Recipe and Review: Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading
* All images from Google
I’ve always wanted to be a cheerleader.
Pom poms, short skirts and bouncing? It sounded like the best gig in the world. In high school, you got out of class early and got to wear a cute uniform to class and ribbons in your ponytail.
In college, you got to wear cute outfits and go to games. Those who went to pro got to be in cute videos like the Miami Dolphins or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders on CMT.
Sophomore year of high school, I decided I was going to try out for cheerleading. I had all my moves and outfits planned…then found out you had to try out in front of the whole school. And flip.
I bounce. I dance. I wiggle. I don’t flip.
So instead of trying out for cheerleading, I did art and jazz dance classes. But after I read The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading, it made me wish I’d picked up the pom poms after all.
Bethany, a self-proclaimed nerd, tries out for cheerleading on a dare from a fellow nerd who thinks she can’t do it. Surprisingly, she and her best friend make the squad. But while Bethany is doing it for fun, her best friend Moni is doing it for the football players and popularity. As Bethany steals the heart of a top player and her fellow students, she realizes there may be more depth to cheerleading than just shaking pom poms after all.
I was so intrigued by the book that I walked around the park in the blazing sun and dried out mesquite trees for forty five minutes before I rammed into one of said trees and realized my feet hurt. Then I crawled in my car and read it in the blasting air conditioning before realizing I was starving because it was two o’clock and I hadn’t eaten lunch.
And on a hot day when you’re reading about cheerleaders, you need a milkshake.
Growing up, my mom made us milkshakes all the time. It may have not given me a cheerleader-friendly figure, but it did make me a happy duckie. My favorite was the peanut butter milkshake just like I’d drink at the mall. The closest recipe I could find was this one from Taste of Home.
Give me a P! Give me a E! Give me a …oh, just give me a book and a milkshake.
Pom poms optional.
* All images from Google.
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August 9th, 2012 at 2:41 am
I also wanted to be a cheerleader, although I affected a disdainful attitude towards the idea because I was far too clumsy to even attempt to try out for the squad. Plus, all of the cheerleaders at my school were really smart and in my honors classes so I couldn’t console myself with the idea that they were airheads. I think I’m going to sit under my bed and cry right now. Although I was a band geek and we had some good times going out to diners and Friendly’s after games. I always liked the peanut butter sundaes.
August 9th, 2012 at 3:48 am
I’m a klutz, there’s no way I could be a cheerleader. But I did love going to the games and yelling really loud
I think a book and a milkshake sounds just about perfect!
August 9th, 2012 at 4:43 am
Yesterday my mom saw me in my workout outfit and says…”You look like a cheerleader.” Totally made my day because I always wanted to be one too!!
August 9th, 2012 at 5:18 am
I cheered in high school and really loved it (I actually started all the way back in pop warner!)
Friday night games were the best and competitions really helped us shape up and take things more seriously.
I may just read that book you posted! xo
August 9th, 2012 at 5:23 am
I’m good at flipping, but not in a cheerleaderly kind of way. Have to say that the first time I got a glimpse of the cheerleaders in my native Dallas (as in Cowboys Cheer) I wondered how they kept their shorts on. Maybe if they drank a few more of your mom’s milkshakes?
August 9th, 2012 at 5:58 am
Haha, looks like a great book! Mmmm..milkshakes!
August 9th, 2012 at 6:31 am
Oh this made me laugh! I’ll have to pick up that book, it sounds like one of those fun summer reads.
When I was really little, I flirted with the idea of cheerleading–like going to those day camps once or twice. But I realized I was awkward, had no rhythm, can’t remember choreography at all, and I was painfully shy. And by the time I could chose a sport, I dedicated my life to swimming haha.
August 9th, 2012 at 6:53 am
I’d be very content with your yummy milkshake and a book, too
August 9th, 2012 at 7:01 am
I might have to read that book.
I always wished I was the cheerleader type. The closest I came was tennis, where I wore the short skirt, flailed a racket about and instead of cute cheers and smiles, I grunted and grimmaced before the Williams sisters made it cool.
August 9th, 2012 at 7:13 am
I want to read this book! It sounds fun and light-hearted
August 9th, 2012 at 7:56 am
I was a cheerleader but thankfully we didn’t have to try out in front of the whole school. My daughter is starting youth cheerleading next week… she is so excited.
The book sounds really cute! I am also no craving a milkshake.
August 9th, 2012 at 8:13 am
I always kind of wanted to be a cheerleader too but never felt like I had the body to do it. Ah well.
August 9th, 2012 at 8:32 am
I did cheer in high-school, but we didn’t have to try out in front of everyone, that wouldn’t have worked for me
The milkshake sounds yummy!!
August 9th, 2012 at 8:47 am
You’ve got a cheerleader’s smile!
August 9th, 2012 at 9:49 am
I never cheered either (except from the sidelines). The book sounds fantastic!
August 9th, 2012 at 10:28 am
No cheering here, but a great love of milkshakes!
August 9th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Sounds like a great read. I was never a cheerleader but I’ve always loved milkshakes.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I could rock as a cheerleader but my school didn’t have an official team, so I never got to try out. I am definitely going to put this book on my to read list and you can never go wrong with a milkshake. You know they bring all the boys to the yard.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Believe it or not, I was a high school cheerleader. (It was a small school.) The pom poms were fun, but I wasn’t good at gymnastic flips. Milkshakes are very fun! Peanut butter sounds amazing.
August 9th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
I did gymnastics, but my daughter did cheerleading and poms.
August 9th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
I too always wanted to be a cheerleader! Seem’s like an amazing job! I’ve seriously thought about trying out for the local foot team cheer-leading squad then I back out – my family would kill me!
August 9th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Never was the cheer leading kind. I thought the outfits were cute that’s about it.
August 9th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
My good friend was a cheerleader all through high school, but hated the public tryouts (they had to do an individual routine). I dont remember why–maybe it was flipping too.
I am with you on the peanut butter milkshakes–pb ice cream is the best.
August 9th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Looks like a good book. I could go for one of your milkshakes!
August 9th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Cheerleading huh!? Sounds like fun but milkshakes is even cooler. Break away from the norm…
August 9th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Hey girl!! Not sure which facebook group you were referring to for the conference…I don’t know about any specific Bloggy Bootcamp Dallas fb group, so if you hear of one let me know. I believe there is a bloggy bootcamp fb group, but not specific to the city. Email me goingsonintexas@gmail.com
August 9th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
You could probably still take up cheerleading if you wanted to!
Jazz dancing sounds more fun though.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Your review made me laugh…you ran into a tree?
PB milkshakes are my favorite – salty sweet. MMMM I’ll have to check that one out.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:40 am
Hahahaha….literally laughing out loud at the ending. Love!
August 10th, 2012 at 10:01 am
YUP I tried out to appease my mom, but it so was not a thing of beauty! I will have to check out the book
August 10th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
i might’ve been a cheerleader except i was always on the court, playing basketball or volleyball. plus, i don’t giggle. or flip. i’ve never had a pb milkshake but it sounds grand!
August 10th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
I love PB smoothies and PB ice cream, so a milkshake would be a guaranteed LOVE. Sounds delicious and your story made me grin. I tried cheer once and realized that the klutz in me would forever kill that dream.
August 10th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
I never had much of a desire to be a cheerleader personally. But I would have totally enlisted to be in your jazz/art classes instead. Sounds like a great read!
August 12th, 2012 at 3:09 am
I was a cheerleader in high school, but I never looked like that in my uniform!
August 13th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
LOL! I don’t flip either! Luckily, that wasn’t a requirement when I tried! Otherwise, I’d be on my face!!!