Claire Hopple

Claire Hopple

Bio

Claire Hopple is a writer of short stories and a columnist for Maudlin House. Originally from Pittsburgh, she currently lives in Nashville with her husband. She's still waiting for someone to give her a firm answer on the Oxford comma. She will eat all of your cupcakes. Find out more at clairehopple.com.      

Claire Hopple Articles

Loud buzzes from your phone can translate to zero clear thinking.

Here’s Why I’ll Never Be A Phone Person (But I Still Love You)

It’s not that you don’t love the people calling you (unless you’re solely receiving spam calls), it’s just that you’d rather be with them. You think that the phone can’t replace seeing their faces, experiencing their presence in all the dimensions currently available to humans. And sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) you just need time to recharge by yourself. Why does that feel so wrong sometimes?

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Image credit: Thinkstock

Socially Awkward? Here Are 10 Quirky Conversation Starters For You

Perhaps the following scenario describes you. You’re at a party and you remember that you detest small talk. You have a tinge of social anxiety.

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Reading. Ugh. Amirite?

6 Reasons You Should Never Read Books

Just don’t do it. In fact, reading this is in direct opposition to the titular admonition above.

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Relax. Your elderly relatives are probably pretty cool.

7 Tips For Talking To Grandpa This Holiday Season

Hey, the holidays are coming up, and you’re gonna see some relatives.

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Whatever your preference, I think you can find your next gem from this list.

6 Great Reads By WoC

When the publishing industry gets it right, it needs to be celebrated, especially in a time like this.

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Make your friends wow out. (Image Credit: Thinkstock)

Absurd Tablescapes For Your New Year’s Eve Celebration

Hosting a dinner party on New Year’s Eve has never been easier or more accurate than with the following inspirational tablescape concepts

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A Festivus for the rest of us! (Image: YouTube)

People Actually Celebrate Festivus; Here's What It Looks Like

Though most associate this blessed occasion with Frank Costanza boisterously shouting “A Festivus for the rest of us!” and attempting to wrestle his own son to the ground, Festivus has an even richer history than you might imagine. The list of Festivus supporters is continually growing and the event’s practices are evolving at a rapid clip.

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'Sup turkey.

Turkey Frying Mishaps & Other Thanksgiving Cautionary Tales 

If you want to burn off your hair, possibly several limbs and maybe even your entire yard, then by all means, fire up that completely frozen bird. But if you’d rather play it safe, follow these simple tips:

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Keep the Grinch at bay with these tunes. (Image Credit: Briana (Breezy) Baldwin via Wikimedia Commons)

Holiday Albums That Aren’t Obnoxious

Nothing makes me get my Grinch on faster than glitter-bombed Christmas wrapping and nasally voices ringing in my eardrums at every store.

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Could the U.S. without Cali be a real thing?

Is California Really Going To Secede?

California tooks its post-election protests to a very intense, very new level recently.

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