2022-04-03 14:51
I’m about to turn 48 years old. My child is about to finish high school. I’ve worked in retail for over 20 years, with the majority of that time spent in retail management. I enj… Read More
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Juli Hoffman Blog
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From the life of writer Juli Hoffman, this is where she shares her book reviews, photos, gardening advice, hobbies, crafts, writing advice, as well as personal stories from her life in Michigan.
2021-02-01 16:05
Why, what’s the matter, That you have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?” ― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing Read More
2021-01-07 14:30
On 1/7/2021 at 3:41amET, Joe Biden & Kamala Harris were confirmed by Congress to have won enough Electoral College votes to be chosen as President & Vice President of the United Stat… Read More
2021-01-04 17:55
Last night, I ate an entire bag of *Limited Edition* Private Selection Cranberry Bourbon Pecans while I listened to an hourlong audio of a sitting President trying to coerce the Secretary of… Read More
2020-09-22 08:48
Happy first day of Fall! I am HOPELESSLY bad at planning out the future. I used to think this was a procrastination problem. Now, I believe it’s a wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey, space-tim… Read More
2020-09-18 13:56
This week, I stumbled upon an NPR post, Charles Darwin And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, written by Robert Krulwich. It made me pause, then smile in recognition because I&rs&hell…Read More
2020-09-15 13:52
I sent my Dad and Step-Mom a picture of my kiddo’a new bathroom vanity top and they answered with a pic of their kitchen sink. Yet ANOTHER reason why I love my family. Happy Tuesday! x… Read More
2020-09-11 00:56
Where to begin? It’s been a year since I’ve created a new blog post. It’s been almost as long since I’ve written anything longer than a grocery list! Sooo… How… Read More
2019-09-21 21:18
It seems like there are “experts” everywhere: writing experts, marketing experts, fashion experts, organizational experts… The list goes on to infinity. But what makes an… Read More
2019-09-18 13:23
I discovered Amy Stewart’s writing several years ago through her book, The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms, which doesn’t seem like an interesting… Read More
2019-09-14 01:02
I’ve been going through a creative slump. It seems like everyone around me is doing “the things,” but me. Is this a case of FOMO (fear of missing out)? Am I procrastinating… Read More
2019-07-08 09:00
I started actively using Goodreads back in 2016 as a way to track my reading habits and the books I’ve read. My goal is to read a book a week, or around 52 books a year. Here are my re… Read More
2019-07-03 18:37
I LOVE BOOKS! It’s normal for me to have more than one book on my reading list at any given time. I have an audiobook in my car, a digital book on my Kindle, and a dead tree book to re… Read More
2019-05-04 19:52
A few months ago, I got out my own way and joined…a local writers group! YAY!!! So far, it’s been fun. It took me years to find the courage to do this, to look people in the eye… Read More
2019-05-03 17:04
Back in early March, I wrote about changing my approach to treating my Plantar Fasciitis. You can read all about it HERE. Since this post: I’ve dropped 12+ pounds. I’ve sto… Read More
2019-03-05 20:32
First of all, I am NOT a doctor nor am I a medical professional. I am a woman in her mid-forties who is struggling. It’s as if something flipped as I reached my forties. Arthritis in m… Read More
2019-02-19 18:44
What do The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel have in common? They’re all award… Read More
2019-02-12 16:09
I make excuses for myself ALL of the time. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I procrastinate. I find other ways to spend my time, doing tasks that in NO WAY reflect my goals. Last night I stumbled upon th… Read More
2019-02-08 19:56
*Warning: If you are squeamish about movies that contain men who dress in women’s clothing, women who dress in men’s clothing, partial nudity, the occasional use of crass languag… Read More
2019-01-27 13:48
Last week, my electric clothes dryer stopped producing heat. It still tumbles the clothes. We think/hope it’s just a faulty thermostat. We were able to order the part online for around… Read More
2019-01-25 18:28
Have you ever been on social media and thought, “What’s going on with my Facebook feed?” Sometimes the world seems terrible. It’s as if all of your Facebook friends a… Read More
2019-01-21 10:30
I hate going to the gym. My gym shares a parking lot with McDonald’s. Every time I go to my local gym, I can’t help but notice that it’s an equal distance from the parking… Read More
2018-12-31 19:58
We’re on the cusp of a new year with all of its shiny promises of hope, fulfillment, and fresh opportunities. As a blogger, it seems logical to announce our plans for the future, to te… Read More
2018-12-22 22:12
This has been a bad year for those of us who fight with depression. Pop onto ANY social media site, and you’ll be bombarded with EVERYTHING wrong with the world. There are billions of… Read More
2018-12-19 16:40
Have you seen this post floating around the Internet? This Comic Sans font post has gotten a visceral, knee-jerk reaction with writerly folks, both for and against its use. Change your font… Read More
2018-11-28 13:23
This Twitter post came up on my Facebook feed this morning and I had to share it…on WordPress. ??? LOL (Yes, we live in a convoluted social media world.) My author survival kit to kee… Read More
2018-11-27 22:33
I discovered the documentary movie, The True Cost, through a YouTuber: Luke Meagher of HauteLeMode. (Seriously, you never know what “rabbit holes” you’ll fall down into whi… Read More
2018-11-22 14:51
When the weather turns cold, there’s nothing as comforting as a mug of Spiced Cider, otherwise known as Wassail. I’ve been serving this for years at Thanksgiving and during the C… Read More
2018-11-15 15:59
If you want the truth to stand clear before you, never be for or against. The struggle between ‘for’ and ‘against’ is the mind’s worst disease. —Se… Read More
2018-11-07 13:57
When I first started writing, I used to scroll through TONS of photos and websites looking for inspirational pics, especially pictures from the Victorian era through the 1920’s. I love… Read More
2018-11-06 17:30
Just a reminder, get out there and VOTE! xo Juli Advertisements Read More
2018-11-01 13:35
Halloween My “little Pumpkin” might be a teen, but he doesn’t feel like he’s too old to go trick-or-treating, so last night we enjoyed another year out as a family. W… Read More
2018-10-24 14:00
Good morning, my lovelies!!! I hadn’t planned on taking a vacation from social media, but I’ve learned to listen to my body. Sometimes you have to push through the pain, but most… Read More
2018-10-01 16:52
Juli Hoffman, you think we are dumb! ~A Facebook Friend I have been accused of being argumentative many times throughout my life. I don’t necessarily see myself this way, but it’… Read More
2018-09-29 10:06
*Drum Roll* And the #1 Most Challenged book of 2017 is… Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher, originally published in October of 2007. I listened to the audio edition of this boo… Read More
2018-09-28 11:35
Eleanor & Park was written by Rainbow Rowell and was published in February of 2013. Sadly, this book also regularly makes it to banned books lists. I often suspect that the people w… Read More
2018-09-27 14:20
All the Bright Places was written by Jennifer Niven. This book was released in January of 2015 and won a Goodreads Choice Award in 2015. This book has been placed on several banned book read… Read More
2018-09-26 17:36
This was my LAST entry for the chance to qualify to compete in the October TUFFest Ride event during the 2018 Flash Fiction Rodeo at Carrot Ranch. The challenge ended yesterday at… Read More
2018-09-25 11:39
Originally posted on Carrot Ranch Literary Community: The clock started ticking at 12:00 a.m. (EST). That’s midnight in New York City when September 25, 2018, begins. The contest ends… Read More
2018-09-24 10:04
I almost never review apps because I don’t really use them, but I thought I might share this one because it seems like something writers, organizers, and fellow “shiny object&rdq&hell…Read More
2018-09-23 10:04
Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) was written by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. This book came HIGHLY recommended to me by my local librarian. Illuminae was published on October… Read More
2018-09-22 18:58
I took my camera with me on my afternoon walk. It’s been SOOOO hot outside, but the weather was cool today. It’s almost as if mother nature took a look at the calendar, and adjus… Read More
2018-09-21 09:53
I listened to the audio edition of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel for my book club. This book is fairly new, published in May of 2017 and written by Gail Honeyman. I was s… Read More
2018-09-20 09:54
The fourth chance to qualify to compete in the October TUFFest Ride event during the 2018 Flash Fiction Rodeo at Carrot Ranch ended yesterday at midnight. If you missed this free-w… Read More
2018-09-19 11:13
Originally posted on Carrot Ranch Literary Community: The clock started ticking at 12:00 a.m. (EST). That’s midnight in New York City when September 19, 2018, begins. The contest ends… Read More
2018-09-18 03:46
I saw this at my local grocery store: Yes, it’s Soylent! Yes, it’s named after the food supplement in the 1966 science-fiction novel Make Room! Make Room! Yes, the 1973 movi… Read More
2018-09-17 00:49
I feel SOOOO old. Social media is NOT for the faint of heart. I’m trying to figure out Instagram. I’ve figured out how to follow other people. I still don’t know how to pos… Read More
2018-09-15 18:17
I didn’t know Amazon HAD reviewer rankings until last night. I was binge-watching YouTube videos (of course) when I saw a woman explain how she got her Reviewer Ranking from the #7mill… Read More
2018-09-14 16:54
The third chance to qualify to compete in the October TUFFest Ride event during the 2018 Flash Fiction Rodeo at Carrot Ranch ended yesterday at midnight. If you missed this free-wr… Read More
2018-09-13 10:47
Originally posted on Carrot Ranch Literary Community: The clock started ticking at 12:00 a.m. (EST). That’s midnight in New York City when September 13, 2018, begins. The contest ends… Read More
2018-09-12 13:32
I posted pics of my mother-in-law’s coffee filter flowers. Here are pics of her coffee filter roses: These might be even cuter than her previous flowers. I can’t believe these we… Read More
2018-09-12 01:48
I found these starter mums at my local Walmart, $1 a plant. Chrysanthemums usually do well for me. Most varieties are perennials, whether the labels says so or not so don’t be so quick… Read More
2018-09-10 10:00
The latest installment of the Kopp Sisters series—Miss Kopp Just Won’t Quit written by Amy Stewart—debuts tomorrow, September 11, 2018. I received an advance reader copy fr… Read More
2018-09-09 12:56
Okay, so I just found this picture hilarious. My teenager had to draw a picture that represents him and his life…for his Biology class. Yeah…I don’t understand the releva… Read More
2018-09-08 04:10
Anyone could claim they were a nice person with good moral values while they criticized their neighbor and said worse about their enemies. Anyone else may not have noticed the hypocrisy happ… Read More
2018-09-07 12:03
Originally posted on Carrot Ranch Literary Community: The clock started ticking at 12:00 a.m. (EST). That’s midnight in New York City when September 7, 2018, begins. No fee to enter! T… Read More
2018-09-06 13:18
My mother-in-law made these flowers out of coffee filters! Can you believe that? Super-cute and inexpensive to make. She learned how to do this by watching YouTube videos. She’s so tal… Read More
2018-09-05 18:18
Miss Kopp’s Midnight Confessions was written by Amy Stewart and published on September 5th, 2017. This is the third book in the Kopp Sisters series and my second read-through. I rarely… Read More
2018-09-04 12:25
Lady Cop Makes Trouble is the second book in the Kopp Sisters series written by Amy Stewart, published on September 6th, 2016. (This is the SECOND time I’ve read this book.) It is the… Read More
2018-09-03 13:40
Girl Waits With Gun is a work of historical fiction written by Amy Stewart. This novel was published on September 1, 2015. I discovered this book through my local library. I’… Read More
2018-09-03 03:50
In honor of Amy Stewart‘s new novel, Miss Kopp Just Won’t Quit, I will be creating a series of posts this week reviewing the entire Kopp Sisters Series! In the meantime, here is… Read More
2018-09-02 03:46
“I need you to finish these pallets before you leave today,” Sandy said, making a sweeping gesture with her arm toward the maze of stacked boxes. Colleen scanned the hopelessly c… Read More
2018-09-01 03:34
I read this quote earlier in the week and wanted to share: I have a very simple rule that serves me well: Don’t think too much about your life after dinnertime. Thinking too… Read More
2018-08-31 02:37
I took two-seconds out of my busy day and guess what I saw? There were at LEAST half a dozen Monarch Caterpillars nibbling away on milkweed. And… A mother deer and her two babies! Gla… Read More
2018-08-30 00:11
Originally posted on Carrot Ranch Literary Community: To a buckaroo community, the annual rodeo was a chance to show off skills of the trade: reining a cow-horse, throwing a loop and dallyin… Read More
2018-08-29 00:43
Horses, perhaps more so than any other creature, were made by man. They might be naturally spooky, or fearful, or bolshie, but their reactions to their world were shaped entirely by what was… Read More
2018-08-27 19:41
Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” ― Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein What could I accomplish if I wasn’t worried about failure? Last we… Read More
2018-08-27 02:25
I’ve been reading Lauren Graham’s books: Talking as Fast as I Can and In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It. In addition to this, I’ve been binge-watching Gilmore… Read More
2018-08-25 19:39
I saw this post earlier this week: The vet suggested a shirt instead of a cone for my cat. Fun Fact: Most Cats wear baby sizes 0-3 months. (Click the link. The pic is hilarious!) A… Read More
2018-08-25 02:56
I’m not going to lie, when I saw that Lauren Graham had written a new book—In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It—I’d hoped this book would be longer. This book wa… Read More
2018-08-24 02:19
I went to orientation day at my kiddo’s high school. It seems like only yesterday I was taking him to his first day of daycare or putting him on the bus to kindergarten. WOW! Time flie… Read More
2018-08-22 12:18
My local library recently updated their computer system. Now the receipts show exactly how much money you saved, kind of like the grocery receipts. On my last visit, I saved $129.19 by using… Read More
2018-08-22 01:55
I’m at the end of my second listen through of the audio edition of Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything in Between written by Lauren G… Read More
2018-08-21 03:00
I have some news that makes my heart sad. Remember my van, the one that JUST made it past 200,000 miles? Her brake line failed on Thursday, Aug 16th, 2018. No one was hurt. It was pretty sca… Read More
2018-08-20 02:14
I’m not sure what’s going on with my social media algorithms. I reviewed the book Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys and I saw this when I check my email the next d… Read More
2018-08-19 02:15
As of Monday, I’ve cleared off the paper piles near the front door, cleaned out my purse, organized 2 pantry cabinets in my kitchen, organized the bin with all the family’s winte… Read More
2018-08-18 02:01
Hubby was quilting again. This time, he made a “Princess” quilt for our niece. Elsa and Wonder Woman on the same quilt? Yup! It’s got ALL the princesses! LOL xo Juli Advert… Read More
2018-08-17 01:21
I am a HUGE fan of the TV show Supernatural. I’m also a HUGE fan of The Hillywood Show. Put them together…and I’m spending the next 3 hours watching YouTube videos! I&rsqu&hell…Read More
2018-08-16 01:50
I had a small list of things I wanted to accomplish today, but I almost didn’t start my list because of ONE task: back to school shoe shopping with my kiddo. I don’t enjoy shoe s… Read More
2018-08-15 02:11
My local librarian recommended Between Shades of Gray written by Ruta Sepetys, published on March 22nd, 2011. I listened to the audio edition narrated by Emily Klein. One of the joys of… Read More
2018-08-13 19:53
I see articles like the one in Family Circle: “A 31-Day Detox Challenge to Help You Declutter Your Home—and Your Mind” all the time. The problem is, my perfectionism genera… Read More
2018-08-13 03:32
There are times when I enjoy a book, but I don’t necessarily feel like it’s appropriate for its target audience. That’s how I felt after listening to the audio edition of F… Read More
2018-08-12 01:00
We had some family members come in from out of town. Really lovely! I met my 3-year-old niece for the first time. SO much fun! I do wish they lived closer to us, or we lived closer to them… Read More
2018-08-11 01:54
Originally posted on BlondeWriteMore: *Alert* The main character of this book, Barnabas Tew, has stolen my heart. In terms of fictional character crushes I never thought I would fall fo… Read More
2018-08-10 03:25
I was on ccouch123’s site, reading one his beautiful poem’s titled, Exposition, I scroll to the bottom, found another great post, scroll again…and I discovered I&rsqu&hell…Read More
2018-08-09 03:10
I am BEYOND thrilled! Today I received a signed advance reader copy of Miss Kopp Just Won’t Quit by Amy Stewart, the fourth installment in the Kopp Sisters Series to be released on Sep… Read More
2018-08-07 13:14
If you live in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, or Washington—Congratulations!!! Today is your state primary election day. Get out there and vote! (I voted this morning.) If you live in the… Read More
2018-08-06 19:58
My van reached a milestone today! I pulled into a parking lot to capture the moment. 200,000 MILES! That’s the same as driving back and forth across the United States 74.6 times! Or&he&hell…Read More
2018-08-06 00:24
Originally posted on witness2fashion: Fashions for May, 1924. Undergarments flattened the bust and hips and eliminated the waist. Delineator, May 1924, p. 27. [This is another post in a seri… Read More
2018-08-04 16:16
Yesterday, I was nominated by ~H@rdip~ of Marvelous Pages for the Sunshine Blogger Award. (Waving hi!) Click the link to check out the Marvelous Pages blog. 1) Who’s you… Read More
2018-08-04 02:38
I have tried many ways to outline over the years. But last night I stayed up to finish a chapter I’ve been working on, and for the first time in a LONG time, I felt really good about m… Read More
2018-08-03 01:32
Yesterday, I learned there are hibiscus flowers hardy enough to survive the frigid temps of a Michigan winter. Who knew??? They look so tropical. This plant has died back each winter and ret… Read More
2018-08-01 14:11
Originally posted on Amaranthine by Joleene Naylor: Last weekend I attended the IABE in Des Moines at the Valley West Mall and had a great time, so I thought I’d share some photos for… Read More
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