It’s National Lollipop Day So Say Hi to the JudgeyPop!

There really is a day for everything, isn’t there? I just found out that it’s National Lollipop Day, and thought it would be the perfect time to introduce you to my JudgeyPop.

Let me tell how it all came to be.

My book is a collection of essays on life, culture, social media and fame, and why we’re all basically ridiculous and we need to do better. It is this blog on steroids, with all new material, and the side-eye I dole out here is now in permanent print. When I decided to name my debut book I’M JUDGING YOU and my publishers went for it, I wanted to figure out what to put on the cover.

It had to convey shade and judgment so I thought maybe a gavel? How about a picture of me sipping some tea in a giant mug where only my eyes are visible? What about a picture of a side-eying baby? Because you know there are few folks who can judge like a tiny human.

But then I had a lightbulb moment. WHAT ABOUT JUST A SIDE-EYE that belongs to no human but a thing?

That is how my book cover came to star a side-eying lollipop.

I wanted people to look on the cover and both laugh AND feel slightly scolded. I wanted folks who saw other people on the train or bus reading it to be like “Wait… what?” And I wanted folks who know me in real life to be like “OH THAT IS SO YOU.”

So yes. JudgeyPop is a thing. And fun fact: it was custom designed for my cover. That is not the side-eye emoji in the App store. It is a Luvvie special.

And also cool? The lollipop is actually a thing you can hold in real life. It is a strawberry-flavored piece of candy that is as delicious as it is shady.

How do you get your hands on a JudgeyPop?

• If you see me in person and in these streets, ask me for one
• If you got an advance copy of my book, you probably got one. If you didn’t MY BAD. I owe you one.
• If you come to any of my book tour stops

No, I will not be having these for sale. The JudgeyPops are special and when you have one, it’s because you got one legit!

Now that it’s National Lollipop Day, it is the perfect time to tell you that the JudgeyPop has its’ own Instagram account: @JudgeyPop. This is where I will be posting its’ adventures that people send me. Why? Because I want this lollipop to be everywhere you want to be. Like the White House!

If you have received the JudgeyPop, what do I want you to do?

• Take a picture of you with the pop, giving side-eye
• Place it next to different things that are judgeable (like a white slingback kitten heel)
• Place it next to cool places and monuments
• Just have it do ridiculous things (like dress up)
• Upload these pics to social media using the hashtags #ImJudgingYou and #SideEyeSquad. Tag @JudgeyPop if you post on Instagram.

My friend Sili Recio of My Mamihood put a wig on the JudgeyPop AND I HOLLERED.

And so begins the countdown to my book I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual, which is out on September 13. That is less than 8 weeks away and you can preorder it now wherever books are sold!

 In the meantime, I am going to have some fun with this damb lollipop and those of you who already have it, join me!

P.S. I have a Goodreads author page! AW SNAP! Go leave reviews if you’ve read this thing!