An Ameri Brit Brunch

There are so many things about England that I wish I could bring home with me. But meat, cheese, cakes, coffees, and people don’t fit well in suitcases and tend to raise red flags when trying to get through TSA. Every year as we settle back into our American life my husband and I always try to brainstorm ways to make our home resemble the life we love in England as well. In the past this had led to several changes to our routines and lifestyle. At the core of why we do these things is that we like the idea of raising our daughter to appreciate both cultures equally.

One thing we talked about while in England this year was recreating some of our favorite meals more often. A few British meals already comprise our regular meal schedule (British roast, cottage pie, apple crumble, yorkshire pudding, etc.) but not nearly enough. There’s a huge challenge there as many of our foods are extremely different, but we’ve done our best to create American versions of several meals. We call them Ameri Brit Meals.

In England, every Sunday after church, Sam’s father whips up a traditional British fry up. In America, we would call it brunch. It’s quick and simple, and all of the ingredients are readily available in America (although, let’s be honest American breakfast sausage will never quite equate with the juicy, pork sausages of England)

After investigating options we decided to give an Ameri Brit Brunch a shot. After church on Sunday we cleared our schedule to try out this potential new tradition. We were unsure how long it would take to cook everything from a traditional fry up. Here’s a look at the menu (inspired by my father-in-law, a former British navy chef):

IMG_3088

From the opening of the first package until plates were on the table took about 30 minutes. The trick to this meal is getting everything cooked to perfection and ready at the same time. It was a warm and hectic half an hour, but everything turned out. It will take me a couple of weeks to perfect a fried egg the way my husband was raised to eat them, but it still turned out edible.

IMG_3090

The Ameri Brit Mom

Weasel Words: The Irresistible Novel

I’m back home now from my month long excursion to England. I’m still nursing a bit of jet lag and have been feeling a little under the weather. But no powers of exhaustion will keep me from taking a look at the seventeenth chapter in The Irresistible Novel, a book by Jeff Gerke to help fiction writers develop their unique writing voice. One thing I like about his book is that he doesn’t ever try to create absolute rules for writing and in most instances he feels that absolutes don’t exist. When it comes to writing fiction it should be fun and enjoyable experience and writers shouldn’t feel shackled to an endless list of rules.

IMG_2368

Weasel Words

Weasel words as defined by Gerke are, “words or claims, that upon analysis, turn out to be empty.” (104)

If you were to google “weasel words in writing” you would likely uncover several lists written by many authors or organizations. They would agree on some words and then disagree on others. But the principle behind the creation of such lists is to help writers from using terms which weaken their writing.

Those who believe that fiction writers should be bound to the rules of not using weasel words usually have such conviction because they see the damage that the words do to the structure and meaning of their writing. Why say, “He was a bit upset” when you can just say “He was upset?” The latter is the stronger sentence and conveys the intended meaning clearly.

Some people, however, believe that fiction writers shouldn’t be bound to such rigid rules on word choice. Afterall, characters are exempt from nearly every rule in dialogue so weasel words are bound to make their appearances. Those who agree with this view on the “rule” would also state that writing an entire book without the use of popular words just because they are on a list is a laborious job.

My Current Project

Writing on my blog and writing a novel are two completely different animals. My blog is all about my voice and I often write in a similar fashion as to how I speak. My blog is full of weasel words. It’s how I write when I want my voice to be heard because it is natural. Weasel words fill our English language and so many of them are present here at The Ameri Brit Mom. Go ahead, and fault me for that if you are a rigid weasel wordian, but in my opinion if a word was not to ever be written it wouldn’t have ever been created. If it’s a word it is free game to be used in writing.

However, when writing fiction the goal is to be an invisible author. My personal speaking voice shouldn’t be present. Fiction is all about your developed writing voice. My writing voice tends to steer clear of too many weasel words. My first draft always contains quite a few of the words I feel should be forbidden, but during my editing rounds those words are always the first to go. If I read a sentence and it seems unclear what I’m trying to say or the extent to which I’m trying to say it then I eliminate the word choice and select another option. I don’t prescribe to any pre-made list for weasel words. I seek out the weak links and replace them.

Some of my weasel words are: very, just, a little, could be, can, should, actually, basically, completely, etc.

What are your weasel words?

The Ameri Brit Mom

English Wardrobe on a Budget

This summer during my stay in England I spent a fair amount of time in Primark shops in Winchester and Southampton. To give Americans a comparative to understand Primark it is most similarly like a giant shop full of Target clothing (Merona). The clothes are of decent quality, fashionable, and easy on the wallet.

Over the years, it’s become a tradition for our family to do a big Primark sweep before leaving England. I still wear things I purchased years ago. In my experience Primark clothes have lasted well and I get compliments all the time on my Primark scores. I went last Thursday and bought several things for myself and my daughter all for under £40.

I love to look nice, but I hate to spend a fortune on my wardrobe so Primark is perfect for me!

Here’s a look at my new pieces from my English excursion 2016:

IMG_2925

Parka in a Pocket rain coat was £8.00

IMG_3064

Sweater £8.00

IMG_3028

Flannel top £6.00 and layering t-shirt £2.00

IMG_3045

I found the cardigan on clearance for £3.00 and the undershirt was £2.00

IMG_2996

Pants for £6.00 and t-shirt for £2.00

Which one is your favorite?

The Ameri Brit Mom

24 Book Challenge: A Book I’ve Started But Never Finished

The following is a book review by The Ameri Brit Mom. This is book #9 from The Ameri Brit Mom 24 Book Challenge in 2016. This post expresses the genuine opinion and experiences of The Ameri Brit Mom and is in no way endorsed by authors, publishers, or outside influences.

Title: Wicked

Author: Gregory Maguire

Publisher: Regan Books

Copyright Date: 1995

IMG_3083

In honor of the recent announcement that Wicked has been approved to begin filming for a 2019 movie release I decided to give the book another shot. Growing up my favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz. By the age of three I knew all the lines and could reenact scene after scene for hours. Because of my love for the 1939 film I’ve always hoped to see the newer Broadway play Wicked. Over the past few years I’ve visited New York City several times, but have yet to see the play. I think it has something to do with not wanting to ruin my love for the original story line from the movie.

A few years back I got a copy of Wicked at a yard sale and had every intention of reading it. I got a few chapters in and thought, “Man, this is pretty weird stuff.” I proceeded to let it collect dust on my shelf, and eventually it was loaned out never to be returned.

However, with the announcement of the movie coming out in December of 2019 I decided to give the book another shot. My husband found a copy of the book at a Thrift Shop and I read the entire book this time over my English Holiday.

I hit the bulls eye during my first attempt at reading Wicked. It is weird with a capital “W.”

 

Elphaba Thropp is more than just the Wicked Witch of the West; she is the misunderstood assassin from Munchkinland. The story opens with the unusual situations surrounding the birth of Elphaba. From the beginning of her sad life she was introduced to the evil and prejudices of the world. Being a green infant born to a prestigious Munchkinlander family Elphaba is rejected by her mother. Her father was a traveling preacher. Which left her old Nanny to tend to her needs.

As a teenager Elphaba leaves behind her future palace in order to study at the prestigious Shiz University. It’s at the university where she meets Glinda, Boq, Fiyero, and many others. Fitting in is her initial struggle on campus, but during her understudy with Doctor Dillamond she begins to see the battle for the rights of Animals of Oz. (Animals–with a capital A– are those animals with a conscience and ability to perform the things of humans. They differ from animals–in the lowercase.)

A sad murder on the campus causes Elphaba to devote her life to the rights of Animals and the overthrow of the Wizard of Oz. And things go fairly smoothly for her until a house mysteriously lands on her sister, Nessarose. Nessarose is the paraplegic ruler of Munchkinland who leaves with her death the power of her kingdom to her sister, Elphaba. But her magical shoes which gave her the power to stand, although she lacked arms, were given to the Other World girl, Dorothy. (Got all that?)

This story is extremely in-depth. It tells the life of Elphaba in immense detail. From her birth to her death-by-water it seemed as though every moment was covered in this book. At times the book was a little weird like when Elphaba’s unionist father enters into a relationship with both his wife, Melena, and her lover, Turtle Heart. Also, apparently Elphaba has a son, Liir, who she doesn’t even remember giving birth to. But beyond the strange twists and turns there are a few good messages to the story. The first of those being not to judge others. Elphaba has been branded a Wicked Witch because of her pursuit of Dorothy, however, in this book the size of Elphaba’s heart is portrayed in the way she  helps Animals and loves those dearest to her.

I would probably not recommend this book to those who dislike science fiction or who reluctantly read. If I’m being honest, it was the hardest book I’ve read in a long time. The book was 406 long pages and there were times where I was so lost I had to reread sections again. This book is truer to the book The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum than to the 1939 film, so it would also be helpful to have read the book. In the end, I’m glad I read Wicked because I now feel prepared to see the play or the movie. I’m excited to see how Oz and Elphaba are portrayed in film.

The Ameri Brit Mom

English Costa

IMG_1189

In America, you can hardly go three city blocks without encountering a Starbucks Cafe. Although Starbucks is present in England it’s prevalence is much less than that of Costa. Every year that’s one thing I look forward to–a warm mocha (pronounced mock-uh in the UK) topped with cream and drizzled with cocoa. Nothing beats the English chill and rain like a paper to-go cup of warm coffee.

My husband is from the small town of Eastleigh. It is a borough to the city of Southampton. The population is over 125,000. There are three Costas. Two are located in the town center and one is nestled on the outskirts of the main town, but near some large shops.

As I begin to pack my suitcase for my journey back to America I am saddened by the thought that I may not have another Costa coffee until next year. It’s been a great month of memories, excitement, and Costa!!

The Ameri Brit Mom

Breaking the Fourth Wall: The Irresistible Novel

Before I started seriously engaging in the authoring world I lacked knowledge about breaking the fourth wall. Not to say I used it all the time, but if I’m being honest I included such practice in some of my writing. This is one dramatic way in which blogging and writing fiction differ. One is indisputably okay and somewhat encourages the breaking down of the wall, while the other medium has a more arguable stance on whether it is appropriate to write in such a way for the genre. Please join me as I delve into the thoughts of Jeff Gerke according to the sixteenth chapter of his handbook, The Irresistible Novel.

IMG_2368

Breaking the Fourth Wall

To break the fourth wall means to allow your characters to speak directly to your reader. This term is a theater allusion referring to the setup of a stage. Breaking the fourth wall in theater occurs when the actors speak directly to the audience.

Although the breaking of the fourth wall does occur in fiction over time it has come to be an accepted rule in the writing industry that an author should not breach this imaginary boundary by which a character speaks to the reader.

Those who disagree with the statement above believe that by forsaking the rule they are allowing deep engagement between characters and readers to occur. After all, who isn’t captivated by a character who speaks directly to you? They also may believe that by including the breaking of the fourth wall that their story is given an element of excitement as this is not often done in contemporary writing.

If an author prescribes to the rule in question they often believe that a good novel is one where a reader forgets that they are reading a story and feel as though they are living it. The reason they feel this way is often because when the fourth wall is broken it shakes the reader and reminds them that they are simply a bystander in a story.

Gerke believes that this rule is and always will be experimental. In his opinion, it depends on your story and the effect that breaking the fourth wall has on it.

In my opinion, it’s all about the point of view in your story. Certain perspectives lend themselves better to breaking this rule than others. Before deciding to use such disputable writing in your novel consider the effect it may have on the pace and overall effectiveness of moving your plot along. I would not say to never use it, but I would advise to do so sparingly.

My Current Project…

I’ve chosen not to break this wall in my first book. The reason I have decided this is based on my multiple perspective POV. According to my genre and POV it doesn’t fit and would really destroy the pace and effectiveness of my novel.

 

Five Minute Friday: Protect

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Protect. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

Land-of-the-600x600

2 Thessalonians 3:3– But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

Struggle is all around us. Whether we choose to see the glass half full or half empty the enemy is still present in every corner of our lives devising ways to cause us to stumble in our faith. Sometimes its through relationships and other times he draws us by the appeals of worldly things. None of us is exempt from struggle. And the more we declare our faith the harder he will fight to bring us down. That is spiritual warfare.

Today I’m thankful for the protection that the Lord provides for each of us.

He gives us strength when the temptations are too much. When the weight of the world is on our shoulders he’s there to come beside us and lighten the load.

When we are too weak to fight he is our soldier.

If we feel like throwing in the towel He picks us up and brings the victory.

Struggles prove God’s strength. They highlight his goodness through our weaknesses. With God on our side we will have the strength to endure whatever struggles are thrown our way.

As we face struggle all we need to do is let God take over the battle. If we can learn to stop trying to fight on our own then we will see the battle won.

The Ameri Brit Mom

 

Hoola Fit

One of my favorite parts of this summer’s stay in England has been my weekly Hoola Fit class with my Mother-in-Law. She has been taking the class since January so she has been kicking my butt. My first week was a bit rough, but each week I’ve progressed. I was bound and determined after a sixty year old woman out-hula’d me that I would work on my skills.

It may not seem that difficult, but one hour of continuous hula and cardio is one heck of a workout. At the end of each class I’m winded, sore, and ready for the five minute yoga cool down.

Once I thought I was doing well and catching on the instructor started having me throw in moves with the arms and legs, then pivots, and finally gallops all while keeping the hula hoop revolving around my core. My first week I spent much of the class just chasing my hoop, but with each week I’ve grown stronger.

I love the simplicity of this aerobic workout. All you need is a hoop and some good workout music!

The Ameri Brit Mom


 

Dear Daughter (Part 2)

Dear Daughter,

Not many three year olds can say that they’ve enjoyed seeing the world the way that you have. From a young age you’ve been a traveler. Along with Mommy and Daddy you take in the sights and enjoy the scenery with a big, beautiful smile. You understand several cultures, and get that just because people look and act differently to you that they are still people and should be treated as such. Instead of a cold shoulder you give the world your smile. Never ever forget the power of your smile.

Your smile makes the world happier, clearer, and calmer. In the face of adversity your smile makes things light. The cackle of your laughter fills the room with sunshine.

In a world captivated by fear you remind me everyday of the beauty in being brave. When we visited Paulton’s Park and you saw a roller coaster blazing away on the tracks instead of cowering in fear you grabbed my hand and said, “When can I ride that?” A few minutes later you were hanging onto my arm assuring me that you weren’t afraid as we descended the first hill. I aspire to have that kind of bravery. To see the mountains in front of me and cling onto God without fear.

Everyday you make me a better mother because you are a wonderful daughter. Each day I learn something new as I attempt to see the world through your eyes. Because in your eyes everything is beautiful, new, and exciting.

The Ameri Brit Mom