many.  They are not available in many places, yet.  Of course, we hope to change that with this blog post.  I don’t know about you, but I think I will buy another. 

 

 

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O Dime Between Thy Buns!

May 18, 2008 at 8:37 pm (Inspiration)
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Ten years ago I heard a woman speak that changed my life forever.  A random woman with whom I did not expect to cross my path, just as those good people that come into ones life tend to do.  Before experiencing her, I was one of those people (we all know) who could walk around all day with a dime lodged between my “buns” and it MIGHT fall out during my nightly bubble bath.  Now, that is uptight (and not comfy).

I discovered (well, only for myself) this woman - Loretta LaRoche - at a writer’s conference, only picking her breakout session because I was feeling too lazy at that moment to move next door to the speaker I had originally mapped out on my daily schedule. (And, I certainly didn’t want to disturb my dime).  From the moment I walked out of her session that was focused on living your life with humor, I began seeing the world with more humorous eyes. And, my stress level went down - a lot!  Literally, from dimes to pennies. 

Lately, I have found myself in great need of “corrective vision.”  Good things have happened in my life, but with extremely stressful consequences.  So, instead of archiving Loretta’s periodic newsletter this week into the “read later’ file - I savored every word.  I realized I’ve almost gone blind.  And, the dime needs to go (again).

Here is a little bit of information about Loretta (http://www.lorettalaroche.com/) - her credentials are amazing:

Dubbed the “jolly-lama,” Loretta has devoted her career to helping people deal with stress and life in general with laughter.  She is founder and president of The Humor Potential, Inc, a company offering programs and products for life style management. Her special brand of optimistic psychology has an incontestable positive effect on the health of all that are exposed to her. She is also a well-recognized TV personality on PBS and best selling author. She has had six one-woman television specials air on 80 PBS stations across the country. She has been nominated for local and prime time Emmy Awards, has appeared on CNN, ABC and NBC affiliates. 

But, no Oprah TV?  She does appear on the O website with a couple of advice briefs, but as far as I can find - she’s never been featured on the show.  Needs to change!  While clicking around to find out if Loretta is an “Oprah person,” I found a website that I immediately subscribed to - www.stressmanagementtv.com.  It not only features Loretta’s seminars, but many other stress experts, yoga classes, kickboxing and more.  You can also catch Loretta on www.youtube.com by searching her name.  There are many, many funny and helpful video clips that will give you insight into her work.  And good for a few laughs, too.

So, if you are having stress issues - check out Loretta.  Check out Stress Management TV.  Believe me, you will be O so better for it - today. 

 

 

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Oprah Quote of the Week: May 18th-May 24th

May 18, 2008 at 8:31 pm (Inspiration)
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What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come. 

Oprah Winfrey

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O Summer! O Supper!

May 15, 2008 at 6:18 am (Inspiration)
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Last summer I embarked on a little experiment.  I decided to invite random people to our home for “supper” almost every Saturday night . . .ALL summer long.  Asking “why” is a good question, because it sounds (and was) a bit of hard work. But, I have to admit I had ulterior motives. 

The ”experiment” was primarily an attempt to get my husband (who is a teacher and stays home with our two children all summer) to clean the house once a week.  Yes, this is the evil, twisted plot of this O blog story.  We were living in squalor, so I just started inviting people over for dinner.   I even named it “something” as to make it sound purposeful and grandiose (to my husband) and friends.  And, geez - what better reason to HAVE to clean things up a bit.  People can’t stick to the floor upon entering your house - so, you have to make some domestic effort if for no other reason than to avoid food poisoning (which by the way, could put a major crimp in this overall experiment).

Thus began our “Summer of Suppers” and, I’d like to invite you via this blog to do the same thing this summer.  It was an amazing experiment.  Because for our family, it became nothing about cleaning the house - but, it became an awesome journey into the world of developing relationships with people that we might not otherwise had the reason to know better. 

So, why should Oprah know about this?  Because she is a relationship promoter and she often talks about having people into her home to share quality time spent together.  One of her most famous quotes sums it up:

I think that when you invite people to your home, you invite them to yourself. 

Oprah Winfrey

O, that is so true.  But, I’m here to open people up to the idea that it doesn’t have to include slaving over your house, preparing gourmet meals, serving the finest wine or making hand-trimmed place cards.  You know. . . the things you often see featured in her magazine or on her show?  The supper can be as simple as paper plates, a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store, Jello salad and a gallon of cheap punch.  If you have good conversation, some open sharing and a little fun - nobody cares about the fancy stuff in the end.  Yet I have to admitt, it took us almost half the summer to evolve to this conclusion.  Towards the later part of the season, we served the same chicken and potatoes every weekend - nobody knew and in the end. . .nobody cared.  Heck some weekends we had people over Saturday and Sunday nights - chicken for everybody!

So, who do you invite?  Start by selecting people with children.  Hey, we never get invited anywhere.  And, I’m here to tell you - even though we have a couple of rowdy kids, we are still very interesting and engaging people. 

OK, seriously. . .start with people you know, but have never broken bread with before.  Invite the neighbors who live behind the garage door.  Invite the new guy at work and his family.  Invite the teacher who gave it all to your fourth grader this school year.  But, stick with one family or a just couple of people.   You don’t have to go crazy.  “Summer of Suppers” is NOT a party.  It’s relaxing, it’s good conversation and it’s about an environment conducive to getting to know someone beyond handing them a beer when they walk in the door and later finding their summer jacket on the coat rack. 

So, it’s May.  Start making a list of people.  Figure out your “weekly” chicken dish.  I promise that it will be fun if you let it be fun.  And, this is from someone who used to obsess over the plate garnish.  Curly radishes for everybody!

Let “Summer of Summers” introduce you to new friendships and understanding. . . the understanding that you care and your doors are “O” so open to letting the world in behind your garage door.

And, if you have a husband who needs to clean your house. . .this is a good plan for that, too. 

 

PS - I’d like to encourage you to comment on this blog with stories, recipes and simple ideas about how to entertain.  Let’s make it the best “Summer of Suppers” together!   :)

 

 

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Oprah Quote of the Week: May 11th - 17th

May 11, 2008 at 5:47 am (Inspiration)
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Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you. When it’s right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it.  Oprah Winfrey

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ESPN Makes Me Weep and Whisper, Oprah. . .

May 7, 2008 at 4:37 am (Inspiration)
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Today via email I received a link to an ESPN story from a fan of this blog and almost ditched it in the trash.  It came from a male that I have always suspected might watch too much sports on TV - and, I was skeptical that it was something worth looking at, let alone blogging about.   He hinted that it was really inspiring, so I thought maybe it was some professional baseball player “scratching” for luck in the bottom of the 7th.  A little sports entertainment is always good, so I took a peep.

 

To my surprise, it was not a “scratcher” - it was something amazing that should be available to the world beyond ESPN - the world of Oprah.   The link to the video is provided below. I won’t spoil the story for you, but I do want to point out that I think it could be the start of “It’s a Wonderful Life - the Summer Sequel.”  It’s got a crippled youngster and a lesson for all mankind.  

 

This story is NOT about saving someone’s life. . .it’s NOT about feeding the starving masses. . .it’s about automatically thinking about what is the right thing to do in the moment - even if it could cause you to lose.

 

So, take a look at the video.  Show it to your children.  Keep a box of tissues handy.  It has served as a reminder that I can make difference in another human being’s life just by doing something unexpected - the best type of kindness. 

 

Take a look - and, be changed.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3380875

 

 

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A Humor Writer Oprah Should Know - Susan Reinhardt

May 4, 2008 at 4:41 am (Books, Inspiration)
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I am a local radio book reviewer and I have to admit that everything Oprah recommends, I for some reason love.  We MUST have the same taste in books, so that is why I am certain that she should get to know one of my favorite writers  - Susan Reinhardt.  Susan is a humor writer and she just released her latest - and VERY FUNNY - book, Dishing With the Kitchen Virgin.  Oprah does a decent job of incorporating humor into her show, but if she engaged Susan for a show - we’d all be whizzing our panties (which you can check out if you buy her new book - her panties are on the cover).  Not only is her book hilarious, but she has a fascinating life story. 

I met Susan on a yellow school bus at couple of years ago when I was attending the Erma Bombeck Humor Writers’ Workshop at the University of Dayton.  It was just the two of us shuttling over for the workshop’s Sunday luncheon (I’d overslept as usual) and I instantly recognized her because I’d read her first book, Not Tonight Honey.  I tried not to stare at her, because Susan is a bestselling author and I didn’t want to appear to be some kind of humor groupie (or whatever you call “wanna be funny people”).

Susan instantly began chatting ME up and I’d have to admit I was a bit stunned.  She was slated to be the keynote speaker at the luncheon and was a bit stressed out because she hadn’t written a word of her speech. . .that she was to deliver in 45 minutes.   She was clutching a folded up piece of some kind of paper that was unrecognizable because she’d sweated it into a glob.   And, she was trying to scribble things on it with a red pen all while telling me about different types of calming medications she wished she had at that moment.   

As a public relations professional who often writes and prepares influential people for speeches - I was speechless.  I had to do everything I could to not burst out laughing.  But as I quickly learned, that is Susan - funny even under extreme duress.  Which is why her books, speeches and weekly syndicated columns are so brilliant.   As with most great humor writers, Susan is UNIQUELY herself. 

Susan’s speech at the luncheon (of course) was hilarious.  She had everyone attending the conference held on the campus of the private, conservative Catholic University rolling on the floor about her boobies, her va-gee-gee and doggie sex organ surgery.   It was amazing.

I received my autographed copy of Dishing With the Kitchen Virgin in the mail yesterday and stayed up all night reading.  I’m not going to review the book on the blog, but let you experience it yourself.  But, I will say I think it is her best book yet.  Copies can be purchased at your local book store - I found the book online at Borders, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.   Check out her weekly syndicated column or read more about Susan at www.susanreinhardt.com.

If you have questions for Susan, please feel free to post them (as comments) on this site.  Susan is following this blog and I know she’d be excited to hear from you - even if you aren’t Oprah!

 

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Things Oprah Should Know About

April 27, 2008 at 4:53 am (Inspiration)
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If the world ended today, would Oprah know about everything she should know about?  If I died, I might really regret that I didn’t meet Oprah. . . that she didn’t feature my famous green Jello cake in her magazine. . .that she didn’t even have a chance to hear my opinion about wearing green shoes after St. Patrick’s Day. 

She’s got her “things” listed in her monthly magazine, her show full of inspiration and people, but we all know somone who thinks Oprah should know about thier story or favorite thing.  This is a blog where the world can begin to archive amazing stuff that has not made it to Oprah.  Things that are important to us - the rest of the world.  Personally, I was motivated to start this blog because I want peace of mind that just because I have little or no access to Oprah, that there is a record of “I tried to tell Oprah.”   She only has so much time, but thankfully this blog has lots of space.

Almost everybody I know would like to go to the Oprah show, be on the Oprah show or provide something to Oprah because they think they are the best nurse, friend, chef, beekeeper, writer, etc.  They are constantly saying to me, “If Oprah only knew me, she’d call.”  And, this is possibly true. 

The Sky Could be Falling - so, let’s go!  Let’s tell our stories.  Let’s be inspirational.  Let’s be funny.  Let’s tell the world what Oprah is missing.  Let’s tell her about our things and our stories.  And, who knows.  Maybe she will listen.

Sincerely,

Chicken Little / “Oprah for the Day”

 

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